Motherhood, apple pie & the flag.

I shake my head. Because Barack Obama tries to be too nice to Republicans. He adopts many of their proposals. The very legislation they've supported in the past. He did it in the health care reform bill. And now he's doing the same with the proposed energy bill. Maybe it's a case of Obama never learning. Doesn't matter that Republicans supported these ideas in the past. But no more. And Obama should know why. Because he's supportive of such stuff. That automatically puts the Republicans opposed. That's their game plan. If Obama is on god's side, then the Republicans are on the devil's side. Obama supports motherhood and apple pie and the American flag. Therefore, the Republicans are against mothers. And they prefer cherry pie. As for the flag, they say it ain't worth waving. --Jim Broede

I'm waiting for my prime time.

I think I had to grow up before I experienced becoming a little boy. Because I didn't start acting like a little boy until I fell in love for the first time. When I was 33. And that love lasted almost 40 years. And now I'm 74. And I'm in love again. So really, I've been a little boy for 40-plus years. And the older I get, the younger and more little boyish I feel. Little boys are allowed to go crazy. To act irrationally. To fall in love. When I was 10 or 20 or almost 30, I didn't yet know how to fall in love. I was too adult for that. I had to wait for the arrival of real childhood. Chances are, if I live to be 90, I'll be in my prime. Acting more child-like than ever. --Jim Broede

I finally got inside Paradise.

I have people in my life. Many. But only a handful that I fully appreciate. I guess I don't appreciate people in the abstract. The many, many, many. I need a face. A being that I can touch. Be in the presence. Doesn't necessarily mean a physical presence. There is such a thing as a spiritual presence. I am discovering that more and more. I suspect that is the direction of life. Away from the physical. Into the mystical. The spiritual. Maybe that is why we die. To totally achieve a new dimension. The bodyless. The spiritual. The amazing thing is that I really didn't touch my Jeanne until the spirit came to me. Because then, I held Jeanne from inside. The interior. I truly felt her being. Before that, everything was from the outside. Just looking into Paradise. Rather than being in. --Jim Broede

Until I loved.

I suppose my life has been spent mostly trying to find meaning. Not sure that I have. But I suspect the meaning has something to do with love. Love has always been an abstract thing. But it's becoming more meaningful with age. With time. I know when I'm most comfortable. It's when I am in love. When I am immersed in thoughts of love. I have become pleasantly obsessed with love. Used to be in my younger years I never gave love a thought. I was too busy with other things. Going through the motions of life. Rather than the emotions. I wonder how many of us go through life without really experiencing love. Because we are preoccupied with the other things. With making a living. Surviving. But then I suspect we haven't really lived. To tell the truth, I never felt fully alive. Until I loved. --Jim Broede

Words give my life meaning.

I communicate mainly with the written word. I discovered early in life that was the easiest way to link myself with the world. With other people. Better than the spoken word. Maybe because I can do it alone. In a setting that spurs thought. A quiet and peaceful environment. And I can pick my audience. I can choose to write a letter. To a specific being. And when I send my words out, they can be read and re-read. A better chance to be understood. Albeit, misunderstanding is a natural thing. It happens all the time. But I think more with the spoken word than the written word. When I speak words, they often are elusive. They drift away. They lose meaning. They are forgotten. And difficult to retrieve. But when I write, I can store away my words. And return to a past time. Not that I particularly want to. But it's an option. I've built my life around words. With a language. Without words, my life would lack meaning. --Jim Broede

I have a sense of freedom.

I think it would be hard for me to go back to work. To be gainfully employed again. I've adjusted so well to retirement. Been almost 12 years already. And to think, I once dreaded retirement. Thought I wanted to work (as a writer for newspapers) forever. I envisioned going until I dropped dead. They'd have to carry me out. From my desk. Well, in a sense, I didn't retire. I've never stopped writing. But retirement gave me freedom. To be my own boss. To set my own schedule. To write what I want to write. And when I want to. It's almost all pleasure now. Not that it wasn't before. Still was. But I was compelled to -- well, go to work. To be in a certain place. Retirement has given me more time to be myself. Time to think. About life. To make sense out of things. Time for leisure. To proceed at my own pace. I actually write more now than ever in my life. Out of pure joy of putting words on paper. Or in a computer. I write a blog. A journal. And not least, letters of love. I can't get through a day without writing. I was born to do this. In my own way. And the older I get, the more I live. In my own way. Fewer and fewer people tell me what to do. I'm my own man. I have a sense of freedom. --Jim Broede

I'm touched by amazing vibes.

Vibes. I feel vibes. Often, wonderful vibes. That's how I get to know people. I feel vibrations. My friends exude good vibes. Positive vibes. When my Jeanne had Alzheimer's, I learned to communicate with vibes. I transmitted 'em daily. In Jeanne's presence. And I felt vibes coming back to me. Jeanne understood our new way of communicating. It all came from deep down inside us. I suspect it's the way spirits communicate. When we leave our physical being behind. With people I am close to today, there are positive vibes. And I feel the vibrations with some before I even meet 'em face to face. Even when we are thousands of miles apart. The vibrations come all the way across the Atlantic Ocean and halfway across the continent. Amazing vibrations. Vibrations that even transcend the spoken and written word. --Jim Broede

Why insurance rates are so high.

The government's student loan program has been revamped. Used to be that the federal money for the loans was channeled through a middle man -- commercial banks. Of course, the banks saw to it that they profitted from these transactions. But Congress, at the urging of Barack Obama, has decided to have the loans come directly from the government. And over a period of years, that's expected to save taxpayers $68 billion. Wow! I wonder why it took our public officials so long to do the right thing. And all the more reason for health care insurance to be provided through a single-payer public system. Yes, let's tell the private insurers to go to hell. They've been raking in obscene profits in their middle man roles. Little wonder that insurance rates are so high. --Jim Broede

When the curious meet each other.

I think I like people. More than I let on. Mostly because I'm naturally curious. Maybe too curious to make people comfortable. I'll try to get to know a stranger. Right away. Maybe it's my training. As a writer for newspapers. I had to interview strangers. People I had never met before. And I had to be inquisitive. To get my job done. I'm really fascinated by people. Genuinely fascinated. Occasionally, I like someone right from the start. The vibes are good. I used to think I was shy. And maybe I am. But if so, I've overcome it. By stirring my curiosity. Telling myself not to miss an opportunity to get to know someone. In meaningful ways. I like people who tend to open up. The expressive ones. That share themselves. They aren't afraid to express an opinion. But they also are good listeners. They are curious, too. That's a nice combination. Two curious people meeting each other. It doesn't come much better than that. --Jim Broede

The most needy don't get help.

We always seem to have money for warfare and to bolster the interests of the monied classes. That was an interesting observation made by columnist Bob Herbert in Tuesday's New York Times. And Herbert also pointed out that we always seem to come up short on money to really help the Americans in most need of help. Such as the 15 million unemployed. Anyway, I think that's one of the major things that's wrong about America. You can click below to read more about what Herbert has to say. --Jim Broede

http://www.nytimes.com//2010/03/09/opinion/09herbert.html

We're all entitled to our opinions.

I got a letter from a Christian. Elsewhere in the comments section on this page of the blog. Tells me that the god I believe in isn't the real god. That my god doesn't sound like her Christian god. Well, that could be because I'm not a Christian. I'm a free-thinker. I have no objection to her god. Could be her god is fine and dandy. A really nice god. I wonder why she thinks my god isn't the real god. I'm speculating that we both may have the same god. But that we perceive of our god in different ways. And we both could be correct. God could have many faces. I'm not even sure if my god is male or female. Maybe neither. Maybe god is simply god. Maybe god is indefinable. The Christian also tells me that I really don't know the real Jesus. But I think I do. He's a great philosopher and teacher and a decent man. The woman says he's more than that. Suggesting he's the son of god. I'm not so sure about that. But as a free-thinker, I'm entitled to my opinion. Just as a Christian is entitled to his/her opinion. --Jim Broede

To be a fool. In love.

I don't mind being a fool. In fact, I rather like it. Gives me a sense of being free. Of being confident. Able to take risks. Chances. I suspect many people are hampered by the fear of becoming a fool. So they play life in an overly safe manner. When I fall in love, I become a fool, of sorts. I'm ridiculous. For instance, when I was courtin' Jeanne a long time ago, I decided that I had to see Jeanne for 1,000 consecutive days. So even when I was sick, I knocked on Jeanne's door. Just so I could see her for a few seconds. Then I went home to my sick bed. Turns out I saw Jeanne for a lot more than 1,000 straight days. In almost 40 years together, we were separated for maybe a week in all. That's a lot of togetherness. And so many opportunities to be a fool. In love. --Jim Broede

Won't be safe until June.

It's a March to beat all other Marches in this part of Minnesota. Snowless. And that's the first time it has happened since 1860. Yes, since the start of the Civil War. Adds up to a century and a half. Of course, there are two days left in March. But still, I'm rather confident there won't be a last minute surprise. The temperature is in the 60s today. And tomorrow it's headed into the mid-70s. The ice is off the lake. And I'm gonna walk in shorts and shirtsleeves. I live for today. Knowing there are no guarantees in April. Winter could still make a return visit. April showers could well be snow showers. Even a blizzard. I'm a Minnesotan. Knowing we won't be safe from winter. At least until June. --Jim Broede

No limits on the human spirit.

