Crossroads, Seem to Come and Go

“Now I have come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew. But I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard.”
– Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade from “Scent of a Woman” as played by Al Pacino

These are indeed tough times for Democrats and my Left leaning acquaintances.  They have been experiencing a losing streak which makes Cleveland Browns’ fans feel good about their team’s prospects.  Initially, Democrats convinced themselves enough Americans would ignore the corruption and dishonesty of the worst Presidential candidate in history, but America was not “with HER”.  Strike One!  Then, they compounded their misfortune by throwing a two year temper tantrum – believing that such action would be appealing.  Strike Two!  Finally, they lose on almost every Supreme Court decision over the final two weeks of the term and Justice Kennedy retires.  Strike Three!   Despite being advised to stop digging their own graves, way too many of them have persisted to demonstrate with the unflattering emotion of children.  I do not have a lot of sympathy for them, but I do have empathy.

Why do I have empathy?  Well, people who did not vote for our current POTUS are not unique in experiencing electoral losses or the consequences that result from those losses.

For example, I was alarmed when the country elected Barack Obama in 2008 as I knew he lacked experience and was not the sweet talking middle of the road Democrat he pretended to be.  I was disheartened even more when, despite the economic evidence, he was re-elected.  I had thought the country might be able to survive 4 years of his policies, but unlikely to be breathing after 8 years.  The hits just kept on coming when Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a strict constructional jurist on the Supreme Court, died unexpectedly in February of 2016.  The noise surrounding the 2016 Presidential election made the odds seem likely that a progressive jurist would be selected by a Democrat President as Scalia’s replacement.  This string of defeats was a nightmare for Conservatives like me as I feared the Court would become an irreversible political arm of the far Left progressives and leave the USA circling the drain.  While all of this fundamental transformation was transpiring from 2008 thru 2016, my friends on the Left were on a roll and expressed little concern for my marginalized political views.  After all, those of us on the Right were supposedly on the wrong side of history – so who cares?  This experience was truly depressing, but I didn’t knit myself a dickhat and organize a nationwide pity parade because that would be – CHILDISH.  To the many of you who bet on the wrong horse, I know how you feel today.  News flash:  Losing sucks!

That being said, I’m not writing to gloat, but send an alert that you have reached critical decision time.

I’ve attempted to talk to Democrat friends to help them understand the electoral dynamics in play, but they appear to be too consumed with hate to think rationally.  If Democrats believe the last two years have been traumatic, just hold your hat.  The Democrat Party is now being openly guided by radical socialists and this has become obvious to more than just Republicans.  Trust me, plenty of Democrats who put country ahead of party will crossover and vote Republican this November and again in 2020.  You don’t think the polling supports that assumption?  Well, maybe having thug mobs attacking anyone who disagrees with the Left might cause people not to answer poll questions honestly.  Remember, the polls on the morning of the election predicted that Hillary had a 98% chance of becoming President.  The polls must have missed something – possibly people not admitting how they planned to actually vote.

Over the past month, while the Left has ratcheted up the rhetoric on illegal immigration, aided by their cable network PR arms, Trump’s approval rating among Hispanics has risen by 10 points.  Given what we know about people fearful of admitting to leaning right, the actual support has probably grown by more than 10 points.  Why?  Because many Hispanics see themselves as hard working Americans who want to play by the rules and live safely – just like other groups of Americans.  They have little interest in being condescended to as some victim identity group.  They also do not want to consider the idea of living once again under the Socialism which has destroyed many countries to the south of our border.

Think about this paradox:

Democrats believe we should simply open our borders to allow in people who are seeking refuge from South and Central American countries due to how dangerous life is in those countries.  Those countries are dangerous because they have been ruled by Socialist policies, yet Democrats believe we should adopt Socialism for the USA?  Huh?  People are fleeing the results of those policies.  The most popular Democrat flavor of the month, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is advocating the same socialist policies for the US which have magically turned pets into dinner in Venezuela.

Soon, the Democrat Party will only be comprised of old white liberals, activists who make a living out of stirring the pot and college kids who haven’t paid any bills.  Blacks, Asians and Hispanics are migrating to the party which offers economic opportunity.

