The truth is that a vast restructuring of our society is needed if remedies are to become available to the average person. Without that restructuring the good will that holds society together will be slowly dissipated… It is that sense of futility which permeates the present series of protests and dissents. Where there is a persistent sense of futility, there is violence; and that is where we are today. | |
— William O. Douglas | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | By Any Other Name (Or Description) |
2021 | Democracy, Pandemic, Economy And Climate Change |
Heaven Is… | |
2020 | Hoping For #46 In January 2021 |
2019 | Interesting, But Not Fascinating |
But Try To Eat The Low-Hanging First | |
2018 | Me, Too |
2017 | Apt Enough? |
2016 | Now Or Ever |
21, Pause, Restart | |
2015 | I Am Shocked, Sir, Shocked… |
Lucy & FSND-2 | |
2014 | Less Difficult |
2013 | The Spirit Of Liberty |
2012 | The Essential Freedom Of Aloneness |
2011 | A Problem Of Scale |
Fred Doesn’t Live Here Anymore | |
2010 | Another Book, Another Jog… |
Posts Tagged ‘American Politics’
Restructuring Persistent Futility
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Dissent, Futility, Philosophy, Protests, Quotes, Society, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, Violence on January 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »
No Implication Of Reasonableness
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged American Politics, Carl Sagan, Human Nature, Philosophy, Pseudo-Science, Quotes, Science and Learning, Scientists on December 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Very few scientists actually plunge into the murky waters of testing or challenging borderline or pseudo-scientific beliefs. The chance of finding out something really interesting — except about human nature — seems small, and the amount of time required seems large. I believe that scientists should spend more time in discussing these issues, but the fact that a given contention lacks vigorous scientific opposition in no way implies that scientists think it is reasonable. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Let Yourself Soar In 2022 |
Where You’re Concerned | |
2020 | The Most Dynamic Link |
Looking Forward To 2021 | |
2019 | A Proud Assertion |
2018 | Ask #45 About Anything |
2017 | Playing Makes Sense |
2016 | And Fathers, Sons |
2015 | My Suspect Confidence |
2014 | Disguised Blessings |
2013 | Be |
2012 | The Only Way to Win |
2011 | Honest Writing |
Civic Duty Completed – Awaiting Results
Posted in Politics, tagged 2022 - I Voted, 2022 Mid-Term Elections, American Politics on October 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I cast my vote via early drop-off earlier this week… (Here is my confirmation on the CA web site.) | |
Please complete your own civic responsibility and VOTE! (The democracy you save may be ours…) | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Two Eff’n Right |
Is There A Notion For That Motion? | |
2020 | The Premium Few |
No Sympathy Here | |
2019 | Is That Why Love Hurts? |
2018 | And Honest Politicians |
2017 | Maya, Maya |
2016 | Give Value |
2015 | Believe In Substitution |
2014 | Pragmatic Religion |
2013 | How’s Your View? |
2012 | Giants Win Game 3 Of The 2012 World Series 2 To 0!!! |
Still Haven’t… | |
Accidental Me | |
2011 | What Is Your Ratio? |
2010 | Giants Win Game 1 With 11 Runs Scored – Repeat 11 Runs!! |
Ask Your Friends To Vote In November
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged 2022 Mid-Term Elections, American Politics, Mahatma Gandhi, Philosophy, Quotes, The Future, The Present, Voting on October 13, 2022| 3 Comments »
The future depends on what we do in the present. | |
— Mahatma Gandhi | |
[Ask them TODAY!! We are less than 30 days from the mid-term elections. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | What Matters To Me |
With The Slamming Of The Door | |
2020 | Make Voting A Habit |
You Ought To Hear Him Tell His Stories | |
2019 | 2019 49ers Season Starts 5-0!! |
Will Any Republican Senator Vote For Impeachment? | |
2018 | VOTE – We Need A Wave |
2017 | Soothe, Inspire And Recharge |
2016 | Aren’t We? |
2015 | Cold Embrace |
2014 | Delightful |
2013 | Apprenticeship |
2012 | Curtain Rods |
