(#5354) Republicans don't have the votes for their agenda so shutting down the government is their tantrum.

      If you are new to how republicans operate here is a short primer. They look for nefarious shortcuts. There is no other way for them since they are the minority party. They are good at manipulating elections to get what little power they hold but not any good at governing. Hence the looming government shutdown. One of the main reasons for the shutdown is because they are against "woke". Which means enlightened to new ideas that work for everyone over old ideas that only keep people oppressed. So once again we have a situation where republicans are threatening to harm many so that they can try to blackmail the will of the people. No such luck this attempt either since the rest of us have already been harmed by this republican tactic in the past.
     But we must not let them get away with it easily. There will be many millions who will not be paid their weekly wages such as federal workers and military service persons. Those of us vast majority who live paycheck to paycheck are under extreme duress over tantrums like this that republicans hope to turn into their advantage. Well I say that every person who doesn't get their paycheck for services and labor they have already given then the republican party should not get one vote from these folks going forward in the next election. It isn't just the workers who get the shaft from republicans on this. It is the families, the wives, husbands, sons and daughters who will not get what they timely need.
     All because the republican party in the House and some in the Senate have made it their goal to harm America whenever they cannot politically steamroll the will of the people. I personally would never vote for a political party that sought to harm me instead of help me. Neither should any American. So what happens when the dust settles on all of this and the republican party finally relents and produces a budget to keep our government open is clear to me. Many will be set back into defaults that republicans caused and will have to struggle harder to get back to where they were before the republican tantrum they were forced to endure. Why put ourselves through this by voting for republicans? They seem to think that they are the bosses of us and we not the bosses of them. Let's remind them that we are their boss come November 5th 2024.

(#5353) Courage is a beautiful thing

      There are a few human traits that absolutely attract me to those who exemplify them. Such as courage, selflessness, and kindness. There are more but right off the top of my head these three are most prominent, in general, as attracting to me in my life. When I see people who are reflecting out these noble human instincts I am flooded with emotion and awe. I have always been one who learns about the goodness in life through trial and error. Sure, there are some things I have applied logic to in order to understand the one dimensional concept but it is in the doing where I realize the length, width, and depth of that knowing.
     For me courage is the greatest of these three. My reason being is that so very few understand the necessity of courage when it is most needed. Some do and those are the ones who I feel an affinity with. Conquering fear, by the way fear is the worst of our baser human natures, yes, even worse than our depravities, is tantamount to the greatest of love. When we are able to stand up against our demons and call them out we are exemplifying the love we have for the better and best of who we are as human beings. Nothing I can think of is as comparable. I am always honored to be in the company of those who whether any knows of not have found courage when so may others shrank from their opportunity.
     With courage being the greatest attribute of the human instinct, selflessness and kindness are a close second. When I see or hear of others who are more concerned with the lesser of our societies it bonds me to them in an existential way. I feel we are a part of each other in a way that is greater than any blood or oath bond. We humans are an amazingly exceptional species and when we express our best attributes it syncs in my soul in such a universal way. Like the time space continuum that we are all part of is somehow whole. Nothing beyond these three human instincts is worthy of our honor. Some cannot understand a purpose for themselves in life but I would posit that being courageous, selfless, and kind is the only purpose we all should have.

(#5352) Ukraine should target Russian energy infrastructure

      The idea that putin can mercilessly attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure without a reciprocal response from Ukraine is tunnel vision. This is Russia invading Ukraine not Ukraine starting an invasion of Russia. But since Russia started this murderous attack, Ukraine should by all means make life miserable for the people of Russia who support the tyrant putin. The Ukrainian people have already suffered under Russian destroyed energy sectors in the dead of winter so while Russians sit home in their comfort and do nothing to stop putin then they should also feel the deprivation of needed energy necessities.
     The Russian people should have the same experience of living without heat or running water for their acquiescence of allowing putin to do the same thing to Ukraine. The Russian people should feel fortunate that Ukraine is not averse to committing war crimes against them like putin does to Ukraine. But putting the energy system in Russia in jeopardy is fair game. Since the Russian people think that warring in Ukraine is allowable then they should also feel the real life agony of their choice. War is hell for the ones attacked but should as well be for the ones who attack. The Russian people will learn the real life suffering that Ukraine is forced to endure because Russian citizenry allow it to happen to their eternal shame.
     A just world demands equivalent  reciprocal responses and in this instance there is no diversion. If Ukraine must go without energy then Russia should as well since they started the invasion of Ukraine. Pain and suffering is what Russia is causing in Ukraine because putin is a tyrant who hates democracy in other countries. So pain and suffering is what the Russian people should feel since they lack the conviction to stop putin from doing harm whenever and wherever he wants. He is their leader and they should by extension suffer from his bad choices. They were expecting to profit from his hoped for annexation of Ukraine now they should feel the cost of what putin is doing in Ukraine.

(#5351) Ukraine needs advanced weapons

      The F-16's would be a game changer but they will not likely arrive before the end of the year. The long range missiles would also be a game changer but the hesitancy from the west to supply Ukraine with them is not helpful. So what is Ukraine to do to protect world democracy against a democracy destroyer like Russia's putin? The only real option Ukraine has is to put their troops into greater jeopardy. The Ukrainian infantry will be relied upon to do the work that advanced weapons could do. The difference being brave Ukrainian soldiers will lose their lives.
     It saddens me and every democracy loving patriot around the world that The Ukrainian soldiers will be expended where in a more courageous world they would still be alive to see the eventual victory over tyranny. It has been so since the beginning of time that old men fight wars and young men die in them. Young men and women in the Ukrainian forces do not need that same historic fate. We the old men of the world must remember to live our lives as if we were young and do everything in our power to protect the young so that their time in existence is a value to them and our species at large.
     Ukraine should not have to sacrifice their young souls against the monster putin. Ukrainians stood up to putin to fight for the ideal of democracy so the rest of us who are not on the battlefield need to back the Ukrainians with everything we have. This fight in Ukraine is existential as it is for the very survival of our species. Democracy is the only instrument of an enlightened society that will guarantee the continuation of our species. As we see now with the tyrant putin and his threats, democracy is the only check on the madness some deranged men too often display. We the world need to give the Ukrainians all they need and do it now before more of the bravest souls on Earth have to die when the appropriate weapon would have sufficed.

