well, the government is open again...

for now.

But things could go south again in a few weeks. No one is budging on the wall funding issue. And declaring a national emergency over the situation on our southern border seems ludicrous given than illegal alien flow is at its lowest point in decades.

It's all about Agent Orange and his ego.  Most things have been.

I submitted another "radical"letter to the editor just now to the Greensboro news and record.

I do not understand how any reasonable person can support Donald Trump anymore. He just engineered the longest government shutdown in American history at the behest of Ann Colton, aka Secretary of State Colton, then caved for the same deal he had agreed on weeks ago, one voted for unanimously for the United States Senate. The man has insulted the disabled and families of veterans who gave their lives for their country. He lies constantly. No one wants to be his chief of staff. John McCain asked that he NOT be invited to his funeral and his appearance at the HW Bush funeral turned the affair frigid when he arrived. Under his tutelage, children have been wrested away from their children and put into cages. Others have been tear gassed. Interesting how that caravan moving north to invade our country seemingly evaporated the day after the midterm election when it could no longer be exploited for political gain. How many of his associates have now been indicted for suspected complicity with a foreign power or for lying to the FBI or to congress? And they were so concerned about Hillary’s emails?

The Imbusciles will doubtless lose their fecal matter over it.

There's a crazy thing going on lately,  all inspired by the motion picture, Birdbox, the tale of a woman and two children trying to survive a world invaded by beings who cause people who see them to do crazy things.  The trio sets out on a journey to a community that is deemed "safe," but must do it all blindfolded.  If they look, they die.

                                                              cute little bugger, but can
                                                           you  see doing this for a day or two?

                                            

Last evening, I saw a family (I think they were a family) walking on Oak Arbor road, out in front of my house.  Two of them (I believe they were young girls) were finding their way blindfolded, one of them almost crash landed in the ditch between my yard and the street. Yes, their father or some significant male, walked with them, but he was also walking three dogs on a leash and thus couldn't keep a watch on them.  Cars tend to drive down our street as though it were the firecracker 500. Kind of scared me some...

    This one stayed blindfolded for 2 and a half hours during a science experiment.  She handled it really well, but then, the whole thing took place inside the science museum...

The things we humans get ourselves into.

they've made a left wing revolutionary out of me

e 

No sense in denying it anymore.

This from as LONG time resident of the south and middle west who always thought being called "liberal" was closely aligned with being dubbed a communist.

I don't believe I'd go so far as taking up arms. For one, at 70 years old, I don't think I would make much of a guerrilla, even though I am retired special forces.

Neither do I particularly believe that shedding blood will solve our issues, only make new ones.

Not sure, now, how consistent my faith in Jesus would be with violent overthrow.

Still, most revolutions are not violent.  Tbey represent change, sometimes radical change. Already written and self published two books on the matter:  The Well Behaved Seldom Make History and A guide for a second American  revolution. 

I am working on yet another non fiction, My Country Tis of Thee that advocates for some drastic changes in our country and culture and am also working on a work of fiction And Reap the Whirlwind, a modern rendition of It Can't Happen Here, by Sinclair Lewis.

I've come to question many of the "truths" I grew up with:

• the United States of America is the greatest nation on earth.

I no longer believe that. We might have been once.  Not anymore .

• We are a "shining light on a hill."

I don't believe this either. Doing the research for my books has brought me to see some of the horrible things we have done as a country and as a culture. Didn't set out to do that, but facts are stubborn, irrepressible things.  If some of may acquaintances  knew how I felt, many would have nothing to do with me.

• we are a christian nation

No we're not.  We're good at quoting scriptures (out of context, of course) and being judgmental of those who don't believe as we do, but so far as being all affirming, as Jesus, did - that's not happening. Not anymore.  I've left the Roman Catholic Church, this time for good, I believe.  There are a lot of factors involved there, most of them explained in another publication of mine, Reflections of a Recovering Catholic.  I admit to having been somewhat judgmental myself, but as already said, facts are tough things to ignore.

• capitalism is a good economic system

Not anymore. The greedy and malevolent have seized control of our country and our economy. "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer" has become more than a cliche.  Am I then a communist? No. Communism is dead.  Any system of government or economics that locks its people in with guns and barbed wire deserves to die.

