Last week a guest speaker opened her remarks with an obvious excuse. She told a large gathering that “covid protocols” prevented her from attending in person. I suspected then she was full of it and was on alert for more. I didn’t have to wait long. She proceeded to explain when she was in meetings with men “her voice was not heard” and that other women would help her employ strategies so men “would hear her voice”. Let’s put our boots on and wade in.
As someone who has always worked in male dominated fields and was typically the only woman in a testosterone filled conference room, I can say with certainty that I rarely had a problem with my voice being heard. If my message was not initially understood, I wondered how to communicate more effectively. People process information differently and one’s style has to be adjusted accordingly. These differences do not necessarily break on gender lines although, news flash, men and women are different. Even with an appropriate communication strategy, failure can occur for reasons that have nothing to do with gender. The listener can be a jerk, have extreme ADD or be one of those manic talkers incapable of listening. Regardless of the countless factors that contribute to failure, in some quarters it’s always the bad ole men who prohibit women’s “voices from being heard”. Women are the victims and men are the oppressors in this corrosive narrative.
Sadly some women have been actual victims at the hands of truly bad men. These women are real victims through no fault of their own. Victim/oppressor ideology attempts to project the no fault reality of the genuine victim to all women. If a woman buys into this theory, she has no personal responsibility for bad outcomes in the conference room or life. It’s the oppressor’s fault. They get away with it because good folks will never ascribe blame to real victims and it’s just so hard to tell the difference between real and ideological victims these days. As a result people have stayed silent and allowed this con job to take root.
Conversely, traits of actual bad men are projected to all those in the targeted oppressor group and viola, all men, including good men, become victimizers and misogynists. A casual observation of the men we know proves the lie of gender based oppressor theory.
This concept is not new. When I started out 40 years ago, a few folks dangled the victim card in my face. I swatted it away like a bad smell. I was focused on achievement and had no use for “poor pitiful me” ideology. Even then our society had progressed to a place where women had the opportunity to advance unfettered should they choose to do so. In fact, a competent woman in a male dominated industry actually had the advantage. In order to recognize this, however, it was essential to have the correct perspective. I believed in my ability to succeed and remained focused on the goal. Equally important the source of my failures could be found in the mirror. That isn’t to say that I was free of insecurities. Like all humans, I had plenty and perhaps more than most. But insecurities were my baggage to offload, not an amorphous self-limiting ideology that cast me as a victim.
One difference between then and now is victimology has gone mainstream infecting Americans of all ages including young impressionable minds. Should we encourage our daughters to view themselves as oppressed or teach the concept of personal responsibility? Do we want them to fear there is an oppressor behind every male face? Or should we teach them to evaluate the character of both men and women acknowledging there are good and bad of each? Should we teach our sons they are bad simply because some stranger with questionable motives has labeled them an oppressor? Or should we teach them how to think? Should we ensure young people understand the prerequisites of success or turn them into victims trapped below a self-imposed glass ceiling?
Victim/oppressor ideology divides us horribly. Consider how real victims feel towards their attackers. Now imagine that negativity and distrust percolating in the newly oppressed ideological victims. As we see on the news daily, it is disastrous for America and puts us on very shaky ground indeed.
A more insidious and equally dangerous result is a culture of mediocrity. How can anyone possibly be the best they can be if bad outcomes are always someone else’s fault? How does an individual learn and grow without the benefit of acknowledging and examining their own mistakes and poor choices? Victim/oppressor ideology therefore stunts growth potentially reducing the chance of success. Dampening the achievements and ambitions of individuals results in mediocrity or worse. As the number of achievers declines, the overall success of America will diminish and with this comes destabilization.
Luckily for the propagation of our species, the gender chapter of the victim/oppressor club has not attracted wholesale membership. We women like our men and do not take kindly to painting our good men with a bad ole man brush. The race chapter however is growing at an alarming rate…
Shaky Ground Summary
As a reminder we will only examine what is happening and leave why unasked for now. Below is a summary of destabilizing factors addressed in this and the previous article in the America on Shaky Ground series.
Part 1 – Division and distrust caused by the prohibition of gathering.
Part 2 – Division and distrust caused by separating women and men into victims and oppressors.
Notes
The phrase “prerequisites of success” was lifted from one of America’s great critical thinkers, Thomas Sowell. I highly recommend “Discrimination and Disparities” for an excellent discussion on this topic.
There is one silver lining of the Covid Era aka “The Gun Age”. I have a new passion. Target shooting. A few months after my first sweat soaked handgun lesson, I impulsively bought a .22 pistol. I was hooked the minute the gun was in my hand. Shortly thereafter I left free America to head north to not so free Maryland.
I had two goals when I arrived, buy a .22 pistol and find a place to shoot it. I failed miserably in the first and succeeded spectacularly in the second.
A friend recommended Anne Arundel Fish and Game (AAFG), a private shooting sports club that includes covered 24-position precision pistol (a.k.a. “bullseye”) range, a set of action pistol bays, a casual plinking range, a covered 6-position 100-yard rifle range, a covered 12-position 50-yard small bore (rimfire) rifle range, two trap fields, and an archery range. It is a wonderful place. On Tuesday mornings, they hold precision pistol training. I figured that would be all me and emailed the gentleman who manages the pistol range, Paul Striffler and asked if I could come by and watch. While a bit intimidated, I knew I would like it and started the process to join the club. Meanwhile if I could secure a gun, I could join the Tuesday morning sessions while the application was in process.
Buying a gun in Maryland as a Florida resident deserves its own article. Suffice it to say, regulations have done nothing to keep guns out of the hands of criminals but are very handy to keep them away from me. Then I borrowed a .22 pistol which turned out to be a “no good deed goes unpunished scenario” for the lender. Long story short, I bought another pistol in free America and returned to Maryland this summer with a Browning Buckmark and a provisional membership to AAFG. Finally, goals achieved.
I emailed Mike McGrath, who has been very helpful through the entire process, to let him know I was back, had a weapon and was ready to go. In a classic verbal tell of the jitters, I asked Mike if I should jump in on Tuesdays or practice a bit first on my own. Mike reminded me that Tuesday sessions are the practice where you learn to shoot before shooting. Ahhh, no need to clean the house before the cleaners arrive. Got it.
