Prior Thoughts

Below are some of the Thoughts I've expressed before,

They are available here to check out once more;

Don't know if any were worth hooting and cheering,

But some of them I felt may be worth re-hearing.

That's OK?

Over eighty thousand souls are now dead and gone,

But still it’s time, you say, for us all to move on;

And though three thousand more may still die ev’ry day

Still what you say,

In your smug way,

Is that’s OK.

Get people back to work, industry on the move,

Need to get the economy back in it’s groove;

Don’t want to worry that we don’t yet have a cure,

One thing for sure,

That must occur,

Markets secure.

Get workers back on the job, things moving along,

Though we don’t have the tests to know when things go wrong;

No tracking is done to keep the virus away,

But don’t delay,

We’ll find a way,

That’s still OK.

So, these workers you send back, are they the just price,

Their health and lives an acceptable sacrifice?

Their eager need to earn our culture can abuse,

Earnings they choose,

Efforts we use,

Lives they may lose.

Meanwhile, medical workers still on the front line,

Their outcry and pleas we simply, smugly decline;

That’s down right “disrespectful” the Love-Gov did say,

Go our own way,

Their call betray,

And that’s OK?

Our leaders this reckless path seem ready to take.

An imprudent jump at normality to make;

Risking a resurging second wave it might do,

What about you,

Is this miscue,

OK with you?

Posting Delay Apology

For a current Just A Thought there's been some delay,

Please don't imagine that I have nothing to say;

The socio-political world's such a fray,

I want to make sure I say things in the right way.

There's an underlying problem at least for me,

Since with neither side can I totally agree;

Because completely right no one can ever be,

If half of the people still choose to disagree.

We can't stop the world, so off it others can get,

Genocide's bad, there's no euthanasia yet;

So, if some compromise solutions can't be met,

Our future stability faces a big threat.

This need for compromise I'd like to somehow show,

Because what I'd like everybody to know;

The more opposition at each other we throw,

Chances for solutions we continue to blow.

11/7/18

The Dem’s say they won, of the House they took control,

The GOP also won, stronger Senate roll;

Of course, Trump also won, rubbing our noses in,

Those getting his support did all manage to win.

So who in this election was the one that lost,

And to whom did all of these supposed wins then cost?

It’s no mystery, it seems very plain to see,

The loser in this election was simply me.

The sides are more entrenched, the battle lines are drawn,

Hopes of compromise or progress are all but gone;

At least another couple years we’re doomed to waste,

Before any real problems are together faced.

Maybe the real losers of this election day,

Are those in a generation or two away;

As any real problem-solving opportunity,

Is being squandered by our lack of unity.

Global warming, social issues take a back seat,

While the other party is the target to beat;

How long can we continue to fight, fuss and shout,

Before the chance for solutions has all run out?

With no compromise this two party system stinks,

Hope for any good solutions rapidly sinks;

We need collaboration so answers are found,

With cooperation good answers still abound.

10/23/18

Red Wave or Blue Wave, what is it going to be,

Come Election Day, what direction will we see;

Not sure, but more division we can sure expect,

There is just no middle road that we can elect.

For while we’re supposedly against suppression,

Sides attack each other with equal aggression;

Both strongly believe theirs is the only right road,

Content to lock horns ‘til our country does implode.

Pro-life, pro-choice, environment, immigration,

Sexual harassment and orientation;

While laudable goals from either side’s perspective

Civil accord is also a craved objective.

If from set agendas we could just hesitate,

And morality not attempt to legislate,

Somehow learn to communicate and compromise,

Then find answers before our collective demise.

But it takes those who are ready to represent,

And not on one agenda all their focus is spent;

All of them up there now we should just say goodbye,

And get a whole new group to give it a fresh try.

10/4/18

“He said – She said,” who are you going to believe,

What happened that long ago how can we perceive;

Was there a “me to” sex abuse as she does claim,

Or as he says ‘twas no action for us to blame?

Conspiracy theorists on both left and right,

Add more thunder to an already noisy fight.

Was her claim contrived to thwart his confirmation?

Was there a cover-up of this altercation?

Once again, the truth we’ll probably never know,

Into the great gap between the sides it will go;

But we should be concerned with those who simply say,

‘‘Twas long ago, what does it matter anyway?”

