DOGMATIC DIVIDE (PART TWO) - ELECTIONS

Pretty much everyone has a favorite explanation for why Trump won despite all the negatives he created in the campaign. Each might be part of the whole that put him over the 270 mark but not carry the popular vote. It's things like this and long naps that keep me up all night. Would taking away just one factor have been enough to change the results? Given the Pigpen like dust cloud that surrounds Trump wherever he goes, there is an escalated blame game and a come hell or high water entrenchment along with everything else that's not very helpful. What's right, fair and moral has been lost to the winner and loser conflicts where politicians say and do almost anything to keep or gain power.


The most interesting question to me is how we got to the point where two distinct and uncompromising doctrines have created political stagnation and essentially eliminated the middle ground. You can start with what has supposedly been the historical difference between the two parties with one representing liberals and one representing conservatives. But is it just a matter of where you stand on the issues? Or is there an underlying reality that creates such a stringent distance and demonization? Some have suggested that it comes down to a belief in original sin or a belief in original innocence. Looking at Washington today, I'd have to go with original sin AND original innocence ...AND original blessing. CMA - Covering My Ass 

It was enough to have cable channels compete for the pretense of fair and balanced news. But now with the use of fake news, it's often difficult to know what the truth might be. But typically, if it fits your view, you are more likely to believe it. The problem is when it's proven fake, some continue treat it as evidence. Similarly, one side will say the sky is falling and the other will say it's no big deal ...happens all the time. Amazingly, some these shaky differences have the power to separate people according to current political beliefs and allegiances. The rhetoric is more important than the conversation. No more is it matter of tolerating Uncle Buford's rants at Thanksgiving. Communities are split when before they could always resolve their differences.

The Tea Party was a response to Obama being elected but he completed two terms before Trump was elected. Along with other concerns, I believe a part just wanted a white guy but they got an orange one. Didn't they know that orange was the new black? Sorry, I just thought that was always funny. More likely there was a lot of desperation in this country mainly caused by a do nothing congress. Trump seemed to be the one to shake things up and deal with everything that kept America from being great. There was no more patience to be had for the flaccid status quo. I don't have to list the real and potential problems of the Trump administration. As a famous church lady used to say, "Well, it's different." So far, many still believe there will be a payoff. But even his staunchest supporters might not be so committed once the results of his policies are fully seen. 

But now I hear that the Democrats need to have someone like Trump in order to win the presidency again. That would be a fun election. It would totally take up all the news time. Real news might be lost forever. ...But what a show! 

THE DOGMATIC DIVIDE (PART ONE)

It wasn't necessarily President Bush's policies after 911 that let me enjoy all the jokes that became more pervasive by the end of his second term. For me, it was his inappropriate laughing and smiling while addressing the nation or answering questions from the press. I could never understand why they didn't get him a coach so his facial expressions lined up with what he was talking about. The anti/pro-Bush rhetoric became the anti/pro-Obama rhetoric. A change that Fox News must have found quite refreshing. Who wants to be on the defensive when you have so little to work with? But now, with Trump, management change, and anchor moves, they can play it both ways or in their own way. It still gives me pause to see two former FOX anchors on MSNBC. Especially since such congenial changes are contrary to the ever hardening, dogmatic divide that is occurring in contemporary politics.

Absolutely right is difficult to achieve in a democracy. Therefore your rightness has to be enforced by power and money. It's the ultimate "Nanner, Nanner, Nanner" because it's a "there's nothing you can do about it" kind of goal. Even close relationships are starting to be divided by "It's my way or the highway." The  protests against offensive conservative speakers on campuses are nothing new. Protesting an offensive liberal speaker, now that would be new! Somewhere along the line, the meaning of free speech has been lost and safe zones have been expanded to entire cities like Boulder, CO. I'd hate to think the only reason it's a nuclear free zone is that no one wants to waste a bomb.

One might ask where to hell do we get off voicing dogmatic beliefs when for some of them the only basis is what we've been told by someone who is like us. Believe it or not, I first heard this labeled by the Christian Education Director in a large Baptist church as Mutual Masturbation. Of course, he was talking about liberal MM and not conservative MM. My thought at the time was that either might be quite pleasant. Then I realized it was about people who thought the same and enforced each other. Therefore, the only thing they accomplished was assuring each other's rightness. ...In a very satisfying way of course.

