Political Venting

[shimmerz]

Most straightforward explanation from Marco Rubio re Iran.

 

[shimmerz]

And Nick Shirley having difficulties in Cuba as well as a reporting of the state of Cuba since Maduro arrested.

 

[DeadAstronautinSpace]

Local elections in England and parts of the UK today.

Everyone been out to vote?

 

[Survivor3]

Local elections in England and parts of the UK today.

Everyone been out to vote?

Yes I voted today.

 

[KA60]

I do not know how the US is ok with SNAP cuts medicaid cuts etc. This is immoral. The money is being transfered to the wealthy. Financing a war with this going on. Trump releasing UFO files. Distraction. Red herring. He and others are constantly saying look at the what's it in the air to distract from the mess.

 

[KA60]

God help us all. We are being taught the lesson of facism again because we failed to learn the first time.

 

[GrayOwl]

I was listening to Prof David Cay Johnston, and he was saying that about 65% of Americans are reading and writing at a 5th Grade level. 1 in 3 of those Americans are reading and writing at an 8-year-old level. So, they don't have the ability to engage in abstract thinking. They are stuck in concrete thinking. They are low information voters who often only read the headlines.

Robert Reich said that 70% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. They work 2-3 jobs over 6-7 days. Then they pay rent and skip meals so their children can eat. They are one medical emergency away from homelessness. Many often can't get to vote, they can't miss a shift.

Both Reich and Johnston discuss in podcasts and articles how both Dems and Reps brought this about by conspiring together to use the neoliberalist "Poverty as a Policy Choice" for the last 50 years. Enough food for all citizens could have prevented the rise of Trumpism. I wonder what historians will write in 100 years. It is so infuriating.

I mostly agree. Although I think much of the world is in close pursuit of us. We seem to be rapidly approaching a world in which a handful of billionaires equipped with AI and social media will control almost every corner of the earth. All I can do is prepare a nest in the corner of the planet that is least accesible to them, and work on my serenity and sanity. It is said that Abraham Lincoln, possibly our greatest president here in the States, was a firm believer in mindfulness, or whatever they called it at that time. Supposedly he spent 15 minutes early in every day of his presidency meditating, especially throughout our Civil War. Except for the two or three worst days of the war. It is said that on those days he meditated for 45 minutes. I believe in the Serenity Prayer. To me, it is not simply something to read, but something I can practice in all my affairs to sift out what is important and to disregard what is not; and then be able to proceed with perhaps just a little bit more clarity. Thank you ms spock. I always enjoy your observations.

 

[GrayOwl]

Just getting tuned in on the homeless conversation.

Addictions, homelessness, ID's, joblessness......

The solution would be helped by more people who "care". Genuine concern, not political aspirations or grandiose public contributions, etc. Boots on the ground and in the community, figuratively speaking. My state has a chaperone program for the state prison system. It is 100% voluntary and requires light screening. When a felon has completed his sentence and the prison feels he has a potential to overcome the system, they are offered a chaperone. General principles.... I give them my phone number. They struggle with jobs, housing, money, food, I.D.'s, depression security, you name it. They call, we go for coffee or a meal. We talk. I can give advice, support, help with jobs or shelter, whatever I can. 100% voluntary on my part. It's a place to start for somebody who has to restart and has nowhere to go and little knowledge or support. I give back because I was there off and on for years.

It would be nice to see more people involved with more programs to help others. California and the rest of the world will never solve homelessness by throwing money at it. It is very tough to motivate people, some of whom wish to do absolutely nothing for themselves, complicated by addictions, traumas, family history..... But, there has to be motivation combined with assistance in the right balance and that is never black and white.

I've often thought we could reinstate the draft in the United States. 2 years at age 18. Instead of a military draft, which could be one small part of it, we could initiate a peace corps like program that encompassed most of the efforts in a peaceful direction. It would reduce school debt, and increase social program effectiveness, and put resources toward solutions of domestic programs that currently are failing.

But, giving that resource to the government rarely succeeds without it being corrupted by California type liberal mentalities, or corrupt figures allocating it to themselves and their buddies. Just a thought.

I think electing people who are moral and spiritual leaders rather than lifetime politicians would be a great first step. But as ms spock pointed out, most voters in the U.S. aren't smart enough to figure that out.

 

[GrayOwl]

That means voting for either party then... they're both equally corrupt and evil.

Absolutely SPOT ON !!

 

[Susan Jane]

Most straightforward explanation from Marco Rubio re Iran.

Marco Rubio

 

[Susan Jane]

Both bases of the political parties in the USA are only concerned about
their interests which makes it extremely difficult to do anything. The SC is corrupt and has more than enough votes for sale. The difference in my opinion is the pure evil in the WH. The people losing in the US are the middle class suckers who are footing the bill for everyone else. Stop giving tax dollars to the corrupt politicians. Time for a revolution

 

[shimmerz]

Marco Rubio

So is the other side a viable alternative. Keep in mind I am not a US citizen. I am captured by the corrupt Canadian politicians. From my pov (and I may be mistaken of course) the USA at least is not captured by the monarchy.