I like people who adjust to life. Doesn't matter what happens. Good. Or bad. They still find ways to be happy. That's what I like to do. Surround myself mostly with happy people. Oh, an occasional unhappy being is all right, too. That is, if they have the potential to turn it around. I can sense that from the beginning. Deep down, they really want to be happy. They have the desire. And that's exactly what it takes. Desire. But I know some people that really want to be unhappy. They hate themselves. They are masochists. They get their kicks from punishing themselves. I've had unhappy moments in my life. But it doesn't seem like so many. Because I'm convinced beyond a doubt that good things spring from bad things. Good for me, at least. People ask, why does god allow bad things to happen to good people? And invariably the reason is that bad evolves into something good. If you give it time. You just gotta have patience. And look for the good. Some of us don't even recognize good if it hits us over the head. We're blind. We're too embedded in the bad experience. It's like quick sand. We allow ourselves to sink deeper and deeper. Into despair. When we really have the opportunity to flap our wings. And soar all the way to the mountain top. And beyond. There are no limits on the human spirit. --Jim Broede

Without love, it's not worth living.

I made up my mind long ago that I can live happily under many different kinds of circumstances. Under a right wing or a left wing government. Under capitalism or communism. Under a dictatorship or a democracy. I know it’s more or less necessary to follow certain rules and customs. No matter where I’m stuck. I guess the only freedoms I want guaranteed are the right to fall in love and to be able to think what I want to think. Even though I may not be allowed to publicly express my opinions. Yes, I could still be relatively happy that way. So maybe life really boils down to the pursuit of happiness. And to me, there’s no higher state of being than to be in love. Oh, it may be necessary for me in some societies to withdraw into my cocoon to live the way I want to live. But that’s all right. As long as I’m allowed to fall in love. As long as I can have a one-on-one loving relationship. Oh, I’d probably object if I were imprisoned and tossed into solitary confinement in a tiny cell. But maybe I could adjust if I were exiled to a desert island. Where I would have some freedom to move about. I’d still have freedom, I suppose, to appreciate nature and to think. To contemplate. To even talk to god. Which means I would never be totally alone. In other words, I’m somewhat flexible. I have many potential ways to pursue happiness. But the one ingredient which I need most is love. Some sense of love. Without that, it’s probably not worth living. –Jim Broede

'I told you so.'

I always look forward to the baseball season. Specifically, the Chicago Cubs season. I became a Cubs fan by the time I was 10. Which means I remember the last time the Cubs were in a World Series. In 1945. Anyway, I have a good feeling about the Cubs. This year. They aren't favored to win it all. But hey, I think they can. With a little bit of luck. Of course, I've made such a prediction every year. For at least 50 years. I'm bound to be right sooner or later. And then I can say, 'I told you so.' --Jim Broede

We aren't that stupid, are we?

Astonishing. Here we have Republicans blaming everybody but themselves for the nation's ills. The record-setting deficit. An economy in the tank. Huge portions of the population without health care insurance. A deteriorating infrastructure. An ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. A racist society. Yes, the whole shebang is the fault of Obama and the Democrats and the liberals and the socialists. Give me a break, folks. All of this stuff has reached cataclysmic proportions under Republican rule. When Republicans controlled Congress and the White House. It's the result of archaic Republican policies linked more to the 18th century than modern times. Republicans are telling us that Armageddon is here. That the sky is falling. And that unless we return them to power, we'll all go to hell. And to add insult to all this, the Republicans expect us to believe that they will be our savior. Yes, that only Republicans can save us. The very same Republicans that got us into this mess. Well, as the eternal optimist, I'm gonna bet that we Americans aren't that stupid. But hey, we'll find out. Sooner or later. --Jim Broede

We still have a long way to go.

I have an uneasy feeling about the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party. I don't trust 'em. In large part because I sense that deep down, they are racists. They believe in white supremacy. They hate Barack Obama. Not because he's a liberal. But because he's black. They can't stand that a black man has ascended to the presidency. Some of the loonies would even like to see him -- well, let's face it, drop dead. With a little assistance, if necessary. They desperately want Obama to fail. Even though he espouses many programs that in the past drew Republican support. Most of the key elements in the health care reform legislation were Republican ideas 15 years ago. And if Republicans had truly tried to negotiate a totally bipartisan health care package, they could have attained even more. But instead they chose to bad mouth everything Obama favors. Labeling it socialist. When really, it isn't. If Obama were a white man, he'd probably be accepted by these far right radicals. It's his blackness that galls them. They liked it when black people knew their place in American society. Before the likes of Obama became educated and uppity. And really, sort of superior to and more decent than the bitter white supremacist. These loonies don't like playing second fiddle to people who were enslaved and subjugated at the time of the founding of the nation. Yes, it was a shameful part of American history. That and the genocide perpetrated on native Americans. Whites think of those times as glory days. Yes, for whites. When whites ruled the universe. And too many whites still refuse to face up to our nation's past sins. Instead, the far right conservative element of our white population continues to live the sin. Making for a sad legacy. Yes, we Americans still have a long way to go. In ridding our society of deep-seated racism. --Jim Broede

It's a matter of opinion.

I want my friends and acquaintances and even some strangers to feel appreciated. By me. Even if I disagree with them on matters. See. One can appreciate others for being themselves. They don't have to be like me. Or even share my same values. They can be very different people. That doesn't mean I appreciate everyone. For instance, Adolph Hitler. And Republicans. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Republicans are as bad as Hitler. Actually, Hitler was far worse than any Republican that I know. But still, I think Republicans are bad enough to not be appreciated. By me, at least. I'm terribly brash and opinionated, aren't I? Maybe a little bit judgmental too. But hey, I admit it. That's not one of my nicest traits. I do like some Republicans. As people. But not in their roles as Republicans. Then they tend to become mean-spirited. And I don't appreciate people when they are being cruel and insensitive. Of course, not everyone will describe Republicans as mean-spirited. And they may be correct. And I may be wrong. But still, that's my opinion. I'll also concede that some Republicans are not intentionally mean-spirited. It's just that the policies they advocate are mean-spirited. And they don't necessarily consciously know it. Maybe they are just stupid. But then again, maybe I'm the one that isn't very bright. --Jim Broede

A nice win for America.

Republicans wanted health care reform to be Barack Obama's Waterloo. And the pleasant irony of it is that maybe it's gonna be the Republicans' Waterloo. Their big defeat. Obviously, they didn't win. Although, Republicans think that they'll make big gains in the November elections. By continuing to bad-mouth Obama and the Democrats. Trying to tag Obama as a socialist. Which is darn funny. I'm the socialist. Maybe even further to the left than most socialists. And believe me, Obama is no socialist. He's a pragmatic politician. Willing to compromise. He's offered Republicans many openings. Many concessions. He's even worked Republican programs into the health reform legislation. Republicans had an opportunity to get even more. If only they sat down with Obama, and cooperated. Heck, Obama even sort of betrayed the liberal wing of the Democrats. They wanted a single-payer health care system. Similar to Medicare. For everyone. But Obama steered them away from that. In an effort to at least lure a handful of Republicans into the fold. But no, Republicans wouldn't budge. They thought that if Obama got defeated on health care, it would be his Waterloo. It would make him a one-term president. And it might foil the rest of his legislative agenda. Well, it's turning out that Obama got a much-needed victory. And momentum. That will help him pass other parts of his agenda. Even without Republican support. Well, if that's the way Republicans want to play politics, so be it. It's a stupid strategy. Likely to make the Republicans losers again and again. Yes, it would be nice if the Republicans become known as born losers. That would make for a nice win for America. --Jim Broede

If only I could speak the language.

If I could speak Chinese, I’d love to live in China. Because I think China is the future. The next great power on Planet Earth. In that China seems to be getting things right. In terms of political, economic and social issues. China is adapting. By trying to serve the common good. China’s leaders think in terms of an ever-increasing world population. Trying to do what’s best for the many. Not the few. China, like every nation that ever existed, won’t get it totally right. But China will do better than the rest of us. Including the USA. We Americans are on the decline. Because we don’t adapt. We live by a constitution and rules established by 18th century thinkers. But China has moved into the modern era. Into the 21st century. Making for the good life. For the vast hordes of its citizens. China focuses on domestic issues. Not so much on foreign policy. China spends far less on defense than we Americans. Because China wants to make China better. From within. Meanwhile, we Americans live in fear. As if we are gonna be challenged by some two-bit bands of terrorists. We pour money into wars. Supposedly to protect our nation’s best interests. Instead, we end up bankrupting the country. And denying the real needs of our own people. We widen the gap between the rich and the poor. Yes, we promote greed and selfishness. The survival of the richest. And to hell with the poor and the middle classes. Oh, yes, give me China. I’d go live in China. If only I could speak the language. –Jim Broede

I am watching an amazing event.

