United States

So Much Winning

Heads

are spinning

from

so much winning.

Will the center

hold

for the old

guard,

now marred

and practically

tarred

and feathered;

barely tethered

to the new?

Or will old

theories

of society’s

ills-

with the 

no frills

pitch

to ditch

the sonofabitch

and MAGA

for a

180 degree

nominee

of the left

wing

bring

much needed

reform?

Universal

health care,

making each 

trillionaire

pay their fair

share

of taxes,

and getting

big money

out of

politics

could fix

a lot,

and now

the socialist

wing

thinks it

can bring

the goods

for good.

But the vehement

establishment

insists

progress

consists

of compromise

with the precedent

of incremental

change.

In this

strange

new political

climate change,

with wild fires

and constant

storms,

reforms

mean

radical

undoing,

(see abortion

and immigration),

despite 

what might

be problematic.

Pragmatic

politics

now means

to nix

what is

to fix

what is

likely

to be 

much more

difficult

to effect.

To protect

what’s been

how to win

an election,

when

the only

selling points

are

Not MAGA

and Not Socialist,

the grist

mills

little

for the little

guy

who is desperate

to try

something

else. 

But can

the Bernie wing

bring

everything

without

examining

and acknowledging

where

such universal

policy

programming

has failed

in the past?

Can so much

winning last?

A Brief Illness

Wilson’s stroke,

FDR’s legs,

Kennedy’s back,

Reagan’s gunshots

and then

his dementia,

Bader-GInsberg’s cancer,

Trump’s COVID,

Feinstein’s capacity,

Biden’s capacity,

Fetterman’s stroke,

Kean’s depression,

McConnell’s…..?

Would it 

kill us

to know

about 

each illness

that no

one

wants to

admit?

Bit by bit

details will

flow

until we know

what was.

Because

health

equals stealth

with maximum

security,

privacy

will always

be first.

But the thirst

to know

if those 

elected

will show

up 

for work

tomorrow

or in 

a week

or so,

is so elemental

and the work

consequential,

that the obfuscation

and/or lies

flies

in the face

of acceptability.

Of course,

the probability

of opposition

is why such

a position

of denial

or just silence

is the preference

for the powerful.

Just 

status quo,

even though

we all know

something

is very wrong.

And then

the news

of a senator’s

passing

unexpectedly,

at least

it seemed

to be

when I read

that Lindsey

Graham

died suddenly

from “a brief

illness”.

The less

revealed,

the more

concealed,

the greater

the concern.

We always

learn

that

transparency

is best,

but continue

to test

the wisdom

when power

is at stake.

Maybe we

make 

the mistake

of wanting

politicians’

admissions,

when decisions

are made

to evade

which arouse

suspicions

about what

omissions

are kept

from the public.

When an official

gets sick

or dies

suddenly,

more than

curiosity

seems

to be

appropriate.

A brief illness

is less

than 

an unknown;

it indicates

knowledge

of cause.

And if the pause

in information

is because 

of national

security,

it seems 

to me,

that’s understandable.

Investigating

cause of death

indicates 

a question,

while 

“a sudden, brief

illness”

is an intentional

non-mention;

yet another

suspension

of truth.

We have a

nondisclosure 

disagreement

in government,

when 

an appointment,

however

temporary,

should be

federal protocol.

We may not

know all,

but some

would be 

welcome

before 

more damage

is done.

We claim

to be

an open

and free

society.

That is the 

country

that Lindsey

Graham

served

and that 

served

him.

We can’t let

that die

with him.

Happy Birthday to US

The labor

was intensive;

the birth,

expensive,

and everyone

celebrated

what the fathers

created.

(But actually,

necessity

is the mother

of invention!)

A declaration

of independence

from the king

would bring

forth

on the fourth

of July, 1776

an evolution

of politics

from the critics

of monarchy,

with a vision

of democracy

that somehow

included

people

as property

for almost

another

century.

But the muscle

memory

of and for

opportunity

has guided

the trajectory

of this 

then new

country,

founded,

and now

hounded,

by old men.

When was 

America

just a 

replica

of her

ideal?

Electing a

president

set a precedent

for self government,

but how 

to effectuate

is still 

a debate.

What makes

America great

isn’t innate

or fate.

It’s the pursuit

not just

of happiness

but of 

the less

obvious

equality

of every

body;

even the ones

who look different 

from you

and

with whom

you disagree

(or worse).

The curse

of freedom

is over

abundance;

tolerance

of bigotry,

and over

reliance

on individuality.

The miracle

of the American

ideal

is made real

every day

while

also being

contradicted.