I'm not sure if it's easy or if it's hard to totally take on a label, a party, a theology, a philosophy, a morality, a nation and/or an ideology in such a way that it automatically negates the rights and beliefs of those who disagree with you. But by the looks of it, for some it's rather easy. For other's it seems more like a Kirkegaardian leap of faith where so much is based on fact and reason, from their point of view, so you make the leap to where you believe that all of it must be true. Or you believe a part of it that you really like is true even though the rest is questionable at best. But you identify with it to some degree in order to get that which is most precious to you. (Excuse me for a moment while I shake off channeling Lord of the Rings.)

On one hand, Trump is the saviour (KJV) of the world or at least of baseball, apple pie and Chevrolet. On the other hand, he is the new Furor or Fewer - a joke that my wife had to explain to me. Perhaps these depictions are more on the extreme edge, but there are a real differences in how people think this nation should be govern. One part protests what Trump does and will resist in whatever way they can. The other part is pleased, if not ecstatic, about everything he has done so far. 

This much distance between the two factions is SIMPLY AMAZING (thank you Bones). But it's almost like if you're not in the game if you're not a part of one side or the other. Belonging has the privilege of believing you're mostly or totally right and the opposition is mostly or totally wrong on the issues that face our country. For example, some don't believe there's such a thing as climate change while others believe climate change is the most important issue of our day. My feeling is that they are both in the same line when it comes to real solutions noting that solutions may not be perfect but rather, the best we can do

An obvious preliminary observation is that the present THE DOGMATIC DIVIDE has deterred progress and has every potential of returning us to former times and former evils. To move beyond this present morass, I believe we need to eliminate the fear of change and the acceptability of unfairness. ...But the complexity of such might be why our present opportunistic leaders get away with so much. 

BONUS QUOTE

A CLUSTER OF KERFUFFLES

Well, Well, Well. Isn't this quite a cluster of kerfuffles. If God's faithful followers elected Trump president, they didn't do a very good job of it by giving Hillary the popular vote win. Preciseness People! So now, we are an even more deeply divided nation that for the most part sees power and position as the only way to govern the other 50% of voters who will be looking forward to the next election. Essentially, nothing has changed. Sure, Trump could bring us to the end of the world, but that is bound to happen sooner or later anyway. Until then, maybe a swamp is meant to be a swamp. Given the history of the presidency and congress, this easily could be the case. But even swamps can become too toxic.

My first thought is another four years of gotcha graphics (from the satirical to the idiotic to the threatening, abundant fodder for comedians, blatant lies and barely sufferable talking heads. (I'm talking about you Morning Joseph.) But some say that THIS four years will be so far beyond the norm that by the next election there might not be much that we recognize. I, perhaps foolishly, believe there will be a lot of opposition to wholesale change. Just call me Pollyanna. If so, it will be more like Washington being in a mess for another four years without getting anything done. Meanwhile, issues like immigration, the Middle East, and the economy will continue to fester and bleed.

A second thought is that the idea of having NONE OF THE ABOVE on the ballot is a damn good idea. If it got the most votes there would have to be a whole new slate of candidates. This way you could really make your vote count. Of course, a third party that represented the middle instead of Wall Street Corporations would be nice. The extremes are getting rather ridiculous. One wants to throw the baby out with the bath water and the other wants to fix everything that the baby cries about. (Term limits would be another good idea.)

A third thought is more of a question. Who told the underlying racists they could now freely express themselves in polite company? I believe hate speech is protected speech as is most other kinds a long as it's not destructive or assaultive. Many would disagree with that. I remember Phil Donahue (Google if you don't know that he is Marlo Thomas's husband)) saying once that he would rather know who these people were than be fooled by false rhetoric. No doubt, the PC world has made for a lot of secretive racists who reframed their opinions in code words. It's rather obvious that their newfound freedom lacks the "time and place for everything" idiom. Those who need safe zones so not to hear an offensive opinion might consider how offended others might be by their being so easily offended.

A fourth thought is that as much as some actions are needed, don't assume the promise of change is more important than the personal agenda of an opportunist who claims they have a mandate to rule even though they lost the popular vote. But winning the Electoral College is all that it takes to be legitimately elected. Like it or not, that's the way the system works. There should be no dramatics or violence but threats are inevitable. They seem to be a part of the American way. But so are protests and resistance. It will likely be a very bumpy ride for the winning voters as well as the losers. But I'm quite sure we're ALL way too used to that by now.

