We're supposed to be a Representative Republic. We elect people in every state to go to Washington and represent us, because we're busy working, raising families, and just trying to have a life. We choose these people based on their being like-minded and claiming they'll do certain things.
Since, due to the ugliness of the primary, I've disengaged myself from reading anyone who has picked their savior™, it has allowed my mind to wander aimlessly around the past 50 or so years.
It occurred rather suddenly that it's been a very long time since the government has worked like it should. Maybe it never did.
The Federal Government, created by the states, to have very few and limited duties, has become the over-riding director of just about everything.
While we sit at home and hope for the best, the feds control our education, healthcare, public lands, our money, and on, and on, and on. The elitist donor class, lobbyists, and assorted shadowy people are running the whole show. And they do it in nearly total secrecy.
Things are presented to us as a fait accompli, such as Obamcare, and the masses line up and bend over. They secretly do trade deals in back rooms, and dicker over our very lives. They manipulate the markets and hand out our tax dollars like so much confetti.
They don't "budget" like the rest of the world has to budget. We budget based on what we actually have, while they decide how much they want to spend and then extract the money by force from the populace.
The real question is, has Trump awakened a sleeping giant?
It has become quite clear that the majority of people are aware of what I've just stated, and yet have felt powerless to stop it. Trump says he will, and they've chosen to believe him.
Could Trump be any worse than the people who've held office for the past 100 years? People, who I might add, go to Washington and become millionaires before they leave, that is, if they leave. Since when has politics become a life-long profession?
Jon Rappoport had an interesting article about populism:
This is about what a true populist could be in this era of instant unstoppable media and, therefore, instant time.
I’m talking about an understanding of moment-by-moment connection with the population, which is now possible on a grand scale, owing to the internet and the devices which connect to it.
To grasp the implications, you must conceive of one wildly popular person up against forces which absolutely deny the interests and desires of millions of people.
And the leading question is: what should he do, when suddenly thrust into the spotlight, having gained considerable influence—knowing that enormous forces are arrayed to stop him?
A true populist says, for example: no bad trade deals. Translation: stop Globalism in its tracks. Nullify its trade treaties, the cornerstones of its cathedral. Negate them. Destroy them.
If he really meant it, if he was intent on achieving the goal, by whatever means, against some of the most powerful men on the planet, and if he began that journey, in talks, in meetings, in conferences with members of Congress, with US trade representatives, with Washington insiders—
When should he go back to the people, his people, his supporters, and let them know what is happening? When?
The usual pattern is: behind the scenes, for a few months, he tries to turn the oil tanker of State around, he fails, he reports the failure in mildly irritated language during one or two press conferences, and he moves on to other issues. But a real populist now…
Would be going on webcasts to millions of people, his people, giving them updates, explaining his struggle, listing the barriers, pointing out who is building those barriers, how they are obstructing the will of the people…in vivid detail…creating a massive uproar.
This is populism on a scale never envisioned before. It would constitute a staggering breakthrough.
It would shred business as usual in Washington.Read it all HERE- it's excellent
A true populist leader would accept the fact that working through usual channels, to bring about stunning changes, is a loser. The enemy is entrenched. The enemy controls the landscape. The enemy controls the machinery.
Where is the populist’s strength coming from? Only one place: the people who are supporting him. So he has to go back to that well, over and over again. And now he can.
Live.
“You wanted me to get your jobs back. That’s why you rallied behind me. I want to get your jobs back. I’ve explained why these trade treaties are destroying jobs at home. Now I’m trying to move the rock up the mountain. A few hours ago, I had a meeting with Senator Smith, a staunch defender of the treaties. It went nowhere. I want to tell you what he said, because, in his eyes, you don’t count. Only big corporations count. This is what happened…”
And three, five, ten million people are watching and listening.
And that’s just today’s report.
Imagine a world where this actually happens. No more back-room deals. No more passing budgets behind closed doors. No more lying, cheating, and stealing. A country run like it should be run. Will we see it in our lifetime?
More:
The Z Blog: Lawyers and Salesmen
Blazing Cat Fur: Rules at the 2016 Republican National Convention and Romney is a Scumbag
Always On Watch: Defeating Trump?
Independent Sentinel: D.C. Nobility-Pols & Pundits Just Ignore Big GOP State Wins
Some Random Personal Stuff
Last year I didn't start any seeds indoor for the garden. It's really sort of a hassle, and since I'm rather OCD, having my dining room become a garden center really annoys me.
It was not a good decision. Not only was the selection at the garden centers not very good, the plants were very expensive.
Having choked back my distaste for mess, I hauled in my trusty étagère from it's present home on our deck and started loading it up. I've had this étagère since my twenties making it over 40 years old. It has lived in my kitchens, offices, bedrooms, living room, dining rooms, and in four different states. It's also been a gazillion different colors.
NB: The étagère is not leaning - I am.
For a bit of extra light, I use simple clamp on utility lamps, available from Walmart for about $6.00, with plant bulbs in them.
All my seeds are entered on a Excel spread sheet and this year I simply gave them numbers so I wouldn't have to write the full name on each plant marker, which I make from old plastic blinds.
So far I've planted seven different tomatoes:
- Alaskan Fancy
- Ten Fingers of Naples
- Bush Early Girl
- American Beefsteak
- Suncherry Extra Sweet
- Brandywine
- Supersweet cherry
- Jalapeno
- Pepper Aruba
- Eggplant Hansel
I don't usually start flowers, but I have a great love for Bocopa, a trailing plant that looks fabulous in pots. The pelleted seeds are newly available so I splurged close to $10.00 for thirty pelleted seeds. That's not much when you consider that they cost $6.00 at Fred Meyer for one plant. I also wanted to get lots of Rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan) started in our gully/wild flower area, so I started about 20 of those. The rest of the 300 seeds will be direct seeded.
And finally, About 20 Lavender Munstead.
The only thing that soothes my organized soul is reminding myself that I have over $600.00 worth of plants started.
Bird Lives Matter
This morning was overcast and damp. The birds love this kind of weather. It was quite a sight to see pheasants, quail, flickers, finches, sparrows, juncos, robins, and doves all wandering about picking at seed and bathing in the numerous bird baths.
The pheasant flock is getting huge. So far I've identified two males and about 40 females. Those are going to be two very busy males.
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