Granted thirty plus years is quite a long ways back,

And more recent results provide a better track;

But earlier events are illuminating,

When one’s character we are evaluating.

The subsequent confirming of his behavior,

Puts his earlier denial in less favor;

Far better if honest and up front he’d have been,

If such honesty and concern were genuine.

They may have been over thirty year old events,

But lies and cover-up are a current offense;

Lying reflects a character not that lustrous,

And questionable for a Supreme Court Justice.

9/5/18

What makes a person special, what makes one unique,

What does make one stand out in actions or physique;

Different as our fingerprints or our DNA,

There are all the things that we all think, do and say.

John McCain was special and indeed he stood out,

He had some things most politicians are without;

Even with those that eye-to-eye he didn't see,

He could still graciously agree to disagree.

Firm in his convictions, but not indifferent,

He could still be open to those who might dissent;

Differing backgrounds and goals he could realize,

That a good solution might require compromise.

Compromise is not bad, giving up on ideal,

It's forging solutions both practical and real;

Senator McCain knew for progress to be made,

There would be give and take, both sides would have to trade.

There's no progress when majority gets it's way,

If nearly half the group doesn't have any say :

Just one side's solution on the other side crammed,

Is a fragile accord that is despised and damned.

I hope McCain's legacy is not soon forgot,

I hope his voice of reason was not all for naught

I hope that more politicians might somehow see,

We waste more fighting than a solution would be.

2/17/18

Clowns to the Left of me, and jokers to the Right,

All they can seem to do is get in a big fight;

There is no progress being made in what they do,

So here we just set, stuck in the middle with you.

All the effort either side seems to try to make,

Is the last percent or two votes they want to take;

‘Cause with that magic 51 then they can force,

Their agenda on all to follow their set course.

The other side must be “all wrong” ‘cause they’re “all right,”

Not interested in their concerns or insight;

With concerns and compromise don’t want to fiddle,

So here we all must still sit, stuck in the middle.

Soon as one side regains that magic 51,

The other side’s efforts they seek to have undone;

As long as this stupid old game keeps being played,

How can any worthwhile progress ever be made?

What the heck does it take for us to realize,

That it is time that we reach some real compromise;

No progress we’ll ever make in this tug of war,

We have to find a path that all sides can be for.

Stop trying to use government to force your way,

Ours was designed so that we all could have a say;

People we elect have to learn to represent,

It’s not for just one agenda that they were sent.

So, for all of us that are stuck in the middle,

It’s time to say “get us the hell off the griddle;”

Let’s elect those who’ll actually work together,

And not to just one platform themselves will tether.

All the clowns and jokers we should vote to retire,

For way too long they have had us stuck in the mire;

“Stuck in the middle” should be “middle of the road,”

At least some real progress could be made in that mode.

Some new Christmas items this last year I did share,

Just click on the button below to take you there.

Christmas Thoughts

12/1/17

Even in war, a Christmas cease fire they will take,

In our politics can some Christmas reprieve we make?

Can our deep-felt division and harsh attitude,

By this Season’s enchantment be somehow subdued?

For ‘least this Season can the higher road be took?

Can disagreements and quibbles we overlook?

Can we focus instead on commonality,

Treat others with respect and cordiality?

The smaller it is that this world seems to become,

Harder it is each other to get away from;

Is it possible we could learn to tolerate,

Difference respect, not try to obliterate?

If just for this Season each one of us could find

The capacity to be nicer and more kind,

Maybe a foundation we might begin to lay,

That Peace on Earth just might be possible some day.

9/29/17

It’s almost impossible not to think of “Red,”

Immediately after that instruction’s said;

Seems like that’s also true when we talk about race,

Social injustice and protests that we must face.

It’s concerning that as these issues we address,

We might give up decades of civil rights progress.

As injustices we justly try to highlight,

Does focus on differences over-excite?

With social injustices must surely be dealt,

But not ev’ryone of us is part of the guilt;

While the injustice we correctly criticize,

Let us try not the rest of us to ostracize.

Sure, when I see you I notice color of skin,

Also of your hair, your eyes and the shape you’re in;

All of it is just a part of who we all are,

Not any of those traits should one’s perception mar.

The objective should be to see all as equal,

To share the same dignity, social and legal;

Being equal doesn’t mean all being the same,

Being equal in value is what we should claim.