We may be

conflicted

over 

what seems

inflicted,

depicted

incessantly

on our screens.

But tomorrow

we’ll all

face 

the sky

as fireworks

fly,

like celestial

candles

on our

birthday 

cake.

What gifts

will you 

give?

Or will

you just

take?

Do you

expect

party

favors?

On our

best

behaviors,

we’ll

make sure

we’ll

endure

for

another 250

and more.

Happy Birthday

to US. 

The New Colossus

I just returned

from

the land

of the Golem,

(a sort of 

Frankenstein,

that predates

the Shelley

tale),

where 

the Soviet

and Nazi

lost to

democracy,

and memory

is preserved

not erased.

The Golem

of medieval

fantasy

was initially

created

as a magical

protector.

It (he)

was large

and clumsy,

slow-witted,

and soulless;

immune

to conventional

weapons

or pain.

(Sound familiar?)

It would become

eventual

that this 

folk hero

would grow

fearsome

and violent,

which meant

its destruction;

a lesson

we keep

needing

to learn.

We tend

to yearn

for 

a protector

and champion:

strong-

even masculine-

forgetting

that subletting

power

weakens

us.

“The New Colossus”,

by Emma Lazarus,

was the poem

befitting

Lady Liberty.

The Mother

of Exiles

whose torch

is a beacon

of light

for the weary-

quite

a contrast

to the dreary

giant man.

Trump is a

hulking,

clumsy,

dimwitted,

soulless

(faux)

protector,

whose power’s

run

amok

with endless

luck;

a new colossus

for us

in the worst

way.

But for America’s

semi-

quincentennial

birthday,

I say,

remember

anew

“The New

Colossus”:

“Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”

as us.

Our strengths

are not

artificial intelligence

(though with regulation,

such sensation

could be transformational).

By 250,

we

need to

grow up!

The New Colossus

is not this monstrous

idiot.

It’s the generous,

creative spirit

that is 

inspired by

and of 

liberty;

not irresponsibility,

but human

dignity,

integrity,

and decency,

with liberty,

and justice

for all.

Your Friends and Neighbors

Watching

the show

of 

the title

above,

is frustrating

for me.

It should be

entertaining,

but it seems

like it’s

claiming

to be

more

than it is.

Another series 

streaming

about seemingly

endless

wealth

and beauty

in a particular

community

of exclusivity

where 

under

the surface

lurks

insecurity

and too many

jerks.

Did I mention

that it’s mostly

white,

but for

a few tokens:

a wealthy

Korean

family,

a black retired 

basketball player,

and a 

latina

maid?

The conceit

is the deceit

not only

of the “friends”

but of 

Jon Hamm’s

Andy Cooper-

“Coop”

who chooses

to stoop

to becoming

a thief

for relief

after being 

fired

from his

hedge fund.

While the rest

are mired

in superficiality

he knows

the reality-

that with such

abundance

their material

redundance

means

he can steal

Hermes

and Cartier

for a big

pay day,

while the friends’

and neighbors’

lives 

remain

extravagant.

The cast 

is good,

and Hamm

is great,

but the show

lacks

greatly.

Beyond

the obvious

obliviousness

of the wealthiest,

the least

pretentious

or contentious

one,

a loving father

and a loving

son,

(and ex-husband),

is still

a thief.

The implicit

social 

commentary

is as 

conspicuous

as the anxiety

and consumer

spending

consuming

our society,

but more

subtly,

is the sad

state

of our social

ties

and how

we’re all

being robbed

before 

our eyes.

He’s no

Mad Man,

or Landman,

and I’ll still 

watch

because…

Jon Hamm!

But the show

has to go

deeper

than its

gorgeous

face.

Not unlike

our politics,

a mix

of expensive,

incomprehensive,

and meh,

we’re uninspired

by the tired

grind,

while 

being 

robbed

blind

from behind

the scenes

of what seems

to be 

less and less

the land

of opportunity,

and less

and less

a community

of friends

and neighbors,

much less,

united

states.

Good Looking

Looking 

for the good

should

be obviously

easy,

but seeing 

clearly

comes

with difficulty.

Looking good

could

be

a secondary

priority

in this society,

if only

we

were true

to

individuality

without

ego.

I know

it’s ridiculous,

but our

conspicuous

show

of identity,

like a human

theory

of relativity

except

compulsively,

aggressively,

competitively

being showy

of one’s

type

through

affinity

is definitely

not a good

look.

Take a good 

look

at how we’ve

devolved

from a society

prizing

individuality,

(Did we

really?

Or were we

always

just about

hyper individualism?)

to the ME

Generation,

and beyond

Gens XYZ-

all 

identity

driven.

