Hi, I live in Central Oregon. Often, in my life travels, I have felt like I straddle two worlds. This was true when I was an immigrant in Chile, and then again when I was an immigrant in Spain. And finally now in my own country where I was born, I again feel like I am living between two worlds. I expect many of my posts will be an exploration or reflections about the changing worlds we live in.
If you grew up in the 70s and 80s like I did, you might remember a television ad promoting regular changes of Fram oil filters. Their campaign argument was that you can replace the $4 dollar oil filters regularly, ….. or face a major engine overhaul costing hundreds of dollars. You choose. Pay me now, or pay me later!
USAID and Foreign Aid
USAID, or the United States Agency for International Development, is the government agency that handles foreign aid and development. President Kennedy established USAID in 1961, and since then it’s been working in over 100 countries to support economic growth, healthcare, education, democracy, and disaster relief. In FY 2023, USAID administered more than 40 billion dollars in programs designed to build stronger communities and align with U.S. foreign policy goals. USAID has missions in many of the US Embassies and carries out projects across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Now, Trump will eliminate USAID and cut 10,000 workers, leaving 300 souls that will join the US State Department to manage US aid collaboration with other countries (I guess that is what the 300 people will do?).
Will the elimination of USAID improve the security of the United States? What is your opinion? After we ditch our former partners, are they going to stand by wringing their hands and khashing their teeth? Or after we leave, … will China or Russia step in to fill the empty void created by Trump?
Bombs or Butter?
Nation States such as the United States, China, or Russia each have global and national security and economic interests. Each country develops their own economic and military alliances to ensure security and prosperity. And there are two ways that the countries can influence other nation states.
Bombs: By using military threats and dropping bombs on other countries to make them collaborate in a way that is beneficial to the security of the United States. Or
Butter: By providing development assistance to improve agriculture, health care, education etc in each country, fomenting long term, mutually beneficial alliances.
Which strategy costs more? Let me see? The budget for USAID in 2023 was 40 billion while military expenditures in the US rose to approximately $900 billion (statista.com).
Which strategy offers better long term results for the money spent? Is it better to buy more bombs and bullets and encourage collaboration by destroying other people’s home and community if they don’t cooperate? Or is it better to invest in other countries economy and health care, along with fostering better education for children?
Of course it is a combination of both,….normally.
USAID is the oil filter. And Trump and the military establishment don’t have time for changing oil filters. They will climb in their clown car completely full of fools, and push the pedal to the metal, until the engine rods start knocking and a full engine overhaul is required (ie military intervention and/or dropped bombs and rockets). Maybe Trump will start with Canada – his enemy to the north?
As a result of Trump’s many inept and blundering executive orders, I believe the US economy will fall behind China in the next decade. Already the BRIC countries, which represent 40% of the world’s population, are forming into an important economic and political alliance. Our own NATO alliance represents approximately 12% of the world’s population. If we are not actively cultivating world wide partners, the United States will get their ass in a crack fairly quickly.
But Trump won’t care at that point (or any point really). He and other “world people” will be stretched out on folding chairs in the new Gaza Riviera, sipping martinis.
Anyone else have an opinion on Trump’s move to eliminate USAID?
During the 1970s gas prices were high and the stock market was in the doldrums. The oil companies were restricting supply and Iran had taken hostages and would not return them. Things were not going well and people in the United States were looking for change. Jimmy Carter was president and an his opponent was an actor from California, a two term Governor who was sometimes referred to as the “Gipper”. A young Ronald Reagan had played the Gipper in a popular 1940 movie called “Knute Rockne, All American”. The movie was about a football hero at Notre Dame who who died young, of a a strep infection in 1920. The moniker “gipper” stuck to Reagan during his time as President. Much of the US public fell head over heels for the Gipper, and believed Reagan could do no wrong. I think there are similarities between the Gipper and newly elected Trump.
Reagan and his team brought new policies to the Presidency, and these policies have impacted the social and economic fabric of the United States over the decades. Consider some of his most important policy changes and the impact they have had on our society and economy.
Reaganomics and the Laffer Curve: Reagan and his team implemented a new economic policy – “supply-side economics”. The Gipper argued that rich people and large corporations were taxed too heavily, and that by lowering the tax rate more revenue would be collected from the wealthy because they would invest more – leading to more business, more jobs and economic growth. Lower individual and corporate tax rates, coupled with deregulation and reduced government spending were rolled into the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 which aimed to stimulate economic growth.
