While I should be upbeat about the 105th consecutive month of economic growth in the US, the still very high stock values in the market on an uptick since January 2009 and the historically low unemployment rate, I know that too many folks are not feeling the love from this growth. But, I want to set this issue aside for now and just ask some “why” questions as I am beyond frustrated with our failure to address too many issues.
Why can’t our so-called leaders address our never ending gun violence in the US? Yesterday’s tragedy will happen again, just like what was predicted following the last one a few weeks ago. Our so-called leaders are too busy trying to keep their job and need to do their job. It is more than a gun issue, but we need to do something about various causes. Our GOP friends like to say it is a mental health issue, but then try to repeal the ACA and not encourage the expansion of Medicaid. And, Congress permitted last year folks on Social Security disability for mental health reasons to be added back to eligible gun buying rolls.
However, it is a gun access issue as well and the majority of Americans support background checks on all sales and elongated waiting periods. I would do more, but these are “no-brainers.” Yet our spineless Congress and President will not act. Part of my thoughts and prayers are for our leaders to grow a backbone and do something. We need not worry about foreign terrorists as our domestic terrorists do just fine without them in killing innocent Americans.
Why do we fail to act on Russia interfering with our democracy? The leaders of our intelligence agencies testified under oath to the Senate Intelligence Committee that not only did the Russians influence our 2016 election, they are continuing to sow seeds of discord driving Americans apart, and will influence the 2018 election. Yet, the President does not want to talk about it and did not extend the Congress approved sanctions on Russia two weeks ago. I would add that Congressman Nunes who is the head of the House Intelligence Committee and author of a memo that has been criticized by the FBI as inaccurate is refusing to call for a similar briefing under oath. It is surmised he is fearful of the same leaders disparaging the veracity of his memo. Is it not the job of the committee to get a briefing or should we just ask Sean Hannity to do it?
Why does are debt problem not elicit more reaction from the public? My former GOP party seemingly no longer cares about the deficit and debt since we have a Republican President. We have made our massive debt problem worse with the last two major pieces of legislation, but it does not seem to matter to the public or these so-called leaders. Both parties are to blame, but taxpayers will be left holding the bag as we have further mortgaged our future to heat up a good economy. It makes no sense, unless you look at this through a donor’s lens, which is the real reason for the tax cuts.
Why do we allow EPA DIrector Scott Pruitt to lie so much about climate change without repercussion, echoing the lines of his boss? Like the debt, our so-called leaders are ignoring a growing problem. It would be nice if they helped, but Pruitt and Trump are being left at the kids’ table, while the grown-ups move forward. Fortunately, the cities, states, universities and companies are moving forward with renewable energy and conservation measures. The renewable cost is more comparable to fossil fuel cost and they do not leave a negative footprint. Plus, when the present value costs of environmental degradation, clean-up and risk are factored in, renewables are cheaper. We could do so more with federal leverage, but at least the President has galvanized other to act since he won’t.
These issues are four of several that need to be addressed, but are not. Our democracy and planet our under attack. These should not be partisan issues. I am independent former Republican voter and these are representative of the issues I am trying to increase awareness of. Ask your legislators what they plan to do about them. If they do not respond or respond to another question, find out who is running against them. A good thing created by this President is very qualified people will be running for more offices.These are real issues. Let’s work on addressing them.
musingsofanoldfart 
All very good questions, my friend. Unfortunately, our elected leaders have less interest in pondering the real solutions to these issues than they have in lining their own pockets. I am hopeful that they will learn a hard lesson in that come November. I especially liked your comment about Sean Hannity! And I hadn’t thought about this before, but as I read the part about Nunes and the House Intelligence Committee, I am struck that using those two words … Nunes and Intelligence … in the same sentence is rather an oxymoron, don’t you think?
I think that as long as the current administration, backed by a republican Congress, is in power, we will not realize the solutions to the problems, for they are not much concerned with the planet or its inhabitants. Excellent post, Keith!
I was going to re-blog this, but there is no re-blog button showing! I checked other posts, Gronda’s, Rogers, and no re-blog button anywhere! 😦
Thanks for the thought.
