The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Truth About The Current State of Our Government

Where Are We Going And What Will Be Waiting For Us

Vote which one you think Trump will be for our country – A Saint or A Dictator

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Warning the following video contains foul language

Let us talk a little bit about some of the current events that have occurred since Donald Trump has taken office.

I love George Carlin. One of the greatest comedians ever, but yes, he is a comedian and you have to take what he says as satire, but really how far off is he? I personally have always been a political neutral. I never believed in any politician, as a person or a leader. I do not call myself a Republican, Democrat or anything for that matter. I believe in putting someone in office that truly wants to make this country better and I have yet to hear from a politician that doesn’t seem to have their own hidden agendas.

I do research the good, the bad and the ugly of each candidate in order to try to make an informed choice about each candidate. George Carlin asked where are all the good, moral, bright, intelligent, honest, Americans ready to step up to the plate and run for office? I know where they are. They aren’t millionaires or billionaires.

If you want to run for president you can do so for less than $5,000 if you choose to not register with the Federal Election Commission but that means that you will not be on the ballots. However, if you want to BE president you have to spend or “fund-raise” some big bucks. This is why you only see wealthy politicians or the ultra rich running. This last election was believed that over 2 billion dollars would be spent on running for President between the four main candidates, Bush, Sanders, Clinton and Trump.  According to Fortune Donald Trump spent $66 million dollars of his own money on his campaign. I personally know some great, moral, bright, honest people,  but I don’t know anyone that has $66 million dollars, and that is just what he spent of his own money. You still have to go out there and find other money.

So, now we have a new President and we are witnessing history.

We have riots in the streets, people were stranded in airports, and we have (the real first American’s technically) American Indians upset about the possible contamination of their drinking water with the continuance of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Originally, Obama put a halt on both the Dakota Access Pipeline until further research could be done and also a halt to the Keystone XL.

And the news is quick to jump on the bandwagon.

Well here is the UGLY TRUTH.

First, folks I hate to point this out but it is a reported fact that the most common personality traits of politicians and in fact most million and billionaires is narcissism. You would have to have some level of narcissism for you to believe that you deserve power over the lives of other people. People who display narcissistic personalities are attention-seeking, have a tendency to scapegoat when things go awry and are grandiose on the verge of exhibitionist. They demand loyalty from others while they seldom give loyalty in return and they are masters of lying. Their down fall is that they do not always make the best decisions however, their highly charismatic personalities is what generally makes them the best leaders. Some examples of leaders that have exhibited narcissistic personalities

The signs of a narcissistic personality are attention-seeking, grandiosity that verges on exhibitionism, a tendency to scapegoat when things go wrong and denial of weaknesses, and inflated demands of entitlements. Narcissists are extremely convincing liars, and they are the ultimate users – demanding loyalty from others they seldom give in return. They don’t always make the best decisions, but these highly charismatic personalities generally make the best leaders. In 2013, the Pew Research Center published a report that ranked the Presidents based on their level narcissism.

The top 10 most narcissist Presidents are – (note this list only included past Presidents as of 2013) and next to them is where these Presidents fall in rankings of the most successful Presidents of all time. Of course there is a difference between what historians say and what the public says, but for the most part the lists are very similar. The only big difference is that the public holds a higher regard for JFK, Reagan and Jackson than the scholars and a lower regard for George H.W Bush,  Eisenhower and Truman, whom the scholars say deserve more credit.

1. Lyndon B. Johnson – 12
2. Teddy Roosevelt – 4
3. Andrew Jackson – 9
4. Franklin D. Roosevelt – 3
5. JFK – 14
6. Richard Nixon – So low not even on the list
7. Bill Clinton – 8
8. Chester A. Arthur – not on list
9. Andrew Johnson – 12
10. Woodrow Wilson – 10

Where did modern era Presidents (like the Bushes) rank?

11. George W. Bush – 35

15. Ronald Reagan – 11

20. Jimmy Carter – not on the list

21. Dwight D. Eisenhower – 7

26. George H. W. Bush – 17

31. Gerald Ford – 24

But even since this list was put together Obama quickly moved up to number 12

Some scholars also believe that Nixon was one of the greatest Presidents of all time however, morally inept. He created the EPA, ended the draft, created federal funding for the Cancer by signing into law the National Cancer Act, lowered the voting age, started Affirmative Action, and created gender equality in federally funded education programs with Title IX. However, he will forever be marred and remembered for being a liar, a crook, an anti-Semite and most of all….for Watergate.

