Let’s make politics boring again and drop the insanity. I remember when politics infrequently featured two people with opposing views having a heated conversation? Fast forward to the current state of politics, and everyone has gone mad. Opposition Is Good Focusing on only one point of view harms society; it leads to extremism. To prevent this, it’s essential to consider multiple perspectives and find balance. I enjoy discussions with people who have differing views. It helps me learn and grow. Unfortunately, many avoid discussing politics altogether, leading to extremism on all sides. ...

Gun deaths in America are on the rise. What is the root cause, and how can we prevent these horrific mass murder events? My hypothesis is that fear and despair are the primary causes of gun violence. Our society doesn’t have a safety net to speak of, poverty is rampant, and people have little to lose when they have nothing. When we throw in fear-mongering to get votes and fear-based ads designed to get people to consume, we have a perfect shit storm. ...

Morality is on the decline in the United States of America. Evidenced by the Trump cult continuing to have a voice despite being morally corrupt. Evidenced by the Christian Right, worshiping people like Trump and getting behind corrupt leaders exhibit a complete lack of character. Evidenced by an acceptance of lies coming from leaders as they continue pushing false narratives. It’s a real shit show, and when people talk about a lack of principles and values, many people scoff at those who call people out on their shit. ...

I’ve been mulling political ideas in my head for years. It’s about time I started writing them down. Here’s a list of all the things I wish would happen in the U.S. political arena. No Social, No Bullshit Completely ban all politicians from social media during their term. Relegate all communications between constituents on a single website that allows for two-way communications. Now, they can focus on their job and work for the people instead of showing up on Twitter, Facebook, CNN & Fox News all day. ...

So what do you think? Is it safe to stop following politics for a while yet? A conviction against Trump needs to happen. I have been following one of my state senators, Jeff Merkley, who is doing his job. What he is saying is exactly what I would be saying in his position. It’s almost like we live in a constitutional representative republic. America needs to hold everyone accountable for their actions. If we don’t follow the basic principles of law, then we are no longer a country. On top of following the law, our country needs to seek the truth. ...

How do we know what’s real in our shared reality? Our reality has become complicated, and nefarious actors have complicated it further. Pinning down an unwavering definition of reality is a lifelong task for scientists and philosophers alike, so it’s no wonder we’re struggling. Unfortunately, reality has become a severe point of contention in the United States. We will explore our shared problem with reality, why it’s a magnificently tricky problem, and some proposed solutions. ...

United We Stand, Divided We Fall is a catchphrase that most U.S. citizens are familiar with. It is a call to collectivism and winning as a team. It was used as propaganda during World War II when Americans were fighting the Nazis. It is propaganda that was created to save lives and to instill a sense of duty in citizens. Not all propaganda is bad propaganda, though Hitler sure ruined its reputation. ...

The Trump death cult is born. Trump loyalists stormed the Capitol building yesterday. It’s a chilling scene caused by an unhinged former U.S. President. Just yesterday, I wrote about The Cult of Trump, but little did I know that this would happen. Surprisingly, something like this didn’t happen sooner, but it is always stunning when historic events land like this. ...

The cult of Trump is declining, as evidenced by the results of the 2020 Georgia runoff election. Republicans will inevitably turn on the cult now that it has cost them the Senate. It’s no longer a matter of if but when. Back To The Fold The Trump Cult will be studied for years to come while experts try to make sense of it all. Our government must address the real grievances that Trump cultists have with it. To make the right adjustments, it will need to know how to bring the cultists back into the fold. ...

Enough is enough. Citizens that care about their fellow compatriots are DONE! Today, on December 30th, 2020, almost 4,000 people died from COVID-19. What is Trump doing today? He’s doing what he has done since he lost the election; he is constantly lying to his cult followers. He is blaming the states for a botched vaccine rollout. He is golfing. We’re DONE! ...