The interesting thing about love is that one can't command it. It has to come naturally. Or so it seems to me. And that goes both ways. I can't just decide I'm gonna fall in love with someone. And I can't command someone to fall in love with me. A loving relationship has to be a mutual thing. I also suspect that true love is unconditional love. One accepts the other completely. Fully. Such love may be a rarity. Because many people fall out of love. A sign that it was conditional love in the first place. Little wonder that over half of the marriages in the USA break up. Eventually. And even many of the long-lasting ones may not be happy marriages. Yes, my guess is there are a fair number of loveless marriages. So, when I see true lovers, in a very long-lasting marriage, I marvel. I am watching an amazing event. --Jim Broede

It's mostly asinine stuff.

Good gawd. I can't get away from it. I keep seeing news reports about the cheating husband in the marriage of Sandra Bullock and Jesse James. I really don't care. It's their private business. Their marriage. Why is it all even reported? The same goes for the shenanigans of golfer Tiger Woods. Heck, marriages break up because of infidelities all the time. It's routine stuff, unfortunately. That's my point. So routine it makes me wonder why we have to keep reporting the status of the marriages of celebrities. They're just like everybody else. Prone to bad marriages. Maybe even moreso than the rest of us. I made my living in the news business. And I'm still puzzled over how we select what to report. Nine times out of 10, it's asinine stuff. --Jim Broede

Think. Think. Think.

I think my responsibility is to give coherence to a crazy world. In other words, to find meaning to life. My life, at least. And I’ve done that. By concluding that I was put on Planet Earth to be a lover. A lover of life. And, it seems to me, a lover of two women during my so far 74-year journey. I’m not sure how long this wonderful blast will last. But I’m grateful that it’s happened. That I have lived. Even if this happens to be all there is. I’ve also become aware that I’m a romantic idealist, a free-thinker and a political and social liberal. If not in other people’s minds – well, then in my own mind. And that is what counts most. My own mind. Because it’s the only mind that I can control. Although, there may be some doubt about that. So, I’ve also come to the conclusion that it’s amazing that I have experienced a conscious life. Absolutely amazing. I am convinced that I am real. When I first became aware that I was a physical being, I wasn’t so amazed. I just accepted it. Without very much thought. Here I was. That’s all I knew. And that was the beginning of my exploration of what people tell me is a gawd-given life. Oh, I don’t know if I initially liked that notion. But I’ve come to accept it. Because that seems romantic. Better that than just being an accident of nature. Which it could still well be. Anyway, I’m still trying to figure out this gawd thing. Because gawd is a rather nebulous character. Ill-defined. A mystery. Someone we’re not supposed to fully understand because he’s portrayed as vastly superior to us human beings. But what if it turns out that we’re the superiors? That we’re all little gods. Billions of little gods. Creators in our own right. That’s a rather awesome thought, isn’t it? But I don’t rule it out. Some devout religious fanatics tell me that’s sacrilegious. But hey, I don’t think there’s such a thing. A thought is a thought. I have been granted complete freedom of thought. Nobody can take that away from me. And maybe that’s what it all boils down to. I have the ability to think. So I might as well do it. Think. Think. Think. –Jim Broede

To the realm of the spirit.

I like creating my own reality. Maybe that's the greatest gift of all. From god. I am able to fashion a world. A life. My life. With a great deal of flexibility. I'm allowed to make choices. I can turn left. Or go right. And I can interpret what I see. Give it meaning. Oh, what wonderful freedom. To have the ability and wherewithal to fall in love. To connect with another mortal. And to go beyond. To the realm of the spirit. --Jim Broede

The discovery of something new.

I like encounters with people. Pleasant encounters. From time to time, I meet people. New people. People who have never been in my life before. And we connect. Most often in little ways. But occasionally in big ways. Makes me feel like an explorer. I'm put into this strange and extraordinary world. And every day, I wake to see a new horizon. And I head for it. Wondering. Wondering what lies beyond. And even in my most familiar environs, I see something new. Maybe something that was always there. But I hadn't noticed. I begin to feel like Columbus. Setting sail for a world never seen before. Knowing there's some risk. But oh, so many rewards. A sense of adventure. And the discovery of something new. --Jim Broede

My pursuit of happiness.

I really don't get upset over the state of American politics. Because I have better things to do. I tell myself, just be entertained by it all. Like watching the inmates in an insane asylum. It's relatively safe. As long as I step back and distance myself from the mayhem. The characters. They're all crazy. It's just a matter of degrees. Outside of the asylum, life is relatively sane. I go about everyday living. I go for walks. Read books. Take in the wonders of nature. Have pleasant encounters with ordinary and mostly sane people. I even have my love connection. And then I occasionally take a peek at what's happening in Washington. In the asylum. And I tell myself how lucky I am. That I have a choice. That I can pretty much ignore the insanity. And get on with my pursuit of happiness. --Jim Broede

Sauerkraut tonight.

Sauerkraut. I love it. One of my favorite foods. I think I could eat sauerkraut every day. And never get sick of it. Of course, I don't go to that extreme. I try to show restraint. And have it on my plate once or twice a week. With a pork chop. Or a smoked sausage. I suppose this craving for sauerkraut would make me a good German. I like to simmer the sauerkraut, with the sausage right in it, for an hour or two. That enhances the flavor. And I dump in a few caraway seeds, too. And oh, the aroma around the house. Magnificent. I've talked myself into it. Sauerkraut tonight. --Jim Broede

I highly recommend my lifestyle.

I like to stay up late. And sleep in late. And then fetch the New York Times from the box at the road, and go for a walk. While reading the Times. First, the front page. Then the editorial page. All of the columnists. A nice way to start the day. I'll follow this routine more. Now that spring has arrived. Then maybe I'll come in for a light breakfast. And I'll sit down and write. Yes, I'm addicted. To writing. And to the relatively leisurely life. I don't have a job. I take retirement seriously. It's supposed to be a time to relax. To slow down. Maybe I'm as busy (occupied) as I was when I was working. But this is less hectic. And I'm my own boss. I highly recommend living long enough to retire. --Jim Broede

How I measure freedom.

I'm free. Because I can think what I want to think. Maybe it wouldn't always be wise to say what I'm thinking. But hey, I can still think it. Nobody can rob me of my thoughts. And I can even put my thoughts into writing. Into my private journal. And there are even a handful of people with whom I can share my thoughts. Without fear. So that's how I measure freedom. --Jim Broede

The making of mince meat.

It’s an interesting political gambit. Albeit, I think, a very dumb one. But then I never have touted Republicans as being anything other than idiots. Anyway, the GOP seems intent on opposing virtually everything favored by Barack Obama. They try to characterize him as a left wing socialist. Which he isn’t. I should know. Because I am a left wing idealogue. Takes one to know one. Obama is pretty moderate. Even willing to work with Republicans. Willing to compromise. Maybe even meet ‘em halfway. Republicans really don’t know how good they have it with Obama. But then, like I say, they are a stupid bunch. That’s why Obama was able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the battle over health care insurance reform. In a sense, he just let Republicans defeat themselves. With their constant nay-saying. Republicans painted themselves into corners. And became obstructionists. With no real alternative. Other than to leave things as they are. And everybody knows that the health care system needs fixing. Plenty of it. But Republicans have never done anything to fix it. Even when they were in control of congress and the presidency. They’d stick with the status quo forever and ever. They’d leave the private insurers run the show. And that means continued bilking of consumers. Little wonder that insurance companies happily contribute to Republican campaigns. They are allies. Lovers. In bed with each other. Anyway, it looks like Republicans will continue to hammer away at their losing strategy. Right on up to the November elections. Being opposed to Obama. On everything. But Obama is ready and able to cope with almost anything. Including idiots. That makes him well-qualified to take on the Republicans. But Obama into a roomful of Republicans. And let the debate begin. Obama will make mince meat. Of Republicans. –Jim Broede

They're off crying to mama.

I've seen sore losers in my days. But none as sore as Republicans. They've lost the health care insurance reform battle. But still, they persist in stalling the fine tuning of the legislation. Even though Republicans know they can't stop it. But hey, they apparently feel it's all right to go into childish thumb-sucking mode and go off crying to mama. Click below. Read about it. It's darn funny. --Jim Broede

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20001059-503544.html

And it's about time.

It started with Reagan-era politics. Policies that got the rich richer and the poor poorer. The villains, Ronald Reagan and Republicans, argued that wealth would trickle down. From the wealthy to the poor. But these past 30 years show that it didn’t work. Instead, the rich hoarded their new wealth. Millionaires became billionaires. Yes, the idea was to give the rich tax cuts after tax cuts. And to allow businesses and Wall Street to go pretty much unregulated. That’s how the era of greed was ushered in. But maybe we are seeing an end to it. Finally, legislation that serves the common good. The lower and middle classes. By taking from the rich. Yes, the filthy rich. Spreading the wealth. It’s long overdue. Finally, we less-than-monetarily-rich Americans have reason to rejoice. While the affluent and the disciples of Reagan have reason to lament. Click below to catch a glimpse of the dawn of a new, more equitable era in America. And it's about time. –Jim Broede

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/business/24leonhardt.html?hp

A conquering professor.