Thanks Jill. This crowd seems to be less concerned with the masses and more with the elites. If the Trump voters only knew how little he thinks of them and does for them. This tipped income regulation which would allow employers to claim tipped income above total hourly pay of $7.25 is just one example that few know about. Keith
You are quite right, and I am still puzzled at how it is that they don’t understand that every single thing he and Congress have done in the past year has been a slap in the face to We The People? I’ve shaken my head so much that there is something rattling around in there now! Yes, that one about the tipped employees still has me fuming. I meant to re-blog that one earlier, but forgot, and now thee button is missing, but I think I will use “press this” to share it, if you don’t mind?
Jill, please feel free to share. The other issue is the President’s role in interfering with the legislative process. Quite frankly, he is all over the place and yesterday he personally derailed a bipartisan effort and three others. My take on him is everything he decides or says goes back to his ego and looking good in the eyes of his strident base whether it helps them or not. It is all about optics – such as him asking the Mexican President to support the wall as he was making Trump look bad. Keith
I thought I was in the wrong movie hearing the US President say they should get mental disorders under control… WTF… that is not the reason such massacres happen but that gun freedom!!
Erika, folks with a mental health diagnosis should be restricted from easy access, but to solely call this a mental health issue is a misnomer. Keith
He and his direction can never be wrong… so he needs to blame something or someone else. Basically it is much too easy to get guns in the US. That AND taking care of the health system needs to be focused at!
That was a bold move by your president Erika. If he wants mental disorders under control he shouldn’t complain when some nice folk come along place him in restraints and take him out of the Whitehouse to a place far, far away where he can receive treatment.
I agree with almost everything but I need to point out that he is not “my” president. I am not from the US. I hope for the US and for the world that he is removed asap from the White House!!
My apologies Eirka.
The latest news concerning the Russian operations within the American electoral process should keep the pressure on him.
No, need to apologize. I love the States and lived there 20 years ago. It is so sad what turn this all took after Obama. It is a riddle to me how this man could have won the election. Yes, the latest revelations are shocking but hopefully support his farewell earlier than expected and before worse things happen!
I take comfort from the upsets in history and how in many cases when viewed in the perspective of decades how they are mere episodes.
Unless of course the Russian connection prove something many people are wondering about….
Meanwhile in the UK Brexit muddles everything.
Let’s hope it is only going to be another mere episode. Let’s really hope that there are no major damages occuring from this presidency. Yes, the Brexit is a pretty big disaster in many ways!
I often imagine Putin leading a group of his closest staff into an Orthodox church in Moscow and genuinely kneeling in reverence and saying ‘Thank You God’
OMG, what an image!! But you never know!
I’m fairly certain of, what with a Trump election and Brexit, they must wonder
So true!!
Roger, Social media to Putin is akin to shooting fish in a barrel. He has a mass production vehicle to deliver tailored “double speak” per Orwell. Keith
And yet the Administration appeared to be surprised (or still in denial) that an ambitious, astute, ruthless ex-KGB officer would do something under-hand to them.
It’s what European nations (and Russia- which can be -very touchy about being called European ) have done for centuries! (most of the Brexit negotiations are vintage Europe)
They are either complicit, stupid or naïve- any of which make them unworthy to look after the USA.
Erika, Roger, I love seeing conversations in our blogging community. You both offer a valuable outside looking in perspective that Americana need to see. Many Trump supporters do not realize how far our standing in the world has fallen under this dishonorable President. Thanks for your perspectives. Keith
You’re very welcome Keith.
True, we have Brexit, but that is one of our magnificent traditional muddles we get involved with.
This inept travesty in the USA could only be equalled by the odious Nigel Farage (associated with Trump) becoming Prime Minister.
You have our best wishes and sympathies.
Take care.
Roger
Roger, Brits should learn a great deal that Farage admires Trump. What Farage does not understand is Trump only admires the guy in the mirror when he shaves. He doesn’t give Farage the time of day. Keith
Farage’s link with Trump was made public in the UK a while ago. He played his extremist card and no complains he cannot walk the streets of London without being abused.
He should have thought about consequences. There are always consequences.
Roger, when he spent his dear reputation on such a man, then he should not be surprised by the result. This is the question to ask of others – is this the man on whom you will risk it all? Keith
By good fortune the majority of the British people never trusted him, and under our system UKIP was squeezed (Mostly by the Conservative party who hated them for poaching disaffected party members)
Trust is hard to gain and easy to lose. We have one of the pay dishonorable men leading our country.
