Sunday, September 24, 2017

Current Events-Things I'm Pondering This Sunday

Hello everyone, regular Sunday posts will appear next week. Meanwhile, I've been wanting to address what's happening in this country for the last month or so without putting my readers through a full post on any specific situation-and considering the news of the past couple days, this truly has to be the time. As always, this is my personal perspective and I welcome comments from all sides-assuming said comments are without insult or curses. I post about these issues because I believe they directly affect our ability to live a quality life in retirement, or because they affect our kid's futures, something we all care about, or should.

1.  There seem to be two groups of people in this country. Those who understand that racism is alive and well especially when it comes to social justice, and those who don't get it and really don't care. To date, not a single white policeman has been found guilty of so much as a misdemeanor when it comes to the shooting of black citizens, including senior citizens and children.  If you think that's okay, if you think that all of these men and women "probably deserved it", then you are probably one of the latter. To you I would say, that is why players kneel, lock arms and do whatever they need to do.  When Dylan Roof was arrested after killing a church full of black people, the white cop who arrested him allowed him to call his mommy and took him to McDonald's. If the situation had been reversed? If you truly believe that there is no difference, that is why athletes kneel. 

Today Fox news reported that St Louis will probably loose any chance of the new Amazon warehouse because of the "protests". With apologies to friends and readers from Missouri, I say good for Amazon. If it happens it won't be because of the "protesters" it will be because Amazon is a diverse company and expects it's employees to be treated with respect and equality-no matter their race. And for the record? I am military veteran, the wife of a miitary veteran, the sister-in-law of a guy who served six, count them six tours in the middle east.  The right of these guys to kneel is, frankly, part of the reason we all served.

*** Lest anyone think this about respect for the police in our country, in general I honor and respect all officers. But if police departments want respect, they need to be willing to poice themselves without relying on the "we put our lives in danger everyday so we should get a pass when we make mistakes or kill people" argument.  This is something the military came to slowly, but they have made the transition mainly. Would that those who maintain control within this country were willing to do the same.**


2. It occurs to me that Donald Trump has done more to unite the NFL than anything that's happened in awhile-as well as involving the MLB and the NBA.  He has also, if anyone had any doubt, fully shared his opinions on race. Do be aware, if you have not seen the "rally" that his Colin Kapernick comments were made to a room full of white folks. An accident? I dont think so. Alabama is a very racially diverse state, at least the last time I looked.  I apologize to conservative friends who visit this blog, but the time has come to say it. The man who refuses to condemn white supremacists while calling out African American protesters, who appoints Jeff Sessions (a man who makes Strom Thurmond look like a liberal, make no mistake) as his right hand justice guy, has an issue with race.

3. For those who weren't paying attention, be clear that part of our President's rhetoric is pure distraction. Things got MUCH worse for Trump re Russia this week. No matter how much Fox News ignores this, or our leader calls it fake news, the train is coming and the President of the United states is DIRECTLY in it's path. Russia is not going away. Period.

4. Yesterday, a core group of Republican senators held a closed door meeting on health care. Where the discussion was not how to make it better, not how to lower costs, but the fact that they were losing donors because they hadn't gotten "something" passed. They were not worried about their constituents but their re-election money. Barring a miracle, this will probably be the final nail in the coffin of my senator from Colorado (you know, the guy who had disabled people removed and arrested from his office when they wanted to talk about health care?). Folks, I am in favor of health care reform, don't get me wrong. But any plan that does not address pre-existing conditions, costs, and find ways to reign in insurance companies (all of which made record profits last year, in spite of withdrawing from markets) is not a plan. I personally do not "trust the states" to do the right thing when it comes to pre-existing conditions.  Take a couple months, do the "math", address the issues and revise our current health care plan. This "repeal no matter who it hurts" stuff has gotten out of hand.

5. Americans, especially conservatives, have a blind eye when it comes to immigration. Every state collects millions of dollars from illegal immigrants-money that immigrants to do not get back in benefits. In other words, almost every state makes money from illegal immigrants. Besides the issues of taxes from paychecks, every single person who buys something pays taxes, often as high as ten percent. And the statistics show that medical and education benefits undocumented immigrants receiver is not even close to the money they put in. I realize that that's not Fox News feel good speak, but there it is. 

