OK, I know that title doesn't mean much given the scope of my readership. Nevertheless, it feels good just to write things down and get it all off my chest. A lot of "issues" have come up over the past few years, and this is what I have to say about them.
Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who doesn't like boys marrying boys. I don't either, but do your job or just quit. SCOTUS has made same-sex marriage legal across the land and you don't have to like it, but do your job. You will never be forced into a same-sex marriage by this ruling.
The 2nd Amendment is not about you or me carrying guns around a shopping mall or even having them in our homes for self defense. It is about the 18th century need for a citizen militia for society's defense, as there was little or no standing military at the time. I emphasize: That was the 18th century! We don't live there anymore. Today we have a large military machine for our national defense as well as state and local police forces to protect our streets and neighborhoods. When a few people die because of a faulty ignition switch, society acts with indignation against the manufacturer. Repeated killings in our schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, neighborhoods and streets bring no such action against the makers of the offending instruments. The irony is that the ignition switch was simply not doing its intended task properly, whereas guns are intentionally designed for no purpose other than to kill. Yes, it's mentally ill people who kill, and their initials are N.R.A.
The Republican Party. Oh my goodness, what a mess! Reince Priebus needs to grab the wheel of this ship before it sinks. Kick the Tea Party out to drown in their own self-righteousness, and focus the party on sound economics, strong foreign policy, military strength and efficient government.
Republican Presidential Debates. How in the world can this party allow TV news media types to trot out their candidates (all successful and proven leaders in their own fields) like schoolchildren on stage to perform "at the moderators' discretion"? Since when is it proper for these moderators to argue with a candidate as though they were themselves running for the highest office? In the most recent circus sideshow, I fully expected any one of the candidates to simply walk off stage*; and the others would have all followed. I have no respect whatsoever for the news companies who have run these shows, and even less for the party leaders who allow their candidates to be so embarrassed. It all began with the first question in the first debate (conservative Fox News, by the way) about who would vow not to run as an independent if not selected as the Republican candidate. What national issue is addressed by such questioning? Curiously I am watching Fox News as I write this. Meghan Kelly, Bill O'Reilly and Greta Van Susteren have all spoken mockingly about the latest debate run by CNBC. Do they not realize it all started with the poorly run Fox News debate in August?
The Democratic Party is perhaps the best hope for the Republicans. Here the problem is they have only one real candidate, the heir apparent, who has been running for the presidency for 20 years. The media were talking of her running before her husband left office. In fact it was often rumored that Hillary was the real brains behind Bill's office. She was on target 8 years ago when a group of uncooperative backers promoted Barack Obama and sidelined her career. Now she's back and, according to all the polls, perhaps unbeatable. It all depends on whom the Republicans select to oppose her.
Black Lives Matter. Of course they do. My real issue here is the way President Obama has mishandled news-making incidents from Trayvon Martin to Michael Brown and others. By adding his personal commentary to these events within hours or days of their occurrence, he has steered and provoked public opinion before the facts have been fully known. In each of these situations, after offering sympathy to the victims and their families, he should have simply asked that the justice system be allowed to work, without his or anyone else's interference. That's leadership.
Religious Freedom has always been at the basis of American life, as it still is; it's clearly in the First Amendment. The problem is that American life has always been dominated by white, protestant males, and we had become comfortable living with their interpretation of "religious freedom." Now that interpretation is being challenged by women, atheists, Muslims, non-whites, homosexuals and other minorities, and the establishment is forced to try to redefine freedom back to their liking. Religious freedom is guaranteed by the constitution, which makes religious freedom subject to the document that guarantees it. Therefore, we as citizens are free to express our religious convictions as long as they do not violate the laws of the land. When there is apparent conflict between religious convictions and the law, the law must be upheld.
De-funding Obamacare, Planned Parenthood, Medicaid, Social Security or The Fed: Get over it. These things aren't going away. Fix the problems if you want, but don't slam a thumb tack with a sledge hammer.
I'm sure there are other issues I could highlight, but that's enough for now. If anyone reads this, you at least will know where I stand. I am not the final word, nor am I trying to persuade anyone to my way of thinking. On the contrary, I am open to persuasion myself. Thanks for reading, and God bless you.
footnote:
* An awesome scenario I hoped to see during the debate:
(Any candidate, but probably Trump) "Look, I have a fully outfitted news truck parked outside prepared to broadcast a true debate online. I'm leaving this sideshow and anyone who wants to engage in real issues is welcome to join me."
And he walks offstage. I'm sure they'd all be sued for breach of contracts, but politics would have been taken out of the hands of the media.
