Category: Opinion

OPINION: Generalissimo El Trumpo

  By , ,

OPINION: Generalissimo El TrumpoGeneralissimo Trumpo

OPINION: Generalissimo El Trumpo

I. B. Freely

Bad Loser

There have been lots of bad losers through history. Though few have been as sore as Donald Trump in the wake of the 2020 Election. There were few of the citizenry still awake when Biden was announced president-elect a week later. The announcement wasn’t official, however. Trump has enlisted an army of sycophants to attempt sedition. He is willing to use  every dirty trick available to him to keep up his delusion that he was the winner. Like a little league player refusing to go home after losing  a game. Am I comparing trump to a child? Yes I am. He is such a bad loser he is refusing to accept that the loss is real. The problem seems to be he has convinced a large portion of his Kool Aid drinking, UZZI carrying supporters that he won. Now that is a problem.

State of Mind

It is no secret why Trump is taking things so badly. While he is president he is shielded from criminal and civil prosecution His office has uniquely protected him from prosecution for numerous financial crimes. The legal wolves are already sniffing around the White House door. Even more than this, as his niece, Mary Trump, has pointed out, Trump reserves the worst of his boundless vitriol for those he considers “losers.” Including those who were captured or killed in war. He doesn’t seem to mind most of the insults about his orange complexion or candy floss hair, but call him a loser, and he will unleash the powers of hell.

Martial Law

It sounds ridiculous but Trump does have one last card up his sleeve. According to current U.S. law, either congress or the president can declare national martial law any time, for any reason. At least the congress has to have a vote. Putting the entire country under military lock-down is within the purview of a Trump executive order.  It is a power only a few presidents have used and only regionally.  It wouldn’t be the first time that Trump would be a trend setter. Biden may well be the president-elect, but it might be difficult for him to take office if there are troops and tanks on the White House lawn commanded by Trump.

Been Here Before

There are many who doubt that Trump would actually go that far. Then again, most people laughed at the idea of him getting nominated, and then winning. Most pundits expected that the great orange one would be impeached and removed from office. Sadly the impeachment happened but, in fact, his exoneration by the U.S. Senate, emboldened him.  There is no reason then, to think that the powers of the absurd won’t be brought to bear again, leading to the very first American Junta. Goodness knows American foreign policy has  supported enough of them over the years. While they didn’t go quite that far, Canada actually had a degree of martial in the early 1970s. Pierre Trudeau, father of Justin Trudeau, enacted what was called The War Measures Act when the nation came under threat from a militant French separatist  group called the Quebec Liberation Front.

By Association

If it still sounds to weird to be true, consider who Trump had decided to call friends over the past few years. While not all military dictators, Kim Jung-Un an exception, there tends to be a narrow separation between State and Legislative power, particularly in terms of China and Russia. All of them considered “strong men” in nations with a long history of warlords. We have been tipping toward a military dictatorship for the last four years, only noticing now when it might well be too late. We can only hope Trump’s disdain for Trudeau will keep him from following through.

 

https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2020/11/16/opinion-trump-sorest-loser-ever-15444/

OPINION: While Trump Moves Out, Let’s Smile

  By , , ,

Time we stopped and smiled

OPINION:

While Trump Moves Out, Let’s Smile

D. S. Mitchell

While Donald Trump continues to fight the 2020 election results he is taking on the Republicans as well as the Democrats. There are plenty of us grabbing our pearls and wondering if he is going to be able to pull off his intended coup. I am praying he and his allies fail. But, I am not convinced. His behavior has become a national outrage. You LOST stupid. Move on. For God’s sakes, the state of Georgia has now counted and certified the election result three times! The American people told Trump in  a big way, “We are done with you. Goodbye. Get lost.”

As we kick Trump out of the people’s house we might want to come up with a few things to smile about, cause the next couple weeks are probably going to get dirtier and uglier than the last four years.  Here’s 35 good reason to smile while we watch as the U-Haul trucks load up the Orange Golfer’s personal affects.

1.) Sandra Lee’s Semi-Homemade cook book series  2.) “Doing” lunch  3.) Blowing bubbles  4.) Saturday night Roller Derby  5.) Popeye cartoons  6.) Aquariums  7.) Tug boats  8.) Winning 9.) Tootsie Roll Pops  10.) Costco food samples  11.) Fitted sheets  12.) Window seats  13.) Spa Day  14.) KoolAid  15.) A freshly sharpened pencil  16.) Chasing rainbows  17.) Day hikes  18.) NASA 19.) Birdhouses 20.) Caves  21.)  Beach bonfires  22.) Song birds  23.) Hot fudge sundaes  24.) Balconies  25.) Gymnastics  26.) Playing Frisbee with the dog  27.) Windsurfing the Columbia Gorge 28.) Clam Chowder in a bread bowl  29.) The shape of water 30.) Indian summer  31.) Hot tea  32.) Wishing on a star  33.) Baskets of Geraniums  34.) Toddler’s in snowsuits  35.) Secret family recipes.

