Weekend View

Lots happening. COVID, medical research for a COVID vaccine, political skirmishes over mask wearing, stay distanced and all the rest. Also, the soaring stock market while unemployment remains legion and GDP plummets. Continues to plummet. International affairs in a stew and bubbling away unproductively in all corners of the globe.

In the midst of all this, social wellness and family wellbeing. Culture tapped and enjoyed – literature, music, film, films of plays, documentaries, travelogues of faraway places. Dance, too, is part of our culture. The movement of the human body in rhythm to sound. What does that movement express? Mean?

Relying on technology to hear, see and feel the time of this history.

Odd and oddity. Compressed by synapses in the brain. Making sense of it all. Or maybe not.

A flood of electronic messages flow into the home. Facebook, internet, email, webpages frequently scanned, and more. People sending attachments or forwarding news items to us for comment or a laugh. In a trice we wonder what matters and what doesn’t. The flood of information does that.

I sort through things. Too much of one kind and I bypass the items quickly. React to a few, comment on some. Mostly I read the news and ponder the convergence of so many threads of meaning, topics, issues. Of these what needs the most focus? If we lose one of these issues, what will it affect elsewhere? What do we need to fight for to retain the core of who we are, not just me, but you and I, the we in our nation?

Yes. That’s what I worry about the most. So, an election is lost. What consequence does it have? In most elections the consequences are few and not earthshattering. But not in 2016; no, the presidential election was momentous. A lost election by Hillary Clinton has meant a great deal. What her fans felt would happen if she lost was a far cry from what we have witnessed in trump’s ascent to the white house.

Interesting, isn’t it? The rule of law no longer exists? Convicted yet pardoned? Convicted and sentenced, yet the punishment is commuted? People labeled as bad by most, are friends to those in power and so are pardoned from punishment. Not guilt, mind you, just punishment. Taxpayers owing to the IRS are badgered and sued and imprisoned for payment due; but the powerful just change the rules – or ignore them – and skip the fuss while not paying their debt to society.

What’s up is down and what’s in is out. The poles have changed on a whim. Falsehoods and lies are bald and frequent. Soon we lose sight of all veracity.

I go out of doors and feel the warmth of the sun, or the cool of the rain. I know these sensations. They are lifelong, and personally learned from experience. But another calls it another name meaning the opposite of what I have learned.

Which is true? Which is written into our history?

Just asking a simple question. Who decides these answers? What is definitive? What becomes so?

Why?

August 7, 2020

New Attacks on Democracy

We all are aware of the propaganda war being waged by the donald and his republican minions. Here are the latest three:

Democrats are Socialists: This was on NPR Monday, August 3^rd. republicans are spreading the ‘news’ that Democrats are socialist and have moved decidedly to the left. Nothing could be further from the truth in my experience. The more likely truth is that republicans have been moving farther to the right year after year. If Democrats simply remain at the same point they always have, then the widening gap is due to republicans becoming far more conservative.

This is true in my own case. There are family members who think I’ve moved very left in recent years. I simply do not believe that. I have been a practical centrist for many years. I remain so. The family members, however, have become much more conservative and reactionary. So beware, friends, the socialism feared by republicans is in reality their own turn toward fascism. From that perspective, a dog catcher would seem a dangerous reactionary if he simply did his/her job.

Stock Market will Crash with Biden Victory: This is one of donald’s favorite claims – that his administration has been the primary cause for the rise in the three primary stock markets. Economists would disagree with him because the economy nearly crashed with the real estate and mortgage debacle of 2008/09. It was Obama’s administration that carefully rebuilt the mechanisms of the economy, rebuilt faith in our systems, and set the stage for a marvelous comeback. That happened. It continued during the beginning of donald’s term, but he has done many things to endanger that recovery. Trade wars with many nations, primarily China, undercutting agri-business. Higher tariffs on many goods upended foreign trade in many sectors of our economy. The enormous reserves of cash triggered stock purchases and that has created a bubbled stock market environment. As printed here many times, current stock values are wildly overvalued. Any drop in their price will be a bubble crashing, not a lost election of a pretend business mogul.

Trump To Refuse Loss of Election: As late as August 3^rd the donald claimed he may remain in office under his emergency powers should the election be lost. Nonsense. Any emergency currently existing or arising then will be primarily caused by the donald. Mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic, picking a war with China, breaking international agreements and mutual defense treaties, are all contributors to a crisis of faith in America. Removing him from office will be the single most important action the American people can do to save the nation and its economy.

The republican party started down this road in the 1980’s. They continued to ramp up their perfidy until this day. They will have to rebuild or rename the party to gain a fresh start. Such a pity that the proud party of Lincoln has fallen to this low level.

August 6, 2020

Confinement

We have been confined for the pandemic. For over 4 months. Our apartment is 1140 square feet with two bedrooms, two baths, and an ample living room, dining area, and an eat-in kitchen. Plenty of storage. Hallway to elevator, open lobbies with mailroom and access to the gang garage where our car is parked in its assigned spot. We can move freely around the building.

