Veterans Day 2020

The 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918. That’s when the Armistice was signed, signaling the official end of World War I. For years it was called Armistice Day and honored our men and women who served our country so valiantly in the defeat of Germany. In 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day.

Those who served, and continue to serve our country, come from every walk of life. Age, color, creed, national origin or political beliefs aren’t of importance when you are facing an enemy on the battlefield. They all work as brothers and sisters in arms with a common goal, protecting the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, and helping give the oppressed and enslaved the opportunity of freedom.   Many are injured, sickened, maimed or killed as a result of their service; unselfish sacrifices made by those who keep our freedoms intact, and fighting for people they will never know. Many residents in the United States owe their life here to those who fought in their countries to give them a chance at a better life.

Veterans' Day isn't simply an identified moment in time. It's a day where every one of us needs to thank those who served this great country, both the living and those who have passed on. Those of us who served will never forget them; please take a moment to remember them too

 I know this is Canadian but it is so appropriate to honor all those who sacrificed so much for our nation and the world. Please remember and honor all veterans on November 11. 

The Thin Blue Line

It's a very sad time for the Thin Blue Line. The left portrays them as crazed killers, the liberal media portrays them as hired thugs, politicians see them as a pawn to use in maintaining their personal status quo, and the "activists" use them as a stepping stone to further their own warped agenda.

Officers getting hit by explosives, lasers and Molotov cocktails is okay, but cops firing less lethal munitions or crowd control gas is inhumane. Take away crowd control means and then tell them they cannot use deadly force. Meanwhile, the citizens who deserve protection and service get screwed as the politicians keep them from doing their job the right way. When a cop is murdered there might be a one-line somewhere in the press; when a thug is righteously dispatched they get front page coverage and the cops are denigrated and vilified.

Brothers and sisters, you have become cannon fodder in a war you don't have options to fight. When did it become okay to have a politician say you simply stand and be hit, assaulted, abused and killed? When did it become okay for politicians to stand by and watch their cities be destroyed? 

I don't have the answers but by God's help, we need to turn this around fast. Time is running out on the America we love and cherish and are willing to lay down our lives for. Yes, willing to sacrifice for America and not some scumbag politicians.

Priority Mail...isn't!

 I sent a package to the east coast and sent it three day Priority Mail. It took 8 days! Someone sent me a package from the east coast 3 day Priority Mail and it took over a week. Now I ordered stamps from the USPS and guess what? They sent them Priority Mail and here it is a week later and nothing. From the damned Postal Service no less. They cannot get their own parcels or envelopes in a timely manner! 

Okay, what goes on? I heard that because so many commercial flights are cancelled due to COVID-19, there are fewer planes to ship Priority Mail which usually goes via air. So the postal service ships by ground and it then takes at least a week coast to coast, or in the case of the stamps, a week or more from the Midwest to California. Of course you have to pay the same outrageous Priority Mail fee regardless of how they decide to send your package or letter. In contacting the USPS their answer is wait ten more days and then file a claim. Idiots!

UPS and FedEx use their own planes so they don't do this. If you ship two day air it goes by air. Ship ground and it goes ground. They guarantee their services and the post office does not. Unless you use Express Mail they could care less about timely service. And good luck in making a claim for lost or undelivered packages. They take an eternity, IF you ever get reimbursed, and make you think you did something wrong rather than them. And of course, your postage cost is gone forever. 

When mailing for the holidays, ship early. I am talking about right after Thanksgiving or even sooner. If their current handling of mail and parcels is any indication of their performance, two weeks or more could become the norm. Maybe if they would get rid of the dead wood at the post offices and distribution centers we could have Amazon like performance for a decent cost. Of course, that will never happen. The unions protect the dead wood and I know from people who are actually good workers how difficult it is to get rid of a poor or non-performing employee in the postal service.

Insanity is ruling America

"This morning, I realized that everything is about to change. No matter how I vote, no matter what I say, lives are never going to be the same.

I have been confused by the hostility of family and friends. I look at people I have known all my life so hate-filled that they agree with opinions they would never express as their own. I think that I may well have entered the Twilight Zone.

You can't justify this insanity. We have become a nation that has lost its collective mind!

We see other countries going Socialist and collapsing, but it seems like a great plan to us.

Somehow, it’s un-American for the census to count how many Americans are in America.

People who say there is no such thing as gender are demanding a female President.

Universities that advocate equality, discriminate against Asian-Americans in favor of African-Americans.

Some people are held responsible for things that happened before they were born and other people are not held responsible for what they are doing right now.

Criminals are caught-and-released to hurt more people, but stopping them is bad because it's a violation of THEIR rights.

People who have never owned slaves should pay slavery reparations to people who have never been slaves.

If a dude pretends to be a woman, you are required to pretend with him.

It was cool for Joe Biden to "blackmail" the President of Ukraine, but it’s an impeachable offense if Donald Trump inquires about it.

People who have never been to college should pay the debts of college students who took out huge loans for their degrees.

Immigrants with tuberculosis, HIV, and polio are welcome, but you’d better be able to prove your dog is vaccinated.

Irish doctors and German engineers who want to immigrate to the US must go through a rigorous vetting process, but any illiterate gang-bangers who jump the southern fence are welcome.

$5 billion for border security is too expensive, but $1.5 trillion for "free" health care is not.

If you cheat to get into college you go to prison, but if you cheat to get into the country you go to college for free.

And, pointing out all this hypocrisy somehow makes us "racists"!

Nothing makes sense anymore, no values, no morals, no civility and people are dying of a Chinese virus, but it is racist to refer to it as Chinese even though it began in China.

We are clearly living in an upside down world where right is wrong and wrong is right, where moral is immoral and immoral is moral, where good is evil and evil is good, where killing murderers is wrong, but killing innocent babies is right.

Wake up America, the great unsinkable ship Titanic America has hit an iceberg, is taking on water and sinking fast.

The choice is yours to make. What will it be? Time is short, make your choice wisely!"

Bring back trade schools!

It seems in today's world, the old fashioned trade or technical school has vanished from the landscape. In its place have mushroomed public learning venues that fail to teach young Americans the basics of survival, work ethic and earning a living with their hands as well as their minds. In its place has become the sterile environment of a classroom, where children sit in rows, many holding electronic devices, and what may be called a mindless educational system. Classes formed to brainwash children into whatever the current mold of education seems to be...teach them that anything is okay as long as the left says it's good. Feed them information that sexual aberration is acceptable, that they can be boys or girls or neither or both as they desire, and can change depending on what their mindset is for the day. Teach that God is bad but evil is good, that criminal behavior is acceptable, and those who commit crime are doing so because they have been "marginalized" by society and have no other recourse. That incarceration of criminals is evil, and that drug use is okay. That protest with violence is okay if you get your message across, but the police enforcing the law are bad.