I like to wake in the morning. Turn to the editorial page of the New York Times. And read a column that boosts my morale by making me feel that something has been said that should be said. Maureen Dowd did that for me today. Click below to read about a conquering professor. --Jim Broede

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/opinion/24dowd.html?hp

Oh, what a lovely scene.

I gotta give Barack Obama and the Democrat leadership credit. They outfoxed the ruthless and diabolical Republicans. The GOP was dreaming of making health care insurance reform Obama's Waterloo. Oh, they desperately wanted him to fail. But lo and behold, after 13 excruciating months, we've got reform. And we've got Obama riding high. For a while, I was losing my faith. Because I knew the Republicans were trying to pull out all stops. With their typical lying and deceiving tactics. Opposing everything. Even stuff they supported in the past. But they desperately want to bring down the Obama presidency. At virtually any cost. Just imagine. Not a single Republican voted for reform. Years from now we'll remember Republicans for their spiteful ways. Obama tried to be a non-partisan gentleman. Tried to accommodate Republicans. He was as nice as nice can be. But time and time again, he was rebuffed by the party of absolute "no." Yes, that's about all the Republicans know how to do. Say "no" to everything. But Obama was persistent. And patient. He rallied the divergent sides in the Democratic Party, and got the reform passed. Albeit by a narrow margin, 219-212. But victory is victory. America has reason to celebrate. Finally, we have much-needed reform. With more likely to come. We are joining the other civilized industrial nations of the world. We're heading in the right direction. To universal health care. And we're sending the Republicans home with tails between their legs. Oh, what a lovely scene. --Jim Broede

Seeing is believing.

The foes of health care reform are losing. That's the important thing. And the more they fight the steady trek to a single-payer system and universal care, the faster we'll get it. Because they look like fools. Opposing the common good. And it gives proponents of reform beautiful openings to counter the arguments of the foes. Imagine trying to repeal the good coming from reform. The more people see of it, the more they'll support reform. The foes have used fear and misinformation and outright lies to confuse people and to turn some against reform. Some of their sound bites are idiotic. But hey, idiots have been known to be swayed by idiotic rhetoric. And to heck with the facts. But that'll all change in coming months. We'll all discover that there ain't any death panels. And that reform is good. Darn good. Yes, we'll see it in action. And seeing is believing. --Jim Broede

Thank gawd.

Finally, we are getting health care insurance reform in the USA. Long overdue. It's coming. Ever so slowly. But it's coming. We are headed toward a single-payer system. Run by the government. Similar to Medicare. But it'll be for everyone. And the government will dictate the rules. The government will dictate the costs. Lower costs. The government will demand that health care be provided at the lowest possible cost. For the sake of the public good. The common good. Profiteering will be frowned upon. Some day, we'll look back to the year 2010 as a historic moment. When we Americans took a baby step in the right direction. Toward universal health care. Yes, in the industrialized world, we are johnny-come-latelys. But that's better than never. Oh, there'll be people who fight reform. To the bitter end. Just as people opposed the abolition of slavery. And opposed the granting of civil rights to all people. Yes, we Americans have often been slow to do the right things. But eventually we see the light. We aren't all Republicans. Thank gawd. --Jim Broede

I'm not the only one.

Let it be known that I'm not the only critic of Republicans. New York Times columnist Bob Herbert isn't timid about saying what he thinks about the GOP and their cronies. Click below to find out what he has to say. --Jim Broede

http://www.nytimes.com//2010/03/23/opinion/23herbert.html

Sounds a bit racist, doesn't it?

I stumbled across some interesting polling. It shows that 65 percent of Hispanics and 77 percent of blacks support health care reform. Only 36 percent of whites support it. Is that significant? I think so. It tells me why the Tea Party, an opponent of health care reform, seems to have white members only. Look around at their protest rallies. You'll see only white faces. At a Tea Party rally last weekend in Washington, the demonstrators hurled racial slurs at black members of congress. One member was even spit upon. Not very nice. Makes one wonder if the Tea Party is a racist organization. --Jim Broede

I'm negotiating a pact with god.

Time. Leisure time. Time to do as I please. Maybe that's the most precious thing I have. I really need more time to love. I think that was why I was put on Earth. To be a lover. And I need more time to perfect the art. Or the craft. Or whatever it is. Anyway, I appreciate what time I've been given so far. If I had died 20 years ago, I would have missed so much. I really would like forever. I'm trying to negotiate a pact with god. I'm letting god know I'm flexible. I don't necessarily have to live forever. At least in my present physical state. I'd settle for a spiritual existence. In another dimension. I have the notion that god will be around forever. And I'd like to keep him company. Anyway, if god won't grant me forever, I'd happily settle for something less. Maybe 100,000 years. Didn't Methuselah negotiate for 900 and some years? I could even settle for that. --Jim Broede

All GOPers act remarkably similar.

I love it. I love it. The Republicans are unhappy. They've lost the battle. Over health care reform. Of course, that makes me happy. Not a single Republican defected, and voted for reform. My gawd. Such unanimous opposition. Not a single wavering vote. The Republicans all fell in line. Like robots. All of a single mind. Stupid. Stupid. And more stupid. There's no difference today between a conservative or moderate Republican. They're all the same. They march in lockstep. Goosesteps. Like the brazen Nazi storm troopers. Their allegiance is to the greedy capitalist. If they get a whiff of socialism, they go crazy. They want to keep living in the 18th century. They abhor the thought that it's really the 21st century. And times have changed. They still want a tea party. They want to dump tea in Boston Harbor. And hurl epithets at blacks and gays at their government protest rallies in Washington. As recently as last weekend. Yet, they deny being racists. Fact of the matter is that they don't know what they are. They've been programmed as robots. To just do as told by their diabolical maker. To go through the motions of living. Yes, it's reached the point that if you've seen one Republican, you've seen 'em all. --Jim Broede

The GOP's usual destructive mode.

Oh, I have so many reasons for lacking respect for Republicans. But not the least is their criticism without offering alternatives. Take health care reform, for instance. They oppose Obamacare. But the Republicans don't counter with a plan of their own. And hey, they've had ample opportunities. They controlled Congress and the presidency for many years. But they never ever offered a reform package. The Republicans agree in principle that reform is necessary. That the present system isn't working. But they just sit on their hands. They do nothing but decry the Democrats' attempts to do something. And when the Democrats come to power, Republicans accuse 'em of being spendthrifts. Yet when the Republicans last took control of the presidency in 2001, they inherited a federal budget with a cash surplus. Indeed, a rarity. But eight years later, when the Republicans left office, we had a multi-trillion dollar deficit. The biggest ever. In large part because of wasteful spending. And now who's accusing the Democrats of spending too much on health care reform? Yes, the holier-than-thou Republicans. And to top it off, they don't even have the decency to offer an alternative plan. They just criticize and criticize and criticize. And go into their usual destructive mode. --Jim Broede

Barack the Invincible.

Don't underestimate Barack Obama. I suspect that's what Republicans are doing. Thinking that Obama is politically vulnerable. That he's only gonna be a one-term president. Fortunately, Republicans will be in for a rude awakening. Obama will outsmart 'em. Time and again. Republicans want to play nasty. But they'll pay a price for it. Because Obama has tenacity. He knows how to wait 'em out. And emerge the winner in the rough-and-tumble politcal game. Could be he goes down in history as Barack the Invincible. Click below and read a New York Times columnist's perspective on Obama. --Jim Broede

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/20/opinion/20blow.html

Let this be a warning.

I never cease to be amazed by the number of people duped by the Republicans. Many Americans will believe almost anything. The most preposterous things. That’s what got us into war. The bold-faced lie that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. And then the war was put on credit cards. For future generations to pay. And just as we went to war, the Republicans voted huge tax cuts for the rich. That helped to drive us into the biggest deficit in the nation’s history. And to think, when George Bush was elected president, we had a budget surplus. Now the Republicans are telling us that the Democrats’ proposal for health care reform will be a disaster. Armageddon. As if Republicans know. The thing is, every time Republicans have predicted success in the past 10 years, it’s been failure. And now to hear Republicans predict a Democrat failure – well, that means we may be about to succeed. Because Republicans are always wrong. Yes, don’t believe ‘em. Don’t be duped again and again. The Republicans are blaming Democrats for our financial crisis. When it’s really Democrats trying to fix the horrid Republican-induced mess. Incredible. The Republicans have the audacity to try to lie their way back to power. So they can finish the job of screwing things up and destroying the USA once and for all. The big question is, will we allow 'em to do it? –Jim Broede

Equality for all.

Obama says the vote Sunday night in Congress is about far more than health care reform. It's about America's character. Yes, it's about whether we start extending health care to an additional 32 million of the uninsured. Yes, a big step toward long overdue universal health care. And about a defining of the common good in a meaningful way. Unfortunately, we still have an elitist society. Composed of haves and have-nots. Yes, an astounding gap between the rich and poor. Between the powerful and the powerless. But I still have a deep abiding faith in America. Give us time, and we Americans will do the right things. We'll start living by our high-sounding credos. Equality for all. --Jim Broede

Catholics need a female pope.

