Some Obvious and Logical Conclusions

At the risk of being judgmental, I can’t help but state some opinions that I can only classify as obvious and logical. Deny it all you want, but the coming election has brought to light some of the most blatant hypocrisy I have ever seen. So let’s not sugarcoat what’s really at stake here.

This is not about personality! An old friend recently pointed out a very obvious fact, neither of these two extremely rich men is truly a representative of the average American. Given the alternatives, the best we can hope for is that at least one of them will do things that benefit the average citizen.

Anyway here’s my list and I will not expand on any of them, I’m just throwing them out there to say out loud what many are hesitant to say (because they are afraid of offending someone). If you support, vote for, elect (ever how you want to look at it) a particular candidate then you are supporting, endorsing, and enabling all those things that they have promised that they will do.

Therefore, logically, if you support Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, then you are endorsing the ongoing abortion/murder of millions of babies a year right up until the moment of birth.

If you support Biden and Harris, you are supporting higher taxes. And not just for the really, really rich but for everybody. Read their proposals and you’ll see for yourself.

If you elect Biden/Harris, don’t be surprised when the Second Amendment goes away. (I’m not opposed to reasonable gun laws, but they are advocating mandatory confiscation of legally owned weapons.)

If you support Biden/Harris, don’t be surprised when the oil and gas industry also goes away. They may deny it now, but they’ve said it over and over. Go to YouTube and see for yourself.

If you endorse Biden/Harris, then you are OK with socialized medicine and the end of private insurance. Paid for by those higher taxes and provided free of charge to millions of illegal aliens who will become instant citizens if you endorse candidates who support amnesty.

If you elect Biden/Harris, prepare yourself for more identity politics, racial division, and riots in the streets.

If you elect Biden/Harris, then you are helping to destroy the Supreme Court. Prepare yourself for 13 Justices, then a growing number depending on which party controls Congress.

If you endorse Biden, then you are enabling a truly corrupt politician who has sold out this country repeatedly for money, selling his office for the profit of himself and his family.

I could go on, but I think you get the point. Make no mistake, this isn’t about getting rid of a president you hate. This is about transforming our country into a completely different place or in their own words fundamentally changing the United States.

Lie to yourself if it helps you sleep at night, but if you put people in power, then you are directly and completely responsible for what they do with that power. If you favor abortion, gun control, high taxes, amnesty, etc., then vote for those candidates. On the other hand, if you oppose those issues, don’t pretend your vote isn’t enabling those very things!

Actions Over Words

 

There is a particular story from the Bible which I have always found very interesting. You can read it in Matthew 21: 28-32. Here’s the short version. A man has two sons. He goes to the first one and asks him to go work in the fields. The son says “No,” but later goes and works. The man asks his second son to work and he says “Yes,” but he doesn’t go.

Jesus asks his listeners, “Which one of the sons did the will of his father?” I guess the obvious point of the parable is that what you say and what you do are not always the same. And most of us would agree that what you do is what counts the most.

All my life I have heard the old adage that actions speak louder than words. Like the parable, the lesson to be learned is that what you do is more important than what you say (when the two are contradictory). Or at the very least, what you do says more about who you are than mere words.

In November, we have an extremely crucial Presidential election. As always, the candidates have and will continue to spend an extraordinary amount of time and money telling us what they will do if elected. But if we believe the parable and the adage, the more important question is not what will they say, but what will they actually do? Voters should consider this carefully.

Fortunately, we have a very good way to evaluate that question. As Dr. Phil frequently says, “The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.” (Credited to many writers, but generally attributed to Walter Mischel) So, let’s take a few moments to consider, not what they’ve said, but what Donald Trump and Joe Biden have actually done to deserve our vote.

Consider the President. The mainstream media have done everything they can to smear his reputation, predominantly by condemning the things he has said (or supposedly said). Whether by twisting his words, taking them completely out of context, assigning their own interpretation of his motives, or just flat out lying about his words (in many cases despite overwhelming evidence that he said no such things). Be sure when considering his words that you take into account who is doing the reporting and how accurate the information is that is being conveyed.

