THE ENTERPRISE--A LOT GOING ON THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED IN RECENT DECADES--WHAT TO THINK? WHAT TO DO?
PERSONAL NOTES: A BUSY SIX WEEKS HOME FROM FLORIDA AND FINALLY SETTLING IN
Our FL stay was blessed with great weather, and lots of beautiful settings. But, it was marred by getting Covid (Omicron we think) in late Jan.-early Feb, and that is after 2 Moderna shots in OH last Jan.-Feb., and a booster in late Oct. The vaccinations helped me get over it in a week, with minimal discomfort. However my wife suffered for several weeks, and is still finally getting her sense of taste back after 3 months! Ditto, the adverse impact on her stamina.
"CYCLE OF LIFE” AND AGING HIT CLOSE TO HOME FOR ME—THREE TIMES
In 2021, one of my best, long-time friends, Doug Dempsey, suffered for several months in Spring before passing away. He was one month younger than me. Then this spring, on St. Patrick’s Day, another of my long-time friends, Joe Kokal died suddenly in his wife’s arms. He was a year younger than me (I was 81 in mid-April) Last week another friend of more than a decade, Bill Sparks passed away. I’ll be going to his funeral in 2 days. He was also 80. These deaths of friends are to be expected when we reach the age of “four score” (80+) years, but they still hit home—hard. I should be thankful that God lets me continue to find and remove bladder cancers when they recur (as they do, often in men).
NOW FOR THE MATTERS AT HAND—IMPACTING MANY OF US: PUTTING AMERICA "BACK ON COURSE"
PLEASE READ & SHARE THIS GREAT ADVICE FOR ANYONE, ANYTIME, NOT ONLY RECENT GRADUATES...
WARNING: COVID IS NOT GONE, AND THE CONSTANT VARIANTS VIRUSES FORM WILL BE A PROBLEM
We may find that the annual flu shot, or vaccinations for pneumonia or shingles are not the only ones we will need regularly to maintaining good health. Few things are as important as a healthy lifestyle—eating wisely, exercising frequently and maintaining the necessary supplements, which our tendency to eat unwisely make advisable. Covid is still a serious problem, but our behavior can help keep it less deadly than it was before we found the “Warp Speed” delivery of vaccines and treatments.
TODAY THE SUN IS SHINING, AND THE WEATHER IS GOING TO REACH THE 70’S IN MOST PLACES—GOOD NEWS!
The USA is still the best country in the world to live, and be in business, but lately (Post-Covid and post-Biden & the Dems) it’s been harder. Why? Let’s list the ways, but remember—people from all over the world are doing everything they can to get into the USA. Which other countries can say that?
AMERICA HAS ENEMIES—REAL, SERIOUS ONES—DON’T HELP THEM BY FOOLISH DECISIONS
America’s enemies (Russia, China, N. Korea, Iran, et. al.) are watching gleefully as Biden and his cast of characters tear apart the America fabric of life in the name of “free everything," and no consequences for the rule of law, order or fiscal sanity. The next target might be the Electoral College—created to distribute the elected leadership across the balance of the 50 states—and not concentrate it in a few distorted, large, urban cities with largely uninformed or misinformed populace. For evidence, look at the plight of many of America’s largest cities and states, while under Democratic political control—all failing failing. Consider how much harm has been done to America in only 17 months of a Biden presidency and Democrat control of the House and Senate.
INFLATION: Thanks to the Obama & Biden philosophy of throwing money (printed with nothing to back it up) at problems they have no idea how to solve, the result is rampant inflation. Now at 8%+ and climbing, the value of everyone’s money is reduced by the series of wrong-headed, foolish “Bidenomics" policies, all made worse by the Dems liberal-Socialists pushing for "free everything,” paid for by taxing the half of Americans who still pay taxes! These so-called Progressives (liberal-Socialists) ignore historical failures of such policies and totally disregard the principle that governments were organized to work for the people to (ONLY) do what they couldn’t do for themselves. "Other people’s money" always runs out—eventually.
IMMIGRATION: Under Biden & the Dems, the American Border is now an imaginary line, being erased by clueless, foolish and un-principled policies—and no “sensible management” at all. Illegal (undocumented) entries are climbing astronomically and being methodically transported all over the USA to disrupt and add financial/welfare burdens on taxpaying citizens everywhere. This is a classic case of poor policy, made worse by poor management, with no one in Biden’s administration realizing or admitting the havoc they are creating. We, the people, don’t basically dislike immigrants—many of them are good, hard working people who add value. But when the border is an illusion (or in Biden’s case, a delusion) no one even has to “sign in” to enter the USA, and certainly not to follow its rules and laws. This is a tragic failure of the Biden presidency.
