WHERE TO START- AND WHERE TO FINISH?

     Sorry for late posting, but could not help it.
     Anyway, where to start? Where and how to list all that troubles not just me, but so many people here in the USA and all around the world. You see, unlike the benighted view of Trump and Trumpers, the country is not and cannot be an isolated entity. That time is long gone in the fogs of history, way, way back. We cannot fence off the world, not literally and not figuratively. We cannot put a dome over the whole country to protect it from the fumes and poisonous air that will come from using polluting coal, burning wood in poorer countries, no regulations on industry anymore - not with Trump- and everything else that will go wrong. Remember, we share the atmosphere with the world. Saharan desert dust comes over to our country, nuclear fallout does the same thing and so do wars and tragedies and everything else one can think of.
     We cannot - and now it is a fence - wall off the entire border, not unless we turn into a despotic state and trust me, that is a worrisome thought to many. We cannot throw 2-3 million people into prison cells - where the hell would we even put them?! Never mind that it would be wrong. We cannot forget our roots and the knowledge that first generation immigrants, legal or not, work hard and push their kids to greater heights and then they contribute great things to the country. Hey, you know once there was a guy from Germany who came here as an immigrant and guess who his grandson is - although I must say that I am not so sure of his contributions and am worried about the harm he can and has and will cause to our country and its population and ditto for the world.
     We now will have a suspect and ultra conservative government in place and that despite the fact that the popular vote went to Hillary by far so this mandate that they think they have - it does not exist!!! So much for the Electoral College, an anachronism from the beginning of our country when it was felt that old, propertied white men would save the great unwashed masses from themselves and name the president for them. Too old, too silly, too inappropriate, too wrong for these times. Time for a change.
     We now have a president who cannot talk. He simply cannot. Nor does he know of what he is supposed to be talking about. Lesley Stahl asked him about Roe v. Wade and his response: "Well, they'll perhaps have to go- they'll have to go to another state." Okay, so besides deciding that men know best for women and they will lose what little is left of Roe v. Wade and lose control over their own bodies - kinda like him who obviously has no control over his baser instincts - and will have to return to back alley butchers. He does not even understand that if it is overturned by his backwards leaning Supreme Court, there will be NO other state to go to!!! Dummy!!
     He refuses still to reveal his tax statements, again claiming audits but the IRS says no problem and besides it seems he has been audited for two decades already! Great role model between that and his sexual misdeeds, his contempt for women, for gays, for all LGBTQ people, for races other than himself and shall we go on. He has picked a chief strategist straight from Breitbart, a sick ultra conservative entity that encourages racism and hatred and division with its every word and this from a president who says he wants to work together? Lies and more lies, from the campaign and before and now. There is simply no trust for this man. This Orange Man.
     At present we are the laughing stock of the world, leaving a confused look on the faces of the peoples of the world, from the little to the leader. How do we fix this?
     Well, first of all, Donald Trump has to learn that he is not above the law. He has to rein in his deeds to comply and yes, that means if he has to face a trial for his fraud with Trump University, then so be it. He is busy? Well, so are the rest of us and quite frankly it looks to me as if he is ceding most things to his children or Bannon or Pence. They know that he is a pitfall waiting to happen if he is allowed to roam and talk loose.
     He has to learn that there is great suspicion re his own business dealings and that of the country. His children are going to be his "advisers", you should excuse me, and yet, they will also run his business empire so exactly where and how are the inevitable conflicts going to be managed. He is the first president to not turn his estate over to a blind trust. Figures!!
     People, Hillary won the popular vote by close to a million and possibly more. He has no mandate for his oppressive plans. He has no mandate period and when his supporters see the lack of follow through and  the harm he actually causes them and how he reneges on his promise because it is impossible to turn back the clock - just wait. Fraud, lack of positive steps, a hateful man surrounded by other hateful men - impeachment anyone?
     On January 21, 2017 there will be a Million Woman March in Washingon, D.C. Anyone and everyone is welcome, men and women, anyone who supports human rights, anyone who stands against the shameful lack of standards in our new G-d help us president. Localities will also have their own. Anyone interested in having one here in the Village? Just send a comment thru via the blog or thru Gary's blog.
     Remember the old days when we all worked together to change the world? Well, without the drugs and without the turning away from society, let us remember  We Shall Overcome - hopefully in a soon to come someday.

CONFUSED AND TROUBLED

     These are confused times. The last time I remember such anger at the government or the government to be was in the late 60's when basically the young rose up, woke up much of an older generation and changed the world. Is that what is happening today? Once again, is it the young lad or lassie who cries out the truth, that the Emperor is naked?
     Generally when there is an election both sides accept the result and work from there. This election seemingly is different. Thousands are marching disavowing him and his politics, his viewpoint and in fact, his hypocritical deeds. This man who supposedly cried out against lobbyists is now appointing them in droves to his new government. He is appointing so many foxes into the hen coops that he will undo all that has been done on the environment, health care and any and all else.
     He, that convinced people to vote for him because he would be "good" for Israel are now hearing his plan to broker a "deal" in the Palestinian - Israeli matter. It would be the best ever or so he says. I wonder if it would be a bigly event!
     The  leaders of the world are looking askance at the American president to be, reminding him of shared values, with concern from their citizens as to what happened to America. When did it blow its gasket and lose its mind? Kerry is trying to race a deadline to cement in place an agreement that would help avoid even more climate change while The Orange Man and his minions deny that this even exists. Willful blindness to the truth does not erase it and not even if it is for the benefit of his cronies, all the fat cats that he ranted against during the campaign.
     He who fooled all those blue collar people, he who gained support of the Christian evangelical movement - he is the same cheater who is denying them now, leaving them to face health crises on their own for the government program will not be there nor will other "net" programs and by the way, this man is the furthest thing from Christian that I have ever seen. Any one ever see him go to church or ask forgiveness for his sins? Nope, thought not.
     But actually I care not for the religion for it has no place in the Oval Office, yet here it is dragged in with people forcing their own thoughts on others, to the point of bigotry and hatred.  No contraception, no abortion rights for women to choose and decide for themselves, bias against LGBTQ and will we return to the dark days of Stonewall? Racial hatred and do not ever think that one is immune to this for hatred grows and spreads and eventually all are involved.
     Never did I think that I would ever think such thoughts again, but here I am rooting for those kids out there. Here I am thinking of a columnist who said that we have to resist - quietly and firmly. Perhaps we need to make more noise though for this borrower who owes millions to the Bank of China, who has commercial entanglements with so many countries, including our enemies, this man who admires demagogues - this man must be changed and even his cronies realize this as he stumbles again in an interview with Lesley Stahl, unable to complete a full sentence or carry a thought thru a paragraph. He thinks Twitter is a game just for him to gather more followers and he thinks that it is a great idea to get all his kids into government positions. What is next? A special kids department for Barron? Or perhaps we will see an heir designated to follow him and watch all our rights go down the tube.
     When I first heard Andra Day sing I was electrified and when I heard her voice and the words of her song Rise Up I was even more impressed. Check it out, but here are some of those words.
     "We gonna walk it out
And move mountains...
And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again.....
All we need, all we need is hope
And for that we have each other.......
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache.......
We'll rise up."
Finally, in the words of David Brooks, "Maybe America isn't special, it's just another republic that had its day, but is in the process of devolving into a corrupt nation ruled by strongmen.
     But I'm not ready to accept that this is inevitable - because accepting would become a self-fulfilling prophecy. The road back to what America should be is going to be longer and harder than any of us expected and we might not make it. But we have to try."
     We have to try. So rise up, you and me and all the thinking people of America, the popular majority which Hillary had achieved, the people who looked to the future with hope and unity.
     We will rise up within the law but loudly, strongly BIGLY!!!
     I WILL RISE UP.
     WE WILL RISE UP.
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!!!

