HAVE AMERICANS LOST THEIR MORAL COMPASS?

During the 20^th Century, most people had never heard of a moral compass. A compass was a piece of metal with an arrow showing you which direction you were headed. Still a pretty handy item if you’re navigating in unknown territory. And then, a couple of decades ago, we started hearing the term “moral compass.” It first came into popular use in the year 2011. The Chief of Staff of the British Army observed that many UK citizens no longer had a sense of moral compass, while in the past, it would have been instilled in them by their parents. He said it would be up to the military to teach recruits the difference between right and wrong. When I hear that the majority of Americans are perfectly willing to vote for either Trump or Biden, you have to wonder. Have Americans lost their moral compass?

What is a moral compass? The dictionary defines it as : a set of beliefs or values that help guide ethical decisions, judgments, and behavior : an internal sense of right and wrong.

This doesn’t seem too complicated. Even little kids have a moral compass. They know not to hit or spit on one another if they’re mad. Teenagers with a moral compass don’t sell drugs or beat up on a guy they disagree with. It goes on through life. Even at my age, I know that if someone steals a package from my porch, that person lacks a moral compass.

We used to expect elected officials to show that they had a moral compass. Voters may not have liked Eisenhower, Truman, Ford or Carter, but they respected their integrity.

All that’s changed now. Few seem to care if the person they vote for has committed a crime or sexually harassed a member of the opposite sex. Lying and cheating seem to get a rubber stamp. If we look at recent polls, it would appear that voters in both parties are only interested in whether or not the person they elect can fulfill their personal wants and needs. No one seems to care about the common good, or uniting the country.

According to recent polls in Iowa, a majority of Republicans strongly support a presidential candidate who has been criminally indicted four times and been involved in numerous sexual harassment suits. The Democrats don’t care in the least that their man’s son had 40 different banks accounts in order to launder illegal payments to the current president’s family from foreign governments.

Both Biden and Trump have clearly demonstrated a lack of moral compass. If either one of these men are returned to the white house in the 2024 election, what does it mean? Have most Americans lost their moral compass? Or do they even know what one is?

June 28, 2023June 27, 2023

BRING BACK BORING IN 2024

A panelist on a public television program recently said that former Vice President Pence was boring. Therefore, she reasoned this would preclude him from consideration as a presidential candidate. I’m not sure that’s a bad thing Most voters are sick and tired of chaos coming out of the White House. We want a president who commands respect. While I’m not endorsing Pence or any other candidate, I’d like a leader who won’t make us the laughing stock of the world. Bring Back Boring in 2024.

Here is what I would not like to see in a candidate:

*Some one who has been indicted in several states for various crimes such as obstruction of justice and sexual assault.

*Shakes hands with ghosts, proclaims “God Save The Queen” after a speech about gun control, and calls someone a “lying, dog faced pony soldier. (whatever that means).

*Runs down his politicial opponents by using childish, school yard nick names. Builds himself up by running others down.

*Defends his son for failing to pay income taxes and child support. Says he’s proud of a man who’s debauchery can be seen all over the internet.

*Hides classified materials in his bathroom and refuses to return them to the proper authorities.

*Is suspected of receiving millions of dollars in exchange for favorable policies toward China.

*Will celebrate eighty plus birthdays while serving as president of the United States of America and leader of the free world.

Remembering Truman, Reagan, Eisenhower, this is what I would like to see.

Someone who:

*Conducts himself with dignity and respect for others.

*Hasn’t been indicted for a crime or involved in a scandal.

*Has distinguished himself as a defender of American Values.

*Enjoys a stable family life,.

*Works with the opposing political party to do what’s best for the American people.

*Respects all races, religions and social classes without pandering to any.

*Welcomes all immigrants, as long as they come into this country in a legal, orderly manner.

Above all, the president of the United States of America should be a statesman, not a politician. According to Dr. J. Rufus Fears, professor of the history and freedom, the two are not the same thing. He said a statesman must possess four critical qualities:

A bedrock of principles
A moral compass
A vision
The ability to build a consensus to achieve that vision

Does that sound too boring? ? I don’t think so. Bring Back Boring in 2024.

April 14, 2023April 13, 2023

DESPERATE FOR NORMAL IN 2024

Looks like neither Biden or Trump are very popular with voters. And yet, those are the only names we hear as serious presidential candidates in 2024. It’s hard to believe that these could be our choices in the next election. Surely, there’s a young, smart man or woman in all of these 50 states who could inspire Americans and salvage what’s left of this country. Desperate for normal in 2024.

Desperate for Normal 2024. We must find a better candidate.. — DESPERATE FOR NORMAL 2024. We need a better presidential candidate than either of these two.

As an octogenarian, I can get away with saying both Biden and Trump are way too old. They might have a suntan or smear their faces with pancake makeup, but things aren’t working nearly so well inside their bodies. Especially after 70, physical fraility begins to accerate. There is no fountain of youth. While your kids may say you’re “sharp as a tack,” they don’t realize all of the aches and pain you’re trying to conceal as you navigate through the golden years. Yes, your mind may be clear, but it doesn’t process information quickly. Solving a crossword puzzle takes longer than it used to.