BONUS GG

A PRE-MATURE DEBATE

It seems as if the presidential election is coming to a pre-mature climax because I don't think it can maintain its peak for two plus more weeks. That would take a lot of control. Tonight's debate might release an explosion of unfulfilled desire to be the champion of the world as neither candidate has taken any measures that would assure a safe and protected debate. Both are longing for the same ecstatic triumph  ...but in their own way.

 One candidate seems to have the more direct or even aggressive approach of just reaching out and grabbing what he wants. This candidate says he's had a lot of success doing things this way so he doesn't plan to change. And so far, everything has been great, perhaps the best ever in the ongoing fantasy that takes place in an illusionary world. 

The other candidate, who is all too familiar with the grabbing approach, seems to find some comfort in the calculated touch method that gives a slow but steady arousal of interest. This candidate says that everyone should feel equally good, not just the few who are completely satisfied and fulfilled with the way things have always been.

Tonight, each will be trying to seduce the last of independents and undecided's as well as promising a happy ending to the disenfranchised in their own party. Those who already know their way is right will be giving strokes to others who are so convinced. Others will likely watch for the peepshow aspect of the debate hoping for at least some moving around, grunts and sniffs, well placed intrusions, and displays of raw, naked emotion.

Perhaps tonight's moderator can keep the intense rivalry in tack. But I doubt it. Previously, the candidates feverously turned from answering questions to voicing well-rehearsed ripostes and cock blocks. There's probably not enough water available for the moderator to dampen the heated trajectories of insults. So one can see the debate might end with rhetoric being spilt out all over the floor. ...And quite honestly, I'm not sure whose responsibility it is to clean it up.   

DON'T TAKE ALL THE FUN OUT OF SLOWLY DYING

It's been several years since I received a fatal diagnosis. I'm not only still here; I'm feeling a little better. That often happens before your demise, but maybe this a good day that turned into a good week and who knows might turn into a good month. I'd love to think that some improvement now only means there may not be any end to my process of slowly dying. That might be unexpected. But when you're having this much fun, you just don't want it to end. At this stage, I'm semi-incontinent. This provides quite a bit of fun in itself. But gratefully, there is more. 

1.  Nodding off at the computer is unpredictable. I might wake back up in ten minutes or it might be an hour later. The dreams are vividly weird. But the best is when in your bouts of narcolepsy you unknowingly hit the delete key and then get something else to do in having to restore your work. It can truly fill in the day as long as you don't nod off again.

2.  Another nice thing about the narcolepsy is that I can't drive myself for any distant travel. So, when I go Denver, I always have company. The only downside is when the company insists that I stay awake and talk to her. She'll talk about most anything except her sex life. That remains a mystery. 

3.  Being on oxygen is a blessing. It is a continual reminder of my limitation and dependence on God, especially when the hose gets caught under a chair leg, some other piece of furniture or the refrigerator. These moments allow me to ventilate my momentary rage, which I find to be very healthy. And as a bonus, carrying an O2 tank in public invites a lot of judgment and consideration. 

4.  I've learned by now that when I go all day having trouble catching my breath that I can instantly be relieved if I see that I hadn't been getting any oxygen because I hadn't switched over from the line that goes to the C-PAP machine. Also, I do believe that oxygen hoses were designed to kink on their own freewill. If not, there must be some magic involved.

5.  I don't mind not having the ability to stand very long or walk very far. I hadn't planned on doing that much standing and walking in the first place. I have to use the wheel chair to get into the doctor's office. I used to wheel myself, but now I need help. You wouldn't believe how special this bonding time is for my wife, even after all these years. But I could do without the passive-aggressive way she runs my feet into the elevator doors.

6.  I used to do a little food shopping on my own at the small store that is only 4 miles away. But now, I get all my groceries from the WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT THIS TIME? shopping service. Generally, this is really quite wonderful. Except I get a lot of unnecessary input like: That isn't on your diet, I brought you that last time, You just don't realize how much you eat, and If you want it, order it online.

7.  Taking insulin is a privilege when I remember to do a BS test. Otherwise, it's like casting fate to the wind or Diabetes Roulette. But this is another thing that I keep winning at. I'm on a hot streak! If I can keep it up, I'm sure there's a really nice prize that awaits me. Until then, the occasional peanut butter sandwich will have to do. 