HEIGHTS AND DEPTHS

     We are at a major crossroads, one which will determine the fate and state of the world, its peoples, for years to come and notice I do not write millennia for I truly do not believe that long term survival is in the picture unless we choose properly. There are too many stories coming out of the increased attacks on minorities, on Moslems, anti Semitic incidents, the screaming rage of white Christians and deluded people who think that the clock can be turned back, those who ignore history.
     But in doing so these people turn a blind eye to the history of our country and its growing place in the world. At its founding, this country was an experiment, set in place by brave people, not perfect, by far, but willing to take a chance on new ideas, even as they carried some of the old with them. But over the years it improved and proved to be a place for the persecuted of Europe, of the world, as immigrants from before the founding till now came to America as a place of hope and a place with a future.
     From the beginning it was meant to be a place of refuge and a place of growth as the immigrants brought in new ideas, new ways of thinking. From Oglethorpe of Georgia to Lord Baltimore. From Roger Williams to Anne Hutchinson, from The Dutch trading company to George Washington to Mark Twain - this country was open to the world even as people railed against the newcomers. But they built this country, dug the canals, laid the trestles of the railroads, opened stores and businesses, endowed scholarships and museums and schools and yes, there were some criminals amongst them just as there is and always will be in the population at large.
     Now we have a president elect who cries out that the demonstrations are "unfair" - really, another tantrum from the Orange Man! Protest is a right of this country, like it or not and his railing against it send chills up and down my spine and into my heart. And yet we have the brave souls of even more cities yesterday who protested against the hatred that flows out of Trump and his supporters, the growing attacks they have staged. We have groups of younger kids chanting "build the wall" - carrying on the hate that is found within their homes.
     We have forgotten who we are, separated ourselves into groups, widened the divide and too many of us do not realize what we have done. We are quickly sinking into the depths rather than striving for the heights. Trump and Ryan crow how they are going to fix health and immigration issues. I ask, are they going to take care of those who will not be with coverage or will the very voters for Trump now have to learn how to take care of their elderly and sick without coverage, making do, scrimping and yes, watching their loved ones and friends die from lack of affordable care. So yes, costs were rising but does anyone out there remember a year when your insurance policies did not rise? I do not. Trust me, the insurance companies were not suffering. They cried wolf once too often to believe them and their cries of poverty.
     And then again, we have the pleasure of looking forward to the inmates running the asylum. We have Christie the alleged crook and blockader of roads in tantrums; we have Giuliani who has severe PTSD; we have Sarah Palin who I wonder does she still see Russia from her backyard; we have Donald Trump, Jr. who wishes to be Secretary of the Interior and we have the president himself who has business dealings with Chinese entities, with Arab entities, who owes money all over the place, who drives his companies into bankruptcy and does not pay taxes - and wow, what a crew!
     Trump is skirting too close to violating the law. He wants to just shoot up the families of terrorists and other criminals. Yup, it was that 6 month old that was the driving force right?! He wants to use extra tough torture so may we dust off all the Inquisition tools from the museums and bring in new hirees from North Korea, Putin and other Soviet operatives, Chinese experts, or perhaps even go back into the past and find some South American remnants from the old dictators and demagogues. Perhaps some Pinochet people still are around. Wouldn't that be handy!
     People, I am not making this up. This comes straight from his mouth and the mouths of supporters of Trump. They crow they have a mandate. Well, they have another mandate, that of the larger popular vote, that which states that they will not stand by and allow America to lose its specialness, its uniqueness, its beauty and its love. So they protest and cry and show fear. Women of a certain age wonder if we are going back to the time when abortion was a totally back alley deal and people died, cruelly, in pain, when contraception was unknown or illegal. We wonder, all of us, at the ridiculous statements that climate change is nonexistent so who then is melting the glaciers and who then is raising the temperature of the globe and who then is raising the waters of the oceans and drowning island nations and who then wants to burn coal to add to the mess, and who just lies and lies and lies!! Wishing does not make it so. We need to roll up our sleeves, work hard and struggle and strive to remake our country into what it was - but not in  a hateful way. Not in a destructive way.
     Yesterday was the anniversary of Krystallnacht on November 10, 1938 when in Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland, the mobs ran amok with governmental organization, prodding and  approval. Hundred and thousands, 30,000, were arrested and sent to Dachau and Sachsenhausen, People were killed and maimed, buildings and businesses destroyed and over 1000 synagogues burned, many of them hundreds of years old. Hate. Hatred. It does awful things and no one is immune to it and to its horrific consequences. And yet, there are always alternatives to this hate, even within ourselves. We can always strive to reach new heights as we wait and struggle and survive and try to rebuild the world as it should be. Here is a story from the heights. May we all learn from it and turn away from the depths to which our country and its citizens have fallen. May we all keep in mind that there were walls built in that time and they did not bode well at all. And remember that today is Veterans Day and keep in mind why they fought and what we need to keep.
    
"The following story was told by Rabbi Israel Spira, the Rebbe of Bluzhov, who had witnessed it firsthand in the Janowska Concentration Camp:
Each morning at dawn, the Germans would lead us out of the camp for a day of hard labor that ended only at nightfall. Each pair of workers was given a huge saw and expected to cut their quota of logs. Because of the horrendous conditions in the camp and starvation rations on which we supposed to subsist, most of us could barely stand on our feet. But we sawed away, knowing that our lives depended upon it; anyone collapsing on the job or failing to meet their daily quota was killed on the spot, G-d forbid.
One day, as I pulled and pushed the heavy saw with my partner, I was approached by a young woman from our work detail. The pallor of her face showed her to be in an extremely weak physical state. “Rebbe,” she whispered to me, “do you have a knife?”
I immediately understood her intention and felt the great responsibility that rests upon me. “My daughter,” I begged, concentrating all the love and conviction in my heart in the effort to dissuade her from her intended deed. “Do not take your own life. I know that your life is now a living hell, from which death seems a blessed release. But we must never lose hope. With G-d’s help, we will survive this ordeal and see better days.”
But the woman seemed oblivious to my words. “A knife,” she repeated. “I must have a knife. Now. Before it is too late.”
At that moment, one of the German guards noticed our whispered conversation and approached us. “What did she say to you?” he demanded of me.
We both froze. Conversing during work was a grave transgression. Many a camp inmate had been shot on the spot for far lesser crimes.
The woman was first to recover. “I asked him for a knife,” she said. To my horror, she then addressed her request to the guard: “Give me a knife!”
The German, too, guessed her intention, and a devilish smile flickered on his lips. Doubtless he had seen the bodies of those who, out of desperation, threw themselves during the night at the electrified fence that surrounded the camp; but this would be a new, novel sight for him. Still smiling, he reached into his pocket and handed her a small knife.
Taking the knife, she hurried back to her work station and bent to a small bundle of rags that she had placed on a log. Quickly unraveling the bundle, she took out a tiny infant. Before our astonished eyes, she swiftly and skillfully circumcised the week-old boy.
“Blessed are You, G-d our G-d, King of the Universe,” she recited in a clear voice, “Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to enter him into the covenant of Abraham our Father.”
Cradling the child in her arms, she soothed his cries. Then, she addressed the heavens: “Master of the Universe! Eight days ago you gave me a child. I know that neither I nor he will long survive in this accursed place. But now, when you take him back, you will receive him as a complete Jew.”
“Your knife,” she said, handing the holy object back to the German. “Thank you.”

Choose the right path. Our future depends on it.

WHAT HONEYMOON??

