It’s been a
while since I had a chance to (figuratively) sit at the water’s edge… and think
a little.
It
is something I would like to do whenever possible, but it seems to be less and
less so of late…
Just
heard a piece of music I had not heard in quite a while… The Banana Song by
Harry Belanfonte… It certainly brought back a flood of memories of years ago, a
much more carefree stage of my life. Also heard in the news yesterday that
Phyllis Diller has died and gone on to the everlasting stage somewhere, to
perform never ending versions of her routines and shticks… She was really
unique… I can’t say I was an immediate fan in the beginning, but she won me
over with time and her really funny routines… May the ethereal applause be as
loud as it ever was here …
Politics
is heating up… what else is new in an election year? We continue to have very
lopsided reporting by a very lopsided press corps. But… what else is new in an
election year? Traditionally, roughly 80% of the nationally listened to media
corps, leans (often very heavily) to
the left of center and to the Democratic Party… right or wrong.
What
comes out of this “reporting”, is biased misinformation of what goes on a daily
basis, where news made by members of either party are covered very differently.
If an error is made by a Republican (even
a minor figure) it will get top billing… repeatedly. On the other hand, if
an error is made by a Democrat (including
several heavy tongue errors made by the Vice President - not a minor character),
it is hidden as much as possible and forgotten quickly. This very special brand
of “reporting” is geared to making one of the sides the “friend” side, while
the other is made to be the avowed enemy.
The
incumbent most likely will remain as the President. Not my choice by a very
long shot and for far too many –in my opinion- valid reasons but, in reality,
the government’s publicity machinery is at his disposal and I am sure he knows
how to use it. This is an advantage;
perhaps unfair, but a major advantage nonetheless. Traditionally, there have
been very few incumbents who have lost a re-election; even those who proved to
be less than efficient at what they were elected to do. On both sides.
The truth of the matter is that the current White house inhabitant has, for 3 and a
half years, done extremely little of what he promised to do as President.
Suddenly, coming close to an election which may be a lot closer than his
friends at the news media would have the guts to admit, he has discovered the
powers of the presidency and is trying to hurriedly pass through a number of
mandates which are intended to have the effect of making him look good (actually better than he is in reality)
and especially so before the eyes of certain groups that have bought the mantra
that the other guy will be bad for them.
Budget
crisis? Nah… we are only over 4 trillion in debt, more than ever before (and no, this is not the result of inflation);
Work issues? Can’t even read much about
it, since the news is about as bad as it has been since the Great Depression on this front… Bureaucracy? We now have more Departmental “Czars” in
place than the Russians ever dreamed of having… Another little addition from this government…
Medicare
is on the brink of disaster. This White House has been advised every year of
this fact by the very people who manage the area but these warnings (required by law) have gone ignored. And
Obamacare is certainly not the answer. Actually, one President had the guts to
try to do something about this major issue… yes, it was President Bush, but his
initiative was totally ignored by the Democratic House and Senate (read: Pelosi and Reid)… and let’s not go
into the Social Security area… The potential disaster here would really scare
the pants of most people who depend on this supplement to eat and pay rent.
These
are times when my thoughts wander about and latch unto the questions that begin
with the dreaded “Why?” Not many answers I’m afraid but… I will keep on asking
them. And being here at the pond helps me clear my thoughts a bit… We will
believe what we prefer to, regardless of whether its reality is in doubt. As
one very astute (and very cruel)
German maker of public opinion used to say during WWII: “If you say it enough
times, they (folks) will believe it” (or
close to this)… So, the lopsided image and public opinion shaping machinery will
continue on and so will politics… business as usual.
Aw
shucks…! I think I got carried away… my feet are getting muddy at the pond… and
so is my mind… better move on… See Ya!!!
Be
Well … Be Back!!!
Final Notes:
- Pray for those who are fighting an illness which
may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and
counts!!
- Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
- Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
- “La
Otra Caja de Pandora”… The
Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com”
… Bienvenidos!!!
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