It comes on gradually and may not show up right away, but 33% of those over 65 have Alzheimer’s dementia. Let’s assume that both Trump and Biden are in that lucky 66% who will not develop the disease. Pretend they are as fit as any 50 year old person. Even if that were true, both of them have way too much baggage to command the respect needed to lead this country out of these troubled times.

Do we really want a president who’s being charged with tax fraud, voter fraud, and Lord knows what else? On top of which, his personal life is a mess, with children by three different women and past relationships with porn stars and models.

Consider the alternative: Does a man who smells women’s hair, has a son who does business with China, and abandons our servicemen in Afgahnastan have the credentials needed to serve as president of these United States?

As an Independent voter, I throw up my hands. What in the world is wrong with die hard Republicans and Democrats who can’t see that these men are way past their prime. Both have done some good things , but now is the time for them to go . A younger, more , respectable person must lead this country out of the quagmire that we’re currently in. We’re desperate for normal in 2024.

October 22, 2022

WOULD YOU VOTE FOR A YARD SIGN?

Now is the time for a plethora of ugly yard signs dotting the landscape. Candidates seem to favor busy street corners near stoplights. Usually, you’ll see at least twenty signs lined up in a row or jammed in a muddled mess. I suppose if you’re riding shotgun, they give you something to look at. But if you’re driving, they’re mostly a nuisance distraction. I find it hard to believe that signs garner many extra votes, but then maybe they increase familiarity for a certain name. Would you vote for a yard sign if you had no idea of the person behind the name?

Early voting started last week in our county. About 300 people cast their ballots at all the voting centers on the first day. and the media considered that quite a crowd. By the time I voted the following Tuesday, there was only one other person before me. That doesn’t sound like an early voting crowd to me. However, in the State of Georgia, it’s another story. It’s a different population than ours, demographically, and folks have pretty strong feelings one way or the other, depending on which candidate they dislike the most.

Some reporters believe that the number of yard signs for a certain candidate has a predictive value. I didn’t see that with the last presidential election. There were Biden signs all over town, and yet Trump carried our county by a wide margin. I guess the Trumpers were the silent majority.

Personally, I never vote a straight ticket. I’m always amazed that anyone would do that, especially in a small town, where we’re familiar with most of the local candidates. Anyone who watches the news or reads the paper should have formed an intelligent decision about the incumbents. It’s not as easy with the challengers, but there are threads of familiarity in most of them. You knew the family, or they went to your church, or their kids ran around with your kids.

Sometimes, I don’t vote at all. As an example, there were 14 candidates for the school board. I only voted for two—one an incumbent and the other with an impressive track record in the community. Yes, I could have picked another name from a yard sign, just to fill in the blanks, but that would be fairly risky. What if the unknown came from out of nowhere, and has no credentials whatsoever?

I feel sorry for the candidates who spent a pile of time and money on yard signs, and lost anyway. You wonder what do they do with the old signs. Store them in hopes of a future run? Must be a pretty sad day when you burn them in a bonfire or take them to the city dump.

Nevertheless, my sympathy has it’s limits. If I had my druthers, there would be no yard signs allowed. But it’s a free country. Would you vote for a yard sign? I wouldn’t.

July 1, 2022July 1, 2022

6 SUGGESTIONS FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT

Once you’ve turned 80, you realize how many presidents you’ve known (or endured) in your lifetime. There are times when I think the country might do better without a president, because we’ve lasted through so many of their poor decisions and mistakes. Thankfully, they’ve done a few things right, which is probably one reason we’re still standing. Not sure if I’ll be around for the 2024 election, so just in case I’m not, I have a few suggestions for the next President of the United States of America.

6 suggestions for next president: Don't throw ketchup on the wall — 6 SUGGESTIONS FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT: #6 Don’t throw plates against the wall. Someone will have to clean up the ketchup.

#1. Don’t ride in an open convertible during a parade. Presidents used to do that all the time. I remember the thrill of looking into Dwight Eisenhower’s beautiful blue eyes on one of his visits to Chicago. However, it didn’t work out well for John F. Kennedy in Dallas. .

#2. Bury the tapes. If you’re going to do something so foolish as to break into the opposing party’s election headquarters, for heaven’s sake, hide the evidence. Nixon thought he was preserving an important part of history by saving all of his conversations regarding Watergate. But the tapes came back to bite him. If the next president tries such a break-in, it will be much more complicated. He’ would have to erase all the text messages, e mails, and records of cell phone calls. Better yet, he should conduct any communication regarding such an activity one-on-one, inside a big closet. But make sure it’s debugged.