     Well, a tad too late one might say. The election is over and look at the results. Not even one day of a honeymoon despite the fact that both Obama and Clinton asked people to have an open mind on Trump. Yet they cannot agree to this. Yesterday in cities all across the country one might think deja vu, 1968 and its lead up and its follow through all over again. People just feel they cannot and will not tolerate the reign of Trump and his ignorant and dangerous cronies and yet, and yet - what will be? Are we to truly split into warring groups? And yet again, how do we avoid that? How can we overlook the threats to our American way of life that came through so clearly. Even Trump supporters, misguided and deluded as they were , are having second thoughts but you know, what's done cannot be undone.
     New York. Chicago. Los Angeles. Oakland. Seattle. Philadelphia. Portland, Oregon. Berkeley. Phoenix. Richmond, Ca. El Cerrito. People marched and protested and disavowed Trump as their president and the police - well here we go again with chemical irritants thrown at the protesters and the temperatures of all sides rising. What are we going to have now in the United States?
     Women all over the country are making appointments at doctors as the fear of no more funded Planned Parenthood and no contraceptives, the backwards movement of the regime in power, the viewpoint that puts women back hundreds of years - and just note the dress that Melania wore yesterday. She might have pleased her husband and the filthy minds of those he hangs with, but an off the shoulder bared shoulder slinky dress is not how one represents the office of the wife of the President. There is an image to present and keep up. Lord help us. People are expecting the country to regress and badly too.
     The announcement that comes out of the Trump mouthpieces and office are not boding well for the country. Loads of cuts for the wealthy and for business - so what did you get, you foolish blue collar workers - NOTHING, nothing but trouble as your medical coverage will be gone, your taxes will increase, your safety regulations will be trampled in the dirt, the national debt will soar beyond all levels as we get no in come for the government and Trump launches a supposed huge spending money program. So where does that money come from - off our backs!!
     And look at the people being mentioned for his Cabinet and appointments. Well, we have Christie all over the place. Wonder if he will block the highways in those cities and states who disagree with him? Wonder if he will prosecute the case against himself if appointed as Attorney General. The crooks are running the joint. Lovely thought. And then of course we now have Giuliani who appears to be suffering from PTSD from 9/11, understandable, but seriously, he sees a terrorist under every bed! Kinda like the old Red Scare of the 50's. Not good. Michael Flynn. John Bolton. Newt Gingrich!!! Oil and other energy executives. What? Are we to strip mine again, cut off mountain tops to get at the dirty coal and heave our climate change into the fast lane? Where are the people who should be able to express other viewpoints, the sign of a strong and wise leader. Guess we have the wrong leader - in Washington and here in good ole CV but that is for another day.
     The leaders of the world are very uncertain. Where are the once upon a time shared values between us all? Are the USA and Russia now to form an alliance? Hey, all of you who said oh, he would be better for Israel, well, a fine mess we will now have. This is a man who is going to cut down on foreign "entanglements" so where do you think the Middle East will be? Swarming with the war cries in stronger howls than today and a Russia that wants to extend its influence and power there. And remember history - Russia and the Jews? Uh uh, never very good for the Jews - Never!!
     And just look at all the hypocrites now sucking up to The Donald, that famous Orange Man. Liars, Cowards. Who will protect the people? Who? It seems we have left that one again to the kids but this time we are not the kids and in fact, we have allowed this to happen for lack of thought, for lack of follow through. So there is no honeymoon, there is no peace and there certainly will not be any of the dignity that Hillary Clinton displayed in her short but poignant speech. If you did not get teary eyed as she spoke, if you did not grow weary and worried at what could have been, if you realized that yes, we made history in this election, but not the election of the first woman president of the country - and long overdue - but made history electing into office the most unqualified, erratic, and dangerous for the country president ever. He will be worse than Grant, worse than Harding. No one will know where they stand and no one is sure that our rights a la the Constitution will remain in place. I can just see the man declaring military rule under an Executive Order and sending in the troops to hunt down the opposition, to throw our young into camps - a la all the banana republics, a la Russia now and in the past and well into the future.
     Honeymoon? We need a divorce. A quickie one at that. But how to go about doing that I have not the faintest idea. So four years of this and wonder if we will survive as the America we know or if we will flame out, become another Greece and Rome and other ancient empires that collapsed under their own weight and mistakes? I wonder...well, no, I do not for I fear what will be unless we do something - but what? How? Where do we turn? Ideas, anyone? Help, anyone? Pressure on the politicians? Pressure on Trump but who knows if hears anything outside his own voice? Well, we have to start somewhere and the kids have pointed the way with courage and resolution. Let them not shame us. Let us do our part.
     "Lord, what fools these mortals be."
Please note that I have just read an article about the most serious cases of the 75 remaining open ones against Trump. These cases could provide cause for impeachment! Yes - a way to go to get rid of him via the law and reveal his true character to those blinded by whatever during the voting period.
    
"But the most problematic for President-elect Trump will likely be the real-estate course racketeering and fraud cases – because of the seriousness of the allegations made. In any one of the cases, an official ruling by a court that Trump or his company were financially liable for fraud could provide Congress with grounds to consider impeachment proceedings. There’s a hearing Thursday in the California case to hash out motions that will set the tone for the trial, which is set for Nov. 28.
“If the fraud and racketeering allegations against President-elect Trump are true, he is legally impeachable for high crimes or misdemeanorsut the most problematic for President-elect Trump will likely be the real-estate course racketeering and fraud cases – because of the seriousness of the allegations made. In any one of the cases, an official ruling by a court that Trump or his company were financially liable for fraud could provide Congress with grounds to consider impeachment proceedings. There’s a hearing Thursday in the California case to hash out motions that will set the tone for the trial, which is set for Nov. 28.

SHATTERED

     Shattered. Shivering. Teeth chattering. Fearful, so fearful of the future - and the present. That was my reaction to the news about Trump. I had tried to sleep but kept getting up to see the unbelievable awfulness of the results. And I cry inside with sorrow and fear for my country, for the people within, for the "other" - of which my people are according to the raunchy right wing supporters of Trump - and I see no hope for the future as the Supreme Court will be packed with dinosaurs.
     Any and all progress we have made to do the right thing will quickly be rolled back. And while some cheer, masses of people within the country will once again be without medical coverage so just keep on laughing while people die, while they lead hard lives with problems that could have been averted, laugh at the heedless harshness and hard heartedness of it all.
      And what about those, including myself, who have had their retirement savings just about trashed. The world warned this would happen and there were examples of it but nope, we just kept rushing headlong into tragedy. So I wonder, how will Trump deal with this, perhaps send out pup tents to people who lose their homes for lack of funds, perhaps throw them a sop in a field soup kitchen or will even that prove to be contrary to his economic beliefs, such as they are.
     What about our allies? Or will we now have none and they will watch while we descend the ladder of countries, as we eventually fall into full isolationism mixed with rightwing nationalism, isolate ourselves from the world even though that is impossible and just accept as friends those dictators who jumped so easily now onto the bandwagon, wanting to be friends. We have Putin of course, that crazy Philippines guy, Erdogan as he took time off from throwing thousands into jail for opposing him, or so he says. With friends like these....
      And indeed, with a President like this, a president of the extremists, a president with no compassion, a president who frankly appears to be mentally unbalanced, a president who is a huge misogynist and proud of it - will we now have all the men emulating him  and will we now watch our boys follow his example? Will we return to the past for attitudes re women and their rights as people?
     And we know not what is to come for policies were never expanded upon, merely shouted about in platitudes, mere words. So will we have a wall? And how will he pay for it - by invading Mexico and robbing their treasury? Will we now have another police force slash soldiers whose job will be to invade all homes looking for immigrants and will they all be dropped over the border, left there to die? G-d in Heaven, this was done to the Jews in each country the Nazis ruled. I shake at the thought, at the vision of it.
     And what about all the underpinnings of the safety net we have for our citizens? It ain't perfect, but sure is better than nothing so what will be? And what will be done about the hateful divisiveness of our country. Fully half of the country did not support Trump. This is a class war, a race war, an economic war and by the way, what happens to his audit? Will it be dropped or better yet, will we have the shocking sight of our president led to the hoosegow for failure to pay taxes, hit with huge fines - or will, oh could it be - that politics will come into play and nothing will happen, the issue dropped? Hmmm, thought he promised not to allow that - uh huh - so let's see how it all plays out. And in the meanwhile Canadian websites are being overwhelmed with questions and inquiries about moving there, becoming citizens there. Does not say much for how our future will be. And who will serve as the representative of our people no matter color, race, religion, economic status, place of origin for who knows how many generations? Who? Who?
     And I wonder, for how long will I be allowed to post  and say my piece and my views? And I fear for our democracy, the great American experiment. I fear for my other homeland, the land of Israel, for I do not trust the man not a whit. And so I stood there and shook in horror, shock and fear. And I stood there and wondered about those who voted for such a man and what it says about them? And I wonder what they will say when the restrictions come raining down upon us, when the Republican controlled Houses of Congress just keep passing awful and vengeful and uncaring laws, rolling back progress and surety for our citizens. What then? Do I say "told you so" as the sky falls? I wish to be proved wrong, but I have no faith in Trump as a man, as a President, as a world leader, as a decision maker, as a man working with a full load up there. G-d, if only he proves me wrong without the whole structure falling down around us. Not too optimistic here, not at all.

WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS......

