A Couple of Thoughts About Our Politics

 When I was a boy John F. Kennedy was elected President.  Needless to say, being a Catholic and of Irish decent his election was something special in my household, and I developed an interest (maybe even a fascination) with politics.  Family and family friends used to say that when I grew up, I could run for office, I was outgoing and liked to meet and talk with people.  My brother was very smart but also very shy, people joked that he could be my Bobby Kennedy.  I also had an interest in news and reporters.

 

Unfortunately, I also developed an interest in history, mostly American history.  I say unfortunately because having an interest in history, reporting things impartially and trying not to be a hypocrite, I would not have any success in today’s political environment. 

 

As I was writing this, former President Donald Trump held a rally in New York City at Maddison Square Garden (MSG).  Leading up to the rally was interesting and had me wondering a question? 

 

During the week or two after the Trump MSG rally was announced Democrat leaders, Democratic VP candidate Tim Walz, and others compared the upcoming MSG rally to a rally held in the former MSG in 1939 by the German American Bund (American Nazi Party).  These same people have compared President Trump to Adolf Hitler, this rally is just like the 1939 rally.  As the rally was taking place Governor Tim Walz (the Democratic VP nominee) continued to repeat the 1939 Nazi rally comparison, ignoring the diverse groups attending President Trump’s rally.

 

The question I had was if one used the same logic about the MSG rally would Governor Walz and others denounce the 1995 Million Man March that took place?  Based on their logic about the MSG rally’s they should.  In the 1920s the KKK held a march in Washington, D.C. that was attended by approximately 60,000 Klan members dressed in their full regalia, robes and hoods.  So, using the same logic used to claim the Trump rally is the same as the Nazi rally, why wouldn’t they say the Million Man March was a march of hatred?

 

I also had another question, is it possible to be involved in politics today without being a hypocrite?  Just as I was about to post I saw a Harris Campaign rally and George Lopez came up.  It was interesting to watch the reaction to the rallies.  Some were faking anger over a comment made by a comedian at the Trump rally about Puerto Rico!  They felt that this was something that Trump could be tagged with but then George Lopez did a joke implying that Mexicans were thieves!  Suddenly, Trump is bad and responsible for what a comedian says at his rally but in the next breath Harris shouldn’t be responsible for what a comedian says at her rallies!

 

Speaking of comic situations, just as I thought I was finished writing this and ready to post, President Biden says Trump supporters are garbage!  Now Harris supporters and Democrats are trying to “clean up” to minimize the “blow back” from those comments!  They’re saying he only meant one person, then others are trying to say it is not the same as Hillary Clinton calling Trump suupporters deplorables.  The reason they are having a problem doing clean up is because their first thought was that President Biden didn’t realize what he was saying, but that would cause another round of his not being competent to remain in office.  However, I doubt that President Biden misspoke because if you look at his political history, when he is alert, he is very politically savvy.  Could it be that President Biden did it intentionally, after all he was the one that won the votes during the primary only to be taken out by a person that had to drop out the last time they ran for President because Democrats didn’t want her to be President!  I wonder what else will occur during the next 6 days until the election.

                                                                                

There are many, many great things that have occurred in my lifetime, but politics is not one of those.  Hopefully, people will eventually become nostalgic for a time when political campaigns discussed issues and stayed away from personal attacks.  I doubt that will happen anytime soon because society would first have to stop hating each other only because of a different political point of view!

 

That’s my opinion, what’s yours

Random thought after the “House” vote on TikTok

All my life I have been someone to watch the news or listen to if I am busy.  Occasionally I will scroll the internet/ social media sites just to see what people are talking about and their perspective, I have also begun to review podcasts again for those perspectives as well.  Unfortunately, when doing so I have seen some things that show a lack of knowledge, or lack of concern about issues that history has dealt with that could be related to a current issue. 

 

When I have seen or heard something I thought would be a good topic to write about I had been too busy with family and personal matters to do the research I feel is needed and then draft a post.  Then when I had time to draft a post, I’d think that too much time has passed for a post to be relevant and decided to forego doing a post.  Then another incident would occur that demonstrated to me it had not been too late and that I should have followed through and prepared a post, so I will be trying to catch up over the next couple of weeks.  This is being drafted the day after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill relating to TikTok and it has been interesting watching a number of related posts. 

 

Now, before I continue, I want to say that before retiring five years ago I held a position that gave me access to intelligence groups and I received weekly updates, so I understand the concerns about TikTok and will not argue those concerns now.  What has been interesting to watch are peoples’ responses to the “House” action, in part because those posting either have not read the legislation or do not care, they are practicing the adage “My mind’s made up, don’t confuse me with facts.”

 

It used to be a person would attempt to sway another to their perspective by discussing facts, or a different aspect that someone else may not have considered, sometimes you would bring a person around and agree with you.  There were also times that you would be persuaded and change your position/ perspective.  But now people go on social media and make statements and citing “facts” knowing that most people won’t fact check them, many today operate under the philosophy that it must be true because I saw it on the internet.  What people are doing now used to be called propaganda!

 

The action yesterday (Wednesday) was only taken by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate had yet to receive or vote on the proposed legislation.  Despite this, many have been online and social media angrily stating that Congress has voted to ban TikTok.  To be fair some complaining about Congress having voted to ban TikTok are complaining that there are more important issues that should be a priority over TikTok, that portion of their argument I agree with.

 

One of the arguments I have seen say is that the 535 members of Congress voted yesterday to ban TikTok, those saying so are either too lazy to look up what happened, are just repeating what has been seen in other posts, or realize that what actually took place would not cause the reaction they want.  So, for those that are not aware, or lack the ability, or time, to spend less than a minute doing some research let me share the following. 

 

Congress is comprised of two separate “Chambers,” the House of Representatives and the Senate.  The Senate is currently set at 100 Senators, The House of Representatives number of members is currently set at 435 plus non-voting delegates for U.S. Territories (American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Delegates for the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations have not been seated).  Regarding yesterday’s vote related to TikTak, 417 Members of the House of Representatives voted, 352 (197 Rep 155 Dem) in favor and 65 (15 Rep 50 Dem) opposed with 1 member (Dem) voting Present.  As I mentioned, the vote did not include the Senate, yet some on social media are insisting that all 535 members of Congress voted.

 

Over the last several years people have become more suspicious and less trusting of the traditional “Mainstream” media.  It has been shown that the media presents a political perspective or presenting something as fact without confirming the information or vetting the source(s) that provided the information.  As a result, people began looking for alternative ways to get the news and information.  People began sharing information on their personal observations and facts they had access to, thus was born the “citizen journalist.”  Unfortunately, some of these “citizen journalists” have begun sharing inaccurate information, like yesterday’s House vote.  To be fair some have been posting accurate information, however, there are still plenty that, along with others on social media that are not being honest in their postings in order to persuade people that their position is best.

 

Watching this makes one wonder if we will ever be able to return to a time when the media can just present an accurate account of what has taken place (on any topic) and allow their audience to determine for themselves if they like or dislike/ approve or disapprove of what is being reported.?  Similarly, will we be able to return to a time when we just post our opinion as opinion and state an accurate argument without distortions and allow those reading or viewing to make up (or change) their own opinion? 

 

Whether intentional or not, the subliminal message being sent by “mainstream” media or those using social media platforms is that they do not trust that their audience is capable of judging facts for themselves!

 

That’s My Opinion, What’s Yours