The moment of truth arrives. I show up early on the following Tuesday and meet Paul and the 12 or so other folks whose names I promptly forgot because I am a nervous wreck. I am no stranger to doing things that make me uncomfortable so I know the feeling well. Paul taught me the proper stance, grip and how to bring one’s arm into position. We touched on using the breath and had quite a bit of conversation about the “arc of movement”. As soon as I heard that phrase, I knew the arc was going to be my nemesis. My analytical mind computed how far off a shot would be at 25 yards with an out of control beginners arc. I had been shooting at about 7 yards up to this point. Luckily though I was too nervous to think about much, Paul was an excellent coach, I hit the target more often than I missed and got a bullseye. Most important, I enjoyed it thoroughly. Success.
The following Tuesday I immediately notice the targets are an impossible 50 yards away. This was a big problem. I was next to Bob and another Mike who runs the Saturday league. I wondered if I would annoy them with my endless questions and confirmed what I already knew, folks here are incredibly helpful and more than happy to share their knowledge. Tightening up that coffee fueled arc of movement for a 50 yard target is where my worry should have been directed. The other problem is my mind was in overdrive and that always screws things up. When overthinking, I tend to dwell on the wrong things like “please God don’t let me do anything stupid” and forget to think about the right things like setting my stance correctly.
It isn’t long before Mike says to me, Sue, you are shooting at my target. As my cheeks no doubt flare, I thought, good news, I actually hit the 50 yard target I was aiming at. Then I breathed a sigh of relief that at least one stupid thing was out of the way. Note to self, pay attention to the numbers on the stations. All in all, my performance was abysmal, but fun was had by all. The good news is I can only go up from here and we shoot 25 yards next Tuesday…
As Joni Mitchel said, you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. It is also true that we don’t know what we lost till it’s back.
For 14 long Covid months, either government edict or individual choice restricted the ability of most to gather. This was a severe loss with far reaching implications. My first opportunity to gather unfettered was at an outdoor concert in mid-May. The night was perfect, the music excellent and the crowd happy. All of this was punctuated by a superb display of nature as the sun set over the water. It was powerful medicine. I was reminded that gathering is a basic human need that lifts and unites us. Events of the last year demonstrate the converse is also true, the extended inability to assemble will depress and separate us.
As I contemplated the positive energy sifting through me and the crowd, I was deeply reminded why the right of assembly is specifically outlined in the 1st Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Gathering is power.
Is it any surprise that communist countries who wield total control over their subjects severely restrict assembly and religion? We humans are a wily bunch that can be difficult to control. Separating us from each other and our collective power is a good first step. It is destabilizing. Sprinkle in a huge dose of fear and behavior control becomes even easier. The Covid experience taught us this is absolutely true. My intention is not to discuss whether Covid restrictions were necessary but to recognize the reality of their impacts. Covid edicts separated us from essential human needs, injected boundless fear, destabilized us and set the stage for the successful manipulation of millions.
With this Covid reality firmly understood, I took a few steps up the ladder and realized that there are a good number of destabilizing forces at work in our country. America is on shaky ground. For now, let’s not examine why, let’s just examine…
I am vaccinated and theoretically the risk of catching or transmitting covid is infinitesimal, so I do not wear a mask. It’s a simple concept which is why I am befuddled that mine is the only face on display in most establishments. It is understandable that a high risk vaccinated person may choose to continue masking, but everybody?
Today I ventured into a Whole Foods in Montgomery County, MD. I was the lone maskless human, as usual. The store was busy. A rather aggressive woman told me to put on a mask. I stated that the requirement for masks has been lifted plus I was vaccinated. She screeched “I have no idea if you are vaccinated or not”. I asked if Whole Foods’ requires masks even if the County does not. She said yes and that I was wrong, the County does require masks indoors. Hmmm. I put a mask on so I could check out and left the store. Because I am done with this nonsense, I did what I do and verified the facts. Whole Foods follows the local jurisdiction and Mongtomery County had lifted the mask mandate. No mask required.
Work Sue marched back in. The mask police were now at the door and asked me to put a mask on. No. Please? No. I went to customer service where a group of women were standing behind plexiglass and requested to speak to the manager. These poor women almost toppled over themselves backing away from me, the maskless monster. “Mam please, please step away”. Sigh. I waited for the manager. He calmly explained that Montgomery County mask mandate is in place until May 28, 2021 and Whole Foods follows the local jurisdiction. I calmly proved that he was wrong. I also suggested that to get over the Covid nightmare we need to get busy getting over it.
Even if Whole Foods instructs their mask police to stand down, it appears that many vaccinated, low risk folks will continue to mask in this area. Somehow these folks cannot grasp that covid is on the way out and their risk is very low. Sadly government at all levels and their media lapdogs have consistently doled out incomplete and misleading information. Fear blossomed and thinking stopped. The best remedy for these folks is to spend a week enjoying a maskless life and hopefully the spell will be broken.
Update 2.1.22
We have since learned that being vaccinated does not stop the spread of Covid. If it did, Covid would be in the rear view mirror. We have also learned, although many of us were aware of this from the beginning, cloth and surgical masks offer very limited protection against the highly transmissible Omicron. A high risk person in close proximity to others should perhaps consider a well fitted N95 mask. While some debate the effectiveness of even the N95, if my life were on the line, an N95 would be on my face.
During Covid a dangerous creature emerged – the government god. In search of relevance, these self-appointed gods picked Covid winners and losers. They delivered incredible profits to big box corporate giants while shuttering small businesses even if they could operate safely. Casinos won, churches lost. Airlines, where passengers sit inches apart, continued to fly but restaurants were closed, some forever. They gave “essential” folks the ability to pay their bills and booted many “nonessentials” to food lines and government handouts. All the while the government gods were free to ignore their own rules and studiously avoid the very real consequences of lockdowns. Sadly the fear soaked citizens let them do it.
In Key West, we are once again at the mercy of government gods. This branch of Tallahassee gods has decided they know what’s best for Key West and they, and they alone, will pick the winners and losers in our town. The House will vote on HB267 soon and, if passed, the bill will land on Governor DeSantis’s desk for signature or veto. HB267 seeks to override the November 2020 referendum in which Key West citizens voted to restrict the size and number of cruise ships. This bill was sponsored by Rep. Spencer Roach from Ft Myers and Rep. Tyler Sirois of Merritt Island.
Inquiring minds would like to know how the size of cruise ships in Key West impacts Ft Myers, Merritt Island or any other city in Florida? Have Rep. Roach and Sirois been in Key West when thousands of cruise ship passengers have been disgorged? Are Rep. Roach and Sirois aware that many businesses in Key West are doing notably better without cruise ships? Have they bothered to ask why that might be? Have they evaluated how businesses who have been hurt with no cruise ships will be impacted when they return at a level consistent with the referendum? Or are they only focused on the reduced income that Mark Walsh and Pier D Development will experience from smaller ships?
