Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Demanding Reparation for Historical Grievances is Unrealistic and Devisive


                                           Good Day World!

In an alternate world...
where racial groups and nationalities are sueing one another over past crimes, Germany has finally paid reparations to every Jew in the world for torturing and murdering them by the millions during and before World War II.

Switching over to the Americas, it's looking good for Native Americans who have sued the US government for murdering them and taking their lands away. Plans are underway to cut checks for all current Native Americans and to restore their lands.

Back to reality.

The Movement for Black Lives - under the catch-all banner of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement - has put together what it describes as "a clear vision of the world where black humanity and dignity is the reality."

In the plan titled "A Vision for Black Lives: Policy Demands For Black Power, Freedom and Justice dozens of established activist and advocacy groups joined forces to offer six core demands and 40 policy priorities.

I think that's good, because the whole movement has been criticized for lack of direction. After reading the plan, I only have one problem with number two of the six core demands:

(2. Reparations for past and continuing harm.)

It is not only counter-preductive, but actually devisive to demand Americans pay some blood price for the transgressions of their ancestors.

The same can be said of all countries with a history of inhumanity towards humanity. 

If BLM wants to be taken seriously they need to drop the reparations rhetoric and concentrate on the here-and-now.

I'm no political scientist, but the idea of paying for the sins of the fathers is not going to go down well with the majority of people in this country.

Just saying.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Monday, August 1, 2016

What would happen If Clinton or Trump Suddenly Died before the November Election?


                                        Good Day World!

In case you haven't noticed, we don't exactly have a couple of spring chickens running for president this election cycle.

Donald Trump just turned 70, and Hillary Clinton is 68-years old. 

That makes them both eligible for retirement. Instead they've both elected to go for a new career...as commander-in-chief of the United States of America.

Kinda gives you pause doesn't it?

What would happen of one of them dropped dead before anyone even got to cast a ballot one way or the other? I'm glad you asked.

For starters, there's nothing in our consititution that says what to do in the case of a party nominee dying before the elections take place.

There's something you should know before I go any further:

"No presidential candidate of a major party has ever died or withdrawn before a presidential election and no president-elect has ever died or withdrawn after winning the general election, but before taking office." Source Teaching History 

That said, it doesn't mean it couldn't happen. 

Some quick history:

Since the time of Andrew Jackson's run for the presidency in 1828, individual political parties have had the job of filling any vacancy on their national ticket, either that of their presidential or vice-presidential candidate. 

If one of the candidates vacates the ticket after they are nominated, either because of death or withdrawal, the party selects a replacement.

So the answer is straight forward - the party decides.

This is where I think it gets interesting. For example, if Trump suffered a heart attack and died would the GOP go with the candidate that was closest in delegates to Trump? In other words, Ted Cruz?

In Hillary's case, would the Democratic Party ask Bernie Sanders to step in and become the standard bearer if she suddenly died? 

Remember, nothing is for sure in politics. Especially this year.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Sunday, July 31, 2016

A New Era of Populists Are Sliming The Planet

Good Day World!

Looking at the rise of Populism on this planet...

If you are a populist  your patriotism has given away to nationalism in today's politics. 

Under the current populist credo you have a right to make up your own "facts," and anyone who is an expert on something can be written off as being allied with the elite.

Think America's Donald Trump, and England's Boris Johnson.

The white working classes in America and England see big business, banks, and globalization as enemies to be treated with contempt.

Populism is not simply a benign devotion to "the people." Populists are ultimately nationalists, and in nationalism you'll find the roots of many of the twentieth century's most terrifying events.

Hitler's rise to power in Germany and the subsequent slaughter of millions of Jews happened under a nationalistic regime.

When you talk about patriotism it's about the love of a particular land, with it's particular traditions. 

Nationalism is the love of something less tangible, of the myth of a "people," justifying many things, a political and ideological substitute for religion.

Boris Johnson almost became England's next prime minister but fell victim to inner party politics. Trump has between now and November to sell his brand of populism/nationalism to the American public.