Any experienced politician would warn of the ‘public barometer’.
Even Nixon or LBJ in their most tortured interludes would not have stepped this far in public.
I think the current incumbent not doing anything to protect the country or punish Russia deserves scrutiny.
As I understand it a president of the USA is Commander in Chief of the armed forces, which would suggest the president is ultimately responsible for the defence of the nation and its peoples from all potential attackers.
Roger, you would be correct. I also think we are equipping for old school battles, not future ones. Keith
Roger, it is either naïveté or culpability. Or both. I am finding it difficult believing the President is not compromised by Russia. If it turns out he is not, I will be truly surprised. Keith
It is worth repeating that Russia does as Russia is. All nations have a motivation to defend themselves. Over the centuries the Russian Experience has led them to adopt the best form of defence is attack.
So Russia’s borders are best secured by a ring of client or subsumed states. Russia’s perceived foes are tackled by dissemination and sewing dissent.
In the Long Historical view this is nothing unique to Russia, these manoeuvres have been played out down the centuries by many permutations of revival powers. (English and French kings for many centuries delighted in interfering in each other’s affairs, if an internal war resulted, so much the better)
Trump with his flamboyant egotistical approach to life was a target that begged approaching.
It’s Subterfuge ‘101’
Roger, this serves as great history lesson. Your inclusion about the easy target due to large ego and naïveté is on point.
Why indeed, Keith. Why do we keep electing these idiots?
Janis, our friend Gronda did a post on two nonpartisan pundits who said it is time to call for a boycott of the Republican Party if they do not deal with their dishonorable leader who is damaging every institution that dares criticize him. I would add with the monied influence of the NRA and fossil fuel industry, primarily the GOP is standing in the way of addressing big issues. Given the source of the boycott request, it should be given more merit, so says this Independent, former Republican. Keith
As always Keith a strong and irrefutable post.
There is one glimmer of light, maybe the numbers of people seeking election from outside of the professional political ‘college to aide to congress’ track will increase.
We have a similar problem here in the UK, only we are ‘mired in mediocrity’
Roger, thanks. The one selling point of this man was he could hire good people to show him the ropes. With a 34% turnover rate and loyalty being valued more than competency, the White House equal parts chaos and incompetence. As I shared with Erika, the happiest people are those who declined his invitation to work for him. Keith
And they have their integrity intact, Keith
Agreed. Their spouses are happy as well.
Dear Keith,
Where do I begin. Everyone has to read the FBI indictment. It is unbelievable. The hot beds of Russians mixing with Americans to where they could learn the political lingo /language was in 2 republican led states of Florida and Texas. Texas is also where the Russian embassy was located before the 2017 floods and Cambridge Analytica.
This time if we gain the majority seats in the US Congress, the Dems had better tackle gun legislation right off the bat.
In 2004, the 1994 Ban on Assault weapons was not extended because of one guy. As per Mother Jones, “House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) dismissed the ban as “a feel good piece of legislation” and flatly told the New York Times that it would expire even if Bush made an effort to renew it. “If the president asked me, it would still be no,” he said. “He knows, because we don’t have the votes to pass the assault weapons ban. It will expire Monday, and that’s that.”
“His role in ending the ban made DeLay a hero among gun nuts, who printed up bumper stickers that said, “I’m for NRA and Tom DeLay.” The NRA invited DeLay to keynote its annual meeting in 2005, just as ethics investigations were ramping up against him. He took the podium and choked up slightly as he proclaimed: “I’ve been in elected office for 26 years, and this is the highlight of my career.”
He ended up in prison due to other reasons but that is where he deserved to be.
In 2005, it was the republicans and 59 Dems who limited the basis by which victims could sue gun mfgs, distributors, sellers. Those who voted in favor of this bill include Senators Bernie Saunders and Bill Nelson.
The republicans seem to be on the wrong side of just about every issue that could make lives better for every Joe worker. If Dems can’t win on this fact alone, we are in big trouble.
Hugs, Gronda
Gronda, thanks for sharing. I will also note this on your blog, but it is sadly comical that the President’s reaction to all of this is more about his belief this exonerates him (it does not) and less about the attack on our country. This man’s ego is so fragile and/ or his guilt so real, he cannot address the threats. Several words come to mind. Keith