Has Mark Walsh’s nearly $1,000,000 donation to Friends of Ron DeSantis encouraged Rep. Roach and Sirois to arrogantly assert we “are engaging in economic elitism in an attempt to remake Key West in the mold of Martha’s Vineyard”. First, why do they care what happens in our town? Second, are we elitists if we want cleaner water? Third, is it elitism to prefer more businesses that serve both the locals and tourists and less that peddle junk? Fourth, please produce one human being who wants Key West to be Martha’s Vineyard. In my humble opinion it is elitism for any Tallahassee god to create laws that determine which Key West businesses prosper and which do not thereby impacting the nature of our town.
Regardless of your political party or whether you are for or against cruise ships, we should unite in the knowledge that our vote matters. If those at the State level believe the citizens made a mistake, let’s examine all of the facts and perhaps hold another referendum if current reality differs from assumptions made in November 2020. As a community we should honestly evaluate how and which businesses have been and will be impacted with no, limited, or the maximum number of cruise ships. We should also determine post covid travel patterns before any decision is made since this could significantly impact the debate. One thing we cannot do, however, is let the government gods take over our town and once again pick who wins and who dies.
The purpose of this letter is to express opposition to the recently passed SB426 which overrides Key West citizens’ vote to limit the size and number of cruise ships and request that you veto this bill in its current form. I also wish to register disturbance that this bill has been crafted and supported by my fellow republicans many of whom do not live in Key West.
Supporters fail to acknowledge a very basic question. Did Key West have the legal authority to hold the referendum? If so, then any attempt to silence the voters is wrong. The shortsighted arrogance of this effort smacks of the nauseating elitism and hypocrisy we are exposed to on a daily basis. If republicans wish to distinguish themselves as the party of common sense and principle then we better start walking the walk at every level of government.
The only conceivable reason to override the Key West voters is if their actions caused grievous harm to other Floridians. Did they? Please detail exactly how since limiting the size of cruise ships in Key West appears to be a local issue and has no impact on the citizens of Bradenton or Fort Myers. The argument that all ports serve the entire state does not apply. The only “goods” being delivered by cruise ships are tourists not trade product destined for the local and regional supply chain.
Other reasons to support SB426 have been bandied about such as:
The citizens’ vote was based on an environmental report that was flawed.
Those in favor of cruise ships did not have the opportunity to present their data adequately.
Very few people voted.
People impacted by this vote such as those who work in restaurants do not live in Key West and did not have the opportunity to voice their opinion.
Businesses are negatively impacted by the vote to restrict cruise ships.
Please see my responses below:
Scientists have conflicting opinions regarding the environmental impact, but our laymen eyes see the difference as do our local fisherman. Some have made the fair point that restricting cruise traffic to smaller ships will result in dirtier older ships. Doesn’t that statement alone suggest that all ships have an environmental impact?
If new data exists that conclusively demonstrates there is no environmental impact of large cruise ships, work with the City to present this data and hold a new referendum. The citizens can review and vote accordingly.
After the election shenanigans we have observed, it has been shocking to hear anyone diminish the value of legal votes. In addition, if the number of people that voted determined the validity of an election, elections would be thrown out all over the country. It is an absurd argument.
With a record number of visitors, many Key West businesses that cater to locals, vacation rentals and hotel guests, experienced increased March 21 profits compared to March 19. Please detail exactly which businesses are in decline because the blanket statement that all businesses will suffer without cruise ships is untrue. I suspect the primary businesses with reduced profits are those that sell cheap trinkets from China or run the $5.00 tee shirt scam. Many citizens oppose the proliferation of such stores. Do Key West citizens have the right to determine the tone and tenor of their own town without interference from state level politicians? In the opinion of at least 10,000 Key West voters, the answer is yes.
Anyone who is actually in Key West knows that town is packed. Restaurant reservations are difficult at best. If a restaurant is failing now, one can only assume it has nothing to do with cruise ships. More likely they need to improve marketing efforts, are having difficulty finding staff or their food is bad.
We must also consider the big picture. We are in a twilight zone world of disinformation, boundless corruption and power struggles in which the combatants fully believe the ends justify very destructive means. 2022 and 2024 elections will determine whether we continue down a path of false narratives or turn the tide towards facts and common sense, a path towards centralized collectivist government or federalism, a path of divisive identity politics enforced by cancel culture or the free expression of critical thought. In order to change course, we need principled leaders who are an uncorrupted, shining force of good. The question is simple. Is this a principled bill or one based on cruise industry dollars in the pockets of swamp creatures?
Certainly I am naïve about the mechanics of politics but I do know that it is impossible to make everyone happy and this fact surely plays into a numbers game of votes and campaign contributions. Considering the state of our country and how long it’s been since we have had solid leadership, I do believe the people will open their wallets wide and stampede to the polls if a truly genuine, principled leader emerges. We hope that leader is you. Please choose wisely when this bill lands on your desk. Our country depends on it.
I came by my vanity late in life. It was a match made in heaven but, sadly, a notable problem has developed. How does one reconcile being vain with the advent of old lady skin? I stare at my arms and legs with a macabre fascination wondering what old fart has snatched my body. Is there a deeper reason I have a newfound affinity for alligators? What are we going to do about the grievous loss of our young girl skin?
Denial. Initially I figured I would do what all the woke kids do – identify as a younger person. It did not work. That pesky old bugger reality intruded on this fantasy and old lady skin is still advancing regardless of my feelings.
Anger. Our high degree of Irishness has always been a source of pride in the family. But I am here to tell you that Irish skin does not hold up well. Aside from rosacea and myriad other skin conditions, flaps and folds are developing that are most distressing. Why oh why didn’t our ancestors marry a Mediterranean or two to bolster that fragile Irish skin?
Bargaining. Please God, if I work out every day, will you stop this? How about if I promise never to go in the sun again? How about random acts of kindness in the shade standing on my head? No? Can you slow it down at least? Come on man, please?
Depression. Skip this step.
Acceptance. I am poor at accepting something as distasteful as old lady skin but I figured perspective would be most helpful. Have a good look around and a remarkable discovery will occur. Young girl bottoms are on full display. These bottoms are every size and shape with varying degrees of unattractive cellulite assaulting the eyes. Nobody cares. Bingo! If young girl bottoms are OK what could possibly be wrong with a bit of old lady skin?
The answer is simple, vanity has to go and sleeveless shirts can stay. Reality wins. But does that mean we roll over and turn into old ladies? NO. While we have to accept old lady skin, I will never accept old lady muscles. Work out. Stay active. Strong muscles will keep us young in all the important ways. Yes, the skin will flap and fold in the gym. Don’t look at it.