There are many we surely need to educate,

About how with each other we should all relate;

Somehow them with us we must make want included,

Our objective’s missed if anyone’s excluded.

Accenting difference is where bias does stem,

We must work together, it can’t be “us and them.”

9/21/17

I’m sorry Folks but that last straw just broke my back,

Now Columbus they chose to protest and attack;

Seems his discovery starts a chain of events,

Resulting in prejudice and all bad things hence.

I guess things back in the dark age must have been fine,

Under the rule of kings and chiefs, they wouldn’t whine;

With no freedom nor any liberty at all,

Those old self-picked rulers would never make them bawl.

History is a lesson from which we should learn,

It’s not a place to which we should want to return;

Things can only get better when forward we go,

Fixing past mistakes that we recognize and know.

History is full of bad things that have happened,

If it could be changed, make me the first one to send;

But if all we do is look for someone to blame,

There’s still a problem, there’s no solution to claim.

There is not a single person living today,

Who owned a slave, or took a native’s land away;

Stop pointing fingers wanting someone to accuse,

There are many better ways to help you can choose.

These groups claim that they are making people aware,

Lots of wasted effort to give a guilty scare;

Try sewing some seeds with lots more trust and concern,

And see if a more impressed audience you earn.

Get over the guilt, leave it back in history,

Make a positive change, there’ll be less misery.

8/23/17

Like others I saw the eclipse the other day,

It did impress me so, that these words I do say:

Certainly there is a God and He/She is Love,

'Tis obvious when you behold all that's above;

Or change your perspective and look closely within,

From a loving creator it did all begin.

But, if you should have any doubt whatsoever,

Check out TheoTrio, do yourself a favor.

6/25/17

Good Luck To Us

Here I sit with both sets of my fingers still crossed,

A shaker of salt over my shoulder I’ve tossed,

I’ve got my four leaf clover, though it’s about dead,

I even stopped some old guy to rub his bald head,

A rabbit’s foot’s hanging on a chain over there,

I have some horseshoes placed open-side up with care,

A little prayer still bounces around my mind,

Though I’m embarrassed asking Him good luck to find,

Don’t know any more lucky things that I can do,

But I hope the best of luck blesses me and you!

5/24/17

There were thousands of lives that flashed by me today,

And ev’ry face I saw, a story it did say;

Some of them showed sadness, with hurt, pain and despair,

But most showed happiness, with hope, joy, love and care.

There’s much bad in this world, that must be overcome,

But there’s sure lots of good, where the strength can come from.

There were billions of lives that flashed by Me today,

And ev’ry heart I felt, a story it did say;

Some of them cried sadness, with hurt, pain and despair,

But most spread happiness, with hope, joy, love and care.

There’s still bad in this world, that will be overcome,

For there’s sure lots of good, where the strength will come from.

So what’s the answer you would like to hear Me say,

Just Smile, and you’ll light up yours’ and another’s day,

Just Laugh, and many tears and fears you’ll wash away

Just Care, and you’ll see how quickly it spreads around,

And then Hope, and you’ll find that answers can be found;

Love, and find happiness that always does abound.

3/8/17

I’m not all that concerned an asshole is our president,

Definitely, very few have ever been “heaven sent.”

It also doesn’t bother me that we don’t all agree,

I don’t expect ev’ryone else to see things just like me.

What does bother me and causes me great consternation,

Is the strong and ever-increasing polarization;

The paralyzing gridlock in Congress is bad enough,

But our un-compromising attitudes are still more tough.

A representative government our Founders designed,

Better answers with this diversity so we could find;

It was not intended to force one’s will on each other,

But to find workable solutions with one another.

When will we be willing, party politics to replace?

Our differences and challenges together to face?

Those who represent us, we must tell them exactly that,

We want some Demopublicans or a Republicrat.

A much longer thought this one did turn out,

Use this button the rest to read about:

Compromise

For Thoughts on the 2016 Election and NoneOf TheAbove see:

2/6/17

Seldom is anything “cut and dried”, “black or white,”

Seldom are we completely all wrong or all right;

Sometimes right or wrong depends on what we perceive,

And both sides are entitled to what they believe.

So each side sets out down their chosen path to go,

Counting up their yes votes to overwhelm the no;

A 51 – 49 majority rule,

Means half the country thinks that things are wrong or cruel.