The Laffer Curve (below, …you can’t make this shit up) was popularized during Reagan’s administration, suggesting that after a point, the more you tax the wealthy, the less revenue is collected. The Laffer Curve and supply side economics has been debunked through the decades, but the policy is still being implemented by the GOP at the State levels and now again, by Trump and his new administration.
Critics argue and data proves that supply side economics disproportionately benefits the wealthy and contributes to income inequality. We all know this. Evidence is overwhelming, and yet Trump is going to again cut taxes for the wealthy and corporations.
Consider for example, the growth in the number of millionaires and billionaires in the United States from mid 1970s to 2024, and the disappearing middle class.
Millionaires: There were approximately 180,000 individuals in the U.S. with a net worth of $1 million or more in the mid 1970s. Now there are 22 million, accounting for about 6.6% of the population.
Billionaires: In 1982 there were only 13 billionaires in the country. Now there are approximately 748. (Data from Fortune and Statista)
Disappearing Middle Class: The middle class is shrinking in the United States, due to the widening gap between the wealthy and the rest of the population. In the 1970s, the middle class—defined as households earning two-thirds to double the national median income—represented approximately 61% of the population. By the 2020s, the middle class had contracted to about 50%, according to Pew Research Center. Now, roughly 4 out of every 10 Americans does not have any savings and would struggle to pay an unexpected bill of $600. Trump’s aim to lower tax rates for the wealthy and corporations is wrong headed and will lead to more inequality and unrest.
Into the Street with the Crazies!!
Another important policy that the Gipper implemented was to accelerate the closure of federal mental institutions pushing many mentally disturbed citizens into the street. Reagan’s 1981 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act shifted funding for mental health services from the federal government to states, significantly reducing budgets. This resulted in inadequate health care support for many mentally ill individuals, and coupled with declining affordable housing, and stagnant wages has lead to a large and increasing homeless population with many people suffering from mental health issues and no where to turn.
Reagan’s innovative new policies of the 1980s have lead to increased income inequality and more homeless people with mental health issues and no support. Two very important issues for the shrinking middle class of America.
And now here we are in 2025 with the call for change and the new GOP administration. What will be the impacts of Trump’s new policies?
1. Ukraine war? If Trump supports Putin, what will the world look like in 10 years? Will the United States be a leader in the world? Part of NATO or in an alliance with Russia and Saudi Arabia? How are relations with Canada, Mexico, South America and Europe?
2. Abandon or destroy US public health care? Trump has reversed drug price controls to begin with, has proposed cuts to Medicare and he wants to abandon the Affordable Care Act, suggesting that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can provide a lever for improved healthcare. What will our world look like in 10 years if Trump throws out the Affordable Care Act? AI will not cut it for the poor says I.
4. Removal undocumented workers?: Everyone understands the need to control a country’s borders and no one that I know of is against it. We all seem to be on the same page. During this past year, Trump and his team stopped a bi-partisan bill that would have solved many of the problems at the border. The GOP squashed the bill so they could run on the problems related to illegal immigration. Totally irresponsible of Trump and the GOP, but pretty much standard fare for the current GOP. There are certain industries in the States (construction and agriculture come to mind), where undocumented workers are necessary for the companies to produce. Trump doesn’t seem to understand that his new policy may harm the US economy in an important way. 10 years from now, the evidence will be in and what will it reveal?
3. Reduced taxes for the wealthy and large corporations? …..just so wrong for the moment we are in and the future of the country (see above). Just wrong and bad for America, exacerbating current problems that are deteriorating the fabric of our society.
5. Removal of the “Deep State”: Trump and his team are set on destroying what they call the deep state. Specific policies of Trump and his administration aim to get rid of merit based government employees and replacement them with Trumpers that will do the administrations bidding without thought of the impact and consequences of the actions. In 10 years we will clearly see the damage Trump has done to America.
6. Rule of people, … no longer a “rule of law”: Trump is a convicted felon. Indicted by a grand jury of his peers, and then convicted by a jury of his peers. The man is a convicted criminal and clearly lacks morals and ethics. Until 2025, everyone in the United States was subject to the rule of law. That is, that even if you were the President, if you perpetrated a crime, you were held responsible by the law. Now, it doesn’t matter what the laws say. Some people are held responsible, and others with the right political connections, are not held responsible. Wonder what could go wrong with this over the next 10 years?