We NEED trade schools again. Teach children how to work and be inventive and creative. Learn how to shape a piece of wood into a piece of furniture or a knick-knack, build a house, repair an automobile engine or car body, fix a furnace, work on sheet metal, wire a house or factory, repair electronics, do metallurgy, and so much more. Working with your hands and seeing what you created is so rewarding and leads to a more satisfying life. I went to a trade school and learned skills I still use 60 years later. I can still install electrical wiring, wire lights, troubleshoot electrical circuits and more. I first learned these skills in a trade school at the age of 13 and in four years became a pretty decent electrician had I decided to continue my path in that vein. Those are skills that will live with me forever. I have friends who have very successful careers as electricians, carpenters, auto mechanics, and even scientists based on their education in that trade school.

We now place our children in front of a computer or tablet and allow that to be their teacher, mentor and amusement all in one. Whatever is placed in front of them kids will absorb like a sponge. Teach children to sit in front of that device and accept all that it spews is like allowing your child to be in the care of an electronic genie who suddenly pops forth and seems to know everything. And it will teach children many things you may disagree with, but have no control over, unless YOU take control.

Teaching diversity should be done at home, not in school or over some device. It needs to be a conversation parents have with their children on how to be a good citizen and a good human being. How to accept other people based on the individual, and not some stereotype of race, color or creed. Teach children that crime is always wrong regardless of the reason someone gives for their behavior. Teach children love of self, others and love of country. Teach them they can be whatever they accede to if they work hard and strive for it. Teach them the values of saving for a rainy day, sharing with others, and making it on their own.

Teach them that failure is their own choice, as is success. Working through failure is part of the road to success, and that the bumps in that road teach a valuable lesson in overcoming adversity. That challenges are a part of life and never to give up trying. 

We need to fix our schools as well. Stop allowing teachers and "professors" to teach socialist and communist propaganda to our children. Parents need to become more involved in what their children are learning. Stand up for your kids; don't abdicate the raising of your children to a school or electronic device that doesn't have your family values.

Those who gave, those who took and those who do nothing

 For many years I have pondered why our country is so split apart by many factors. Political leanings, extremism, race, standard of living and so much more. I think I have had revelations on many of those fronts.

First are those who gave and many are continuing to give. You know, the military, veterans, police, fire, paramedics and other first responders, medical professionals and more who give back every day, either through their service to humanity or through enduring injury and illness incurred while stepping up and protecting not only America, but securing freedom for others. 

Then we have those who took and continue to take. They never contribute anything to society and will do whatever it takes to continue feeding on the hind tit of society. Won't work a productive job, live in mom's basement, live on welfare or other assistance programs, and drain the country of not only cash, but the human vitality that propels people and a nation forward.

 Then we have the do nothing's. They wait for everyone else to do what needs to be done, and then criticize them for doing it. They want things done for them, or to turn out the way they wish, but won't lift a finger to help.  Then they bemoan that things are not going their way! 

 Look at the situation honestly and without bias. How do we fix some of the big problems our country faces?

People decry the police shooting of a person, color irregardless. But why isn't there the same hue and cry over the hundreds killed in the neighborhoods where nobody seems to see or know anything after the shootings? Why do dozens and hundreds of people of color die in their own neighborhoods, not at the hands of anyone but their own people? Why is there no movement to stop that crime and murder? I can't answer that, but the beginnings of safe neighborhoods start with the residents. As long as thugs and murderers get away with their crimes, there will be no stopping them. People need to stand up and fight back. And, de-funding the police especially in areas that are crime ridden is moronic. Less police equals more crime in the inner cities and that's a fact.   

Why as a nation do we allow welfare and social service programs to run rampant where people can be on the public dole for generations? Doesn't anyone ever require that the recipients work? How does it occur that people can have ten babies, all paid by the social service system and never work a day in their lives? Doesn't matter the color, race or creed, this type of system fraught with fraud has gone on long enough. Sadly, those who often need help the most are denied because the monies are going to those less deserving. And that just is wrong! Not to get biblical, but the saying of "give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime" is so true. Those who want help need to get moving and help themselves. Yes COVID-19 is a hindrance but this persisted for decades way before the virus came to visit.

Why is there always a left and right in government? Is there never a middle ground? Why do politicians seem to spend their time in office fighting, cutting down the other party, trying to screw the opposite side instead of actually working for the American people who pay their way? IF the politicians spent as much time actually doing the work of the public, they wouldn't have time to fight so much. And why do politicians pander to a vote rather than what's good for the people? Giving free money and medical support to illegals seems an odd way to spend the American taxpayer's money.

And why do politicians get free healthcare and a huge retirement when they serve as little as one term? The American people struggle to pay for healthcare and the politicians get a free ride. No matter so many want to become senators and congressmen. What's good for every American is what the politicians should be getting and no more or less. 

It doesn't matter what color you are, you can be successful. This white privilege is a bunch of crap developed by idiots who have no idea what they are talking about. Let's see...starting working at 13, helping keep a house as well, going to school, working part time through high school, fighting a war through military service, going to college out of one's own pocket while working and supporting a family, never asking for a hand out and doing what was needed to survive and grow. If that's white privilege it isn't all that wonderful. And what's interesting is that men and women of color were doing the same thing at the same time. Many were successful doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers and so much more. They had what...black privilege? No, what they had was drive and a wanting to be someone, to be better. and they succeeded.

If you want to be nothing, don't work, do drugs, be a thug and commit crimes, loot, steal and burn and disrespect authority you can bet that will be your entire life. You will become nothing, be nothing and likely die on the street in a hail of bullets or a drug overdose or the wreck of a stolen car. Your mom will cry at the loss of a child, but she shares much of the blame, and now the guilt, for how you turned out. The lack of parenting and any controls allowed you to become nothing more than a stain on the pavement, the recipient of a bunch of dollar store candles and cheap balloons in a makeshift memorial. Just like the one a block away, and several blocks further and more. 

 Finally, if you think these "movements" care about you that's a big mistake. They are designed to create chaos and when it's all over, you will be back where you were, likely poorer and perhaps in worse shape than when it all started. Look at those around you when you protest or march or whatever it is you do. They are there for the thrill of getting away with criminal activity in the name of the First Amendment. Don't let their enthusiasm end up with you creating situations where you have to face people exercising their Second Amendment rights. That will not be a positive outcome.