In the face of the nearly continuous resistance, the President has accomplished a great deal in the last three years. In particular, the economy, new trade agreements, strengthening our military, working to fix our health care system, and the record low unemployment (especially for minorities and women, some of the very people he is often accused of disparaging with words). Read the following post from the Conservative Hangout for a complete list of his major accomplishments: https://www.facebook.com/Conservhangout/posts/165607844986700?__tn__=K-R The White House has a comprehensive list as well: https://www.whitehouse.gov/trump-administration-accomplishments/ 

(Of course, the pandemic, specifically the shutdowns and lockdowns have had a devastating effect on the country, but voters should consider carefully, based on their records, which candidate is most capable of rebuilding our economy? And do you believe that the virus has been handled well or poorly by the current administration? And would the other candidate have handled things any differently?)

Now, let’s consider former Vice President, Joe Biden. Obviously a more polished politician (ignoring of course, his more recent history of gaffes caused by a decided mental decline). Perhaps he is a better speaker, at least with a teleprompter handy, but do we vote for someone based on his ability to give a good speech from the comfort of his own home while totally avoiding the campaign trail? And speaking of his words, what’s with the absolute refusal to answer questions about packing the Supreme Court? What are we to think of a candidate who says we can find out what he’s going to do, after we elect him?

And speaking of what he might do, Biden has a LONG career in public service. Sadly, his actions over the years are troubling to say the least. Forty-seven years in office and what has he actually done? His early years are marred by his ties to segregationists and his well-known fight against busing. (Speaking of words, here are some of his from the time: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/biden-racial-jungle-quote/). An earlier run for President was derailed by a plagiarism scandal. In the 90s, he championed the law enforcement policies and authored the bill that had terrible consequences for the African-American community. (Yet he says, if you don’t vote for him, “You ain’t black.”) Currently, there is a growing mountain of evidence of corruption involving himself, his son, the Ukraine, and China.

To conclude, as much as we would all love to have a President who speaks well, and says all the right things, and never offends anyone, that may not be the most important consideration. I would encourage everyone to judge these two men, not by their words, but by their actions. Then pray, then vote.

Random Thoughts and Observations

 

This week I thought I’d just jot down some random thoughts and observations. So, here’s some of what’s rolling around inside my head these days.

***

Joe Biden did better than most people expected at the first Presidential Debate last week. Of course, expectations were pretty low. I still question his cognitive state (as in a previous blog - https://rdperryauthor.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-real-reason-joe-needs-to-go.html). He was more articulate than I expected, although he did stumble and mutter a bit a few times. Regardless, I still have huge policy differences with Biden. Even with his frequent flip flops, he rarely lands on a position I can agree with! But it was good to see him out of the basement. LOL!

***

Speaking of the debate, the media continues to spread FAKE NEWS. Good example?

Chris Wallace: Mr. President, are you willing tonight to condemn White Supremacists?

Trump: Sure.

Mainstream Media Headlines – “Trump refuses to denounce White Supremacy.”

(If you don’t believe me, go back and watch it.)

***

Just my opinion, but if you celebrate, rejoice, or make jokes about someone testing positive for a potentially fatal illness, then you are a horrible excuse for a human being. (Or as my younger self would have put it, you’re a POS.) I don’t care how much you hate the man. What’s wrong with these people?

***

Don’t know about you, but I’m excited about this week’s Vice Presidential Debate. We don’t really get to see enough of Mike Pence, and he’s an impressive guy! Also, more people need to see Kamala Harris and hear her policies. If she’s willing to answer the questions (and not refuse to answer like Biden). Or if the liberal moderator even bothers to ask any legitimate questions. Should be interesting!