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Yes, I'm cheering for the nuns. An organization of 59,000 nuns that have come out in support of so-called Obamacare. The pending health care reform legislation. That puts the nuns in opposition to the Catholic bishops. The nuns have a more direct experience with real people. The ones affected by the existing grossly inadequate health care system. While the bishops sit in their ivory towers and ruminate over scholarly theological issues. With no pragmatic value for everyday living. Besides, bishops are men. Only men. They have no clue as to a woman's point of view. Because they wall themselves off from women. And like conservative Republicans, they jump to faulty conclusions. Such as that Obamacare would fund abortions. When it clearly doesn't. If the Catholics got women priests and women bishops and maybe even a female pope, it would enliven and modernize the church. --Jim Broede

Time for right to prevail.

Takes a while to do the right thing in the USA. Back in about 1860, we Americans finally decided to do away with slavery. But there was plenty of resistance. Took a civil war. And lots of bloodshed. And even after all that, we still had de facto slavery. The shameful Jim Crow South. Wasn't until the 1960s, 100 years after the Civil War, that blacks finally got their civil rights. Yes, we're slow to progress. And when change comes, we often do it grudgingly. Such as health care reform. So that every American has access to health care. Not just the rich. Looks like we'll get significant reform in a close vote by Congress on Sunday night. But we can't be sure. The Republicans are united in their opposition to change. Sort of like it was during the Civil War. Only that time, the Republicans were on the right side. Staunchly in favor of saving the union. Abe Lincoln was a Republican. And he freed the slaves in the Emancipation Proclamation. Now, however, Lincoln would be ashamed of his party. Republicans have lost their way. They oppose reform. They are obstructionists. But as in the Civil War, there were losers. And this time, it's the Republicans' turn to lose. And time for right to prevail. --Jim Broede

I want to be satisfied with myself.

I think it may be good to live life as if there's no afterlife. As if this is all there is. But come to think of it, I'd probably live my life the same way. Whether or not there's an afterlife. It makes no difference. I have a conscience. I have standards. Ideas of right and wrong. And a commitment to try to do the right thing. Even if when I die I return to nothing. No heaven. No hell. No awareness of anything. It shouldn't make a difference. I'm not gonna change my conduct in order to improve my chances of going to heaven rather than hell. I'll do what I think is right. And let the proverbial chips fall where they may. In the end, I want to be satisfied with myself. That I lived as me. --Jim Broede

Jeanne taught me how to survive.

I read the Alzheimer's message boards almost daily. And mostly, I see care-givers under stress. And that used to be me. But not any more. Because I'm no longer a care-giver. My Jeanne died in January 2007. But I survived as a care-giver, and even thrived, because I learned along the way to rid myself of the stress. By getting respite. Regular breaks. Rest. I still cared for Jeanne 8 to 10 hours daily. And I never missed a day in the 38 months she spent in a nursing home. But I also went home at nighttime, and recharged my batteries, so to speak. I was no longer on duty 24/7. I became a good care-giver because I exuded good vibes. Always when I was in Jeanne's presence. I paced myself. I balanced my life. I took care of Jeanne. But I also took care of myself. I became my own care-giver. And in the process, I allowed Jeanne to, in a very vivid sense, to sustain me. I learned to savor Jeanne. To love Jeanne unconditionally. The stress was gone. I looked forward to being with Jeanne. Even today. Jeanne is gone. But she will always live. Inside me. She tells me to be happy. To not ever be afraid to fall in love. Again. Yes, Jeanne taught me how to survive. It's simple. Fall in love with life. --Jim Broede

And lots of manure, too.

I'm learning to look at politics much like an athletic event. A game. Yes, a rather stupid one. But a game, nevertheless. I can't affect the outcome. But I can pull for this side or that side. Albeit, it's sometimes difficult to decide if I really want a winner. Because they are all despicable. Like sports teams, politicos often identify themselves with mascots. Elephants and donkeys. Which seem appropriate. Plodders. Stubborn. Clumsy. But from the whiff of the air in Washington, I suspect there are some skunks. And lots of manure, too. --Jim Broede

The return of the chipmunks.

It's a sure sign of spring. The chipmunks have showed up on my doorstep even before the official arrival of spring. They hibernate every winter. Underground, I guess. But I saw several of 'em scamper across my deck yesterday. I've been feeding the squirrels and rabbits all winter. Mostly nuts and carrots and lettuce. Now I have to add chipmunk food to the mix. Our daytime temperatures have been in the 60s several times in the past two weeks. Which is more than 20 degrees above normal. But we're back to a normal 40 degrees today, and for the foreseeable future. I'll accept that. Afterall, I have no choice in the matter. --Jim Broede

It makes sense to me.

Looks like the moment of truth is coming. Maybe Sunday night. In Congress. Imagine that. Health care reform. Without a single Republican vote. Now, let's hope this results in repudiation of Republicans in the elections this fall. That gives us all time to analyze what it is that Republicans have been opposing. And Democrats have been proposing. Click below for the New York Times' take on the reform legislation. It makes sense to me. --Jim Broede

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/opinion/19fri1.html?hp

I mean this is far, far away.

I find creation fascinating. The immensity of it all. For instance, astronomers are studying objects that are 13 billion light years away. In other words, it took the light from what they are now seeing 13 billion years to reach Earth, traveling at a speed of 186,000 miles per second. Now that is distance. Almost beyond comprehension. And here I thought that Italy was far away. Ain't so. Because traveling at the speed of light, I could go back and forth to Italy 100 times in less than a second. Anyway, if you are fascinated by this subject, click below. You'll see something that's 13 billion light years away. --Jim Broede

http://news.discovery.com/space/primordial-dust-free-monsters-lurk-at-the-edge-of-the-universe.html

In the good old times.

I think we're seeing a struggle over whether we are gonna have a new America or a continuation of old America. The unfortunate thing is that many Americans still like the old ways. What we used to be. When we had a slave economy. When women didn't have equal rights. When we didn't fret over inequality. We've been making inroads. Gains. More equality. But still, we aren't serving the common good. We still have an elitist society. Run by the big-money interests. By greedy, profiteering capitalists. For the benefit of the few. For an ever-widening gap between the rich and poor. We have a political party, the Republicans, that like the old ways. Generally, the Republicans abhor change. They want the rich to get richer. They want few, if any, regulations on business and banking. They want tax cuts for the rich. They have no qualms if it happens that the poor become poorer. Because they see the poor as shiftless and lazy. Pretty much the way our founders perceived black people from Africa. They were inferior. Uncivilzed. They needed masters to guide them. They didn't even count 'em as totally human. Only three-fifths (60 percent) human. Maybe just a bit more human than a chimpanzee. Dare I say that many of our revered founders were white supremacists? Yes, I think so. And if you don't believe that white supremacy mindsets still exist, listen to what's coming out of the mouths of the almost totally white faces in the Tea Party and on the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party. They sound like revivalists out of the 18th century. In the 'good old times.' When America was founded on the basis of inequality. --Jim Broede

Over the protests of Republicans.

So, you Republicans, you think the way to accomplish your ways is to hang together. To stick together in your dogged opposition to long overdue health care reform. Well done, you Republicans. You are good teachers. You are teaching Democrats that the only way to pass health care reform is to stick together. Yes, the most liberal and most conservative of Democrats must coalesce into a united front. And end up with more votes than you Republicans. That's how a victory is made. How the common good is served. Democrats are borrowing your tactics, dear Republicans. They are gonna rub your faces in the same muck that you so aptly like to use. Winning is everything. It takes a team effort. And the ghost of Vince Lombardi appears to be a Democrat. Looking more and more like the Democrats will cross the goal line Sunday night or early Monday morning. We Americans will have historic welfare reform. And reason to celebrate. And yes, you Republicans will have opportunity over the next 7 months to tell the electorate the myth that reform is something gawd awful. But you know what, the Democrats also will have time to show that the reform serves the common good. Yes, to the benefit of the overwhelming majority of Americans. The Democrats also will show that the reform isn't perfect. That improvements yet need to be made. But that this is the initial step in the right direction. And America is on its way to universal health care. It's just a matter of time. That's the way America got social security, Medicare and civil rights. Incrementally. And over the protests of recalcitrant Republicans. --Jim Broede

They'll be tears of laughter.

I'm hearing reports that even Dennis Kucinich, the consummate liberal, may vote for the pending health care reform legislation. That would be amazing. Kucinich is a man of principle. He doesn't believe the legislation goes nearly far enough. He's holding out for a single-payer public option. For the liberal ideal. And his position has been all or nothing. Absolutely no compromise. But that may make him just about as extreme as lunatic fringe Republicans. No room for movement. And I begin to wonder if an obstructionist is an obstructionist, no matter whether he's on the right or the left. We Americans have become so polarized that maybe we're all obstructionists. We'd rather go down with the ship than save it. Funny, isn't it? I'd rather laugh than cry. When we hold the funeral for America, I'll shed tears. But they'll be tears of uproarious laughter. --Jim Broede

Loving can seem mighty weird.