I’m happy now. Hope you found something to smile about. I pray this will all be over soon and all we will see is Trump’s diapered ass in our rearview mirror.

https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2017/10/08/29-things-to-make-you-smile/

OPINION: The U.S. Is NO Melting Pot

  By , ,

The Amish are just one of the sub cultures of the United States
OPINION: The U.S. Is NO Melting Pot

By Trevor K. McNeil

White Like Me

Every nation has it’s own mythology, some of them more literal than others. Cultures such as the Greeks and the Norse largely outsourced in terms of national mythology to celestial deities. Younger nations like, say America, to pick a name out of a hat, tend to mythologize themselves, having no real history to speak of before the Industrial Age. Seriously, Norway has trees that are older than the nation of America. One of the first myths perpetrated by the new nation was they had the right to lay claim to a name applying to no less than two continents, namely North and South America.

Silly Myths

Other myths of the ‘American Nation,’ aside from the silly ones like being discovered by Christopher Columbus, despite him getting close, Leif Erickson actually beat him by about a thousand years and the Polynesians may have beat him to the Southern Hemisphere by 10,000 years. And what about this American democracy “thing?” The U. S. “democracy” everyone ballyhoos has never actually been a democracy at all. If in fact, America was a democracy or even intended to be one, there would not have been every effort, imaginable to methodically deny suffrage to women, immigrants, blacks, and Native American peoples. Other myths include the idea of America as a melting pot.

My Definition Is This

There is some disagreement about what the term melting pot actually means. The general idea is that America has cultural identity that is not only distinctly identifiable but also consistent across all individuals. This holistic, and frankly absolutist, notion implies that anyone born or naturalized into the ‘American Culture’ will be speaking English, playing baseball, and eating apple pie within a couple of months. A somewhat odd claim considering the massive cultural difference between many of the states, in part thanks to states rights, that lead to a literal war in the 19th century. Any Yankee who thinks ‘Rebel Pride’ isn’t still a thing is just wrong. Southern Americans, of all races, are an example of cultural diversity in America. There still being hardliners who identify as ‘Confederates’ or ‘Southern’ before even ‘American.’

Pardon My French

Another primarily southern group, mostly ignored and dismissed by the melting pot idea are the over one million Acadians living within America’s borders. Known variably as ‘Acadians,’ ‘Cajuns,’ and sometimes ‘Louisiana French,’ the Acadians are a distinct cultural group, originating in both France and Eastern Canada. They speak a dialect of French. Often it is the first language. The largest population of Acadians reside in Louisiana. In Louisiana they constitute a major voting block and have a major influence on the culture of the state. Famous Cajuns in popular culture include Gambit from the X-Men universe, Marg Simpson [nee Bouvier] in The Simpsons and Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire. The first major acknowledgement of the Louisiana French, that I know of in national politics, recognizing them as distinct voting group came when then candidate Joe Biden acknowledged their voting impact when campaigning in Louisiana.

Father Land

Take a look at the Pennsylvania Dutch. Generally a sub-group of the Amish break-away sect of the Mennonite religion. The term refers both to the Amish of the Pennsylvania community in Pennsylvania, made famous in the Harrison Ford vehicle Witness, and the language spoken by them and other Amish groups. In terms of ethnic groups in America and cultural diversity the Pennsylvania Dutch are a sterling example. Not only do they have a clearly distinct culture they also have a unique language officially recognized as a sub-set of the German language family, often used in place of English unless they are addressing an English speaker. I’ve read that the Amish refer to American non-Amish as ‘English.’

More Not Less

Some would say a few examples don’t matter and they are the exception that proves the rule. Usually they would be right. Except in cases of absolutism, one exception brings down the entire notion. Despite the oft repeated idea that America is a melting pot, just look around. There is much more cultural diversity in America than most people would like to admit or even understand.

Salad Bowl Theory

Many are suggesting the term “melting pot” needs to be replaced by the more sociological correct “salad bowl.” We are all together, as one, but we also all have distinct cultures. Chinese-American citizens still celebrate the Chinese New Year, Mexican-Americans  celebrate Cinco de Mayo and Day of the Dead. They are American, but they still celebrate elements of their own culture.

