THE PHOTO-OP GENIUS

The most important words in the constitution to keep a democracy vibrant are the words of the first amendment, which reads no laws can be made that abridges…. “the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for redress of grievances”. I feel these rights are augmented by speech, press, and that religion thing.

The law and order President attacks with military on its own citizens peacefully demonstrating for law and order.  Equal justice is the sole basis for the demonstrations. The right to assemble is guaranteed, so why would he turn the military on his own public?

The irony does not elude everyone.  General Barr ordered the forceful move on peaceful protesters so the Commander in Chief could use religious props to look tough and display strength.  All this because the mouse had been reported that he had retired to his bunker the night before, when the vandals roamed D.C..  After he retired to his bunker, I was disappointed he did not go through with the Hitler thing with Ivanka.

 The episcopal bishop of St. Johns church said of the President  “everything he has said and done is to inflame violence” he could have used his visit to our church as a moment to heal instead he used it as a prop without thought or prayer.  Trump was assuming the weight of the symbols of religion, so they could be used for his own political purpose.  Heavy fallout from his shit show.

ORIGINAL SINS SALVERY

Slavery is the first sin.  No one can be proud of the pain and agony over these 400 plus years since the first African American slaves were brought to this country.  I am ashamed that my relatives living at this very time were so ignorant of other cultures and values.  The stain of these actions cannot be erased.  We as Americans are all complicit in the lack of understanding of the pain both African Americans and Native Americans still feel.

I have lived where I was an obvious outsider in both Iran and Saudi Arabia.  In both instances I felt safe.  The reason was the equal administration of justice and the swiftness of the punishment.  Other locations I have lived by choice are some of the more diverse.  Diversity requires tolerance and understanding.  Differences are common and everyone feels accepted, as long as justice is equally applied.

The Constitution was of no help.  It at first denigrates the African American to a second-class status by saying they only count as 3/5^th of a person when counted in the census.  This was the case until the 13^th amendment, which abolished slavery.  Was there ever any effort to actually give a remedy for the stupidity of the founding fathers?  Are Republicans taking the originalist theories of the Constitution they hold dear too far?

 I had a great-grandmother that would not touch a Lincoln cent, as it had the image of Lincoln.  Her gripe was reconstruction did nothing for the former slaves.  The former slaves had no money, no work, no land, and little opportunity and on their own.  This all came at a time when the cotton farmers began mechanizing with the cotton gin.

The ideal in the declaration of Independence, signed by the founding fathers said, “…that all men are created equal” fell on deaf ears when the signers put in that clause.  To be equal one must be treated as an equal, with equal justice under the law.  The pledge of allegiance is only a goal, if there is no liberty and justice for all.

The fact there is a separate justice system for those that have money and influence and those that don’t.  There is a name for that, it’s called affluenza. 

Police have a separate system of justice that allows for rotten cops to stay on the beat.  The District Attorney’s offices rely on the police, so the police have a chokehold on the ones that punish them.  Police unions also protect the officers while employed.  What could go wrong?

MANIFEST DESTINY

Manifest Destiny, another sin and another one of the misguided cultural beliefs that built this country.  This philosophy trod on the Native Americans, by the thought that settlers were destine to move across America unabated.

There are 3 tenants of this policy:

1. The virtues of the American people and their institutions are special
2. It was the mission of the United States to redeem and remake the west in the image of agrarian America
3. Use irresistible destiny to accomplish this essential duty

These policies forced the Native Americans from their homeland.  Destroyed their culture, killed and plundered their sacred lands.  Settlers were generally like wild boars, destroying and desecrating the Native American lands.  Robbing the Indians of their habitat and means of making a living.  Diversity has made this country great, but bias and prejudice can destroy it.

I have always thought that ignorance of another’s culture and values generates conflict.  When I was young I visited Indian reservations.  I remember tagging along with a group of Boy Scouts going to Philmont Boy Scout Ranch for training, with my Father as one of the leaders.  I was 8-10?  We visited a pueblo on a mesa and the was poverty was evident.  They sold their wares to the visitors for cash to subsist. 

ECONOMIC TOLL FOR LACK OF ATTENTION?

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has issued a statement, which states the economic growth will be depressed for a decade or longer as a result of the pandemic.  They have estimated the damage to the economy at 16 Trillion Dollars over 10 years.  That’s 1.6 trillion dollars a year.  This is $48,000 for every man, woman, and child in this country.  This on top of the Trumps 2017 tax break for the wealthy, that cost each citizen an additional 1 trillion dollars a year and the added 2 Trillion spent this year on the virus response.  My calculation would be a total of 28 trillion dollars after 10 years or approximately $85,000/each. 

The European economies will not suffer from a lack of leadership as we have.  They immediately saw the crisis and took action, locked down their borders and sheltered in place. Continental European countries did the smart thing by investing in the employee not the employer for the solution. 

The CBO projection would mean a 5.3% reduction in GDP over the ten years. The first quarter of this year GDP shrank 5%.  The April-June Quarterly numbers will be at a staggering rate that is 38% lower, which will be the biggest quarterly decline on record.  These are Great Depression type numbers.  With the decline as big as it is, Trump will point to the 3^rd quarter numbers that will be within the recovery zone and will look amazing, and even record breaking but only a slight recovery, yet the economy will still be miserable for most individuals.  It’s all in the optics and show for the Donald

The Democrats have passed a bill that would help the quarterly numbers by passing a 3.3 trillion dollar relief bill, that would help State and local governments as well as colleges and local school districts.  These monies would also support an additional $1,200 payout to most workers.  The Senate republicans have dismissed the bill, however are lacking a rebuttal or offer any other counter proposal.  Mitch McConnell must think it is not close enough to the election to be giving out any more dollars to bribe the public?