Our problems are not economic. Our issues are people,  corrupt, evil people who have little to no regard for anyone but themselves and seek to restore feudalism to the planet where the few have all the political and economic power and the rest of us become virtual serfs, yoked to a system of servitude.

What galls me most is how many of those eventual serfs are advocating their own servitude. They're gulped the proverbial "kool aid," accepting the notion that government and taxes are both evil, that any and all who advocate equality represent those who want "free stuff" and getting the use of "other people's money."  I have yet to comprehend how universal healthcare is an evil thing, when it benefits  everyone.  Congress already has it.  Tens of Millions of ordinary citizens do not and many die each year because of it.  The oligarchs control the media and our access to what is really happening in our country.

The United States of America was, ideally, founded on the notion of equal opportunity, or so we've been led to believe. I've come to question this as well. 

In reality, the original document, called our constitution, was written to favor white MEN, who owned property.  Only through vision and revision of the original concept did we get what we have now. Those in power right now, would dilute and eventually eliminate the gains we've made. I am utterly convinced of that.

The above account is not fiction.  The forces of greed have sought this kind of solution for over a century.  Presidents like Nixon and Reagan and now, Trump have brought us to the precipice. Others of both political parties have done not enough to impede them.

Hence my political "radicalization."

If we do not resist the encroachment on our liberties, they will be gone within another generation. I am utterly sure of that too.

Winter storm Gia has come and gone ..

I hate ice storms.  Would much rather have snow anytime. With snow you do not usually lose electrical power; yes, traveling (or even get out of the house) can be an issue for us southerners, but there is always the option of just hunkering, doing some serious commenting of FB and binge watching on Netflix.

Lost power for about 12 hours. A big tree fell down into the yard next to me.  Had it fallen the other way, it would have landed in my bedroom.  I remember hearing it fall.  And I was in the bedroom. Lucky again.

I don't think I will ever vote for a republican at any level, ever again. They are, for the most part, without honor for not opposing the evil of Donald Trump or, at least, questioning some of what he has done and said.

"Agent Orange" is unquestionably the worst president in the history of the republic.

all things are relative

They are. Yes I'm 70 years of age, but I am vertical and still mobile.  Things could be decidedly worse....

I've become a left wing radical.  No two ways about it. none.  My experiences and research for my books has shown me a side of reality that I am not pleased about.  Never thought it would come to this, but I am no longer proud of being an American.

Nor do I call myself a "Christian" any longer.  Perhaps that's judgmental, but it's how I feel. Got myself royally flamed for a letter I published in the News and Record this week.


 Some say Christianity is under attack in America.  I suggest, instead, that their  hurtful, judgmental  words and actions, not to mention virtual worship of all things trump by some “Christians”, has created a perception of "religion " as oppressive and cruel. That has marginalized them, not the actions of others. I, myself, was a devoted member of the Catholic faith my entire life. Even taught at catholic schools for ten years and my parish (church) was at the center of a great deal of my social life. I left the church two years ago when the pastor of the church I attended took to pontificating on his right wing visions for the world, from the pulpit; I grew weary of leaving church each Sunday confused and angry. The church community I knew so well morphed and not in a good way. Many who’d belong for decades fled for better climes. Now, hearing so many evangelicals likening trump to the second coming of Christ, I have become totally disillusioned with "christianity" as a whole. Never wanted to see this happen.  It has pained me greatly.

If the wrong people see my letter, I'm in deep stuff.

I think 70 has hit me harder than I first believed..

Most people do not live past their 70's and it seems so synonymous with being decrepit and dependent.  I've not been either and don't relish the thought.

Not in the least.

Hard day subbing yesterday, the very worst I have ever had.  Had to eject 5 kids from the classroom in one block.  It left me wondering if I no longer have the moxie.

70 has left me wondering about a lot of things.

Trump is going to drive us into another American Revolution.
He's partly shut down the government and it's hurting a lot of people. 45 demands funding for his border wall and will not yield. Democrats won't go along.  They've offered compromise, something I would not do, but Agent Orange will have none of it.  It's his way or the highway.

Falsehoods and distortions come out of his mouth daily now. Many of them are plainly delusion but his base still supports him.

Where do we go from here?