Anything else to be done? Old lady skin appears first in the areas of greatest sun damage. (Take note young sun worshippers.) To avoid further damage and dehydrating the skin, I have succumbed to the unstylish ugly Columbia shirt when stuck under a hot sun. Sigh. When hiking or out shooting, I upgrade to the slightly more stylish Patagonia shirt. I have always been a big fan of lotions and potions. They clearly didn’t do their job but they do temporarily make things look better or make me feel better, not sure which. Proper hydration in and out is key as is a healthy diet which is good for everything.
The bottom line? If you got it, flaunt it.
Recommendations:
Exercise is the fountain of youth. If need motivation and live in Key West, I highly recommend Dante Harper who runs Flex Key West, 1204 White Street. There is something for everyone at Flex with approximately 9 thirty minute classes daily including strength, cardio, boxing and abs. If you are uncomfortable with in person training, Dante also streams classes. If in Annapolis, try JD Adamson, the Fitness Studio of Annapolis, who is also excellent. He offers traditional individual training and I promise you will see results.
Lotions and Potions. Everybody’s skin is different so what works for me may not be ideal for someone else. Having said that I am a huge fan of Eminence products and slather them on liberally. For sensitive rosacea prone skin, the Calm Skin line is ideal. For sunscreen I wear Ulta MD physical defense and Eminence Red Currant Protective Moisturizer. For body cream I like Epionce Medical Barrier Cream and for hands the magical Refissa.
More aggressive treatments. There appears to be nothing logical for the arms and legs although you can get an arm lift if want to lose two months of your life and have a big ole scar running down your arm. Far more can be done for the face and neck from noninvasive to completely invasive. If interested in this route, make an appointment with the most highly skilled cosmetic dermatologist and/or plastic surgeon in your area and examine what makes sense, if anything, for you.
Money vs lives. Remember that? Anyone who advocated for a balanced approach to Covid had that phrase viciously thrown in their faces in a high-pitched social media frenzy. The money vs lives mantra was generated and propagated by the lockdown proponents, adopted as gospel by a fear soaked populace and used strategically to silence common sense among the citizens and local politicians. Among other things, this weaponization of Covid was used to justify mail in voting and solidify power structures. But today let’s steep ourselves in the irony of another goal, the most basic of them all, money.
The reality of the money vs lives mantra is far different from the lockdown or die message in the early days of Covid. It’s Big Pharma money vs our lives. We little people are clearly expendable unless Big Pharma and their clingons can make a bundle. What other explanation is there for the incurious attitude of the western world to safe, inexpensive, off patent, readily available and potentially effective ivermectin? Why are front line doctors who have firsthand experience with ivermectin’s ability to reduce mortality and hospitalization ridiculed, criticized and fired? It has been known since April that ivermectin has notable potential as a Covid therapeutic. So why do the FDA, NIH and CDC say this inexpensive, off patent drug should not be used until further studies are done? Why haven’t these studies already been concluded as has been done with vaccines and expensive drugs that can be patented? It’s simple, there is not enough money in it to get Big Pharma’s attention.
For those who have never heard of ivermectin, it is an antiparasitic drug initially developed for animals in the 1970s. During the 1980s it was discovered that ivermectin was highly effective for certain parasites in humans. More than 3 billion doses have been prescribed (many donated by Merck) since the 1980s confirming its safe human use. Because in vitro studies have shown ivermectin to be a potentially potent antiviral agent as well, Leon Caly et al conducted an in vitro analysis of ivermectin’s effectiveness against Covid, releasing results in April 2020. The April study was widely criticized because in vitro doses were higher than what is considered safe for human use. Regardless some countries began treating Covid patients with ivermectin at safe dosages achieving notable reductions in mortality and hospitalizations. In the US a handful of doctors began using the drug with success even as the FDA, NIH and CDC continued to recommend against its use until rigorous clinical trials were conducted.
I recently became aware of ivermectin due to the grassroots efforts of Dr. Bruce Boros in Key West, FL. His success with the drug in treating Covid patients is notable. His disgust with the medical community for lack of interest in ivermectin is palpable. Dr. Boros first tried ivermectin on a hospitalized patient with 88% oxygen who was headed towards a ventilator, and therefore a high chance of death. After two doses of ivermectin, the patient’s downward trend was reversed and his lungs began to clear. This patient fully recovered. Dr. Boros has since treated approximately 160 Covid patients with ivermectin resulting in zero hospitalizations. He begins an ivermectin protocol immediately, even before PCR test results are returned since the earlier ivermectin is introduced, the sooner the viral replication is impeded providing the patient with the best chance to avoid serious illness and death.
Further research led to Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) and Dr Pierre Kory who testified before the Senate Homeland Security committee on December 8, 2020. To potentially save your life or someone else’s, please make the effort to read his presentation or watch the video. An excerpt: “And so, it is with great pride as well as significant optimism, that I am here to report that our group, led by Professor Paul E. Marik, has developed a highly effective protocol for preventing and early treatment of COVID-19. In the last 3-4 months, emerging publications provide conclusive data on the profound efficacy of the anti-parasite, anti-viral drug, anti- inflammatory agent called ivermectin in all stages of the disease. Our protocol was created only recently, after we identified these data. Nearly all studies are demonstrating the therapeutic potency and safety of ivermectin in preventing transmission and progression of illness in nearly all who take the drug.”
“People are dying at unacceptable and untold rates. I am a lung and ICU specialist, and all I do right now is take care of COVID-19 patients dying of breathlessness in ICUs. By the time they get to the ICU, it is nearly impossible to save most patients…. I don’t know how much longer I can do this, especially knowing that it will all be needless death from here on out, given there is a readily available solution. A solution that cannot be dismissed or ignored. There is a critical need to inform health care providers in this country and the world. The leadership of our governmental health care agencies has a great responsibility here. All we ask is for the NIH, the CDC, and the FDA to conduct a rapid review of the literature reviewed in this presentation and provide guidance to the country’s health care providers.”
In addition to Dr. Kory’s testimony, please listen or read the Chairman’s (Senator Ron Johnson) and the ranking member’s (Senator Gary Peters) opening statements. Senator Johnson cannot understand why those who would attempt to implement early treatments are blocked and vilified. Senator Peters displays the worst form of politics while accusing Dr. Kory of a political gambit. “Sadly, it appears that today’s hearing will follow the same path, playing politics with public health, and will not give us the information we need to tackle this crisis.” Reprehensible.