We continue

to merge

church

and state,

and at this

rate,

the bible

will 

determine

which

tribal

affiliation

will drive

each state

of the republic.

Looking good

has been

the way 

society

created

bonds

and tensions,

but the extensions

have 

made a blame

game

of shaming

shame,

and fame

for anyone

who became

a name

in a video

frame

regardless

of content.

To a great

extent

we have

advanced

in this

enhanced

reality

of super

easy

access,

unless

you don’t

have success,

and therefore

are without

tools

sufficient

for the efficient

search

of artificial

intelligence;

hence,

your irrelevance

seems of great

importance

(which makes

no sense).

So we align

as a sign

of our

beliefs

and

commitments,

feigning

community.

Ideology

trumps

individuality

as currency

to looking

good.

Of course,

the eruption

of the disruption

era

is criteria

for progress;

that is,

unless

you’re

in Congress

in which 

case,

less is less.

But I digress….

You know

you’re

“good looking”—

I mean

looking

for the good,

not just

the sexy

novelty,

when

individuality

not tribal

affinity,

takes priority.

And individuality

is not

code

for disruptor

mode,

but for

that which

is unique-

even discreet-

our personhood

as a single,

capable

mammal

born

with inalienable

rights.

Be a good

looking

person

no matter

your 

physique 

or facial

structure.

Our vulture

culture

of devouring

is souring

and

narrowing.

America,

the beautiful,

good looking

one,

has run

from

facing

the truth.

Our destiny

should manifest

in our best

not the

easiest

or loudest,

as this test

has shown.

We have known

all along,

being good

looking—

should

be our priority,

even if it

isn’t sexy.

Strait Talking

In memory

of those 

who died

in the name

of our 

freedom,

we pause

for their

cause,

US.

May

their 

memory

be 

for a 

blessing-

not messing

around

to the sound

of patriotism.

Now,

war hawks

are in peace

talks

with Iran,

and this

administration

is desperate

for this

to end

well

after it fell

into the trap

of trying

to sell

a war

of his own

making.

Faking

progress

in this mess

is,

by now,

expected.

Remember

how

he directed

that bleach

injected

would cure

those affected

by COVID?

I’m not sure

who said

he puts 

the ID

in idiot,

but the 

shoe 

does fit.

So

I have no

expectation

of consolation

on this 

sad

Memorial Day.

He’ll lay

a wreath

in Arlington

Cemetery

as is 

customary,

while

the rest 

of the country

mourns

the loss

of each

daughter

and son,

and no one

in particular,

just the vast

number

who have

died

for the legacy

of American

democracy,

that now feels

like almost

a memory.

Mourning

in America

turns

the sunny

phrase

dark,

in stark

contrast

to days

of strength.

The length

of this aberration,

a scourge

on our nation,

long

beyond

sensation,

will someday

be a bad

memory.

When will

Memorial

Day

be 

only

for the past,

not a forecast?

I hope

that at

last

the Strait

of Hormuz

opens

and continues

to be 

a conduit

and we 

don’t forget

how we got

in this situation.

Memorial Day

should remind

us 

that the wars

behind us

are warnings

not just 

of mournings

but of what

all those

young people

died for.

The Friends and Family Plan

His Friends

and Family Plan,

paid for

by each 

American

citizen,

will be

a slush fund

of $1.8 billion

for those 

who have

suffered

“weaponization”,

is his

master plan

of corruption.

It may be

in his DNA,

and this is

the ultimate

NDA,

the ultimate

American

exceptionalism

for him.

His slush

fund

to shield

him

from any

audit or tax

tracks

with 

everything

he’s tried

so far:

Enriching

himself

and his allies

as he tries

to use 

the Justice 

Department

to enforce

his lies

and schemes,

while continuing

the rewriting

of history,

encouraging

and enabling

attacks 

on Congress,

physically,

verbally,

and ideologically,

while circumventing

governing.

A one-man

weapon

of mass

destruction,

whose

corruption

knows

no bounds.

And what

happens

when

the violent

men-

Proud Boys

and Oath

Keepers

having

been convicted

after having

inflicted

violence

without 

penitence

some having

started

to serve

a sentence,

get paid

a reward

for their

subservience

to him?

Will he

have

a private

militia?

The ex-cons

and The Con Man

need his 

Friends and Family

Plan

to keep

themselves

protected.

With a cadre

of the rejected,

disaffected,

and closely

connected

he’d like

this corrected

permanently

so that he

will never

pay,

and those

who opposed

him

will

foot 

the bill.

Only

a criminal

would

devise

such

a scheme

to make it

seem

like 

he is all

powerful.