I'd like to consider any and everyone a potential friend. Even my worst enemy -- if there is such a being. That probably means I'd have to make amends with Republicans. Indeed, that would be a challenge of immense magnitude. But then, I do believe in the impossible. That it's even possible to walk on water. Imagine, the most despised Republican. And being able to come to terms with him. Would that be equivalent to selling one's soul to the devil? Perhaps. But then, even the devil has some attributes. I try to believe that no one is totally bad. When I went to Sunday school, I remember being told that I was supposed to love my enemy. Yes, even my worst enemy. That always fascinated me. I've long thought about it. Of course, some Christians tell me I can even learn to love Hitler. It's his actions that I shouldn't love. But still, loving Hitler and Republicans has always seemed weird. --Jim Broede

I hugged Mother Nature tonight.

Tonight I got down on my knees and picked up raked leaves. I shoved the leaves into a bushel basket. And then I emptied basket after basket into a wheelbarrel. Packed high. And then I wheeled the leaves across the road to the edge of the wetlands, and dumped them. I have built a wall of leaves. And there are more to come. Maybe it'll take two or three days for me to haul away everything. I still have more to rake. And piles to pick up. I like the feel of the leaves. Many of them moist. They clump together. Making it easier to pick up. I embrace the leaves. Makes me feel like I'm hugging Mother Nature. Used to be that I raked the leaves in the autumn. Before the first snow. But I'm taking a new approach. I wait until spring. The leaves form a carpet. And help protect low-lying groundcover, most of it a green leafy plant called pacysandra. But this year, I'll add colorful flowers to my garden. Sweet William. African Daisy. Balsam. Sunflower. Morning Glory. Gaillardia. Shasta Daisy. Snapdragon. --Jim Broede

I see a rainbow holding up the sky

Seems to me we are living in an era of fear. We're fearful of government. Of big business. Of the world political situation. Terrorists. Our neighbors. The economy. Didn't use to be that way. I remember happy-go-lucky times. When we trusted each other. Anyway, maybe I'm the exception. I'm not living in fear. I'm rather enjoying myself. Maybe it's that I'm in love. Not only with life. But with someone. A significant other. Love makes all the difference in the world. Maybe we are fearful as a nation because we've fallen out of love. Yes, with our country. Maybe I have, too. But I'm compensated by my other loves. I'm focused on love. That means I'm generally an optimist. I see the bright side of life. Oh, sure, there's a dark side, too. But still, I let the sunshine in. And that makes the dark seem lighter. Not quite as dark. I figure that's the secret of happiness. To focus on what's going right in my life. And in the world. I'm happy, for instance, because it looks like health care reform legislation will pass very soon. I have a friend, of sorts, named Maebee, who tells me I'm crazy. That reform will be disastrous. As if what we have now isn't disastrous. But I like change. Doing things a bit differently. I'm not fearful. But Maebee -- well, she lives in fear. Sounds depressed. She thinks the sky is falling. But to me, the sky looks rather solid. And I see a rainbow. Yes, a beautiful rainbow holding up the sky. --Jim Broede

I'll be dancing in the streets.

More and more, it's looking like Democrats are poised to pass major health care reform legislation. Perhaps late this week. The bill is far from perfect. But it takes us in the right direction. And over the years, it can be improved. It's a good start at reform. And it's coming over the objections of recalcitrant Republicans. Could be that not a single Republican votes for it. All the more reason for Democrats to stand firm and united. Against a shameful collection/coalition of Republicans and big corporate interests and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It's the little people versus the plutocracy. I am heartened by the steadfast and idealistic Democrats that refuse to give up on reform. It's gratifying. Renewing my faith in our government. Again, it ain't a perfect government. Far from it. But occasionally, a majority forms to serve the common good. The public interest over the greedy private sector of our economy. I'm holding my breath. That Obama and his band of Democrats are able to pull it off. Against the insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies and Republicans. If so, I'm gonna do more than my usual walking this weekend. I'll be dancing in the streets. --Jim Broede

An introduction to English.

Come to think of it, I live alone most of the time. I can pretend on any given day that I live on a desert island. I don't have to leave the house. I can avoid human contact if I so choose. I have my books to keep me alive. Read a Kurt Vonnegut book over the weekend. In its entirety. "A Man Without a Country." It's only 145 pages. An easy read. Written in a casual manner. The way I like to write. Now I'm on a Henry Miller book. Called "Sextet." A collection of essays, more or less. The first one is reflections on him turning 80 years old. Very nice. Again, I like Miller's style. Informal. A nice way to introduce people to the English language, American-style. --Jim Broede

America at a pivotal turning point.

Sure, the health care reform legislation in Congress could be better. A whole lot better. But it's better than the status quo. Better than what we have now. So pass it. And build on it. It's a step in the right direction. And a rebuff to the Republicans and to their greedy capitalist allies. They are spending millions of dollars to try to defeat the bill. With outright lies. Distortions of the truth. But now Obama and Democrats have to unite. Stand firm and pass the historic legislation. And we'll look back someday at this moment. As a pivotal turning point. When America finally started to get things right. --Jim Broede

A spirit of camaraderie.

Call me an optimist. Because I expect Americans to wake up some day and see the light. I'd love to live long enough to see it happen. A huge swing to the political left. And the embracing of a socialist agenda. It's the way to go. Especially in tough economic times. Everybody pitches in. And we do a better job of sharing the wealth. Narrowing the gap betwen the rich and poor. Providing for everyone. Regardless of income. Universal health care. Affordable lifetime public education. A strenghtened social security system. A regulated economy. No, or very little spending, on national defense. Instead, a building of a strong country from within. A spirit of camaraderie instead of petty political bickering. --Jim Broede

Vive le socialism!!!

Good news comes from France this morning.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, has been dealt a blow by French voters, as near-complete official results point to a strong showing by rival Socialists in regional polls. With more than 96 per cent of votes counted, candidates from the Socialist and other leftist parties won 53.6 per cent of the overall vote, according to the interior ministry. Sarkozy's conservative UMP party and others on the right held just 39.8 per cent.

Gotta give the French credit. They seem to think it's time to start serving the common good. Vive le socialism!!! --Jim Broede

From villain to unwitting hero.

Hey, thank gawd for villains. Such as Anthem Blue Cross. The private company selling health care insurance. Earlier this year, when health care reform appeared almost dead in Washington, Anthem announced double-diget rate increases for many of its 800,000 individual policyholders. All the way up to 39 percent. That was enough to trigger a surge of public support for reform. And public hostility continues to build toward greedy insurers and their record-high profits. The prospects look good for significant reform passing later this month. And a thank you for that should go to Anthem Blue Cross. For showing us the crassness of the insurance industry. In a sense, dear Anthem, you've become a hero instead of a villain. By unwittingly saving health care reform. By showing us that you can't be trusted. That you need to be regulated. --Jim Broede

I'm inspired by Kurt Vonnegut.

"Socialism is no more an evil word than Christianity. Socialism no more prescribed Joseph Stalin and his secret police and shuttered churches than Christianity prescribed the Spanish Inquisition. Christianity and socialism alike, in fact, prescribe a society dedicated to the proposition that all men, women, and children are created equal and shall not starve." That's a quote from Kurt Vonnegut's book, 'A Man Without a Country.' I'm reading Vonnegut and feeling inspired. --Jim Broede

I treat myself to a pleasant dream.

I have so many things on my mind. So many, that's it's almost impossible to keep track of 'em all. During a normal course of a day, I flit from one thought to another. At times, I stay on one thought for a prolonged period. I'm more or less consumed by it. Usually, in a pleasant way. Such as a love thought. Many thoughts I put in writing. Because that way, they're easily retrieved. If I didn't do that, it's possible that some thoughts would be gone forever. Often, I remind myself that I'm an alive and conscious being. Not a robot. I like to dwell on the thought that I'm alive. That I'm real. That I'm in love. Yes, I keep reminding myself. Because I don't want to forget. But there are times when I'm not all that conscious. I'm just going through the motions. But I inevitably catch myself. And I become fully conscious again. I like to relax my mind. Give it time off. When I'm falling asleep, I tell myself, relax. Go into unconsciousness. Or treat yourself to a pleasant dream. --Jim Broede

I'm living in two time zones.

I'm wearing two watches today. Each with a different time. The old time on my right wrist. The new time on my left wrist. That allows me to choose the time I prefer at the moment. Daylight saving time went on overnight. We're supposed to push our clocks an hour forward. But I want to choose my own time. If I want to slow down and not be in a hurry, I go with the old time. If I want to speed up and get ahead of myself, I'll resort to the new time. It'll be interesting to see how long I operate in two time zones. --Jim Broede

Today is practice for tomorrow.