7. Tariffs on our neighbors? Nobody is sure that Trump actually understands how tariffs work. I mean he is the President, so he should have someone on his staff that he trusts, that could explain how they work to him. But for sure we will have the opportunity to look at data in a couple of years and see the havoc that Trump will reap on the US economy with his ignorance and corruption.
8. Destroy public education? What is Trump up to with education? Will he and his delinquents destroy public education? And install religious doctrine in education? What could go wrong with this?
And other Trump policies affecting State budgets and responsibilities, wind, solar, the Paris Climate Accord, cancelled DEI, left wing, “unconstitutional censorship” by the federal government are among the policies that will have long term impact on US society and the economy. Trump will surely turn Reagan’s “shining city upon a hill” into a windblown wasteland of dilapidated buildings, with tumbleweeds rolling through deserted streets.
What is your opinion? Which of Trump’s policies will most harm the United States in the long run? Which policy will be the most positive for America? Opinions are welcome in the comments.
And so here we are on the cusp of Armageddon because of irresponsible journalism. This whole presenting the argument for both sides has been taken too far since Trump entered politics.
Of course journalists should strive to be balanced and fair. But if, from the get go, one side of the argument is rooted in falsehoods, then it should be called out! Not registered as “an alternative opinion” and given oxygen and the light of day in news columns in some sort of twisted logic. False equivalence occurs when lies are given equal weight as facts, eroding trust in journalism and confusing the public. This practice amplifies disinformation and frustration. Responsible journalism should prioritize accuracy over artificial balance, emphasizing verified information and exposing falsehoods. While diverse perspectives are vital, truth must remain the foundation of reporting to ensure audiences are informed, not misled, by the pursuit of fairness.
As a society, we have to be able to identify and share what is true, and what is false. If our institutions, courts, and businesses utilize falsehoods to make decisions and policy, then our social structure will break down. We all know what lies are and if crimes are resolved based on lies and misinformation, then there is no justice. And a society without a valid system of justice cannot stand long and remain healthy.
I think too many journalists are looking for clicks at any cost. And the quickest way to get clicks is interview some crazy son of a bitch with really twisted ideas and present it as “the argument for the other side”. Many second rate journalists are looking for a little recognition and a little jingle in their pockets and are willing to write anything that will garner a click. And this problem is getting worse, as more and more of the major political players in the United States have criminal records and are involved in some sort of public shake down or fraud. Many sub-par journalists are “influencers”, not reporters. And many Mom & Pops can’t differentiate between the two.
Below is a Media Bias Chart that you can find at the Harvard Library. Everyone is talking about bias as if it is alright. We need to understand our own biases of course, but even with bias, truth should be identifiable. Right? The BBC, CNN, Fox News and OAN all should be able to share facts. News organization do not generate facts. They report on them. Right?
One other trend I would like to point out involves God. Yeah. The big dude hovering in the air above the world?
Conservative groups are now invoking “God’s Will” into their arguments that don’t have facts or rely on convicted criminals as leaders. So, you have people that believe falsehoods, and believe it is God’s will at the same time. And the separation between their reality and US society is increasing and will lead to discouragement, disillusionment and anger when the “God’s Will”, house of cards crashes down among the lies and misinformation of the new administration.
Of course there are serious journalists, and a lot of good reporting is being done. Check out the current list of articles at the Atlantic for example. The writers there take their job seriously. And there are many others.
Have you ever found yourself scrolling through social media? And it seems like you won’t quit? Or maybe you can’t quit? Just scrolling and scrolling. Looking, waiting, watching? Some good stuff, some bad stuff, some funny stuff, some horrible things. Scrolling, scrolling,….scrolling.
Yeah. That was me after this past election period. I was a scroller and I hated myself. I hated Trump, I hated Russia and Putin, I hated the sexual deviant, GOP cabinet picks of Trump. I hated the world that Trump will rule. My world and my life were filled with hate. I felt programmed.
Google AI suggests that “social media is a collection of technologies that allow users to share information, ideas, and content through virtual communities and networks”. Supposedly social media helps friends and family stay connected and share experiences, ideas and dreams, etc. Which is a nice idea, ….if only partly true.
Consuming social media lead me to anxiety I am pretty sure. Anxiety? What the hey? Why would I have anxiety? I am a Montana country boy born and raised. Why the fuck would I have anxiety? I blame social media and foolish news cycles. I have had enough. I have to make changes. Social media is bad shit, and not healthy.
I was born in the 60s and grew up during the 70s and 80s. Good years when we read newspapers, books and magazines – because there was nothing else unless you went outside or watched the boob tube 24/7.
