Adding To The Noise!

I'm being asked why I haven't been posting recently.  Does being silent mean I have nothing to say?  No, that isn't it.  I am ready to rant every day - several times a day.  Why?  Because so much of what I see no matter where I look is depressing, horrifying, outrageous, destructive, etc., etc.

So there is no lack of reasons to speak out.  I could join the chorus of like minded people who feel the same way.  But joining the chorus will only add to the noise.  So rather than finding a way to change the direction we're heading I would have about as much impact as a fart in a hurricane.

It's worse than I thought it could ever be, and as you know I'm the guy who said the worst is yet to come.  I'm doubling down on that opinion.

Most frustrating is seeing how ineffective the protests are.  In the face of a well organized, focused and mean spirited bulldozer running things, the good guys are unable to mount a credible opposition.  We haven't faced (notice I say 'we' because I too feel helpless) the reality that the page has been turned and the world in which we've spent our lives is gone, dead, irrevocably changed and it ain't coming back.

The paradigm of the past has been replaced.  Fighting the new world in which we are now living with the old tools and methods that served us well back in the day is a waste of time.  So for now I'll stay in my comfortable bubble, observe what's happening, but not join the noise makers - yet!

Not Getting Hooked!

I think about writing a blog post every day.  Much that is going on around us is provocative and worthy of comment.  Every day.  Several times a day.  But I haven't posted anything for nearly two months.  Why?  No good reason.  Except I am refusing to rise to the bait, and there is plenty of bait, and react to the provocation.  Said another way, I resist getting hooked (like a hungry fish) and give in to a need to express my outrage.

I've said before it is going to get worse before it gets better.  And every day validates my premise.  I'll give them credit for being prepared to roll out dozens, hundreds, of Executive Orders and pronouncements, any one of which flies in the face of what we hold dear.  Its a blitzkrieg of the highest order.  And so far no fight back of any consequence from the people who represent me/us.

So its frustrating.  And I've been silent.  Not hooked so much that I've taken the time to express myself.  There is a cost to not being provoked.  We'll see if I continue this way and quietly pay the price.

Stay tuned . . .

Democracy is Too Much Trouble!

My friend, Bob Siegel, sent the following, titled "The Electorate has Spoken: Democracy is Too Much Trouble."

 The 60% of the 2024 electorate that even went to the trouble to vote responded to Ben Franklin's "we've given you a republic, if you can keep it" with "no, we cannot keep it."

As for myself, I stopped paying attention to what Trump and his fellow MAGAcytes are doing.  It would change nothing if I did pay attention. 

I suggest you'll enjoy a happier life if you stop tilting at windmills and stop agonizing over the failure of our 250 year experiment in democracy.  After all, it outlasted every other similar experiment.  

The historic record is patently clear: the 60,000 year human species' craving for an authoritarian governing body, ideally headed by an all-powerful autocrat, is hard wired in our DNA.

The Worst, etc.

Like I said, the worst is yet to come!  Oh, you say, give me evidence:

Gaetz

Gabbard

Hegseth

Noem

Huckabee

Miller

Kennedy

More to come . . . 

Conjecture!

The news is overloaded with conjecture.  It seems that everyone with an opinion and a platform is guessing, fantasizing, predicting about the future in the coming Trump world.

Its all a waste of time.  Better to take some action that might make a difference rather than bemoan how bad it will be.  As I've said, the worst is yet to come, so there is no point in crying about what is on the horizon that we don't like and cannot change. 

I find my primary emotion is resignation.  Today's world is fundamentally different that it has been for most of my life.  Wishing for the return of a past that is gone forever won't help.  We've had a good run and I'm grateful for it. 

I have no positive expectations about the future.  My mood may be a defensive mechanism that shields me from being disappointed.  If I don't expect it will get better I won't be disappointed when it doesn't.

Will I live long enough to see the process unfold?  Don't know.  Hope so but don't know.  In the meantime, onward!

The Worst Is Yet To Come!

It seems my election predictions were a wee bit wrong.  Or to say it another way, I fucked up big time.  Or I could say the American people fucked up big time.

Am I surprised?  In one respect, yes.  I didn't think there would be a near 100% sweep by Trump.  I thought it would be close, and it wasn't.

So what now?  Today the airwaves are full of pundits offering excuses, analyses, Monday morning quarterback stuff.  I don't have any more interest in listening to this stuff than I did in not paying attention to all that they said leading up to the election.

My mantra for today?  The Worst Is Yet To Come!

Trump has said what he is going to do.  That I and others of my ilk won't like it is irrelevant.  The people voted and in a resounding voice endorsed what the guy is up to.  Good luck to them.  Good luck to all of us.

P.S.  I think I was right on the San Francisco mayor's race.  Hooray!

Election Day!

I'm back!  Its been a while, and it wasn't because I didn't have anything to say, it was more that I didn't think I had something new or different to say.  So saying nothing seemed the way to go.  Anyway, this is a new day, election day, and so here's what I think:

Predictions:  Harris will win.  The Republicans will take control of the Senate.  The Dems will take control of the House.  Lurie will be elected mayor of San Francisco.

Am I satisfied with those results?  Since it could be so much worse, yes, I am satisfied.  Not really happy, but since as a country this would mean we've dodged a bullet, happy enough.  Now, nothing to do but wait and see if my predictions come true.

New subject:  Quincy Jones died yesterday.  I would normally take note of this news and move on.  In this case there is an underlying aspect to his death.  He was 91.  My age.  I guess I should be noticing that the ones dying are mostly younger than I am.  So should that give me comfort or concern?  Neither.  Just a daily awareness of how old I am and reason to be grateful for another day.

Onward . . .