I like to live life with great flexibility. From day to day. Just feel my way. I'm not afraid to make mistakes. Because I almost always have opportunities to correct my ways. To change course. To do things differently. In a sense, today is practice for tomorrow. Yes, live and learn. People tell me that sometimes I'm inconsistent. That I said one thing yesterday. And something quite different today. And I ask, why not? I have an open mind. I'm capable of change. What seemed right yesterday may seem wrong today. I don't have to be consistent. --Jim Broede

Good plans instead of 'disasters.'

The nice thing about some so-called 'disasters' is that they can be fixed. With time. With fine-tuning. It's like taking a journey. One can become lost. But eventually find one's way again. And the whole process may turn into quite an adventure. A learning experience. The important thing is to finally reach your destination. I say this in response to criticism of Obamacare. Yes, the president's proposed health care reform legislation. Some say it's filled with flaws that may prove disastrous. But I say it's a step in the right direction. And if there are flaws, they can be fixed along the way. Some plans don't start out perfectly. But end up being good plans instead of disasters. --Jim Broede

Yes, I'm a man on the move.

I've spent the day in constant motion. More or less by design. I painted the front hall. And I walked. And I raked leaves. Doing something physical almost continuously. It's a good feeling. Motion. Motion. Motion. Movement. Movement. Movement. Didn't want to sit around. Albeit, I did spend a little time at the computer. Moving my fingers. Moving my mind. And this evening, I mopped all the floors in the house. And before I go to bed, I'm gonna walk around in the house. For maybe an hour. To continue my day in motion. Some day, I'm gonna stay in motion all day. Non-stop. Yes, I'm a man on the move. --Jim Broede

We have a great & fearless leader.

Yes, we Americans have a fearless leader. Obama the Great. I’m convinced he has what it takes. He’s capable of reconciling our differences with Osama bin Laden. And he can get the Israelis and Palestinians to reach accord. And why am I so confident? Because Obama will see to it that Congress adopts significant health care insurance reform. Despite the obstructionist Republicans. That will be a dazzling achievement. Republicans declared that health care reform will be Obama’s Waterloo. That he’ll be defeated royally. And instead of being Obama the Great, he’ll become Obama the Failure. Obama can and will win this one. Without a single Republican vote. If he can conquer the Republicans, he can get the upper hand over the terrorists. And he can settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. That’ll be easy compared to dealing with the bull-headed GOP. And there’s still more to come. He’ll get regulation over the banking industry, even in face of opposition from Wall Street and their Republican cronies. The only remaining question is whether we should call him Obama the Great or Barack the Great. –Jim Broede

Evidence that he's a big, fat idiot.

The evidence is mounting. To prove that Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot. "I'll just tell you this," the conservative pundit said. "If this (health care reform legislation) passes and it's five years from now and all that stuff gets implemented -- I am leaving the country. I'll go to Costa Rica." Of course, that brings joy to many a liberal heart. Health-care reform will not only cover 30 million Americans and reduce the deficit, but it'll also get rid of Rush Limbaugh. Liberals find that hilarious. Because the country he chose has a socialized health care system. --Jim Broede

And I ain't buying it.

I'm supposed to be living in fear. That's the message I'm getting in commercials. Fear of terrorists. But also fear of my government. For being too liberal. For pushing health care reform. The message is delivered to me in voices tinged with fear. Yes, sound bites. Calculated to make me afraid of change. Of course, that's exactly what we need in America. Change. Big change. But the forces that don't want change have launched a campaign. Of fear. That change is bad. That change will be costly. Better to play it safe. And stick with the old, entrenched policies. Despite the fact that we are living in the 21st century. Not the 18th century any longer. But we're told that our founders knew what would be good for us. Forever. Therefore, we should live by the wisdom of thinkers that mouthed that all men are created equal. Except for some. The blacks. Well, they were born to be slaves. And women. Yes, they were born to be second-class citizens. Subservient. Without the right to vote. Yes, our founders faked democracy. Instead, they established a plutocracy. A country in which the monetarily rich wield the power. They have the money. And money is power. They can afford to buy the commercials that sell us on the notion of fear. Yes, don't overthrow our government. Because what we'll get will be something worse. A narrowing of the gap between the rich and poor. A brighter future. In which the common good is finally served. Yes, that's what we are supposed to fear. And I ain't buying it. --Jim Broede

No longer an informed society.

I liked newspapering in the 1960s. More than at any time in my life. It was a nice era. Fun. And rewarding. In the sense of being able to reach people. Everybody was reading newspapers. Unlike today. Newspapers were an integral part of every community. Dailies. Weeklies. If you wrote for a newspaper, you felt like you were an integral part of the community. Bringing news. Provoking thought. And you learned your trade on the job. You didn't have to go to journalism school. And the jobs were plentiful. I had my choice of 20 or 30 jobs. Across the country. With dailies or weeklies. And I had lots of freedom. Newspapers were making money. Advertisers flocked to newspapers. Even when newspapers carried stories that alienated advertisers. We had crusading editors. They dared to take on the establishment. But gradually, times changed. And newspapers changed. They took reader polls. Started giving readers exactly what they wanted. Capsulized news. To hell with indepth reporting. Readers wanted to be entertained. Not informed. Often, pictures counted more than words. The carefully crafted 30-second sound bite began to sway public opinion. Political debate had to be crystallized. Down to a 2-minute exchange between combatants. No, an old-fashioend Lincoln-Douglas debate wouldn't cut it anymore. We needed instant gratification. Entertainment. Entertainment. And more entertainment. Yes, we got what we wanted. An entertained society. No longer an informed society. --Jim Broede

Maybe it's all a trick.

Spring seems to have arrived early here in Minnesota. And in an unusually gentle way. Often, there are big ups and big downs. Weather swings. But so far, the coming of spring has been pleasantly gradual. We had a week or two of high temperatures in the 30s. Now a week or two in the 40s. And on Monday, the prediction is for a 50. Maybe it signals a week or two in the 50s. Followed by the 60s. The snow-pack has gradually eroded. I see far more bare ground than snow. The frost has left the ground. I know. Because the sump pump keeps turning on in the crawl space beneath the house. The lake is still frozen, and usually it doesn't open until the first or second week in April. But I have a feeling that we may see open water by the end of March. A rarity. Of course, winter could still make a comeback. It's happened before. Blizzards and sub-zero temperatures in April. Maybe the weather gods have a trick up their sleeves. --Jim Broede

Maybe I'm brainwashed, too.

I sense where I get a good sense of the world. Over what's really happening. In a reasonably objective way. That's why I subscribe to the New York Times. I get the printed version weekdays. And I also plug into the cybercopy. Online. Oh, I go elsewhere for information. Just to see other slants. But for the most part, I trust the New York Times. I made my living in the newspaper business. Writing for newspapers. Ever since I was a kid. I retired in 1998. After writing thousands of articles. Stories. Breaking news. Features. You name it. Some were good. Others were crap. I know the difference. Believe me. There's lots of crap out there. But some very good stuff, too. If you know where to find it. Unfortunately, lots of people like crap. They often believe it. They become brainwashed. Maybe I'm brainwashed, too. By the New York Times. --Jim Broede

I trust the guy.

Paul Krugman is a liberal. An economist. A professor at Princeton University. A Nobel prize winner. And a columnist for the New York Times. And in his column on Friday, he puts health care reform legislation in proper perspective. Click below. Read him. I trust the guy. --Jim Broede

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/opinion/12krugman.html

It's a dandy.

David Brooks is right of center. In other words, a conservative. Probably a Republican, too. But still, I like him. Because he's a decent, well-mannered, thoughtful conservative. Too bad more conservatives aren't like him. We liberals would love talking to him. Reaching accord. Compromise. We'd get the nation's problems solved on a bipartisan basis. Click below to read Brooks' column in Friday's New York Times. It's a dandy. --Jim Broede

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/opinion/12brooks.html?ref=opinion

Let's make a new beginning.

I'm beginning to think that America is in such a sharp decline that it can't be stopped. Barack Obama and the Democrats have come to power. On the idea of change. But significant change seems almost impossible. Because we are sliding down a shute at breakneck speed. Things can't be fixed. Especially overnight. It's gonna take years, maybe even a generation or two, for America to climb out of the mess that George Bush and the Republicans got us into. And because the Democrats are now in power, we're blaming them. Forgetting that the Republicans did this to us. Transformed us from a nation with a cash surplus into a record enormous deficit. And an economy in collapse. And the panic has set in. Even to the point of thinking that maybe we have to return the Republicans to power. Because the Democrats don't have instant answers. Oh, so sad. To watch the disintegration of America, my homeland, as once I knew it. We had once been the beacon and the hope of the so-called free world. Now we are becoming a laughingstock. Going willy-nilly about our business. Yes, the business of doing essentially nothing. Instead, we just continue to wrangle and bicker with each other. We do nothing. Because we are at a loss over what to do. Really, we need to reshape America. Build America again. From the scrap heap. Yes, mould a new nation suited for the 21st century. It'll take a while. It won't be easy. We'll all have to make immense sacrifices. Let's pretend it's 1789 again. Let's start over. Let's make a new beginning. --Jim Broede

I'm gonna work damn hard.