Are we enroute to a civil war?

The events of the past all too many months seem to point in a direction I thought America would never go.  From a country that was mostly peaceful to one where riots and anarchy are widespread. From cities where people wanted to be to where people never want to go. From vibrant shopping areas in major cities to looted, burned and boarded up stores. From pride in America to disgust over the handling of these riots by leftist politicians, who pander to anything that gets them another vote. 

Look at the list of cities that are not only having riots, but who also appear to support the rioters. They are almost all Democrat controlled. No, I will not call them protesters, or demonstrators or even activists. This has turned into full scale riots by thugs, anarchists and miscreants who wish to destroy our country and our government. And, sadly, the law enforcement agencies in these cities are hamstrung and not allowed to quell the riots. IF they had been allowed to do their jobs, the end to these alleged "peaceful" protests would have occurred quickly. 

People need to understand the difference between First Amendment rights to peaceful protest, and when it turns ugly to the point when property damage and injury to people takes over. I see one major issue is how the politicians keep saying people have the right to protest, but seem to have lost any ability to see when it turns into something else.  When protest turns to defiance and insurrection, the "peaceful" protest is over. The crowd says it's "civil disobedience" to try and wrap their destruction into a two word phrase they may or may not be able to comprehend. Civil disobedience is NOT rioting, NOT looting, NOT mayhem and violence and certainly NOT murder. But try and tell that to people throwing firebombs or large explosives at the police. 

I believe civil war is coming, if not imminent. This won't be black against white as so many hoped. There are great people of all races disgusted with this denigration of our society and the good will band together to quell the uprising by the anarchists and far left wing groups. People will be fighting to restore the country we knew and loved long before the anarchists and leftists decided to try and destroy it. Socialists and Marxists, funded by ego maniacal billionaires will not succeed. There are way too many patriots in this country to allow that. 

There is a fine line between where someone's first amendment rights end and someone else's second amendment rights begin. Those who choose to ignore logic and common sense in a quest to destroy America may well find they are horribly wrong when the sleeping giant arises. This is not the first time patriots have been called upon to crush an enemy, and they will rise to the occasion. And for so many patriots, this isn't their first rodeo!

Whose life matters anyway?

All the protests going on about Black Lives Matter and the protesters saying that All Lives Matter is racist, I suppose we need to take a look at whose lives really matter if you look at it pragmatically. 

First categorize all life. Human, animal, avian, aquatic, and even insects are all important. In that vein, let's leave out those of the non-human species. Yes, I know you don't think some people are human, but that's a topic for another day. 

First, people cannot be grouped as to race color, creed, national origin or any other attribute other than themselves. People should all be accepted or rejected based on their character and individual qualities, not on a pre-judged stereotype or something that jumps out from a book or the silver screen. 

Second, there are people that matter based on their moral, civil and humanistic qualities, and those are the people we all want to associate with and have as friends, or at the least acquaintances. Those people are the ones who strive to do well, are cognizant of their faults and failings, and work to be successful providers for their family and honest law abiding citizens. They are the people others look up to in life, and want to emulate to also become a success. Their lives definitely matter.

Third, there is the next group who sometimes stray off the track, who may have difficulties in life, but as a whole strive to get ahead, provide for their family and do as much as possible in their power to be a quality individual. Sure, they occasionally may have a bad moment and run into minor issues with the law, but are cognizant they need improvement and do improve. They are perhaps the people we also want as friends, and many are willing to be mentors to assist them in life. Their lives also matter.

Fourth, there is the group that seems to believe they are above the law, can do as they wish with no consequences, and willing to harm others without a second thought. Criminal activity is their daily work, and they have no consideration for others lives or property as long as they can get what they want, either surreptitiously or by force. Murderers, rapists, perverts, sex offenders, child abusers, shooters, looters, arsonists, people who brutalize and assault others, muggers, and many more are those, whom to me, their lives do not matter. It isn't whether they are of any color, race or creed, people who commit these types of crime don't deserve to live in a civilized society. They are the cancer that invades cities and neighborhoods, destroying those around them, a cancer that should be excised from society as soon as possible. Failure to do so allows that cancer to metastasize and grow until it destroys entire areas of the country.Their lives apparently don't matter to them, nor to anyone else, other than perhaps some defense attorney who needs the money, or wants to make a name for themselves in a high profile case.

If you look at what's happening now in our nation, the politicians are pandering to the criminals. Not to the protesters, that has long ago faded. The BLM protesters received some concessions, but foolishly allowed domestic terrorists and anarchists to become a viable part of their crowds. The anarchists, terrorists, arsonists and looters are way over the BLM movement, which was simply a vehicle to allow them to  destroy in the name of equality. Regardless of what the BLM protests accomplished, the anarchists and terrorists want to keep on destroying, tearing the very fabric of society to the point where there is no resistance left and they get their warped way. Because of them, many who once supported the BLM are now moving in a different direction and no longer support the BLM message. Like babies screaming because the bottle is empty to children having a tantrum because they can't get a new toy, these people have crawled out from under the rocks in their relative's basements and seem to believe they can demand anything and it will happen. Sadly for them, they are really misinformed. 

Those who would destroy America grossly underestimate the resolve of real Americans. Those who swore to defend this country against all enemies, foreign and domestic, are over the foreign bit. Now comes the domestic enemies. And as days continue, the anger swells within the real American communities, Black, White, Latino, Asian and everywhere else. They will not continue to accept this war on our country sitting down. The sleeping giant has been aroused, but has not yet risen. That, my friends, will be coming sooner than we think. 

Another piece of America is lost...

Ed Bruce had a song called "The Last Cowboy Song" in which he laments the loss of American icons, such as the cattle drives, the cowboys and the old west. One of the lyrics says "It's another piece of America lost".

We are losing much more than another piece of America today. The very fabric of society is being torn, no make that shredded, by domestic terrorists, anarchists and others who believe the way to their future is by destroying everyone else's future and obliterating the past as well. Tear down everything they don't like, spewing hate and discontent, and fanning the flames of diversity, all the while crying for inclusion and diversity. Damage, burn loot but blame others for the violence. Spew hate, but expect others to embrace the "cause", which has been hijacked from it's original intent. There is no cause any longer, it has become an all out attack on the American values this country was founded on.