8.  Being asked how I am feeling never gets old, even when I sense that I'm only being seen as the sick guy who hasn't died yet. All questions seem to be couched in the context of, "Surely, it can't be too much longer." I like to reply that I'm still in the same old medical misery for which I get, "Tell me again... What's wrong with you?" Here my heart is gladdened with knowing they haven't been weighed down with the basic information about my suffering. Besides, you have to walk that lonesome valley by yourself. I forget who said that.

9.  Oh Yes! ...Forgetting. Forgetting is perhaps what I do best. This just might be from getting older as a few of my other problems could. It's hard to place where the dying part comes in. Some days, life is a bit blurry. But I also have really good days. I try to tell myself not to overdue, but I usually do anyway. Some might speculate that I obviously do all of my writing on my blurry days. Which is partly true. On those days, I only write about politics and religion.   

10. The last and most precious part of slowly dying is the pain. Having been at various levels of pain since 1985, one might I think I was used to it. I've heard of those who were graceful even though they had so much pain. Some were even grateful for the pain. Well, call me a slow learner but after all of this time, I'm still waiting on the grace part. ...But somehow I push through to where I can do enough to make it look like I'm living, as graceless as that may be. You are probably asking where the fun part is then. It's in taking enough narcotics to be relieved but not so many as to become a real asshole. ...I usually error on the asshole side.

Even with the limitation, difficulty, diet, pain, embarrassment, misrepresentation, judgment, and isolation, slowly dying can be even more fun when I remember the words sung by Louis Armstrong.

  https://youtu.be/2nGKqH26xlg 

                    

ELECTION BLUES AND BOO'S

I’m still holding out for Gov. Walker to be the Republican candidate for president. How you say? Well, Trump drops out and the Koch brothers give unlimited support for Walker if only to get the undercard elected. It could happen!  But if it's doesn’t, I’ll probably vote for a third party candidate even if it hands Trump the election. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t think my vote alone can actually do that. But there’s a ways to go yet and who knows what the mood of the electorate will be or who will be actually running?

I predicted that both Trump and Clinton would be in jail by Election Day. Although there certainly are other scenarios where voting for either of them would be a bad idea. If either wins, I’m trusting the system to keep them from doing too much damage which means I have a lot of faith or I’m terribly naïve’. But I’ve also said if either wins that I would hideout in an old farmhouse on the barren plains of Colorado. I'm totally committed.

To me Trump has a lot of interesting takes on how the world works but most of all, he reminds me of the kind of white guy who walks around two feet above everyone else, who thinks he is knows what’s right about everything and has distain for anyone who questions or criticizes his superiority, opinions, knowledge, or sexual prowess. It is no wonder that white males are voting for him. He is their god. However, it is still tempting to vote for Trump for no reason other than the entertainment value.

Hillary, on the other hand, feels like an old shoe to me. The familiarity is as if she can be conformed to everyone’s foot. I admit that I’m comfortable with her business as usual stance. Despite any overtures to the Burning Bernie’s, I suspect she’ll compromise her way through Washington with only a few nominal changes. But I really do believe she’d blow the shit out of our enemies if only to show that she has bigger cojones than any woman who has held the office.

Bernie? Well Bernie said a lot of good things, but I don’t think America will ever be developed enough to be a Social Democracy. because for most of us that would take personal ethics, some actual trust, grudgeless sharing and a change of values. But he really tried make us believe we could do it. At first, it looked like real change breaking forth. But then Bernie took the popular route of resorting to campaigning on what wasn’t true about Hillary’s qualifications only to reverse it later. How be it, somewhat reluctantly. I would love to see the hard core Bernie supporters and the hardcore Trump supporters form a valid and accountable third party. Their conventions would be measured by the amount of blood that was shed.

In the end, the next First Lady probably comes down to who wore it best, or perhaps didn’t wear anything best. Of course, there is more to consider. I would have give Bill a handicap of two interns and a nervous secretary to be named. Even if you see them both as good possibilities, I think Melania gets the nod because it’s very possible that Bill will lose his voice altogether. And what designer is going to make dresses for a First Lady who can’t talk about them. Personally, I think I know about all there is to know about Melania to be happy with her as my First Lady. I just hope she can get used to slumming it in the White House.