#3. If you’re feeling sick, don’t attend a state dinner with the Japanese Prime Minister. You’re liable to vomit in his lap, and it will make international headlines. George W. Bush later claimed it was just a simple case of the flu. Unfortunately, it was right around election time, and many people thought that episode contributed to his defeat.

#4 . Don’t smoke cigars, and if you do, keep them out of the oval office. Especially while conducting a tryst with an intern. And if things get out of hand, make sure you have a change of clothes available. Unlike Bill Clinton, don’t let her leave the room with the evidence . And once you have the blue dress, cut it up in little bitty pieces and flush it down the toilet.

#5. Speaking of toilets: Don’t use the toilet while talking to reporters. LBJ was known for sitting on the pot while conducting interviews. He got away with such crude behavior for awhile, but in the end, he realized he couldn’t get re elected.

#6. Unlike Trump, don’t throw plates against the wall when you get mad. Somebody will have to clean up the ketchup, and eventually, they’re going to testify before some congressional committee about your poor anger management skills. There are lots of apps now that help with that. Subscribe to something like CALM, meditate once a day, and do some deep breathing exercise before meeting with your attorney general after the election .

I don’t know about you, but I’m really hoping the next president won’t be an octogenarian like myself. We need a younger candidate who has demonstrated some common sense. But why would any sensible person want to run for president?

January 24, 2022January 23, 2022

PLEASE NOT CLINTON VS. TRUMP 2024

Just when I thought things couldn’t get much worse in this country, I see news flashes that the Democrats and Republicans have gone bonkers. They’re talking about a Clinton/Trump rematch for the next presidential election. Someone tell me this isn’t true. Please not Clinton vs. Trump 2024.

Since I’m older than both of them, I guess I can say this without it sounding like ageism. Why in the world would both parties run a couple of broken down, scandal ridden has-beens? Everything from White Water, to the fake Russian dossier, the Benghazi debacle and good buddy Epstein hang over Hillary’s head. From there, we go to Stormy Daniels, Trump University, the Covid debacle, and current investigations for fraud by the New York attorney General–all a dark cloud following Trump. And those are just a few of the problems each of them have faced. Enough already.

Someone once said that the best training for a future president of the United states is having served as a state governor. I’m not so sure of that. Reagan from California was a success, and former Texas governor Bush did get re elected. But look at poor Jimmy Carter, former governor of Georgia. He didn’t fare so well.

Nevertheless, I took the time to review the governors of every state in the union. The majority are Republicans. A lot of them are in their sixties and seventies. None of them strike me as red hot presidential material.

Naturally, I favor our own Indiana governor Holcomb, who is 53. He’s extremely well liked in Indiana, but I don’t think he’d stand a chance on the national stage. For one thing, he comes across as too honest and sincere. The media would see him as a dud. Others have mentioned fellow Hoosier and former mayor, Pete Buttigieg as a Democratic possibility. Maybe, but I’m not sure that a gay man could be elected president by the majority of the population.

That takes us down to the Senate and House of Congress. There must be dozens of young, charismatic office holders scattered throughout the country. Surely, the Democrats and Republicans can pick a winner out of that pool. Somebody. Anybody. But please not Clinton vs. Trump 2024.

January 2, 2022January 2, 2022

UNSUBSCRIBE TO BIDEN & TRUMP

My emails have been piling up incrementally during this pandemic. I used to get about 10 a day, but lately, it’s been closer to 100. Not being too tech savvy, I tried to unsubscribe the hard way: by slowly opening the email on my desktop, then searching the fine print that lets me unsubscribe. Very time consuming. Just found out that my smart phone makes it much easier. Most of these spam emails on my iphone have a bright blue UNSUSCRIBE link at the bottom. One quick click, and the pesky ads from clothing and insurance companies vanish, and don’t return. Now. I wish to unsubscribe to any news flash coming across the screen that contains the name Biden or Trump.

There was a time when I was actually interested in hearing about what those two were saying or doing. That was way back before the pandemic began. Everyone either hated Trump and loved Biden, or vise versa. You had to stay on your toes to defend your president of choice whenever the subject came up—which was often. But the truth is, nobody really cares anymore.

Trump rants and raves, but his base is dwindling and you pretty much know what he’s going to say. Biden only got elected because of Trump’s handling of the Covid Crisis. Just about any of the more viable Democratic candidates could have won. Biden’s made mistakes and he’s not getting any younger. You get the feeling the country is being run by a bunch of suits in a back room who are telling him what to say and when.

So, what I’d like to do is block anything coming across my newsfeed or email that has the name Biden or Trump in it. That would probably cut down of at least 50% of my spam e mail and Iphone news flashes. . But where would I find out what’s going on? How could I keep up with current events? Probably, the old fashioned way. By reading newspapers and magazines, I could go back over any story and sort out fact from opinion.. Most big city newspapers are pretty liberal, And you know that certain magazines are predictably conservative. But at least you can cut through the chaff and figure out for yourself what’s going on without relying on Twitter and AOL.

I wish I could unsubscribe to Biden and Trump. But I can’t.