I remember getting my first personal computer in the late 80s. It was an IBM 286, that had to be ordered and pre-paid before it was assembled at the IBM factory and sent to the customer. I was a late blooming undergrad at the University of Montana. It was a big deal to have a personal computer at that time. The top of the line was an IBM 386, which basically had more ram and hard drive memory than an IBM 286, if I remember correctly. It was time of excitement. Computers were a new thing learning how to use DOS and 1.44 mb discs was cutting edge.
During the 1990s and on through the 2000s, personal computers capacity, capability and usefulness increased, as well as the user’s abilities to manage it. But for sure, each year between 1990 and 2010 saw more and more people with both a work and personal computer. Computers became an important personal item. Both for work and also for pleasure – sending emails, designing, writing, research, working on photos, etc. Computers were a part of the daily life in an important way, but were turned off at the end of the day.
Social media was always part of the computer landscape, whether in work or only through a personal computer. But again, at the end of the day, the computer was turned off. And people went out side and enjoyed life (or not).
Since 2010, improved hardware and faster wireless communication have bolstered the growth of the smartphone industry. As of 2014, over a billion smartphones are sold globally every year. In 2019 alone, 1.54 billion smartphone units were shipped worldwide.[2] As of 2020, 75.05 percent of the world population were smartphone users.[3]
Smart phones provided portability of social media,… and the ubiquitous presence of smart phones requires instant answers and continual connectivity. There is no longer structured downtime. We have to program ourselves to disconnect from the internet.
I am intent on finding the peace I use to live with. I have stopped using social media and I am disciplining myself to read books. I am finding my way back, little by little. Step by step. Poco a poco. No hay prisa (there is no hurry). Fuck social media. Yeah. Fuck social media. Finding my way back to normalcy. I hope. I believe.
And now, there are no fact checkers at FaceBook?
Hahahahahahaha Really funny shit. I will stay away.
How would you define deep state? When did you become aware of the deep state? What sort of activities is the deep state implementing? Who are members of the deep state? What part of the deep state impacts you? What do you think needs to be done about the deep state?
Any takers on this subject?
Here is how ChatGTP summarized the meaning of “deep state”.
“The term ‘deep state’ refers to a supposed covert network of influential members within a government, military, or intelligence agencies operating independently of elected officials and public accountability. Advocates of the concept believe this hidden bureaucracy wields power to influence or undermine policies, particularly those threatening its interests. It’s often associated with conspiracy theories suggesting resistance to political change. Critics argue the term oversimplifies complex institutional dynamics and serves as a political tool to delegitimize opponents.【9】【10】.”
The incoming administration suggests that the deep state is controlling the United States and the Trump administration will destroy it. So,….what steps will the new administration take to destroy the deep state?
1. Reform the Civil Service: Streamline the process for removing federal employees who are perceived as obstructive to policy implementation.
2. Expand the number of Political Executive Appointments: To ensure alignment with the administration’s agenda.
3. Decentralization: Reducing the scope and responsibility of federal agencies by delegating responsibilities to states or privatizing government services.
4. Investigations: Into alleged misconduct or bias within government entities to ferret out the bad actors.
Doesn’t sound so bad, … right? A little reform, a few more political appointments, investigations of bad actors, privatizing services and/or making Sates responsible for the budgets)? Not anything to crazy right?
WRONG “Deep State” is a red herring used to remove clear minded, independent, subject matter experts from decision making in the US government.
Let’s consider several of the fallacies or flawed assumptions of the GOP and Trump.
1. Oversimplification of Bureaucratic Dynamics
The deep state theory assumes that all government career officials are aligned against conservative policies, acting as a cohesive, secretive entity. In reality, bureaucratic resistance often stems from policy disagreements or procedural constraints, not conspiratorial motives. Government agencies function within complex systems of checks and balances that include legal and institutional frameworks.
2. Conflation of Accountability with Opposition
Alleging that investigations or criticism of political figures are orchestrated by the deep state conflates legitimate oversight with malicious intent. For example, Trump’s claims of deep state-driven investigations into his actions disregard the independence of law enforcement and judicial processes. These mechanisms are designed to maintain accountability rather than target individuals for political reasons.
3. Exaggeration of Government Influence
The theory suggests that unelected officials wield disproportionate power to override or subvert elected officials’ directives. However, government bureaucracies have limited authority to independently enact or block policy without input from legislative, judicial, or executive branches. This exaggerates the potential for systemic sabotage by career officials.