ELECTIONS: One of the great parts of a Constitutional Democracy is free and fair election of leaders. We had that in the USA until the last election when ballots were distributed like handbills being dropped from airplanes, and there was no control of who was voting, and whether they were legally qualified to do so. Thus, no control got Biden into the White House and Dems in control of Congress. How is that working out? Like every thing else done by Democrats (e.g., the disastrous, riotous mismanagement of most large US cities and some states) poorly, flagrantly in violation of both the rule of law, and any semblance of fiscal or behavioral order.
EDUCATION: This area, publicly funded education, has become a twisted version of its original intent, and the principle of tenure, designed to protect and reward the best teachers, of which there are many, but now protects the weak/worst ones from being replaced. Public employee unions, which FDR wisely stated should not be allowed to form, protects and spreads mediocrity. Throw in the way these teachers “propagandize” Americas youth with distorted liberal mis-information (like Critical Race Theory), and it’s easy to see why so many public schools have gone badly wrong. Even San Francisco, that bastion of liberalism, voted to throw out a group of misguided school board members. Private (or charter) schools and voucher systems to enable good schools to thrive, must multiply and grow.
FOREIGN POLICY: This area could fill pages with commentary on the Biden administration’s misguided and poor (non-existent) leadership. The Afghanistan withdrawal —sudden, poorly managed, leaving behind chaos, suffering and billions of dollars of US paid for assets. The slow to respond and lukewarm reaction to Russia’s brutal, immoral and illegal invasion of Ukraine. Re-inserting John Kerry (a biased misguided leftover from the Obama regime) to reinstate the awful Iran nuclear agreements. Rejoining the Paris Climate accords that siphon off US money to support “Climate Crisis” illusions of the biased media and misguided climate zealots.
In his fine book Unsettled, Steven Koonin says: "It’s clear that media, politicians, and often the assessment reports themselves blatantly misrepresent what the science says about climate and catastrophes. Those failures indict the scientists who write and too-casually review the reports, the reporters who uncritically repeat them, the editors who allow that to happen, the activists and their organizations who fan the fires of alarm, and the experts whose public silence endorses the deception. The constant repetition of these and many other climate fallacies turns them into accepted “truths.”” ― from "Unsettled: What Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn't, and Why It Matters"
FINALLY—A TRAGIC SITUATION THAT HAS DEVELOPED IN THE USA, DUE TO MANY THINGS, INCLUDING COVID, BAD LEADERSHIP, MISGUIDED POLICIES AND BIASED MISGUIDED MEDIA (& too many misguided educators).
Americans—at least a lot of them have lost the will to work. They have lost the sense of pride in being part of the greatest economy on Earth, and worst of all, they have been taught by the “Progressives” that if you wait and whine long enough someone will give you handouts and welfare that removes the necessity of “earning a living” through motivation, personal effort and hard work. We must choose and elect leaders who realize the importance of accountability, fiscal responsibility, and contributing to American society.
MEMORIAL DAY IS THE PERFECT OCCASION TO REMEMBER AND MOURN ALL THE BRAVE MEN & WOMEN WHO SACRIFICED TO PRESERVE AMERICA'S FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY FOR OVER 200 YEARS.
The very freedoms that America offers are now being misused by factions to support failed ideas fro the past: Socialism now renamed “progressive” in hopes of deceiving an uninformed and naive populace—specifically the poorer and/or younger Gen Z, that has been preconditioned by liberal, “progressive” elitist educators. They haven't yet realized that "there is no such thing as a free lunch;’ those always are paid for somehow.
This younger demographic group hs been protected, coddled and raised to see a distorted picture of America’s many wonderful successes and principles. Ideas like “earning your own way,” working for living, paying your bills, following the law, and embracing, supporting, and defending our freedoms as stated in the US Constitution, have proven to be enduring and insightful for over 200 years. Change may be good, but only prudent change, based on wisdom, honesty, morality and integrity.
America the beautiful, when viewed from right the lens, is truly the best place on earth to live. Anyone who otherwise, should pack up and move somewhere else—anywhere else—but they will soon see how badly they want to come back to the USA. They will learn "the grass always looks greener," until you live there.
PLEASE, JOIN THE “MOVEMENT" TO DEFEND AND BUILD ON AMERICA’S CONSTITUTION & FOUNDING PRINCIPLES; START WITH THE NEXT TWO ROUNDS OF ELECTIONS (2022 & 2024), AND SUPPORT PEOPLE & ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE WORKING AND FIGHTING TO SUSTAIN FREE ENTERPRISE, CAPITALISM, DEMOCRACY, AND THE RULE OF LAW... AND MORALS… IN OUR COUNTRY.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
JOHN
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