Meanwhile according to Dr. Kory “the last treatment recommendation on ivermectin is from August 27th where on the NIH website, they recommended that ivermectin only be used in clinical trials and they based that recommendation as “expert opinion” only given the lack of clinical studies at the time.” Since the hearing and the release of FLCCC’s findings? Crickets.
While caution is an essential component of drug approval, my uneducated mind suggests there are serious ethical concerns with clinical trials considering the results of previous ivermectin trials. Would you want to be in the placebo group knowing that all studies to date show lower mortality with ivermectin? Politicians like Senator Peters have blood on their hands. As do the media outlets who attacked and attempted to silence Dr. Kory before he even spoke. As do the FDA, CDC and NIH who are mired in their own bureaucracy and Big Pharma funding. Yes, Big Pharma pays these agencies to conduct studies on their drugs of choice. Has Big Pharma stepped up to assist in the study of ivermectin? No. Have any of the massive pork relief bills Congress has passed include study of ivermectin? No (but the Kennedy Center got more money). An in depth review of the motives of Big Pharma, politicians, the media and social media platforms to subvert information on ivermectin is warranted in the event it goes beyond the typical “follow the money” story.
Ivermectin is not a cure for Covid. It is a promising therapeutic and preventative measure against Covid. How many more people will die or experience lifelong problems from this virus because there isn’t enough money involved for Big Pharma and the medical establishment to get excited about ivermectin. Yes, indeed, its money vs lives. Their money and our lives. Wake up people before it is too late.
DETAILS
Update 1.22 – There is a divide among the medical community regarding Ivermectin. Many believe it does nothing to reduce the symptoms of Covid while others such as FLCCC doctors still support Ivermectin’s use in concert with other drugs and supplements. I do not know the truth. I strongly believe that the government should have put the same emphasis on therapeutics as they did vaccines and that includes a rigorous study of Ivermectin. It is likely a high volume roll out of therapeutics coincident with the vaccines would have saved thousands of lives. Unlike with Ivermectin, there is broad agreement regarding the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies. However, the government now states that of the three companies that manufacture monoclonal antibodies, only one company delivers a product that is effective against the Omicron variant and they therefore have rescinded the emergency use approval for the other two companies. No one should be surprised that the approved monoclonal antibodies are in extremely short supply.
For detailed information please study the data and information included in the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) website.
Dr. Bruce Boros Ivermectin Protocol. Update 1.22 – please note this protocol continues to change. Please discuss with your own doctor.
Ivermectin 0.4mg x weight in kilograms single dose. If greater than 30 mg I split dose by 2 hours.
Z pack or doxycycline 100mg 2 times a day for 5 days. If pcr swab is negative I stop the antibiotic but continue the other meds
Famotidine 20 mg a day x 7 days
Vit C 500mg twice a day x 7 days
Vit D 4000u a day x7 days
Baby asa 81mg 1 a day x 7 days
ZINC 50mg a day x 7 days
Claritin 10mg daily if congested
Tylenol or ibuprofen as directed on the bottle
Robitussin DM or NyQuil for cough as directed on bottle
START ASAP EVEN BEFORE PCR TESTING RESULTS ARE BACK
I am an expat in my own country, and I want to go home.
I’m sitting inside a beautiful snow globe and the events of 2020 are swirling around me and they are all I can see. But when it all settles, I look around, and everything is different…. and not in a good way.
You see, I have lived where we, as a country, are heading. You won’t like it. No one will.
I WAS an expat when I lived outside the United States. It is still fresh in my mind.
I loved Italy so much! Who doesn’t? I have dual citizenship with Italy and America. I moved there as a corporate transferee. I loved the people, the food, the geography, the wine, the charm! But over time, I grew sad. I missed the United States. I was learning that here in Italy, life was very difficult. Nothing worked. The word “efficient” could never be used to describe daily life.
To try to accomplish just one thing a day became the goal. Government agency phones were never answered, lines became more lines, employees were unhelpful and disgruntled. You would stand in line for hours at the post office, because hours were short, and employees were scarce. Most rules were so convoluted the Italians who tried to help me couldn’t explain them. Don’t send me mail or packages. They would never arrive.
If you needed something for your home, it often became a hunt. Products were scarce and shelves were oftentimes empty. Once in a while you hit gold, but that’s about what it cost to get that item—prices were often inflated while salaries were deflated.
The very generous benefit system for the unemployed youth as well as highly restrictive employment regulations had placed unthinkable strains on family life. I know this from firsthand experience. I have family in Italy.
The system was broken.
I loved to travel when I lived in foreign countries. The train system was highly touted and the interstate was fast and fierce. But the words “sciopero” (strike) stunned us way too often, and left us stranded and scratching our head “but why again, this time??” If not the trains, it would be the buses, or the taxis, or the airport workers, and one time it was the toll takers on the highway.
Customer service is not a phrase used in this country. In fact, they laugh at us crazy Americans to insinuate that we might have the upper hand as a customer. NO, this is not America. You may NOT get your money back, return an item or change it out for another size. There is no time to haggle with a customer. The mid-day break, (siesta) is minutes away.
The system was broken.
In Mexico, we learned very quickly to be afraid of the police. We were warned by our Mexican friends to be wary – they were not there to help us. We were robbed three times by the police.
One time we were in a traffic jam and they walked up to our car window and tapped on it. Then they held a gun to my husband’s head and said to hand over all our money and whatever was worth anything. I had my 2- and 3-year-old babies in the car. We would be in Mexico for 4 years.
To have a telephone, your name went on a list that was five years away. But I soon learned, again with advice from my Mexican friends, in a broken system, there are broken ways to do things. My friends trolled the neighborhoods and found an installer at another home. They had a “conversation” and the next day he was at our home. He seemed quite pleased to do the job.
A gaggle of teen to 20-year-old boys with assault rifles guarded the entrance to our neighborhood. You see, WE were safe, because the drug lords living in our neighborhood were safe.
The system was broken.
It is frightening to me that a very vocal and angry segment of Americans want to defund and demoralize our police forces and drive them to the ways of a third world country.
Yes, I loved living abroad. But we yearned for trips back to the US. Government agencies worked. You could call and talk to a person. You could get guidance on what your next steps would be.
Stores were open almost around the clock. Products were in great supply. There was actually price competition for the lowest price on things, and shopping was fun! People could come and go in stores and know that customer service was there to support them. I knew if I were in danger, our police would be there in a heartbeat to help our family.
I knew that we Americans were free thinkers and would never become a country of sheep that were led by fear and chaos — which was so evident in other countries I lived and visited. Today, I live in the US.