For the sake of future generations of Americans, I hope Trump is trounced in the general election, and just becomes a nasty footnote in political history...much like Boris Johnson has become. 

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Saturday, July 30, 2016

A Layman's Field Guide to Spotting Liars

Good Day World!

Did you know your nose heats up when you tell a lie?

Watch someone closely if you suspect they are lying to you. Their body language will tell you all you need to know.


And, as for that hot nose...it begins to itch so the suspect starts touching and rubbing it.

That's called the Pinocchio Effect, according to professor Emilo Gomez Milan, who teaches experimental psychology at the University of Granada in Spain.

Experts say there are two types of liars: everyday liars who feel nervous when lying (sweaty palms give them away) and super liars (like Donald Trump for example) who show no sign of nervousness.

Six ways To Pick Out A Liar

Liars often:
Avoid eye contact
Look down when speaking
Angle their body away from the person they're speaking too.
Omit critical information
Get fidgety or agitated when pressed for details
Touch their faces, especially their nose.
Less apparent to the eye: Their heartbeat skyrockets and their pulse quickens.
Hopefully this brief field guide will help you to tell when someone is lying to you. With a little practice you'll be surprised how easily lies can be detected.
Related:
Time for me to walk on down the road...

Friday, July 29, 2016

Don't Read This Unless You Have a Sense of Humor

Good Day World!

I see you checked in, so I'm guessing you have a sense of humor. Enjoy!

Teacher: "Kids, what does the chicken give you?"
Student: "Meat!"
Teacher: "Very good! Now what does the pig give you?"
Student: "Bacon!"
Teacher: "Great! And what does the fat cow give you?"
Student: "Homework!"

Source: Laugh factory

* My friend thinks he is smart. He told me an onion is the only food that makes you cry, so I threw a coconut at his face!
Source: Laugh factory

* A recent worldwide survey showed that out of 2,146,703,436 people, 94% were too lazy to actually read that number.
Source: Laugh factory

In the world of politics...

* When asked if they would have sex with Bill Clinton, 86% of women in D.C. said, "Not again."
  Source: Laugh factory

Q: What do you call a lawyer with an IQ of 100? 
   A: Your Honor. 
   Q: What do you call a lawyer with an IQ of 50
   A: Senator.

Source: Laugh factory


* If con is the opposite of pro, then is Congress the opposite of progress?

Other jokes...

Q: Why couldn't the blonde add 10 + 5 on a calculator? 
A: She couldn't find the "10" button.
What is the definition of a good tax accountant?
Someone who has a loophole named after him. 
source: http://www.jokes4us.com/peoplejokes/accountantsjokes/index.html

Q:What did Ann Coulter's attorney say at her sanity hearing?
A: So.....where do I start?
source: http://www.jokes4us.com/celebrityjokes/anncoulterjokes.html

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Thursday, July 28, 2016

'Chillin' in a polarized country: Hop off the Hate Train

Good Day World!

I refuse to take a ride on one of the many current rhetoric trains traveling across this troubled nation like harbingers of doom. 

Millions of Americans are angrily divided. Hate, like a deadly fog has crept across America this election year. 

People are bleeding blue, and red. There is no in between. Some end up dead.

But...

You can step out of the train station, and go for a nice long walk outside. You'll need to take long, deep breaths, and to open your eyes to the skies above.

Hint: you can be anywhere - from the concrete jungle to a tiny cell; it doesn't matter as long as you let your imagination swell.

"Chillin" in a polarized society is only possible if you are prepared to take the less-traveled road towards internal peace.

Unplug. Turn off. Disconnect all digital devices. Refresh yourself with your own thoughts, and in conversations with others. 

Everyone around you is worried. Fear makes too many good people fumble in this fast-paced society. The home of the free... and the wealthy 1% ers. 

Money is the root of all evil. I know that sounds trite...but I think it's right. Too many worship on the altar of greed, losing their humanity.