4. Lack of Evidence
Proponents of the deep state theory often fail to present concrete evidence of a coordinated conspiracy among government officials. Investigations into such claims, including those related to alleged election fraud or institutional interference, have consistently found no substantial support for the existence of a secret, unified agenda.
5. Politicization of Institutional Norms
The theory undermines trust in government institutions by framing routine operations—such as intelligence gathering, regulatory enforcement, or policy review—as partisan attacks. This erodes public confidence in democratic systems and portrays necessary checks on executive power as illegitimate interference.
Critics argue that the deep state narrative often serves as a political tool to rally support and delegitimize opponents, rather than a factual analysis of government operations.
My Opinion
I will give you a one sentence summary of what the Trump Administration considers deep state.
“Anyone that serves the United States and is an independent decision-maker or does not agree with Trump policies is considered a member of the deep state”.
For a several years, I worked as a contractor for the US government. And I worked with professionals from the Federal Aviation Administration and the US Customs and Border Security. What you figure out when working with government agencies, is that the people hired to fill position are experts in the subject matter. Politics was not involved in the work. Our objective was to improve aviation safety and border security. There were no Republicans or Democrats involved in conversations focused on airport/flight safety or border ports and security. I worked with professionals that formed opinions based on facts, historical data and problem solving. The new Administration is set on destroying this capability in the government and replacing professional subject matter experts with Stooges. This will lead to diminished trust in our institutions, and diminished capacity to solve technical problems.
Trump (a convicted felon that we all know to be corrupt and without morals), has put derelicts, sex offenders and drunks in charge of some of our most important institutions which will destabilize and lead to the destruction of our government and rule of law. Those that voted for the new administration, …. pay attention. You, …yes you. If you voted for the new administration, you are responsible for the death and destruction that will come. And you are responsible for making it right. Get to work.
200 word summary of Argentinian Federalism and lack of funding (from Chatgtp)
“Argentina’s federal system, established in the 1853 Constitution, grants substantial autonomy to its 23 provinces and the federal capital, Buenos Aires. However, this structure has often struggled with imbalanced fiscal dynamics. Revenue collection is highly centralized, with the national government controlling most tax income. Funds are redistributed to provinces through a system called “coparticipación federal,” but it has long been criticized for its lack of transparency and fairness.
This centralization creates financial dependence for many provinces, especially those with weaker economies, limiting their ability to implement local policies. Economic crises exacerbate these issues, as reduced national revenue means fewer funds for provinces. Additionally, political bargaining often skews fund distribution, favoring regions aligned with the ruling party. This fiscal imbalance undermines provincial autonomy, fuels regional inequalities, and hampers effective governance within Argentina’s federal system.”
IS THIS THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES?
(Chatgtp 200 word summary of Argentinian Federalism and lack of funding.)
“During the 1990s, Argentina’s federal government undertook a series of structural reforms, including decentralizing responsibilities to provincial governments. Under President Carlos Menem, the government sought to reduce its fiscal burden and improve efficiency by transferring responsibilities for key public services, such as education, health, and infrastructure, to provinces. While this decentralization aimed to bring services closer to local populations, it was not accompanied by sufficient fiscal resources to support these new responsibilities.
Provinces, many of which were already struggling financially, were expected to shoulder these costs without adequate funding. The federal government retained control over most tax revenues and redistributed them unevenly through the coparticipación federal system. Wealthier provinces like Buenos Aires fared better, while poorer regions faced severe funding shortfalls.
The situation worsened during the 2001 economic crisis. As the national government cut spending to address its debt crisis, it further reduced transfers to provinces. Many provincial governments, unable to meet their obligations, delayed salary payments, issued quasi-currencies to cover expenses, and struggled to maintain basic services. This fiscal strain exacerbated inequalities between regions and deepened political tensions, illustrating the challenges of decentralized governance without equitable resource distribution.”
Equitable resource distribution under the new administration?
In 1984, when I was 21 years old, I participated in a farm labor exchange program organized by the International Agricultural Exchange Association (IAEA). Our family had hosted two exchange students previously, one from England and one from Australia at our Montana ranch, and I became interested in the program. So the following year, I signed up for a six month exchange to New Zealand.
As “exchange students”, we paid for the airplane tickets and some other expenses, but we were provided with a work permit, a monthly wage and we were placed with a family on a working farm. There was some consternation about my placement though, because over the prior summer, I had shaved all the hair off of my head. So in my application photo, I was completely bald, which made many of the host families a little uneasy. At first, nobody was interested in hosting a young, bald man from North Central Montana. But,… eventually I was placed with a family operating a sheep and dairy farm near Ragland, – a coastal town known for surfing located a little south of Auckland.
