Category: Philosophy

OF FORESTS AND TREES

My Latin teacher’s (yes, I am that old or wise) favorite saying was that you cannot see the trees for the forest or the forest for the trees.

My Democratic and Republican friends need to stop focusing on Trump’s actions as being related to the election.  His and Republican allies actions are not about policy foreign or domestic.  What is their motivation to not recognize the election of President elect Biden?  What is their motivation to not address Covid-19?  What is their motivation to turn their backs on the workers who need help getting through this crisis?  What is their motivation to not give a second stimulus package?

Steve Bannon, Senator Ted Cruz and the right have both said that their purpose was to limit and destroy the power of the federal government.  What has gone on during the Trump presidency has been devoted to this end.  Whether it was the failure of Republicans to vote President trump guilty of the crime of obstruction of justice in his impeachment, their failure to recognize and address Covid-19, ending treaties, and retreating from the climate accords; THE GOAL HAS BEEN TO LIMIT AND ULTIMATELY END/OR DESTROY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Why?  How about a new government in which Republicans can win elections?  How about turning the country to an oligarchy?  But more likely the base motive is greed.  They like the Russian model of government; especially if they get to be the oligarchs.

It is time to look at the trees and forests.

An Old “Saw”

Recently someone argued that what we were experiencing with the current protests related to George Floyd’s murder, discrimination against people of color and the poor signaled the end of our democratic republic.  They cited the old saw that no government has lasted more than a few hundred years.

I must remind them that there is a difference.  Our democracy has always presented itself as dream based on ideals set forth in our founding documents.  That we, as a people, have dedicated ourselves to achieve those ideals.

None of the previous societies/civilizations/governments were founded on these ideals.  We suffer unrest because we have dedicated ourselves towards achieving those goals; not because we are failing, but because we are still trying.

We, and the founding fathers realized that we will probably never have a perfect union because times and societies change.  That does not mean that we should give up the quest for “a more perfect union”.  But rather, that we should continue that quest realizing that only in doing so will we survive as  people and as a nation.

Truth v Facts

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Truth is determined by the majority.  For example, the majority of Americans believe and are taught that the war fought against England was the War for Independance.  The British teach it as the war of rebellion fought by terrorists.

Facts are not disputable.  For example, 2+2 = 4.  Gravity is a force that holds us to the earth.

I point this out because of the increased attachement of “fake” to that which we may not agree.  In actuality, nothing is “fake” unless the majority agree with the opposit position.

Climate change is not “fake” because a vocal minority does not believe in it.

News is not “fake” because a minority disagrees with it.

TRUTH IS DETERMINED BY THE MAJORITY.

FACTS ARE BASED ON CURRENT SCIENCE.  FACTS CAN ONLY CHANGE WHEN THE MEANS OF DETERMINING FACTS EVOLVE.

TRUTH CAN CHANGE WHEN THE MINORITY OPINION BECOMES THE MAJORITY OPINION.

It’s kind of like the principle of “majority rule”.

Or, we are “a nation of laws”.

Or, the belief in this country that “no citizen is above the law”.

FACTS SHOULD BE THE DETERMINATE OF TRUTH BY THE MAJORITY!

The Better “Final Solution”

The “Final Solution” was the term used by the Third Reich under Hitler which was designated to be used for the extermination of the Jews.  The Jews needed to be exterminated as the “scapegoat” for Germany’s problems and the economic drain on German society.

The decreasing and eventual elimination of Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and aid for veterans is the Republican Party’s “Final Solution” in the tradition of Ayn Rand.  The Republicans view the poor, sick, elderly and veterans as no longer having productive lives.  These other citizens, the Republicans believe, are the cause of the economic strain on society caused by the programs supporting them.  These other citizens paid for these programs with tax dollars from their years of work, service or, in the case of veterans, to their death for our country.

There is a “Final Solution” that would be beneficial to the Republicans and those they want dead and gone.  It would be a win, win solution.  They need to pass laws that make euthanasia legal for those who are terminally ill, economically not viable or have the desire to not be slowly starved to death medically or financially.

The tax dollars needed to support these “others” will be greatly decreased or no longer be wasted on programs like Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security or veterans.  Those tax dollars could be used to decrease the debt caused by the tax breaks on the wealthy and endless wars.

Is there less morality in allowing the suffering of these our citizens to continue while we blame them for the trillions of dollars in debt that continues to mount under this and past administrations?  Is it not the decent thing to allow them to free themselves with dignity from a  slow agonizing life and death?

A final solution, not by governmental economic starvation; but with human dignity would seem preferable.

Some would object to euthanasia on moral grounds.  Let their arguments be heard as long as they stop imposing THEIR “final solution” upon our fellow citizens.  Can they support one “final solution” and oppose the other “final solution” without hypocrisy?

Is euthanasia the better “final solution”?

Social Security’s Best Kept Secret

img_1558If you, your children, your parents or your grandparents receive the benefits of Social Security, you are a Socialist.

On August 14,1945, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act passed by Congress.  It was a social insurance program designed to pay retired workers age 65 or older a continuing income after retirement.  It also covers disability and survivors insurance.

It is an earned benefit. It was an insurance program where workers, through and with their employers, paid a premium to cover their expenses after retirement.  It was intended to be like modern day car, home, or health insurance.

Unfortunately Congress treats the fund as its own personal “petty cash”.

What is more unfortunate, bordering on criminal is that the cap on employer and the individuals contribution is $128,400.  That’s correct; if your income is $1,000,000 you will not be required to contribute to Social Security on $871,600 of your income.

And lastly is the fact that the security systems for our elderly, disabled and survivors exist no longer.  Children cannot or will not take care of their parents.  The state and churches are no longer taking full responsibility.  It is highly unlikely that they can or will be able to step up.

You’re a Socialist…

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IF YOU, YOUR PARENTS, OR YOUR GRANDPARENTS…

  • receive Social Security,
  • are on Mediicare,
  • are on Medicaid,
  • went to public school or college,
  • drive on public highways,
  • have your house protected by a fire department,
  • are protected by the police,
  • drink safe water,
  • use a sewer system,
  • use safe medication,
  • eat safe food,
  • use a safe banking system,
  • believe in Christ,
  • etc.

YES, YOU ARE A SOCIALIST.  And, when the President or any other politician accuses anyone of being a Socialist, know that they are attacking you, your parents, your grandparents and your children.

The Problem with Organized Religions

is that they define themselves primarily by their opposition to “the other” which leads to their history of hatred, violence and genocide.

Does your church define itself by “the other” in any way?  I.e. our religion is the one true way to believe?

Do you define yourself by “the other” in any way?  I.e. I am a Democrat; not a Republican.

Is the problem solvable?  And, if it is solvable; what is the first step in that solution?

“These are the times….”

We have stepped through the looking glass and are in the vortex to the bottom.  The Founding Fathers anticipated the possibiliy of a tyrannical despot as evidenced in the Declaration of Independence.  What they could not and did not anticipate was a legislative and judicial branch too cowardice to stand against the executive.  These founding fathers loved this country so much that some of them”  bordered bankruptcy in their farms and businesses to serve the greater good.

Todays Members of the House and the Senate, all of them Democrate and Republican, have subjucated themselves to the pursuit of power and wealth.

We must make sure that we are properly registered (some are using this as a way to disenfranchise the voter) and then VOTE

Thomas Payne understood!

“THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph….