STATUS QUO?

     So what is the status quo around the world, particularly in the areas which most concern me - not good at all. I pick up the paper, open some websites and I find that we have continued to retreat into the Middle Ages. Multiple Jewish community centers and day schools received bomb threats. Will this ever end or are we fated to relive these fears and threats for all eternity? And how much of the blame for this increased series of threats can be placed directly on the shoulders of our president elect, he who appreciated the support of the alt right, a fancy name for the extremists and yes, there are extremists of both sides, not just Islamic ones!!
     What are we to do with all this hate that manifests itself around the world. Look at Africa and I so clearly remember the wars that savaged the African countries in their attempts to gain independence and then in the struggles to realize that tribal differences should not make a difference and yet, here we are with dictators, with tribal and clan wars, with wars between Arabs and Christian areas and it goes on.
     Now we also see a Europe that has reached back into its not so far off past and revived to quite a lively degree the anti Semitism which runs thru its veins. And to help it along we have a Breitbart spokesman, a former priest, who just loves his job!! On the other hand, we have a Berlin landmark lit up with the Israeli flag after the horrific truck attack in Jerusalem. And yet we have these feelings and questions : "And again we heard the strength in the words of the people who spoke and who declared that we will not give up, we will not succumb, we will not be afraid.
We will continue to do our best to light up places of darkness even when they are so so dark.
This is our land. We are here because God told us He wants us here. Sometimes (or maybe ALL the time) that is reason enough."
     And at this time we so desperately need the leadership of a stable government and president right here in America and we are getting just the opposite. We have a man with no filter, who drives the days of his staff with his inane and dangerous tweets, with a man who thinks that his most important responsibility is to tweet revenge and insults at those who criticize him. Should he not be thinking why they say these things and how he can improve relationships? Yup, but nope, for what he does is plan how to get his billionaires club into his positions ready to tear our country down, worries about no one as he aims to rip apart the ACA and leave literally tens of millions without medical coverage and every medical aspect is screaming out for this not to happen. Yet he is so busy trying to pull the wool over every American's eyes, employing his son-in-law, bypassing ethics and bypassing information needed to be handed in, bypassing any and all decency, not even trying to hide these things. And always the ridiculous and infantile remarks back to those who poke fun or question his deeds. Every president of the country has been subjected to complaints, to ridicule, to caricature, to whatever, yet this man cannot take it. His ego is that thin! President Trump? Feh!!
     We have fake claims and credit taken where none is earned. Fiat Chrysler had their plans in place for years already. Jackie Ma and his Alibaba are not creating jobs, any more than Ebay has done by encouraging sellers and buyers but where are the jobs with benefits? Where are the solid career jobs? Nowhere from Trump, that's for sure!! It is the emperor's new clothes with him every livelong day. The job data has been favorable these past few years but not due to him, certainly not.
     We now have five nasty Russians blacklisted and what will Trump do? Will he listen to his bud, Putin, and allow these criminals and human rights violators back into our country, free to walk around, perhaps even visit with their new best friend.
     And do not think that things are better here in the Village. We have a man fixated on getting his broadband and its chosen company into the place running over the feelings and expressed votes of the residents and delegates. Who the hell is this Atlantic Broadband and why are we signing on for ten years of them without a work record that we can rely upon? Why are we paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to CSI for "advice" and we did not even pass this contract thru the DA and no, David, it needs to be. Renewing a contract or renegotiating does not make it immune to the process. Only your twisted thinking and ethics.
     We are told the figures for it but uh huh, there is no telephone charge in there or ability to include it for His Holiness, David Israel, has decided unilaterally so, that people do not need it as they can use their cellphones. Well, there are thousands here who wish to have a phone other than their cell so why must they be forced into multiple contracts and increased costs with Atlantic, another $25 a month for phones? We have two cells, phones with Comcast and a landline for the times when all is out, a la hurricanes! Why can this not be continued and one cannot substitute phones as utilities for broadband as the utility.
     If we wish a better contract with Atlantic well, we have to add a $1 to the cost to pay for the TIVO machine. Truly a bargain. Why? Why is it not gratis. Then we are told it is either EPIX, a waste of a channel or HBO when we all know that Atlantic wanted EPIX as it was cheaper for them and David went along until there was much outcry for HBO. He ain't there watching out for our good, only his own ego and needs.
     And then, of course, we have the question of service. We get - a statement or promise of a wire maintenance program. Uh huh, but how many will be here to service it and any problems there are, particularly as this is a new set up. We have zillions of ATT, Comcast or Xfinity trucks in the Village every day doing whatever, be it installing or servicing or upgrading or whatever. How many trucks will be here and available from Atlantic? And a guy will be stationed here? Really? One guy? Hope he knows how to get along without sleep and by the way, how do we know that all this will be ready in a timely manner and what if not, as is most likely? And what about advances along and thru the years. My Comcast service has certainly improved and upgraded, we love their X1 box and the clarity of programming and guess what - we also can stream too, and nothing is crashing so bet on  another horse for that, David. And where are the papers requested by another resident? What are you hiding?
     And while I have your attention, what is with the fact that the new buses will not be ready till March sometime? Do we get a rebate, a break for using older buses and not what were promised to us? Why were we not told that there would be a delay when the voting took place? Another hiding the facts from the people, huh? Shame on you and shame on us that we continue to allow you to remain in office. David and Donald. Sounds like a comedy team, but is more like a tragedy at the end of it all.
     Welcome to 2017 and a good year to us all.