Opinion

Pardons for sale

Living in a time when the president all but advertises he will pardon those who protect and lie for him is bizarre. The America that I grew up in was not going to put up with liars or con-men in the highest office in the land. Today we have entire political parties full of people who seem to expect something amazing if they allow corruption, lies, and criminality to dominate the land. In Kentucky the departing Republican governor (Matt Bevin) pardoned hundreds (including murderers) on his whim and gave us a picture of what could happen on a national scale at the end of the current administration. I hope that Americans stop playing games for perceived advantage and choose truth and morality over perceived expediency. The impeachment of Trump must be taken seriously by the senate for the sake of our republic.

Opinion

Empires of the mind

Winston Churchill is reported to have said that; “Empires of the future will be empires of the mind.” I hope that Mr. Churchill is right, because if future empires are not about a creed, but instead a tribe or race; we are in for a lot of violence and destruction. The United States is currently the front line of a wannabe authoritarian attempting to pervert the truth to cease power. Many people have been surprised by how far things have gone without checks and balances doing anything to stop the assault on the republic and it’s alliances. As events play out you can observe leaders and people who believe in the creed of the rule of law in our republic stand up and tell the truth. Liars say there is nothing going on, or that there is a conspiracy against the president, while they don’t explain why he does not defend himself with sworn testimony during hearings. These are perilous times. God Bless America!

Opinion

Losing our way?

The Judicial committee hearings have shown that president #45 has a lot of criminal tendencies. Most people would not be surprised by the finding that the current occupant of the White House behaves in the worst ways conceivable for an adult of his age. The question in front of us is; despite lots of evidence of wrongdoing many people support keeping Trump in office without accountability. Surveys show that many Americans favor a dictator or authoritarian leader over our current republic. The scary reality of our country today is the number of people in positions of authority willing to lie and behave unethically in the name of political power. We have to get back to upholding facts and fact-based decision-making to rescue our republic, and find our way to the true greatness of our potential.

Books

12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson

I have started listening to the audiobook version of 12 Rules for Life by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, and I am impressed by what I have heard so far. Dr. Peterson speaks to his rules from the aspects of his personal experience, literature, Psychology, and the Bible. I find the book fascinating and stimulating on life’s key issues. I recommend this book based on what I have heard up to the third rule. I recommend this book to people who have library access and enjoy reflecting on ways to improve in life. I will follow up when I finish the book, but I wanted to share my thoughts of this provocative book/

Opinion

Laughing stock or threat to world order?

President Trump was being laughed at again by allied leaders at the latest NATO conference in the United Kingdom. Trump is repeatedly the but of jokes and laughter by the intelligentsia of the wealthiest nations on Earth. Unfortunately the people laughing at him and their societies are targets for the right=wing supporters of the Russian oligarchs and Vladimir Putin. Many believe that the oligarchs are behind Trump and his election to the White House. Analysts constantly vacillate between dismissing Trump as a buffoon, and viewing him as a toxic threat to the current world order. We should never marginalize powerful people as being too ignorant to be taken seriously. Trump has managed to keep supporters in the Republican Party in line, and avoid conviction for many reputed crimes; he cannot be that much of a clown. Maybe an evil clown?

Books, Self improvement

The Plot to Destroy Democracy by Malcolm Nance

If you are trying to make sense of all the crazy events involving the 45th president you may need to read “The Plot to Destroy Democracy” by Malcolm Nance. Mr. Nance is a career military and intelligence official with a great deal of background and he uses it to make sense of a wide range of trends and events that lead to our current circumstance. If we have any chance of building a better world we have to understand how the bad actors are trying to take us all in a different direction. Malcolm Nance connects the dots on everything from; Putin’s takeover of Russia, the rise of right-wing parties in Europe, Brexit, the oligarch system spreading from Russia, to American conservatives falling in love with Vladimir Putin. The lies that we see coming from entire political parties are not being told for just for fun; there is much more to the story. If you want to know the facts then get the book.

Opinion, Self improvement

The Big new identity theft

Today we have world leaders and regular citizens who believe that they can speak lies into truth and change people as well as reality. A hard working American diplomat who fights corruption becomes a bad person according to her own president. Everyday citizens routinely trash each other on the internet and behind each other’s backs to change the identities of those they do not agree with, or like. As our civilization deals with existential threats that will require every ounce of science and teamwork we can master it is a horrific time for the worst of human nature to be edified by social media and selfishness. Push for the truth in your life and with your friends. Get your information from more than one source. Act like your life depended on knowing and acting on truth because it does.

Opinion

I am Thankful for

I am thankful for many things that I enjoy every day living in America. I am thankful for my life and the health that gives me the opportunity to make the most of each day. I am thankful for my wife and family who provide me with challenge and support as I journey through my life with their company. I am grateful for the many good people I have known and worked with to make the world a little bit better. I am thankful for all of the great examples I am seeing of people who care about the truth and our American way of life. I am thankful for the hope that we will move toward a society that is focused on solving problems with truth, science, and policies based on the same.

Opinion

Legalized Pot and Real Estate

Our society is full of strange contradictions. A recent report shows that cities in states where legalized recreational marijuana is passed experience an increase in real estate value averaging 17%. I am not a marijuana user but it does make sense that people prefer to live where they can experience greater freedom and enjoy their lives as they see fit. I think every state will ultimately have to decide what laws are worthy of the cost of enforcement. It takes money to put people in jail, and it costs money when they are not working up to potential. Every issue with drugs is not a positive. The real issue is do the benefits of marijuana legalization outweigh the bad?

Opinion

If he were a Russian agent could he do any better?

We live in a time where previously wild conspiracy theories are plausible. One theory is that the president is a Russian agent or victim of compromise. If the president were an agent he would try to increase distrust between Americans, destroy our alliances, create enemies along our borders, undermine our intelligence agencies, State department, and Department of Defense. If we were fortunate none of these terrible events would be taking place, but they are all happening at the same time. The impeachment inquiry is attempting to get to the truth, but only some of our representatives even care if the republic is under attack from Russia. We are in trouble as a nation and the only thing that can save our country is the American citizen. Contact your representative and Senator and let them know how you feel about the threats our republic is under, and the need for impeachment.