And just today, I needed a few groceries and paper goods. I stood in line for 45 minutes to get into a grocery store. The shelves were bare of what I was looking for and have been for days. No word on when they will have product.
I needed to get a check from my bank. After standing in line to get in the foyer, there were no employees, only a remote chat window. I was told I need an appointment and would have to come back because the appointment had to happen online.
I wanted a haircut. The first available appointment is a month away, mostly due to fear and management of optics that need to be instituted.
Remember how I said that to get one thing done a day in Italy was a goal? That very familiar feeling for me is back.
Our system is breaking.
We are heading down a very slippery slope. It’s insidious and will get woven into our country’s fabric before you even realize it. People who don’t appreciate what we have, need to move to another country and try that for a while.
And maybe this expat experience doesn’t resonate with you.
Think about the last time you traveled outside the US. How happy were you when you returned?
If people don’t stand up for our country and Constitution and secure the “Blessings of our Liberty”, it won’t be here for us when we want to return.
Our system is breaking, along with my heart.
You, the reader, don’t know my gender, my race, my religion or my sexual orientation. Believe it or not, contrary to today’s woke messages, that doesn’t really matter. The only thing you need to know is….. I am an American.
Susan Rosapepe is a co-founder and former Program Directorof a city-wide non-profit organization that mentors and recognizes young people in the journalistic and performing arts. She is the daughter of a United States Foreign Service Officer, World War II veteran, and sister of a Vietnam War veteran.
How could a smart girl like you go for a guy like Trump? Don’t you know that only uneducated racist white male hillbillies clinging to their guns and religion are Trump supporters? By this Democrat definition, I am the antithesis of the stereotypical Trumpster. However, as is so often the case with politics, this narrative has no bearing on reality. In my sphere, Trump supporters are women, men, college and high school educated, white, blue, pink collar, rich, poor and everything in between, every race and ethnic group.
The parties hope to direct the voters’ attention to the notable failings of their opposing candidate. This is superficial. In these times with these candidates, the critical thinker must set aside personality and examine each platform and candidate’s supporting cast. Which side most closely aligns with one’s world view, values and hopes for our country? This process has led me to unequivocally choose Trump. I have also asked others, why Trump. What follows is a compilation of my own views and those of these respondents.
The preamble of the Declaration of Independence is an excellent summary of our belief structure as it relates to our rights, their origin and government’s relationship to same. Government does not exist to grant or deny rights, it only exists to protect them. We stand with those politicians who will assist in the protection of our rights and stand firmly against any who would threaten them.
We have a fervent belief in America and its founding principles. As with all ideals we recognize that we must exert constant effort to both achieve and maintain these ideals. We believe our next phase should be more akin to the Renaissance than a regressive revolution based on victimology, fear and loathing.
We believe the concept of personal responsibility is a critical hallmark of a free society as is the free expression of critical thought necessary to exercise it. Those who embrace personal responsibility give themselves the beautiful gift of failure and success, the ability to learn, grow and overcome fear as one strives to develop their God given talents. A dedication to personal responsibility leaves no room for dependence which stifles growth and creativity. Politicians who peddle ideas that foster dependence do so in an attempt tamp down our potential and solidify their own power. They will never have our vote.
We recognize and support that the United States of America is a representative democracy or republic. It is not a direct democracy. As such, we are committed to limited central government, the electoral college and the ability of each State to craft individual detailed policies. We oppose political platforms that wish to transition us towards a direct democracy.
We are patriots.
Ideology
We are in an ideological battle between individualism and collectivism. Collectivism is defined as “the political principle of centralized social and economic control, especially of all means of production”. In a collectivist society the “individual is subordinate to a group, recognizing no rights without the consent of authority”. Socialism, Communism, Fascism, Nazism, Authoritarianism are examples of collectivism.
Individualism is “a social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control”. Individualism is a system of inherent liberties known as unalienable natural rights, rights that cannot be given or taken away by man or government although “one can forfeit their enjoyment through one’s actions, such as by violating someone else’s rights”. The Declaration of Independence embodies individualism.
We believe the choice in this election is simple. A vote for Biden is a vote to transition towards collectivism. A vote for Trump is a vote for individualism and the principles upon which our constitution is based. We base this opinion on the left’s clear attempt to erode our inalienable rights and nationalize large segments of our economy.
COVID
It is my personal belief that the data will ultimately demonstrate that strict, extended lockdowns did not contain the virus and caused serious, unnecessary harm to this nation and its citizens. In addition the politization of COVID is reprehensible. Rather than a review of the indefensible talking points, our goal is to question which candidate will best manage COVID as of January 20, 2021. As therapeutics and vaccines become available and fear mongering is no longer needed to influence the election, will COVID be the issue that dominates the country in 3 months? Doubtful. More likely we will be focused on repairing the damage to our country from both the virus and lockdowns.
Generally, the Democratic politicians tended toward extended lockdowns, mandates and enforcement and had little faith in the individual to manage their own risk and protect those around them. Republican politicians tended to reopen earlier, were more likely to balance COVID and the negative impacts of the lockdowns and exhibited more trust in the individual. Eight states never issued stay at home orders: North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Utah. All have Republican governors. All were thoroughly criticized. All managed COVID as well or better than lockdown states. All experienced less economic trauma than lockdown states.
Biden recommended a nationwide mask mandate and a national response to the virus. He also said that he would lock the country down again if the scientists told him to. Perhaps someone should remind Biden that the President does not have the constitutional authority to implement a national mask mandate, force a State to lockdown or force it to open. Regardless, his statements reflect his attitude. He wants the federal government firmly in control, not the State and certainly not the individual.
Regardless of the rhetoric to the contrary, Trump listened to the scientists and took COVID seriously enough to recommend a 6 week shutdown of our economy. I believe Trump was late in an attempt to balance the risk of COVID against the risk from the lockdowns. He did so, however, far earlier than any Democrat and was heavily criticized for his position. He was right. They were wrong. It is interesting to note that the WHO now agrees and recommends against lockdowns stating “Lockdowns just have one consequence that you must never ever belittle, and that is making poor people an awful lot poorer.”
Should the COVID hit the fan again, we believe that Biden would respond with far more damaging, draconian measures. We choose the Republican COVID philosophy and vote Trump on COVID.
Health Care
Healthcare is a mess and neither side has put forth a satisfactory solution. We will vote Republican because we believe they are more likely to pursue a solution based on free market principles resulting in greater choice. Market based strategies are also more likely to rein in the cost of care and drugs.
