TSA

If you travel by air, you know TSA. If you're lucky, you only have to take off your jacket/sweater, shoes, remove your belt and everything in your pockets. Perhaps you'll be wanded, your carry-on baggage searched, and lately you'll need to put your feet on the foot marks, raise your arms high above your head and endure scanning.

I have never been subject to actual body searching, praise heaven, but I've seen it. The blue gloves didn't make it look any less insulting.

TSA also looks in your checked luggage. Trust me, I know this. Sometimes they leave a card saying they've been rifling through your stuff; sometimes they don't leave the card.

TSA. Pretty powerful. Pretty much responsible for taking away any joy of air travel that might remain after somebody's decision to quit feeding passengers.

Now, I hear, TSA will be unionized. Which means we will NEVER be rid of them, free of them.

I know. I know. It's all for our protection.

But here is the burning question, burning in my brain, at least:

Have they ever caught a terrorist?

I don't think so. Correct me if I'm wrong. Correct me with names, dates, places.

Federal Government Shutdown Threat/Budget Struggles

I am disgusted.

A message for our current governing folks

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.
- Thomas Jefferson

I believe our government is wandering far from what our founding fathers intended. More is the pity. More ought to be our concern.

Having recently visited Independence Hall in Philadelphia, having seen the rooms where Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and the many others sat to work out our founding documents, I come away renewed in my love for those men. For their foresight and courage. For our blessed freedoms because of them. They are my heroes.

Hear, hear

Thomas Sowell on the Constitution:
We are seeing "the slow but systematic dismantling of the Constitution. The idea that 'We the People' are self-governing is being eroded at every opportunity."

Dallin H. Oaks on the Constitution and religious freedom:
The constitutional guarantee of the free exercise of religion "is weakening in its effects and in public esteem."
Further, "We must never see the day when the public square is not open to religious ideas and religious persons. The religious community must be united to be sure we are not coerced or deterred into silence by the kinds of intimidation or threatening rhetoric that are being experienced."

Thomas Sowell on "gay marriage":
"There is no gay marriage. There is marriage and then there's the redefinition of marriage. And if you're going to redefine marriage for the gays, why in the world not for the polygamists? And for others?"

Dallin H. Oaks:
Religious persons should insist on their constitutional right and duty to exercise their religion, to vote their consciences on public issues, and to participate in elections and in debates. . . . These are the rights of all citizens and they are also the rights of religious leaders and religious organizations. In this circumstance, it is imperative that those of us who believe in God and in the reality of right and wrong unite more effectively to protect our religious freedom to preach and practice our faith in God and the principles of right and wrong He has established.”

* * *

And, on another subject, namely, the rise of China's military power, Thomas Sowell: "I think it is just criminal--criminal negligence at a minimum--that the Obama administration is cutting back the American military while the Chinese are going full blast ahead."

Oh Boy

I've heard people say it, that Donald Trump ought to be President. You know, of the United States.

It's because of the economy. Right? Because we're in an economic mess, and because he knows how to--what?--make money? handle economic messes? I guess both because I guess he's done both.

Whatever.

Well, now he's decided those folks are right, and he's serious about running. For President of the United States.

So that would be President Trump. President The Donald. And his current wife ( is that third? fifth?) would be, if she lasts that long, First Lady. (That's supposed to be mildly funny.)

I can't say it would never happen. No, I can't say that. And maybe, if he got in there and fired some people (not joking here) it would help the economy.

As to the rest of running the country, there are advisers to tell him how do that, as we all know because of our present president. Besides, Mr Trump has views on what's happening--beyond the economy--in this country or to this country. Calls it shameful, calls America a laughing stock, says we get no respect from the nations of the world.

Well, I think he's not so far off there. But can he fix it?

I know of people--not kids, these, in their sixties, in fact--who, upon the election of Barak Obama, said that for the first time in their lives they were proud of their country. Yes, I know Michelle Obama said that, but these people were not Michelle Obama. They were people who had been in my home. I can't think why.

And I can't think why they would feel that way about that particular election. Unless it was skin color. His, not theirs.

I wonder what they might say if we elected The Donald.

Might they have something to say about his hair? I mean, really, it's noticeable.

And oh, it just occurred to me, I can hear world leader and political intellectual Rosie O'Donnell now.

Politics. How strange.

Do I Really Need to Know?

I do not take a single newspaper, nor read one a month, and I feel myself infinitely the happier for it.
- Thomas Jefferson

Me too. And I've just about given up watching television news broadcasts.

Now, if I could just stop reading the news online.

Who said it? No news is good news.

Wouldn't I, Though

Someday I want to be rich. Some people get so rich they lose all respect for humanity. That's how rich I want to be.
- Rita Rudner

Me, too, although I think it may be too late.

And go ahead. Judge me. I can take it. And besides, whatever.

It's kind of like me wanting a car for every day of the week.

Never happen.