Some Thoughts on America

Some Thoughts on America

I am probably only one of millions of citizens who are baffled by and concerned by the events now in this country.  This is not a “Blue” or “Red” comment or is not meant to be. It is my heart-felt worry about what I consider to be extreme positions. Here are a few that come to mind.

  1. In the state of Michigan, the Governor has been threatened by several persons. She now is provided with security after at least one serious plot by a nationalist extremist group to kidnap her and hold her for some sort of political ransom.
  2. In Michigan and now in many other states, there are heavily armed men (and some women) in some sort of “citizen’s militias.” These people wear military style camo “uniforms” and carry automatic or semi-automatic weapons. Positioned at the polling places, they claim to be “ensuring a fair election.” Do you think this is right? Is this what we have come to in the US: voting under “guard” of a silent citizens militia in near full combat gear with their finger prominently visible straight ahead over the trigger guard?
  3. The President has campaigned nearly non-stop with personal appearances for at least a week following his discharge from Corona Virus hospitalization at Walter Reed Hospital. He required oxygen and other remedial treatments and of course has the best medical treatment in the world. He campaigns with the usual extraordinary security details accorded Presidents and high officials. Air Force One is prominent in the background, with patriotic music and large crowds dressed mostly in red and wearing MAGA or similar hats. At some rallies, nearly no one wears a mask while in others it appears half are. Of course, the President flies in and out, with airspace completely free of any other traffic. Those in attendance must drive in or otherwise arrive, and often are involved for hours in lengthy traffic jams of cars and busses.
  4. Mr. Biden as well is accorded a full security detail but must travel without the unique air-space control. He holds rallies with significant spacing, often at drive-in theaters or other places where automobiles are parked and separated from one other. Compared with President Trump, these are smaller. The rhetoric is critical of the President yet more constructive and hopeful regarding national unity.
  5. One candidate sees a future of being brought together if victorious, while the other warns of catastrophic results of division and calamity if he loses and "Law and Order" if he wins.
  6. The President exudes glamor and strength. He is photogenic as he beams with a square-jawed confidence, flaxen hair and the finest suits.  He has mastered the art of in-public appearances, gains strength from adoring crowds, and has the demeanor of a winner and strongman as he warns of threats. “They are coming into your suburbs.” “There will be a massive economic collapse if the Democrats win.” “The Socialists will take over.” “Your freedom of religion will be curtailed.” “The Immigrants are coming for your jobs.” “I am the only one who can protect you and bring back the jobs.” "The Corona Virus is going away.” “We are rounding the bend.” “The news you get is a hoax from every newspaper and network,” even Fox when they criticize the President or point out his errors and untrue statements.
  7. Biden has more of a “let’s get back together” message and takes a unifying approach. "I will be the President of us all, is his theme. He is older, nearly eighty, and seems reserved by comparison. He is not a powerful public orator, but exudes compassion. "I care about you" is his message.
  8. Violence by protesters on both sides has occurred with burned businesses and parts of cities. This has occurred during Black Lives Matter protests and serves to underscore the message on the right that more “Law and Order” is necessary. This is one of the President’s main themes along with “the economy is coming back” and “the virus is going away.” On the other extreme we see American Nazi groups with Swastikas marching in the streets in support of the President.
  9. Does our President really have to ignore the Pandemic, changing from “It will go away” and “it is a hoax” to nearly every conceivable iteration in between various claims? In fact, according to CDC data, this virus is very contagious. It has a nearly 2% overall mortality rate, as best we can tell since often is occurs with other medical issues. For people sixty-five and older, the mortality rate is 8%. Often survivors have life-long limitations with their lungs, hearts, and other organs. Aren’t we better off with reasoned policies which allow carefully considered non-political decisions to be made on keeping businesses and services open where possible? It is “full speed ahead” or “shut ‘em all down.”
  10. Work on a vaccine is proceeding in several countries at major labs. These have the highest priority for both humanitarian and market-size reasons. The President completely overpromises the availability however in practice it will be another year at least before the vaccine(s) are approved and available in billions of doses worldwide. No quick fix is at hand.