Democrats are moving in the opposite direction towards national health care. Given the government’s inability to manage anything efficiently, we believe this will lead to mediocrity and reduced quality of care over the long term as has happened in other countries. The cost of government run healthcare will exceed the cost of a properly designed market based system. The citizens will pay this increase one way or the other. Nothing is free.
Economy
We believe conservative policies of limited regulation, lower taxes and reduced spending serve our free market economy the best and will result in the shortest recovery from the lockdowns. It seems incredibly unwise to saddle our COVID weakened economy with the Democratic platform which promises tax increases “on day one”, increased regulation, increased government intervention in our economy and unprecedented spending. Neither party has displayed any fiscal discipline regarding spending yet there is at least a chance the Republican party will come to their senses and return to their core principles. A serious reduction in spending is essential after the debt generated by the COVID recovery bills.
The First Amendment and Cancel Culture
The First Amendment to the Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The free exchange of ideas is under attack in our society. This is evident in our schools, corporations and social media platforms. The increasingly aggressive behavior to control our speech is exceedingly disturbing. Below are a few examples among many.
On some college campuses, conservative speakers are heckled and prohibited from speaking. Others simply ban conservative speakers. Expressing an opinion on social media can lead to dismissal. A highschool student voiced her disproval on Instagram of her school’s decision to hire the speaker Ibram X Kendi. “She posted “Absolutely DISGUSTING that @episcopalhs let this man speak at our school. Unbelievable.” Along with the words, Mackenzie shared a screenshot from Fox News of a Kendi tweet in which he accuses federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett of being a racist for adopting two black children from Haiti. For expressing her opinion, the school has begun proceedings to dismiss her.”
Corporate cancel culture is rampant. For example, Facebook employees demanded an officer be fired for supporting Brett Kavanaugh. Trader Joe’s was attacked for racism. Their crime? They named products Trader Giotto’s, Trader Mings and Trader Jose for Italian, Chines and Mexican foods. Trader Joe’s initially signaled they would succumb to the pressure, but instead, with a rare show of corporate backbone, chose to ignore the cancel culture mob.
Big Tech practices censorship on a daily basis. This is most dramatically demonstrated by Twitter’s censorship of the New York Post article on the Bidens’ corruption. Did they censor the fictional Steele dossier? The constant claims that Trump was a Russian operative? Would Facebook and Twitter censor an October surprise involving Trump regardless of how questionable it might be?
The mob not only wishes to silence us but would like to cancel our history as well. They have gone far beyond ripping down statues of confederate soldiers. Our founding fathers are being canceled and schools renamed that mention them. A mob even destroyed a statue of Frederick Douglas. Assuming this was not ignorance, we should all examine motives of the mob and their masters.
What ideology drives cancel culture? The vast majority of incidents are fueled by leftists. While leftist rhetoric suggests conservatives are intolerant, their behavior reveals who the truly intolerant people are. Cancel culture is a notable cause of division in this country. If the left wins, will censorship and cancel culture increase or decrease? Our bet is it will increase, maybe dramatically. We vote Trump in support of the 1st Amendment.
Be Very Afraid of Public Shaming
What do Cubans, Venezuelans and Vietnamese have in common that would lead many to support Trump? The shaming tactics of the left are eerily familiar. They want no part of them in this country and are voting for Trump as a result. This video by Paul Joseph Watson draws the comparisons between ritual public shaming in America to communist tactics. While there are obvious differences between communist China and America, we believe the objectives of public shaming wherever and however it occurs are the same – humiliation, conformity, indoctrination and control.
We should all be concerned that the cancel culture mob has left their keyboards and taken to the streets. What’s their next trick? Which ideology motivates this group? Leftist. Once again the party that preaches tolerance practices intolerance and intimidation demanding conformity. We will vote Trump in the hope this unsettling movement will cease.
Protests and Riots
Protests in support of racial justice are good and represent a fundamental American right. Violence, looting and riots are not.
The left accuses the right of conflating protests and violence and the right accuses the left of downplaying the violence. Which talking point is closer to the truth? Michele Obama’s own words answer this question. In her “Closing Argument” for Joe Biden, Michele Obama said “they’re stoking fears about Black and Brown Americans, lying about how minorities will destroy the suburbs, whipping up violence and intimidation and they’re pinning it all on what’s been an overwhelmingly peaceful movement for racial solidarity. It’s true, research backs it up. Only a tiny fraction of demonstrations have had any violence at all.” How incredibly disingenuous. The violence resulted in more than 19 deaths, an unknown number of injuries including approximately 700 police officers, upwards of $2 billion in damages, countless lives and businesses destroyed and communities setback for years.
Of course the violence has been “pinned” on the protests. The events were interdependent. Many more would have supported Michele Obama had she said, we support all those who march for justice and will prosecute all those who diminished their efforts with violence. Instead she “pins” the violence on Trump. Is she suggesting that Trump sent Antifa and BLM acolytes to loot, kill and burn? If that is the case why are left leaning organizations supported by the likes of Kamala Harris bailing out those arrested during the riots? How can she “pin” the violence on Trump when it was Democratically controlled cities that allowed it to continue unabated? Did Trump create CHAS/CHOP? Is Trump responsible for the young man who was killed during the “occupation”? Did Trump cause leftists to destroy Portland? Did Trump vote to defund police? No. Michele Obama’s argument is nonsense.
Why? The Obamas and other leftists encourage identity politics, a political movement that promotes division and victimology, weakening our society. A more insidious motive is that chaos breeds distrust in our systems leading people to accept massive change they would never consider otherwise.
Organized, bussed in agitators lead us to believe the chaos and violence was strategic not a spontaneous eruption. This is a serious warning for all Americans. Anyone that uses death and destruction strategically will do anything to advance their agenda. They must be ousted.
Racism
To repeat from an earlier article “Good humans reject racism in any form, uplift fellow humans with compassion and understanding and always offer a hand to those who start short of the starting line. It is always the right thing to do.” The vast majority of Americans believe this statement. Ironically the very success of the BLM organization is a testament to the goodness in America.
Do we have an inherently racist, evil country that routinely kills black people and prohibits their advancement? No. Nor does the data support this growing chant among leftists designed to promote identity politics. While the institution of slavery was evil, we do not believe our country is evil and stand firmly against all those who would have us believe that.
We support Martin Luther King’s statement “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” We are disturbed by the clear efforts to promote racism against white people, especially white men. Racism is evil regardless of who it is directed against. People and corporations who support racism in order to avoid being called a racist are cowards.
