OH HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED

 

Imagine coming of age in an era where a republican president, (a republican president who was forced to resign from office in disgrace because of serious criminal activity,) started the Environmental Protection Agency, ended the draft, lowered the voting age to 18, ensured affirmative action in federal agencies with an executive order and enforced school integration in the South.  That is the era I came of age in.  That’s the era my ideologies were formed in.  I was no fan of that republican president and my views ran far to the left of his but these were things that actually happened under the administration of a criminal, right-wing republican president when I was young.  I mention this to point out just how far to the Right the Republican Party and this country have moved.  Republicans of today call Democrats, “Leftist Extremists,” but the reality is Democrats aren’t supporting any policies that Republicans weren’t supporting themselves when I was coming of age.  In fact I would go so far as to say that Democrats are no longer even Left of the center that existed back then.  And what that means is that it’s the Republicans that have become extremists.  Republicans have moved so far to the Right that they are no longer even recognizable as a political party in a nation that is supposed to be a democracy. They’ve been radicalized so much by the influences and money of fundamental Christians, billionaires and organizations like the NRA that they are a dim shadow of what they once were.  And they don’t even try to hide it!  They enthusiastically show off their radical conservative donors and influencers like badges of honor.  And from my perspective as a once wide eyed, idealistic young man who wanted nothing more than to make the world a better place for everyone it’s all very sad.  This is no longer the country I grew up in.  This is no longer a country of hope, progress and equality and it’s very disheartening.  I’m now growing old but my core ideologies have not changed.  My light might be dimming but it’s not out yet and I will continue to fight the good fight as best I can.  I only hope that there are more people out there who feel the same way.  More people that want to get this country back on track to being what it advertises itself to be.  To quote Bob Dylan, “It’s getting dark but it’s not dark yet.” Hopefully we can somehow manage to turn the lights back on and point this ship in the right direction.  Only time will tell I guess but time is something we’re fast running out of it seems.  Good luck everyone.

COLLEGE SPORTS SHOULD PAY FOR COLLEGE EDUCATIONS

 In 2019, which seems to be the most recent year I can find statistics for, college sports in the USA generated 15.8 billion dollars. I wouldn't be surprised if that number has nearly doubled in the last 5 years. So please explain to me how it is that a college education in this country is so expensive that it's a dream that many just can't afford. Please explain to me how it is that so many people in their early/mid 20's are starting out their adult lives with upwards of 100K in high interest student loan debt. Why is it that secondary education is not free in this country like it is in most first world countries? And since it's not, why is it that the money generated from college sports doesn't pay for those who want to go to college just to become educated and earn a degree? Where does all of that money go?

Although they should, our tax dollars don't pay for the guarantee of a college education and that should have every citizen asking why. Could it be that the government wants the options of our young people to be so limited that they're forced to join the military as the only way to support themselves and supposedly have a better future? It's been 50 years since we've had a draft and the industrialized military complex can't really function without living, breathing bodies. Could it be that the government needs and prefers to have our young people be, "indoctrinated cannon fodder in waiting," rather than educated, productive citizens who are capable of free thought? Do not tell me that this country is number one if the only example you can give to support that statement is our military and weaponry. Don't ever tell me that capitalism is great when there is such a visible gap between such a small minority of "haves" and the huge majority of "have-nots." And do not tell me that this country is the best it can be as long as college sports and the money it generates takes precedence over providing actual college educations for the citizens.

THE BIDEN CLASSIFIED DOCUMENT INVESTIGATION

 

This is my slant on the investigation into President Joe Biden possessing classified documents.  After a year long investigation conducted by a republican lawyer who was appointed by none other than trump himself to be the US Attorney for the state of Maryland in 2017, not enough evidence could be found to warrant criminal charges.  And since there were no grounds for criminal charges, this republican lawyer/special counsel, Robert Hur, decided instead to use his moment in the spotlight as an opportunity to besmirch President Biden and make a statement designed to instill doubt about his health and competency.  Which just happens to be one of the main things that trump yammers on about at his rallies.  The whole thing reminds me of when James Comey, (a republican even though he was appointed by President Obama to head the FBI,) made his infamous announcement 11 days before the election that effectively destroyed Hilary Clinton's bid for the presidency.  This kind of smear tactic is an ongoing theme with the republican party because when it comes to actual issues that benefit the average citizen they have nothing to offer.  The only way they can win elections it to lie, grandstand and make derogatory statements about their opponents.  Unfortunately they are very good at it and their base eats their behavior up.  Which sadly isn’t something that is good for the country. 

