Sad State Of Everything - And Response (3)

  • Monday, July 18, 2022

I am becoming more and more pessimistic everyday. I don't claim a political party, I am an arch liberal independent conservative libertarian. One thing for certain is the "Me" generation is alive and well. I get the impression that most people don't care about anything except the three foot circle they occupy in their given location.

You will have to forgive me but I am prone to wandering thoughts. Chief among them today is Joe Biden. Not the former senator, vice president and current President of the United States but an old man named Joe Biden. Anyone who claims to remotely care about this man should hide in shame, they are hiding trying to give the appearance that he is in charge.

People that laugh at every stumble, every misspoke word should be ashamed right next to the people that prostitute him to whatever political cause that seems important to them. When you laugh at the man, you laugh at the office. Laugh enough and both will cease to have any dignity or respect.

Want to know what it's like living in Ukraine? Maybe France or Russia? Keep on and in a few years we will be likely to find out first hand.  

This opinion will do nothing to address anything. The problems of the world are too great, too multifaceted to be solved by opinion pieces. They won't be solved by the garbage on television. They won't be solved by buying a new car or a joint or a crack rock. We live in a capitalist society, capitalism is better than socialism but only when the capitalist is tempered by personal charity. Not giving at church, the Lions Club but the old fashioned kind, helping an old lady across the street instead of robbing her. Giving a person in need, a coat or a pair of shoes. Able bodied panhandlers, get a job and become part of the solution.  

Wishful, wistful thoughts by me. The United States of America lives in the moment where obscene reality shows occupy everyone's envy and desires. My two cents worth to throw in the garbage can.

Paul Schumann

* * *

In Paul Schumann's composition, I found some things with which I heartily agree.  A few examples are: 

"We live in a capitalist society, capitalism is better than socialism but only when the capitalist is tempered by personal charity."; 

"The United States of America lives in the moment where obscene reality shows occupy everyone's envy and desires."; and 

"I am becoming more and more pessimistic everyday."

But, and more importantly, I disagree with two points.

1.  "Anyone who claims to remotely care about this man (President Biden) should hide in shame, they are hiding trying to give the appearance that he is in charge." 

I proudly voted for President Biden, as did the overwhelming majority of voters. I care, and I resent being judged by Mr. Schumann. That's an exceptionally arrogant and offensive statement.

What is the truth is that those who should hide in shame are those who still stand with Trump. I'm not condemning those who voted for him. 

Trump's most grievous acts occurred after the election.  But a mountain of evidence reveals he clearly attempted to usurp the peaceful and legal democratic transition of power to illegally remain in office. Violence was one of the methods. I am condemning those who continue to ignore what Donald Trump did, standing by him as exhorted on by Fox, Brietbart, OANN, NewsMax, et.al., ad nauseum. 

2.  "Want to know what it's like living in Ukraine? Maybe France or Russia? Keep on and in a few years we will be likely to find out first hand."

His inferences about Ukraine and France are definitively wrong.

Ukraine was a very successful country until Russia invaded; it remains democratic and was a breadbasket to the Eastern Hemisphere. Ukraine's recent problem has been Russia, not self governing or economic factors. Democracy won instead of corruption when Zelenskyy was elected. I don't see Ukraine surrendering.  It will remain democratic and return to prosperity.  

I expect there will be replies hollering "what about Hunter Biden's corruption?"  I retort "who did more damage to the U.S:  Hunter Biden or Donald Trump?  Why does it matter anyway? There was no quid pro quo in Ukraine for VP Biden, compared to the Saudis quid pro quo for Jared and Ivanka to the tune of $2 billion."

I've no clue why Mr. Schumann listed France. 

I fail to see why he cited Russia, except for its one party system; and he could be correct if there is continuous Republican control.  It already exists within 35+ states.  National control by Republicans unfortunately may follow. 

