7/24/2020 While going back through posts to fix link and image issues I came across this post and felt that I need to annotate it. My position on several items has either changed or modified. 12 years can change the way you think and express yourself.

In this time of pandemic, political conflict, racial turmoil, general social upheaval, and potential historical revision I thought it was important to post an update rather than ignore or delete the contents of this post.

2020 Comments will be italicized. Hind sight in 2020 as it were 😉

It has become clearer each day of this election season that America, as a society, is determined to believe that the world is a fair place, or that we can make it one, and that there is an inherent entitlement to this fairness.

I am inclined to point out that fairness and entitlement are illusions. Nether exists in nature. Nature is a system of balance. The strong survive, the weak die. Natural Selection exists in nature as the equalizer and pressure valve for life on this planet, it maintains the balance. The great irony is that some of the most outspoken lobbyists for fairness and entitlement are the “warm and fuzzes”. Nothing really ironic here. I don’t know why I said that.

This false scenes of fairness and entitlement has been boosted into over-drive in the last two generations, it is interesting that the problem has grown proportionally with the proselytizing of Political Correctness doctrine. These practices have also corresponded with another trend, the dramatic decline of nationalism in the United States.

Today, nationalism is equated with white supremacy. This was in no way my intention. While my eyes have only recently been opened to what black American’s have had to endure, my intentions have never been to denigrate or restrict people of color.

My understanding of nationalism at the time was more akin to patriotism, pride and duty to country; importantly, not to any individual in government. I feel pride in the flag, the symbol of what the founding fathers were trying to create, and I support our military who protect our freedom. I support the ideals of freedom and the inalienable rights in the constitution.

The fact that the founding fathers only accomplished codifying these rights and were unable to extend them to all Americans, all those living in the colonies, pains me. The Constitution is both their greatest success and their great shame and failing. I support its idealism and intent.

For the United States to escape the current situation of economic decline and foreign dependence, the country must once again find itself. Nationalism must once again be important to the population, the scene of pride in “American Made”, pride in the flag, and a belief in the principles of government the founding fathers gave birth to is a just form of government for its citizens. It is Nationalism that can save the United States not religion or extremism to the right or the left. Nationalism from the population and practicality from the government.

Again, patriotism is the intent. Pride in Made In USA, the flag, and in what the Constitution intends. I do believe that we have off-shored far too much manufacturing and finance. I also believe our centralization of finance, food production, and manufacturing have made us very vulnerable. The current pandemic has shown this to be true in many areas.

A recent email spam went out enumerating a political platform. Some of the points are interesting and are worth looking at:

(1) Press 1 for English is immediately banned. English is the official language; speak it or wait at the border until you can.

The money saved in printing and postage of oversize documents would be substantial and it would encourage English literacy. Private sector use of multiple languages is entirely up to the company, government use is an unnecessary taxpayer expense.

There are too many issues with my statement here. I do think we should have a national language, but Americans, in general, lag behind the rest of the world in the number of languages spoken by its citizens. I do not believe it is practical to demand English of everyone. This is a complex topic.

(2) We will immediately go into a two year isolationist posture to straighten out the country’s attitude. NO imports, no exports. We will use the ‘Wal-mart’ policy, ‘If we ain’t got it, you don’t need it.’

Though not entirely possible, stopping foreign aid, and calling in old debts is long over due. It’s time to close the checkbook.

This is no longer possible. Too much of what we buy and need is imported. This is part of the problem in my mind. If we produced more than we imported we would be much better off.

(3) When imports are allowed, there will be a 100% import tax on it.

The areas this would effect include returning outsourced jobs, making American manufactured goods competitive in the market place, returning tens of thousands Americans to work. On the down side, there would be a short period of increased costs of goods to consumers. The increase in costs of goods would be shortly off-set by the increase in employed persons and increased salaries.

Yes, this is a painful growth process. This would not have happened in the first place if politicians had not tried to increase foreign imports at a “fair market price”. Again a false scene of fairness. Just look at the ratio of imported goods to manufactured goods. Does that look “fair” to you?