THE BORDER BILL, MAGA CONGRESS AND AID TO ISRAEL

 

It is reprehensible that trump and the maga congress are attempting to shoot down the bipartisan border bill just so the situation can remain a problem and be an issue for trump to capitalize on during his bid for the presidency. I find it despicable and think anyone with any sense should be able to see the hypocrisy of the republican party and how they do not work for the people of this country. But I also must say that I'm totally against the 14 billion dollars for Israel that is included in the bill. 14 billion dollars!!! We already have over 6 billion dollars earmarked for them every year as part of the annual budget and now they want to give them an additional 14 billion? Totaling over 20 billion of our tax dollars for the year? Why? So they can continue slaughtering the Palestinians and reducing their cities to rubble?

 

Obviously the system is fudged up at best and corrupt at worst. There shouldn't be anything piggybacked onto the bill or any other bill. Bills should focus on one issue or catastrophe at a time and shouldn't have the individual whims of a politician tacked on just to secure a vote. But unfortunately the republicans blocked funding to Ukraine, saying that we need to focus on our own border problem instead and so here we are. I understand the aid to Ukraine as that is part of the age-old battle this country has against communism with our number one adversary. I might not agree with the ideology but I get it. But 14 billion dollars to Israel on top of the over 6 billion dollars they already receive is absolutely unnecessary and only adds to the insecurity of this nation and instability around the world.

HATEFUL CONSERVATIVE RHETORIC HAS CONSEQUENCES

 

Let there be no doubt that the latest mass shooting at the LGBTQ bar in Colorado Springs was brought to you courtesy of Republican, Conservative, Right-Wing- rhetoric. If you watch Fox News, if you listen to Conservative- Right-Wing radio, if you read and listen to Conservative-Right-Wing blogs, you are just as guilty as the guy who went to that bar and shot those people. Just like with the killings of the Asian women in the massage parlor in Atlanta, (as well as many other attacks on Asians,) the murder of the people at the black church in Charleston, the murder of the people at the grocery store in a predominately black neighborhood in Buffalo and countless others, this shooting is the result of the hatred and vitriol that Right-Wing Conservatives spew out to their followers on a daily basis. And if you support the Republican Party, and especially if you are part of the MAGA fringe, you are supporting people and policies that promote guns, promote hatred of anyone who isn’t just like them and people who are against education being affordable for everyone. Believe me, education is the enemy of racism and bigotry and they do not want that. And just like on January 6th, the most weak-minded of you, those who are the most susceptible to the radical-conservative-mind-fuck-brainwashing, act out in violent ways. A good example is the guy who drove cross-country with his assault rifle to attack a DC pizza parlor because he believed that Hilary Clinton was running a child sex trafficking ring out of the basement. Luckily he was stopped before he killed anyone but seriously, who but a poorly educated and brainwashed person could believe such nonsense? So make no excuses because as far as I’m concerned, if you support the Republican Party and all of the peripheral republican propaganda machines you are responsible for this latest massacre as well as similar ones in the past and those still coming in the future. And to take this op-ed one step farther, if the hatred that conservative republicans promote is in line with your beliefs and how you feel then I don’t want anything to do with you. I don’t want to know you and I don’t want you in my life. Feel free to un-friend me on social media and stay the hell away from me in the real world. You are what is wrong with this country. You are the problem.

WHAT ARE THE INTEREST RATE HIKES ACCOMPLISHING?

 Jerome Powell and the feds want to tell us they are countering inflation with these interest rate hikes but all I see them doing is killing the stock market and the real estate market. Yes the price of everything is off the hook but have you seen the profits reported by major corporations? The problem is corporate greed not interest rates! Smaller quantities and higher prices equal higher profits! At least when interest rates were low an average working person could buy a house or a car at an affordable monthly payment. And prior to all these interest rate hikes an average person with a 401K had their net worth growing. Now these higher interest rates have put buying a home out of reach and the stock market is down 25%. Not to mention that anyone who is carrying a balance on credit cards is now probably struggling to make those payments too. These hikes are not helping the average person at all and in fact they're making things worse!! The problem is corporate greed not interest rates! And while I'm on this rant, they also need to stop subsidizing these industries! Do oil companies that are reporting profits in the billions really need my tax dollars in the form of subsidies? HELL NO!!!! I'll say it again for the folks in the back, the problem is greed not interest rates!

