Wednesday, September 28, 2016

WHY I WILLNEVER VOTE FOR TRUMP

It needs to be said. Trump is running to be dictator-in-chief. His deplorable performance at the first debate is just another indication of his meglamania mindset.  He only takes on projects where he can make a buck usually at the expense of everyone else. He actually used his projects/scams in other countries as his knowledge of their culture, history and relationship with the United States.  Being President is not a business deal where your sole objective is to take advantage of the other guy and make money.

A business person who does not understand that this is a global economy and every country's actions have an impact on others is an idiot.  This is not the 1930's though one wonders if that is his objective. It is especially telling when his rallies focus on blaming minorities (fast becoming majorities) for all the woes of the country. That we can solve our problems by "cleansing" certain ethnicities, religious beliefs or race. Next we will be seeing makeshift swastikas appearing with the Trump logo embedded of course.

Government does not exist to make a profit which is why the forefathers created checks and balances so that no one person could become King. We pay taxes to allow our government the ability to take care of the helpless, undertake projects that are too large for the individual, protect our citizens and speak for us on the world platform. Surprise, none of this is a business deal designed to screw the other guy, but to be a faithful servant of the people. Does our legislature often fail to be good caretakers. Granted, but that is on us to vote and apply pressure to assure the right things are done rather than complacently allowing things to go on as usual and then bitch about it.

 Our boy admires people like dictator brother Putin and there is evidence to indicate Russia is heavily invested in Trump projects. There are also strong indications that the Russians are behind strategic hacking as evidenced by Trump's assertion that it is probably some 400 lb loser sitting on his bed with his laptop. That loser's bed is probably located in the Kremlin. Why make such ridiculous statements including I don't pay taxes because I'm smart.  How do we make America great again when you don't believe you need to pay anything for the cause.  Again arrogant to the extreme.

There are many reasons why I despise what the man stands for but here are a few outrageous examples. 1) mocking a physically impaired journalist and locking other journalists in a fenced area encouraging rabid rally attendees to heap ridicule and missiles onto them; 2) denouncing a judge, born in the United States, because his parents were from Mexico (your grandparents were from Germany, but you don't like to say that do you); 3) a female journalist was unfit as she had blood coming out of her whatever; 4) receiving a purple heart from a veteran saying - always wanted one but this was easier way to get one; 5) insulting the parents of an American soldier killed in the Mideast defending his men; 6) destroying the lives of small investors and contractors unlucky enough to be involved in his business dealings claiming it will be more expensive for them to sue him than to collect what was rightfully owed to them.

This man does not speak for me and I sure as hell don't want him speaking for my country. Remember if he is smart for not paying his taxes, what does that make us?  We do have an alternative who is highly qualified and has earned the right to represent this country, but I will not sully her reputation in this condemnation of the idiot Trump.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Enjoying the enviable position of being able to grocery shop on a weekday I almost miss the consternation in the chicken coops of everyone scrambling to get their food chores done on the weekend. Sandwiched in between other necessary errands neglected during the work week. Yes, food references throughout! There is a pattern to when people shop however.  Monday store shelves are often missing popular items due to the invasions over the weekends so not a good day to go.

Though I understand it is a necessity, how many times have we tripped over both shoppers grabbing products and store personnel frantically replenishing said product at the same time? Which basically leaves aisles impassable due to shopping carts aggressively parked sideways in the aisle together with the rolling multi-layer store carts taking up the rest of the space?  Neither is willing to give up any hard fought for real estate to ease the passage of others. Although I will attribute this roadblock to inattention and not maliciousness, there are still some who believe, by golly I got here first and I will examine each brand, ingredient and price in minute detail and the heck with the rest of you. Polite "excuse me's" may or may not grant you passage but accidently on purpose ramming a cart into another usually works.

Then there are the older people who move a little slower, reach is limited and eyesight suspect. For their own safety I advocate weekday early morning shopping.  However the weekday is fraught with its own hazards.  For some reason Tuesday morning brings the march of the riding carts equipped with a small basket.  I have counted at least half a dozen blocking the lanes in the course of a couple of minutes. My theory is there is a beacon on top of the building inviting the cart riders to "come on down". You would think that would speed things up right?  Not. Just provides a more comfortable spot to contemplate the various products or the shopper's navals, whatever.

There is an interesting contrast between summer and winter weekday shopping however. When school is not in session, adults are accompanied by varying numbers of children wild with boredom who are let loose in a huge warehouse of toys and food. Wheee.  I actually noticed one harried Mother tending to the infant in the front seat ignorant of the fact that an older sibling was playfully pulling the lip up of a slightly older sibling. They were boys so I imagine they worked it out or will when the younger one grows bigger and meaner than his tormentor. Once school is back in session you see much calmer Moms and Dads practically dancing down the aisles drunk on their new-found freedom.  Of course they still block the aisles.

And of course checkout is always a contest.  Walking through the area on my way into the store I see plenty of open lanes with cashiers literally filing their nails or learning conversational French as they wait for customers. By some magic when it is time to check out however, we of the full carts eye each other warily as we realize we are now all in competition for the shortest available lane. You literally hear engines idling and sharp intakes of breath as we all frantically scan for the "best lane". I am not proud of beating out the older lady with the cane to that short lane the other day. But who knows this may have been the highlight of her day so who am I to rush the experience.

Of course there is payback when the mature folks who are ahead of me by 10 or 15 minutes, are still painstakingly removing items from their cart, chatting up the cashier and being surprised that money is to be exchanged at the end at the end of the transaction.  The purse is THEN opened and often more times than not, a little white bank envelope is pulled out stuffed with cash. Apparently the older generation still does not trust those little plastic cards and will meet their week's needs with real live money.  I worry that at the speed they move and the amount of cash they carry could make them sitting ducks for the swifter and more larcenous of the population.

Another observation is the number of people who will line up and WAIT to self-checkout.  Really? Not only are we depriving a person of a cashier job, but we are literally paying the store for the privilege of doing their work.  Unless I'm buying something embarrassing or fattening, AND there is no line, I use the humans.

Final observation - toddlers and babies.  Nothing is more enjoyable than interacting with the little people trapped in their cart seats while Mom or Dad are waiting to check out. They are bored but are thrilled to talk to any stranger who wishes to engage. A trait we have to beat out of them as they grow older. One little one was chewing on the chip bag which we cooed over until Mom snatched it away. Then she started chewing on the bottle cap of the milk jug. In horror Mom pulled it away probably seeing germs everywhere. At that the little girl just gave up and rested her weary head on the frozen peas with a sly little grin to us.