Political Issues

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How Do We Solve A Problem Like The Donald??

I admit it.  I have been stumped by Trump.  Why has this joke not gone away?  My reading came together this morning with an editorial by Charles Krauthammer, and a Psychology Today article posted by a former teacher colleague of mine I greatly respect.  The disregard for thinking deeply, along with the rise of bullies who shout the loudest on social media goes a long way to explain the Trump phenomenon.

The solution to the Donald Problem is education.  It is NOT a quick fix, and apparently it is too late to save us from Trump.  Only Hillary or Bernie can do that right now. Ultimately our saviours will be our teachers.  If we can stop burdening them with senseless testing requirements, there will be time to teach students the deep reading and analytical skills they will need in this complex world.  We will have time to teach them how to debate with their intellect and not the volume of their voices.

The article by Charles Krauthammer  supports the ideas expressed in the Psychology Today article.  In the editorial Krauthammer explains why so many Evangelical conservatives support Trump, even though it is obvious to ANYONE who has EVER attended a Christian church regularly, that Trump is NOT an Evangelical….or even a serious Christian.  What he IS, is a loud-mouthed bully who gets his way by being the most aggressive.  People are scared and think this is the only way to be safe in a world increasingly run by bullies. It is easier to have a bodyguard than to find a way for people with differing opinions to live together in peace, treating each other with respect.

 We DO have a choice.  We can resist the Trumps of this world, or we can bow down and pay them the protection money and power they are trying to extort. Which will it be?

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A Joke That Has Gone Viral In Every Sense Of The Word

Many of you know that I have taken a vow of Facebook silence with regards to political and social opinions. It has made my FB page a much happier place to be. However, I realized this morning that I cannot remain silent about Trump. Treating him as a joke is no longer an option. After the David Duke debacle, I realized that the man is dangerous.

I saw this picture this morning and realized that there are parallels with Adolph Hitler. Because of that, I can NOT, in good conscience, remain silent. We are in danger folks. This is no longer funny. The quote in the picture paraphrases a very powerful quote about Hitler. It opened my eyes.

TrumpHitlerQuote

The above quotation should sound ominously familiar.  It is based on one of the most powerful quotes ever written about Hitler and Naziism. 

From the Holocaust Encyclopedia:

Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.

Martin Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007392

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Is it PC to be PC?

Having a bad day here. Tired to death of people using  the phrase “politically correct” as if it was somehow a dirty phrase. I admit that I HATE the term, and not just because I am accused of it all the time. I hate it because using it as a pejorative is a way of reframing compassion and kindness into a negative.  People need to understand that freedom of expression can be maintained without hurting others of different faiths/cultures or political/social viewpoints.  What has happened to compassion for our fellow humans? Have we completely lost our ability to feel someone else’s pain?  I advocate that we start using a new phrase.  We should test our words, not through the lens of “political correctness”, but rather through the filter of “Compassionate Kindness”. 

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Don’t Mess With Texas … Unless You Are Big Industry

I missed this in the news when it happened a few months ago. Apparently some Republican politicians support state and local rights … when financially convenient.

Do you think that state and local governments will help preserve government “of the people, for the people, by the people”? Not so fast. Look at what has been done in Texas.

From Represent Us:

Last November, the people of Denton, Texas voted to ban a natural gas extraction process known as hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in their city. Despite being outspent 10-1 by the oil and gas industry in the month leading up to the vote, the people of Denton passed the state’s first local fracking ban with a citizen-led referendum.

After the Denton vote, Governor Greg Abbot signed a bill banning not just Denton, but all Texas towns from making their own decisions about oil and gas drilling. Why would a small government “conservative” use government power to take away local control and overrule the vote of the People?

Just follow the money.

States Are Blocking Local Regulations, Often at Industry’s Behest

For a more snarky viewpoint, watch the video on this page:

Texas Blocks Local Fracking Bans

I hope the Republican Party and the Tea Party are as outraged as I am. If ever there was an issue that should be under local control, this is it.

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Best Use of the Word “Bloviating”

blo·vi·ate
ˈblōvēˌāt/
verb US informal
gerund or present participle: bloviating
talk at length, especially in an inflated or empty way.

And the award goes to ……

The Desmoines Register Editorial Staff for:

Editorial: Trump should pull the plug on his bloviating side show

I cannot BELIEVE that ANYONE is taking Donald Trump seriously as a presidential candidate.  Aside from being supremely unqualified…he is positively dangerous.  Imagine giving this thoughtless blowhard the power of the presidency.  I would think it was all a Facebook meme, except it is for real and he is seriously dangerous.  Please tell me it is all a bad dream and I will wake up soon.  On the other hand, he does make the other Republican candidates look better by comparison.  Shockingly, despite my liberal tendencies, there are 1 or 2 candidates that I do NOT find terrifying.

I am finding it difficult to pick a category for this post. Should it be Political Issues…or Humor?  I don’t presently have a category for Train Wrecks. Maybe I need to create one as long as I am revamping this blog….