I suppose I could go on. Is this the country we are destined to have? Do we have to choose between armed militias in the streets, BLM riots, and burning buildings with devastated business owners and marching Nazi-style groups? What sort of country are we?

I think that President Trump could have had a very clear and decisive re-election win had he simply stated the obvious: we have a dangerous virus and need to work together to work our way through it together. We all will wear masks and use social distancing, as that does work. We will put our industrial might to work and produce PPE and ventilators and make every effort as a team to get a vaccine out as soon as soon as possible. We will open our economy as quickly but judiciously as possible. We will work with the international health community since this virus knows no borders. That way everyone would be one the same team.

We could debate other policies but not the national response to Corona Virus. But alas, for reasons I do not understand, the President denied the virus existed, then denied it would last, has continued to say things like “we are rounding the bend” while the outbreak is at a maximum. He has demeaned mask wearing and has tolerated, if not encouraged his supporters to congregate without social distancing and without masks. I totally do not understand his failure to disabuse the militias and Nazi groups who pop up like vermin from the sewers. But Mr. Trump is unique. Totally different. Is he the way forward for the country, with roughly half the people supporting his approach? If so, our cohesion as a society and indeed, as a country is in question.

Comments are welcome and will be published, pro and con. Make your observations below, or send them to me via email at n3bb@mindspring.com. Email comments will not be identified.

Enjoy life; it's the only one we will get.

J.K. (Jim) George

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J. K. (Jim) George writer and student of the world has been an avid amateur radio enthusiast, with special love for Morse code and radiosporting, since his teenage years, over fifty years ago. He started his hobby listening to short-wave broadcasts and long-distance AM radio stations. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech, where he was president of the VT Amateur Radio Club and was inducted into the Virginia Tech Academy of Engineering after serving as Chair of the Advisory Boards for both Electrical and Computer Engineering, as well as the College of Engineering.

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26 Responses

  1. JK James George
    From Anon-1: There are many important facts and events that you have failed to mention. Allow me to include those as potential factors in how one might vote: 1. Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis, Charlotte, Birmingham ...... Riots and looting allowed to continue. 2. Defund the Police. Only 2-3 % of Black shootings are from Police officers. 3. The Democratic Party has moved distinctly to the liberal Left wing of the party. 4. Joe Biden is a career politician who would not have been nominated were it not for SC. 5. Joe Biden has lied repeatedly about his knowledge and participation in Hunter's business dealings in Ukraine and China. 6. Joe Biden announced early, without considering qualifications, that he would nominate a "Black female as his running mate." 7. He then selects the most liberal Senator in the Senate - Kamala Harris who appeared in Seattle expressing her support for their movement. 8. God help us if she becomes President. 9. A Biden administration including Warren, Sanders, Booker, Buttigieg, O'Rourke, .. Decidedly left. Oops, I left out Susan Rice and Ben Rhodes. 10. Joe Biden is wishy/washy on issues - fracking, taxes, fossil fuels.... "You terminated flights from China, what a dumb idea." 11. Biden knew about the Russian fiasco of Comey, Clapper, Brennan, etc. and condoned, even encouraged, it. That cost taxpayers $Millions and wasted energies in our legislators. Impeaching the President was a stupid, political move by Speaker Pelosi. 12. In spite of all the distractions, Trump/Pence have accomplished more in 3 1/2 years than Obama/Biden did in 8. Those who look past the predominately biased media see that. 13. BLM movement led by extreme radicals and funded by billionaires with a political agenda. Politicizing sports and education at any level is dangerous. 14. Finally, some quotes from the WSJ which you read: "Bad is Better than Worse" "Never a Trumper but now I Am" On a personal note as a retired military officer who had great respect for Admiral McRaven, his Op Ed piece in the WSJ was shocking. "Truth be told, I am pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, small government, strong defense and a national anthem standing conservative ..................." "I voted for Joe Biden." What a hypocrite !! I read his bio, I read his book, I read his speeches, but he has lost my respect.