On The Other Hand

Some would still argue the metaphor “melting pot” is applicable. Most immigrant families celebrate traditional American holidays, even if it is not part of their own culture.  The most common measurement of assimilation into the American culture is the adoption of the English language. Being non-English speaking in the United States is costly in every avenue of life. There seems to be little tolerance for the non-English speaker. So, in this case there is extreme social pressure to become English speaking as if the language would bind the society into one monolithic culture.

https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2020/01/27/minority-identity-representation-mainstream-art-culture11689/

OPINION: Trump Sorest Loser Ever

  By , , , ,

Trump is a sore loser

OPINION: Trump Sorest Loser Ever

By Trevor K. McNeil

Human Frailty

There is no accounting for human behavior. Particularly in times of trouble. Stress and panic are capable of leading to seemingly irrational behavior on the part of the American electorate. Such as the re-election of Richard Nixon in 1972 despite his actions in Asia. And then there’s the insanity of George W. Bush’s two elections. Why the comfortable re-election in 2004, after stealing the 2000 election from Al Gore? The 2004 victory still makes me shake my head in bewilderment. The stupid idiot (#43) started two wars that we are still fighting nearly two decades later. A shockingly high number of troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan were not even born when the Twin Towers fell. The unpredictable American electorate and their often obvious disconnect from reality is a forever unknown. Which is part of why the Biden-Harris landslide was far from a fore gone conclusion, despite the polls.

Making History

The 2020 US election made history in many different ways. Some of them better than others. For starters there was the highest voter turn-out ever. Both despite and because of the pandemic. Leading to one of the longest vote-counts, lasting nearly a week from kick-off to final whistle. Something closer to what would be expected somewhere like India which has a much larger population base. Kamala Harris has risen higher in American politics than any woman before her, minority or otherwise, now named Vice President-Elect. With Biden declared President-Elect he is the oldest incoming president and one of the few to come from a modest economic background, as well as the first to attend a public university. Even George W. Bush,  somehow managed to get into Yale and Ulysses S. Grant attended West Point.

Continue reading

OPINION: Paying Tribute To The Dead

  By , , ,

OPINION:

Paying Tribute To COVID-19 Dead

D. S. Mitchell

Trump Terror Campaign

Total COVID-19 cases in the United States surpassed 9 million on Friday, October 30, 2020. Close to 235,000 people are dead in America. Most states are experiencing spikes unseen since the pandemic peak back in July. CDC reported that today there were an astounding and record setting 98,580 new cases. The pandemic is rapidly expanding. This is a runaway train. The Trump terror campaign is in full swing. The U.S. has only 4.25% of the world’s population but we have nearly 20% of the worlds deaths from COVID-19.

Incompetent, Ineffective and Unfit

969 Americans have died needlessly since yesterday. Brothers, sisters, mothers, husbands, sons, friends and family who are no longer with us. I said these folks had died needlessly and I meant it. If Donald Trump had taken the virus seriously in January we would not be experiencing these shocking death totals. A study from Columbia University estimates that 210,000 of those American deaths could have been avoided. Donald Trump had the power to change the dynamics. If Donald Trump hadn’t been an incompetent, ineffective, and unfit president a total of  24,000 Americans would have died from COVID-19 instead of nearly 235,000.

“Operation Warp Speed”

Trump is actually out on the campaign stump claiming one of his top achievements during his first term was “ending COVID-19.” I don’t know if Donald is hallucinating, on drugs or just a pathological liar, but I’m shocked and disgusted at his claims.  The fact that his pronouncement came at a new peak of a raging pandemic should be no shock to anyone. While the pandemic gets worse in our country the toxic psychopath masquerading as a president babbles absurdities completely divorced from reality. If the pandemic is over, why is the Trump administration still desperately trying to bring out a vaccine “any day?”

It Could Be Different

Take New Zealand for example. Jacinda Ardern is the Prime Minister of New Zealand. From the beginning of the pandemic she and her government enacted a nationwide lockdown and the widest ranging and toughest border restrictions of any country in the world. Despite the strict crackdown she earned the respect of her citizens. She has shown care and compassion and her actions have saved thousands of lives. As of today less than 30 of her citizens has died from coronavirus. Adjusted for population, that is the equivalent of 1,650 Americans, which is clearly even better than the Columbia University study mentioned above.

Between Now And January 20th

Out-of-control incompetence. It is anticipated that 150,000 to 250,000 more Americans will needlessly die between now and noon on January 20th. Hopefully that is the same day that we see Joe Biden replace Donald Trump. I think the death toll could be even greater than estimated. I hope not. All we can do is wear our masks, wash our hands religiously, social distance and avoid groups. Even with that, half the population resists these simple measures.