(#5350) A duty of care to my brother John

      John and I were born in succession, John first then me 21 months later. We weren't real close as young children as Jim, the oldest, was John's preferred companion. But over time into our teen years Jim drifted off toward marriage and John and I began to hang out when possible. We had some pretty cool adventures growing up in the late sixties early seventies. When you do unique things together you form a bond that is quite strong. Since our teen years we both drifted off into our different lives and although intersecting at times we both lived apart for many years. John had a family of his own and I the reluctant bachelor had many more adventures ahead of me.
     As we got into later life John found his way into my home letting a room in my house. For years we got along mostly pretty good. But then earlier this year John had a major stroke. We didn't know how bad it was until his symptoms became painfully obvious. John had gotten a few more minor strokes and a problem with his heart to add to his debilitation. The sum of it was that John was not much able to feed himself nor keep himself clean. He needed attending to so he was given, according to his condition and several diagnosis's from doctors, a determination that hospice care was his only option. This didn't sit well with me but after having him in my home and trying to take care of him along with a care worker I soon learned why the doctors identified John as needing hospice care.
     With nowhere else for John to go, I was able to get hospice to take him into a care facility. What is disheartening is visiting him and seeing glimpses of who John is or was and then being confronted with how John is now. He feels it as well as he often asks me what has happened to him. I tell him he has had a stroke and that he is now under care for it. He wants to come back home and a part of me wishes he could recover in some miraculous way for him to do so. Likely it will not happen but his hope is all I can I can offer him. He knows I am in his corner and that is still the bond we had all those years ago.

(#5349) Nothing in your life is greater than you being a good person

      I shouldn't have to remind you that the best of what is inside you needs to be the greatest thing about you. You should know that 24/7. Every day I post on social media about why we need to do things that make all of us better and more enlightened yet each day I don't see us taking that advice. I know that our individual circumstances play a major role in us having to compromise our principles but compromising our principles is never a good idea when what we are receiving for it is just to maintain long enough to have to compromise again. We must break the cycle of trying to keep up with other folks and just work to keep ourselves happy and honorable.
     In this capitalistic world we live in it is hard to live a life of principle when just trying to stay alive is difficult enough. I get that, however beyond that when we try to be materialistic to the point of using it to satisfy our souls we make a wrong turn away from who we are. We need to have a safe harbor from which to launch who we are and that is good and correct. But being in a safe harbor is not some fantasy of having it all in that safe harbor. There are too many of us out there who are not in a safe harbor so helping them find that place for themselves is greater than any of us having too much more than needed.
     I like comfort myself but I only acquire enough comfort so that I am not horribly uncomfortable. I understand that being selfish and/or greedy is what has helped get the world into poverty. I won't be part of that and I try to give back even in my own meagerness. My soul demands it and I listen to my soul. Not some conman barker trying to tell me to take it all. The good person within me is my goal and all my effort goes toward that, not some new item to replace a perfectly good older item. Every day I see homeless people who are otherwise good people but have been handed a bad deal to suffer with. This should not be so and we, all of us, need to find it within ourselves to not accept this current reality of disparaging income inequality.

(#5348) President Joe Biden is the real deal for America and the world.

     The difference between the republicans who would take our democracy and dilute it down to a form of authoritarianism and we democrats who believe that democracy needs to be even stronger is stark and absolute. I think about how our foreparents risked everything to bring freedom and liberty to our then fledgling nation and how over the years we here in America have fought our own demons to become even a better version of our foreparents vision. The American experiment with equality and human rights has been a struggle but not one that has been undermined in any real way. However at this time in our history there is a concerted effort by the republican party to give aid to those who would undermine our democracy.
     Which is why it was so important for Joe Biden to have been elected in 2020 as our president. He has shown that his knowledge of and patriotism to democracy is unquestioned. He delivers on his promises to improve the lives of our citizenry. He has championed the middle and poor class to provide jobs and other life improving opportunities that give the many of us a better shot at our American dream. Even yesterday he has struck a deal with Mexico to significantly solve the border situation inside Mexico. Joe is a man of deeds and his deeds are the needs that America needs accomplished.
     There is another election coming up in about 13 months and a president will be elected to continue the leadership that America needs. Joe Biden is running for that job again and in my mind he has already won it. His accomplishments are incredible and so numerous that even trying to list them would leave me nothing else to write about given my word count. Joe believes in democracy, a one person one vote system that will give all Americans the right to be involved in their government. I can honestly say that Joe Biden is the best thing to happen to our nation in the long history of it that I have been able to witness.

