Culture and Politics

But His Emails (A Tale of Whoa!)

They’d have you

believe

that if you 

retrieve

an entitlement,

guaranteed

by our government,

that somehow

you’re just

a taker.

And,

the wealthy

are smarter,

and work

much harder,

and make

things

for you

and me.

They have relevance

and benevolence

as benefactors

and contractors,

providing

the world

we consume.

Well, don’t 

assume

they don’t

believe it

even though

they did

conceive it.

It would

all be

utterly

pathetic

except 

for unapologetic

abuse

by the obtuse

who excuse

themselves.

The neediest

among us,

aside from

the current

POTUS,

are apparently

the economically

most advantaged.

Presidents

and celebrities

need

favors and freebies,

always with please

and thank you.

Well mannered

shnorers,

who always

cut corners,

are praised

as the most

successful.

They’ll take

what they can

because they can

even when 

the man

who provides

each gift

lives on grift

and sex crimes.

How many times

will we have 

to see

a dump

of files

pertaining

to Jeffrey

of the most

wealthy

and influential,

seemingly

with the most

potential

needing

a favor

or cashmere

sweatshirt

from the guy

who

perpetually

hurt

young females?

The endless

emails

from powerful

males,

and occasional

wives

whose lives

were golden,

were somehow

beholden

to Epstein

without 

having seen 

any crime.

I’m 

most amazed

at how 

unfazed

the least

deserving

are 

at preserving

the worst

kind

of need.

Their greed

and entitlement,

and lack

of enlightenment,

is evident

in each

email.

It’s a tale

of whoa,

now that 

we know

just how

low 

the “elite”

can go.

The receipts

always show.

Just go

to that 

inbox.

More of Us

There are more

of us

than there are

of them.

But their

weapons

are automatic,

and autocratic;

and ours,

democratic,

often socratic,

seem

fantastic-

a legacy

now a 

fantasy-

if you

don’t see

the ordinary.

But we-

the people

whose

DNA
is democracy-

understand

that immorality

is not merely

cheating

and brutality.

It is a cancer

that metastasizes

as it emphasizes

bigotry

and purely

self interest.

More 

is asked

of us

than to

fuss

and bitch

about

this ditch

we’re in.

We’re in

it together.

Whether

you can donate

money,

time,

or influence,

the confluence

will quell

some intransigence.

Pledge

allegiance

to that which

you and I

can do to

defy

and deny

the worst;

but of greater

import,

to support

more

of us:

https://www.standwithminnesota.com/

https://app.oath.vote/set?p=top-issues

Pretti Good

They have

immunity

from the 

community

of humanity

for this insanity

in any

“blue” city-

even after

point blank

killing

Good

and Pretti.

Not

an acknowledgement

or even

embarrassment;

just

harassment

while claiming

being

harassed.

The goal

of intimidation

to suppress

immigration

reflects

fear

and loathing;

just look

at their

clothing.

Aren’t

big guns

enough?

Is this

being

tough

on immigration

with no

legislation,

just enjoying

vexation?

Each incident

no accident,

is an 

illegitimate

claim of threat.

And the president

has set

this all 

in motion

from the notion

that

intimidation

gets results.

But the adults

are protesting,

defending

the constitution;

our own

American

self defense.

The pretense

of legitimacy

for ICE

in the city,

is chapter 1

of the tyranny

of the police

state.

Will 

this state

of hate

be just

Pretti

Good?

Muscle Memory

Another chilling

day of ICE

fishing for 

some more

excuses

for the

inexcusable

abuses

and killing.

The machismo

guys

in disguise

don’t advise;

they terrorize

as paramilitary 

does.

We have 

no memory

of  such

muscle use

or such

an obtuse

administration.

The arrested

development-

an envelopment

of a city-

is exactly

what we thought

we weren’t:

a deterrent

to humanity.

We have

no memory

of muscle;

we have

an American

story

of old

and new

glory,

opening

doors

and arms,

ignoring

the harms

remaining.

The few

bad apples

here

and there

were rare,

so we thought,

and were 

taught

that we’re

the exception.