Why do the "protesters" and I use that term very loosely, hate America so much? Is it because they have been indoctrinated by the schools that they are the most important living thing, although they have not contributed a single thing to society?  Is it because they have been living off their parents and the system and now are more than willing to not only bite, but savage, the hands that feed them? Is it because they have been taught they don't need to contribute to society, but society should feed them just because they are alive? Is it because their parents were never really parents, just other non-nurturing people who gave them no morals, values or culture in their formative years? Is it because they have become criminals and now believe they should be able to take from anyone they choose with no repercussions? Is it because they are lemmings who will join any cause if it may result in their anonymity behind their actions?

I believe it is all the above. Looking at the multitude of videos of those rioting in our streets, they look like punks. Not a cross section of Americans, but just punks who have been supplied with the means to foist chaos on cities by the Democrat, leftist mayors and governors. Many look like tweakers and drug addicts; one was on a video and was flying so high I am surprised someone didn't have to hold him down from leaving the ground. Recent information points to George Soros funding this as part of his socialist agenda. Whether that is factual or not, someone is funding these people and leading them down a path to ruin. Of course they don't work, so rioting and protesting is a way to avoid any meaningful employment and demand that others pay their way. And since they don't contribute to society, the damage costs won't fall on their shoulders. The huge cost of repairs is borne by the real taxpayers of this country, diluting available funds for social programs the protesters are crying for. Maybe the government taxpayers should quit funding all the freebie programs and put that money into restoring what has been destroyed instead. Of course the liberals in Washington won't allow that, they are as bad as the mayors of Seattle, Olympia, Portland and elsewhere in lacking any moral values. 

How many people believe any pf this is actually in response to George Floyd's death? Very few. This was planned and staged well before that occurrence, using his death as a catalyst for what was already planned. The destruction of public and private property, the destroying of statues and memorials, the looting and burning was a well orchestrated project. In the very first day or so I saw people using battery operated metal saws cutting through security shutters to gain access to loot stores. That is just not something you find at a demonstration. Planned well ahead of time for sure.

Recent videos have postulated this is the start to a civil war planned and orchestrated by the Democrats, who kept police away from doing their sworn duty to make rioting and looting easier for the "protesters". In cities and jurisdictions where the police were allowed to do their job, there was no widespread violence or looting. Only in places where police action was hamstrung by the leaders of the cities has there been this terrible loss of civility. Those "leaders" should be charged, tried and convicted of aiding and abetting a riot, instigating civil unrest, malfeasance of office and more. To allow them to continue to turn their back on the quality, law abiding citizens of their cities, moreover the country, is more than insulting, it is criminal.

There are millions of Americans who will stand up and defend America. Those who took an oath to defend their country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. And, these are truly domestic enemies. Enemies who used what was perhaps a noble cause at the start, and devolved it to their own war on the American way of life. I firmly believe real Americans won't allow that to happen.

Portland turns to dust

Portland, or more correctly Pottyland, continues to live up to it's reputation as a crap hole infested with drugs, useless people and anarchists. Now in it's what, 67 or 68th day of "protests", the constant destruction of property and denigration of any sense of civility just carries on.

Sadly, the politicians who not only condone, but actually assist and fan the flames of unrest, now take to the streets to stand with the anarchists demanding change. Listen up, folks, the message has been lost. Nobody is listening anymore. The sane world believes you are all a bunch of idiots and ingrates who have lived off the system you now want to destroy. You want to defund the police and believe it's okay to throw incendiary and explosive devices at the police, You feel you have the right to attack anyone who fails to share and embrace your leftist, no make that communist, beliefs. Yet when one of you is injured by someone you attacked, you want the same police to hold that person accountable. You are more than stupid, you are criminally insane.

Those who would destroy the very fabric of America are the same ones who will want their cities rebuilt. No, not on their money but that of the working taxpayers who will have to pay for this asinine activity through their wallet. Those who destroy businesses and then decry there are no jobs. Did anyone of the idiots who burn and destroy businesses think that those businesses are the ones who actually employ people? The same businesses that are now leaving cities and states like rats leaving a sinking ship? But the rats are not the business owners, the rats have taken over the streets where the government is dumb and turns a blind eye to this destruction. The rats feed on the garbage that is left behind, when their food source dries up. When jobs and opportunity leaves Portland, Seattle, Albuquerque, New York City, Minneapolis to name a few, where will the rats find sustenance? Like rodents, the "protesters" will eat each other and self-destruct. We can only pray that time comes sooner rather than later.

BLM has been hijacked...

I think it's sad that the very core of the Black Lives Matter has been hijacked by anarchists, domestic terrorists and those who have absolutely no consideration for what the BLM movement was supposed to be. As a result, many who at first agreed with what the movement stood for, now are condemning it for allowing these anarchists to march with them, and denigrate the message they wanted people to hear. The loud noise is now destroy, kill, loot, burn and that is not what was the intent I am sure.

I wonder if the movement had picked someone else as their poster child, rather than George Floyd, would the message maybe have fallen on more receptive ears? Maybe one of the children and infants shot and killed due to Chicago violence? But that would be pointing back at their own failings as a community, to quell the violence that is mainly black on black in many neighborhoods. Blaming the police for all the violence against any race, regardless of whom, is pointing a finger while the rest of the fingers point right back. In Chicago, for example, on Memorial Day weekend, May 30-31, 85 shot, 24 of them fatally and not one by a cop. On June 20-21, Father's Day weekend,104 shot,15 fatally, and not one by a cop. On June 27-28 weekend there were 63 shot, 6 fatally and not one by a cop. On July 4th weekend, 87 shot, 17 fatally, and not one by a cop. July 18-19 weekend, 70 shot, 11 fatally, not one by a cop. Monday July 20, 25 shot, 4 fatally, not one by a cop.

Does anyone see a pattern here? Cries to defund and abolish the police simply will lead to more killing and embolden the criminals who do the shooting. What happened in New York City? The mayor abolished the 600 member anti-crime units in response to all the cries that the police are the problem. And guess what? The leaders in the black community are now pleading to have that unit resurrected because crime has gone off the charts. Defunding or abolishing the police is not only patently idiotic, but hurts those in black and other people of color communities.

Make it very clear I am NOT defending the idiot cop in the George Floyd case. He was wrong on so many fronts, and I condemn any action such as this on any human. But George Floyd was not the wonderful person everyone wants you to believe he was. His list of felonies is a mile long, many of them violent. As I said above, a better role for a poster child for this would have been a child killed from indiscriminate shooting by their own community.

We all matter, regardless of color, creed or national origin. Every life is sacred, and I revere every living thing. I pray, as many others do, this craziness stops and we can all come together to appreciate what each has to offer in this melting pot we call America. To do so, we all need to stand together as Americans, not just people who live in America. Stop delineating each other as to race or beliefs. Unless one is a criminal, we all need to treat each other with kindness. If we do not, a fractured society will soon determine the fate of the country and it will not be anything we want to see.