Don't hop on the first train that pulls on your emotions. You can easily end up going in the wrong direction.
Stay true to walking, and you'll always be grounded.

My wish for you today...is peace in this polarized society we live in.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

How To Make Politicians Tell The Truth All The Time


                                    Good Day World!

I've figured out how to get politicians to tell the truth!

It's not going to be easy, but if you're like me, your sick and tired of the lies that routinely spew from politician's lips.

They get elected by saying whatever they think the crowd wants to hear, then go about their own agenda after being elected.

But how can we stop that? How can we get our elected officials to always tell the truth? I've thought about this for a long time, and the answer is simple and would be effective.

Before speaking publicly a politician must first take a standard polygraph test. They'll be asked questions on the content of their speech.

This will be mandatory or they won't be allowed to speak.

Experts administering the test will be hired by a government agency called the Department of Facts (DOF). 

"Proponents will say the test is about 90 percent accurate and  critics will say it's about 70 percent accurate," according to Frank Horvath of the American Polygraph Association.

In addition, the politician must sign a disclaimer that they won't go off script and slip in some lies, or they'll be duckwalked out of politics by the average citizen.

Once the politicians speech has been vetted for accuracy - the promise signed - then  he/she can give their speech with the endorsement of DOF, and the audience will know there's a pretty good chance they're telling the truth.

Nothing is perfect, of course. There's super liars who may fool the test. Even they will not be safe. The first time they get caught lying about anything they claimed...the game's over.

After awhile - with an effort like this - the liars will eventually be culled from public offices. 

Sound good?

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Blooming Bromance: Putin and Trump in a tree...k..i..s..s..i..n..g

Good Day World!

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's bromance is really becoming awkward lately.

Republican and Democratic members of congress are concerned about the implications. 

For example:

When Trump looks into Putin's eyes there's adoration for his strongman tactics.

When Republican senator, John McCain, stared into Putin's eyes he saw three letters: a K, a G and a B.

The word is Russia is doing what it can to help elect Trump.

Why experts Are Sure Russians Hacked the DNC Emails

The Russians gave the emails they found to Wikileaks, who released it at the perfect moment to hurt the Democratic party.

Trump has embraced Putin almost from the start of his campaign. He's said that Putin is a "world leader he would get along with very well."

Their relationship is rooted in their similar outlooks, personas, and in some cases, overlapping policy goals. 

For example:

During the Republican convention Trump and his allies made changes to the Republican platform to make it more pro-Russian.

When Trump called for not-supporting certain NATO allies recently, Putin break-danced down the halls of the Kremlin!


All Putin has to do now is convince the Donald to get on a horse, with no shirt on, and to wave a flag featuring anti-NATO slogans.

Stay tuned on that. I think this is a serious bromance that may threaten Trump's marriage with his Slovenian wife Melania.

Here's what we know:

* Someone hacked into the DNC servers and stole emails that were unfavorable to Clinton and released them two days before the Democratic convention.

* What top U.S. technologists know for sure is that at least two groups of hackers were willing to take a major risk - and make a substantial investment - to access the DNC's network.

* Who is behind the attacks remains unclear-and, unfortunately, a satisfying answer isn't likely to come soon. 

If it does happen to be the Russians, the hard part will be proving who they gave the emails to.

Read Why Putin is pro-Trump

Meanwhile, the world will be watching as Putin and Trump's bromance continues to blossom.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Monday, July 25, 2016

Presidential Election 2016: Why Am I Not Hearing About Fighting Poverty in America?

Good Day World!

Quick! When was the last time you heard about solid proposals to fight poverty during this election year?

I'm waiting.
(Photo via The Borgan Project)

I know. It's not a very sexy subject

When you have a demagogue talking about marginalizing minorities in America and how hopeless the country is without his help...the subject of poverty is submerged in the barrage of hateful rhetoric.

We need to address poverty in this nation with positive programs and support from the entire American public. It's time to stop demonizing the poor.