From our fourth floor windows we can watch the town function. We are on Main Street next door to City Hall, across the street from the Metra station, next door to a museum, and across the street from stores and shops. The railroad is busy 24/7 as are the passing police and fire vehicles. The Hospital is two miles away so ambulance traffic is also common.

We have great cable TV, strong Wi-Fi, and use our computers throughout the day. We are connected to the world and we use it fully.

Early in the pandemic we avoided going to stores and ordered on-line or by phone. Groceries were delivered as were basic household supplies. Medications and prescriptions we picked up at Walgreens' drive up window. We ordered take out dinners either delivered or curbside pickup.  We used McDonald’s drive-thru. Walgreens even offered to deliver our meds and goods without our leaving home.

In June we began shopping at grocery stores again, but now we have delivered prepared meals for four dinners per week. Our shopping lists are small and contained. We eat out very rarely and that pays for the prepared meal service.

We still don’t attend church in person. They have opened the sanctuary for very limited attendance; the services are streamed live and recorded over Facebook. We us the live-stream method. If we miss a service, we can always watch a recording of it at our convenience.

Having said all of this, we do not feel closed in. If anything, we feel limited to what we can do outside of home were we to venture out. We used to take car trips or rides frequently. Most of those were to interesting small towns in Illinois and southwest Wisconsin. We would do an overnighter sometimes but not often. Such travel is not wise these days so we remain home.

We use our time to read, view documentaries, write, and follow Facebook. The latter is so negative these days we are pondering a vacation from it. Because my blog is posted on Facebook for local readers, I hesitate to drop Facebook. Our decision is still pending.

Meanwhile we feel our wings are a bit clipped, but that’s it. Rocky is more fearful of the virus than I, but he is more at risk. Both of us are candidates for the virus, but so far we have been just fine.

One improvement that would help our quality of life is the passage of the November election. With that done and over with, we know we will feel much better. If our candidates win, all the better. Just getting it out of our life for a while, however, will be a huge plus.

As summer begins its slow fade toward fall, we are aware that we missed spring and summer seasons. We wonder if fall and winter will be also missed?

We shall see. From our perch we will watch all the changes closely.

August 5, 2020

Legislative Shame

40 million people are out of work. This is the result of a health pandemic. Families are in deep distress financially. Poverty is worsened. Middle class lifestyles are uprooted and sinking into poverty. Home mortgage foreclosures are emerging. Tenant evictions are looming. Homelessness threatens to add to the already high level of despair.

Yet Congress twiddles it thumbs while unemployment benefits and bonus payments recognizing COVID-19 expire. No decision to continue those benefits has been made. Congress frets about its summer recess. Policies affecting the well-being of the common good are placed on hold.

This is the face of a government without heart or soul.

I don’t much care what political parties have done or are doing amidst this crisis. I do care that those who need help aren’t getting the help.

Shameful. Cause. Effect. Result. A virus runs among a populace. People get sick. People die from this virus. The economy is shuttered to control spread of the virus. People lose jobs. Money stops flowing. Food, housing, healthcare and other necessities become unaffordable. In a hurry this happens. Governments go into action to help but the largest government now sits on its hands doing nothing for its people.

Yes. Shame. In America.

Political parties can be a good thing. They can also be a bad thing. We are witnessing the bad today.

Shame on each and every elected official for not finding a way through this issue.

Your people are waiting.

August 4, 2020

Divisions

I read a Facebook posting and running comments the other day. The topic was who Joe Biden’s running mate should be. Seemed most favored Kamala Harris. The discussion quickly turned into stories on how camps in the Biden campaign were shutting out Kamala in favor of someone else, and how tacky that was.

I stepped in with a comment that selecting a running mate is Biden’s decision alone and picking a fight with others over this point would be divisive. My point: we should all be aiming to remove the current White House incumbent. Let Biden do his job, support him, and beat trump in November.

Well! You would think I was the Ogre of the Year! Who was I do shut down debate? What kind of old white man power group was I representing? And so the comments progressed down to the sewer.

This, folks, is the power of division within our own society. A person cannot have an opinion without others taking offense. Debate is one thing, argument is another. Discussion sharing ideas freely without harsh judgment is yet another. The latter is preferred I think however, I’d likely hear opposition to that.

I Have long held that debate is divisive. It is all about winning points and not about cogent, accurate thinking. Debate is also about winning. How that is done is rarely examined. The damage done is evident.

I prefer a calm, clear discussion of an issue with its surrounding points to best understand both the issue and its ramifications. Creating animosity is pointless unless the aim is to disrupt and confuse the issue. Emotions follow and resentment from that is another, long lasting result. Damage is done. Logic and calm is lost.

Biden’s running mate needs to be an experienced person in governance at the highest levels, clearly someone with credentials and expertise in foreign affairs, or economic policy, public policy or legislative dueling. I prefer a woman for this role. I also prefer someone of color. Kamala Harris fits the bill. But so does Susan Rice and others under consideration.