(#5347) The end of modern day Russia is coming

      Russia will not survive as a nation because of their failure over invading Ukraine. They had about 300,000 troops massed at the border with Ukraine with accompanying armaments on February 24, 2022 and putin decided to go ahead with the invasion. What putin did not expect was Ukrainian President Zelenskyy displaying his courage and telling putin that he would stay and fight against the invaders aggression. He didn't also expect that the Ukrainian people would stay with their president and fight to save their homeland from Russian rule. On that same first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine the small guard garrison on Snake Island told the Russian warship to fuck off when told to surrender.
     The arrogance of the putin led Russian invasion was knocked back into their faces when the Ukrainians began to fight hard to defend their country. Russian forces tried to take Kyiv, the capitol of Ukraine but were not successful. This defense of their capitol inspired the Ukrainians even more and they soon got western munitions to help them start to destroy the Russian military day by day. What putin thought on February 24, 2022 was that the Ukrainians would be frightened into surrendering in the face of such overwhelming military might. Yet what actually occurred was that the Ukrainians showed Russia who was the real military might in the battle for Ukraine.
     Over 275,000 Russian troops have been eliminated in Ukraine, with at least an equal amount of wounded, and Russia is in an even worse position today as far as having occupied Ukrainian land than when they were on February 22, 2022. This ill fated decision by putin to bully and provoke a fight with Ukraine will be his undoing and the undoing of Russia as we know it. Russia will not survive a defeat in Ukraine nor will they stop trying to win. The only outcome of this trouncing they are receiving in Ukraine is that an implosion of Russian society is on the verge of happening. Too many Russians see the writing on the wall and are already devising their exit strategies which do not include saving the current configuration of Russia.

(#5346) Russia very weak on all it's other borders

      As Russia is using it's last gasp effort to remain in Ukraine, the other countries it borders with are aware of the thinning out of defenses Russia had previously had with them. Like any intelligent country aware of it's own ambitions with contested borders with Russia, plans are surely in the making to push Russia back out of contested border areas. That Russia is depleting itself of troops and armaments in Ukraine the security of Russian border defenses is surely suffering mightily. Russia, through putin and the kremlin, are stuck in a tunnel vision reality. They can only see out ahead their ambitions in Ukraine and not their vulnerabilities behind them at home.
     Something is about to break and Russia is the one who will be feeling the effect. Every day Russia loses more troops and armaments while not replenishing them in any equivalent way. So as Russia becomes less formidable there so far subdued neighbors grow more bold. The kremlin and putin have brought this on themselves because they went all in on Ukraine instead of seeing the futility of conquering Ukraine and disengaging when they could have cut their losses. Now the idea that Russia will remain intact as it currently exists is less probable than them breaking up into regional culturally orientated nations.
     The Napoleonic complex putin and the kremlin are laboring under is about to bury them as it did it's namesake. The cruel and ruthless ambition of such creatures to expend people like discarded property is doomed to failure in a world now enlightened and less forgiving of tyranny. As Ukraine continues to grow as a force to free itself from Russia, other neighboring countries who may also find their courage will be able to do the same should they take advantage of Russia's condescension of them. The reputation Russia is relying on is a farce and the world knows it now so don't be surprised if neighboring countries to Russia push back at the weakened frail bear!

(#5345) Russian troop morale is very low!

      With little rotation for the Russian troops at the contact line the idea that Russia is capable of withstanding a strategically intelligent advance by Ukraine is unfathomable. Ukraine on the other hand is pumped up high to fight and retake their Russian illegally occupied territory. Not only does Ukraine rotate their troops from the contact line but they do not use their troops as cannon fodder like what Russia does to its troops. When you know your commanders have your back and the enemy is tired and disillusioned the edge goes to Ukraine. I know the Russian troops are scared of not fighting since their commanders are told to shoot them if they don't fight. So that kind of incentive is another depressing reason for their low morale.
     I really do expect a breakthrough any time now for Ukrainian forces. They have been building up several key points of momentum toward breaking the front line. Where on the front line that Ukraine does try to flood their troops through is still unknown but several spots are obvious. Yet doing the obvious to how Russia thinks is not how Ukrainians think. This whole defense and offense of Ukraine against the Russian horde has been unique and resourceful enough to catch the Russians unawares. Watching how Ukraine is strategically fighting the Russians will be a whole course in military college.
     Of course the outcome of Ukraine defeating the Russians on Ukrainian territory is still a story not yet told but we are seeing glimpses of how it may happen. Ukraine still needs weapons from the west to continue their march to the Sea of Azov in order to cut the Russian invasion in half. That is my best guess as to how the current Ukrainian offense will play out. Each day that goes by with no further rotations for Russian troops only makes them more bone weary and easier targets for elimination. Such is the fate of the Russian troop. They allow themselves to be subjected to a tyrant who does not fight himself but is easily able to send nearly 275,000 of his troops to death.

(#5344) Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a true force of nature

      In all my lifetime I have never seen such a man as Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He is indefatigable. From day one his telling putin that he would stay in Ukraine and push the Russian horde from his homeland to yesterday at the United Nations in New York telling the world that Ukraine must defeat the tyrant putin and bolster democracy. The force of his will makes him the best example of what a human being may become. "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them" this quote is all of what Zelenskyy is. He was necessarily born great because it is obviously within him. He achieved greatness with his election as president of Ukraine. The invasion by Russia was thrust upon him and he has championed a response.
     In these daily blog posts what I write is the fact that I think all people are unique and offer differing positives to our societies. At least all have that potential. Some falter when given the opportunity to do greatness and many never get the opportunity. Yet I know in my soul that we all are capable of being something outstandingly special. Which is why I believe in democracy. When we are all equal shareholders in our futures then the best of who we are is given a chance to flourish. In this instance it is Volodymyr who has flourished. Even more so.
     We here in the west need a super hero to believe in. If you doubt me just observe what we entertain ourselves with. Make believe super men and women who are able to do the nearly impossible to effect right over wrong. It is within us humans to crave such behavior. Well we don't need entertainment to bring us real live heroes like Zelenskyy. He exists in our current reality. He would downplay any talk of himself being a hero and would instead point to the Ukrainian fighting forces that are putting their lives on the line every minute of every day. His point is valid but for a few things. He is their voice, passion, and perseverance for fighting and as long as he is the world will know that Ukrainians are a special people who are led by a man whom in my estimation deserves our most honored appreciation.

