I doubt my resolution to keep up this blog will succeed but it is worth a shot: I resolve to be more regular in my blogging. Job and subject matter not withstanding, I hope I can make good on my resolve…
We think that freedom is lost when we are denied some prior right to access. Perhaps loss of freedom is when we could speak freely and no longer are granted that right. Or cross borders whenever and wherever we would like. But the current administration is stripping freedoms from us daily and we hardly notice. We used to freely discuss inconsistencies and challenge bad or misleading data. We are no longer allowed to do that as it is labeled “fake news”. In fact, normal discussion is no longer allowed. The discussion can only be about the President Himself. Discussing facts or engaging in dialog is no longer tolerated if it doesn’t center on the President. There is no freedom to make America Great in any way but the President’s way. All other avenues are “liberal conspiracies” or “deep state” activities.
There are gross exaggerations and outright lies coming from this administration every day. Without truth, there can be no freedom. Freedom is the living out of the truth of our Design every day. Freedom is acting on the truths that drive us onward daily. Lies derail freedom in every way. An administration that does not operate on the basis of truth is is as free as a dictatorship.
I marvel that our President can lie so openly and still receive support from his base. Most recently he insulted our Military by promising, in a lie, that they will finally receive, after a 10 year wait, their first raise. A raise of 10 percent! No doubt the families of the military would appreciate and even deserve a 10 percent raise. But it was a lie. But then again, lying is a natural as breathing in this administration.
My hope in 2019 is that somehow this damaged and broken and perhaps sinking ship of state with right itself in truth. We need the freedom that truth can only bring.
A slight change of plan
Yeah, still grumpy but I’ll tell ya, there is just TOO much to complain about as a conservative these days. Our “Tweeter in Chief” continues disappoint and enrage, so who needs another voice adding that cacophony? So, I am going to take a broader approach to blogging. Rather than try to maintain my three blogs, I am going to stick to two. One tech, one non-tech (mostly), this one…
Stand by…
Embrace it
Indeed. One of my favorite comics, Non Sequitur had this yesterday:
http://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur/2017/03/18
I love it! Embrace the Inanity ! As I oscillate between hope and despair, the solution may well be to just embrace the weirdness of this time in US politics and roll with it. I have noticed that tactic now from a few of my “POTUS Supporter” friends on Facebook. Even if I post a refutation of some Twitter rant that clearly is based on dementia, perfidious postulating, or paranoia, the response is a “smiley” emoticon or some other oblique response. I think that is so folks who are not enamored of the current POTUS, look like “haters” or some other malcontents. TWO can play at that game and Wiley Miller nails it. Embrace the Inanity!
I’ll need to lower my IQ a bit, easily done by listening to country music, so my intellect won’t be too overtaxed by trying to reconcile the completely inane statements that emanate from the White House with reality. Just embrace it!
I’ll TRY…
Where to begin?
I haven’t been able to keep up with all the inane Executive orders rolling in from Pennsylvania avenue. But, let’s start with the ban on refugees from the 7 Muslim countries our “Fearless Leader” recently signed. Apparently, he isn’t too fearless because the reason given for the EO was to ensure our safety (his too, presumably). So, that set me to wondering….of the 85,000 refugees and the subset of 38,000 that were Muslim that came to the US in 2016, how many actually committed a terrorist act? How many are we aware of that actually planned a terrorist act and were caught? And, of course, the condemning statistic that makes this such a joke is how many US citizens committed terrorist acts here without having to worry about an entry visa? This is all “straw man” politics! Raising the specter of nations of Muslims just waiting for a visa so that they can commit terrorist acts here. That dog don’t hunt, as they say here in Texas.
This delivered to us by a self proclaimed genius of a businessman! Well, any businessman worth his salt makes decisions based on hard facts and there aren’t any facts to back him up. Just “alternative facts” can can be neither retrieved or refuted.
The goal is pretty clear: POTUS will sign executive orders that will confirm and support his campaign promises and when they eventually get overturned by congress, the courts or the will of the people, he will blame the Democrats, judges of Mexican heritage, and Liberals in thwarting his efforts. If the White House even dug down a fingernail’s depth, they would find plenty of conservatives like me, grumpy and not so grumpy, that think his approach is all wrong. A little rationality and compassion might even turn the tide. But, as it is, compassion has no place in the White House and rationality, well, let’s just say it appears to have taken a vacation….
In the trenches
I didn’t *want* to revive this blog but things are going steadily downhill when it comes to the POTUS elect. I am sure I’ll be busy. Yes, I am still Christian AND Conservative. I am now trying to figure out just who “Republicans” are since their train left the station about 5 years ago. Tea Party was bad enough. Now they moved to “Alt right”…we can only assume the next move is….over the edge.