Helping Americans should be a bipartisan subject. But it isn't, much to all of our shame. This election cycle is all about finger-pointing and lies. Seems like addressing poverty doesn't get votes in this new rude era of politics. 

When I hear some politicians saying this is the land of opportunity and if you work hard there's no reason you should be poor; it tells me how out of touch they are with reality.

The human spirit is indomitable. When I read the following article, I realized there's always hope if people work together in a common cause for the communal good.

Fighting for Seats at the Table: A Poor People's Movement in a Rustbelt Town

I hope this program (Think Tank) inspires more communities to take a pro-active approach to poverty and not another band aid approach, which has been the case for far too long.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Sunday, July 24, 2016

The Case of the Mistaken Strippers: It Was All Good

Good Day World!

Wanna hear about something funny?

True story.

One night a group of ten women were celebrating the 50th birthday of one of their number. The were all having a great time and making lots of noise.

A neighbor, irked at how loud the celebration was, called the cops. The cops came.

Then the real fun started.

The cops knocked on the door of the apartment. One of the "tipsy women" answered and opened the door wide, encouraging both of them to come inside.

Once inside, they were greeted with cheers. Screechs of animal delight broke out and they took turns posing for pictures with the two male officers.

As you may have guessed, the women thought the cops were fake cops who were going to perform a strip tease!

Seems like the cops took it all in stride, and being professionals they knew they needed something for the police report, so they asked the birthday girl for her phone number.

That got the rest of the women laughing so hard it sucked the air right out of the room! Some even hugged the remarkably tolerant cops.

Try to imagine, if you can, some of the conversations. 

The women finally agreed to turn the music down when they looked outside the window and saw the police cruiser parked outside.

There was no indication that anyone was ticketed.

This incident didn't happen in the USA. It occurred in Mainz, Germany.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Day of the Demogogue: Will America Become a Banana Republic?

Good Day World!

When Donald Trump gave his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention he made one thing clear - there will be order, and only HE can make it happen.

He mentioned the word "order" throughout his testosterone-fueled address to the audience. He mentioned the word freedom once during his 75 minute rant.

He said he would only tell the truth. By the end of his speech he had lied about numerous points.

The die has been cast. The Party of Trump intends to push a nationalist agenda that doesn't have room for minorities. Look no further than the NAZI party to understand what's happening here.

Racists have found room in the political arena this year and are appealing to a lot of fearful and angry people. All limits on rhetoric have been lifted, and it's scary.

In the toxic atmosphere created by Trump, it's okay to run for political offices even if you were an ex-Grand Wizard for the Klu Klux Klan.

Enter David Duke, now a convicted felon, having pleaded guilty in 2002 to bilking his supporters and cheating on his taxes. He's running for a senate office in Louisiana.

And why not? If Trump can get away with bilking people (think six bankrupties and Trump University), and cheating on his taxes and still get the Republican nomination for president, Duke should be electable too under the current seismic societal shift.

The polls tell us Trump supporters are mostly angry old under-educated white men. His followers are motivated by fear. Trump thrives on that emotion.

Like Adolf Hitler, Trump uses fear like a hammer, then massages it into the national consciousness like a diabolical masseuse.

Don't worry. Don't think. Just vote for the Donald. The message really resonates when he talks about the "good old days,"  which were also the bad old days for every minority in the nation.

We have entered the era of a new demogogue. The Republican convention was consumed by a vigilante rage, complete with mock prosecutors, show trials, and chanting mobs.

The picture presented to the world has been of America, as a banana republic.

What has happened to our country? Our descent into political chaos has been rapid and perplexing.

Is there enough hate and fear to take the USA down the path to it's own destruction? Let's hope not. Only time will tell now.

Time for me to walk on down the road...

Trump's Lowest Grift Ever Saved for Holy Week

This is a story about how the devil's puppet, aka Donald Trump, mocked Christianity by selling a book combining the Bible, the Constitu...