(#5343) Never back down from the truth even if pressed

      There is so much disinformation out there that people are coming at me with their perceptions that on the surface are unbelievable. Yet, they hear it on the "news" and since it aligns with their baser instincts it makes perfect sense to them. For example, when a person doesn't like policies that help everyone equally they reach deep down into their own ethnic foundation and find fault where none exists. Somehow democracy is at fault for trying to do what democracy does, help everyone. If it isn't racial bias or gender bias then it is some other fear that has been elevated within them as an imperative.
     There cannot be much of an argument made when the truth is being debated. The truth is what is real and arguing against it makes the arguer suspect of ulterior motives. I, along with all others in existence live in this reality so we all have the same premises to construct from. Premises may vary slightly based upon how one is affected by the occurrence but little changes from what the truth ultimately will reveal. Fact is the outcome of many truths so you and I can be certain of foundational things as we communicate with each other. Otherwise we would not be able to agree on much if the truth of our facts vary from established formulas.
     So when a person talks to me about things that are outside the truth of things I begin by telling them that the truth is what is real, not some imagined perception of it that helps them reach an illogical conclusion. I try to speak in formulas using logic and mathematics to bolster the truth through fact. I in my own way, may not like the end result of the truth of things but that isn't enough for me to ignore reality. I accept that truth and facts are the only common language we all have regardless of our dialects. In this existence we either help along our species to a higher level of life or we allow it to fall back to a lesser form of life. I will always choose to raise our standards, not find a baser comfort in less than the truth.

(#5342) The rainy season in Ukraine is coming soon

      What will be the consequence of the rainy season in Ukraine? Mud will be the main consequence when it comes to front line fighting. Wading through mud whether it be boots, tires, or tracks, the slowing down of offensive actions will occur. Which makes it all the more important to gain as much Ukrainian territory back from Russian occupation as quickly and safely as possible. The problem with getting into a more optimal position against Russian occupation of Ukraine is that the armaments needed are not in as much supply as Ukraine would like. Therefore Ukraine will be using less than ideal strategies to move forward through the contact line with Russia.
     Most of the lack of armaments is down to the west not fulfilling the required needs of Ukraine with regard to equipment needed to push the contact line back. With greater distancing missiles and updated air support Ukraine would have been in a much better position to defend itself from nightly Russian missile attacks on their civilian population and energy infrastructure. Regardless of blame the Ukrainians are still faced with the reality of having to take strategic areas before the rain comes. The high ground and major road and rail traffic are paramount for controlling. The secondary roads will soon be impassable so the major highways will be crucial to effective launching of fall and winter offensives.
     Ukraine is fighting this monstrous invasion of Russia not only for their own right to exist as a sovereign nation but most of the rest of the civilized western world is anxious for Ukraine to succeed in order to establish democracy in the Eastern European region. When democracies flourish the world is a happier and safer place to live. We must not let the past archaic forms of tyranny rule our planet when we have the enlightened formula for ending such demeaning ego driven callous rule. Ukraine has a plan for defeating Russia in Ukraine so we in the west need to do everything we can to help them do just that!

(#5341) We are still fighting for universal health care

      It is a lot harder to get universal health care done at the federal level when republicans are needed to work on it. They oppose the idea of a federal health care policy that involves universal coverage. They want private insurance companies involved which gives a lot of the wealthy an easy income stream for their profits. But we democrats know that reducing administrative costs that are duplicative all over the private insurance racket and eliminating corporate profits off our health miseries is the correct thing to do. So here in California we are slowly passing legislation that will end up with a plan to cover all Californians with full essential coverage.
     California Governor Newsom will have the opportunity to make law a legislative bill that will work to define income sources for a universal health care plan in California. We have seen in how rushing a universal health care bill in the past to fruition has only ended in failure. So planning how the idea of universal health care will be implemented with costs figured into the final push to get it passed is crucial. It may take another year or two even to get all the facts in place so an informed decision can be made but just know this, most civilized nations on this planet have already figured out that universal health care for their citizenry is the most effective way to ensure their health.
     There is much money that private corporations in the health care industry do not want to let go of despite it being a hardship for their customers. So government has to step in to ensure the life and health of it's citizenry despite big pharma and big private insurance company maneuvers to keep our current broken health care system in place. This is a big deal what California democrats are trying to accomplish on behalf of we all the people. The struggle for effective and intelligent design in health care delivery is at its apex and now is the time to break the stranglehold private insurance companies have over the health of our state!

(#5340) Ukraine's counter offensive is slowly making progress

      The effort by Ukraine is ongoing despite it being slow. The reason for the slow advances is simple to understand. Russia had about a year to prepare defensive measures behind the contact line with Ukraine so Ukraine advancing has been chock full of obstructions and deviations. Unlike with Russia which just storms the contact lines with unlimited troops used for cannon fodder, Ukraine is careful in protecting their troops and instead let the armaments do the battling. Ukraine didn't start this invasion by Russia but they sure are about to end it with Russia losing now over 271,000 troops and at least half the conventional Russian military capability.
     Wisdom under duress is a rare thing yet Ukraine not only is displaying a constant example of wisdom they are also showing how valuable each of their troops are to them by giving them the best chance at success without putting them in unnecessary harm. The depth of depravity that is exemplified on the Russian side is an offshoot of the tyranny they live under. The lies and deceptions throughout the Russian military structure is what is their undoing. As with most all who are in power under tyranny, they only got there through less than admirable ways. For them the outcome of difficult and stressful times is more often than not, failure. That is Russia's future, certainly not Ukraine's!
     The battle for the Ukrainian people is relentless perseverance. The battle for Russia is less so and even much less important to their soldiers. The keen sense of intelligence and valued strategy along with a determined will is the formula for success and Ukraine has an unlimited supply of that. With breakthroughs in the west and south the Ukrainians are about to force Russia into having to make decisions that are either not good or really bad. Ukraine has the upper hand and Russia is lacking in motivation, troops and supplies. Expect to see some real progress increase as Ukraine keeps pushing back the contact line toward their original borders.