    Reply
    November 1, 2020
  2. JK James George
    From Anon-2: My wife and I believe that this presidential election is by far the most important election that we have ever voted in. As we have slowly seen our democracy crumble from within these past few years, the change at the top and then the Senate is crucial! How does that phrase go? Power Corrupts! Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely!
    Reply
    November 1, 2020
  3. JK James George
    From Anon-3: I think you got it right for all but the hoax part from Trump regarding COVID-19. IMHO, he has only one focus--re-election. COVID-19 distracts from his re-election so he does his best to eliminate its threat in his supporters' minds. Surprisingly, he has succeeded in the majority of cases, again for his (mindless?) supporters! I suspect he has done himself in for re-election thanks to his (not all of his administration's) approach to the virus. For many reasons, I am not a Biden fan, especially for his hypocritical approach to his alleged Catholic faith, and his too liberal views on many subjects. But, we need a competent leader and Trump has proven he is incompetent and, as former staff and advisors have stated, he is not competent to serve as our President. Hopefully, but not expectedly, he will go away quietly. With 4,000+ lawyers, the RNC will fight the results in every way they can. Fortunately, our country's wise founders included three branches of federal government in the Constitution. I have confidence in it and in those (with Trump's exception) who have sworn to support it so we will have a peaceful, if not quiet, transition in January.
    Reply
    November 1, 2020
  4. JK James George
    From Anon-4: My wife and I are with you on this 100%. Thanks for being you.
    Reply
    November 1, 2020
  5. JK James George
    From Anon-5: Thank you for this piece. You have expressed what we having been trying to say about our fear for our democracy so well. I am hopeful about the early voting numbers but also worried about the outcome.
    Reply
    November 1, 2020
  6. JK James George
    From Anon-6: Some Thoughts About America So, no comment about Hunter and Joe meeting with Bobulinski about creating a company to partner with the Chinese? No comment on the censorship of the story of Bidens’ money from China or the emails about that on Hunter’s laptop, which has been declared by the FBI not to be fake? Or has that information simply been denied you by most of the media including Facebook and Twitter? In case you haven’t, I’ve attached a copy of a Wall Street Journal article from October 22, 2020.
    Reply
    November 1, 2020
  7. JK James George
    From Anon-7: Amazing insights! After intensive therapy, I would suggest educating yourself by reading everything ever written by Thomas Sowell. How you can dismiss and ignore so much yet focus on insignificance and lies is truly scary!!
    Reply
    November 1, 2020
  8. JK James George
    From Anon-8: I share your concerns about the events in this country. We’re complacent and spoiled, politically divided to the extreme, we’ve lost our moral backbone and we’ve entered the “anything goes” generation – nothing is sacred or off limits. You begin your message with some examples of what’s to be concerned about, but you quickly shift to trashing President Trump. Your comments are accurate, but like the country’s broken media network, you are heavily biased, selective, somewhat subjective and basically unfair, in that you present some information about one or two issues and just ignore everything else, giving Biden a media-style dispensation on anything negative. For example, why has the media, and you, ignored Biden’s alleged improper financial ties with his family? You know if that was Trump, the media would be all over it. You state you “could go on”. Yes, you should go on. Trump has done lots of good for the country. And maybe there’s some truth to his warnings. If Vice President Biden is elected, you will have a front row seat to witness the utility of Trumps predictions. Trump and Biden have stark differences. I know that. What I don’t know and am seriously concerned about is the extent of Biden’s mental deterioration. His decline is not based on anything I was told but what I’ve personally witnessed/heard in his public comments. He has a serious problem and I will bet you right now that if Biden wins, we’ll have President Harris within a few years. Are you ready to endorse that? Jim, my intent is not to argue but to wish you and the media would present all the facts objectively, truthfully, and with an energetic journalistic style that uncovers/reports what we need to know to be properly informed, what we need to hear versus what you want us to hear. Please Jim, set an example and don’t become one of them.