The stronger something is said makes it no more right,

We should have learned “might doesn’t make right, right makes might.”

The problem’s not that we happen to disagree,

But that a compromise choice we refuse to see.

There are plenty of compromise answers to find,

If by our own perspective we are not too blind;

We need more people who can give as well as take,

And progress to compromise solution we’ll make.

We can’t keep cramming one side’s choice on the other,

We have to live together with one another.

This applies to the other guy just like you knew,

But look in the mirror, it applies to you too.

Election 2016

1/13/17

Well, the Happy New Year is a couple weeks old,

And I’ve blown the resolutions I made so bold;

Maybe not all, there’s the ones I really intended,

Rather than those sound-good hopes that I pretended.

It’s said, “we don’t get ev’rything for which we plead,

But we do get what we believe we really need;”

If our bigger hopes into real needs could be made,

Maybe until they’re reached our resolve would have stayed.

So, our politicians line up to go nowhere,

None of our hopes and needs do they together share;

We hear them saying “we’ll keep them from doing that,”

So, congressional gridlock is still where we’re at.

We’re certainly not asking for them to agree,

Just some common goals that they’d somehow try to see;

Effort at anything, if made collectively,

Would see some good results made more positively.

I really do hope this New Year is not squandered,

And so many hopes and needs remain unconquered.

9/28/16

We somehow survived this election's first debate,

Both sides claiming victory, they think they did great;

He said, She said; In one and out the other ear,

And ev'ryone heard just what they wanted to hear.

Truth is there was nothing new either of them said,

No clearer picture or more light by either was shed;

More time both did spend on the other casting doubt,

Than helping us see what they themselves are about.

So, supporters on both sides think that it went well,

To those already sold the same hype they did sell;

While those of us undecided still scratch our head,

Wondering how to pick when both sides we still dread.

Do we go with the bully who just says "trust me?"

Or career politician saying "wait and see?"

Can any good change come from just more of the same?

Or will change for change sake miss our desired aim?

9/14/16

For those worried that our youth are going to pot,

I just wanted to assure you they're really not;

There was this report out there in the news today,

That's definitely worth passing along your way.

There is this young California high school student,

Whose resourcefullness was appropriately spent;

The whole seventh grade she sat by herself to eat,

So she created an App to help others to meet.

The App helps newcomers and others who are alone,

To join groups for lunch that a willingness has shown;

A person or group an "ambassador" can be,

Letting others know, "you're welcome to come join me."

Seems like it is bad news that we hear most often,

But good stories like this one our hearts can soften;

So spread a little kindness, smile some more today,

There are some folks out there doing things the right way.

8/18/16

The election is getting closer, and oh look,

The choice has come down to the bully or the crook;

While the President race gets all the attention,

The Congressinal races should get more mention.

All of the House and a full third of the Senate,

Are now up for grabs and someone else could win it;

Don't care what party that an incumbent might be,

It looks like thay've all failed their jobs, miserably.

Outright gridlock with barely any progress made,

Except for making sure that they themselves get paid;

All of their fingers pointed at the other side,

To their party's strict program they choose to abide.

Nobody working together to compromise,

A mutual solution to somehow devise;

It's not too late for real solutions to be found,

But 'twill never happen if there's no common ground.

Seems if we vote a single one of them back in,

We are just asking for the same gridlock again.

7/14/16

More shootings, more deaths, still more tragedy to assimilate,

And the cycle of distrust continues to escalate;

Is there a good answer out there some where that we can find,

Or is the distrust so strong that both sides are just too blind.

While for President Obama I did not cast my vote,

I like the memorial speech he delvivered and wrote;

There is right and wrong on either side just as he did say,

And both sides must also hope we can find a better way.

For All Lives Do Matter, whether they are Black or in Blue,

And we can't judge us all, by the actions of a few;

Once our trust is lost it is so very hard to restore,

But our current doubts we cannot let fester any more.

"Us and them" antagonism must somehow be relieved,

If progress to peaceful accord is hoped to be achieved;

If an independent vetting process the police chose,

Maybe sensitivity and sincerity it shows.

6/27/16

The Orlando tragedy still fresh in our mind,

Our collective conscience tries some answers to find;

How can any person harbor so much hatred,

That they can justify so much pain and bloodshed?