     "We hold these truths to be self evident....." Some of the most important words the nation and the world ever heard and they continue to resonate today. It is just so sad that people in our country have forgotten that and have resorted to dirty tricks to cancel it out or at least try to.
     White nationalism. Frightening words. Anti Semitism - two words and an attitude that goes along with that. Racism and hatred of all who are "other". A return or at least an attempt to return to those days of denial of votes, of extreme divisions.
Violence and extremism real and threatened by both extreme left and alt right.
     Interference by a foreign power and an invitation to do so by one of the candidates. A warning from our government to Russia and Guccifer 2.0 to mind their own business and a massive proactive effort by our government to avoid this interference.
     Interference by a governmental police organization into the election campaign and possible results. The FBI and its clumsy mishandling of the whole email issue was disgusting and certainly against our traditions wherein there is a huge separation between these governmental entities and the election campaign and process. In fact, it appears to me that we will never know how much effect there was as damage was done before the mess of an accusation was rescinded. It also appears to me that we will need a thorough overhaul of the FBI and massive workshops reteaching the agents that they are to remain neutral. Vote yes, as citizens, but as agents and public servants - shhhh!
     This election has been the most tense I have known. Before this, okay, I had my druthers, but even the idea of Sarah Palin as one heartbeat away was not as frightening as the image of Trump taking the oath of office for I am sure that the American experiment of democracy would then become a relic of the past. Never have I seen people actually physically ill with the thought of him in office, a man who is racist, piggish in behavior and foul in mouth, who hates all - women, disabled, black, brown - remember those "bad hombres", immigrants and their descendants - hmmm, does that mean he hates himself? Probably, what's to love? A man who can rant with the best? worst? of them and then can mumble to himself out loud. A man who has no self control and whose venomous attitudes are virulently poisonous.
     He defends himself with lies, small lies, the Big Lie and oh, have we not seen that before! He defends himself by saying that his daughter converted. So what? Good for her - and remember, every big Nazi had his personal Jew that he liked but oh, well, what can one do - and I hope she lives a long and happy life, but this same daughter played down her ad for her father due to a fear for her business. His son in law could not back him in his own paper, The Observer.
     No experience. No tact. Hateful supporters. Rabid supporters who made up lies. Personal attacks on those who opposed him. And on the other hand we had a determined and experienced public servant who fought for years to get her programs through. Sometimes she won and sometimes she failed, but she tried and millions have health insurance through the CHIP program for kids and good policies under Obamacare. Sure, it is not perfect and neither is she. As I always have said, perfect is for angels, not humans.
     Her closing presentation last nite was beautiful - calm, hopeful, reassuring and stretching a hand out to all Americans, to unite, to join together to build America again. All we get from the other side are threats, of armed violence, of interference with the voting process and haven't we seen enough of that already. Hillary Clinton has her policies ready. She knows the issues and she knows and acknowledges that there will be both success and failure, but success, people, means the cooperation of all, of both parties remembering that they are Americans first and then Republican or Democrat or whatever. Period.
     So get out there and vote. Wait on line and be thankful that we have the opportunity to vote. Yes, sometimes there have been roadblocks and obstructionist behavior, but it is worth the efforts to get there and vote. Take your friends with you. Take your family members with you and even your little ones, unable to vote as of yet and let them see the process. VOTE. VOTE.VOTE.
     And once this is over, I hope we will all sleep better in our beds knowing we have the right woman at the helm and for Heaven's sakes, people, especially women and all decent men- how could you possibly vote for him, he who demeans us, who demeans our loved ones. Remember the questions I asked in yesterday's post? Think of them before voting. Be part of a most historical moment that is long overdue - a woman as President of the United States of America. Damn, but that looks good and sounds right to the ear. It is time. It is best for us and for the world. It is not perfection but it sure as hell is better than the alternative and a positive step into the future.
        VOTE HILLARY CLINTON
   VOTE AGAINST HATE
   VOTE FOR HOPE
   VOTE TO SAVE THE WORLD
   VOTE TO SAVE THE COUNTRY
   VOTE AGAINST HATRED
      VOTE HILLARY CLINTON

HOPE AND LOVE AND UNITY

     "Hope over fear, unity over division, love against hate."
     That is what Hillary Clinton was asking for, wanting us all to remember that we are all Americans. Would that we do.
     As we stood on Clematis Street, waiting for the Veteran's Day parade, we all spoke and kidded around. We, the onlookers and the marchers, joked around and various people expressed a desire as was asked for in the first sentence of this posting. People are so tired of the viciousness, of the lies, of the attempts to exploit differences rather than look for what makes us a nation of Americans. It does not or should not matter whether we are black, white, brown, or chartreuse or mixed in any variety you can think of. It should not matter what gender one is and who one marries or loves, nor the country of origin of some generation or other.
     But it is difficult to see this happening when Trump encourages this hate, accepts the hate as support for him and is a coward as well as a liar. When a Republican Against Trump held up a sign at a rally, Trump got all flustered and asked for him to be removed and then tweeted all over the place that it was an assassination attempt! Are you serious? This is the brave and bold person we need to lead us? This is the exact opposite.
     It is time to look deep within ourselves and reach out to the decency that still remains. Stop believing all the hype and all the lies. For those of you still deluded, ask yourself if you would accept non payment of wages for work done or project completed. Ask yourself if you would leave your 20 year old daughter alone in the same room with Trump. Ask yourself if you would like your son to choose him as a role model, to emulate his lies and his cheating, his lack of morals and decency. Ask yourself if you would willingly and without reservation enter into a business deal with him. Ask yourself if the fact that he now has had to have his phone taken away by his aides to prevent him from using Twitter to threaten and the fact that he is vowing revenge  on any and all who oppose him (gee, sounds familiar, but that is for another time) if all that makes you a bit squeamish at the thought of having an obviously unbalanced person whose finger is on the button who controls the armed forces and if that doesn't put you off!!If you can answer yes to these  or no to the last one then there is no hope for you and I sincerely hope you do not get what should be coming to you for that would put all of us in a nasty state indeed.
     Once again Trump has come out with a vicious statement targeting "conspirators" around the world and guess who he incudes in that list - many Jews who evidently control the finances of the world. When does this vile anti Semitism and paranoia stop? Certainly not under his reign!!
   His adherents, including Joe Walsh, a radio show host, threaten to pick up their guns and go ahuntin' should Trump lose, which G-d willing he will. The experts warn of a world wide meltdown of the stock market and all trade, bringing us into a great depression once again. The man himself is a blithering idiot, not trusted to remain alone lest he blow up his own campaign again, sincerely mentally wasted and this is the man people still vote for? We are indeed the authors of our own demise.
     The media is full of reports of the lines yesterday for early voting, one over a half mile in length. There could be rigging, definitely - but that would be the Republican statehouses and legislatures who reduced the number of voting places for early voting down to a ridiculous minimum in areas of Democratic strength. Well, it will not stop us.
     People, get out there tomorrow and vote. Stay on that line, ignore the ignoramuses who will come to heckle and hinder and intimidate you. This is still America - at least until the inmates truly take over the joint, Prevent that from happening - VOTE!!!!
    
     And for those of you who think that his is the way to campaign or who accepted his awful ways as your ways - wait and we will be coming after you as well. Liars have to be exposed, the truth must be made clear. So think and think carefully, judge your past behavior and then think again. Perhaps an apology or two might be a good thing.
     Certainly one is required here. At the DA David Israel in a most hypocritical moment spoke of Jerry Karpf. He should have shut his mouth for the hypocrisy was disgusting and then look at what is on his blog. There is the same nonsensical blather about what they know nought of, and are so wrong it is beyond belief. This particular issue is about the proper classification of repair vs. capital improvement and the proper payment for the AC and cooling tower. There was mention at some point of a suit to resist the spending of over a million dollars of our funds for this, as it truly belongs to WPRF. Look what two of his constant lackeys say. It is so disgusting that it reeks of vile poison.
     Lanny Howe, who tries to present himself as the jolly old statesman blew it here. Here are his words: "...... although I'd have thought the chances of such less by a factor of one." This is how he refers to the tragic death of Jerry Karpf. Then of course we have that vicious creature known as Peter Cruz who writes: "Good point Lanny, the silly suit happy duo is now a single"
     So what now, Cory reads this and gets to cry all over again? David and his a - holes sit and chuckle how clever they are?
     Please note that David Israel took off those comments after I called notice to them. The fact remains that they were there and cannot be denied. They should have been blocked or removed as soon as posted.
     David already was shamed when the Captain spoke of the shooting incident over at Aitz Chaim, gee, even though David Israel said I made it all up and it was great when Olga stood up and asked the Captain if she was violating the law with her buildings Wi Fi setup and guess what - NO SHE WAS NOT!!!! Once again, David lies and lies and is caught with his pants down - UGH!
     Folks, time to get rid of the garbage here and in the nation as a whole. Vote for Hillary Clinton. Do not allow a sick being into the White House nor his hate mongering followers. Turn away from him. Feel the truth. Hear the truth and do the same with David Israel and his followers here. Their viciousness is patently obvious and getting worse by the day. They rip out the hearts of those who oppose them, with David muttering for revenge the same way as Trump and their words of hate and cruelty are beyond the pale. Ich!!! You make me sick to my stomach!!
     People, we have already seen throughout history what a rightwing nationalistic government does. We have seen the racism and its violent consequences. We have seen a Hitler and a Mussolini and a Horthy and a Putin and everyone else of this ilk. We do not need this here. It has already introduced too much hate and threats of violence and talk of guns. Vote Hillary. Turn away the forces of evil. Stand with The Force as they say. A human Darth Vader we do not need!
     Vote the right way at the proper times. Vote Hillary and next presidential campaign here in the Village - vote David out. Vote his supporters out. Finally, let us stand up for decency and humanity.
     