(#5339) We cannot ignore what is happening in Ukraine!

      Here I am in America doing my daily chores and pleasures without a missile dropping on my neighborhood. Here I am going to work without worrying if my life will be forfeit by an invading horde. Here I am making plans on my day off work to do the little necessary things that keep my life somewhat free from chaos and fear unlike in Ukraine where going to the store to do the weekly shopping cannot be a casual experience. Here I am interacting with my neighbors in normal ways whereas in Ukraine the neighbors are stricken with loss of life continuously. There is nothing normal about living a peaceful life in Ukraine unlike me here in the safety of our American shores.
     A monstrous invasion by its neighbor Russia and Russia's annexation of Ukrainian land and citizenry is abominable. Ukrainian children in Ukraine are being whisked away from Ukrainian parents on Ukrainian soil into deep parts of Russia to be indoctrinated as Russian. Nightly, Russia sends numerous missiles at Ukrainian cities and ports to indiscriminately attack Ukraine and its civilian population. Young and old civilian men, women, and children are not spared the war crimes scattershot approach to Russia's deviousness. There are no casual drives around the neighboring areas to take in the beauty of Ukrainian landscape because that landscape is pot marked and full of destruction.
     The youth of Ukraine are being made to slow down their education as difficulties in maintaining an orderly learning process is a struggle at best for many and impossible for many others. Young Ukrainian males and females are giving up their lives to fight for their right to democracy and the freedom to pursue their own destiny. The pride of Ukraine in its determination to stave off the yoke of tyranny from putin is glorious to me and I wish there was some way I could end the invasion of this remarkably noble people right this minute. Nothing about living and fighting in Ukraine is normal and we who support Ukraine must let others know that doing nothing to help Ukraine is not acceptable!

(#5338) Russia will not stop until putin is stopped!

      I am sure by now that the western nations who support Ukraine in its defense against Russian occupation know that putin is not going to stop aggressively taking over country after country until he is stopped. He thinks we in the west are afraid of him and his threats to blow up the world. Well I know that too many of us in the west are not afraid of his threats. He has been shown to be a paper tiger on the military front as Ukraine everyday keeps handing him another piece of his ass! The Russian military is not a formidable entity and is not even the best army fighting in Ukraine.
     So the inevitable question arises as to the best way to stop putin before he involves more of the few nations that are sympathetic to his world dominating viewpoint. Somehow arresting putin for his war crimes would be acceptable and having him charged and tried for those war crimes would go a long way toward deterring any further warring in Ukraine. There are those who would allow putin to be afflicted with his special brand of tea that so many of his colleagues in the past have had to suffer. Also putin should stay away from windows as there seems to be an epidemic of Russians falling out of them. The individual stopping of putin does not however seem plausible so the best way to end the putin reign is to defeat him badly on the battlefield in Ukraine.
     This is where the western nations who are, by proxy, defending democracy need to realign their caution in giving Ukraine what it needs to not only thwart Russian advances in Ukraine but to force the Russian horde to reverse and remove itself from Ukraine. Weapons of war are the pathway to ending the putin ambition in Ukraine and elsewhere. We in the west have got to understand that too much caution and visible fear are friends to putin. He sees we in the west as too fragile to stop him thus his determined stance to go all in on Ukraine. Stopping putin is done when we in the west realize that giving Ukraine what it needs to fulfill its objective of removing Russians from their land is heads and shoulders above our unhelpful caution and fear.

(#5337) The mess that is republican politics

      What to do with republicans? If it were me deciding their fate I would not vote for any of them. They just don't seem to get that they work for we the people! Instead they work for the wealthy and now it seems for dictators like putin. What happened to the republican party that was for law and order? What happened to the republican party that would go to war to defend democracy? What happened to the republican party that understood the needs of our society and enacted legislation that improved the lives of our citizenry? I cannot tell you what happened to that republican party that was positively active back in my very early younger formative years but not since then.
     Starting with nixon, who by the way passed the Environmental Protection Agency, every republican president since has been churning their way toward reducing government like with the EPA. Instead of making the wealthy pay their share of taxes that would keep our society robust they instead make the poor among us suffer through homelessness and hunger. There was a change in the outlook of republicans about 60 years ago that has since led them to this point. Why I don't know but the effect is obviously greed. In no universe can republicans justify making the many low income poor people suffer in order to allow the wealthy to have even more resources.
     It is a callousness that is now ingrained into the republican political and economical philosophy. Use people as property in order to gain for themselves. The only pursuit of happiness is for those who lie, cheat, and steal their way to prosperity. The democratic ideals of equity, fairness, and justice are not to be allowed for those who are not wealthy nor powerful. The republican party has become a safe haven for the sociopaths in our nation. If you don't feel an obligation to the ideals of democracy then putin and his crowd of tyrants sound like a better alternative. The republican party is a mess and not voting for any of them is the only solution I can think of.

(#5336) New work opportunity

      Yesterday I moved from being a part time transfer driver with UHaul to a full time storage coordinator with UHaul. The duties are very different. As a transfer driver it was my responsibility to move vehicles and trailers from different lots and to move vehicles and trailers to the repair yard for preventive maintenance and more complex mechanical issues. As a storage coordinator I will be responsible for keeping the storage facility operational and clean. A glorified housekeeper of sorts. Yet it is really more than that. I only spent a day so far learning the responsibilities so I am just getting my feet wet before the big plunge as it were.
     The storage coordinator position is one as a face of the company and how well I represent UHaul will be contingent on how well I can keep the facility I am working in clean, functional, and welcoming. There are many possibilities for me to upgrade the look of the facility and I will be formulating those ideas as time goes on. I don't see myself working for many years to come but who knows and if I just keep waking up each day and doing the job the best I can who knows how long I may decide to keep working. I am only 68 so there are more years left in me for a forty hour week load.
     The main thing about this job that attracted it to me is the light duty aspect of it. Now the units are basically clean since it is an inside facility but there is a process for keeping these units clean and in a short time I will become an expert at it. Doing a good job in my duties is how I roll so I expect nothing less than a very clean facility with a modern look to it. Sales isn't my greatest asset but how this facility will appear to customers is a sales pitch in itself. People will enjoy a clean and safe environment with storing their desired belongings. I am happy to have this opportunity and look forward to making my contribution to our economic society.
     