    Reply
    November 1, 2020
  9. JK James George
    From Anon-9: A long one. "From the Right." He's done what???? The clown in the White House just brokered two Middle East Peace Accords, something that 71 years of political intervention and endless war failed to produce. The buffoon in the White House is the first president that has not engaged us in a foreign war since Eisenhower. The clown in the White House has had the greatest impact on the economy, bringing jobs, and lowering unemployment to the Black and Latino population of ANY other president. Ever. The buffoon in the White House has exposed the deep, widespread, and long-standing corruption in the FBI, the CIA, the NSA, and the Republican and Democratic parties. The buffoon in the White House turned NATO around and had them start paying their dues. The clown in the White House neutralized the North Koreans, stopped them from developing a further nuclear capability, sending missiles toward Japan, and threatening the West Coast of the US. The clown in the White House turned our relationship with the Chinese around, brought hundreds of business back to the US, and revived the economy. Hello!!!!!!! The clown in the White House has accomplished the appointing of three Supreme Court Justices and close to 300 Federal Judges. This same clown in the White House lowered your taxes, increased the standard deduction on your IRS return from $12,500 for Married Filing Joint to $24,400 and caused your stock market to move to record levels over 100 times, positively impacting the retirements of tens of millions of citizens. The clown in the White House fast-tracked the development of a COVID Vaccine - it will be available within weeks - we still don't have a vaccine for SARS, Bird Flu, Ebola, or a host of diseases that arose during previous administrations. The clown in the White House rebuilt our military which the Obama administration had crippled and had fired 214 key generals and admirals in his first year of office. This clown in the White House uncovered widespread pedophilia in the government and in Hollywood, and is exposing worldwide sex trafficking of minors and bringing children home to their families. The clown in the White House works for free and has lost well over 2 billion dollars of his own money in serving - and done all of this and much more in the face of relentless undermining and opposition from people who are threatened because they know they are going to be exposed as the criminals that they are if he is re-elected. I got it, you don't like him. Many of you utterly hate and despise him. How special of you. He is serving you and ALL the American people. What are you doing besides calling him names and laughing about him catching the China virus ????? And please educate me again as to what Biden has accomplished for America in his 47 years in office? I’ll take a ‘clown’ any day versus a fork tongued, smooth talking hypocritical corrupt liar. Please let it be known, I am not sure I would want to have a beer with him (if he drank, which he doesn't) or even be his friend. I don’t care if I even like him. I want a strong leader who isn’t afraid to kick some ass when needed. I don’t need a fatherly figure - I already have one. I don’t need a liar - that's what Hollywood and CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS and the New York Times are for. I don’t need someone to help me, but I also don’t want an obstacle or a demented, senile washed-up Swamp Monster. God bless Donald Trump - the most unappreciated President in history.
    Reply
    November 1, 2020
    • Joseph L.
      Wow, what great piece on our great clown ! I voted for him as I was tired of career politicians and have been in the private sector most of my working years and felt we need a real manager. We got one. People who vote for, or against, a personality are the losers, not our great clown.
      Reply
      November 3, 2020
  10. JK James George
    From Anon-10: Thank you for including me on your email list. You are certainly spot on with your thoughts on Trump. Let's hope the nightmare ends this Tuesday.
    Reply
    November 1, 2020
  11. JK James George
    From Anon-11: Just had to say how much I enjoyed your comments. I plan on sending it to all my friends. Thanks so much for the effort and time you put into your blogs.
    Reply
    November 1, 2020
  12. JK James George
    From Anon-12: Excellent, Jim, excellent.
    Reply
    November 1, 2020
  13. JK James George
    From Anon-13 (From Europe) Jim, one thing I cannot understand. How is it possible that a large country with splendid universities, inventive industries and a capable military structure cannot produce superior candidates for the Presidency? And why don’t the inhabitants of this great country see that they have lost moral, commercial and maybe even military superiority to another large country? Why don’t they see the devastating effects of the Corona virus where they have a capable pharmaceutical industry , leading institutions (CDC) and world class scientists as Dr. A. Fauci? Wishing you all the best and may wisdom return.
