Rev. Joe’s Random Thought #3,171
yeah I know you did not ask!
Here is something I thought I would never have to do. I was speaking to a young woman via Skype to practice my Spanish. She lives Coca, Ecuador, a city of 40,000 in Amazonian jungle whose primary business in oil. We had a long, rambling conversation about politics and the upcoming election in the United States. She apparently has another student who is younger than her (she is late 20s) and a big supporter of the Orange Monster. He is absolutely convinced that Putin’s Bitch is a man of the people and will win the election. He had told her that all his young friends are of the same opinion. I did my best to dissuade Micaela that this is not the common position.
At the end of the conversation I did something I never would have thought I would do… I asked a person living in a small South American country to pray for my country.
Unite Against The Violence – #UniteAgainstTheViolence
Elections by Lottery
See link to a podcast at end of article.
I do not not know if this is a good idea. I do not know if this is a bad idea. I do know it is an interesting idea.
I believe I would get very little argument if I were to state that our current process of electing folks to public office is dysfunctional trending towards the cluster f*** arena.
I’m not sure where this idea first originated, but they have been experimenting with this election process in Bolivia, in schools there. The process is basically instead of having traditional elections with campaigning you have a lottery. Everyone who might want a particular office puts the equivalent of their name in a hat. If their name is drawn out they get the office. At least at this low level Continue reading “Elections by Lottery”
How cool is that?
Metropolitan St. Louis is more or less a Democratic area amidst the sea of red that is Republican Missouri. However the sashaying Señora Weinhaus and I live in the suburb of Chesterfield which is smack dab in the middle of the 2nd Congressional District. This is the district which has given us such Republican notables as Todd “Legitimate Rape” Akin and Ann “What Climate Change” Wagner. This time around Jill Schupp is running against Ann Wagner.
I have absolutely nothing positive to say about Wagner except one thing. She inadvertently gave me the tagline for my blog. In 2013 I posted an article on my blog, Ann Wagner, Global Warming Denier…Be scared, very scared. The article was picked up by Continue reading “How cool is that?”
Barr and Pompeo Goosestepping to The Rapture
A fellow Luddite sent me this article by Yvonne Owens, Why, And To What, Have Mike Pompeo and William Barr Sold Their Souls?, with the following comment:
“If some or most of this is factual, it explains what has stumped me, maybe all of us, as to why the right-wing absolution of Putin. I’ve read various theories and hints at this explanation. This is the best dive into the story I’ve found.”
I will admit that when an author has laden an article with so many loaded terms I wonder about the article in general. BUT, I will have to admit I agree with her on many points.
My thoughts after reading the article. Continue reading “Barr and Pompeo Goosestepping to The Rapture”
Sidewalk Battle for America’s Soul
The title may be a bit overly dramatic, but perhaps not. I really do believe there is an ongoing battle for the soul of the United States. If the GOP prevail, we will most likely have an authoritarian, racist future dominated by the super rich and corporations where the poor and old struggle to survive. With the Democrats, hopefully, we will have a kinder, gentler future with a country willing to accept all and support all where moneyed people and corporations are not the ultimate arbitrators of policy.
I ride my bicycle for exercise in several places, but frequently in Creve Coeur Park. The park has several miles of paved trails that folks use for bicycling, running, walking and in-line skating. The last few weeks I have seen anti-Trump slogans written in chalk appearing on the trail. They include such things as Continue reading “Sidewalk Battle for America’s Soul”
Country Over Party
https://twitter.com/i/status/1306686243422511108
Meatloaf
I went to the golf course, Bridges, that I most frequently play. It is across the Mississippi River in the little town of Columbia, IL. This is definitely Redneck territory. Bridges, like a lot of other courses does not allow outside refreshments. I was loading up my golf cart, putting on my shoes, etc. when I noticed a group of 3 guys just across the parking lot from me. What caught my attention was that they were dividing up the beers that were remaining after their round. Given that this was 1 pm they must have started their round and beer drinking somewhere around 8:30 or 9:00 am. I’m not opposed to having a beer or two after a round of golf, but only on very rare occasions do I drink during a round. And I am certainly not drinking at 9:00 in the morning.
One golfer left. The remaining two were putting their equipment in their respective pickups. I did notice that one of the remaining had on his red MAGA cap. One of the interesting things of this political season Continue reading “Meatloaf “