***

The NBA Finals are going on and nobody cares. I know I don’t. I guess King James will very soon have successfully arranged himself another championship. After all, nobody plays the free agency system like LeBron. (I have a previous blog on that subject as well - https://rdperryauthor.blogspot.com/2018/07/how-lebron-james-ruined-nba-update.html)

Not watching the NFL either. (I do watch some highlights afterwards occasionally, but definitely not tuning in to watch any pregame nonsense.) The Cowboys lost again, so it was a good week. So, if you’re quarterback is worth $40 million a year, should he end every game by throwing an interception? Asking for a friend.

***

And finally, The Walking Dead is back! Well, sorta. Finally got to see the season finale from last year, and the new series World Beyond, which was incredibly boring for the first 45 minutes until the kids finally made it outside. And Fear the Walking Dead returns next week.

What Exactly is a Liberal?

 I saw a recent Facebook post of someone who claimed to be a proud Liberal and he included the following definition of the term:

 

As I read this, I wondered where all the Liberals have gone. I certainly don’t see many of the characteristics above displayed by the so-called Liberals in the media and the Democratic Party today. And I also wondered how anyone who actually fits the definition above could have anything to do with the radical leaders (or policies) of the Party.

Consider the definition. Really think about it. When I see the vile, disgusting, hatred for the President (and other Conservatives) that my “liberal” friends post openly on social media, I don’t think “free and generous heart” or “broad and enlightened mind.” I don’t think, here’s someone who “advocates liberty of thought or speech.”

The definition above sounds like a really nice, thoughtful person. I know some people like that and appreciate those qualities, but I certainly don’t see much of that in today’s politics. Or in the political views of the Party that is supported by so many proud Liberals.

People with “free and generous hearts” shouldn’t be okay with the murder of millions of unborn children. People with “broad and enlightened minds” shouldn’t be so afraid to have a civil discourse with others who might have different views on social issues. People who “advocate liberty of speech” shouldn’t be so quick to condemn the rights of others to exercise their free speech. Nor should any of these “liberals” be okay with the destruction of our country at the hands of “protesters” who want to “tear down the system.”

Where in the definition does it say liberals should advocate violence and stir up racial and class warfare? Some of the most narrow-minded, bigoted people I know are proud Liberals. Makes me wonder if they even know what the word liberal means. Maybe they need a new label for themselves.

I am obviously not a proud liberal, certainly not in today’s sense of the word. When I consider the anti-American, anti-second amendment, anti-God, anti-Capitalism, anti-unborn, etc, etc, I see nothing of the above definition in the Democratic Party. You know, the party that is supposed to be the liberal alternative to the Conservative Republican Party.

So maybe we need a better definition of liberal. Or maybe we need to stop thinking of Democrats as liberals. A Liberal like the one described above shouldn’t be a Democrat. Not today.

The Great Computer Crash of 2020

 

Well, of course, my computer crashed recently. It’s 2020! I blame it on the notorious Windows Update, a feature that Windows 10 forces on its users, whether they want it or not!

In the old days, you could opt to have Windows automatically download and install any and all updates, or you could have them download and ask if you wanted to install updates, or you could just have them notify you if updates were available and let you decide what to do next. Either way, it was nice to have options.

But since Bill Gates and Microsoft know more than the rest of us, they've decided to just go ahead and update us and we just have to go with the flow. Unfortunately, the updates have a bad habit of occasionally crashing your computer. It happens frequently enough that it doesn’t even scare me anymore. I have some skills and usually I can keep the system running long enough for Microsoft to send out the next patch/update (without, of course, ever acknowledging that the update may have caused problems for some users).

So, a few weeks back, shortly after a recent Windows update (coincidence, I’m sure), I began seeing the infamous Blue Screen of Death! Incidentally, if your Operating System has such a well-known term for crashing, you might want to think about creating a more stable system that doesn’t cause so many crashes. Using my phone, I googled all the strange new error messages I was seeing and managed to limp along until the next update. And then, everything just quit working!