(#5335) Expanding trade with Vietnam

      It is interesting that although Vietnam is a one party rule that has not yet gotten back to a democratic political and social system, their authoritarian form of government still looks upon America as a friend. This is significant in that building new bonds with Vietnam can go a long way toward thwarting China from tough a negotiating position. One thing that all the countries on our planet seem to have as a common goal is to produce economies for their citizens. Taking that commonality to the next level with Vietnam is a strong strategic indicator that no one Asian country has a lock on economic possibilities.
     We know the Vietnamese people are a stout and sturdy people in many ways like the Ukrainians. So bringing them into an economic pact that favors western and eastern cultures opens the door for even better relations on a front of other issues and concerns. President Biden has accomplished a major foreign policy coup in bringing Vietnam into a prominent economic role. Billions of dollars of trade have already been confirmed to begin immediately including defense measures with Boeing to upgrade the Vietnamese Air force. Somehow this new alignment with Vietnam feels karmic in that what we tried to do by force half a century ago is now starting to be accomplished through desires by both countries.
     I was shocked a bit to hear of this collaboration with Vietnam but not shocked in a bad way. A pleasant surprise is what it is and a real feel good moment. I have no animosity toward Vietnam even though they were an enemy of my young generation all those years ago. Now that we see all the factors in the light of day that caused the Vietnam conflict and kept it going we see that no blame needs to be assigned to this current generation that is just trying to build on peace throughout the world. Joe Biden has really done a remarkable thing here and once again people who underestimate Joe should be well advised to stop it!

(#5334) Football and the war in Ukraine

      I imagine what it is like to be a Ukrainian when I sit in my chair at home and comfortably watch the start of the football season here in America. They the Ukrainian fighters are not sitting comfortably in any chair instead they are on the front lines fighting for the democracy our American founders so astutely began back in 1776. I do feel guilty that I am not out there fighting with Ukrainians against the tyranny of putin and his kremlin acolytes. But I know I am not there and I am getting a bit old for street to street hand fighting. But I can't shake the feeling that I wish I could do more to help.
     It is a turmoil within me and I have yet to resolve it as I write this blog post. I will say this that the sporting events surrounding college football are not as important with me given life and death consequences being waged this very minute. My objective view is that we all must keep living life and doing our happy enough routines but I also know we cannot blind ourselves to reality and the importance of it in Ukraine right now. Most of you already know I spend little time on anything else concerning Ukraine's survival when on social media but the actually fighting is where I am not involved and it irks me. I am less than whole when others are defending the greatest form of self government that has ever been conceived.
     I have a duty to democracy that supersedes anything I may find personally satisfying. We all do who love the American dream of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. Sports are not the beginning and end of what I care about. Equality, justice, fairness and opportunity are the greatest valuations when I keep score on any playing field. I will keep following "my teams" in the sports arena but I won't be lost in the rooting of my teams regardless of how successful they are. I will keep rooting on a higher level for Ukraine and its brave citizenry as they continue to degrade the fascist tyrant putin and his quest to eliminate and destroy concepts of democracy that must never be allowed!

(#5333) Just keep doing the next correct thing...

      As long as I am alive doing the next correct thing, that is my mantra. I have found that when I do what needs to be done in the correct way I am personally satisfied and those around me tend to be people of good will. Which is important to me because I need to be surrounded by people who lift people up and not bring them down. My mental health is a priority and so should it be for everyone else. We have to keep people who are not positive and of good will out of our lives. Many of us don't have the luxury of keeping people of bad faith from our lives but at least we can cut down on those who are within our ability to do so.
     If I can share a smile and a greeting with everyone I know when I come upon them, then my life is a good one. Because respecting each persons existence and acknowledging their presence is the end result of an inner happiness regardless of our circumstances. I am often humbled to know the people I currently have in my life because I admire their will, perseverance, character, behavior etc... All the things I hope to magnify out to others. In so many good ways we are or should be alike. The better and best of who we are should be a shared dynamic. I try to live in the positive so reflecting out a happy and welcoming lifestyle is a non stop trait that I shoot for to happen.
     It isn't always easy being positive and those who know me understand that. I will buck up to anyone who is out to do harm on my watch so I can't always be carefree of current events. Yet when I am carefree of current events my inner soul is at peace and ready to share that peace. Surrounding my self with good people of like mind is now essential in my social and otherwise life. I know what a bad mental health lifestyle can do to ones perspective of all things around them so not allowing that negative aspect of living around my life not only ensures my mental health will remain positive and happy it also helps others to see that finding peace within oneself is greater than any other accomplishment.

(#5332) Get billionaires and the electoral college out of our politics!