   

C'MON, MAN!!!!

    I just cannot figure some people out. Here in the Village we have a deluded soul calling himself Cervantes who does not like what Olga and I have to say about the election and specifically re Trump and Clinton. He basically foams at the mouth, cannot write a correct sentence for the life of him and he is just about incoherent.
     This incoherency of Trump supporters, this rabidity of theirs is puzzling. Some blue collar workers see him as their savior, yet this is the guy who did not pay his workers the wages they earned so excuse me??!!
     That any woman could vote for him is just beyond all understanding. In fact, it is shameful for this man and his followers objectify women, treat them as useless for anything but sex and sexual comments and he sets an awful example for others to follow. Just look at the scandal with the Harvard teams and their lewd and sexual rankings of women, all on spreadsheets so advanced are they in their disgustingness!
     That any person other than his children and his wife could vote for a man who talks of how he grabbed women, using their private areas as a grip, how he talks of f---- them - how could anyone who has a mother, a sister, a wife, a daughter, any female relative or friend, or has a son - how could anyone vote for this disgusting pig.
     Yesterday he also displayed yet more of his penchant for lies. As a Trump heckler spoke at a Clinton rally with Obama speaking, when the audience wished to shut him down, Obama quieted them and gave them four reasons why to behave and let him speak - and then take care of this by voting. Trump, in one of his usual rants, ran off at the mouth how Obama screamed at the guy on and on. The proof of the pudding was right there on tape but Trump does not accept as truth anything other than what comes out of his twisted and filthy mouth.
     Trump has no policy worth anything. He plans on building walls, he plans on deporting all immigrants with his new deportation police - and by the way, does that include Melania who allegedly worked here without a work permit and his son Baron who then has roots of a poisonous tree I guess what with an alleged violator of USA rules! Could be interesting - remember, he accused a person of being incapable of serving as a judge, I believe, because he was of Mexican heritage even though he was born here. Evidently illegal immigrants seems to devolve onto the next and the next and the next generations. Ask Trump!
     He has a trickle down economic policy and folks, been there done that - it does not work!! He himself uses outside the country sources for his materials, from cloth materials to Chinese steel. He lies about his taxes. He lies about his charity, even using charitable funds to buy a painting of himself!! He lies about his earnings. He refuses to pay his fair share of the costs of maintaining the country and its various political entities and calls that smart. So in fact, he is a leech on society.
     Trump frightens the world, not because he is smart and would be strong, but because he is not. Because he is off the charts in the inability to control himself. Who will control that finger on the button? Who will control his fascistic backers who would love to wipe out those pesky Jews and take the black and brown people along with them? Who will control his penchant for violence? How will our country survive with a man at the head who openly praises our enemies and wants to be friends with them, who invites them in to disrupt our elections?! Why vote for a man that the legislators of Sydney, Australia voted unanimously and called a "revolting slug". I agree.
     How can we possibly have as a leader a man who wishes to just about cancel our Constitution and the rights of Americans, who wishes to set up a crisis after the elections and when he loses to practically or actually create a civil war? How can we elect a person who makes bizarre comments, accuses his opponent from everything from soup to nuts and the other day I heard from a supporter of his that Clinton is a murderer as well! C'mon, man!! Are you serious? Are we serious? How this man actually got to this point is frightening and it scares the world and frankly, it scares the people of this country. I have never seen so many people actually distraught at the possibility of Trump as president. Even the thought of it crashes the stock market and all predict a catastrophic drop in the market should he G-d forbid win!
     Clinton is not perfect. No one is, and I fully expect to vehemently disagree with some of her policy decisions, but I can trust her to think and gather information before she makes a decision. I can expect her to shut down this terrible trend of government employees mixing into the elections, a major no-no. I gasp at what happens to people when they lose their mind and soul such as Giuliani with his ridiculous statements that he has made and to then walk them back. I cannot figure out why, if her husband strayed, she is blamed for that. I cannot understand why people now make up lies about her husband and try to inflict those lies upon her, especially in public. Does anyone shout out at Trump or Melania about his physical wanderings? No, because they know better. I worry when  his supporters verge on intimidation as they stand at the Supervisor of Elections office and shouts out at people. They shut down a group of young kids the other day who were plumping for Murphy but do not shut down this woman? Sniff, sniff!
     I worry when his supporters suspend reality in his name. I worry when they sound like Cervantes on the blog, ranting and raving and know not of what they speak and tell me that due to my religious and educational background I should know better and vote for Trump. First of all, what does religion have to do with anything and that sentiment frightens me especially given all that is going on with his supporters and within the world at large. Second of all, it is perhaps due to a background and teachers and parents who taught me to inquire and investigate and think and think again that I cannot support him nor any of his supporters and have only the feeling of contempt for those politicos of the Republican party who do not denounce this man, this dangerous man with his incompetence and abusive viewpoints. So, Cervantes, go home and try again.
     Here are two statements that wax almost poetic about Hillary Clinton and why she needs to win this election. "She is poised, well spoken, experienced, and qualified....informed and knowledgeable about US and world politics, laws, current events, culture, and history....willing to continuously learn, listen, seek advice from experts and work with others to find common ground and solve problems. She is a change agent...work horse that sweats the details."
     And finally there is this.
      "It's a remarkable thing to see a person remain true to themselves. I think of Hillary Clinton right now, how she is just standing there accepting the slings and arrows and ducking underneath, getting stung, but standing like a tree in the middle of a tsunami. There's something beautiful about that. Something inspiring about weathering that kind of storm."
      Get out there and vote. Vote for Hillary! Take your neighbor to the polls. Be an American and vote for us to continue with our values. VOTE!!!!!

REFLECTING ON PRIVATE MOMENTS WITH HILLARY CLINTON

       I just read an article by a well know Rabbi of the Jewish community, a man who has mixed with all levels and people of society, both Jewish and non Jewish. If you go on my Facebook page you could see the entirety of it, but here is a summary of the most important points. I kept the summary in Rabbi Hain's first person and used his words and his voice as much as possible in this summary. I apologize for any errors in my summary.
     "At a private seder in his home, just after the Passover massacre when the Park Hotel in Netanya was bombed and 30 Israelis were killed and 130 wounded, as we were preoccupied at welcoming her to our home, she quietly leaned forward and asked a question, whether it would be appropriate to take a moment and reflect on the lives of those killed and pray for those who had been wounded. This was done. She thus revealed the extent, the wide range, the deeply felt, empathy and thus made us better people, reminding us that we must always identify with our brothers and sisters who were suffering.
     A second time, though actually the first time I  met Clinton in September,1999, took place at a White House Prayer Breakfast for Religious Leaders. I sat beside her and we spoke for close to two hours - Israel, Jewish - Christian relations, religious education for children etc. I was impressed by the depth of her faith and her resultant values, particularly as she described how her religious beliefs had sustained her and her family during the scandal and impeachment of her husband.
     Why, I asked, her, did the American people never see this side of her? She replied that some things are too precious to wear on a sleeve. A deep and private feeling, not displayed for political purpose, but for herself to know and take comfort from.
     A final time from February, 2002, the height of the Second Intifada, she was invited to take a trip to Israel with a group of Jewish leaders, and we were impressed with her actions. Instead of taking massive photo ops, she insisted on visiting the sites, speaking with the victims, the wounded. For a whirlwind 36 hours she did this, supporting those in distress and shunning the photo ops. Empathy, loving kindness, great character.
     I have known her for two decades and she has demonstrated three of the most prized qualities in Jewish life. We would be fortunate to have her serve as our next President."
     Again, I summarized and the original article is available on line under the same title that I have used. I beseech you all to read it carefully and understand why I support this woman, particularly when her opponent is so much the other way, a polar opposite to her.