No rational answers for irrational acts,

There simply are none, regardless of all the facts;

A mind twisted enough to consider such ends,

To the rest of us it certainly won't make sense.

It does illustrate that ends don't justify means,

Whatever objective, a bad approach demeans;

However lofty any goal to which we commit,

Our actions should be equally worthy of it.

5/27/16

Don't know how to vote this year, don't know if I will;

Watched lots of news, but I have a dilemma still.

Shouldn't we vote for a person we want to win,

Or pick the lesser of two evils once again?

Is it OK to vote for someone I don't trust,

If making the other lose I think is a must?

Where indeed is our hope for any improvement,

If we just keep voting for the least detriment?

Or is it alright to vote a statement to make?

"We've had all the bullshit politics we can take!"

The surrogate candidate we're then voting for,

Would they even understand our vote meant much more?

Yes, I've thought a lot on it, but I'm still unsure,

Maybe it's still just best if my vote I defer!

5/6/16

The long election primaries have almost run,

About to the conventions they are almost done.

Donald Trump has finally outlasted Ted Cruz,

Both he and Kasich have conceded they did lose.

Sanders has not admitted loss to Clinton yet,

But the uphill battle's looking harder to get;

They duked it out pretty good in the later states,

But he can't overcome super delegate slates.

So now America has its election look,

Should we vote for the bully or vote for the crook?

Interesting to note half of either's support,

Are those trying the other candidate to thwart.

4/26/16

It's hard to imagine a really big earthquake,

Where Mother Earth decides to really twist and shake;

Huddling and wondering 'til it's finally done,

Is this just a tremor or that final Big One?

What structure can one trust that it might not crumble?

Where might the ground give way with the next big rumble?

Where to run, how to hide, from a force that's so grand,

It shakes, rattles and rolls, the ground on which you stand?

No, I can't imagine, the fear that it must cause,

And my heart goes out to those with recent loss;

A few bucks I can send to help the rescue effort,

But prayers I also send that these fears find comfort.

3/30/16

Imagine the USA as a company,

In which we own some stock, all of us, you and me;

A selection committee, on which we both set.

A new CEO to lead, we're trying to get.

So what is it, you think, we should be looking for?

What will help the most for the job we have in store?

Is it education, or their experience?

Or personality, or good old common sense?

Are values a concern, whether they're bad or good?

Do their morals matter, or do we think they should?

On what issues do we need to know how they stand?

Do those issues really impact the job at hand?

Seems like the qualities we want them to project,

Depends upon the job from them that we expect;

Do we want moral crusades to save everyone,

Or company business to actually get done?

3/23/16

"Ode To The Final Four"

On Michigan State and in Izzo we trusted,

Now all of our brackets are completely busted.

"Press Virginia" into the dust was frimly ground,

They didn't make it through that troublesome first round.

Failing to March on was everyone's "Valentine,"

As Player of the Year, now he sure won't "Be Mine;"

With an early exit his and my fates were sealed,

Maybe with old Buddy, this bracket might get "healed."

The college basketball grand finale is fun,

Full of big surprises before it gets all done;

What other big shockers might there still be in store,

Before we will get to the hallowed Final Four!

3/4/16

The GOP slugfest has gone another round,

Lots of punches were thrown but nobody was downed;

The Republican race to pick a president,

Even more it looks like a big wrestling event.

Meanwhile the Democrats seem poised and reserved,

No feathers get ruffled and nobody's unnerved;

Which appears content with "politics as usual,"

A boring stance of which most folks are critical.

On performance appeal Trump is making his bet,

Disregarding you thinkers which makes you upset;

He must think he can ride this wave of emotion,

And get many more votes from constant commotion.

So is it just ego, basking in short-term fame?

Or is it a good plan on which he has took aim?

Is he really that smart or just dumber than hell?

Hope you've figured it out, 'cause I really can't tell.

2/22/16

Abortion, integration, civil rights and more,

Big issues that have come to the Supreme Court floor;

But no one issue is big enough on its own,

That favor to a justice candidate be shown.

A life-time appointment, it's importance transcends

Partisan politics, current events and trends;

We would like to hope that it's not just totally naive

This truth the President and Congress can perceive.