Ukraine, France and Russia do not purport to be our future. France and Ukraine are democratic countries and will remain so. Nor does a "no religion" country like Russia. 

Instead, the U.S. is becoming a "one religion" theocracy, Republican Christianity (White Nationalism). A Republican Christian theocracy (White Nationalism) means more laws and rulings against the separation of Church and State.

The Pilgrims landed to escape religious persecution. The Founding Fathers wisely knew to avoid a State religion. Yet a Republican Christianity theocracy (White Nationalism) uses government to foster its Old Testament beliefs to legally persecute today.

How? SCOTUS said the coach's workday was over, and the coach was exercising his freedom of religion on his own time.  But when the clock ticked to 0:00, did he leave the campus immediately after praying? Of course not. There were the "great job" or "we'll get'um next time" speeches after the prayer.

How?  Abortion is effectively gone in up to 36 States. Republicans will say it's not religion, but a right to be born.  Yet they quote the Bible. Herschel Walker's and many others' stance is no abortions, period.  Zero, zilch, nada.  But what about the raped 10 year old in Ohio?  She would be deprived of her childhood and teenage years, going directly into adulthood. So the fetus would have a right to be born.  What about a mother carrying a dead fetus because doctors fear prosecution and jail?

How? Senator Raul Cruz, (R) Texas (he goes by Ted to appear "less Hispanic", rejecting his heritage) says gay marriage is wrong; SCOTUS will next rule that is a state issue too, effectively overturning it, as it did abortion.  Again, Republicans quote the Bible.

How? SCOTUS, Cruz, Blackburn, Greene and the ultra right wing Republicans again quote the Bible to get their way by allowing denial of products and services to gays. Shopkeepers can now make gays the only reason for declining business when other "sinners" money is just as green. Doesn't Christianity recognize atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, adulterers, those committing the seven deadly sins, and many, many others as sinful?  Are they turned away from products and services?  Is it Christian to turn away one type of "sinner", yet sell to all other "sinners"?

And will someone tell me why Republicans ban books but not AR-15 type weapons and ammo?  Banning books infringes on the First Amendment, so there is precedent for infringement of the Second Amendment.  Isn't banning the weapon of choice for one of the most heinous of crimes, shooting children, also a pro-life stance?

Yes, I am becoming more and more pessimistic everyday. But not because of President Biden nor the Democrats.

Joe Warren

* * *
With all due respect, Mr. Warren, I think you're missing the point.  I am a Democrat of the Joe Manchin variety and, as a matter of fact, I am from West Virginia.  I voted for Joe Biden, too, and if the President was the Biden of 10 or even five years ago I would still be behind him, but he is not.  It is quite apparent to me and I guess others that the President is not mentally fit for the office. 
I say this with great sadness, we as Americans are watching the cognitive decline of a once vital man on an almost daily basis.  Where are his loved ones? Do they feel it is the right thing to do to keep pushing him in front of the cameras?  It would not surprise me if elements of the Continuity of Government have been started.  If that Executive Order has been initiated, it would be a closely held government secret.

Once again comments that are not overtly political have been taken out of context and used as a platform to repeat "ad nauseum" gripes and grievances.

I have to agree with Mr. Schuman's thoughts.  The Ukraine since independence has been rife with corruption and a haven for militants.  Do your own research or talk with one of the many Ukrainian immigrants here in Chattanooga. Yes, Russia is corrupt also but as cold as it sounds I believe the world was a safer place when the Iron Curtain existed. France, you ask?  France has been gravitating toward socialism since the Great War and trying at various times to rid itself of the Catholic Church, the Habsburgs and other political intrigues.  Mr. Schuman could have just as easily named any European country or the whole continent. 

Trump?  I didn't hear anybody mention Trump until you did.  Mr. Trump was not a shining example of statesmanship.  As President he was crass and abrasive.  He's not President now, we have to worry about who to elect next time.  And I hate to burst your bubble but as well as being a Democrat I am also a Christian.  You say Christain like it is a dirty word; once again you brought up religion not Mr. Schuman.  I have a challenge for you, Mr. Warren, name one teaching of Christ that you disagree with. 

