Reasons For Optimism

I know, I know. Things are not looking good for the ole human race at the moment. Short term thinking oligarchs are doing their level best to maximize profits no matter the cost to the rest of us. This is a civilization killer according to Jared Diamond. The Donald, AKA 45, may be the best thing to ever happen to the Left here in the USA! Hold on, keep reading. We need to look beyond politics. Keep in mind the Democratic Party is in the death grip of Big Bankers and Wall Street types who lack vision beyond this quarter's bottom line. They offer capitalism lite (repackaged more of the same). Bernie thinks reforming this sad bunch is the best way to go. My gut tells me this cannot happen. They are far too heavily invested in the status quo to offer any real change. I think there is a good chance they will lose to Trump again for this very reason. "I'm not Trump," is not a winning strategy as we have seen. They have to do better. They will not. The Democrats have no alternative vision as of this writing. But there is still reason to be hopeful and get up in the morning. Why?   


Teachers Saying OH, HELL NO to business as usual. They are getting results. Sure, public education has deep problems but consider the alternative; "For Profit" schools teaching the blessings of subjugation and the joys of the free market. Don''t quit on us now, teachers. We need you more than ever.

Students have also had enough of business as usual. School shootings have become American as baseball, hot dogs and apple pie. Yet, our so called leaders continue to sit on their hands simply refusing any reasonable response. They offer absurdities as solutions like arming teachers or letting God back in schools. The kids have had enough of adult bullshit and are standing up for themselves. Join them! Don't quit on us now, students. We need you more than ever.     

Black Lives Matter formed in response to on going extrajudicial killings (murder) by police of African Americans all across America. They too are saying OH, HELL NO to business a usual. African Americans should not have to fear for their lives at a traffic stop. Don't quit now! Stan up and be heard.

I thought I knew how racist this country was until the election of 2016. Man, have we got some work to do. A good first step is to step back, sit down and listen. Just listen...      

Poor Peoples Campaign and Reverend Barber are shining a bright light on economic inequality. Those who don't see this the ever widening gap between rich and poor as a huge problem are unknowingly playing with fire. Criminalizing poverty is no solution to poverty. There are better ideas. If we can fix this problem a lot of other problems diminish.   

There are more good things to get involved with. Find your passion and go make something good happen. Quitting and relinquishing your power only serves those who don't have your best interests at heart. Get up and get involved. It is our duty. 

Grave Yard Spiral

Almost a year into the disastrous 45th presidency the people of the world seem to be losing on all fronts.  My silence stems in part from not even knowing where or how to begin. How do we move forward in a belief equals fact world where meaningful dialogue is all but impossible? I and you have to speak out. We cannot simply watch the world burn. Silence equals not only violence but grave injustice as well. Lets consider some of the problems we all face. 

Climate change deniers find themselves in positions of power and decision making with predictable results:

Neil deGrasse Tyson: Science Deniers In Power Are A Profound Threat To Democracy

Climate deniers play politics with looming natural disasters

America First Energy Conference Stacked With Climate Change Deniers

We are slow to act on threats that stretch beyond tonight's bottom line showing profit and loss. It is hard to see and feel on an individual level. So what if the seasons morph into one long summer? It doesn't effect ME has to go. It may already be too late but going backwards only makes it worse faster. Where else are people losing? 

Education. 

Education deniers also find themselves in positions of power and decision making killing off the last bits of critical thinking. Some results?

How the education gap is tearing politics apart

Anti-Intellectualism and the "Dumbing Down" of America

The rise of "alternative facts," and opinions replacing science and real facts

Posted Jul 07, 2014
From a few years ago but still holds true.

A sobering look at what Betsy DeVos did to education in Michigan — and what she might do as secretary of education

 Thus the USA finds itself mired in creeping dystopian nightmare wilt louder and louder calls for the jailing of members of the press, opposition leaders and even protestors. With education being slowly dismantled, less and less people understand the danger this poses. Let's look at one last threat. 

Creeping towards new even more deadly wars.  

The Price of War With North Korea

20,000 South Koreans killed per day: the terrifying cost of a US war with North Korea

ANALYSIS: 'Huge implications' for moving US embassy to Jerusalem

This is step one, researching the problem. More research and solutions soon. 

Thought Stopper - A Reading

Thought Stopper

A blogger and writer worth your time.

The Uncounted- A Reading

The Uncounted

Well Said

Jesse Ventura on Colin Kaepernick

On to different stuff soon. 

Flags and other Distractions

Pretty isn't it? So a lot stuff about NFL players not standing for the National Anthem lately. The president is getting all huffy about it (as if he has no other worries). Approval ratings you ask?  And there's the other great distraction of our time, North Korea. I was always taught the above image stands for freedom, including the right to protest that what you think is wrong. "I disagree with what you are saying but I will give my life for your right to say it." - From the French Revolution, I think. Feel free to correct me. It seems utterly lost now among so many. This is distraction one.

The guy running North Korea now has some pretty mean toys. All in the last decade or so, no doubt a worry. But they have not been in a war since 1953. His role is to stir the pot of war much for the consumption of his own population. How else can he cling to power? Most likely, he's a threat to no one but his own poor, starved people. But that's not the message of the American Government. We gotta do something! The mad man must be stopped! Lions and tigers and bears, threats everywhere! Distraction number two.

Keep your eye on the ball. US Military Budget 824.6 Billion !! 
                                            Climate change denial
                                            Trumpcare

Edit: Well, we dodged Trumpcare for now! 

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HyperNormalisation

The Century of The Self