The qualification for sitting on that bench,

Is from politics oneself to completely wrench;

Party power problems to simply just ignore,

A justice is not a part of that anymore.

The truth in tough issues we ask them to discern,

And direction they also may cause us to turn;

In spite of old labels and political ties,

To a higher level we hope each will arise.

2/10/16

What is this Trump Factor we still see in the news?

Wasn't by now he was supposed to start to lose?

But instead he gets his biggest victory yet,

Is it possible nominated he could get?

Is it conservatives alligning with his band,

Impressed with his old throw-back immigration stand?

Do they think the Donald can win the election,

And pull us a more conservative direction?

Or is it possible the still bigger deal,

Are the people who like his strong "bad boy" appeal?

That old school politics they so desire to dump,

That no matter what else, they'd vote for Mr. Trump?

Democrats ought to hope it is more of the first,

'Cause cross-overs with the second would be much worse.

Plenty of voters don't fit a party label,

And enough of them could sure upset the table.

1/22/16

Wasn't too long ago, "Cop Killers" did imply,

An officer was shot, and sadly he did die.

But now it often means someone's died tragically,

An officer's to blame, something ended badly.

Communites react, with tensions mounting strong,

Everyone is intent to find out what went wrong;

Doubts and fears do arise, if the system's still just,

It's hard to feel safe if the police you can't trust.

What is right or what's wrong gets much harder to find,

Feelings like fear and pride tend to make us all blind;

To find a solution, or clear an ugly scene,

Someone independent might need to intervene.

When in confrontations, when angry, hurt or mad,

We forget the others that they are not all bad;

Someone both sides can trust needs to be in control,

To assure no one's hurt, 'til angers we console.

1/8/16

Our intense polarization is no surprise,

If our trend to extremism we realize;

Let's take for example recent gun control news,

How all of us respond and rhetoric we choose.

Gun control supporters react to tragedies,

Believing stronger laws are instant remedies;

They sound like they're just sure each incident we saw,

Resulted from a gun acquired through easy law.

But mention gun control, gun owners quickly feel,

Every gun they own, someone wants to repeal;

That we all will be left, gun cupboards starkly bare,

Then the nerve to attack, other countries will dare.

Somewhere in the middle reality does live,

And compromise answers are possible to give;

If we are all not up too high on our soap box,

That opportunity we can hear when it knocks.

12/31/15

A Happy New Year I do wish for everyone,

I hope it's Eve' is safe but still lots of fun;

And I wish this New Year that we're about to start,

In some very good way will set itself apart.

Maybe the election will give us cause to cheer,

But that's wishful thinking, I honestly do fear;

I think we more likely should trust in each other,

Working together at helping one another.

So as this brand new year you begin to pursue,

Throw some random kindness in with the things you do.

12/21/15

Like millions of others, I went and saw Star Wars,

My thanks to cast and crew for waking up the Force;

Another beautiful and epic installment,

Disney and Abrams have made for our enjoyment.

The seventh chapter of this Good and Evil clash,

Leaving us all hoping there's plenty more in stash.

One of the many lessons I think the movie shows,

Out of any darkness some goodness always grows;

Regardless of how bad circumstances have been,

There's always a glimmer of good somewhere within.

12/8/15

Shootings in the news cause us all some reflections;

This last one even has terrorist connections.

Some call for gun control, others say we should pray;

Seems prayers for gun control are what we ought to say.

I believe strongly in individual rights,

Attempts to limit them are cause for many fights;

But there is something to reasonable prudence,

Some limit on access is worthy of credence.

No one needs machine guns for hunting or for sport,

It's not excessive to register and report;

If we cooperate on how they are set forth,

While not a sure fix, some controls do have some worth.

11/20/15

The Paris attacks are a somber reminder,

Terrorism remains, it's not any kinder.

There continues to be those who life disregard,

Attacking innocence and catching us off guard.

But watching the response, the outflow of support,

The goodness of people it also does report.

Whether the attackers retribution we give,

We must be glad for the way of life we live.

11/11/15

Although the election is still a year away,

Seems like there's lots of folks that have plenty to say,

Very interesting, at least it seems to me,

Away from politics, it seems they need to be.

Folks are so unhappy with the way things are now,

Changes need to happen in Washington somehow;

I'm not saying we need somwone like Donald Trump,

But old party bull shit they surely need to dump.