And the creme de la creme, no political rant these days can stop itself from saying the dreaded words AR-15.  Sir, I own one pistol.  It is a five shot .38 revolver.  I dislike all guns, for me the 38 is enough.  But let's just say we could magically get rid of every gun except revolvers.  What will happen when someone decides to shoot up a public place carrying three or four revolvers?  Then the cries will be to ban revolvers.  What weapon then will the weak be able to use for self defense?  A bat against a knife or sword?  A 70-year-old woman with a wooden spoon against a 25-year-old, 250-pound hoodlum? 
 
A great many of my fellow Democrats are going to have to wake up and get real or America will be like Europe.  No freedom, uncontrolled immigration from regional wars, terrorism. mass poverty worse than the Great Depression and a place that has eschewed morality for the belief that no higher authority exists but man.  Look at what happens in the world when the government replaces Christ, you have Europe.  

Bill Blake

Hixson

* * *

I was slightly amused and also left shaking my head as I read Joe Warren’s response to Paul Schumann’s letter.

 

He and I agree on the same three points he cited as agreeing with Mr. Schumann, but things deviate profoundly from there.

 

1. I don’t think Mr. Schumann was necessarily referring to the voters when he stated that the people who care about Biden should hide in shame ( a huge number of whom are reporting various degrees of buyer’s regret). I believe he was referring to the people surrounding the President who know of his condition and ignore it for political purposes, the same ones no doubt who appear to be controlling him.

 

2. To say that Trump’s actions hurt the country more than Biden’s and that he used violence to do so has no basis in fact. Only hearsay. What evidence the future brings is yet to be seen. As to whose actions hurt the country most, that is also yet to be seen, but the current economic problems are fully on him and his policies.

 

To blindly dismiss Hunter Biden’s actions as not having a “quid pro quo” for his father is also inaccurate. How does he know this? Does he have some inside information that refutes the evidence on the laptop owned by Hunter? Only a full investigation can determine who received what in those dealings. As to the Saudi investment into Jared Kushner’s company, that is being looked into and so far no “quid pro quo” has been found. That doesn’t mean there won’t be, but it is being looked at by Congress, unlike the laptop.

 

After that he appears to devolve into an anti-Christian rant that seems to show that he has an obsession with White Nationalism ,even though a large percentage of Christians are people of color. The SCOTUS decision on abortion was apparently, to him, steeped in Christian White Nationalism. Completely ignoring the fact that Ruth Bader Ginsberg herself said she believed Roe was a flawed decision (and many liberal legal scholars agree). SCOTUS merely reversed a bad decision where a liberal court created a Constitutional right out of thin air, and returned the issue to the states. If they do that with Gay marriage it would basically be a similar situation, but if anyone is to blame it is Congress for not passing laws on those issues when Dems had control of both houses plus POTUS for 1 ½ years under Obama.

 

Finally, as for book banning. I have not seen anywhere that a book has been banned from being sold to the public, in a book store or online. I have only seen where parents want books removed from school libraries, mostly due to offensive content. No one is being prohibited from buying any book they choose, so the First Amendment is pretty well safe on that front, unlike the way leftists in many colleges and universities try to censor the 1A rights of anyone they disagree with (mostly conservatives). As for banning AR15’s that’s been tried and had no noticeable effect and they are simply the biggest boogeyman and target for anti-gunners. I think ultimately their fate will wind the hands SCOTUS too.

 

Interestingly enough, unlike Mr. Schuman and Mr. Warren I am becoming more and more optimistic as we near the mid-term elections and the Dems chances are looking more and more bleak. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons Mr. Warren’s outlook is so dreary.

 

Kenneth A. Kaylor

Chattanooga

 

 


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