We do need to take our trade imbalance seriously. I don’t think it is as simple as this solution, but we do need to do something.

(4) All retired military personnel will be required to man one of our many observation towers on the southern border. (six month tour) They will be under strict orders not to fire on SOUTHBOUND aliens.

This one just plays on frustration with the immigration system in place. Retired military personnel have served their country, there are other solutions.

I stand by my comments here. This proposition is ridiculous.

(5) Social security will immediately return to its original state. If you didn’t put nuttin in, you ain’t gettin nuttin out. The president nor any other politician will not be able to touch it.

There are many areas in social services that need to be covered. This should be one of the biggies covered in the period of isolationism. There should be an element of deserving involved; “nothin’ in, nothin’ out”.

I no longer support an isolationist posture, it just isn’t possible or practical. I do believe that all social services need overhauls, no blanket statement is functionally practical or possible.

(6) Welfare – Checks will be handed out on Fridays at the end of the 40 hour school week and the successful completion of urinalysis and a passing grade.

Though not literally as stated, this is a big one. Education and job training are elements that should be required for participation in welfare. Clean and Sober initiatives should also be required, treatment if necessary. Citizenship should absolutely be mandatory. I do not have a problem with social services per se’. I do have problems with welfare breeders and people who play the system because they know they can, and it’s easier than working.

My comments here could have been more succinct, if able, recipients should be required to do something to move themselves off the dole and not penalized as they move in that direction. Addiction treatment must be made available to everyone. Citizenship should be mandatory for social services. I understand that this last one is controversial.

(7) Professional Athletes –Steroids – The FIRST time you check positive you’re banned for life.

This is a private sector matter and does not belong in political discussion.

I stand by this statement.

(8) Crime – We will adopt the Turkish method, the first time you steal, you lose your right hand. There is no more life sentences. If convicted, you will be put to death by the same method you chose for your victim; gun, knife, strangulation, etc.

OK, just nonsense. Yes, there are justice system needs. Those should be longer term evaluations and changes. Most of what I am talking about are one or two term initiatives.

The justice system needs a complete overhaul. To begin with, everyone who has been arrested and convicted only for being high on pot needs to be released and their records expunged. If they were high on pot and did something else, the pot charge should be dropped, time served credited, and the charge expunged.

Laws that can be traced to Jim Crow like intentions must be removed, those in jail for them must be released, their records expunged, and restitution paid for time served. And these actions must be retroactive for those who have served time and released.

(9) One export will be allowed; Wheat, The world needs to eat. A bushel of wheat will be the exact price of a barrel of oil.

Hadn’t thought of this one myself. I like it.

Ludicrous.

(10) All foreign aid using American taxpayer money will immediately cease, and the saved money will pay off the national debt and ultimately lower taxes. When disasters occur around the world, we’ll ask the American people if they want to donate to a disaster fund, and each citizen can make the decision whether it’s a worthy cause.

This goes hand-in-hand with number 2. I do like the added element of options as to what I want my tax dollars to go toward.

This would result in a chain reaction that would financially ruin the country. If China alone did this to us, the country would be bankrupted.

(11) The Pledge of Allegiance will be said every day at school and every day in Congress.

(12) The National Anthem will be played at all appropriate ceremonies, sporting events, outings, etc.

Both 11 and 12 are elements of nationalism. In general practice I agree with. (I will leave out the God issue for now)

I don’t have a problem with the pledge or anthem on any level myself. Forcing or penalizing others to recite them however, only serves to denigrate the spirit of the pledge and anthem. We must be free to participate, or not, for them their intent and spirit to be truly embraced.

This has been an interesting exercise. I recognize that some of my ideas in the past were wrong. My understanding and statements regarding things like Black Lives Matter were borne of ignorance of the reality of being black in America.

I have always believed that we must continue to educate ourselves to grow as people. The events of 2020 have brought the lack of understanding in many areas to the forefront for me and others. I can only hope my comments and there updates are understood in the spirit they were intended.

~FBJ