Except

that now

we accept

how 

we can fall

from heights

previously

unimaginable.

Our muscle

memory

is specified

to what unified

our glory.

What made

us strong

all along

were our

norms

and our

constitution,

and each

institution

that maintained

and expanded

normalcy

for democracy

without

a paramilitary.

Ironically,

(or maybe not)

climbing

free solo,

Alex Honnold,

the 40 year old,

scaled the tallest

skyscraper

yesterday,

Taipei 101-

streamed

live from

Taiwan,

(which still

wants

to be free

and live 

democratically).

Thankfully

his muscle

memory

succeeded

triumphantly

on live tv.

I like the 

metaphor

for climbing

to heights

even when 

it’s dangerous.

It’s incumbent

upon us

to exercise

and strengthen;

to energize

and lengthen

our muscle 

memory

and ability

for democracy,

and of course,

basic 

human

decency.

That’s what

makes

America

great again

and again

and again.

That Much

Learning how much 

is too much

is such 

an opportunity 

for discontinuity,

yet we continually

test

when

what would

obviously

be best 

would be 

much less.

But,

what 

if

there’s more

in store 

than we 

thought

before?

Enough

is a tough

sell.

Or even

tough

to tell.

We don’t

learn well

enough.

Fear

of missing

out,

FOMO,

is about

feeling

relevant

and as 

a participant

in whatever

is current.

It’s like 

living

as each

day

is the last.

Not like

the day

before,

or 

to store

more

for 

what’s ahead,

but 

for the moment

instead.

We want

connection

and protection

from 

loss.

Fear is boss.

Fear

drives

avoidance

and excess

and creates

a mess,

more or less.

It’s purpose,

is survival—

alerting

us to 

the arrival

of actual

threat.

But constant

acquisition

distorts

the position

of threat

to a bet

better met

with restraint.

But that ain’t

what the super-rich

and powerful

do—

especially 

you know

who.

Living exclusively

from 

much

to much

is a crutch.

With so much

winning

why

keep spinning;

missing

it by

that much?

Toolbox

Containing.

Constraining.

Obtaining.

Boxing.

Targeting.

Marketing.

The only tool

the fool

has 

is to fuel

fear,

and buy

out

the other

guy

and buy

in

to all

out

crack up.

ICE

picks

at towns

as

crack-

downs

abound

while they

go around

hammering

down

on the innocent,

intent

to invent

probable 

cause

for arrest.

Meanwhile,

he’ll suggest

we “invest”

in 

Greenland,

with the best

minerals

for our

arsenals

and somehow

our oil

on Venezuelan

soil

is worth

the toil

to foil.

Nothing is going

according

to Hoyle.

But this guy

who’s 

“a builder”

will hammer

away

day after day

and drill

baby, drill

until

he thinks

he’s nailed it.

He’s screwing

us

bit by bit

and won’t 

quit

or admit

enough.

Indecent

and cruel

has defined

the tool,

for this

Mr. Fixit.

He alone

wants to

rule

without

adherence,

and cares

not at all

about

actual

governance.

Feeling

boxed in?

Then begin

to activate

and donate

to build

a constituency

with coherency

and fluency

in 21st century

democracy,

which 

must look

differently

than 

in name

only.

All in the Family

* This piece was written before news of Nick Reiner’s arrest. The title is even more loaded now.

Meathead

is dead.

Found inside

his home

with his wife

alongside,

so far

it seems

a double

homicide.

I nearly cried

because

of the sense-

lessness

of the mess,

not just

because 

he was 

terrifically famous.

You know

Reiner’s 

bio,

though

I thought

there’d be 

more

to come

from 

the actor, 

director,

charitable, 

political

voice

of liberal

democracy

(Democratocracy?).

Just

what happened

has yet

been determined,

but another

moment

of violence

against

innocents

should 

test our

tolerance.

This happens

each day,

to the not

so famous,

without

the same

attention.

Shame 

on us

for acting

helpless;

for not

trying

to prioritize

ways to

minimize

crimes

of violence.

Like an

estranged

family,

we

disagree

grossly,

to such 

a degree

that we

no longer

see

commonality

or humanity.