    Reply
    November 1, 2020
  14. JK James George
    From Anon-14: Support for Trump is a mystery to me too. But no, this cannot be the country we are destined to become. I hope that optimistic vision becomes clear this week. The armed militia worry me too, Jim. They are no doubt much more evident in TX than here in XXX. But there was a worrisome op-ed piece in the Times a couple days ago about all the White House insiders who truly worry about an insurrection if the election turns against Trump. There is even a website I tripped over accidentally by one of these guys advocating preparation of a bomb-shelter style hoard of basic items including medications, and advising circumventing the telco network with ham radio gear. Hardly any comment about licensing, just how easy it is to install and use. The guy is apparently a ham. I was horrified. Fingers crossed. Stay healthy, pal.
    Reply
    November 1, 2020
  15. JK James George
    From Anon-15: Jim, I am responding to your thoughts on America. It is quite easy to tell which Party you favor in this election and it is not the party that Donald Trump represents. Let me tell you what the Democrat party represents! You have sided with the party that embraces violent anarchists (Antifa), socialism, Marxism (BLM), and communism. There is a communist party alive and well right here in Austin, Texas. I am deeply saddened that you hate Donald Trump so much that you would vote for such anarchy. I want the party that represents the America that I grew up with post WWII and I will fight to the death to keep it. Anything else is much less than American values that I hold dear!
    Reply
    November 2, 2020
  16. JK James George
    From Anon-16: Jim, You have well described the sad situation our country is currently mired in. Once upon a time, the under-educated and ignorant in our country seemed to understand that politics and government was better left to others and that education was a good that people should strive for, but thanks to Trump and social media, they have been persuaded that ignorance is nothing to be ashamed of or corrected; that, in fact, it may be a thing to be proud of. John Dewey, we never knew you. In this election year when it should be a cake walk to de-elect Trump, the Dems have nominated a man well past his prime who chose his running mate based on sex and gender. This duo has run a tired, lifeless campaign and has failed to inspire much respect or confidence. We must to get rid of Trump because he has walked over our values, attempted to destroy much of our heritage, and made the United States the laughing stock of the world. But for many, the votes for the Dem ticket will be votes against Trump, not votes for Biden. Keep up the good work!
    Reply
    November 2, 2020
  17. JK James George
    From Anon-17: Give me and intelligent readers a break. Where did you mention what the President did correctly? Did you miss our all time record GDP of 33.1%. Did you mention his shutting down the boarders, especially from China where your ilk declared it xenophobic. How fast he put into the works research for treatments and a vaccine. Also, did one person need a ventilator? Did anyone need a hospital bed? Unlike old bureaucrats you prefer, he took a business man's approach, "Let's get it done and ASAP !", not at normal government, "Whenever." I have worked in both areas and why I ended up in the private sector. I know some people are lifer Democrats. They need to take a better look at today's Democrat Party. It ain't your dad's Democrat Party. It is a Socialist Party and that never ends well for those under it.