What a sad commentary on COVID-19

Sickening statistics. One quarter of all the deaths in the world attributed to COVID-19 are in the US. What is supposedly the most advanced nation on earth has one glaring shortcoming...our residents. People still believe the self-isolation and masks are a joke and the disease won't get them or their families. Thus we set yet another record for the number of infections with 75,775 new infections in one day!

How about this for a wake-up call, 85 children under two years old with 52 of them under one year old tested positive for COVID-19 in Texas? What..the general belief is that babies don't get this. Wrong! Guess that was a misconception. A 6 week old boy who died this past week was found to have COVID-19. Wait..babies don't get this disease. Wrong.

I guess if people don't care, won't protect themselves and their families, their children will die and they have nobody to blame but themselves. Of course the hue and cry will be that nobody did anything to stop the disease before it took their family member...but self-righteousness and indignation won't bring back that person.

The current failure to observe the necessary precautions is appalling. I am more than ashamed of Americans who let this get out of control. We have fought and won wars, battled and won against disease such as polio, and plagues, but many have learned nothing. Especially the younger generations who think their personal "freedom" is more important than the communal good. Again, it's the me-me-me attitude that will result in thousands more deaths every day. Failure to learn from history results in history being repeated over and over. I shudder to think what would happen if another country invaded us...unlike the older generation and our forefathers, who fought to the death for freedom, not only for us, but for those they never knew, many snowflakes would simply run and hide and melt.

God Bless America...Lord we really need it!

Berkeley California, the seat of socialism

The idiots in Berkeley, the birthplace of socialism in California, are at it again...let’s see how this plays out...I see where nobody will stop, felons will kill and Berkeley will blame it all on the police for not being there.

BERKELEY, Calif. — After a nine-hour meeting lasting into the early morning hours, the city of Berkeley announced Wednesday it would move forward with a proposal to remove police from traffic enforcement duties.

Now the city will work towards forming a separate traffic department that will use unarmed city workers to conduct traffic stops, according to the Associated Press. Nothing will change immediately, but the vote calls on the city manager to order a “community engagement process” that will pursue the creation of the new department.

The East Bay Times called it a “landmark decision,” with experts saying the plan to separate police from traffic is likely the first of its kind.

“For far too long public safety has been equated with more police,” said Mayor Jesse Arreguin at the meeting.

Other changes approved by the city council Wednesday include aiming to reduce the police budget by 50%; removing officers from homeless outreach and services and mental health and crisis management; and establishing a community safety coalition committee, according to the Times.

The Berkeley Police Department said it does not comment on council decisions. However, police unions for Los Angeles, San Jose and San Francisco released a joint statement Tuesday ahead of the council’s approval, obtained by the Associated Press, on the matter:

“We do not believe that the public wants lax enforcement of those incidents by non-sworn individuals. Traffic stops are some of the most dangerous actions police officers take. What happens when the felon with an illegal gun gets pulled over by the parking police?" the statement read, “Nothing good, we’re sure of that.”

Why are all the big BLM riot cities run by the Democrats?

Here's some interesting facts: Most of the large cities where protesting, riots and looting have taken place are under control of whom? If you guessed Democrats, you are 100% correct.

The question is why did those officials not take a stand and make every effort to stop the mayhem? Some say they wanted the protesters to be heard, regardless of the damage that would likely occur. Some say they thought the looting and rioting would be on a much smaller scale. Some even say, they didn't care as long as the unrest didn't reach their door. How'd that turn out for Mayor Jenny Durkan in Seattle or Cheryl Selby in Olympia? When the protesters started damaging THEIR property they called for police protection. The police should have told them to "F" off just like they were telling the police while vilifying them for personal gain and potential future votes.

On that subject, the City Council in Minneapolis used taxpayer money to hire private security for them and their family while badmouthing the police. Real nice and guess what...they were all Democrats too. Andrea Jenkins, Alondra Cano and Philippe Cunningham. "The City of Minneapolis is paying $4,500 per day to hire private security guards to protect members of its city council who have received threats as the council makes efforts to defund, disband, and replace the city's police force." The City did not want to admit who the three were but you can't hide the truth for long. And along those lines, why do these mayors need special law enforcement protection in the way of multiple officers to guard them and many times act at drivers for their vehicles? Likely because they are not as popular as they think.

The pure dollar costs from these riots, and they are riots, will never be fully tallied. Even some small towns have seen insured losses, not total losses, climb in to the millions. Fargo, ND has spent a million and still counting. Larger cities are now estimating losses that top billions, and the final count is still way off. And the sad thing is the rioters wanted more money spent on programs for the socioeconomically challenged but that money will instead be going to fix the damage they did. Nice work, idiots!

Here's the shameful list of the large cities with Democrat mayors where the greatest violence has occurred. This list DOES NOT include the many smaller cities and towns that are being destroyed across America.

Bill de Blasio New York
Eric Garcetti Los Angeles
Lori Lightfoot Chicago
Sylvester Turner Houston
Kate Gallego Phoenix
Jim Kenney Philadelphia
Eric Johnson Dallas
London Breed San Francisco
Andrew Ginther Columbus
Vi Lyles Charlotte
Jenny Durkan Seattle
Michael Hancock Denver
Muriel Bowser Washington, D.C.
Marty Walsh Boston
Mike Duggan Detroit
Ted Wheeler Portland
Jack Young Baltimore
Tom Barrett Milwaukee
Tim Keller Albuquerque
Darrell Steinberg Sacramento
Quinton Lucas Kansas City, MO
Keisha Bottoms Atlanta
Robert Garcia Long Beach
Libby Schaaf Oakland
Jacob Frey Minneapolis
Frank Jackson Cleveland
LaToya Cantrell New Orleans
Jane Castor Tampa
Lyda Krewson St Louis
Bill Peduto Pittsburgh
Michael Tubbs Stockton, CA
Melvin Carter III St. Paul, MN
Ras j. Baraka Newark, NJ
Byron Brown Buffalo
Mary Salas Chula Vista, CA
Rick Kriseman St. Petersburg, FL
Lauren McLean Boise
Levar Stoney Richmond

Strangely enough, almost none of the Republican controlled cities had this type of rioting. Maybe because their government is not ultra liberal and so called "progressive"? If this is the "progressive way" to move America along, we are more than screwed. It seems everyone is "offended" by something and the leftists will fall over to change everything for any group that demands it. Changing cartoons to remove funny guns from Elmer Fudd or violence by the Road Runner is demanded, and had, by idiots but they still get to play bloody carnage games on their XBox or Play Station. Even Fortnite? How about demanding all graphic video games be rated for children and all others banned. The social police can go to everyone's door and politely request they hand over their games. If I am offended nobody cares, and frankly I don''t give a damn if anyone else is offended either.