The farm consisted of approximately 80 hectares (@ 200 acres) that stretched from the a flat, bottom bench area, then a widening as the property rose up steep draws. cresting at a high ridge behind the house. The paddocks (or fields) of the flat, bottom area were divided up by electric fences used to rotate the milk cows throughout the production season. The rest of the land going up to the ridge was fenced into larger paddocks utilized for sheep and steers. If I hiked up to the top of the ridge behind the house, I could see the ocean about a mile away, with the waves rolling in. The terrain was broken and steep, with several coulees running small spring trickles creating dangerous bogs in flat, open spots.
The 80 hectares supported 125 producing, milk cows, @ 2500 sheep as well as 50 yearling steers that were being grass fattened. Incredible production by a Montana country boy’s standards. At our ranch in Montana, we had 1000+ cow/calf pairs on 30,000 acres, with an additional 6000 acres in fallow rotation or irrigated crops. Very different operations and very different carrying capacities.
The use of dogs and motorcycles for handling the milk cows, sheep and steers, was fundamental. The terrain was all walkable or hike able, but with such steep gradients that moving animals like the sheep or steers was impossible unless you had a bunch of people working together. So, you needed to work with dogs, and you needed to move around on motorcycles.
After settling in the first day, I began to help out and the most important activity was the twice daily milking of the 125 dairy cows. After I proved that I could move cows and understood how a udder worked, I was made responsible for the daily milkings, which I loved.
As part of my “equipping”, I was taken to town to purchase a “swany” (heavy wool pullover coat) along with a pair of black rubber, gum-boots. Then I was given the use of a Honda XR-200R four stroke, mono-shock dirt bike. And I was introduced to Rowdy, who became “my” dog. I grew to love little Rowdy.
Rowdy was a pup. When I began working with Rowdy, he was probably approaching a year in age? He was a skinny little guy. A raw pup that until I arrived at the farm, had been tagging along with his mother during some of the daily chores. And as a tag-a-long, he was a third wheel many times, getting in the way and causing chaos more than helping. But, the little guy had thousands of years of programming in his head, and when he looked at livestock, his brain synapses crackled and popped. He knew the front end from the back end of every animal, and he understood how to make them move. All he needed was an opportunity and a little patience. Already, some commands like “GET-AWAY-BACK ROWDY” were in his bone marrow and he loved to line out to the back of the herd and go to work. Rowdy took every command to heart and did his best every single time. He was a little dog with a good attitude and together, Rowdy and I became an energetic if not polished team that got a lot of work done.
As with all dogs, an important part of the daily ritual was eating. And there on the New Zealand dairy and sheep farm, “dog tucker” (dog food) was never far away. In fact, more than 2000 “dog tuckers” grazed the slopes every day. On a regular basis, I would find Ray (the boss) with his knife out, cutting the throat of an old, spindly ewe. Saying, …”we are low on dog tucker so this old ewe is going into the freezer”. No fooling around about dog tucker.
And dog tucker was handled efficiently. A ewe would be killed, gutted, skinned, cut into chunks and stored in a freezer lickety-split, (maybe an hours work,…maybe?). And the entrails were put in what I understood to be the “awful” hole.
The “awful” hole was a bore hole about 2 feet across and 30 feet deep, drilled deep into a loamy embankment. Once the dog tucker was processed, the entrails were scraped and scooted into the awful hole, where they fell to the bottom, settling on the remains of other dog tuckers previously processed. A large wooden lid was pulled over the hole so nobody fell into the the awful hole.
My understanding was corrected one day when a man showed up with a drilling rig. Ray was somewhere else doing chores, so I met with the man to sort out what he was about. The man started talking about an “OOffal hole”. Where is the OOffal hole he was asking. I didn’t understand what he was looking for. Honestly, looking back I should have understood that his “OOffal” hole was my “AAwful” hole. But the nuance of a strong “O” pronunciation threw me off, and I was drawing a blank on where to put the new “offal” hole. He was saying “offal hole”, … “offal hole”, and finally, I said, “oh! You mean the “AAAawful hole”!
He looked at me, and I looked at him. And we started laughing. Offal or awful – they are pretty much the same thing. It was the pronunciation of the words that threw each of us off. And when we finally figured it out, we had a good laugh together.