Poor Example

The primary reason for the resistance to masks is named Donald Trump. He is the poorest example of what to do during a public health emergency.  I wonder if we will ever be able to track the deaths directly related to Trump’s rallies. The carnage of fifty more 9/11 deaths will occur between now and January and based on recent rally rhetoric it looks like Trump is going to blame “doctors and the nurses for making money on COVID deaths.”

No More Trump 

We can stop this. We can step up and vote the diseased Orange Menace out of office. I truly believe this country cannot tolerate another four years of Trump and his goons. What we need to do is vote. We must make sure Trump is  removed from the White House as soon as the Constitution provides. There are thousands of reasons why Donald Trump is unfit to be president of the United States, his response to the virus is one of his worst failures. The best tribute we can give to our lost loved ones is to Dump Trump.

https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2020/06/21/covid-19-is-taking-a-mental-toll-14467/

OPINION: Introducing The Redneck Revolt

  By , ,

OPINION: Introducing The Redneck Revolt

Redneck Revolt is an American far-left political group that organizes predominantly among white working-class people. The group supports gun rights and members often openly carry firearms. Its political positions are anti-capitalist, anti-racist and anti-fascist-Wikipedia

Trevor K. McNeil

Close the Gap

In this age of populism and division it can be easy to forget that there were once politicians who claimed to be uniters not dividers.  The current political divide, which is exactly why there is a political divide, are driven by extremists on both sides.  The refusal to even look for common ground and tear down and vilify everyone and anyone who disagrees is a greater threat to democracy than nearly anything else. The Trump administration is a manifestation of the problem not the source. A certain amount of  partisanship is required for democracy to work. Otherwise we might as well be in Russia. Where one ruling party runs unopposed. People are a lot more complicated than that. As the Redneck Revolt shows.

Not What You Think

Far from the banjo-plucking, cousin marrying, right-wing gun nuts of the cultural imagination, the Redneck Revolt presents a more nuanced view of Southern culture. Founded in Lawrence, Kansas, the group is a less militant and more political off-shoot of the distinctly leftist John Brown Gun Club. Some may cringe at the 2nd Amendment advocacy and that is fair.  It should be kept in mind that guns really are a part of southern rural culture, and it is unrealistic if not unreasonable to expect that to change.

Continue reading

OPINION: Trump Embraces Fascism

  By , ,

OPINION: Trump Embraces Fascism

(In Plain Sight)

By Trevor K. McNeil

The Vital Importance of Language

Words matter. Talk can be both cheap or expensive depending on the context. All words are arbitrary in their invention but also vital in terms of their function which is to help understand existence. Which is why people can get quite irritable about words being used correctly. Misuse of words quickly leads to miscommunication. Something the last four years of Trump has shown us.

The Definition Is This

A favorite word tossed at Trump is fascism. A much used and seldom understood word. This is at least a linguistic issue, the original word being the Italian fascismo, roughly translated as fastening or togetherness. The main symbolism of the time being a bundle of sticks. One stick can be broken, a bundle of sticks cannot. A nice idea undercut by the fact that by fastening together, the members of a fascist society also close others out.

Continue reading

OPINION: 2020 Election Observations

  By , , ,

OPINION: 2020 Election Observations

By Trevor K. McNeil

How Did This Happen?

It is a question that has been asked before. Though as we get closer to Election Day and things might still go either way, it is still a productive exercise to try and figure out how we got to where we are today. Particularly with so many Trump Voters, particularly in swing states, suffering industrial strength buyers guilt.

No Easy Answers

The answer seems obvious. All the Trump voters are backward, racist, sexist, idiots who don’t know what’s best for them. A ‘basket of deplorables’ as Madam Clinton once put it. This is a mistake. Not only is it reductionist and prejudiced, the very things most accuse Trump of being, it is also wrong. I don’t mean wrong in the modern sense of things that make people feel icky. I mean it in the far more basic, Aspie way of false as according to the evidence. There are simply too many people of various groups, including those whom Trump has attacked, supporting him for this to be the whole story.

Ears Plug, Eyes Closed

If anything, the less savory things Trump has said or done are incidental to his support. Not that what he did doesn’t matter. It does in terms of general morality but a lot of things are a matter of priorities and he has other aspects that outweighed his misconduct. At least in the minds of those who prioritize such things. One of the things a lot of critics overlook is his focus on jobs. Particularly in places like Michigan. A state in which things have been so bad for so long, the condition of cities like Flint have been referred to as ‘economic terrorism.’ A situation which makes it easier to understand Trump’s support despite his desire for a border wall or his opinions on where it is okay to touch female strangers. Even if they ‘let’ you.

