Comic Relief

Jeff––Saturday

I refuse to write about anything political this week.

Why?

 

 Because, like virtually everyone else on the planet, I’m tired and drained from living in a zone where madness has taken root under cover of more than sufficient bull shit to guaranty extreme growth for many seasons to come.

 

And so, I’ve decided to opt for a collection of cartoons and  links to video clips that draw on our current situation for inspiration.   Although some are political, they’re not even close to the many cartoons out there espousing strident tones from all fringes of the political spectrum.  Most come from US News and World Report, others from I know not where.

 

Let’s start off with a link to a Little Drummer Girl video that’s captivated me. It has nothing to do with politics, just joy.

 

Now we turn to the not-so-upbeat world of political cartoonists, as credited in their respective creations.

 

Here’s how the world feels.

 

Here’s how Democrats feel.

 

Here’s how Republicans feel.

 

Here’s one I simply couldn’t resist.

Here’s how American’s feel.

 And yet...

 

Here’s a link to Greek video maker’s take on the current US presidential situation. The significant lyrics translate roughly as, “I’m not going anywhere.” 

 

Then there's this fellow's take on who will win the Presidential Cup.  The link.

And, finally, here’s a video intended to make us all feel better.  The link.

 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

 

––Jeff

Have a Good Month, World

Jeff—Saturday

Kalo Mina.

That’s how to wish someone a “good month” in Greek, and this being the 1^st of October it’s the appropriate time to offer such a greeting. Some might think with things as difficult as they are in Greece—and believe me they are—offering good wishes for such a limited period is a bit stingy, but such a limited time offer strikes me as consistent with about how far ahead government planning seems to extend over what to do next in wrestling with Greece’s Great Depression crisis.

There is an adage in writing fiction that’s admired by we seat of the pants writers (who distain outlines) for comparing our style of writing to driving a car at night: You need not see the entire road to reach your destination, just following your headlights will get you there.

That works for fiction writers just fine, but I’m not so sure I’d recommend it to a government in the dark running so close to the edge of a cliff.  Some longer term planning, together with a peek or so at a map—and every so often asking someone familiar with the territory for directions—might prove a safer way to go.  Though if you’re trying to write a horror story…

Then again, who am I to question the wisdom of a foreign nation’s leadership?  After all, we have our hands full with our own back here in the good old US of A.

Indeed, from our television networks’ ratings driven news coverage there’s virtually nothing happening anywhere in the world as significant as our elections. Yes, mention is made of events that arise to Hitleresque stature, but only as a tease for returning to the next round of (non) presidential prater.

It’s as if we expect the rest of the world to go on hold while we conclude our three-year cycle of Presidential elections. Make that four-year, because candidates are already positioning to run in 2020. 

Question: If 20-20 vision means perfect vision, does 20-16 mean cockeyed?

Just asking.

Personally, I think this campaign is doing a tremendous service for the average American citizen by providing free cardiac stress tests simply by turning on a TV.  Pick a news channel, any channel, and I can assure you that within moments you’ll find some report or commentator testing your blood pressure. 

It’s also helped me to work on my primal scream.

AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

Kalo mina.

—Jeff

A Greek Lesson For the USA

Jeff­—Saturday 

It’s Wednesday and I’m on a plane headed to Phoenix for Left Coast Crime 2016, aka Cactus Caper.  I thought I’d write about the first thing that came to mind for my Saturday post because I won’t likely have time after we land.  I’ve events and panels to attend from practically the time I touch down through Sunday…plus Annamaria and Susan to pester. 

I found my inspiration while passing through Queens on the Van Wyck Expressway to JFK, just past the Jamaica Hospital. Two names emblazoned atop separate buildings stood staring at each other across a busy highway. One bore the name Lincoln, the other the name of a Queens Borough native who’s running for the nomination of the party of Lincoln for President of the United States.

About the only enjoyable thing I’m getting out of this year’s Presidential race is how every talking head continues to be so very wrong while desperately attempting to convince the public that he (or she) actually understands—let alone knows—what’s happening.  Then again, it’s hard to understand something when you’re so heavily contributing to the problem. 

Which raises two questions. What is the problem? And what (or who) is the solution?

Sure wish I could help you out with simple answers, but your guesses are likely as good as mine.  About all I can say with an assured sense of all-knowing certainty (think theatrical style over factual substance) is that we are living in a time of massive global uncertainty on a scale not experienced since the run-up to World War II.  Folks are anxious and unsure of where things are headed, making them susceptible to fear-mongering, offered-up scapegoats, and promises of ready cures.

None of that is a new routine, been around since Biblical times, with religion often called out both as savior and villain.