 Additionally, almost eight million undocumented immigrants are employed in service, farming and some tech positions. Positions that, contrary to  Trump speak, cannot be easily filled by American citizens. There is a severe shortage of workers for these kind of jobs (just ask my son the restaurant guy how long he can keep a worker, even a well paid restaurant worker. If it were legal, he could easily work eighty hours because of lack of help). Put simply, immigrants are not taking your jobs. Sending all of these undocumented workers home will raise the cost of cotton, leave you with produce shortages because there will be no one to harvest the strawberries, and have you wondering why it takes room service or your maid an extra hour to appear.

6.  The above statement applies in spades when it comes to DACA recipients. DACA recipients are well educated (often in needed fields like skilled work and tech). Seventy percent of these kids are in higher education (and fifty percent of those are aiming for further degrees). And finally, for those "send the immigrants home and give us our jobs" types, the US will lose almost 500 billion, in terms of domestic production over the next ten years with out the dreamers. In other words, conservatives, by sending the dreamers home, you're ruining the economy.

7. And last, but not least, you don't win when you go toe to toe with a madman with a nuclear arsenal at his disposal and who is willing to use it.  Are there things that need to be done with regards to North Korea? Absolutely. But when you shame South Korea for trying to come to terms with the country to the north for trying to broker a deal that works for those countries most directly in the line of fire, you are not being responsible. When you trade insults, you are not being responsible.  When you say "many more of them will die" you are being beyond irresponsible.  Again, channel Martin Sheen in the move the Dead Zone (check the scene out on Utube if you never saw the movie). No one wins in a nuclear war, period (never mind the fact that most of North Korea lives in substance camps as slave workers). Never mind Russia. Korea is reason enough in my opinion, to declare this President unqualified and replace him.


15 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Your'e welcome. After that, I had to go watch football, lol

      Delete
  2. All 7 points are right on the money!! And speaking of money they are aiming to increase the amount that Medicare patients are to pay. And they are weakening the ADA. Thanks Trump voters. 😡

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What's sad is that the red states will generally suffer the most under any of these plans.

      Delete
  3. Agree 100% with you. I saw a photo of the group that was working on health care. Not a woman or person of color in sight.

    I do hope the Pittsburgh Steeler who chose to stand and put his hand over his heart will not be ostracized by his teammates. While I understand and agree with kneeling, conversely, I think a player has the right not to participate in the protest.

    Sheila

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I dont think so. I think each player will do what works for him in the long run, but I suspect you may see more people expressing their opinions. When Tom Brady (who seems to be to the right of Gengis Kahn) speaks up, you know there is hope.

      Delete
  4. I am not American but I agree with all your statements 1-6 which are primarily US based arguments. Your last statement affects the global citizenry and I for one am appalled by your President trying to play a bully with North Korea and endangering us all in the process. One needs to have more savvy and finesse in dealing with world bullies and I'm afraid Pres. Trump just doesn't have it. Sorry to those who voted and irked by those who still think he is doing all the right things. I fear for the instability that has been occurring south of the border from me and the polarization that seems to be increasing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great post! Agree with everything you said.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Very very good post....hit all the major pointss that most of us are thinking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I try. Too often I rant, so this way I am being brief, ya know?

      Delete
  7. Excellent post. I hope that it is okay that I excerpted the first paragraph to use on my Facebook page. Of course, I will delete if you prefer. You have again said so clearly what needs to be said. Contradicting widespread wilful ignorance is exhausting.
    'Neverthless she persisted.’

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No problem, feel free. and I agree with the ignorance part.

      Delete
  8. Thank you for writing that. You put in words what I think and I appreciate.!!!Especially your last sentence!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I agree with Christina. Thank you for speaking for me. My horror at the behavior of this so-called president and his administration knows no bounds. In addition to every word you wrote, his lack of attention to our citizens who are suffering in Puerto Rico is appalling.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Barbara. I agree with every word you wrote!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by! I love to hear from others, and I also love to hear all points of view.. Just leave the profanity and insults at home, OK? Thanks!!