Wednesday Coffee: Still So Much To Do

            I see a lot of hate and anger in the world and even in the U.S. as I scroll through the news and comments on a daily basis. But, I also see a lot more good and love as well. And, that gives me hope for the future. I know we have a lot of problems in our country and even in the world, but seeing the good that people do when they don’t have to it inspires me every day. Unfortunately, the news doesn’t shine a light on these people enough. I know there is only so much time in a broadcast and so much going on in the world, but maybe a little more good news in the broadcast would help shift the way people act.

            And, yes I know I’ve said the news’s job is to inform and it is. But, it is also its job is also to inform in a way that helps society be better to itself. I’m not talking influencing voting or anything like that outside of laying down the bare facts. I mean sometimes it takes knowing other people are doing good for you to feel like there is a difference worth making. That little spark of inspiration for you to go out and do something.

            With all these attacks around the world I hear calls in general on the internet for everyone to arm themselves. Truth be told I just don’t think I am someone who should have a gun. Maybe someday but that day is not here yet. And, I am not against responsible gun ownership. Just please get some training with the gun and on gun safety. There are some guns I don’t think we need on the streets and people will agree or disagree with me as is there right. I welcome an open and civilized discussion on the subject. But I see too much rhetoric of it having to be all one way or all the other way on the subject when there has to be a sensible compromise.

            After all we have regulation on every other amendment for various reasons. For example, you cannot yell fire in a crowded space when there isn’t one. Nor can you use your religion to discriminate against another person. The police can search with probable cause and even in some cases just a tip provides enough for that but at the same time must read you your Miranda Rights. You have to be 18 to vote as well as enlist in the military. You can’t drive till you are sixteen and have to have a license to do so. And that is just off the top of my head.

            My main point is stop being so polarized on everything. As well as use some common sense about where we stand in the world and what others with less economic power are doing and what we should be doing to raise the bar. I can give a little to get a little. But, I also want people to think about things in terms of how should we be treating our workers as a whole. What message should we as America be sending to the world about how we treat our workers. Now in my opinion I think we should be setting the standards for how workers are treated not making workers want to work elsewhere because they are treated better.

            And gun control was just my example since it is the issue at the fore front right now. As you see I also want common sense used with the economy as well. But trust me I am going to be getting a bit blunter this week as the week goes on about a few things concerning the economy. As well as some other things that might come as a shock to people. And, no not going into any of the way out there conspiracy theories. Those just don’t add up to me so far.

            But I have rambled on long enough for one day. Feel free to leave questions and comments below. And, if you want my columns to appear in your inbox enter your email in the box below where it says to follow by email. As for me I have an overdue paper to write next. And, then some reading I have been waiting to get to. *Tips his hat and walks out the door. *

Monday Beginnings: It Has Begun

            I know I have been away a while yet again. But, school has to come first still. The political revolution is starting, but not in the way some would think such a thing would start. Some expect such a thing to be about guns and rebellion. But, back in the 1960s Martin Luther King Jr. became the most famous leader of the Civil Rights Movement. He helped bring about change peacefully. And, for a time people were involved once more in politics and communities in general.

            I’m not sure exactly what the cause is, but we got complacent. We started just being for the most part in our own little worlds. Sure we voted, but we didn’t keep on top of issues just voted for other people to take care of them. Yet we didn’t make sure they did what we voted them in to do. Over time Corporations gained more influence through money along with special interest groups. After all we weren’t policing our politicians so it was easy for them to sneak in. As well as right and get laws passed in their favor.

            Slowly the media became less independent and more corporate. And, the government became heavily influenced by the corporate world. But, it isn’t just on the Federal level. People stopped caring about what going on all levels of government including even the state and local levels as well as school boards and even the PTA. Then came this year’s election and people started really waking up and going this is wrong what is going on.

            Now some are able to take public service jobs or have a calling to it and that is great as well as their way of helping fix the system. And, others who won’t bow to corporations’ interests are able to run for political office where they can fix the system by passing laws on all levels of government. But, what can everyday citizens who work all the time do to help? I know this might sound scary to some, but get involved in your communities. Make it a point to know your neighbors and be involved with them. Go to the local meetings like the city council and school board and PTA meetings. When you have the time to volunteer try to do so.

            It is my belief that what made America so great was people being involved in local communities. Helping make them thrive and prosper as well as caring about each other. Along with exchanging ideas civilly and holding politicians accountable at the ballot box for doing or not doing what they said they would in any office they took. We are stronger united than we are divided as Hillary Clinton would say. And, she is right on that in a way. Because, when we all work together we can accomplish more than when we just look out for ourselves.

            Does that mean you can’t be yourself? Of course not. Another part of what makes this country so great is all the personalities we have as well. We may not agree with them all but they do bring interesting things to the table always. Think of how every waitress you have ever had made each dining experience unique after all. Or how every teacher you had had a unique personality that helped in some cases teach the lesson better.

            But, working together in our communities and as a whole country for common goals will help get them done even as we are all doing our own thing at the same time in other areas of our life. And, police are part of that community too. I admit some people can be jerks to the cops and make things more difficult than they have to be. But, the cops are supposed to be there to calm things down and make things go as smoothly and least violent as possible. Now when things get violent it is not always the cops fault and neither is it always the suspects fault. Sometimes it is just bad communications skills, adrenaline rushing, being upset, etc.

