POLITICAL DICHOTOMY

 Our nation is a dichotomy of political views. Where once there were only Democratic and Republican groups, today it is more clearly portrayed as liberalism, conservatism, libertarianism, and populism. It definitely makes political analysis more complicated. While I personally identify myself as a genuine liberal, I can live with virtually any view that makes some sense. My problem is I can understand that some liberal views may be considered too extreme to be adopted by a majority of the population. It is no different than my accepting conservative opinions that are not extreme.

My problem is that there are so many views that I consider very unacceptable. The following chart captures the differences between the Left Ring and the Right Wing. I read and listen to those advocating their various views and only hope that our nation can survive. My underlying problem is that the conservative views generally will evolve to a broken nation, resulting from the inability to do justice to the humanity of so many. I consider every human as my brother and sister. Each deserves to live with the means to have a safe environment with shelter, food, health care, education.

                               COMPARISON CHART

                                                      LIBERAL                                   CONSERVATIVE

ECONOMIC POLICY            INCOME EQUALITY                  LOWER TAXES

                                                    HIGHER TAXES FOR                 LESS REGULATION

                                                           WEALTHY

                                                     FUNDS FOR SOCIAL               REDUCED GOVT SPENDING

                                                           PROGRAMS & 

                                                          INFRASTRUCTURE              BALANCED BUDGET

HEALTHCARE POLICY        SUPPORT UNIVERSAL             FAVOR COMPETITION FROM

                                                      HEALTHCARE                          FROM PRIVATE COMPANIES

IMMIGRATION POLICY      PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP   NO “AMNESTY” FOR

                                                       FOR UNDOCUMENTED           UNDOCUMENTED 

EDUCATION POLICY           EXPANDED FREE PUBLIC       PARENTS WHO WANT HOME-

                                                    PUBLIC EDUCATION                SCHOOL OR SEND THEM TO 

                                                                                                             PRIVATE SCHOOLS SHOULD

                                                                                                            GET VOUCHERS

ABORTION                               GENERALLY IN FAVOR OF    GENERALLY AGAINST

                                                    UNPENALIZED ACCESS TO    ABORTION RIGHTS

                                                    ABORTION

GAY RIGHTS                            GENERALLY SUPPORT            GENERALLY OPPOSE

                                                     GAY MARRIAGE &                    GAY MARRIAGE & 

                                                     ANTI-DISCRIMINATION         ANTI-DISCRIMINATION

                                                      LAWS                                            LAWS

GUN RIGHTS                            FAVOR GUN CONTROL &        STRONGLY OPPOSE

                                                     AND WAITING PERIODS          GUN CONTROL LAWS &

                                                      BEFORE BUYING A GUN &     STRONG PROPONENTS

                                                      BANNING AUTOMATIC           OF THE SECOND

                                                       WEAPONS                                    AMENDMENT

ENVIRONMENT                       BAN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY    MORE PERMISSIVE

                                                      THAT MAY CREATE JOBS        WHILE BELIEVING 

                                                      THAT POTENTIALLY HARM    FREE MARKET WILL

                                                       THE ENVIRONMENT                 FIND ITS OWN SOLUTION

                                                                                                                TO ENVIRONMENTAL 

                                                                                                                  PROBLEM

VOTER ID LAWS                       AGAINST VOTER ID LAWS,      FOR VOTER ID LAWS

                                                       CITING UNDUE BURDEN ON    TO COMBAT VOTER

                                                       LOWER INCOME GROUPS &     FRAUD

                                                       VIRTUALLY NO EVIDENCE OF

                                                       VOTER FRAUD

       

                                                     

                                                    

                                                                 

                 

Hospice Volunteer

 Being present as a Hospice Volunteer to a person nearing death is both a privilege and a burden. The privilege is associated with the chance to support (in my case) the patient’s wife who needs time to attend to matters requiring her to leave the house., At the same time, it is a burden knowing that there is nothing I can do to minimize the burden associated with dying. 

We generally do not focus on our deaths. It is surely sad, but inevitable. Sometimes when we read of someone dying suddenly, we zero in on the privilege of not having to suffer, rather than the sorrow of those close to him.

Given my mother’s death when I was a young teenager, I know the rupture in family relationships. As a Hospice Volunteer, I feel the burden of dying while knowing that I am providing a service that makes it possible of his wife to attend to matters necessary for maintaining the home.

Thank you, Austin Fleming

 

 

All day today, Lord,

and through the night ahead:

    you'll be with me to sustain me,

    you'll be the air I breathe

    and depend upon for life...