Continue reading

OPINION: Memories Of Evil

  By

Monuments to confederates

OPINION: Memories Of Evil

By Trevor K. McNeil

Uses And Abuses of History

I love history. That is probably why I have spent eight years of my life studying the subject on a post-secondary level. Such love and enthusiasm goes a long way to explain why my hackles raise up when I see the  cynical and ignorant misuse of  history.  The twisting of history to bolster racist ideas and perpetuate such beliefs is down right infuriating, and should be constantly challenged with facts. A recent example is the dogged defense of Confederate Memorials. Whether it be the Confederate war flag, statues, or naming military bases after traitors.

Let Us Forget

I have and will continue to argue against the notation of memorials themselves. I believe there is no better way to forget the real history than commemorating it. Which is not the same thing as recording it. Museums help people connect with the past using tools such as written documents, books,  physical artifacts, and photographs.  Seeing a memorial to Jews killed during the war is one thing. Seeing photographic evidence of the gas chambers and the attic from which Anne Frank and her family were dragged is something else. A context which can also be applied to war memorials of all types.

Answering the Rhetoric

Historical-illiterates deny slavery in their defense of the American Civil War. Grabbing on to “states rights” and  “northern aggression” as their go to defense of Confederate memorials. The Civil War was a terrible and distasteful part of American history that should be remembered with sober clarity. Mythologizing, glorifying and commemorating traitors like Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee is bad for America and is a foolish rejection of history.

Long After The Civil War

These monuments went up long after the Civil War. Most were erected in the 1950’s. These memorials can be directly related to the intent to rehabilitate the image of Confederate traitors and justify separation of the races. The ugliness of racism, continued in the South long after the Civil War.  Jim Crow laws and segregation in the United States replaced slavery. Fear, abuse and lynching were typical methods used to suppress blacks who challenged the white power structure. Statues and flying the stars and bars were methods of intimidation used to reinforce the white power structure.

Foreign Entity

For a comparatively brief and horrible period, from 1861 to 1865, there were four nations on the North American continent. British North America (now Canada) administered by the British parliament. The United States of America led by President Abraham Lincoln. The Confederate States of America led by President Jefferson Davies. And the Republic of Mexico, led by President Benito Juarez.

Geography Tells A Story

Keep in mind here that ‘America’ is a geographical designation including the continents of North, South and Central America. The modern descriptor ‘American’ refers specifically to citizens of The United States of America. The nation-state in North America which decided to make the fact it was made up of states and located within the Americas the center of its identity. While the Confederate states and their citizens were ‘Americans’ by virtue of being located in the Americas, they were no longer part of the American nation. This was by their choice. They had their own constitution, president and flag. The secessionists were ready to continue indefinitely as a distinct political, legal and social entity. The Confederates were, by any criteria, traitors to the United States and ‘enemies of the state.’

The Bad Guy

Traitors tend to be hated and executed not venerated and glorified. Even today a statue to the likes of Benedict Arnold would cause riots. Despite the Revolutionary War being “part of our history.” Arnold  was actually an American in the usual sense. The Confederates were quite simply traitors intent on destroying the union. Taking up arms in a military campaign against the United States is treasonous.

Other Examples

Using WWII as another example. There are no statues to Emperor Hirohito or Adolph Hitler. Or indeed, schools named after Erwin “The Desert Fox” Rommel. No German state would dare fly the Swastika emblazoned on a flag over government buildings. In the same way, it makes no sense to defend Confederate memorials, or any other memorabilia of the southern secessionists.

OPINION: Rules For Thee, Not For Me

  By , , , , ,

OPINION:

RULES FOR THEE, NOT FOR ME

By Trevor K. McNeil

Power Of Perception

Perception can be powerful. As Mark Twain said, give someone a reputation as “an early riser” and he can stay in bed until noon. Though, as with most things powerful, such perceptions can also be exceedingly dangerous. Like the “honest man” who turns out to be a con man or thief. Or the “quiet guy” who turns out to be a serial killer. Perceptions, especially unverified ones, make it very easy to deceive, particularly ourselves. Such is the case with American Isolationism.

Divided We Stand

The idea of American independence goes back to the beginning. Not only in terms of the country but with the individual states. At the time of founding, the United in United States was more wishful thinking on the part of the founders than expectation. The reality was less a nation than a loose collection of essentially independent British colonies, each with it’s own local government, and usually a militia group, the British being absentee landlords at best.

Continue reading

Verified by MonsterInsights