2011 | A Living Force |
2010 | BART Rides – A Tipping Point |
How To Begin
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Art, Drawing, Government, Pablo Picasso, Philosophy, Quotes, Society, Voting on October 5, 2022| 1 Comment »
To know what you’re going to draw, you have to begin drawing. | |
— Pablo Picasso | |
[To get the kind of society you want, you have to begin by voting for the kind of government which will support and promote it. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Looking Up |
Shiny | |
2020 | #45: Or All-Consuming Greed |
You Could Have Told Me Yourself | |
2019 | Not Personal |
2018 | Preference For Irrationality |
2017 | All At Once |
2016 | One Of My Vices |
2015 | The War Lord |
2014 | Orange October (II) – Giants Win NLDS Game 2 In 18 Innings (2 to 1)!! |
Acknowledging Doubt | |
2013 | Fulfilled Acceptance |
2012 | Error Is Tolerated Here (So Far) |
2011 | In Defense Of Pain |
More Like 60 To 70 Years
Posted in Economics, History, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged 1%, 99%, American Politics, Economics, History, Money, Philosophy, Quotes, Taxes, Trickle Down, Warren Buffett on September 18, 2022| Leave a Comment »
The rich are always going to say that, you know, just give us more money and we’ll go out and spend more and then it will all trickle down to the rest of you. But that has not worked the last 10 years, and I hope the American public is catching on. | |
— Warren Buffett | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Hold That Thought |
Got Love? | |
2020 | Everyone I’ve Ever Met |
A Secret Chord | |
2019 | A Big “IF” |
2018 | Silence Presence |
2017 | Feeling Small Standing In Front Of My Shelves |
2016 | Show Willing |
2015 | If He Only Knew… |
2014 | Dared To Love |
2013 | Strong Kung-Fu |
2012 | Two Tribes |
2011 | Made Any Assumptions Lately? |
Why Today’s “NO” Republicans Can’t Govern
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Philosophy, Quotes, Republicans, Robert M. Pirsig, The Radical Left, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance on September 1, 2022| 1 Comment »
It’s an old split. Like the one between art and art history. One does it and the other talks about how it’s done and the talk about how it’s done never seems to match how one does it. | |
— Robert M. Pirsig | |
From: “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance“ | |
[If you aren’t willing to make “some” compromises, you are not able to govern in a democracy. We’ve known this since (at least) the Greek city states. This is why Republicans are better in opposition than they are when trying to run things. The same would be true for a “radical” left party, if the United States ever developed one. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Back To Paying Dues |
Keep Rollin’ | |
2020 | Diets And Lifestyle Changes |
Pay Attention | |
Just Not Sure, And That’s Okay | |
2019 | The Right Questions |
Day 3: Still Difficult | |
2018 | A Thought For Those Continuing To Support President Trump |
Day 36: Pushing On | |
2017 | Imagining Humor |
2016 | So Go On And Deal With It |
2015 | From A Letter To A Friend |
2014 | Your Part (Here) |
2013 | Complements |
2012 | Sound And Light |
2011 | Two Politicians Visit A Farm… |
2010 | Labor Day And Honorable Men |
The Penalty For Sedition / Insurrection / Civil War
Posted in Education, Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged #45 - The Loser, 18 U.S.C. § 2384, American Politics, Civil War, Conspiracy, Equal Justice Under Law, Former President Donald Trump, Insurrection, Law And Order, Mar-a-Lago, National Security, Sedition, Senator Lindsey Graham, The First Amendment, Treason on August 29, 2022| 3 Comments »
Over the last weekend, Senator Lyndsey Graham (R – South Carolina) was interviewed on TV and virtually assured that if former President Trump is indicted for taking classified government documents to Mar-a-Lago, there will be “riots in the streets”. | |
My response to Sen. Graham is: “Fine! Rioters will be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law…” | |
Under 18 U.S.C. § 2384, “seditious conspiracy” occurs when two or more persons: | |
conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof. | |