I might not see you with my eyes,
I might not hear you speak aloud
    but I'll trust that you are with me,
    that I walk within your presence,
    that your word is there to guide me,
    that I draw upon your Spirit's help
    with every breath I take...

All day today, Lord,
and through the night ahead,
we'll be going it together,
companions, you and I...

No matter what I fear, 

no matter how I fail,

no matter what befalls me:

    I will not forget you're with me, 

    that I'm never all alone 

    that together we will make it,

    companions, you and I...

All today, Lord, 

and through the night ahead,

you'll be with me by my side,

    before me and behind me,

    above me and below me,

    - and best of all, within me -

and together we will make it, 

my friend and my companion,

together, we will make it,

you and I...

 

Amen. 

RIP

                                   MOMENT OF SADNESS, BUT A LIFE OF JOY

Such a joy of having such good parents,

Memories of their care for me,

The times when they held me with love.

We know that it cannot last forever,

But we never focus on that, but the moments,

The moments of such happiness.

Linger on the past helps,

Makes this moment less painful.

May My Dad Rest In Peace.

A SPECIAL, BUT SAD DAY

 The heart cries without your being present,

I try not to think too much about my sorrow,

I know that you were not happy as you were.

Life has surely its ups and downs,

You have so many ups, 

The downs were so few.

One can only focus on the love

That existed between us,

A love that hopes to give me strength,

To live with love always.

THE DICHOTOMY

 The national political dichotomy is obvious. I am careful when I share my observations with those I am not familiar with. I surely am not interested in an argument over which we most likely will never come to an agreement. However, the observation is ominous.

In perspective, I realize that I have lived in almost a dream nation. Granted that I was too young to realize the ominous nature of WWII. In those days without getting daily newspapers and little use of the radio, no one in the house shared any concern about the war. And after the war, life just got better for everyone. We seemed to be a nation thriving with a growing economy and aspirations for the betterment for all.

It all seemed to slipping downward with President Reagan’s decision to reduce the taxes of  the wealthy. The wheels only slipped further until they were really shoved forward by Newt Gingrich. To me, the dichotomy had started and now, we have landed into a situation where our nation is clearly divided to the point where one wonders whether we will explode as so many other nations. 

My interpretation of many dictates of political groups that distress me is that they would ultimately establish an autocracy by disregarding the Pledge of Alliance to the Constitution of the United States.

I surely hope that my fears will prove wrong, but until signs of more political unity based on our Constitution, I continue to shiver. 

HOSPICE VOLUNTEER IS A GIFT

 I always was one focused on helping others. Early, I thought that this desire would be met by being a priest. Unfortunately, my desire to make a world a better place resulted in my being considered a major problem. Ultimately, I moved on.

In the Veterans Administration, I found an avenue for redemption. To know that my work was addressing the needs of those who served our nation made work, not work. When my position enabled me to demonstrate that the agency was not going to the meet the demands the veterans involved in the Iraq War. My repeated presentations of my data ultimately resulted in the demand not to speak. And so, I retired.

Over the years, I have tried to offer my services whenever possible. Delivering MEALS OF WHEELS is surely simple, but for those receiving the meals, it is a big deal.

Being a HOSPICE VOLUNTEER is surely a rewarding moment. For a male, the task is relatively simple, viz., be with the person while the wife or other family provider can leave the house. Maybe a shared word of two, a sip or two of water, otherwise, be present. Surely, it is simple. 

However, being a HOSPICE VOLUNTEER is surely a GIFT.

LAST BEST HOPE

I know that the world that I envisioned will never materialize in the foreseeable future. At times, I fear about the future of which I surely have, and will not have, any influence. My dreams of our evolving into a union where we care for each other seems like such an delusion. However, I cannot resist the need to consider what would make this society, if not the world, better. These are some suggestions for improving our society, the United States of America.

 1. REPAIR SAFETY NET

    A. Universal health care

    B. Child care

    C. Paid family and sick leave

    D. Stronger workplace and safety precautions

    E. Unemployment insurance

    F. A living wage

2. Restore unions

3. Invest into key national sectors (clean energy, manufacturing,, education, caregiving

4. Form new institutions for worker power that are better suited to a postindustrial economy

5. Lowering the level of wealth at which tax starts 

6. Better teachers could be attracted to poorer schools by raising pay based on hardship, but keep assessments to ensure the worth of their education 

7. Lessen monopolies by increasing innovation, decentralize power, revitalize depressed regions