PATHS AND TAKING STOCK

     There comes a time when one must stop and take stock, run an inventory. Part of that is to think about the paths we have chosen or which seem to have kind of grown on us and whether we are satisfied with it. This is good for an individual as well as for a nation, or in fact, any political entity or organization. It is why there is often a routine look at the mission statements of groups.
     The most important group which needs a mission statement renewed and revitalized is the United Nations. Frankly, right now it is a waste of time. Its troops do nothing to help people to safety upon being attacked or they themselves have caused harm to the country in when they are stationed. The troops sent to Haiti after the earthquake just about added a second layer of devastation when they gave it the "gift" of cholera! And then people choose to pick on the Clinton Foundation because it did not do enough!!!! Seriously? Sometimes I think that G-d Himself finds Haiti to be too much, even for Him. In any case, I am finding myself on empty when it comes to the UN which has its various groups mostly composed of violators of human rights who then pick on certain countries in the most hypocritical manner. So much for the UN and its chosen path.
     What about individual countries? Well, think  about the path that Russia has chosen and why anyone is surprised is beyond me. The history of Russia is that it never works unless there is a strict dictator or dictatorial system in charge. From the Czars to the Soviets to Putin, any time when there was an attempt at democracy it was weak, doomed to an early death and its criminal structure is so interwoven with its governmental structure, with a flexible definition of criminals and criminality, so interwoven that I daresay that improvement is beyond achievement at this point. Not a good path for them - nor for the world and certainly not for America.
     Countries are loath to choose proper and strong paths for their national existence and definition. Instead, the government officials, the main political parties, have run scared in the face of challenges, allowed smaller, more extreme parties to flourish and once more we have the rise and strong growth of right wing and left wing parties of the extreme ends of the scale and the major parties give in and refuse to stand up to them. So what do we get? We get a scene at UCL (a university) in England where the group of people inside, listening to a speaker from Israel, was mobbed by a screaming horde of shouting, screaming and physically threatening semi humans meaning to attack in any and all ways and the kids inside and the adults inside had to be escorted by police thru the crowd in order for them to get out safely. And the administration? Oh, they are investigating if there indeed was such a happening!! Paths again, paths chosen and for sure, the wrong paths.
    Robert Frost must be wondering why people do not read his poem about paths and the one not chosen. In fact, any poet or philosopher thru the ages must be rolling over in their graves, wondering where and how the human race has gone off track, lost its way and found itself in such a position as now.
     As for our country, we have a sexual predator running for president, a woman who has been badgered and belittled for her ambitions, for her determination and for the faults of her husband. "She should have controlled him" is what I heard yesterday. Really!! What should she have done?Sealed his zipper? Washed out his mind? Given him hormones to defuse him? Instead, she took a deep breath, made a difficult decision and got on with life and for that she is blamed. Her mistakes in life have been viewed under a Hubble telescope and innuendos have come forth like the high tide.
     The country and its citizens have gone berserk. The shouts of hatred, the threats and the statements, including from a US Senator who suggested that perhaps someone should shoot Clinton, the anti immigration venomous statements, the virulent statements of poisonous anti Semites, now the torching of religious institutions - where and how have we become so lost, gone so far down the wrong paths and more important, how do we get back on the right one? Trump supporters are threatening, like Third World dictators, to lock up Clinton should she lose the election (G-d forbid). They are threatening to punish her in every way possible and shut her down if she wins (please make it so!) and thus their responsibility to the country, to finally have a functioning one wherein the Republican party finally remembers that they are Americans first and then somewhere way down the line, Republicans, well, where is that path?.
     And over here, in our own little insignificant corner of the world, we still have the money rules way of life, the over development of the area, the exceptions made for developers and the threatened Reflection Bay development right next to us, not only a massive residential area, but also to include retail properties, huge multi story garages unlike any in the surrounding areas, and dense building within its borders. The questions of contaminated dust with poisons floating thru the air, coating the surfaces of the Village and the lungs of the residents, the question of proper drainage, the blatant violation of perpetuity, of the rights of those who bought on the golf course borders, the lies - all count for nothing to the Commissioners as Waldman gets his way, along with a vicious attitude of now I'll show them!
     The individuals who have taken on roles of rulers of the Village and I mean that seriously as they rule over all, cutting out all who oppose, all who would think and ask questions, allow a paper to be run by semi senile editors - these people have abdicated their responsibility towards the Village residents and allowed Levy and WPRF to run rampant over us all. For example - replacement versus repair - capital improvement versus repair - quite a simple choice there and yet here we are, scheduled to pay about one million dollars to REPLACE the AC system in the Clubhouse - not repair it - and yet where is David Israel who evidently has been elevated to the ranks of Galileo and Jackie Robinson - and any other names wish to be included- excuse me while I regurgitate! SO where is he - I dunno. Contemplating his navel in his hidey hole, thinking of benefits he can get or how to strengthen his control even more, wonder about why he is becoming Public Enemy #1 within the Village? Well, I dunno, so let's go find the Shadow for maybe he knows. Or Levy? Or Eva and let us pose hard questions and let us get the thoughts of true lawyers and not Tennyson, puppet on a string of David Israel.
     So finally the paths for individuals. As I look back at the trail behind me I am somewhat surprised at the effect I have had on others, on the friends I have made, at the thoughts I have verbalized and at the influence I have had on others throughout my life. Perhaps I would or should have made different decisions were I to do it all over again but perhaps not. Does it make sense to sacrifice a more secure retirement for doing the right thing or was that a foolish decision? Are we satisfied with our kids and now the grandchildren? Oh yes, on that one but you know, it was not easy or always smooth, but evidently the paths we chose, though sometimes lost in the overgrowth, those paths were found again and well , they proved to be the right ones. Mistakes were made and had to be dealt with, and challenges were there as well.
     I have tried to stay on the good paths but sometimes have wandered a bit astray. Time and time again I try to ignore the ignorant and their ridiculous statements, but I admit, difficult to do, so when the same ones make the same statements and they are just so dumb, or so blind, or so erroneous and the temptation to take them down, well.....sorry, but I am human.
     The path not taken, the paths not taken? Well, we will never know, but we need to look at the ones we are on right now and think. It has been often said that we, or an individual, would go to the ends of the earth for a friend or a loved one or for a principle or belief. Well, great, but how does one get there, to the ends of the earth? What paths does one choose and how does one make sure that it is indeed the correct paths? Heavy responsibility and remember - the butterfly theory of life so our little decisions can and do have larger consequences. So walk, walk straight and proud and decisively but always with a sometime look back and a reevaluation, an inventory moment. Good for the soul.