Finally, if you don't agree, don't comment. This is not a debate page, just what I and many others believe is the cancer destroying the country. COVID-19 isn't the real enemy here, it's the snowflake mentality that will destroy us. Those who never did anything for the country but take and take and take. Who never fought a war or served in any public service or would fight for the rights of ALL people, even those they never knew. The beaches in Normandy and Guadalcanal, jungles of Vietnam, sands of the Middle East, cold ground of Korea and all over the globe have run red with the blood of patriots. Where are the legions who would now stand for the American Flag? Few it seems. Other than our military, veterans and first responders along with our medical professionals, the me-me-me society has taken over the country.

It's no longer about whose life matters...

First off, we are a blended family and I am not racist. I believe in equality. Equality between men and women, between all races and peoples. But it's no longer about whose life matters. It's all about what matters to some black people and not that black lives matter. If black lives mattered the blacks themselves wouldn't shoot 104 and murder 6 in Chicago on Father's Day. Or other days when it's 40 or 60 shootings and God knows how many killing each other. A child shot through the second floor window while she was watching TV with her family, an infant murdered while in a car seat with her daddy. Two young men shot and killed after asking how tall another man was? What the hell? Every life matters no matter the color, but when will the people of color stop shooting and start trying to save their own lives?

This has become a real shit storm and I firmly believe the Black Lives Matter movement has been hijacked by anarchists and domestic terrorists. Politicians are pandering to whatever these people want, using the BLM as a reason to roll over and play dead. It seems anything that can be turned against non-blacks is being done, and likely not by the actual BLM people. Statues destroyed, buildings burned and looted. The leftist press wants people to believe the looting is just consequential and that is crap. They came with battery powered metal cutting saws to get into stores, so that is sure as hell not just spur of the moment. That was planned way ahead of time. I see this as becoming a civil war in the US as more and more people get fed up and will defend their homes and property against this invasion. To add idiocy to this, while the alleged protesters get away with destroying tens of millions or perhaps billions of dollars in property, three people are arrested and charged for tearing down a BLM sign made out of garbage bags.And this is equality in justice now?

The press is so left leaning they jump on every opportunity to vilify the current administration. For example, the following was blown up by the press as poor woman whines her family doesn't get stimulus check. Simple issue is she married an illegal. That is on her not the American people.  He's freaking illegal, you filed a joint tax return with someone who is illegal, he has no social security number, worked under the table, paid no taxes, you took the married deduction, got the earned income and child deductions and then what...wanted us to give you more? Freaking morons and yet the news picks up these stories so people think the current administration is bad.  It's just unbelievable.

The Democrats kneeling with African scarves around their neck for George Floyd. When did they ever kneel for the tens of thousands of service men and women killed defending our country? When did they kneel for all the first responders killed in the line of duty? When did they kneel for the victims of the Pulse nightclub? When did they kneel for the victims of wildfires, floods and tornadoes? Never. Pandering is what keeps them in office. What a sad bunch of people who were elected by other sad people. Of course they want to remove John Wayne's name from the Orange County Airport. I suppose if it was John Wayne Gacy it would be okay or maybe they will name it Hanoi Jane in honor of that traitor bitch. Anything is possible. 

We all need to be cognizant of others and be open to frank dialogue on the current issues. Racism has no place in our society, and while many of the old stereotypes seem to hang on, there are good and bad people in every race, color, creed, and unfortunately, religion as well.  Maybe what the country needs is to re-institute the draft to get all young people to see we are all the same. Serving side by side by men and women of color makes one realize we are all brothers and sisters, regardless of how we appear outside. Skin only covers blood and we are all bleeding red. 

Be kind to each other and maybe, just maybe, we can survive and prosper as one.

China keeps screwing the US over and over, regardless of the coronavirus

This is not anti-Chinese rhetoric, but rather the hard facts on how we, as a nation, keep getting screwed time and again by China, thanks to our own greedy businesses and even ourselves.

Most goods from China are sub-standard, lack quality control and are designed to put money in someone's pocket while delivering a less than efficient, or even safe, product. Let's examine some of the reasons why:

Cheap. Simply stated, Chinese goods are cheap. Cheaply made, cheap instruction manuals that look and read like they were written by kindergartners, poor packaging, and not designed to last.

Unsafe. Chinese products often carry labels like UL and others making them appear as if they were tested by Underwriters Laboratories for safety. In almost every case, they have not and they counterfeit the trademark of UL to increase sales among consumers who think they may be getting safe products. I read almost daily about products that fail, catch fire, melt, and present undue shock hazards and yet, they remain 9n the market. Someone is falling down on the job allowing this junk into the country without examination. Sadly, catastrophic failure of an item makes any legal avenue to claim damages and injury almost impossible.

Unsafe for children. Also unsafe is the materials themselves used in manufacture of Chinese goods. Lead base paint has been found in many children's toys and while some US companies state they go to China to assure they are using the proper materials, spy video has shown the Chinese switching back to unsafe materials as soon as the US based inspector leaves.

Unsafe for anyone. Remember the Chinese drywall debacle? If you don't have a house made with Chinese drywall you are more than lucky, you are blessed. It made many thousands sick when the contaminated and corrosive formula that emanated hydrogen sulfide, a corrosive gas with a rotten egg smell, and ended up in as many as 100,000 homes in the US alone. An estimated 550 million pounds were imported, enough to built at least 60,000 home in their entirety. Think that's an exaggeration? Here's from Wikipedia:
"Chinese drywall" refers to an environmental health issue involving defective drywall manufactured in China, imported to the United States and used in residential construction between 2001 and 2009 — affecting "an estimated 100,000 homes in more than 20 states."^[1]
In samples of contaminated drywall, laboratory tests will detect off-gassing of volatile chemicals and sulfurous gases — including carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide, and hydrogen sulfide. The emissions worsen as temperature and humidity rise, will give off a sulfuric (rotten egg) odor and will cause copper surfaces to turn black and powdery, a chemical process indicative of a hydrogen sulfide reaction and an early indication of contaminated drywall. Copper pipes, electrical wiring, and air conditioner coils are affected, as well as silver jewelry.
Homeowners have reported health symptoms including respiratory problems such as asthma attacks, chronic coughing and difficulty breathing, as well as chronic headaches and sinus issues."