You are at a crossroads, Democrats.  You better drag your party back towards the center or you just might disappear.  To do so, would require backing off the Nazi talk and the prognostications of apocalypse over every public policy change.  Knowing how much you adhere to these intellectually shallow tactics, the right path will be damn hard.

Common Sense Social Media and Entertainment Control ?

"They brainwashed my great uncle
Brainwashed my cousin Bob
They even got my grandma
When she was working for the mob
Brainwash you while you're sleeping
While in your traffic jam
Brainwash you while you're weeping
While still a baby in your pram
Brainwashed by the military
Brainwashed under duress
Brainwashed by the media
You're brainwashed by the press
Brainwashed by computer
Brainwashed by mobile phones
Brainwashed by the satellite
Brainwashed to the bone"

 - George Harrison

Do you want to try to solve a problem or do you just want to shout past each other?  If one wants to have an honest discussion, I can't shout you down and you can't shout me down.  That's how it works - or doesn't.

Some of the back and forth I have seen over the past week since the Parkland shooting has attempted to address the critical question:

“How to do we work together to prevent future school shootings?”

However, too much of the discussion has resulted in people talking past each other – surprise, surprise! It is a sensitive issue and we have students exercising their free speech on the issue.  I applaud them for showing their collective anger - born out of grief for their fallen classmates and the terror they experienced.  However, that experience does not give license to a one way discussion.  I do not agree with many of their proposed solutions as they seem to focus specifically on the weapon used in the crime.  There are other factors beyond the weapon itself, but I believe the students are unwittingly being exploited by gun control zealots.

In an attempt to try to help those who line up on the side of gun control to better understand defenders of the 2nd Amendment, I will present an analogy.  Hopefully, they can identify the flaws in logic and shine the mirror back on their own positions.  Please note that just because someone has a different view on the issue does not make one "pro-school shootings".

Here goes:

My recommendation to prevent school shootings is to take a simple common sense approach.  I’ve seen friends posting links to brain studies which conclude that the brain does not reach maturity until the age of 25.  This particular study has been used to argue that people should not have access to an AR-15 until, at the minimum, they have reached that age.  Using that as a premise, I recommend the following:

• Ban citizens under the age of 25 from being able to access social media platforms 
• Ban citizens under the age of 25 from being able to watch TV, movies or music videos which contain violent content
• Ban citizens under the age of 25 from being able to play violent video games

In short, no social media or access to violent entertainment media for citizens under the age of 25.

Over time, it has become obvious that young people are preoccupied with social media.  This obsession has created an environment where real physical human social interaction has been reduced and isolation among young citizens has been increased.  This isolation has led to more at-risk teens being ostracized.   The further these teens are banished from real life social circles, the greater the danger to the community.

Social media has also enabled ease of access to dangerous information.  Prior to social media platforms, a young sociopath had to seek out and fit into external groups in order to learn how to plan and plot destruction.  However, that information can be easily accessed today from a smart phone.  We must explore ways to make this information less accessible to young people.  Removing access to social media platforms will be a great step in that direction.

Another very dangerous condition created by social media is the ability of a person with no real accomplishments to exaggerate their self-importance.  A young, isolated outcast can create video content which can then be spread across the globe.  It was near impossible for the average young citizen to distribute mass propaganda prior to the advent of social media.  We must make the hurdle to achieve this notoriety much higher than what is allowed via social media.

Last on this list is the violent content in the entertainment media being pushed through channels which has helped to desensitize the immature brain and has also provided a road map to plotting mayhem and destruction.

Meanwhile, those who have enriched themselves working for social media and entertainment companies have known full well of the damage they have foisted upon the young.  Their blood money has been filling the pockets of Left wing politicians who have looked the other way while generations of our youth have been forever damaged.  Students should be marching and demanding that politicians stop taking contributions from these entities and should most certainly not allow George Clooney, Steven Spielberg and their kind to underwrite their protests.  That is, in the ironies of all ironies, an acceptance of blood money.