THE FEAR INDEX

     The fear index. That is what economists are calling the fear that is driving the stock markets down and down, predicting a cataclysmic downturn should the worst happen next Tuesday. Yet all the while there are polls which state that Clinton has from 71% to 98% chance to win the election so this fear index should probably be put aside. So why is it still here? Because people are literally frightened out of their minds at the thought of a Trump win. Imagine the scene in court, in the eyes of the world, when the President of the United States of America is brought into court on a daily basis to answer to suits against him by people stiffed with wages going unpaid, with women suing for compensation for assault and possibly even criminal charges depending upon statutes of limitations, of fraud cases against the fraudulent Trump University and of course, the IRS with their huge claims against him as the audit continues. It is the image of a truly morally challenged person, a hater of all other than himself and possibly his own family, though the wife is not necessarily included in that. Too much change going on there. It is the image of a man who has no boundaries, no self control, no experience in the political world, no dignity, is still in the mode of a schoolyard bully, and a man who wishes to shut down the USA, render its Constitution useless and that is just for a start. This is the man who collaborates with enemies of the country, praises them for their attempt to interfere with the elections in this country, violate our proud history of peaceful transfer of power. How and why anyone can cast a vote for him is beyond me.
     Hillary Clinton has helped people throughout her lifetime. Yes, she has ambitions but so what? Why is that wrong? Because she is a woman and it is unseemly? Sorry, dudes, that time has long gone. Deal with it. Because she has a problematic husband and decided to stick with him? I cannot understand her motivations to do so, but she did and that was her decision to make, not ours and it seems it was the right one for they are still a couple unlike Trump and his three wives, always getting younger, and his numerous victims and others. And why is it okay for Trump to fail time and time again at his business, use other people's money to get out of a jam, yet not be okay for Hillary to go on a speaking tour and make money. All the guys who leave government are doing it so why is it again, unseemly for her? Because people need someone to hate, to be jealous of, so there she is.
     This attitude is not an isolated one only valid for our country. The fear index rides wild throughout the world. Our allies are frantic at the thought of this man with his support from haters and what his behavior would mean to the world. Even our enemies at getting in on this and the concern grows.
     The nastiness grows elsewhere as well. Jews are being thrown out of hotels - in Germany!!! An Arab refuses to sell to a Jew in England. BDS attempts grow. Attacks on Jewish college kids grow on campus, physical attacks as well as coordinated violent verbal attacks. I have concern for one grandson over there in California and I worry about the rest of them, quickly coming up onto college age and I worry for their safety. The synagogue right here in WPB had shots aimed at it and there is a worrisome posting of certain letters to Jewish institutions and prominent members of the community that we have been warned about by the ADL. The world has turned into a truly frightening place.
     And here, right here in good old CV we have a columnist who himself has fallen prey to false or misspoken language. He needed to check out the info he was given. He was told by David Israel that associations had improperly wired up by an unknown or different company. Really? Does the name Comcast sound familiar to anyone? He presents David Israel as the be all and end all of techie people here. Sorry, folks, there are many of them, growing in numbers every day, and they and others want information. Where has this company performed. Give the name so WE can go and check with their audience, not accept the words of UCO people. That was already tried with the DSL debacle. It is seen in the sand and pebble roads we now have, with the deep and ever growing cracks we now have on our byways, with the expensive and constant repairs to the walkways - all the almost six million dollars having gone right down the toilet, flushed there by our so called experts.
      People are not against change here. People just want to know facts and by the way, it is not at this point legally possible for David Israel and UCO to sign a contract for Internet etc. as they are only allowed via our by laws to negotiate for cable. Period. If the by laws are changed and accepted with changes, that is another story but now - uh uh. But then again, when has the right thing ever meant much to several of the current UCO people in office. And by the way, just a note to The Rag. It has been brought to our notice that some people, a la Joy Vestal and Myron Silverman, that we are still in the Hurricane Andrew time. Sorry. That was long ago and the hurricane now was Hurricane Matthew. And by the way, Mr. Cerabino, why not ask why there is an opposition paper and then perhaps we can have an article about the suppression of rights here in the Village, or perhaps that does not interest you enough, for maybe the cynicism and sarcasm that you use is not so apropos here. Come back and talk to others. Hear all sides of an issue for one side does not speak for all. What most people here want is for the right thing to be done. And ask why David Israel has had to have advice from people on how to act, acknowledging that he is a hated figure by many in the Village and not a limited few as he tries to say.
     Finally, and I know this is a long posting today, but finally, I must say something that could make trouble for me with some of my own community and friends. I am going to write that we should be ashamed at the behavior at the Kotel or Western Wall. A beautiful procession of men and women, carrying our holy scrolls of the Torah, walked in singing prayers and songs of peace and goodness, wishing to worship together at the Wall, and yet, hooligans, both hired and not, attacked them. Yes, physically attacked them in their ridiculous extreme of behavior, in hatred between those who are supposed to be our brothers and sisters and I only wish I had been there to join the worshippers. The Wall is a Jewish nation site, not a segmented group that grows ever more extreme every day. It is a group that violates the rule of the highest court in the land and yet they continue unabated and ever growing in violence. They were grabbing the Torah scrolls in a violent melee and what would have happened should the scrolls have been dropped, been desecrated? What then!!!!! Why is there violence against people who wish to worship at a site that belongs to the entire nation? I am ashamed in the face of the world. Have we not forgotten the stories and the words of our rabbis and leaders, that both the Temples were destroyed because we had sinat achim, sinat chinom - hatred of our brothers, a useless and vain hatred based on nothing?
     What is the matter with the world today? What is the matter with the peoples of the world? It starts with the "man in the mirror" so perhaps we all need to get a mirror and stand there every day, in the morning and evening and ask ourselves who will we be that day and how did that decision play out during the day - and how we need to improve.
     The fear index? Whoo! But it is here big time.

WILLFUL IGNORANCE WILLFUL BLINDNESS

     It makes for a good life when one can ignore what is all around. However, there comes a time when one must look with eyes and mind opened for there is no longer any hiding. While it has been obvious that I am rooting for Hillary Clinton as I believe her to be the best choice, as I believe this is the proper time to rid our government of Tea Party remnants and return us to a functioning and useful government, there are issues that must be addressed.
     Yesterday I spoke with several people and all had the same fear: what happens should the worst happen? The answer? I truly do not know, but the images do keep me up at night. Where would we be two years later on? Ashes, folks, ashes, either literal or figurative as this man has no interest in democracy, in the continuing functioning of the country as it was set up to do and be. He is a cynical, selfish predator and all one has to do is open the eyes and look, whether one likes Clinton or not.
    Let's take his taxes. He claimed that he was taking a legally allowed break. Well, think again. Besides the fact that legal is not always moral, here is another twist and one reason why he does not want to expose his tax returns. Here is a quote from today's paper. "Donald J. Trump avoided reporting hundreds of millions in taxable income with a tactic so legally dubious that his lawyers said an I.R.S. audit would most likely find it improper." And another. "Tax experts who reviewed documents for The Times said Mr. Trump trampled a core tax policy tenet by receiving tax benefits for losing vast amounts of other people’s money."
     As president that would be our money - yours and mine. Is that who should be running the country - right into the ground!! Is that the role model for our young - or even for us - as we do our taxes, plan our lives? so there we have awful fact number .....I have lost count already. There are so many.
     We have a man who suborns misdeeds. James Comey, in one fell swoop has returned us to the politicized FBI of J. Edgar Hoover, when the man had files on everyone probably including G-d! And used those files to get what he wanted. Now we have a Republican violating the Hatch Act, a piece of legislation made to avoid just this - political interference by a governmental agency and figure in the election process. We have a hoohah over something which may or may not be pertinent and as yet had not even been seen by Comey so basically this was a shot in the dark by this figure who violated the trust of the electorate, of the country and who encouraged this? Your guess? Your choice. I have mine.
     And yet, the absolute tampering of the Russian government and its various arms into our election process has been kept under wraps with the excuse that it is political. Damn right it is and scary too, a threat to our very being, our very continued existence and eerily similar in purpose to the Manchurian Candidate. So who is Trump representing? His bank contacts and loans at a Russian bank? His close aide involved up to his neck in the Ukrainian mess? Or is Putin simply gloating away there in the Kremlin at the thought that his bloodless coup, actually coopting his main enemy, is actually coming to fruition?
    
"Russian regime has been cultivating, supporting and assisting Trump for at least five years," a memo he sent to FBI then says.
"Aim, endorsed by [Russian leader Vladimir] Putin, has been to encourage splits and divisions in Western alliance," the message adds.
"[Trump] and his inner circle have accepted a regular flow of intelligence from the Kremlin, including on his Democratic and other political rivals."
     Just read that maybe five minutes ago. Scary beyond words. This is from a spy, a friendly spy.
     And then of course we have the Orange Man who has been screaming about emails. So what about his own emails? Let's see...Over the course of decades, Donald Trump’s companies have systematically destroyed or hidden thousands of emails, digital records and paper documents demanded in official proceedings, often in defiance of court orders. These tactics—exposed by a Newsweek review of thousands of pages of court filings, judicial orders and affidavits from an array of court cases—have enraged judges, prosecutors, opposing lawyers and the many ordinary citizens entangled in litigation with Trump. In each instance, Trump and entities he controlled also erected numerous hurdles that made lawsuits drag on for years, forcing courtroom opponents to spend huge sums of money in legal fees as they struggled—sometimes in vain—to obtain records.The Trump strategy was simple: deny, impede and delay, while destroying documents the court had ordered them to hand over.  
     Over the course of decades, he and his companies have shredded, thrown out and otherwise destroyed millions of emails and other documents that have been requested in various law suits, particularly the one with the Federal government re his racist doings with rental units and the blocking of African Americans from renting at all. He did this time and time again so ahem, emails, pot calling the kettle, lies and lies and lies and this is who some people insist on voting for?
     We have come down a long road, a bad road. Many people are scared and so they look to someone they perceive to be a strong person who will protect them. Well, Trump ain't it!! He lies, he cheats, he is a misogynist, a despiser of people in his own words as he stated that they are not worthy of any respect at all, a man with no brakes and no experience, a man who never heard the word tact and who could care less about the details - just rants on and on, like Hitler, like Hussein, like all the other dictators of history.
     So where are we going from here, people. Do not fall into the wrong hands for it is far more difficult to get out of those hands than one can imagine. Stand up, be proud and know that we can do it all, solve our problems over time - as long as we have the details, the hope and the trust. Do not believe in the lies of others. Open the eyes and take a look. Willful blindness is not the answer but rather a major factor in the problem. Time is running out. This man is not our friend. He is the "stranger danger" of our country, the man who can reduce us to ashes and look ahead two years with the possibility of this man at the helm. Like the view? I do not, not at all. Frightening beyond belief.

FOR ONE BRIEF SHINING MOMENT....