How will it all play out?  People are funny.  They naturally want to blame others for their predicament—and “shake things up” is a powerful motivator for the frustrated. Trouble is, when you’re sailing stormy seas upon a shared ship of state, you better be very careful who you pick to do the shaking, or you just might find yourself tossed overboard.

It’s happened before.  And in fact, been discussed here before…albeit in the context of Greece. Nearly four years ago (May 26, 2012) a post of mine on a visit to Munich prompted a brisk exchange of views among commentators on the seriousness of Greek elections for both Greeks and the world. Here is an excerpt from a post-election comment by N&C (relayed in my July 14, 2012 post) to a comment posted by another.  I’ve substituted “the United States” for “Greece.”

If history is any guide, an electorate willing to grasp for any solution that makes them feel better in the short term; will in my view, only lead to far larger and protracted problems in the future. I truly feel sorry for the despair and hopelessness that I see among many of my friends of all ages in [the United States]….

Let’s hope that for the first time, an elected coalition government in [the United States] can effectively work together and stop putting their personal and party interests ahead of those of you and your fellow citizens and your country at large.

While I too respect your opinion, I would suggest to you that the answer to [the United States’] problems today does not lie in substituting capitalism with something else - nor electing extremists from both sides of the political spectrum to govern your country - but for people to play by the rules as they have long been established, and get back to the work of demonstrating to the rest of the world that [the United States] can indeed become the great, proud democracy that it once was, where prosperity and a decent quality of life is shared by all…

Once again, we can learn from the Greeks.

—Jeff

The circus

It really doesn't matter what your political views are to see some of what is happening in the US Presidential campaign as a circus.

I have to admit to a certain pleasure at Contender Donald Trump's irreverent, unconventional, oft idiotic approach to presidential politics.  Certainly, given the abysmal records of both House and Senate over the past few years, almost anything that is different is refreshing.

It is hard to select one item to comment on about Trump's campaign, but the selection was made much easier this week by Contender Scott Walker (Governor of Wisconsin).  More of that later.

My choice of one item of Contender Trump's campaign to talk about is THE WALL.

In general, Contender Trump has been pretty light of detail in his broad-ranging proposals, but a couple of weeks ago he released his detailed policy on immigration.  He promises to triple the number of US immigration officers, to end job visas for foreign students, to deport undocumented migrants, and, in contradiction to the Fourteen Amendment, to end automatic citizenship for babies born on US soil.

In addition (fanfare please), Contender Trump has proposed to build a wall all along the 2000 mile (3200 km) border between the USA and Mexico, and to make Mexico pay for it.  To be fair, some of it (less than a third) has already been built, mainly in Arizona.

"“The Mexican government has taken the United States to the cleaners,” says the Trump policy paper. “They are responsible for this problem and they must help pay to clean it up.”

When questioned about the viability of such a fence, especially given the enormous costs and limited success rate of the existing George W. Bush mandated fence, Contender Trump had this to say: "Building a wall is easy, and it can be done inexpensively.  It's not even a difficult project if you know what you are doing."

Almost everyone involved in policing the US-Mexican border, almost everyone involved in building the existing fence, says that it is an impossible task, not worth the money both to build and maintain. Not only impossible to build, but it won't stop the flow anyway, much like George W. Bush's high-tech virtual wall was an inordinate failure.

Needless to say he would want the world to know such a magnificent structure to be known as The Trump Wall.

I mentioned above that it was Wisconsin Governor, Contender Scott Waker, that made me pick The Trump Wall as the one Trump policies to comment on.  The reason for that is in a recent NBC interview Contender Walker, when asked whether it would be necessary to build a wall between the USA and Canada, said it was worth considering.

My friend Steve Alessi (a founder member with Annamaria Alfieri of Sicilians for Kubu) sent me an article about Contender Walker's pronouncement and suggested it was to keep Canadians flooding across the border to take advantage of the US's free health care.

Anyway, as ambitious as The Trump Wall is, the Walker Wall is off the charts.  The border between the two countries is the longest border between any two countries and has severe problems associated with it.  However, to be fair, a start has been made already - it is policy to maintain a clear path along the border for its entire length.

To give some insight into the enormity of Contender Walker's idea, take a look at this fascinating video.

The two candidates arguing as to whose wall is biggest.

We are now only fourteen months away from the election - gasp - and have much more of this to look forward to.  I've lost track as to how many candidates have thrown their hats in the ring, but it must be in the mid-twenties.  So watch this space for updates on how the most powerful country on the planet elects its leader.

Stan - Thursday

PS.  In researching this blog, I discovered to my amazement that there are dozens of walls or fences between countries around the world.  You can find out about them here.