And another offal hole was bored for further dog tucker processing.
I woke up early this Sunday morning, and did something I should not have done. I checked into the internet and read several news articles about the transition to the new administration. And then I went to church – filled with anxiety and fear for the future. It took me all of mass to decompress and accept again the results of the past election.
In conversations with one of my brothers, we arrived at the conclusion that this past election was a turning point and it revealed the character of the United States. More than half of the population supported a convicted felon for president. A man that we all know to be immoral, corrupt and willing to do anything to stay in power. And now he is filling his cabinet with low-lifes that have no other purpose than destroy our government as the mission of the new administration.
The thing is, is that 90% of the people I circulate with, probably voted for this “change” and I would hazard a guess that the Latinos in our Central Oregon community supported el terrorifico in mass. Which is ludicrous.
How did we get here?
I would say that most of us share a concern for the future of our children. Every parent wants their children to live in a society where safety, health, education, independence, self-sufficiency, and freedom are prioritized. So, how do we get to the point where more than half the population supports a criminal for President? A person that has told us he will restrict freedoms, pursue people he considers to be “enemies within”, and align with Russia and Saudi Arabia in international dealings?
We got here because of frustration, bad information, group think, inequality, consumption debt, lies and more lies. That is how we got here. And I think the big one is inequality.
Inequality is baked into our society, and it will become worse now before it gets better. Many people no longer believe the American Dream. That is that if you wake up early and work hard all day long, that you will get ahead and be successful and happy. Nobody buys that crap anymore. We all know that certain individuals in our society have more rights and freedoms than others and it has to do with wealth more than anything else. And the GOP has been a powerful motor for increasing inequality by providing tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations. Or tell me that isn’t so?
Social media plays a major role here also. Most people are not super interested in politics and only pay superficial attention to policy or the consequences involved with political decisions. And with a superficial interest, social media group think and defective information, more than half of our population has been mislead in important ways. We know that Fox Entertainment provides “entertainment” not news. The entertainers on Fox, do not provide a fair and balanced view as they suggest, but instead we now accept that Fox News will broadcast lies and mistruths if it serves their purpose or the purposes of the political party that they support (they are only offering “entertainment” as they call it). “Truth” has nothing to do with Fox News, and increasingly has nothing to do with the GOP party. And we have accepted this.
If half of the people in the US understand that they use faulty information for their decision-making, and at the same time accept it along with an immoral, corrupt, felon as their leader, then we are in a difficult place.
Think I am a little bias or off base here? Well,… maybe I am. But hear me out and consider what our hero Elon has been up to in the last couple of days. Does everyone remember Alex Jones of InfoWars – the guy that is famous for a continuous vomit of hate? Well, …after his Sandy Hook hate fest he was finally held responsible for his lies and deception, and long story short, his company (Free Speech Systems) was sold at auction. The winner of the auction and new owner (The Onion; a satirical website, along with several Sandy Hook families) plans to mothball the different social media sites, – basically taking the lies and hate offline.
Musk won’t stand for that. As the owner of “X”, he says that he owns the X accounts of Free Speech Systems, and that the X accounts cannot be taken down.
Elon Musck wants the lies and hate to be available for all! It is important to Elon that Alex’s lies and hate over the years, be preserved and made available in our information ecosphere.
“Elon Musk, hands down, is a hero,” Jones said on a recent episode of his Infowars show, praising the billionaire X owner for intervening in his case.
My last post leaving facebook was a mess. I want to be clear that I enjoy learning about activities, milestones and opinions of family and friends. But it was the other part of facebook, the “algorithm” that continual foists garbage content on members, demanding eyeball time, that drove me away. I will admit, that with the build up to the United States Presidential election, I spent a lot of time scrolling. Both in FB and YouTube, I learned to scroll, and scroll, and scroll….. and scroll (and time slips away). No more. I am done with that.
Catastrophic Flooding in Spain
I was in Spain during the recent United States (US) election. I learned of Trump’s victory via Spanish news television, but it was only a side note due to the catastrophic flooding along the Mediterranean where hundreds of people lost their lives, thousands their homes and many more their livelihood. In one particular area near the city of Valencia, more than 15 inches of rain fell in an hour (400 liters/sq meter)! Think about that a little bit – 15 inches in an hour!! And coming off a downhill slope with ravines leading to the Mediterranean Sea and shoreline communities!!? Serious flash floods tore apart communities and left devastation that will take years to fix and billions in investment. So, while the US election is important world wide, Spain was focused on the news and tragedies involved with the destruction of mountain and coastal communities near the cities of Valencia and Malaga.