The Reiners’

political activism

was party

driven

with the intention

of improving

the lives

of each American.

They believed

in an American 

family;

that

ALL

in the family

are worthy.

Our family

needs therapy.

Our family

needs policy

that reflects

reality,

not inspired

by conspiracy

theory.

The irony

is that

MAGA country

is a horrible

Archie,

and the real

Meathead

is the POTUS

instead.

Season’s Greetings

The night before

the gore,

they rehearsed

what was

in store 

or fantasized

their fetishized

distorted

tales 

of woe

that as far as

they know

mattered.

Battered by 

thoughts

and delusions,

the conclusions

of violence

would silence

the noises.

Their voices

screamed 

from the gun

one

message,

like Manson

said,

“…I’m 

already dead.”

Attacks 

on the innocent,

including the recent

ones in Syria,

Australia,

and at Brown

here in America,

may have different

motivations,

or justifications

but the ramifications

are the same.

Our grief

will be brief

before the next

act of audacity,

as our capacity

to respond

adequately

is diminished.

But the work

is unfinished,

and always

will be,

to see that

we can

live 

with dignity.

The Festival

of Lights

could be claimed

by many:

Diwali

and Christmas

and of course,

Hanukkah,

the one about

the menorah

lights 

for 8 nights

invites

us to 

illuminate

when the nights

are longest.

The strongest

need not

be a zealot

or one who

forgot

pain.

The main

point 

of the miracles

is light

when darkness

obscures

and lures

us with fright.

This prolonged

night 

when monsters

prey

upon the innocent

intent

on a violent

incident,

must not be met

with nothing.

Any thoughts

and prayers

are just layers

of abstinence—

absence

of light

that we might

enact

if our politics

weren’t so 

cynical.

In atypical

fashion,

compassion

and action

would be 

miraculous,

whether

or not 

you’re religious.

As they say

with cliche`,

“Take back

the night!”

“Be the light!”

It’s always

the season.

Filed Away

Sure.

What the hell?

There’s nothing

to show

or tell,

if

by now

the smell

of fetidness

and wretchedness

is less

of a problem

than  immigrants.

The significance

of the Epstein

files release

to cease

the incessant

call

for all

or any

evidence

of malevolence

is likely

to be

of little

consequence,

considering

the Access

Hollywood

“grab ‘em

by the pussy”

tape

and E. Jean

Carroll

rape

or

the rest

of his behavior.

Would MAGA

really

turn away

in dismay

over

sharing

Epstein’s

way

with girls-

using

and abusing?

Oh how

amusing,

if you are

a monster.

Sure. 

Release them,

if you agree

to see

that he

has nothing

to hide.

Or that

he has

no shame

and so

no blame

while

he’ll

claim

to know

nothing.

It should

matter,

but all

the chatter

over this

seems

to miss

other serious

critical

issues as well.

I guess

I wish

the rest

got the

bi-partisan

attention

as these

files’ 

daily mention.

Sure.

Release them.

The deniability

will be

plausible

if not exhaustible,

and certainly

nausea-able.

Just 

another day

filed away.

Re: Pete

A military

career

in the rear

view,

before we 

knew 

his name,

now known

as secretary

and very

outspoken,

he faces

a daunting

situation.

And speaking

of faces,

he’s a good

looking guy,

which helps

him to buy

good will.

He also

embodies

and represents

the epitome

of that

which his 

party 

presents

(or he thinks

it should).

If only 

he could

get 

the attention

of 

the party

heads

for the next

convention.

He’s often

on Fox

and does 

TikToks,

for those 

who can’t

get enough.

Political

relevance

need not

mean eloquence;

just ask

the Secretary

of Defense

or

of War.

To compete

with Pete

is replete

with the feat

of winning

hearts and minds.

The kinds

of sound bytes

that fight

for the right 

to and for

democratic

infrastructure

is keeping

the former

mayor

secretary

very 

engaged

and prominent.

Will he 

be

dominent?

It remains

to be seen,

but to unseat

one Pete

will be a treat

for the 

other one

and confirmation

of our country’s

direction.