In summary, social media and violent entertainment media used by young people contributes to:

• Reduced human interaction and isolation
• Access to dangerous information
• Ability to exaggerate self-importance
• Desensitization
• Template for methods in plotting mayhem

I will call my recommendation:

Common Sense Social Media and Entertainment Control

Critics of my common sense recommendations may say that these proposals violate the free speech rights as defined in the First Amendment, but let’s get real about the First Amendment.  When the Constitution was written and, subsequently, ratified by a bunch of old white slave holders, they were concerned about printing presses and town criers.  There is no way that the founding fathers envisioned telephones, televisions, movies, computers and the ability of citizens to sit in their homes and spread information and propaganda over social media platforms.  Let’s stop pretending that the free speech guaranteed in a document from more than 200 years ago should apply to today’s technology.

I’m also sure that people under the age of 25 will feel that their rights are being denied, but let’s be clear that nobody “needs” access to social media and entertainment media.  Is their “need” worth the deaths of children in our schools?  Go down to the local coffee shop, shopping mall or playground and communicate one on one in real life with your peers.  If one desires to write and distribute commentary out to the community, buy a typewriter and distribute by hand.  If one desires to share photographs, buy a camera and take the negatives to have them developed at the Fotomat.  I don’t believe that photos of vainglorious lunches and desserts are worth another life.

And, yet, criticism of my proposal - funded by the oligarchs from the social media companies and the entertainment industry - will cite studies stating that 99% of the people under age 25 who utilize social media and the entertainment media do not contribute to ostracizing their peers or plotting mayhem.  That might be an interesting metric, but we must ensure that it is not accessible to the other 1%.  An all-out ban will achieve that goal – it is simple common sense.  If it just saves one life, it will be worth it.

Let’s be very clear about my recommendation:

1. This is not political
2. It is time to Do Something
3. Enough is enough!
4. If these measures save just one life, it will be worth it.

So, I hope you support common sense social media and entertainment control.  We must come together and stand behind this recommendation or you will have the blood of children on your hands.

NOW, I actually believe this proposal would help, but it would completely violate the rights of law abiding citizens - which makes it nonsensical.  Let's get rid of the political posturing and begin to work on a solution which uses real common sense.

Common Sense Social Media and Entertainment Control

"They brainwashed my great uncle
Brainwashed my cousin Bob
They even got my grandma
When she was working for the mob
Brainwash you while you're sleeping
While in your traffic jam
Brainwash you while you're weeping
While still a baby in your pram
Brainwashed by the military
Brainwashed under duress
Brainwashed by the media
You're brainwashed by the press
Brainwashed by computer
Brainwashed by mobile phones
Brainwashed by the satellite
Brainwashed to the bone"

 - George Harrison

Do you want to try to solve a problem or do you just want to shout past each other?  If one wants to have an honest discussion, I can't shout you down and you can't shout me down.  That's how it works - or doesn't.

Some of the back and forth I have seen over the past week since the Parkland shooting has attempted to address the critical question: 

“How to do we work together to prevent future school shootings?” 

However, too much of the discussion has resulted in people talking past each other – surprise, surprise! It is a sensitive issue and we have students exercising their free speech on the issue.  I applaud them for showing their collective anger - born out of grief for their fallen classmates and the terror they experienced.  However, that experience does not give license to a one way discussion.  I do not agree with many of their proposed solutions as they seem to focus specifically on the weapon used in the crime.  There are other factors beyond the weapon itself, but I believe the students are unwittingly being exploited by gun control zealots.

In an attempt to try to help those who line up on the side of gun control to better understand defenders of the 2nd Amendment, I will present an analogy.  Hopefully, they can identify the flaws in logic and shine the mirror back on their own positions.  Please note that just because someone has a different view on the issue does not make one "pro-school shootings".