He may

be 

a Strongman

but he is

a weak,

weak

person.

Final Exam

This isn’t

the apocalypse

now.

From crisis

to crisis,

it’s obvious

that the matrix

of destructive

forces

forces

us

to confront

the unimaginable,

uninhabitable

once-impossible-

except 

in the bible-

series

of conditions

that some

claim

to be 

premonitions

in the name 

of “The Lord”.

If this

is the end,

it sure is 

slow moving,

and improving

is still

within reach.

It’s our 

judgement

and reckoning,

not super-natural

beckoning

that alters

reality,

really.

The broken

covenant

between

government

and constituent

has us

almost drowning

in the flood

of mud

slung

at the innocent,

guilty

of being

a participant

in

the American

experiment.

The fear

that the end

is near,

if not

already here,

is not

unreasonable.

It’s not 

infeasible

with the 

Artificial

Intelligence

emergence

and the

resurgence

of the popularity

of populism

and faux

democracy-

or democracy

practically

in name 

only.

And the changing

climate

for the worse

only adds

the worst

verse

to this

curse

of bad poetry

where

history

rhymes.

Crimes

are normal

for the dictatorial

and other

abusers

with greed.

But their

end days

are near,

despite

the fear

they impose

upon us. 

I suppose

any crisis

could be

a catastrophe

like you see

in a movie,

but the apocalypse

is a partial,

if not

total,

eclipse

of the good

that still

exists.

Horror

insists;

but good

persists

in spite

of it.

And there

are more

of us

than

there are

of them.

So,

sure,

condemn

the mayhem,

but be part

of a solution

to this pollution

that makes

it so hard

to breathe

freely.

This test

is really

challenging,

and managing

is arduous.

But I believe

the best

of us

is not

past,

but passed

generationally

intentionally,

representationally,

changing

from an ending

to finally

remembering

the right

questions.

El Niño

A marine

heat-wave

seen

forming 

in

the Pacific

Ocean

confuses

global 

weather systems

and produces

more intense

drought,

rain,

and flooding,

disrupting hurricane

and monsoon 

seasons-

reasons

for extreme

heat

and agricultural

retreat

and failure.

With the coming

Super

El Niño-

the fear

this year

is that a 

warming

climate

will exacerbate

an already

monstrous

El Niño fate,

already difficult

to navigate.

With higher

temperatures

expected

this summer,

and weather

systems

becoming

chaotic,

our sclerotic

governmental

attempt

to preempt

disaster

will be tested

faster

than expected.

What to expect

when you’re

expecting

El Niño

in an already

overheated,

defeated,

depleted,

political

climate?

When 

an 

over reliance

on business

to lead us

without

government

to co-invent

a clean

energy

environment,

we are left

with 

insufficient

preparation.

Meanwhile,

AI Data Centers

are being built

without

regulation

as their demand

for water

and electricity

hurts

each nearby

community,

as tech companies

seem to have

immunity

from everything.

Nurturing

is not just

for mothers.

For Mothers’

Day,

I say,

start to be

a citizen

who takes

action

beyond

a ballot.

The climate

is in crisis.

Think of it

like Isis:

we can’t

just

be victims

in waiting.

I know

the threats

to democracy

are 

an emergency

we see

playing out

each day.

But this 

El Niño

on the way,

is a brutal

warning

of what

global

warming

plus natural

disaster

at a rate

much

faster

than expected

means

when unprotected.

The El Niño 

prediction

of infliction

of serious

threat

should get

you to do

what you can

for collective

action.

Building

political will

will require

your energy

and money

for green energy

policies,

and government

assurance

that insurance

will be there

when

and where

it’s needed.

This Mothers’ Day,

I say,

write a letter

to the editor

and/or

your 

legislator.

Connect with

another 

activator.

Here’s a toolkit

that could fit

most any

climate

issue:

https://www.beyondplastics.org/tools

And here’s a way

(for Mother’s Day)

to contribute

to candidates

to flip the house

towards

climate stewards

(and other helpful

policies):

https://app.oath.vote/

And working

to pass 

reasonable legislation

is the 

Citizens Climate

Lobby 

organization:

Homepage

These are just 

a few

I hope 

you

will explore,

but I implore 

you to 

do something

for Mothers’ Day,

as 

El Niño

is on the way

and the climate

crisis

is already

here.

The antidote

to fear

is action.

Please,

in honor of 

your mother

and earth,

your actions

are worth

it.

We can

make progress-

even now,

despite

that monster

threat.

Resiliency

and sustainability

are a possibility

but require

communal responsibility.

Now go 

to your room

and do

your homework.

Happy Mothers’

Day!