    Reply
    November 2, 2020
  18. JK James George
    From Anon-18: Hi Jim. I just read an article by an author who describes himself as a hardcore leftist. I would tend to characterize him as more of an original liberal and true social justice idealist. I don’t know about you, but as is typical during national elections for me, I’m sick to death of bumper sticker jargon and am craving the insights of people who study and think deeply about where we really stand in this experiment we call America. I have always voted and leaned Republican, but the last 5 years has opened my eyes to political realities I was completely blind to. Once you see the strings that operate the politicians, you can’t unsee them. I am reading a lot and trying to find my place among the deliberate obfuscation we are all subject to right now. My own sensibilities have attracted me strongly to the supposedly “Alt-Right” movement that has coalesced around and become symbolized by President Trump. As the wife of a Hispanic man, mother of 4 Hispanic kids, adoptive mother of a Bulgarian Gypsy and a Russian daughter from a Turkic minority, who has welcomed a Hispanic son in law and a Hispanic granddaughter in the last year and a half Hispanic, half Native American son in law in the last 8 days, I’m very confident in my non-white supremacist bona fides. Two of our other kids are dating a Hispanic and an Asian, so I also feel comfortable I haven’t raised racist kids. Our kids include one Biden supporter and one “Bernie Bro” and we are respectful of their views. I agree with the author I’m referring to you that the knee-jerk “Racist” and “Alt-Right” labels have been universally and reflexively applied to people who have dared to question government largess and overreach by the entire political class, to include both major parties equally. I also agree with him that this approach will backfire because the “America First” movement is full of people like me who resent having our legitimate concerns summarily dismissed with a label we know doesn’t fit. I, like a huge swath of Americans, want the return of a curious and courageous media who don’t move in and out of government and simply read anonymous leaks from their former and future colleagues. A free and fair media was as essential to our democracy as the governmental structure that undergirds our democracy. While Trump lacks eloquence in expressing this sentiment, the longing for the return of journalists who act as a check on government power rather than a propagandist for it, is strong. There is so much passion around this election, due in no small part to the deep respect the great majority of Americans have for our mostly successful 250 year experiment in Representative Self-Governance. I read and listened to your message and felt your passion for our country. “Gaslighting” has been pervasive on both political sides and all of us who are paying attention are grasping for the right straws to grasp onto to save our country. Regardless of which straws you or I (or 300 million other Americans) decided to believe in, I believe in the goodness of most of us to be grasping out of love for this country. Take heart, Jim. Regardless of who wins this election, we have at least learned that the great majority of us live and want to maintain our country as a successful experiment in individual freedom, diversity and democratic self-governance. To the person, every single person I know who has rallied behind Trump has done so out of a strong passion for individual freedom, less government (including things like a strong press and 2nd Amendment to prevent unchecked power), less intervention in the affairs of other sovereign nations and less war. (My son in law of 8 days is an active Marine Corps Officer and the “less war” issue has taken on more urgency for me of late). Neither I, nor any of the people I know who are hoping to be brash, petty-Tweeting, New Yorkers when we grow up. Instead, we have rallied behind an imperfect and sometimes embarrassing person who emerged as the loudest voice for values we see slipping away. We do not hear racist “dog whistles” and wink at one another knowingly. We don’t know (and neither does anyone else) what lies in Trump’s heart vis a vis racial equality. We simply tune out what we see as deliberate distractions from a government that has seized too much power. We have seen Clinton impeached for what amounted to a personal indiscretion that had likely been committed by the majority of those who carried out the impeachment. We have seen our young men and women sent to be killed and maimed for obscure purposes and apparently with no exit strategy. We have seen the acceptance of widespread surveillance become the accepted norm. We have seen the politicization and consequent weakening of the Supreme Court. We watched Mitch McConnell parse words and create a tenuous precedent to refuse a Senate vote on President Obama’s chosen nominee to replace Justice Scalia. We watched the “Me Too” movement arise to validate unbelievable claims against a Supreme Court nominee with conservative views, just to die from our lexicon immediately afterward. We care more about maintaining the legitimacy of the Supreme Court as a cornerstone of our government structure than having justices who share a particular ideology. We saw our representatives in the House prosecute another impeachment that had no better chance of removing Trump than the impeachment than the Clinton Impeachment. We have watched our political