I’ve Given Trump Long Enough

            I’ve sat back and watched long enough to what our new President has been doing to get an idea of what the next four years are going to be like. Not a pretty picture. So far, he has pissed China off enough for them to unveil a new nuclear weapon and point it at us basically. He’s managed to totally wipe any stability in the State Department out. He’s managed to get himself compared to Hitler with some of the things he proposes doing, which if he does would be accurate in comparing him to Hitler despite what some think.

            The Republican Party is so emboldened that they have plans to cut Social Security Benefits for some and food stamp benefits. And, I still haven’t seen a solid replacement plan for the Afordable Care Act other than give them $5,000.00 for healthcare. Plus, Trump is still trying to find some way to build his wall. Not to mention let everyone who wants to discriminate against the LGBTQ Community. This party that claims to be the Christian party is nothing more than hypocrites. Now to be fair Democrats have their fair share of flaws to, but maybe if more men like Bernie Sanders stepped up we’d be better off.

            I’m not saying you have to like all his ideas. Just the fact that he is honest about what he stands for. That he wants to represent everyone. That he doesn’t want to get rich out civil service, just do his part. I’m not opposed to two or more parties with ideological differences made up of men like Bernie Sanders in the sense I just laid out working together to better the country. But, what we have here is not that, and it needs to be put a stop to. The Government is putting out gag and censorship orders left and right. Declaring facts rubbish and stating they will decide what facts are in fact facts.

            Congratulations America we have a Chinese Government in power right now under Trump, with some other bad undertones. Want American Government back. Well you are going to have to right and call your representative and make them demand it back. Time to demand Science and the rest of actual facts be listened and adhered to. And, Donald this is not calling for rebellion but people to do their civic duty and tell their representatives what they want and you are a representative of this country.

            Right now, you are President Trump, but you are far from doing the will of the people. And, if you don’t start shaping up you will be fired at the end of four years. You already showed your business interests come before the will of the people with the pipelines. We didn’t need them with gas prices hovering at around 2 dollars a gallon in the middle of winter. Same with heating oil, and no dramatic price hike expected during summer. Plus, cars are quickly not running on oil and neither is anything eventually that drives on the road. Battery capability and power efficiency is becoming better all the time for one. For another different types of fuels are being designed all the time and eventually they will get it right.

            I will give Spicer credit for changing his tune though. Whether it was from a chewing out or he knew he messed up I don’t know. But, I give him credit on doing the right thing in the end. Hopefully he keeps it up. But, other than that I have not been impressed by this presidency so far. I fear I will be horrified among other things from it. And, this is the nice version of me saying what I think of our President so far. Imagine what the mean version is like.

            But I have rambled on enough for one day. Feel free to leave questions and comments below. But, I am giving a stern warning there is to be talking to each other. No talking down to anyone. I have to put that here because of some incidents on Facebook lately. But, I do hope you will share with your friends and family and discuss what you think of President Trump. As for me I am off to do more schoolwork. *Tips his hat, turns the door to sawdust, and walks over it out the doorframe*.

2017 Is Looking to Be An Eventful Year For Me

            I am writing more regularly from now on. How long will it last? Who knows? But, I am taking advantage of it for now. I am feeling good about the year ahead at least as far as my personal life goes. Not to say there won’t be challenges ahead in it. My fiancée is on her way up here now though currently stuck on that journey due to car problems that are being worked out. I won’t say where because of security concerns. She’s decided to join me in my studies of the Mormon Faith, so when she gets here she will be getting the first lesson. Hopefully it will be in time for the next meeting between me and the Elders. That is the plan anyways.

            I’m planning to push my writing career even further with this blog among other things. And, if anyone thinks I am holding my tongue think again. I hold it for no one and nothing. I bow only to God. I will be friends to anyone. But, I don’t hold my tongue either. I got a bit trampled last year, but not this year. This year I am standing up for what is best for me and I don’t give a damn who likes it. That doesn’t mean I am not going to play nice. Just means I know what I need to do for me and I am going to do it.

            Some will call this selfish I am sure, but I have to walk my path as I see fit. And, I can’t let people talk down to me about who I am or discourage me from sticking up for myself or what I believe in. Some may rightly and wrongly think this is about them. Let me pose this question to them: What have you done to make this possibly about you? And, if it fits what can you do to make it better? I’m not going to point out the ones it pertains to because it is not worth my time. When the time comes, things will be resolved.

            As far as events coming up?  Well most immediately my fiancée should be here tomorrow after another bump in the road, but she is close to being here. In the late spring/early summer I am coming out in an anthology. I’m also working on a sociological/political book. More sociological than political. And, I am doing one from a fast food worker’s point of view as well though this will be a work of fiction. I am going to be making sure I start having regular book club and writing meetings as well.

            And, my fiancée, Moriah Sheats or as I call her Moriah Bartlett is here finally. It feels heavenly having her here already. She already wants to make life easier on me and I am letting her, but at the same time making sure I do my fair share. As well as help in any way I can. It is true what they say when the right woman comes along it makes you strive to be better though you should always strive to be better. As well as the fact that when you aren’t looking you will find that one. I wrote more in depth on her and us for Odyssey this coming week. If all goes well it will be out Monday or Tuesday but it depends on how much editing needs to be done.

            I’m also going to be submitting pieces for Writer’s Digest and a few other magazines this upcoming year. It’s time to start making a bigger name for myself and I aim to start doing it now. I’ve been slacking a bit up until now and doing alright for myself, but now I am turning up the heat. That means I have to do better with this blog as well. It is going to take some doing, but I will get there. Writing articles and stories are easier than a blog, but it can be and will be done.

