As a “child” of the 60’s and 70’s who lived thro the draft years and ultimately survived service in SEA, I appreciate so much your analysis. Thank you.
Oh, and our intellectual capital is leaving for more welcoming countries. "Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to live your life..." Animal House is a funny movie. It is not a funny government.
We have a federal government and “leader” rooted in nihilism as depravity, cruelty, greed and soul-crushing lawlessness rule the body politic. Is there a way out? Is there a leader to lead? I wish I knew.
I know the feeing, amigo. But I think the first thing we have to recognize is that this is not normal and our country and world have changed. We have to figure out how to fix it but I think it’s going to take a generation to undo the damage.
A concise analysis of the horrors. So what do we do? Leave? Fight? Accept that we now live in a nation no different from Russia or Hungary? Pray to the void for a Lincoln?
A lot of us will leave, who have no age or energy to resist. The only thing left here that matters to him and his sycophants is the economy. We, perhaps, need to shut that down by going into the streets as millions made angry. Going to work and living our every day lives as if this is normal and we can get through it is the wrong approach. Because nothing will ever be normal again. Too much damage has been done. Might take a generation to fix. An election will not do it, and he’s made sure we no longer even trust our own elections.
"Nothing will ever be normal again" is about right.
I wanted to spend my retirement traveling and writing poetry. Instead, I'm standing on highway bridges with banners and planning rallies to help keep people from slitting their wrists. Fighting is all I know to do. But it beats doing nothing.
Well, good on ya. I hope more and more people will join the ranks of folks like you. I did my protest time in DC during Vietnam and hoped to never have to do that again. I do this now, but may have to put my walking shoes back on.
I've been to Norway twice on speaking engagements and found it to be simply wonderful. People are happy even during the cold and dark, and there is a lot of both. But there is also cradle to the grave health care, free education all the way through PhD studies, guaranteed pensions upon retirement, and a safety net of housing, health care, and monthly stipend for those who falter and fail. Zero homelessness. The geography of the place is just stunning, too; the western coast might be one of the prettiest places in the world I've ever seen. Also, there could be a bit too much drinking goin' on, but who am I to judge? I'm a sunshine soldier, though, and prefer Australia. Same social constructs, continent as big as this country and under 30 million people, and beautiful weather, geography, food, and people. Rode a motorcycle across from Perth to Sydney about ten years ago and have wanted to go back ever since. Now I'd like to take my family and leave for there permanently. I suspect some countries will soon start offering political asylum to Americans and Oz will be among the first.
Both Norway and Australia are pleasant, civilized places, at least from my viewpoint as a tourist. But we can count on lone skum's minions to cut off social security checks to ex-pats as soon as they become aware of the concept of people retiring abroad. And both countries have minimum standards for immigrants that elderly applicants without substantial means won't meet. In any case, these countries will likely cut off immigration from the US and other places if the number becomes too big relative to their populations, especially if they are elderly and not wanting to go back to work.
I used to think Canada, which is only a few hours drive north. But the Orange Messiah has ended that hope by turning one of our most steadfast allies against us.
And depressing, and all so unnecessary. We don’t have to be like this, but here we are. When I feel helpless and hopeless after I’ve blown a gasket reading some new edict or som poor student being stripped of their visa, I think how the black men who served in WWII who came back to face the humiliation of being treated like a second class citizen and having to swallow humiliating treatment to keep a job or have any chance of minimal advancement. Then I think, maybe we can get through this, except these unqualified goons and their appointed judges are tearing apart the constitutional foundations that finally allowed minorities and women to succeed to some degree.
So I’m sort of at a loss.
But it’s comforting to read your insightful observations, at least I know I’m not the only Texan who thinks like you and your other readers.
I think back on lost opportunities. Had we the stomach to prosecute LBJ, Nixon, and/or Shrub, we would be less likely facing our current situation. As it stands now, Trump understands that no possible offense will result in adverse consequences.
As a “child” of the 60’s and 70’s who lived thro the draft years and ultimately survived service in SEA, I appreciate so much your analysis. Thank you.
I guess we are fellow travelers, David. I was afraid of the service and too politically aware at an early age to tolerate the BS of Vietnam.