class do this while failing to do their “real” job such as passing a budget for decades now. We have seen our political parties worry more about who could get a political advantage from a pandemic than about how to protect us from it. We saw our government squander an opportunity to find the cause of the pandemic, which could have given us a measure of protection against subsequent outbreaks, because ignoring the cause was more politically expedient than protecting the world from more viruses. We have seen one politician after another (of both major parties) go to Washington flat broke (or in deep campaign debt) only to leave with tens or hundreds of millions of dollars despite their “public servant” salaries. We have made the decision to see things that have been front of our eyes for decades. We are willing to be wrongly labeled with words like “Nazi” to try to reign in an outsized, corrupt government that has lost its way. Like you, we don’t see it as Red vs. Blue. Our ranks include many “uneducated” Americans who never voted for a “service economy” where the manufacturing jobs they counted on were moved abroad, but it also includes many educated and thinking Americans who care deeply about free speech (for ideas with which we both agree and disagree), freedom of Religion (for all religions) and the kind of equality where minorities are allowed to hold any opinion without being demonized by their own race or party. Our ranks include millions of Black and Hispanic Americans who also believe in the freedom to think and discuss diverse ideas, good, bad and ugly. We trust ourselves more than government or someone else’s’ definition of polite society” to decide what is OK and what is “Wrong Think”. We don’t want any more of the “help” that put black Americans in “projects” that are really perpetual black ghettos. We want to empower Black Americans to step into the American Dream that has been here for them all along, to get back on the path they were on before someone “helped” them by trapping them in poverty and ghettos where they would exist perpetually as an under class, someone’s “solution” to their existence in America post-slavery. We understand how many millions more Black Americans would exist, and how much political influence they would wield, if someone hadn’t “helped” them to abortion clinics and government sponsored free abortion (I, for one, am not and never have been in favor of banning abortion or overturning Roe v. Wade). In short, I see myself and the like-minded people I know who support President Trump as people with the independent American spirit that rejected an overbearing government in the 1770s and rejected slavery in the 1860s and are again rejecting government overreach in 2020. Trump is not our idol. He’s like the person who we voted against in the primary that we got behind after he emerged as the primary winner. He was simply the only game in town to reject the ideals of the entire elitist and overreaching political establishment. If we can look below the political rhetoric of the moment, I suspect we hold values that are much-aligned. I enjoy your messages and hope you find the article I’ve linked to a valuable historic perspective on our current experience. As I said, I am craving a wider perspective of our progress and would welcome any sources you come across that provide a deeper dive. I debated whether to send this response before or after Tuesday’s election as I do not think I could or would affect your vote. I found time and an interesting article today and suspect that you, like me, have already voted. May God bless us one and all as we feel our way through unfamiliar and potentially dangerous territory.
    Reply
    November 2, 2020
  19. JK James George
    From Anon-19: Extremely well written. Will be interesting if you get any dialogue from some of the Trump supporters you might’ve sent this to. Did you all see the video of the Trump trucks trying to run the Biden bus off the road yesterday here in Austin on I 35? Wendy Davis was also on the bus.
    Reply
    November 2, 2020
  20. JK James George
    From Anon-20: Hey Jim, always good to read your comments... There just aren't any more surprises with "Covid Donald". We know that there will always be a somewhat normal distribution of people (education, beliefs, etc) and Covid Donald has the rednecks eating out of his hand. Since he is really a Reality tv host, he knows his audience very well. He may be stupid, but he is not totally dumb. Like a good dictator, he is now trying to rig the elections anyway he can (postal service, one ballot box per county, trying to get judges to not allow vote counting after the 3rd, blah, blah). Just like the fat 13 year old kid who beats up on a 10 year old skinny kid to steal his candy, he attempts to do the same with everything he touches. Unfortunately, we know many people that have contracted Covid... some have died, others sick for 2 weeks and some that had no symptoms. Meanwhile, my 85 year parents are locked in at home and my mother-in-law locked in assisted living. On the positive side, there was an article today that stated : "what would we think about the past 4 years if his mouth was muted the entire time"? Food for thought. Maybe we should all donate a roll of duct tape to the White House.
    Reply
    November 2, 2020
  21. JK James George
    From Anon-21: Totally with you Jim. I am just dumbfounded at the support the clown has. Says all you need to know about 50% of OUR country.