Here goes:

My recommendation to prevent school shootings is to take a simple common sense approach.  I’ve seen friends posting links to brain studies which conclude that the brain does not reach maturity until the age of 25.  This particular study has been used to argue that people should not have access to an AR-15 until, at the minimum, they have reached that age.  Using that as a premise, I recommend the following:

• Ban citizens under the age of 25 from being able to access social media platforms 
• Ban citizens under the age of 25 from being able to watch TV, movies or music videos which contain violent content
• Ban citizens under the age of 25 from being able to play violent video games

In short, no social media or access to violent entertainment media for citizens under the age of 25.

Over time, it has become obvious that young people are preoccupied with social media.  This obsession has created an environment where real physical human social interaction has been reduced and isolation among young citizens has been increased.  This isolation has led to more at-risk teens being ostracized.   The further these teens are banished from real life social circles, the greater the danger to the community.

Social media has also enabled ease of access to dangerous information.  Prior to social media platforms, a young sociopath had to seek out and fit into external groups in order to learn how to plan and plot destruction.  However, that information can be easily accessed today from a smart phone.  We must explore ways to make this information less accessible to young people.  Removing access to social media platforms will be a great step in that direction.

Another very dangerous condition created by social media is the ability of a person with no real accomplishments to exaggerate their self-importance.  A young, isolated outcast can create video content which can then be spread across the globe.  It was near impossible for the average young citizen to distribute mass propaganda prior to the advent of social media.  We must make the hurdle to achieve this notoriety much higher than what is allowed via social media.

Last on this list is the violent content in the entertainment media being pushed through channels which has helped to desensitize the immature brain and has also provided a road map to plotting mayhem and destruction.

Meanwhile, those who have enriched themselves working for social media and entertainment companies have known full well of the damage they have foisted upon the young.  Their blood money has been filling the pockets of Left wing politicians who have looked the other way while generations of our youth have been forever damaged.  Students should be marching and demanding that politicians stop taking contributions from these entities and should most certainly not allow George Clooney, Steven Spielberg and their kind to underwrite their protests.  That is, in the ironies of all ironies, an acceptance of blood money.

In summary, social media and violent entertainment media used by young people contributes to:

• Reduced human interaction and isolation
• Access to dangerous information
• Ability to exaggerate self-importance
• Desensitization
• Template for methods in plotting mayhem

I will call my recommendation:

Common Sense Social Media and Entertainment Control

Critics of my common sense recommendations may say that these proposals violate the free speech rights as defined in the First Amendment, but let’s get real about the First Amendment.  When the Constitution was written and, subsequently, ratified by a bunch of old white slave holders, they were concerned about printing presses and town criers.  There is no way that the founding fathers envisioned telephones, televisions, movies, computers and the ability of citizens to sit in their homes and spread information and propaganda over social media platforms.  Let’s stop pretending that the free speech guaranteed in a document from more than 200 years ago should apply to today’s technology.

I’m also sure that people under the age of 25 will feel that their rights are being denied, but let’s be clear that nobody “needs” access to social media and entertainment media.  Is their “need” worth the deaths of children in our schools?  Go down to the local coffee shop, shopping mall or playground and communicate one on one in real life with your peers.  If one desires to write and distribute commentary out to the community, buy a typewriter and distribute by hand.  If one desires to share photographs, buy a camera and take the negatives to have them developed at the Fotomat.  I don’t believe that photos of vainglorious lunches and desserts are worth another life.

And, yet, criticism of my proposal - funded by the oligarchs from the social media companies and the entertainment industry - will cite studies stating that 99% of the people under age 25 who utilize social media and the entertainment media do not contribute to ostracizing their peers or plotting mayhem.  That might be an interesting metric, but we must ensure that it is not accessible to the other 1%.  An all-out ban will achieve that goal – it is simple common sense.  If it just saves one life, it will be worth it.

Let’s be very clear about my recommendation:

1. This is not political
2. It is time to Do Something
3. Enough is enough!
4. If these measures save just one life, it will be worth it.

So, I hope you support common sense social media and entertainment control.  We must come together and stand behind this recommendation or you will have the blood of children on your hands.

NOW, I actually believe this proposal would help, but it would completely violate the rights of law abiding citizens - which makes it nonsensical.  Let's get rid of the political posturing and begin to work on a solution which uses real common sense.