Non-stop news coverage of catastrophic flooding in SpainI love this newscaster outfit!!
Smart Phones, Mental Health and Spain
People in Spain are more patient and tolerant of each other as compared to people here in the US (lately). In Spain, everyone is entitled to their opinion and in general, nobody bothers others about their politics. I should mention an important caveat – that “campaign periods” for elections are restricted to 15 days in Spain! So within two weeks, political candidates have to communicate their positions to the electorate via ads, posters, etc, and then a general vote is held. 15 days!! Not four years like here in the States. There are other differences also, but that is for another day.
And in Spain at least, they are taking steps to control or reduce the damage of social media and ad-personalized data feeds that lead to mental health issues, especially for children and young adults. First, as part of the European Union (EU), Spain requires cookies approval before personal data is handed to marketing companies. Arriving from the US and using a browser in Spain, you will be prompted at every site you visit to “accept all cookies” “reject all non-essential cookies” or “manage cookies”. I usually reject all non-essential cookies which only lasts while in the EU.
Second, Spain is advancing new policies aimed at protecting children online, including measures affecting smartphone use. Proposed initiatives include:
Parental controls by default: Soon, Smartphones sold in Spain will be required to have parental controls enabled automatically, allowing families to manage children’s access to potentially harmful content.
Raising Data Consent Age: The minimum age for children to give consent for the processing of personal data will be increased from 14 to 16 years.
Combatting Harmful Digital Content: Legislation will criminalize the sharing of pornographic content with minors and the creation of deepfake content involving children.
Digital Restraining Orders: New legal tools will ban certain individuals from contacting others online.
These policies are part of broader efforts to protect children from the mental health risks and other negative impacts associated with unrestricted smartphone and social media use. A public awareness campaign and training for educators and healthcare professionals are also planned to help address these issues proactively. The measures align with similar legislation in other EU countries, such as France and the UK. I will not hold my breath for something similar in the USA.
What does the future hold after the Election?
While in Spain, I finished reading an apocalyptical novel about the end times of a fictional empire, and I ran across a couple of thoughts about the importance of faith and trust that I want to share.
Faith: Having faith means that it doesn’t matter what happens, because you trust someone is watching and will make it alright.
Trust: Faith in another, giving them power over you, power to hurt you, but trusting they will do the right thing.
Honestly, I do not have faith in newly elected administration (Trump and his appointed cabinet). I don’t believe they have the best interests of our country at heart. Nor do I trust that in the end, they will do the right thing by the American people. I think we are headed down the highway to hell and it is a race between the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle our democracy, and the speed at which Republicans plugin and recognize the damage done, and then ally with democrats and independents to stop the destruction of our country.
It will be a close thing. But I hold the hope that there are many decent people who voted for Trump (for many different reasons) that will change their positions as things unravel, and join with democrats and independents to save our democracy. Maybe I am a dreamer. I hope not. But that’s my hope and I am sticking to it! It will take a coalition of all political parties to handle the future. So let’s start thinking on that.
Please pay attention people. Be tolerant of others and aware of what is happening at the State and National levels.
Note: I wrote on my last FB post, that I would not write about politics and I was serious. But now, I realize that won’t work for me. I tried to write an article about the floods in Spain, but I ran into politics. I thought about a couple of other topics, but I realized that I won’t be able to write about anything, unless I can express some opinions, and a lot of my opinions touch on politics, the economy, history and state of society in general. So I officially retract my promise to not write about politics – however I will do my best to be as balanced and agreeable as possible.
Hi, thanks for stopping by. Please if you are interesting in reading GringoCool blog posts, you can find them at: https://gringocool.com/blogs/news
For several years I was blogging on WordPress. I published articles about Spanish ceramics, Spanish olive oil, and also pieces about being a small business owner, Spain and traveling in Europe. The blog posts are now all at gringocool.com.
Over this past couple of months, I have been trying to sort out the GringoCool.com online store. I am working with a couple of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) experts in Canada. One of the first things they told me is that my internet footstep is too dispersed. They encouraged me to centralize my blogging efforts on the GringoCool blog, and not to replicate blog posts on different blog sites, which is what I had been doing. It seems the “spiders” of Google do not like to find the same thing published in two different spots – it lowers a websites confidence/pertinence ranking so to speak.
Just in case you are interested, here the titles and links to some of my most popular blog posts. Again thanks!
High Desert Explorations 