Let's Try That Again, Shall We?

Wow, it's been quite a while since I last posted on my blog.  It's not that there hasn't been plenty to write about, I mean WOW!  This country is upside down, sideways, and inside out right now.  I have been hesitant to write because it's so emotional--which kinda flies in the face of why I even started this blog and titled it, "Was That Out Loud".  So, this morning I am coming back to it because I woke up dreaming that I was speaking to a group and trying to calm people down about this election.  I have no illusion of grandeur to think I would have any influence to change what's happening, but then again why write a blog?  Why do any of us thrust our "noble" opinions onto the world?  We are blessed or cursed depending on how you look at it, to have so much opportunity now that it's almost irresistible.  We can post on Facebook, Tweet on Twitter, or do--whatever it's called--on Instagram, the choices are many.  Passion! That is why we write, post, blog, or vomit our collective opinions all over the place.  We believe, we are right, and others are wrong.  Our opinion is what counts, right?  But, in reality it's like that color of the dress thingy that was posted.  I guess some people saw the dress one color and some saw it another--"That's called perspective, can you say perspective?"--sorry I was free associating Mr. Roger's Neighborhood for a second but I'm back now, anyway, I learned something very powerful as a business owner: my customer's perspective is my reality and how I deal with that reality is vital.  I may keep the customer and preserve the relationship and a source of future revenue, or do I deal with it from the standpoint that the customer is wrong and that pandering would be detrimental to the business, or perhaps there are other cases that may come into play; whatever, it became my new reality.  So, I guess this is why I'm writing this today.  Our perspectives have become very polarized, and I am no different.

Do You See What I See?

I once heard that our nation is struggling to find the "soul of America".  I didn't think much about it, after all, our nation is divided and we are engaged in a bitter and anxious election cycle.  Of course we are struggling, happens every four years.   Many of the current topics divide the nation and it seems appropriate that we would use this term, "soul of America", to describe our current state.  However, I have thought on this for some time.  I have asked questions of myself in order to gauge my own soul.  Without fail, I tend to hearken back to the days of my youth.  Most of the adults of my youth would voice concern over the "soul of America" even then.  When I would ask them about their youth, they would say that their parents would also worry about the same thing.  I guess you could say that our nation has been in a downward spiral, depending on your point of view, for a long time.  I wondered if I was putting too much concern over what is happening now, and whether I should just realize it is part of the natural progression of things.  I have come to the conclusion that, yes, it is a natural progression of things, but, I should be concerned.  To  illustrate my point, I would like to discuss only one principle, the first amendment and our freedom of religion.

Are We Divided? Can We Unite? Because, WE Are the Answer!

I find the division in our nation the result of failed political manipulation that has been going on for generations.  It has always amazed me, especially during an election cycle, that the politicians can push their snake oil on to us and in the process, tell us that certain classes of people are at fault for our unhappiness and frustration; they will then tell us that they are the only one that can fix it.  During the election season we invest our time, passion, money and state of mind, in extolling their virtues, or making excuses for the lack thereof.  There is only one reality in the whole process, and that is that once a person gets to Washington DC, they almost always disappoint us.  Why is that?

Well, they have been manipulating our rights over decades and decades to addict us to government hand outs.  They have outright lied to us about the stability of our financial systems, they have exempted themselves from the laws that you and I have to obey (for example, it kills me that they can't be prosecuted for insider trading, and they don't have to sign up for Obama Care), and they take our money and give it to their friends so they can get reelected.  This is not a Republican vs. Democrat problem, it is a systemic crisis of government across the nation.  I don't mean to make this an indictment of all politicians, I know that there are some who are genuine and honest, but, they are few.

How About a Break from Politics?

Tensions are so very high, and they are high in every presidential election.  It does seem that they are increasingly high during this one.  So, in an effort to keep my blood pressure at a normal level, I thought I'd write about something else, RELIGION!!!!  Ha! Just kidding.  Seriously, with all the many things we can complain about today, I wonder how many of us, including myself, look for the good in life.  Question: Is there anything good going on in your life right now?  Can we share the good with each other?

I missed the fight?

Well, sounds like I missed the most exciting debate of the season last night.  Full confession, I missed it on purpose.  I knew the candidates would have the long knives out for each other, and if Trump is upset for the treatment he received last night, he need only look in the mirror and thank himself, in my opinion.  I know, I know that this stuff happens every election; every primary election cycle is an act of mass cannibalism, especially with the Republican Party.  As voters, we collectively say, "stick to the issues and give us details", but, that never really happens.  The truth is we are sycophantic lovers of the blood bath.  "Did you see Trump really give it to him and call him a liar?", or, "Did you see how Rubio finally slammed Cruz?", what a bunch of crap, in my humble opinion.  I am one who truly does want to know the Who, What, When, Where, and the all important, HOW!  But, the primary season is very exciting to be sure.

People vs. Establishment, and Why We Are the Answer

Wow! It's getting exciting folks.  The establishments of both political parties are freaking out, albeit Hillary won in Nevada on the Democrat side, they are still fearful of us, the AMERICAN PEOPLE!  It's far from over though.  Rumors about a brokered convention on the Republican side, and the ever present super delegates on the Democrat side, keep the establishments of both parties in play.  My opinions of this election is this: It is the parties vs. the people.

Having said all of that, I must now say that with all the excitement of the election, there is palpable fear.  We, as a nation, are more divided, more bitter, and more angry than I can remember since the 60's and 70's.  When I compare the two periods of revolt, the cry was for freedom...FREEDOM!  The same college professors extolling the virtues of Socialism (a system of government that limits freedom in order to produce sameness and fairness) are the same Hippies that were crying for the government to get out of their free love, and drug taking lifestyle.  I confess that I struggle to see the correlation, but, maybe they took too many of those drugs back in the 60's and 70's.  The cries we hear today are for more freedom and more liberty, more protection of our "inalienable" rights as listed in our constitution.  Many in the government are actively trying to limit these rights, and sadly, many in our country have no clue why we must protect ourselves from them.  College students are crying because they can't pay off their student loans, low wage workers are complaining that they don't make enough and are being mistreated.  The list of fears is very long, and what we are fearful of varies greatly.

Bitter, Nasty, Sneaky?

We Americans, are watching a campaign for the office of President of the United States and the descriptive words I hear are, bitter, nasty and sneaky, among others.  We hear candidates using personal attacks and name calling, and even if a candidate appears above the fray, his/her supporting PAC's will conduct the game of blood letting.  Should we be alarmed?

Well, while the party participants may nip at the heals of the opposition from time to time, the intra-party cannabalism is what is most vicious, especially among the Republicans; true there are far more Republicans running than Democrats, but, the sniping can seem to some voters as off putting and nasty.  However, we can learn from our history that the early years of our Republic show that campaigns were every bit as nasty and even life threatening at times; some campaigns ended in duels.  But who is at fault?  Is it us?  Should we demand more clarity?  Do we respond to rhetoric over substance?