I tried everything I could before making the call for help. (If you’re local, check out Tiner Tech Solutions!) On the good news side, the hardware tested fine, and I was able to recover all my files. (Word of warning to my fellow writers – Back up your work!!!) I do have a copy of my writing files safely tucked away and I try to keep it current. And it was nice, to have my important documents restored.

But the bad news – I lost every program and app that had been installed. With my puny internet connection, I have been downloading for a week now to restore everything. And worse? Passwords! Who remembers those? Not me apparently.

What Exactly is the New Normal?

I keep hearing people use the phrase “the new normal,” and wondering if any such thing exists. I don’t know that the new everyone is talking about will ever really feel normal. Not to most of us anyway. I’ve begun to think (pessimistically for me, sadly) that we will never get back to what we once defined as normal or even close. So what changes should we “just get used to” and learn to accept? 

Social Distancing 

I guess handshakes and hugs and other forms of physical contact with others are just gone. This really bothers me a lot. I tend to be a touch/tactile person. I need to feel some human contact every now and then! It seems weird to lose that. And even the term bothers me. Since when is being distant from others socially supposed to be a good thing? 

Masks 

I guess the whole world has become a bunch of germaphobes. Why? Haven’t we always been surrounded by an endless supply? Now, I don’t mind the extra emphasis on hand-washing, and improving general hygiene is a good thing, but the masks don’t feel at all normal. And honestly, if you’re not using a medical grade device, you're probably doing more harm than good (according to the CDC). And if that’s the case, aren’t we really just talking about a new fashion accessory? An uncomfortable one at that! Oh well, maybe it won’t be so bad when the weather turns cold. 

Lockdowns/ Shutdowns 

You do realize that cold and flu season is coming, right? And whether it’s the flu or the common cold, every time somebody sneezes, everyone within a block is going to freak out. And the lockdowns are normal now, right, so now every time the disease of the month affects a higher number of folks than the average, we all have to stay home and businesses have to shut down and the whole country’s economy has to suffer? What a crock! 

Hateful Politics 

Okay, so this one actually predates the virus, but now even health issues have become part of the ugly world of politics. And I guess there is no such thing as civil discourse anymore. And why are people so ignorant about the way government works? You do know there are actual mayors and governors who have a lot more control over your daily lives than the politicians working in Washington DC. And the vile and nasty things said frequently about the leader of our country by political opponents and the mainstream media continue to get worse each and every day. And sadly, the Office of President apparently deserves no respect anymore. Most of you, I hope, understand what I’m talking about. The actual position, not the man, should be granted the respect the title deserves (regardless of your opinion on the current holder of the office.) 

Professional Athletes and Celebrities as Political and Social Activists 

I am a firm believer in freedom of speech, but the idea that somehow pro athletes or movie stars or pop singers are considered experts in regard to politics or social issues is just crazy. Especially when, as a group, they tend to be so extraordinarily uninformed. If all you can do is repeat the media talking points and blast that out to your millions of social media followers, you certainly have that right, but it would be nice to see you put some of your (considerable) money where your mouth is. And I don’t mean by contributing campaign funds or bailing out protesters. 

Violence in the Streets 

Or what the mainstream media and the Democratic Party like to call “Peaceful Protests.” Despite the daily efforts by the media to portray the violence as the fault of the President, you do know that it is the Left who are doing all the burning, looting, and destroying of property, right? And you can justify it all you want, but opposition to another political party or their elected leaders does not excuse the nonsense that is happening. (Sponsored and paid for by some serious Anti-American organizations!) 

Don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to consider these things normal. 

Labor Day

Labor Day – A Time for New Beginnings

Well, it’s the first Monday in September, so that makes it Labor Day! So what exactly does that mean? Other than an extra day off from work or school, many people have no idea what the holiday is all about. Honestly, I didn’t really know myself.