            I’ve rambled on enough for the past week to get this together and enough for one day. There is a sermon to come tomorrow. I understand for those not religious that don’t want to read it. Hence why I am giving you a head’s up. As always feel free to comment or ask questions below. And, if you want to spread the news of what is coming from me to your friends and family feel free to share this. As for me I am off to do more work of some sort as always. *Tips his hat and walks out the door into the arms of Moriah*.

Happy Late New Year And It’s Off To A Good Yet Rocky Start

            Happy Belated New Year. I know I have been quiet for a while and I am still working on my education reform piece. The new year is off to a pretty good though rocky start in some ways. For starters my sister is now living with me so that presents some new challenges and adjustments. But, working on adapting. Is it always easy no, but trying to make it as smooth as possible. Still a work in progress though. And, family is trying to help where they can and being hands off where they have to be.

            On top of that I am getting ready to start a life with a new life partner. All will be revealed in time, but she makes me extremely happy and lets me be me as well as treats me right. Along with being supportive of my goals and treatment. I don’t have a lot to offer in return except my support of her dreams and in any treatment, she seeks. As well as myself. I mean I am still just a poor guy n disability trying to get through school. But, I am going to try and step up my housekeeping and do a little better with the cooking. Especially, since I got a slow cooker for Christmas from my grandmother, which I am thankful for. And, I am going to do my best to show her everyday how much I love her and treasure her. She is also supportive of my religious studies as well.

            As I might or might not have mentioned here I am studying with Mormons from The Church of Jesus Christ of The Latter-Day Saints. I’ve made progress and moving slowly towards being baptized. It’s nice that even as I am part of a collective church group I am still a free individual more than I have ever felt in any church before. And, for me it is filled with positivity. Brings me to one of my New Year’s resolutions, which is to quit smoking. I’m making progress towards that though it is slow. I am now down below half a pack of smoking a day. Doing daily scriptures helps with that. At least for me.

            I get a little frustrated at times that people think me being a progressive is a bad thing and somehow, I don’t know how to read between the lines. Or that what I judge as a good news source isn’t because it doesn’t agree with their view. Nevermind the other sources I go to all the time. Yet it has to meet with their approval to be an alright news source for me or I get told to be careful. One of the first lessons we are taught in college is how to look at credibility of a source as well as a particular part of a source. And, even things I am judging based on my own eyes are being called out on as not true. It’s like I am a progressive and yes, I do respect traditions but when something needs to be fixed or done away with or made right in society in general I am going to go for it. Sometimes that means not playing ball with tradition. I give my views and what I know to be fact from reliable sources such as the Congressional Budget Office. But, people have now said this office has an agenda and I am looking at them like huh. But, this also goes as to why it was unwise to deregulate news in the first place. Corporations started really playing fast and loose with the news and now we have such distrust for the news that even simple facts are being questioned. And, anyone can spew whatever they want and call it news and discredit actual journalists trying to bring credit back to the business. Do I think journalists should have some personality in the giving of the news? Sure, but they should also give both sides of the story. Some of what I see is way over that line now a days. But, in general I am just tired of feeling like I am tired of being talked down to and not being talked to like I try to do to most people. Though I may come across as talking down to some people and if I do I am sorry for that. And, I will work on not doing it myself.

            Now going back to my sister as well as me. My mom is protective of us and thinks in some cases we don’t make the best decisions always. And, true I have made mistakes in the past though I have learned from them I would like to think. And, my sister is young still and bound to make many more though I will look out for her the best I can as she does so though hopefully not as many as me. I know as parents we want to shield our kids from all the bad things that can happen to them and all the things we did wrong along the way. But, I also know that sometimes they have to make the same mistakes or new ones we might see coming. I know my mom means well even as me and possibly my sister get aggravated with her. And, once I am done fuming I take it into consideration. I still plan to do what I do and stake a middle road with my sister sort of on her plans. Probably not what my mom wants exactly, but it gives my sister room to make mistakes without falling as flat as I would have in her shoes. And, with me I have faith in my decision and hope to prove mom that I am right. This is one of those trusting God things for me. As well as how happy I am parts. And, trusted advisors giving me the green light as well. I understand my mom’s caution though. I may not always come across as understanding, but I try to be. And, I know my mother might read this and be mad. Honestly, I care what my mother thinks but I have to make decisions towards my future as my sister does towards hers.

            Long-term my future is not where I am living, but I am here for now. And, I am not sure where my sister’s is but for now it is here. And, we are going to make the best of it and try to work together to make the transition smooth and when all is set and done whoever stays in the end stays. But, I am going to be supportive of my sister as she has tried to be of me. I am also going to make sure she is not stuck without a place to fallback to if it is not as planned. Not saying it won’t be but just in case. I’m forming a plan in my head sort of but it varies on what happens here and there. So I have to play the wait and see game. Everything should work out in the end I just have to go with the flow and trust God in my eyes. Still questions in some cases but I trust answers will come at some point when it is time for me to have them.

            Alas, I’ve rambled on enough for one day, more than enough actually. You can always find me writing weekly on Odyssey’s webpage in the SNHU community along with some other great writers. I plan to be more active here as well. I want to be busier in 2017 than I was last year. I will be having more family time though as well, so will have to balance the two out. Feel free to comment below as well as to share to start a conversation about how your new year is starting. As for me I have some reading and more work to work on as always. *Tips his hat and walks out the door*.