Oh, and our intellectual capital is leaving for more welcoming countries. "Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to live your life..." Animal House is a funny movie. It is not a funny government.
The brain drain will increase and its impact will be felt for decades.
We have a federal government and “leader” rooted in nihilism as depravity, cruelty, greed and soul-crushing lawlessness rule the body politic. Is there a way out? Is there a leader to lead? I wish I knew.
Feeling glum early on a Sunday.
I know the feeing, amigo. But I think the first thing we have to recognize is that this is not normal and our country and world have changed. We have to figure out how to fix it but I think it’s going to take a generation to undo the damage.
A concise analysis of the horrors. So what do we do? Leave? Fight? Accept that we now live in a nation no different from Russia or Hungary? Pray to the void for a Lincoln?
A lot of us will leave, who have no age or energy to resist. The only thing left here that matters to him and his sycophants is the economy. We, perhaps, need to shut that down by going into the streets as millions made angry. Going to work and living our every day lives as if this is normal and we can get through it is the wrong approach. Because nothing will ever be normal again. Too much damage has been done. Might take a generation to fix. An election will not do it, and he’s made sure we no longer even trust our own elections.
"Nothing will ever be normal again" is about right.
I wanted to spend my retirement traveling and writing poetry. Instead, I'm standing on highway bridges with banners and planning rallies to help keep people from slitting their wrists. Fighting is all I know to do. But it beats doing nothing.
Well, good on ya. I hope more and more people will join the ranks of folks like you. I did my protest time in DC during Vietnam and hoped to never have to do that again. I do this now, but may have to put my walking shoes back on.
Where would you go? I'm thinking, if Trump puts a bounty on my head, Norway or Finland.
I've been to Norway twice on speaking engagements and found it to be simply wonderful. People are happy even during the cold and dark, and there is a lot of both. But there is also cradle to the grave health care, free education all the way through PhD studies, guaranteed pensions upon retirement, and a safety net of housing, health care, and monthly stipend for those who falter and fail. Zero homelessness. The geography of the place is just stunning, too; the western coast might be one of the prettiest places in the world I've ever seen. Also, there could be a bit too much drinking goin' on, but who am I to judge? I'm a sunshine soldier, though, and prefer Australia. Same social constructs, continent as big as this country and under 30 million people, and beautiful weather, geography, food, and people. Rode a motorcycle across from Perth to Sydney about ten years ago and have wanted to go back ever since. Now I'd like to take my family and leave for there permanently. I suspect some countries will soon start offering political asylum to Americans and Oz will be among the first.
Both Norway and Australia are pleasant, civilized places, at least from my viewpoint as a tourist. But we can count on lone skum's minions to cut off social security checks to ex-pats as soon as they become aware of the concept of people retiring abroad. And both countries have minimum standards for immigrants that elderly applicants without substantial means won't meet. In any case, these countries will likely cut off immigration from the US and other places if the number becomes too big relative to their populations, especially if they are elderly and not wanting to go back to work.
I used to think Canada, which is only a few hours drive north. But the Orange Messiah has ended that hope by turning one of our most steadfast allies against us.
It appears that fighting may be the only option remaining.
I think a lot of people are beginning to believe that, which is frightening.
All absolutely true!
And all absolutely sad, Mike.
And depressing, and all so unnecessary. We don’t have to be like this, but here we are. When I feel helpless and hopeless after I’ve blown a gasket reading some new edict or som poor student being stripped of their visa, I think how the black men who served in WWII who came back to face the humiliation of being treated like a second class citizen and having to swallow humiliating treatment to keep a job or have any chance of minimal advancement. Then I think, maybe we can get through this, except these unqualified goons and their appointed judges are tearing apart the constitutional foundations that finally allowed minorities and women to succeed to some degree.
So I’m sort of at a loss.
But it’s comforting to read your insightful observations, at least I know I’m not the only Texan who thinks like you and your other readers.
I think back on lost opportunities. Had we the stomach to prosecute LBJ, Nixon, and/or Shrub, we would be less likely facing our current situation. As it stands now, Trump understands that no possible offense will result in adverse consequences.
Even before the Roberts' Court we weren't very good at holding our presidents to account.