     So will there be a musical somewhere down the line that speaks of the brief shining moment that was known as the United States of America for if G-d forbid a thousand times that the most unqualified candidate ever gets into office, that will be the end of the USA as we and history know it. Never ideal, never perfect, but always striving, at least until the moment of its demise as it allowed a Nero like demagogue take over, falling for the bread and circus routine of his, even though the bread was not really forthcoming as he did not pay his workers for their labor! How did this happen?
     It happened because the world is on fire. People are confused, distraught, despairing and worried to say the least about their future and that of their children. Instead of listening to one who has concrete plans and ideas, who truly cares for people, who has made it her career focus, fighting for the rights of children, of women, of the middle class - nope, instead they turn to one who encourages thoughts and acts of violence, who solicits and accepts the support of neo Nazis and haters of vicious composition.
     We forget that if we hold true to the values, to the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, to the dreams of the founders and of every generation after, including all the immigrants who enriched our country and let us not forget my friends that we are ALL immigrants, for even if we have to go back several generations - our families all immigrated here. We forgot all this and have lost our way and instead of looking for the sure thing, for the path that will help us get back on our feet, many foolish, dangerously foolish, people have turned to the demagogue, to the Big Liar, to he who spouts hate and threats, to the one who sucks our blood as he uses what the country gives him as a citizen, as a resident, but does not pay in to its support. Nope, that he leaves to us, the apparent suckers for doing the right thing. Truly, many of us have lost our way.
     The rules of society have been breached and even its law officials have forgotten their way and allowed partisan politics to interfere with the election. I wonder - does anyone out there realize how dangerous a step that was, how we are not only on the edge of a dangerous cliff, but already seem to have hung one foot over the edge, precariously balancing there, swaying back and forth - and wondering if it is all worth it!
     To mix metaphors a bit, the Netherlands has built a wonderful system of dikes and levees to keep the country safe from a harmful sea, an ever more dangerous one. We too need to build a set of dikes, a figurative one, that will protect us from dictators or would be demagogues, which would prevent rebellion, a physical rebellion, at the polls. How, the specifics? I leave that to those wiser and more knowledgeable than I, but these threats of Trump and his cohorts are dangerous to the very fabric of our country.
     Well, it is worth it. And we have the opportunity to keep our country going, to allow it to heal and progress. It is time we stopped with the filth and the dirty games and look into who truly has plans and does not stand there and squint and make an ugly face and open his mouth and nothing worthy of anything comes out, no plans, only threats and boasts that "I will....." the true threat and demeanor of a demagogue , of a dictator in the making. It is difficult to oust a dictator once in place so I hope, dear Lord, do I hope, that people who have not yet voted take a step back and see and hear and know the truth. Donald Trump is an immediate and acute danger to our country. Our only chance at this point is to elect Hillary Clinton, a woman who has plans, who has policies, who thinks before opening a mouth, who does not rant and who has been forced to develop a talent for the sharp retort to vicious barbs thrown her way.
     Our country has been wounded, yes. In fact, the entire globe has been wounded, but we can all return, and go on to achieve more - if, and only if, we see the truth, the fact that it will be a difficult road and anyone who promises pie in the sky immediate turnarounds is speaking out of the wrong side of his anatomy. That very person seems to be stuck on that section anyway, one who cannot keep his mouth shut, open his brain and close his zipper and control his hands - and pay his goddamn share of taxes!
     One day we might be lucky enough to have an ideal candidate who has been of sterling behavior from crib time to the present day, but we have never had that yet and I doubt that in an imperfect world we will ever have one such being so what the shouting here is about is ridiculous, And where does Trump get off thinking he has anything to offer the country other than hate and incompetence and selfishness and immorality and poor business practices for certainly his life has not given him that right at all. Experience? Tact? Knowledge? Humanity? Gone, baby, gone - and, most probably never there.
     For the sake of all of us, for the sake of our allies, for the sake of Israel, for the sake of all those living in poverty and dread, for the sake of those wishing for hope, for democracy, for the sake of those willing to fight for it, for the sake of all those who still look to us, to the USA, for all these sakes - vote Hillary Clinton now thru Election Day. Put aside the threats to rebel, to overthrow the government, to vote more than once. Put aside the lies and hate and vote in hope and possibility. Please. For all our sakes. For the future. For our kids.

HGH AND PPO

     Wondering what those letters mean? Me too when I first saw them in a book I was reading yesterday. One of the main topics written about was the hate that has grown here in the country and it was well woven into the story line. So what do they mean?
     HGH stands for "haters gonna hate" and PPO stands for "permanently pissed off" and unfortunately both these acronyms appear to be quite relevant in our times. I just finished watching a video of a Trump rally where the crowd was chanting USA, which I cannot understand as this is not a sports game where this is a typical chant and there is no way on earth that Trump has shown himself to be a patriot for in fact, he stands for everything that is diametrically opposed and frankly, if he were to be elected I believe he would tear down the Statue of Liberty as a foreign intrusion into an American harbor and one that encourages immigrants to come to this country so its gotta go! In any case, there was a man shouting "Jew SA" and making the hand sign of the neo Nazi movement. Just lovely! And never has Trump disavowed these people.
     So these haters hate and they could care less who they hate as long as they have a target, be it women, anyone who disagrees with them, immigrants - which their own ancestors were at some point, though they disremember that - any "other" as they deem other to mean and they are always shouting and hating and threatening, a truly discordant thread running thru the country and thru Trump's supporters, hence HGH and PPO.
     You know, a character in The Princess Bride tells another to "get used to disappointment." I disagree. We need to look forward to success and a return to our values, to the values which made America different, successful and a model for the world. No matter how much people scream in the world, they then turn around and try to get visas to our country because it is the best place to live and where one can still fulfill dreams, though not as much as before. But with a good president with solid plans and a Congress that is cooperative, we can pull it off again.
     I simply find that many of Trump fans have a rabidity within their words. There is a hysterical thread running thru their discourse. They shout liar, rigged, and now the Republican head of the FBI has chosen sides in a last ditch effort to affect the election by releasing  a statement for which he has no basis, has not even seen the supposed emails, has no idea what they are, has no warrant for them so how does he know what they contain and speculation is not a legal tool, yet he felt that he has to make a statement. For what? Why break the rules and tradition? The man needs to be fired or he needs to give out the whole story so we can all see it for the garbage it is. But this is what Trump supporters have done throughout the campaign. Rigged? Meanwhile, it was a Republican voter who handed in two ballots and was caught and quite frankly, at least based on my experiences as  a voter in NY and as one here and as a Clerk in one of our precincts and via other friends and relatives who have served in one capacity or another during the elections, it is quite difficult to even try to double vote and I cannot think of a single instance where it has happened for there are procedures for it all - even for people who have forgotten if they already voted!
     The worst thing about this campaign is that it is the rare Trump supporter who will quiet down long enough to hear anything. They shout over anyone, shout words, make claims that are nonsensical and overlook the lack of character, the lies their candidate has stated, his failures as a businessman with multiple bankruptcies, his refusal to allow transparency in his taxes or health or anything else, his refusal to understand the difference between legal and moral and I could go on and on. According to this man, if we had laws similar to the Nuremberg Laws here he could rightfully use them to rob people of the values of their homes and businesses and why not, for it is legal! Smart, as he says. Legal and moral are not necessarily equivocal are they?
     I, for one, cannot wait for this campaign to be over. It is dirty and nasty and does not reflect well for us in the eyes of the world. The threat of revolution and not accepting the candidate elected, made by Trump supporters and egged on by Trump himself, actually could split this great country and there are provisions within our laws that state that should they do this or even make such a threat, they could be arrested and the government could federalize the National Guard and is it not horrific that these issues are even relevant to us!
     If you look at the candidates and worry about choice, then think two years ahead and imagine the country under each candidate. Who has the self control, the solid ideas and plans, who has the experience in dealing with the world, who has worked in the government at all levels and in fact, was a damn good senator for NY, and who would you rather have the finger on the button? Who has the moral character and wonder yourself if this is the man that little boys should grow up to be and what kind of role model is he and we see what moral weakness does as we see and read of the multi rape and molestations of college women by boys or men who state that it was all "consensual" - uh huh! Why would they not do this if the president himself does it and gets away with it?
     So think carefully and enough of this ridiculous saw that both candidates are flawed. Tell me of one election where they were not. Sad but true. Perfection was never to be had and frankly never will be for all candidates are human and not angels from above come to save us all. WE need to save ourselves. Period. Sometimes I wonder if G-d ever looks down and thinks and wonders at what he hath wrought and if it was worth it. I wonder. We had better shape up and soon. We need to accept truths that are not necessarily palatable such as climate change and realistic economics and saying it ain't so does not make one right - just dumb or self denying, so take your choice.
     Think carefully, as we are voting for the future of America and in fact, the world. Show our allies that we are still steady, rock solid and to our enemies or those sitting on the fence - they will need to take a second look and think again - if we have the right person for the job. Think. Think. Cut out the rancor and the rabidity. Cut out the noise and look at the truth. Think. And vote.