TAKE A STEP BACK AND THINK

Almost every day on FB I see people posting anti-Muslim memes and anti-Muslim comments mixed with 9-11 references in what I guess is an effort to keep the flame of hatred alive and to give some kind of validity to the latest act of Trump insanity in Iran.  Well here's a dose of reality for everyone out there who perpetuates this kind of misinformation and propaganda.  A history lesson of sorts.  First of all there are 1.9 billion people on this planet who identify as being Muslim.  That means that just shy of 25%, yes almost 1/4 of the population of Earth is Muslim.  If they are really the aggressors that these ignorant, keyboard warriors, (and certain members of the American government,) portray them to be Americans would be in a heap of trouble.  No, the reality is that the majority of Muslims are peaceful people who just want to raise their families and live their lives in peace.  It is just as incorrect and unfair to label all Muslims as terrorists as it would be to label all Christians as being KKK members or all white people as being white supremacists.  There is and probably always will be radical extremists and no one should judge a whole religion, race or color on those who have extremists views.  To do so makes you no better than the extremists themselves and also helps to set up exactly the scenario the extremists want.

But what about 9-11, they ask.  "They" attacked our country!  To that I say, no "they" didn't.  This country was not attacked by The Muslim Religion. This country was not attacked by the nation of Afghanistan. This country was not attacked by the nation of Iraq. This country was not attacked by the nation of Libya and this country was not attacked by the nation of Iran. The reality is that on 9-11 a rag-tag band of 19 men, 15 of whom came from our bosom-buddy, oil country ally Saudi Arabia, hijacked those planes and flew them into those buildings. Their ringleader, who was also from our bosom-buddy, oil country ally Saudia Arabia, had issues with America because the beloved republican president, Ronald Reagan, abandoned him on the battlefield in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion of that country. That is what happened. The reaction to that incident by the GW Bush administration was not only inaccurate and wrong, (as has been proven by the release of the so-called Afghanistan Papers,) it has caused a legacy of unfounded hatred and a destabilization of the entire world.  By treating the events of 9-11 as a traditional act of war, as if we had been attacked by a nation and not by a small, rouge group of extremists, the American government has created the kind of hatred and terrorism they say they are trying to eliminate.  And on the American side, the propaganda the government has been spewing out for nearly 20 years to support its' misguided campaign of war in the Middle East has caused our nation to raise an entire generation of blindly patriotic haters who don't have the intellectual capacity to question anything.  From where I sit, all I see is a total cluster-fuck with no end in sight.

So to everyone I say take a step back and think about things.  Don't be so quick to believe everything you are being told.  Humans are capable of empathy and I encourage you to use that ability.  Try to look at life through the eyes of others before you pass judgement.  If you can't do that and you feel you must continue airing your prejudicial views, comments and yes, your hatred then I have no respect for you and there is no place for you in my life. 

MY FABIANO FRIENDS

Pictured here are a pair of trusted old friends that shared many adventures with me.  My very worn and broken-in Fabiano hiking boots.  I purchased them when I was 17 years old from, “Appalachian Outfitters,” an independently owned backpacking and mountaineering store that closed long ago.  Unfortunately it seems that the only time I pull them out these days is when it snows and I have to shovel the walk and driveway here at my modest homestead.  But if these boots could talk . . . oh the stories they could tell!!!

I pretty much walked, (even though I was hitchhiking,) from one side of this country to the other and back again while wearing these boots during a trip that began when I was 18 years old.  I hiked parts of the Appalachian trail, The Rockies and The Grand Canyon while wearing them. These boots have been in more states than most of the people I know have been in!  They weigh about 2 ½ pounds apiece and I even jogged while wearing them when I was living in Albuquerque and didn't have any running shoes *LOL*

They always kept my feet warm and dry in the most adverse conditions and they fit perfectly.  The sales associate at Appalachian Outfitters made sure they were a perfect match before selling them to me.  I put so many miles on them that I had to have them re-soled, which isn’t something that often happens and luckily I found a shoe guy in Towson, MD who knew how to work on Hiking boots. Unfortunately, like so many of the small, independently owned niche businesses, he too folded up shop long ago.  It's hard to find a quality pair of shoes these days and even harder to find someone who can repair them.  The whole aspect of producing quality items that last a lifetime and beyond has disappeared along with the people who knew how to repair things.  In this throw-away world we now live in we just buy, dispose and buy again.  That’s the way the corporations want it!  They manufacturer products that are designed to fail and people devour them over and over like blind sheep.  There’s no longer any integrity and they just want consumers to keep consuming.  Nothing lasts these days because nothing is intended to last.