Unsafe for pets. Numerous pet food recalls result from the quality of pet food that has been imported from China. Sadly, pets have died or ended up with severe disease that shortens their lives as a result. Pats are not considered people so the liability a company has for killing your beloved pet is almost nil. Check the labels and don't buy any pet, or human food, produced in China.

Failure. The failure rate of offshore products is surely many times greater than US made items. Yes, we sometimes have products made here that fail, but there are resources available to us to contact the manufacturer, or at least the seller, and have the issues rectified. Not so with most offshore products.

Customer service. That phrase falls on deaf ears with so many Chinese products and even their US sellers. Many are not versed in the English language and cannot converse with consumers to a successful resolution of  a problem. Sometimes they will answer queries and then go silent, or many times they just don't answer. And then you seem to have little to no recourse.

Warranties. The warranty on so many products made in China are worthless. US companies sell these products and in many cases, their entire product line is made in China. The companies swear they have a no hassle warranty and it really is...for them. They simply quit answering and then you are stuck with a useless product. Here's an example:

Sun Joe Cordless Pressure Washer fails after 4 uses in about 6 months. It seemed to be a great unit and has a two year warranty so the seller is contacted. (They state they are the "factory" but in actuality the factory is in China and they are in New Jersey.) Canned automated response asks for the usual information including model and serial number, name, address, etc. Then the silence begins. No further response from Sun Joe but they seem to still have time to send ads to buy more of their products. Another week and I e-mail them again, then another week and nothing. No matter how often they are contacted it's the same idiotic auto response, or no response at all. Oh yeah, they now blame COVID-19 for their lack of response. And I am not alone in these complaints, many others seem to be having the same lack of help. Another Chinese product that you can't fix and ends up in the junkyard.

Solar lights for the patio fill with water from the rain and fail in just a few months. Seller acknowledges the problem but then drops contact. Again, what a useless Chinese product and the seller can't compose a readable sentence. I kick myself for wasting money and swear no more junk products from China.

So how are we screwing yourselves with Chinese products? We keep buying them and keeping their economy afloat while our American economy falls further behind. No, the consumer is not totally to blame; manufacturers are greedy and move production offshore to make a bigger profit while decimating jobs at home. Corporations are only based on profits and not the consumer. Yes, there are some companies with stellar service, products and warranties, but they are few and far between. It is difficult to find Made in America goods for the most part. We need to demand more made in America goods and be willing to spend more for quality products. This will bolster our employment and economy here and not in sweat shops overseas.

Buy American!

Defunding the police is a bad idea

Cities are now questioning their current police departments and what steps to take to reduce police violence. Maybe the first thing they need to do is have the community actually respect law and order, rather than adopt the "me,me,me" attitude that the entire world is wrong and they are right. Maybe we need to start making crime not pay, and to actually punish those who break the law rather than reward them with a no bail, cut-em-loose policy. Catch and release works for some fish, allowing them to get bigger and breed. It is not an acceptable manner to deal with criminal behavior.

Defunding means moving dollars away from police departments and in many cases, giving it to social programs alleged to help a marginalized or lower socioeconomic community. This is a really bad idea as time and again we have learned that throwing money into inner city problems does nothing to stem the crime and violence. Several cities including San Francisco are floating the idea that police should not respond to "non-criminal" complaints or scenarios and that will be handled by social service type arbitrators. Imagine a domestic issue that escalates and the arbitrator is going to do what? Talk more? Or now call the police when it spirals out of control? I think we will see many injured civilians in cities that decide to do this. Many situations police face on a daily basis start out as pleasant interfaces and end up being much more. Of course, those suggesting foolish moves have never been a street cop nor had any experience in actual law enforcement activities. Like those non-players who Monday morning quarterback, and condemn the way a football was tossed on Sunday, it's easy to condemn the police for making split second decisions. 

 

My opinion is it's time to not defund the police but to restructure the department from top to bottom. How a department operates should NOT be on political whims nor on reactivity to events, rather by a hierarchy of command that starts with high quality leadership. Too often the command staff is filled with those the current politicians see as supportive and leaning to their cause, rather than to the standards and qualities that make a law enforcement agency a positive factor in city government. Chicago is a prime example where the Mayor throws the police command staff under the bus, and then has yet another head who she then vilifies as a prime reason crime is out of control, while she is pulling the strings to preclude effective policing.

Community policing has failed. The "old days" when everyone knew the cop on the beat is long gone. Now we have officers riding in cars and unable to meet and greet the citizens they protect. What happened to door checks on every business on a beat, where the officer had the phone number to call in the event he found a door unlocked? In my opinion, when that was stopped, it denigrated the value of community policing. Nobody knows the beat cop anymore and the community spirit of mutual respect has died.

Sad to see how times have changed and yes, I'm an old dinosaur, who remembers it as it was...respectful policing and community care.

Protests vs Anarchy

In these most difficult times, we are now faced with a serious action taken against all Americans...protests that have turned into violent actions bordering on anarchy.

It is not bad enough that so many families and businesses have been sorely impacted with the COVID-19 Virus but now we have to deal with the destruction of businesses and public buildings that already are suffering from the economic downturn brought on by the virus.

Those protesting certainly have the right to do so in a peaceful manner and I commend those who do just that...protest against disparity and injustice for any reason. Race, color or creed should have no place in whether anyone receives fair treatment in this country. But when protest become violence and looting, the protests lose traction and become a scourge on the very fabric of our society. When lawlessness supersedes common sense, the message of a protest is drowned out entirely. The focus now becomes on those who defy logic and think violence actually adds credibility to anything. It doesn't. In fact, people who may have been sympathetic to the protests now are enraged at what it has become.

I commend the authorities who have had such restraint in the face of violence. Having had to deal with a riot many years ago, I know the difficulty in being threatened, assaulted and still not responding with force. It is an almost uncontrollable urge to strike back, and only training stops that response action.

What amazes me is how the looters and arsonists target any business at all, and many are businesses that are owned by individuals, many minorities, who have or will lose everything as a result. One man, himself a minority, had just opened his smoke shop the day before the violence, and is now left without a means to feed and clothe his family, all because some idiots decided to loot and burn his business. He did nothing to deserve this...a hard working man who was trying to build a future for his family and better himself. What a sad scenario.

Then we have the elderly couple trying to defend a business who were beaten with 2x4's. Why not leave them alone and move on? And the person who saved for many years, just opened a bar and restaurant, and it was burned to the ground..destroying his future. And even sadder is he was a black man trying to build a better life for himself and his family. I wonder what he thinks of the protests now.