One of the terrible consequences of colormongering and identity politics is the creation of groups who now believe they are victims. Please consider the following question carefully. How many successful people view themselves as victims? We stand against any who promote victimology and support those who encourage citizens through all means possible to reach their full potential.
Which candidate addresses the question of racism the best? Both candidates verbalize their views poorly. Our only option is to evaluate their actions. Trump’s plan is to lift minorities via overall economic success and targeted initiatives such as Opportunity Zones. Biden recommends a long list of government handouts. Which strategy created the lowest level of unemployment among minorities preCOVID? Trump’s. Biden had 8 years to prove his strategy was effective for disadvantaged communities and it was unsuccessful. In fact we believe certain government programs have caused more harm than good in these communities.
Is BLM the answer? A previous article addresses my views on this subject. Suffice it to say that BLM is a self-avowed Marxist organization that supports the elimination of the traditional family. One of the major factors contributing to the failure of disadvantaged minority communities is the dissolution of the family structure. Why should BLM even have a seat at the table much less lead the movement since they advocate policies that would harm our people more? For a broader understanding of racism, poverty and those who profit from it please watch the “Black Wisdom Matters” series by Thomas Sowell and other notable intellects.
And finally is Trump or Biden a racist? Anyone with a modicum of historical perspective knows the Democrats have successfully tanked opponents by tagging them as racist. Why change a successful strategy? We do not believe either candidate is a racist although Biden has certainly said many racist things. If he were anyone else, the mob would have canceled him long ago.
2nd Amendment
The 2nd Amendment states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Cancel culture, censorship and shaming are ongoing strategies to limit our most effective weapon, free speech. Is it any surprise that these same folks are attempting to separate us from our actual weapons? Gun violence is a notable problem in America. We believe it is a cultural failure and forced “assault weapon” buybacks will do nothing but begin the process of disarming Americans. Phrases such as Biden’s “weapons of war” are designed to engage people’s emotions and turn off their brains. We implore Americans to resist this emotional appeal and remember that the ability to defend ourselves is an inalienable right. We vote Republican on 2A.
Energy
I wish politicians would say: “The climate is changing. We need an open and free discussion of disparate scientific views in order to estimate which and to what degree manmade and natural factors contribute to this change. The proposed path forward must consider these factors with a simultaneous dedication to the environment, energy independence, national and economic security.” But of course that is a far cry from what we do hear.
The left utilizes an emotional appeal predicting the world will end “as we know it” in 10 years unless we adopt the Green New Deal, a program that cannot possibly satisfy current energy demand thereby weakening us financially and threatening our national security. Is a pattern becoming obvious yet? The right generally dodges the discussion, also unacceptable.
Contrary to the rhetoric, there is not a scientific consensus on the extent and cause of climate change and there is an attempt to silence those who do not agree with the prevailing end of days narrative. An open debate is essential for a successful climate, energy and environmental policy.
A single pronged approach, ie fossil fuels, will fail as surely as do other single focused approaches that neglect to examine contributing factors.
Emotional triggers are being used to drive voters to accept a plan to restructure the economy and increased government control of energy use and production.
We have learned from COVID that incorrect modeling can result in global hysteria leading to the adoption of destructive policy, ie extended lockdowns. We must avoid this grave error with energy policy which is the backbone of our economic and national security.
Carbon emissions have declined in the US while increasing dramatically in China.
America achieved energy independence for the first time in 2019 since 1957. This is a significant achievement that must be maintained in future energy and climate policy.
We believe the right will be more likely to approach energy and climate solutions with the commitment to protect energy independence, the economy and national security. The proposals of the left offer no such commitment and in fact seem to ignore the need to have a homegrown supply of energy before turning off the fossil fuel faucet. The Green New Deal, which Kamala Harris cosigned, also contemplates government control of energy use and production. Simply put, I will not vote for a platform that will irrevocably undermine our country.
Supreme Court
I support constitutionalists on the supreme court whose focus is interpreting the law. I do not support judicial activism and the politicization of the courts. A true constitutionalist will at times anger the left and right. This is as it should be.
There is a more important question. Why has the court become politicized? There is a simple answer, Congress is not doing its job. We implore both parties to work together to pass laws that address issues such as abortion that tear this country apart. Their inability to do so subverts the purpose of the courts. Congress blames divisiveness on everyone else but themselves. Their lack of courage to tackle the tough issues is a significant contributor to the deep divide in our country. Both parties are at fault and sadly neither candidate is capable of bridging the divide.
Voting
The current discussion is synonymous with a descent into the twilight zone. Both sides are hurling accusations of vote tampering. Why is mass vote by mail necessary? Is it unsafe for the vast majority of Americans to vote in person due to COVID? Wouldn’t the current absentee ballot process suffice for those who are at risk from COVID? Do picture ID requirements constitute voter suppression considering picture IDs are required for many less critical activities? Why are some states legally attempting to count mail in ballots postmarked after the election? Are bureaucracies typically capable of implementing new complex systems in a short period of time without incident? Why would either party reduce the number of in person voting locations? Why do we hear complaints that volunteers for in person voting cannot be found yet those who attempt to volunteer are never contacted? Why do banks have vaults for their cash? Why are IDs required to fly?
Character
Trump’s character is a matter of significant debate. We will leave that debate to rage among others. We can agree he generally does what he says he is going to do. He is a patriot and loves this Country. While he refuses to pick his battles, he will stand against the insanity and take the fight to those who perpetrate it. We greatly appreciate that he is politically incorrect and refuses to be canceled. One said “even though Trump is a narcisstic maniac, he is authentic and we know where he stands.” Trump makes it easy for people to hate him and the left has used that to great advantage. He is the greatest red herring of all time.
Biden’s character is a matter of significant debate. Biden’s positions change with such regularity we have no idea where he stands on important issues. Regardless of whatever skills he used to possess, it is clear he has cognitive issues. This makes his choice of VP incredibly important. Many of us became acquainted with Kamala Harris during the Kavanaugh hearings. She did not make a good first impression and has done nothing to redeem herself. She is a committed leftist as her voting record confirms. Nancy Pelosi recently recommended a commission to assist in the application of the 25th amendment. While some thought this was another attempt to remove Trump, I believe this was about Biden. If I am correct, imagine the stunning deceit of a party that would install a President the people rejected.
The stakes are high. In previous elections we chose between conservative and liberal policies to achieve a common goal. We are now choosing between disparate goals for the governance of our country. Do we want to sacrifice our inalienable rights further in a transition towards a collectivist form of government? Or will we remain a capitalist society based on the principles of individualism embodied in our constitution? Please choose wisely. Our future depends on it.