            There are two things police can do to help with the problem. One: Stop with the warrior mentality that some of you have. You are basically an upgraded bar bouncer when you look at it. Remember as often as you can to walk into a situation and ask questions and talk to people on scene when possible. Also never assume anything when arriving on the scene be cautious and ask witnessing about everything you can once the immediate danger is passed. Two: Get involved in the neighborhoods you patrol regularly. Talk to the people you see out and about regularly like human beings. Help where you can. And, one more thing might be to get rid of that warrior mentality and start thinking about this is someone’s loved one or kid. That someone trusts you will treat with as much dignity and respect as you can, not like something to be discarded from society in any way you see fit.

            And, yes I know there are those police who do these things I am recommending and I applaud them for it. I only speak in a generality to help get the ones who need to be brought around to a new way of thinking on board. The ones doing the job correctly should be rewarded for that, but all too often are not. But, maybe if people started noticing them and taking down their names in the community and giving them shout outs for example. And, maybe if communities took the exemplary officers doing good for their community and maybe in the summertime invited them over for a cookout or a meal on their off time. Or just thought to buy them a cool drink in the heat to say thank you. Just something to reward them for not being all gung ho like some.

            Of course as I think about it there is the chance for that to go horribly wrong as well. Well aside from the shout outs. I’ll keep thinking on it since people doing good work deserve to be rewarded for it. After all, when you do good work you should be rewarded for it. And, the way police are rewarded right now is ridiculous. It should be more about the community and the health of the community not how many people did you get today.

            But, I have rambled on enough for one column. So, feel free to leave questions and comments below. And, if you want my columns to appear in your inbox enter your email address in the box below where it says follow by email. As for me I’m off to work on other projects for now. *Tips his hat and walks out the door. *

Tuesday Insights: I Refuse To Give In To Despair

            If you’re not sitting down for this column trust me, you want to be sitting down for it. I’ve been doing some reflecting for a while. I’ve been thinking about everything I have seen read and heard not just about recent events in the past weeks but about a variety of issues. And, I can see how some people are in despair. But, I can’t give in to despair because if I do that nothing changes. And, change is what is needed. I’m still an idealist maybe an optimist but I am more awake now.

            So, what does that mean. It means I know both parties are corrupt overall. Especially after all the election fraud the Democrats committed to get Hillary as their candidate for the general election. Yet, the mass media has gladly spoken out about the corruption of the Republicans before now. Yet, nothing was covered about the election fraud by the Democrats in the primaries. So, that leaves me not knowing who I will vote for in November at this point. But, I am going to listen to everyone other than Trump and vote based on the issues.

            Now, while both parties are corrupt there are still good people in both parties. And, those that are truly working for change should not be punished because of their party’s corruption. When you see a person who is for change running I encourage you to vote for them. We the people are going to need all the help we can to get the corporate influence out of politics in the way it is now. The government was meant to be for the people by the people. It was meant to look out for the best interests of the country and its people as a whole. Not for the interests of just the top 1%.

            And, the mass media hasn’t been any help. They let their bias for the left and right show right through. Now I expect bias in certain parts of the news, but not the whole newspaper or broadcast. And, I am not just talking about leaning to the right or left but mainstream stations doing it both ways. Now looking at the local stations I see less of that then with the national stations. But, the newspapers are all bad at it.  Hence why I am working on starting my own magazine and possibly newspaper. And, it will be about informing the public as well as entertaining them with stories from writers as well like in the old days.

            Yes, I woke up to what is going on in my country. The system is rigged and the media is not putting out the news on what is going on or talking about the issues as they should be. So, I have two choices I can either give in to despair about it or I can do something to bring about change. Well I refuse to give in to despair and bow down in defeat. So, I am going to stand up and fight with my words and show with credibility to everyone that will listen what is going on. And, I am sure I am going to make some people mad.

            But, I will not give up or give in. I’m armed with my words and what used to be Journalistic Ethics to be fair, honest, and even handed in delivering the news. I’ll still give opinions here that is what this was designed for. But, when I am reporting news I can’t be biased. The mass media does that enough and the people deserve better than that. The system has become corrupt in both government and news media and it is time to burn the system to the ground peacefully. And, once more make it for the people by the people.

            I refuse to stand by and watch my country go to the highest bidder. I refuse to watch the people be blinded by false news. I refuse to watch as the people are neglected by the government they pay taxes to ensure that they are safe, secure, and not neglected. I was knocked on my butt when I woke up, but now I am getting up. And, I am refreshed as well as ready for more. It feels good to have the blinders off. Though I still don’t believe in chemtrails. Still think there needs to be more research into GMOs and prefer organic anyways. Thinks hormones in meat is bad for people. The moon landing was not faked. Yeah I think that covers most of the conspiracy theories going around right now. Feel free to let me know if I missed any.

            But, I’ve got work to get down to on top of school work. And, I’m not going to be being silent anymore on here. Feel free to leave questions and comments below. And, if you want my columns to appear in your inbox enter your email in the box below where it says to follow by emails. As for me well I guess I just signed up to join the political revolution in my own way so I better get to work on starting up some news media as well as other writing. *Tips his hat, kicks open the door, and walks out it. *