Where do you think Trump will end up after his term? He is not only a politician but also a billionaire.

Trump caused some waves with his ban on refugees and really on the Muslim religion (even though he says it isn’t that), but let’s call a spade a spade.

For Trump supporters I want to remind them of something, and for non Trump supporters I want them to keep this in their mind.

Everyone thinks we have rights. We all hide safely behind our “Bill of Rights”. Just to remind everyone.

Here are OUR – THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES – Bill of Rights

 

THE BILL OF RIGHTS – FULL TEXT

 

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Great. Up to date?

Let us flash back to March 9, 1942. 78 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, (the 4th ranked) President Roosevelt Roosevelt signed Public Law 503 (approved after only an hour of discussion in the Senate and thirty minutes in the House).

You may be wondering….what is that?

Well that law allowed for about 120,000 Japanese-American men, woman, and children (of which approx 70,000 were only of Japanese ancestry), 11,000 people of German ancestry, 3,000 people of Italian ancestry, along with some Jewish refugees that came from Germany to be removed from their homes on the west coast and put into internment camps. Some were there until several years after the end of the war.

Many lost their homes, their savings, their businesses and were destitute when finally released.

They had

NO rights.

They had NO trials to determine their innocence and for the people there the internment camps were most definitely cruel and unusual punishment especially for being nothing more than a descendant of an immigrant.

Executive Order 9066 was suspended in December of 1944 but not rescinded until February of 1976 by Ford. In 1982, the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Interment of Civilians (created by Carter) issued a report called Personal Justice Denied where they stated that the decision to incarcerate, had not been justified by military actions and that it was based on “race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.”

I was born here in America but my father immigrated to America when he was 5 years old from Italy and I lived in California for most of my life. This act COULD have affected my family and me. In fact, it was rescinded shortly before my birth.

My father served in Vietnam, was a California Highway Patrolman, and then served in the California National Guard for the rest of his life. He served this country for his entire life.

He was a New York Italian living in California working for the California National Guard. He loved a good steak, with potatoes, corn on the cob and some garlic bread. He owned a Chevy Corvette and a Harley and idolized bald eagles. In fact, he dedicated an entire room to bald eagle statues. The guy was as American as you can get without a birth certificate from this country.

Let’s talk about the ban real quick – this issue here with the verbage of the first ban was that it spoke about people of Muslim faith and in American you cannot discriminate against a person based on their religion which is exactly what that ban did.

Now,

Dakota Access Pipeline and Keystone Pipeline XL

Let’s talk about the pipelines. In regards to the Dakota Access Pipeline here is what one Oneida Indian had to say about the fight the Standing Rock Sioux have had and will have.

“The case i testing the Tribal Sovereignty, the Standing Rock Sioux Rights. This case is affecting tribes because they all go through similar government to government challenges; (this is) why so many tribes are supporting them. It becomes another example of their right being infringed on. Tribes have Treaty’s which are agreements that they have self governance within their Reservation boundaries. They are Sovereign Nations within the United States. These oil companies do not care if they are following any law and they certainly do not care about Native American rights. The Missouri River runs along their reservation. This impact their drinking water.

I find it unfortunate that Our President of the United States has said the he “hasn’t received one call complaining about the Dakota Pipeline, That no one showed up to fight it.” and that “everyone’s going to be happy in the end.”  He is sugar coating, romanticizing and sensationalizing an issue and is not dealing with the issue at hand. There are NDPL Protests all over the world and on the news.” Local Oneida Indian

I was just curious why the President was not receiving any phone calls protesting the Pipelines, so I called the 202-456-1111 to make a comment and I received a message that the President was not receiving comments at this time. So, that explains right there why he hadn’t received one phone call.

It is interesting to note that Trump owned upwards of $50,000 of Energy Transfer Partners stock (the company responsible for the Dakota Access Pipeline) and Energy Transfer Partners CEO Kelcy Warren donated $100,000 to Trumps campaign. This seems contradictory to the statement he made on a Facebook Post of 

“By self-funding my campaign, I am not controlled by my donors, special interests or lobbyists. I am only working for the people of the U.S.!”

Trump also has a small holding in TransCanada the company behind the Keystone Pipeline XL.

Without proof that Mr. Trump has indeed sold off all of his investments there is no way to fully know his true intentions on demanding that these projects move forward.