However these high quality boots were made to last and they’ve proven their worth and merit over time.  They were designed by an Italian Immigrant boot maker in Boston MA, (Eddie Fabiano,) and fabricated in Italy by highly skilled Craftsmen.  The company that was Fabiano no longer exists, having been bought out by a larger company at some point along the way but before they disappeared I found them online and was amazed to see that their hiking boots were selling for almost $500.00 a pair.  I guess that all things being equal, the $65.00 I paid for them, which felt like an awful lot of money when I was 17 years old, is probably the equivalent of $500.00 today.  If the quality was still the same then all I can say is it would be money well spent.  They are worth it!

But now they mostly sit quietly in the back corner of my closet and I wonder if they feel lonely and unappreciated.  I wonder if they are waiting for me to take them out for their next adventure.  They see the sliver of light that shines in when I open the bi-fold door to reach for a different pair of shoes and I wonder if they get excited thinking I might be reaching in for them.  Reaching in to grab them so we can set out on another cross-country jaunt.  Reaching in to grab them so we can embark on another hike along the Appalachian Trail.  Reaching in to see Glacier National Park in the Spring again as the snow melts and the green emerges. Reaching in to experience The Smokey Mountains in Autumn again as the air becomes crisp and the leaves turn the forest into a beautiful array of multi colored foliage.  Reaching in to set out on an unknown adventure!!  Reaching in to recapture the magic that we once shared together when we were both new and up for trying everything life had to offer.  Reaching in to recapture something that has been missing from my life for quite some time.

*Sigh* Unfortunately the next time I reach for my Fabianos’s it will probably be just to dig out of the next snow storm, but who knows . . . Life is a mysterious journey and the world is full of wonder.  There is magic surrounding us all of the time if we’re open to accepting what it has to offer.  Maybe I'll reach into that closet and grab my old friends and put them on.  Then load up my old Kelty Tioga backpack with the necessary supplies to survive, lash on my cozy goose down sleeping bag and head up onto the trail for a few days. It would be nice to get away from what has become my mundane norm for awhile!  And maybe that little trip up on the trail will clear my head and lead me once again to destinations unknown.  Lead me to a never ending highway and meeting people I could never have imagined I’d ever meet.  Maybe if I reach into the closet and slip on my beloved Fabiano hiking boots I’ll be led back to the crazy days of my youth and provided with the escape I so desperately need just as much now as I needed back then.

What say you my Fabiano friends?
Are you ready for one final adventure?
One final journey?

They said yes!!!

Bruce Myers
Originally written 01/25/2016
Edited/Re-Written 03/19/2019

SOCIALISM WILL BE THE CONSERVATIVE BUZZ WORD IN 2020

As the 2020 elections get closer you'll be hearing the word "SOCIALISM" from the conservative republican side a lot. It will be their main word/weapon and they'll be slandering everyone on the progressive side of things with it. Educate yourselves and don't fall for their rhetoric!!

CHRISTCHURCH MOSQUE SHOOTINGS

I am grieving!  Feeling heart-broken, sad and grieving for all of those who lost their lives in New Zealand today and for their loved ones. My heart goes out to the Muslim community and also to all of the sane, rational, non-bigoted and unbiased people of the traditionally peaceful, diverse and compassionate country of New Zealand. Tonight a self proclaimed anti immigrant white supremacist  killed at least 40 people in two mosques as they prayed. He just walked in and began shooting these peaceful, unarmed people! In the manifesto that he left behind he said that the person who influenced him the most was a conservative commentator who is a staunch supporter of donald trump. The bigotry and hatred of trump and the right wing conservative party has emboldened people like this!! It absolutely sickens me that this country elected an ignorant monster who has influenced these kinds of cowardly acts, not only here at home but in other countries around the world!! trump and the conservative right wing party in america needs to be removed and eliminated by any means necessary!! They are against anything and everything that is good and they propagate all that is bad. This one really got to me!! I can only imagine the horror those people experienced. I can only imagine the many, many families who are in mourning at this moment. White supremacists are the terrorists of this world!! Not the brown people who are just living peaceful lives.....White supremacists!!! And in this country, maybe not all conservative republicans are white supremacists but you can bet your bottom dollar that all white supremacists are trump supporting republicans!! I am just so sad over this. Sad, angry, and just completely upset.........

PRESIDENTS AND THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDAL

In lieu of the college admissions scandal that came out this week I'd like to ask everyone a question. Out of the last four presidents of the U.S., which two do you think got into their ivy league colleges on their own merit and kept their grades up to keep themselves there through their own hard work and diligence and which two do you think got in and were propped because their families were rich and did what was necessary to get them in and keep them there? Now after you answer that question, (honestly and using your common sense I hope,) I ask which of the two do you think could more easily relate to your place in life and and your financial circumstances? Try to remember these kinds of things when you vote in the future!!