    Reply
    November 3, 2020
  22. PHS Carl
    Jim, this is for your "Be careful what you ask for" folder: [Blogging in Iambic Tetrameter] I relish vigorous debate of matters ranging small to great, with input from a host of views that clear the mind (or else confuse), evincing facts and evidence of deep insight and common sense, some said with eloquence and grace, Alas some leaving egg on face, Some short and pithy as can be and others well beyond lengthy. Some true to heart, few insincere, Some sparking anger, some a tear, Some deep as Kant’s philosophy, Some shallow as an earthworm’s knee, Some fresh with logic based on fact, Some like what broke the camel’s back Devoid of sense or honesty, Or intellectual chastity. It seems diverse and so it is But tied together, hers and his, By indestruct’ble common thread of self-assurance in each head. And such is oft a heady brew that not all bloggers cotton to. Sometimes emotions get engaged That set the writer in a rage. Emotions with a threat to boil and spring as from reptilian coil, unsettle readers equally As far and wide as eye can see. I must admit I stir the pot And much enjoy that quite a lot Provoking rancor, wroth and wrath While wary of their aftermath. Yet all throughout I’m safe and sound From pushbacks shallow or profound. One might ask “can that really be? “I favor peace and charity.” Well charity and peace are fine If that’s how you direct your mind, But no one’s gonna hector me expecting to escape scot-free. If give-and-take is your desire Prepare yourself to face my ire, I come well armed, determined too, with might and mind reserved for few, For my shield’s fully bullet-proof: It’s name’s “Anon.” Forsooth, forsooth.
    Reply
    November 3, 2020
  23. JK James George
    From Anon-22: I appreciate your blog about the challenges our country is facing. Thanks your thoughtful questions and observations.
    Reply
    November 4, 2020
  24. JK James George
    From Anon-23: Your recent message was not supposed to be blue or red, but the only "extremes" you focused on were those you observed on the right, far as I could tell. Hard to see those other extremes when looking through a blue lens, perhaps, but I think they exist. Before you get the wrong idea, I put Trump on the blacklist years ago when he dumped a condo project he was building in Mexico, stranding many owners who had already purchased them. In recent times, his comments about John McCain and his treatment of members of his own staff, and many other actions, cemented my opinion. I have never supported him or voted for him. Character counts more than politics or party for some of us. While typing that last paragraph, I suddenly recalled the absolute visceral hatred some libs had for George W. With all their hatred for that good ole boy, they then reaped the whirlwind with Trump. Rather humorous. Though his days are probably numbered, some things have happened under this president that seem positive: Replacing NAFTA with USMCA Making deadbeat NATO countries pay up Standing the ground with China on trade Neutralizing ISIS (think: Obama Red Line statement) Calming down the North Korean boy king (who had all Hollywood fearing for their lives) ----and a few other things that could have been done only by a mean old bully. I agree with many of your points, especially on Covid. Turning the management of the pandemic over to the scientists and experts would have been logical. But somebody with that kind of ego just can't relinquish authority. Your #8 did give me pause. As I watched the aftermath of the BLM protests ( I don't blame BLM for the riots--what power did they have to control what ensued?). What I saw was mostly young guys breaking windows and torching buildings. Their rage can be understood, but their actions should not be tolerated. Yet the civic authorities did almost nothing. And on election eve, cities were boarding up doors and windows of downtown buildings. That includes San Francisco, the most liberal large city in the US. Who do you think they are worried about? Neo-nazis and armed militia, or the usual dependable looters, vandals, and rioters? If there is to be a Trump ouster, I would have liked to see it done cleanly. But the mainstream media and especially the cable cabal have already made that impossible. CNN and MSNBC are particularly bad about reporting only what fits their political agenda, reporting unsubstantiated rumors as fact while insisting that stories unfavorable to their cause must be rigorously fact-checked before being buried. Fox may be just as bad but at least introduce some balance with opposition speakers and liberal journalists like Juan Williams. As to print media, Reuters and the WSJ are about the only ones I trust.
    Reply
    November 4, 2020
  25. Name*
    GDP 33.1%? It's averaged around 2.7% during Trump's reign and hit a low of 2.0% in Jul 2019. "Did one person need a ventilator...or a hospital bed?" I know you're serious, but it reads like you're kidding and obviously not in touch with reality. Tell this to the 236K+ who have died. This is not fake news. It is a real pandemic for which Trump has failed as a leader. His own advisors have said he his not competent to be President. Now, he thinks he can stop the ballot counting where he likes the numbers and continue the counting where he doesn't. His views are not based on reality, much less on law. I would be ashamed to have voted for him in 2016, but I saw no acceptable choice.
    Reply
    November 6, 2020

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