NO ONE is above the law – particularly when it comes to the defense of National Security. This especially includes former Presidents! | |
If there is sufficient evidence to indict / convict Donald Trump, then he should be indicted, arrested and brought to trial. If found guilty, Trump should serve time. If found not guilty, Trump should be released. He IS presumed to be NOT guilty until he has been found guilty by a jury of his peers. | |
If individuals (or groups) wish to meet PEACEFULLY to object to / protest the indictment, trial, or results, they have their First Amendment right to do so. They DO NOT have the right to riot or interfere with the process of the lawful administration of justice. | |
Anyone found guilty of rioting and / or conspiracy to riot should be placed on a domestic terrorist watch list for the remainder of their natural lives. They should be reminded that – in the “good, old days” – terrorism, sedition and insurrection were punished by death. | |
If we – as a nation – accept the threat of violence (“riots in the streets”) as a reason to not prosecute ANYONE who would otherwise be subject to prosecution / trial, then we are no longer a country ruled by law. | |
The general public needs to be reminded former President Trump was not the only person in his Administration who was aware of the unlawful removal and possession of government documents (not just the “classified” documents), and they should ALL be indicted and prosecuted. This is the only way to ensure this does not happen again – by an Administration from either political party. | |
“Equal Justice Under Law…“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | How Learning Infections Begin |
Stay Young At Heart | |
2020 | Policies Not People |
Just Thinking To Myself | |
2019 | Should I Start With My Religion? |
2018 | Fear And Hope |
Day 33: Good News & Prep | |
2017 | Directions |
2016 | Handle With Care |
2015 | Nothing But Pride |
2014 | Go |
2013 | Well, Does It? |
2012 | Near Misses Aren’t Successes |
2011 | Uncomfortable Feelings |
2010 | San Francisco (favorites)… |
Bullets or Butter? | |
For An Extended Period
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Army, General William Westmoreland, Philosophy, Quotes on April 17, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Your Army can accomplish for an extended period only those missions that are accepted by our citizenry for whom the Army exists to support. | |
— General William Westmoreland | |
[And the same is true for our representative form of government, too. It (WE) cannot do anything over an extended period of time without continuous support by the public. — KMAB] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Surrender With Hope |
A Little Grace | |
2020 | Two Midway |
Invisible Hands | |
2019 | Speaking Of #45 |
2018 | A Higher Loyalty |
RIP – Our Silver Lady | |
2017 | Slowly Cutting Their Own Throats |
2016 | Man’s Advantage Over God |
2015 | Deeply |
2014 | Hi-Yo Silver, Away! |
2013 | Warning: |
2012 | Thinking About Beauty |
2011 | A Founding Father’s Argument Against Public Funding Of Religious Education |
Weekend Update | |
So Far, So Good | |
Almost Never (These Days) In Politics
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Comparison, Judgment, Nature, On Political Change, Paradigm Change, Philosophy, Quotes, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Thomas S. Kuhn PhD on February 3, 2022| Leave a Comment »
The decision to reject one paradigm is always simultaneously the decision to accept another, and the judgment leading to that decision involves the comparison of both paradigms with nature and with each other. | |
— Thomas S. Kuhn, PhD. | |
From his book: “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | Almost Never (These Days) In Politics |
2021 | Senate: Defend The Constitution – Convict Trump |
Can The Senate Find Truth? | |
2020 | All Foam And All Dreams |
2019 | Why #IncompetentDonald May Be The Most Successful President Ever |
Latina Fish Story | |
2018 | Blocking The Light And Air |
2017 | It’s Even Dimmer When You Don’t Have It |
2016 | Inconvenienced By Degree |
2015 | Sincerity |
2014 | Prayers For Junior |
Senseless | |
2013 | Interesting Drink |
Super Bowl XLVII Declared A No Bird Zone | |
2012 | Smile |