My preference is Susan Rice, but I will support anyone Joe chooses. After all, the point of Joe Biden is his willingness to do battle with trump in November. The winner of that contest is the result we should be focused on.

August 3, 2020

Problems With China

There was a time when we rejoiced to speak directly with the Chinese government. The détente of Nixon’s era was a major achievement. And welcome. Decades later we had built a working relationship that bode well for both China and the USA. With the current white house occupant, the relationship turned decidedly sour.

The fault rests on both sides. China disrespected Obama; racial reasons? Trump simply doesn’t understand diplomacy. Instead, he plays power games constantly. Yes, China is guilty of stealing intellectual property from American inventors and corporations. Their theft and deep corporate spying allowed them to catch up with America in many tech fields. When they couldn’t get progress faster, they resorted to buying the American companies with the patents and then transferred them to their own economy.

China has stolen much of their technical advances. They have adapted to it well, however, something America seems to have trouble with. Our people do not do technology well over all the generations. Young, yes; elder, no.

China is now in position to handle a lot of what they once lacked. Now they desire a naval force to rival American strength. They build islands in the South China Sea from which to observe the passing world, and over that world they wish to press claims of control. Nonsense, China. That’s preposterous. If you are spoiling for a fight, you’d have a rough go of it. And oh so very wasteful of your own resources and your people’s lives.

Once we get a new president that understands diplomacy, we can work out the kinks with China. But the reality is China needs to sit down and re-examine what cooperation and collaboration look like. The result of those investments will be well worth it for them. And the global village will enjoy the peace from such efforts.

Teaming up with Russia and fellow dictator Putin is not a good decision on China’s part. I think China already knows this. Time will prove the point. We already know that point: Putin is not a leader or an international star. He is selfish and image obsessed. Wonder what his mirror looks like in the Kremlin? Does he talk to the image? His hubris is showing. We know; we have a ‘leader’ who is self-appointed and suffers hubris to the max.

America helped empower China’s economy massively. Now it uses that ability to harm the very people who helped them. I know, trump sends mixed messages that make no sense to China. That’s a large part of the current problem. But China should know better. It’s pathway to hegemony will be disappointing in the end. Why waste time, lives and assets on a futile objective.

Better if China collaborates with the global village and helps everyone become the best they can be. Peace is so much more rewarding than war, hot or cold.

August 2, 2020

August!

Good Grief! Another new month. Just the other day was February. Then March and COVID. And a death of a good friend. A death in the time of COVID but not of COVID. No, his death was of age, failing health, falling, broken hip, surgery and lung and organ failures. Still, he died alone at the beginning of the pandemic’s quarantine. And his wife with dementia is in a nursing home; originally it was respite care while husband was in hospital; now it is permanent. I often wonder how the paperwork will get done. And how she is doing in a facility that is in lockdown. Family visits only at the window outdoors.

The quarantine continues. We have three cases in our condo building now. Quarantine contains the spread here, but it is still unnerving. Hoping they stay strong and healthy to survive the threat.

Meanwhile we carry on doing what we can – writing, mentoring, more writing, and eating. Napping of course, but eating, too.

We are on Factor meals sent weekly to us from a Batavia kitchen. Small portioned meals that are healthy. Extremely tasty and of good quality. Cheaper than eating out. If we curb our grocery bill and eliminate eating out, Factor is not only affordable, but better on the budget and the waistline. It also eliminates a lot of dishwashing and cooking. I’m not much of a cook in the first place; Rocky is the cook here, but this is now very difficult for him to perform. Factor meals are a blessing.

This will be the fifth month of quarantine. We have exhausted most of TV binge watching. Now working on obscure documentaries and movies. Some old; some new. Watched Rear Window from 1954 with Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly; and Wendell Cory! Remember Wendell Cory? I remember watching this movie with my folks at a theater in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Great movie. Alfred Hitchcock. Took me back when I was 11 or 12.

Weather watching through a window. Air conditioning on since April 1; expect to turn it off November 1. Our normal routine to keep allergies at bay. Meanwhile, storms come and go, bright sunny skies come and go. It may be hot outdoors but inside it is 75. All the time, and dry.

Rocky’s first eye surgery was successful. In another few days the second eye gets its new lens. And then new glasses. Once healed, I think I’ll take him to his hearing doctor for a new set of hearing aids. Our insurance now covers this and Rocky is pretty deaf even with his current hearing aids. We shall see if we can get him communicating better with those improvements.

Until then we converse via hand signals, lip reading, a lot of shouting (me) to overcome his hearing deficits. He does not write notes well due to Parkinson’s. He is also reluctant to write emails or notes on his computer or I-pad. Communications. I have a master’s degree in it. Under these circumstances, the degree means nothing. We have retreated to the Stone Age.

Well, this is August 2020. Wonder what will be happening on September 1^st?

August 1, 2020