Media

Donald Trump has been quick to criticize and even fire people who do not agree with his agenda. He has also gone as far as to attack media outlets that have reported things that have not been satisfactory or pleasing to Mr.Trump.
He has repeatedly called CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

As time as gone by I have seen, heard, watched and waited. I have waited to see exactly what Trumps plans were for the United States and how they would play out.

As things have started out this past month one thought as gone through my head over and over again, “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” However, the original quote is from George Santayana and it is “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Either way it works.

For instance Hitler did not come into power like Kim Jung Un did (by birth). Germany from 1919-1930 had a Semi-presidential republic, in 1933 it switched to a De facto authoritarian rule by decree (is a style of governance where it allow for quick, unchallenged creation of law by a single person or group) and from there in 1933 Hitler was put into the position of Chancellor by Paul Von Hindenburg. From there Hitler made his rise, and we all know how that ended up. 60 million people died in WW2 3% of 1940’s population, 11 million of those people were killed in concentration camps. Property damage and lost priceless works of art and architecture was well in the trillions.

Today there are approximately 7.5 billion people in the world. 3% of the worlds population would be 225 million people dead.

To put this all into a little more perspective. A soon as Germany was successfully changed to a one-party dictatorship they immediately went after the media. There was a massive propaganda campaign.

Jut recently The White House banned Cnn, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Politica and Buzzfeed from a press briefing. Three of those organizations being the pillar of news truth for the American People.

Am I saying that Trump is a dictator. No. Absolutely not.

I am merely stating facts about history and its eerily similarities to our present.

So, what are some positive things that Trump has done? Really are we hear about is the negative.

On February 9, Trump took these actions – which on the surface look positive for the American People

Police Protection: Trump signed an order to review existing laws and produce legislation to better protect federal, state and local law enforcement officers. The action is a response to increased attacks against officers in the past year.

Crime Reduction: The president ordered Attorney General Jeff Sessions to create a new federal task force to share information among agencies, develop strategies, identify deficiencies in current laws, evaluate criminal data and make recommendations for greater safety of U.S. citizens.

Foreign Crime Fighting: Trump issued an executive order prioritizing efforts to prosecute foreign-based crimes like drug and human trafficking. It calls for stricter enforcement of laws already on the books and efforts to “identify, interdict, disrupt, and dismantle transnational criminal organizations.”

There is a book called  “Why Don’t We Learn from History?” by B.H. Liddell Hart. It was published posthumously by his wife Lady Kathleen Sullivan Liddell Hart in 1971. Really it is a summary of Mr. Hart’s life’s work in the military and strategy.

In he he talks about the patterns of a dictator, and while you may be thinking Trump while reading it, most Presidents fall into some variance of this line. However, the more you read the more you may become concerned.

He says that for dictators to gain power,

“They exploit, consciously or unconsciously, a state of popular dissatisfaction with the existing regime or of hostility between different sections of the people.

They attack the existing regime violently and combine their appeal to discontent with unlimited promises (which, if successful, they fulfill only to a limited extent).

They claim that they want absolute power for only a short time (but “find” subsequently that the time to relinquish it never comes).

They excite popular sympathy by presenting the picture of a conspiracy against them and use this as a lever to gain a firmer hold at some crucial stage.”

Then once they have that power

“They soon begin to rid themselves of their chief helpers, “discovering” that those who brought about the new order have suddenly become traitors to it.

They suppress criticism on one pretext or another and punish anyone who mentions facts which, however true, are unfavorable to their policy.

They enlist religion on their side, if possible, or, if its leaders are not compliant, foster a new kind of religion subservient to their ends.

They spend public money lavishly on material works of a striking kind, in compensation for the freedom of spirit and thought of which they have robbed the public.

They manipulate the currency to make the economic position of the state appear better than it is in reality.

They ultimately make war on some other state as a means of diverting attention from internal conditions and allowing discontent to explode outward.

They use the rallying cry of patriotism as a means of riveting the chains of their personal authority more firmly on the people.

They expand the superstructure of the state while undermining its foundations—by breeding sycophants at the expense of self-respecting collaborators, by appealing to the popular taste for the grandiose and sensational instead of true values, and by fostering a romantic instead of a realistic view, thus ensuring the ultimate collapse, under their successors if not themselves, of what they have created.”

But it has only been a month and historically every President has a bad first month. So, we hope he finds his footing. Although historically this is one of if not the worst first month for a President in our history.

So, we all hold our breath and hope that our fears are not realized and that Mr. Trump is truly on our side.

Will he become Saint Trump and the savior of our government or end up being the downfall of our country and become known as the Dictator in the North?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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