2011 | Come Forward |
A Clear View Of #45
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged #45 - The Liar, Albert Camus, American Politics, Blinding, Falsehoods, Philosophy, Quotes, Truth, Twilight, Vision on February 2, 2022| 2 Comments »
Sometimes it is easier to see clearly into the liar than into the man who tells the truth. Truth, like light, blinds. Falsehood, on the contrary, is a beautiful twilight that enhances every object. | |
— Albert Camus | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | A Clear View Of #45 |
2021 | Not Here, Not Again |
Will The Senate Convict An Insurrectionist? | |
2020 | Senate Perfidy |
2019 | Contributing To Congress |
Yellow Signs Of Spring | |
2018 | But Take Heart |
Poetic Marker | |
2017 | The Few, The Many, The Most |
2016 | To My Brother |
2015 | For Junior |
A Roman Rome | |
2014 | Hmmm |
2013 | What’s A Motto With You? |
2012 | Worthy Companions |
2011 | Bourne Again |
Which Ten Are You In? | |
Someone Should Tell Senator Joe Manchin
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Arnold H. Glasow, Impossibility, Necessity, Philosophy, Progress, Quotes, Senator Joseph "Joe" Manchin on December 27, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Progress is what happens when impossibility yields to necessity. | |
— Arnold H. Glasow | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Someone Should Tell Senator Joe Manchin |
One Of The Things We Need | |
2020 | Boxing Day 2020 |
Fractal Branches | |
Advice For Sons, Too | |
2019 | Almost Soulful Pleasure |
2018 | Cursive In The News |
2017 | Coffee Crunch |
2016 | Preparation |
2015 | Scarcely Asked |
2014 | They Resemble Us |
2013 | Both |
2012 | That’s Success! |
2011 | Losing At Dominoes |
2010 | 1,001 |
It Still Isn’t
Posted in History, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Career Politicians, Elections, Founders, History, Incumbency, Philosophy, Polling, Quotes, Thought, Warren Buffett on November 13, 2021| Leave a Comment »
A public-opinion poll is no substitute for thought. | |
— Warren Buffett | |
[We are a republic because the “Founders” did NOT believe in the shared ignorance of the common man to run a government. They believed representatives could gain expertise, but would fundamentally vote their conscious for a common good. It is not at all clear the latter assumption remains true. It is increasingly difficult to vote out of office ANYONE who no longer represents the electorate, because of the massive amounts of monies required to conduct modern campaigns. Without the check of a suitable AND viable alternative replacing you at every election cycle, today’s politicians tend to vote in their interest and not in the interest of the electorate. This is both the power of and threat from office holder incumbency. | |
In fairness to the “Founders”, it is also highly unlikely they imagined modern medicine would extend the lives (and working careers) of an average politician into their 70’s and 80’s. The working assumption was political office would be a part-time thing or a crowning lifetime achievement, and not a life-long career. The expectation was that most would HAVE to go back to look after their families, their farms / land, or their businesses. This is obviously no longer the case – as long as you can retain the power of your elected office. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | It Still Isn’t |
Swinging And Shaking | |
2020 | One Is Not Plural |
On And On… | |
2019 | I Think I’ve Just Been Argoted |
2018 | Good-Bye AG Jeff Sessions |
2017 | On Our Wall (Part 2) |
2016 | I Beg The Question |
2015 | By Their Fruit |
2014 | Proven Worth |
2013 | From Missouri |
2012 | Recipe To Write: Start With One Aching Urge |
2011 | Ip And Rib |
Real Things | |
2010 | Final Competition |
Defeated: So Far (Anyway)
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged American Democracy, American Politics, General Comments, How Close We Came: The secret history of the shadow campaign that saved the election, Ian Bassin, Molly Ball, Norm Eisen, Philosophy, Protect Democracy, Quotes, Time Magazine, Voter Protection Project, Voter Suppression on January 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »
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