      We will never survive as a democracy if we keep allowing the wealthy to control it. We the people are the ones who should elect our representatives not the wealthy for their own advantage. First there must be a wealth tax that is so damn high that billionaires are not allowed to accumulate too many resources. We the people need to have a playing field where there are vast opportunities for us not like the narrow limited ones available now. Secondly there should be no public financing of elections beyond a small donation. Thirdly there has to be controls in place where dark money through non profits or other ulterior organizations are allowed to donate to individual candidates.
     The will of the people has to be the highest priority for deciding who will lead us through our nations laws and policies. The current situation with trump is a classic example of the wealthy controlling our elections in 2016 in order to insert the most obnoxious pro wealthy president in our nations history. Through propaganda and voter suppression the wealthy have found a path toward thwarting the will of the people and it must stop now! None of it is ethical nor the intent of our founding parents. Our democracy is for all of us not just for the greedy wealthy few. It is shameful that too many wealthy have taken the position that wealth equals intelligence and wisdom. None of that has proven anything more than wealth equaling greed.
     The sooner we get the wealthy out of our politics the sooner we will get elected officials who will be focused on the problems within our societies that we the people know need attention. We the people need to reclaim our right as the ultimate arbiter of who is elected as a majority. Twice in the last 24 years a republican has been given the presidency because of the archaic electoral college and its indirect method of determining our president. Each time the republican who was appointed as president lost the popular vote. That cannot be allowed to continue and the archaic electoral college must be abolished. If our democracy is to survive under the concept of one person one vote then the influence of the wealthy and electoral college must be assigned to the trashcan of history!

(#5331) The republicans destroyed abortion rights so they must be made to pay!

      In 14 months the republican party will feel the pain of destroying abortion rights of women. This is not a cultural or social attack republicans have made against women it is an attack on their very right to exist as free human beings. When women are not allowed to control the very function of their bodies, they are thus cast as less than human. This is what we as humans do to cattle, which is abominable in itself. Women are not cattle nor should they be treated as such. The arguments for denying women the right to define their own destiny are all couched in religion, or men controlling them, illogic.
     It seems that the religious aspect of it is that somehow life begins at conception. Yet religion is not something we are held to under democracy. If the religious want to follow religious doctrine to guide them in their decision making about whether to have an abortion then such is their right. But to cast their beliefs on the subject to other women who don't hold to their religion or any religion at all is anti democratic. Many religions do not even allow their believers to use contraception as a choice and these same religions are trying to make their belief law for all. Let us be clear here as well, belief systems are not fact systems. So basing laws for all on hoped for wishful thinking is absurd!
     Come November 2024 the rallying cry for democrats and women who understand the priority of them having their rights as free human beings will be all encompassing. Freedom of religion and freedom from religion are words specific to our Bill of Rights. We Americans here in America must protect the basic foundation of democracy and making sure women are equal partners in all rights is essential and should be absolute. The republican party does not believe women are equal partners in life so the deserves republicans should receive in the coming election is a shellacking at the ballot box. We cannot allow any political party any significance when their agenda is to make our women equal to or less than cattle.

(#5330) Loyalty to the republican name is a disservice to our nation

      I have heard this comment enough, "we have always voted republican" to make me sure that most republican voters do not think critically about what they are actually voting for. They vote in a knee jerk reaction because that is what they bought into very early in their lives. Their parents voted that way and now they do because loyalty is a powerful elixir. That is the epitome of subjective thought and action. Now let me explain about subjectivity. It is a personal way of being based more on feeling and opinion than fact. Weigh that against being objective; "No favoritism nor bias. Just the facts please." You can see where subjectivity gives us unstable conclusions whereas objectivity is the latest conclusion based upon the facts.
     Subjectivity thus is the foundation for the republican voter. No other rational explanation can dispute this. When facts and truths are given and the response is to dismiss them as unimportant then reality is not being examined for logical conclusions. The republican voter relies more on their interpretation of reality than actual reality given objective analysis. So it is why we are at a loggerhead with too many American voters. They will not accept facts and truths about our democracy regardless of the solid logic. Denial is a powerful alternative to acceptance and is proving to be the crux of how republican voters can systematically entrench in their biases and illogic.
     How the republican party allowed itself to be diluted into a party that even now attacks the fundamentals of democracy is shameful and nefarious. An ulterior motive is at play and it is within the power structure of republicanism. Of that there is no doubt so what is the cure for what ails republicanism? The cure must come from within the republican voter. A more critical look at what has always been their loyalty to them must be reassessed. The republican voter must now be the one to either demand the revival of the best of what republicanism meant to them or leave the republican party and let it wither from it's own poisonous bent.

(#5329) The Russian citizenry is a shameful citizenry

      There is nothing about being a Russian citizen today that is to be admired. The only one person who has any claim to being an honest decent person is Alexei Navalny and he is in a Russian prison for being against the atrocious putin. From all evidence the rest of the Russian people are not honorable nor respectable. Why? Because they have not found a way to get out from under the rule of putin and his kremlin acolytes. Every day there are more and more Russian sons sent to their deaths in an invasion to keep the Ukrainian people from claiming their democracy.
     More than 265,000 young Russian men are now dead in Ukraine because the Russian mothers and fathers of these now dead Russian offspring would not stop their tyrannical leader. Instead they cower and ignore the devastation of human life perpetrated on their society. Where is the anger and uproar against the illegal invasion by putin of Ukraine? Where is the armed citizen rebellion against a form of government that denies rights to themselves and life to their children? Where is the basic decency required to be a human being? Nowhere in Russia! It is shameful and a stain on our human race that a maniacal despot like putin is allowed to destroy a large society with impunity.
     The history books will not be kind to the Russian people for their lack of courage. Instead the books of history will spell out their bent knee of collusion with putin to deny democracy to another sovereign nation while condemning their own children to mass death and maiming. The people of Russia are exemplifying the worst of what it is to be human and forever they will be known as the scourge of human evolution. As it stands today there is no evidence that the Russian people plan to change the trajectory of their pitiful existence They brought this upon themselves for letting their children die while they cowered in their hovels of shame.