Those who damaged so much will be the same ones looking for handouts and freebies when this is all over. They don't work so looking for work won't be much of a chore for them; many likely live on the public dole or with parents so they have the freedom to be idiots on someone else's dime.

And, when the ravages of COVID-19 comes to these rioters and protesters door, then what? They will want the very society they decry to save them from the disease and possible death. They will want the paramedics and ambulances they are blocking now to respond quickly to assist them or their family. How many will end up on ventilators due to their own actions, failing to adequately distance themselves and protect each other from the virus? Only time will tell. 

2020 has become a year for the annals of history. The virus, huge unemployment, business failures and now the protests and riots. What is next for our country? We can all pray the future is brighter than the immediate past.

COVID-19 and the "New Normal"

It has now been 5 months since the COVID-19 virus impacted our nation and we are no closer to any solution than we were in the beginning. Many mistakes ere made and while we all can "Monday morning quarterback" those mistakes and decisions, this is not something anyone could have been prepared for.

There are conspiracy theorists who believe the Chinese failed to maintain secure control and storage of a virus and it somehow left their laboratory in Wuhan, China. Was it an experiment gone wrong? A deliberate attempt to infect people and see how far the virus would travel? Was it some plot to bring the world to it's knees? After all, China losing a few million people would not make a huge impact on their population. At this point we don't really know; regardless it's something we all have to live with and face many changes.

While so many have self-isolated and sequestered themselves to avoid the virus, many seem to think gathering in crowds unprotected is just fine. Videos and photos of crowds at parties, pools, beaches and bars show the blatant disregard for the health of the general public by many selfish people. Contact with someone who has the virus and may be asymptomatic sets loose a new chain of infection that is exponential in number. One infects five or more who do the same and before you know it, hundreds are infected from only one virus carrier. In one gathering hundreds were infected by only one person who was ill when attending! Those who think they are immune need a reality check; there is absolutely nothing proven on immunity, and frankly, being stupid is not a protective measure!

As summer fast approaches, some believe the virus will die off due to the heat. This is not true as the temperature needed to destroy the virus is way above what a human can withstand. Although UV light can mitigate the virus to some extent, the UV-C rays needed to destroy the virus are so harsh that a human would be a crispy critter in seconds from a blast that would also kill the virus. So, while being in the sun is important for mental health for many, the sunlight won't protect you. What will protect you is washing your hands often, don't touch your face, wear a mask, practice social distancing, and stay healthy. I am not proposing people take any supplements but we take Vitamin D3 daily and so far, so good, and we are part of the population most at risk.

So what will be the "new normal"? I don't know for sure but believe many people will continue to work from home, brick and mortar stores will change how people shop, grocery and goods delivery will boom well into the future, social distancing will continue, gatherings could be limited in size and scope, and people will be limited in hours and schedules for such common things as haircuts, beauty salon, nail salons, and even restaurants. Order on line and pickup at store, or delivery, will be more common; curbside delivery has been perfected by some merchants like Best Buy, so ordering and getting items as large as major appliances is very convenient.

Many businesses will fail, especially those who struggled long before this crisis. Restaurants normally have a terrible failure rate and I believe we could see 40% or more fail within a short time. Service industries will experience losses due to lack of travel and stay at home workers. Some airlines will fail and hotels will operate in the red for years. People will put off major spending and home modernization projects and many homeowners will address home repairs themselves while at home, rather than engaging outside sources. I note more people trimming their lawns themselves recently rather than hire a gardener.

Sadly, I believe there will be many home foreclosures and homes for sale as a result of not being able to pay the mortgages. People who depended on a two earner income have seen, or may see their income fall precipitously and not be able to keep up payments. So many people are "underwater" in their homes, meaning they owe more than the home is worth, they will never be able to recover. Add to this the additional mortgage payments that will become due at some point, whether now or later. High dollar homes with expensive cars in the driveways will go up for sale. I saw this in 2009 and the Mercedes, Jaguars and Audi's in those driveways were replaced by small Honda's and Toyota's after the houses sold. I see many homes for sale in our area over the last few months; some are going to live with family to cut costs I believe. Others are moving to where cost of living is less. Savings, if any, went to simply surviving the first few months of the crisis; many never saved and are now in deep debt and trouble. Renters have been given a break in paying rent but it will come due and then what? Will landlords allow them to renew leases and tack missed payments into future rent, or will they demand it all in full, forcing people to leave their home or business? And if so, what good are empty apartments and leased stores if new lessees are unable to pay the rent and security deposits?

Cities and states, along with the Federal government, are way short in tax collections and revenue. How will they make this up? Increase taxes and fees on those who can pay? Reduce services and cut programs? Welfare and social programs won't be cut so what will? Will the remaining taxpayers take the brunt of funding the shortfall? Will politicians stop wasting tax money and tighten the belt? Sadly, that's unlikely as politicians spend taxpayers money with reckless abandon and then ask for more. The stimulus checks that were received? Someone has to pay for that and it's the taxpayers. The 3 trillion dollar proposal by the Democrats is a crap shoot, with more pork barrel politics where every congressperson got some deal for their district in return for a vote. The logic of giving everyone $2000 a month for a number of months is so faulted, and is intended to create a universal income system where everyone gets a set amount monthly, paid of course by the working taxpayer. Those on welfare and government programs will get more and overburden the taxpayers yet again. Funny how this worked out...someone once suggested every person should stop working for a week to send a message to the government on taxes. Looks like lots more than a week happened due to the virus and look what a mess it has become.

We will weather this as Americans always do.Time to stop blaming Trump or anyone else for the response to this pandemic. As I stated, mistakes were made, but if you want to blame someone, blame the Chinese government. I firmly believe they hid the enormity of this virus, the contagious nature and simply hoped it would go away. It didn't and now we have almost 100,000 Americans who have died because of it. More Americans have died from this virus than were killed in the Vietnam War! Yet there are no protests to distance ourselves from China, only protests to open up the country, mostly by whiners who really don't own businesses and fanned by the twisted media coverage. Yes, we want the country to re-open, but at what cost? Another 100,000 to die?  Selfish reasoning will cost us dearly. But then again, selfishness has become a nasty trait of so many of our newer generations. It is "me too, me too" except when it comes to doing the right thing and helping fight this virus. I suppose asking everyone to do their part in fighting the virus is like asking snowflakes to defend their homeland. Unlike their predecessors, they don't stand for anything except self satisfaction and self indulgence. And that is what will keep this terrible virus circulating and mutating for many years to come.