Regardless of how it all plays out, I’m sure the Republican Party will be in ICU for quite a while. The closest they’ll get to the White House is the Easter Hunt, if even then. Their only hope is Ronald Regan and most of us know where he is. All the misrepresenting of him will not get the majority of Americans to support some of their current values no matter how much they kick Trump to the curb. But Democrats shouldn’t get too confident. There is a limit to how much the government runs our lives by incessant rules and conditional handouts.

Both parties spend on the ridiculousness of their pet projects and what is owed to their contributors. Perhaps a third party could put limits on both. When push comes to shove, most americans like a balance and fairness that gets something done, not a government that glorifies entrenchment and thinks the national debt will just somehow be magically paid off. Dreamers, schemers and in-betweeners, that’s what I learned in school today. That’s what I learned. …..What did you learn in school today?

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION

After the signature APM music, one hears what is called "Tishomingo Blues" with the following lyrics: 

I hear that old piano from down the Avenue

I smell the pine trees, I look around for you

Oh, my sweet, sweet, sweet old someone coming through the door

It's Saturday and the band is playing

Honey, could we ask for more 

It's funny to think about how long I've been listening to A Prairie Home Companion with my wife and how it was a program that the whole family looked forward to on Saturday night. For a while, APHC was the touchstone of our week. It gave a needed lift and a connection to something that was missing in the rest of the week. But when I saw that Garrison was retiring once again, I got a feeling that this time he truly would. And that was more okay with me than you might think.   It's not that I don't listen to the show every week but more about when. Usually, around Tuesday, sometime during the day. It's not a mandatory Saturday night ritual anymore. Some is due to how I have changed, some due to how the program has changed, and the rest due to NASCAR racing.

I would describe the transition of the show over the years, fairly or unfairly, as going from down home to pop. For me it was like when The Walton's started having all the same modern day problems as was seen in the popular culture. It's hard to keep Johnny down on the farm once he's seen the bright lights of the big city. Johnny here would be Garrison. If you followed the show at all, you are familiar with the theme. I suspect it was one that was held by many of the listeners as well. There was certainly a connection with those who remembered or still were seeking simpler times. Perhaps a respite from the drone of stressful demands.

There have been many great sponsor and advertising bits over the years and even some great moments in the not so funny and/or clever bits. From Martha's Kitty Boutique to Ralph's Pretty Good Grocery, from Powder Milk Biscuits to Ketchup, from English majors to Rhubarb, they were all tongue-in-cheek realities of everyday life. The things you want to laugh about. The various skits that came to be rather plentiful too often struggled to find their way. Often over laden with sound effects and predictability, they left you with a who's fooling whom feeling. Similarly, some of the songs that Garrison made up seemed more like filler than a tribute to the city they were visiting. You can't be on the air as long as the show has without a few misses but toward the end, they seemed to be more repetitive. Perhaps Garrison stayed at the well too long. But not so long as to take anything away from his success and place in American life.

Despite having been raised in Christian fundamentalism, Garrison had a gentle approach to religion. He made the most fun of Lutherans but could accurately poke at all other forms of Christianity. Overall, the place of weekly church attendance came through as the unquestioned duty of anyone who hoped to get God's notice in the hereafter. Another theme was the inescapable fact of family interaction whether you wanted it or not. The phone calls from Mom skit best bore this out with Garrison usually doing what his mother wanted him to do in the first place. The brief exchanges with his father were always sublime. And of course, the theme of community came mainly across in the weekly News from Lake Wobegon. The believable town where the last thing you would want to do is embarrass yourself, but somehow did it anyway.

The News had a running cast of characters that Garrison fleshed out over time to the extent you could compare them to those in your own life. Even if you never were to a hot dish supper, you would swear that you had. And for those who had, you recalled memories of inventive as well as traditional casseroles served with ham and red-eyed gravy in a grange hall where all the adults were getting along better than usual. In the News and elsewhere, Garrison made note of the weather, followed the seasons, marked the holidays, read poetry, commented on politics, told jokes, provided some musical history and occasionally reported on his love life both past and present. In some ways, APHC was Mr. Roger's Neighborhood for adults.

The demise of radio didn't come as was once predicted. I think mainly because the TV reception in cars was pretty bad for so many years. ...I suppose there could have been other reasons as well. But Garrison brought a "the way things used to be" kind of program with a spectrum of musical quests and witticisms that entertained all that had the time to drift away for a couple of hours. Soon to be over and fondly remembered, A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor will be one of the best things that ever happened to NPR.