(#5328) Labor day a day of rest for me

      The hard fought national holiday of labor is now upon us. For me it isn't a holiday for being busy it is a day to rest my weary bones. I have not planned some trip or some work detail at home, I am just going to relax and let the day be itself without me being in any hurry. It is almost like a pause in my routine of getting things done on some list I have in my head. I will do my daily chores but nothing beyond that. Well maybe some research into a few subjects but that is almost a daily chore with me. I like to know things and that doesn't ever seem to take a day off.
     As you may have surmised already I am an advocate for workers unions. I know there are internal problems with some unions but overall they are a mighty tool in securing rights and equitable pay for their members. The capitalists are not easily persuaded to share in the profits all workers help them accumulate so it is with unions and their ability to negotiate fairness and pay equity that most workers find that balance. With non union shops the will of the owners are the guiding principle and much more often than not the will of the owners supersedes the real needs of their workers and a quality of life that escapes them.
     With unions the owners are forced to negotiate in good faith based upon all the relevant factors. The owners are also protected in these negotiations because no one wants the businesses to fail, just to be more inclusive of the needs of workers. A fair middle ground is the ultimate goal and for that unions are the best placed resource to secure that middle ground that keeps a happy and appreciative workforce available to owners who need the security of faithful and hard working employees. Today we recognize the sacrifices that workers in the past fought through to win rights and equitable pay for all of us who have greatly benefitted from them. Thank you unionized labor for fighting on behalf of those of us who work daily for our survival.

(#5327) My public school education was brilliant!

      I am so proud to be from a public school education system. Not only were my teachers adept at teaching me from early age 5 to age 17 but they were kind decent human beings who gave us a panoramic view of the world, not a fettered one. Objectivity is the keyword here. Giving us the information for us to critique and reason with is how teaching is supposed to be done. Not a list of what to think but an opportunity to learn to think critically for ourselves. Another aspect of my schooling was diversity. During the late sixties and early seventies in the last century busing of racially different children to schools to allow for diversity was needed.
     This busing took me from my predominantly white neighborhood to a high school that was an equal mix of Asian, Hispanic, African American, and Caucasian students. Most of us were not aware of the intimate cultural differences that each were part of until we got to know one another. What we found in the mixing of our races for purposes of schooling is that we are/were basically all the same. We had dreams to live a life of happiness and success. When our differences were brought together we realized a strength in the overall sameness at our cores that lifted our experiences and knowledge to a higher level of understanding.
     Our empathy for one another caused a reversal from our previous held biases and prejudices. We learned that no one is better than another solely based upon race. We learned that merit and talent was the separator not race or gender. Some of the best memories of my life still revolve around the years I spent being in a high school that gave me the opportunity to mix with those I had previously misunderstood. I grew tremendously as a person from my experiences and to this day cherish the gift of knowing that all of us human beings of differing colors and genders for that matter are precious and valuable with no exception. What we do with our ethics and talents is what defines who we are. Thank you public schooling for giving me the intelligence to be an insightful man who appreciates this existence and all within it.

(#5326) Be the do no harm person!

      If everyone would just look at all things through the prism of "do no harm" then no harm would ever happen. Helping people instead of hurting them should always be priority number one. I have one caveat to this mantra of ours, if someone is intent and ready to do harm to me or others around me then I will defend myself and others from them. Do no harm is not a passive stance it is a balanced one when it comes to all things intelligent and wise. It takes guts to stand up for others when the outcome may well be harmful to myself or others but that doesn't stop me from exercising my courage to stop that which is wrong.
     Either be a hero or a coward. You get to choose. Some instances where living to fight another day is appropriate but nonetheless not standing up in the moment is a cowardly act. I know because I have been a coward and felt that shame when I didn't stand up and defend against the wrong in real time. So I have made it my passion to live like a hero and not a coward because suffering consequences from standing up is always much better than cowering away in shame. Life is not guaranteed to anyone so there will always be scenarios where our lives will be put in jeopardy for being brave. Yet moving past those episodes and achieving a correct and good outcome is more often than not. It is only always a loss when we cower away and do nothing.
     I know this may sound selfish on my part advocating for courage when shying away in fear will save our lives for sure but what kind of quality of life is that? Fear will only grow in the cowards life so what is life worth then? The only way to live life in this existence is for all of us to find our core and do no harm. When we do then it is upon us to defend that do no harm when harm is being done to ourselves or others. When we are being warred upon then we must defend ourselves and stop those who would kill us for their agenda. Do no harm and then defend it with all your courage and might!

(#5325) Ukraine is bringing the Sea of Azov under short range fire control

      As Ukraine is moving steadily forward South down toward the Sea of Azov the Russian occupiers are increasingly in danger of being cut off from any supply route to replenish their armaments. Ukraine doesn't even need to go all the way to the coastal lines because their short and medium range artillery and missiles will be sufficient to rout the Russians who are being split into two different operating theaters. If Ukraine can establish a coastal stronghold the Russians will be vulnerable since they will be cut off with no escape. I expect that Russia will retreat to Crimea as quickly as possible if they see they are not going to be able to hold back the Southern Ukrainian advance.
     That will only be a temporary solution because Ukraine is on pace to move quickly into Crimea to begin that liberation process. The Russians who will be trapped are aware of the danger but they seem to be trying to hang on to the last moment. That is not a good strategy because Ukraine is not taking any breaks in their quest to oust Russian occupation of the territory. As long as putin continues to lie to his people about the real threats and dangers Russia now faces the easier it will be to catch the Russians on their back foot and remove them from Ukrainian territory. The momentum is on the side of Ukraine and the end of this invasion is within sight albeit not a short sight.
     Russia is trying hard to reclaim territory they lost last year in the Donbas and their constant attacks and propaganda seem to indicate that they want to mount an offensive there. But Russia is devoid of troops and armaments to produce a counter offensive like they are propagandizing. As long as the Ukrainian southern front continues as it is and the Bakhmut area remains hotly contested then Russia will not be able to attack in the East in order to counter the Ukrainian offensive in the South. These next handful of days will absolutely tell how this invasion will go. My bet is that Ukraine will succeed in their push to the Sea of Azov and will rout the Russians there further demoralizing the people of Russia.