A federal holiday since 1894, Labor Day is a celebration of the American worker. (You can read all about it at the History Channel’s webpage https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/labor-day-1) Promoted by the unions at a time when hours were long, wages were low, and conditions were brutal, the idea was adopted by several states before becoming a national holiday when it was signed into law by President Grover Cleveland.

Strikes and walkouts and protests had become increasingly common (and violent) and Congress acted to appease the labor unions and honor the working men and women of the country. It was a small gesture, but a meaningful one that has lasted. Thankfully, the other issues have been improved upon as well. Laws are in place to protect against the abuses that prompted the rise of the unions long ago.

Today, most Americans just appreciate the break, the “unofficial end of summer.” The older generation can remember starting school after Labor Day, and the holiday also signaled the beginning of many fall sports’ seasons. Even fashion was affected – “no wearing white after Labor Day” – right? Whatever the day means to you, most of us see it as a fresh start of sorts. And don’t we need those on occasion?

But seriously, hats off to the hard-working Americans who certainly deserve a day off now and then! So, enjoy the day and let’s remember to pray for our country, today and always.

Labor Day Part 2 Another Look

Last week I wrote about Labor Day, a celebration of the contributions and achievements of the American worker. To stay positive, I cut out all the political comments which resulted in a pretty short message, but that’s okay. Here’s the rest of the story.

Despite the absolute crazed hatred of the President by the media and the Left, the economy is booming and unemployment is lower than ever for many segments of our population, particularly women and minorities. Black and Hispanic unemployment is at record lows. These are great reasons to celebrate and praise a growing number of American workers!

The reality, however, is that there are still way too many people in our country who are not working. Unemployment is supposedly 3.7%. A lesser known stat, the Labor Force Participation rate is 63%. (Basically 37% of the civilians who are able to work are actually not working or looking for work.) So, which statistic is accurate? Mark Twain is often quoted as saying “There are three kinds of lies – lies, damned lies, and statistics.”

The truth is that both statistics are true and they represent good and bad news. It’s good to see the low unemployment figures, but it’s also sad to think that there are so many non-working people in our country, as many as 96 million. (https://money.cnn.com/2018/01/10/news/economy/95-million-out-of-workforce/index.html) Sadly, these are Americans between the ages of 16 and 64 who are healthy and able, but have given up on even looking for employment. That’s a staggering number.

It also explains why there are so many people on welfare, in one form or another. Why work when you can live off the government and the sweat of others? Statistically, “21% of Americans participate in at least one government assistance program.” That amounts to over $445 billion in welfare programs in the US, which includes 79 different programs. (https://www.lexingtonlaw.com/blog/finance/welfare-statistics.html)

Now, I have no problem with the government using tax dollars to help the unfortunate, but that seems somewhat excessive. Especially if 96 million of those people are choosing not to work. Or if those people are not even citizens of this country. “63 percent of households headed by a non-citizen reported that they used at least one welfare program, compared to 35 percent of native-headed households.” (https://cis.org/Report/63-NonCitizen-Households-Access-Welfare-Programs) I know some of those people are in desperate need of assistance, but we’re talking about money that is being taken from tax-paying workers. American workers.

Sadly, it will only get worse, unless we do something. Every one of the Democratic candidates for President can hardly wait to give away more “free” stuff. Meanwhile, hardworking American citizens are footing the bill. So, while a lot of non-workers and non-citizens are lining up for their “free” stuff, many US workers are still paying more than their fair share for programs for which they never seem to qualify. One way or another, the middle class always seems to get a bill in the mail.

If you raise people’s taxes (as all the Democrats propose) to give them “free” healthcare, or college tuition, or a universal basic income, or whatever, then it’s not really free, is it? It’s a losing proposition and the biggest losers are always the working class. So now, even more strongly I say, hats off to the American worker! Labor Day was great, but maybe one day of praise and appreciation is not enough. So, once more - Thanks for all the hard work!