I feel helpless. Moreorless. Because my congresswoman is Michelle Bachmann. A right-wing wacko. No sense in writing to her. We are worlds apart. I don’t understand how she gets elected. And even re-elected. I’ve thought of Minnesota as a fairly liberal state. But apparently that doesn’t apply to my relatively affluent district. We keep electing Republicans. Even those on the lunatic fringe. Of course, I’m seen as a lunatic on the other end. A liberal. A socialist sympathizer. A Marxist. Afterall, I did visit Karl Marx’s birthplace when I was last in Germany. And I thought he had a keen mind. For his day, at least. Anyway, I’m convinced that we Americans, including Minnesotans, are capable of electing a wide range of characters to Congress. One of our senators is Al Franken, a liberal and a satirist. But we also elect the Michelle Bachmanns. In a sense, it’s easy to get elected in Minnesota. No matter how extreme one might be. Take me, for instance. I once was elected to the local school board. So why not a Michelle Bachmann to Congress? But hey, our mistakes can be corrected. I’m gonna work damn hard this fall to make my vote count. And it won’t be for Bachmann. –Jim Broede

The system hardly works at all.

Barack Obama is finally taking to the podium. To the bully pulpit. To try to sell the health care reform package to the public. And it's about time. I just hope it's not too late. Obama should have been doing this right from the start. From the first day that he took office. Instead, he tossed the assignment into the lap of a plodding Congress. In the halls of partisan bickering. Seems to be that was a mistake. But still, Obama is trying to salvage something from it. Far from what's really needed. Complete reform. A single-payer system. Medicare for all. Instead, at best, we'll plod along. Get a little bit of reform here and there. That's the way the system works. Yes, it hardly works at all. --Jim Broede

The GOP way: Do nothing.

I gotta give Republicans credit on one score. They readily admit that the health care system needs reform. But on the other hand, they say that Obama and Democrats are going about it in the wrong way. Well, it wasn't long ago that the Republicans were in control of both houses of congress and the presidency. Yes, for quite a long time. But they never did anything to bring about health care reform. Now that Democrats are doing something about it -- well, the Republicans complain that the Democrats don't know how to go about it. I suppose the Democrats could follow the example of the Republicans. And just sit on their hands. In other words, do nothing. --Jim Broede

How horrified should we be?

Maybe it could be considered a 'crime,' of sorts, when we have a society that allows 45,000 people to die needlessly every year. Just because they don't get adequate medical treatment. Often because they don't have adequate insurance. Seems like we take this matter-of-factly. But when 3,000 people are killed in the 9/11 terrorist attack we are horrified, as well we should. But shouldn't we be just as horrified by the death of 45,000 because of an inadequate health care system? --Jim Broede

He didn't know where to stop.

The big mistake that despots make is in killing people. Yes, outright murder. That may be the most heinous of crimes. Against humanity. Many a despot could have survived. And even thrived. If they had stopped short of the killing. Take Hitler, for instance. If his so-called 'final solution' had been to deport the Jews. He would still have been perceived as inhumane. But maybe not heinous. Yes, it's a thin line. Hitler could have ordered that all Jews must leave Germany. Voluntarily. Or by force. And other countries would have to take them. As a humanitarian gesture. Chances are the day would have come when the Germans saw the light once again, and welcomed back the deported Jews. Much as Germans welcome Jews now. And recognize Hitler for what he really was. A madman. A deviant. A despot. Hitler was bent on devastation and destruction and death. He knew no bounds. He didn't know where to stop. To stop before the killings began. --Jim Broede

As king, I'd see to it.

I have a simple way to get America out of debt. May take a few years. But we can do it by diverting the money we spend on the military and defense to retirement of the enormous debt. This year, alone, that would amount to $719 billion. Yes, nearly three-quarters of a trillion dollars. Wow! Of course, some of you will argue that opens us to being overrun by the barbarians. But I'd risk it. Why would anybody want to attack us if we tend to our own business? Rather than exerting our military muscle around the world. For a few years -- at least until we right the American economic ship -- let's give it a try. Better than going into bankruptcy. As it is, we're presently being bankrolled primarily my China. I see that as rather risky. Anyway, seems to me we've been wasting money. On wars. In Iraq. In Afghanistan. We're also wasting lives. And we're wasting our nation in the process. Looks to me like a total waste. We need to find a way to get out of this destructive dilemma. Let's change our form of government. To a monarchy. Make me the king. And I'll see to it. --Jim Broede

I'll savor whatever it is.

I like to make decisions. Daily. I'm up before daybreak. And I'm wondering what I'll do today. So many choices. I'll decide later. But then again, I've already decided. I'm sitting at my computer. Pondering. Thinking. Come to think of it, that's my favorite pastime. Pondering. Thinking. And putting it all into writing. Making a log of my thoughts. I've discovered that one thought leads to another. Yes, I'm building a chain. Of thoughts. And I know not where it'll lead. But that's the fascination of life. Hard to predict where I'm going today. All I know is that I'm off on a thought journey. Wandering. Beyond my immediate horizon. I'll just see what I see. And try to get the most out of it. That's what I'll do today. Savor. Savor. Savor. Whatever it is. --Jim Broede

In this matter of trust.

I trust some people. Not many. A handful. Occasionally, even someone I've never met. Barack Obama, for instance. I don't like everything about the health care reform package. But I'll go along with it anyway. Because it comes recommended by Obama. Maybe he knows more than I know. That's a distinct possibility. So I'll trust him. Now if George Bush or any Republican told me the same, I'd not show the least bit of trust. I'd suspect they'd be lying. I have personal friends. Several. I trust them implicitly. That's not to say that Obama and my friends don't make mistakes. They might even disappoint me at times. But still, I trust them. I think my friends trust me, too. Anyway, in this matter of trust. I think it's an instinctive thing. Or maybe the vibrations. It's not as if someone has earned trust over an extended period. I just sense it. Almost from the beginning. --Jim Broede

The wonders of being a speck.

I wonder why I should care about what happens in Washington. Or for that matter, in most any part of the world. In the realm of politics or economics or social matters. Chances are, it's gonna happen. And I won't have any influence on any of it. Other than infinitesmal. Take the health care reform debate, for instance. What will happen will happen. I could flee to a desert island for the next 3 months, and just tune in when I return, and get the lowdown. But here I am, wasting my time, so to speak, writing about what I want to happen. As if I have influence. In the grand scheme of things, I have no control over outcomes. I'm tucked away in my little corner of the world. And that's all I am in the big picture. A speck. But I am in direct touch with several other minute specks. I have influence over them. And they have influence over me. They make me feel alive. And quite happy. Actually, even in love. I get my comfort and solace from others. And even when I'm alone. Because even then, they are with me. In thought, if nothing else. So I reflect. About the wonders of being a speck. --Jim Broede

A right...and not a mere privilege.

I want good-hearted private capitalists to form a non-profit health insurance company. To make available health insurance at the lowest possible cost. Equal to or less than the cost of the government-run Medicare program. Is that possible? I assume it is. If the company decides to operate with barely any profit at all. Imagine that. I'd immediately start to change my attitude toward capitalism. To a more positive one. Another alternative, of course, would be for the government to offer Medicare to everyone. Young and old alike. Yes, universal health care. My guess is that one way or another, the present monopoly of health care insurers would find a way to block it. Because it wouldn't be long before they lost business. The competition would be too keen. They'd have to significantly reduce their profit margins. Maybe to almost nothing. But that's exactly what I want. I want affordable health care for everyone to be a right...and not a mere privilege. --Jim Broede

I am what I am.

Yes, I do tend to discard many conservative arguments. Because they don't make sense to my liberal-oriented mind. They seem rather stupid. Just as a conservative mind thinks that liberal arguments are rather stupid. I'm a liberal because I'm a liberal. I am what I am. And I have no qualms about that. --Jim Broede

See what I would see.

I love to look into the sky and use my imagination. Wondering what exists far, far beyond what we mere humans can travel. For a while, I wanted to be an astronomer. That seemed like a romantic pursuit. Instead, I've settled for being a lover. Of life. And I dream. Of some day being a spirit. That allows me to explore distant galaxies. All of creation. And to see some of what I'd see, click below. --Jim Broede

http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/breakingorbit/2010/03/neglected-orion-nebula-a-cosmi.html

Liberals are smarter.

It's an interesting story. In the National Geographic. That liberals and atheists are higher in the evolution scale than conservatives and extremely religious people. In fact, liberals and atheists have an 11-point higher average IQ than their opposites. Causes them to be able to better adapt to changing conditions in the world. Anyway, it's worth thinking about, isn't it? Click below. For details. --Jim Broede

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100303-liberals-atheists-smarter-evolution-evolved/

Whew! I was outside, looking in.

I had a dream last night. Rather fantastic. Must have been set a thousand years in the future. Because I was going to work on the 1400th floor of a massive building. The base of the structure sprawled over hundreds of acres of land. There must have been hundreds of entrances. And I asked myself, how am I gonna get to work? Going up that high. How long would it take riding an elevator up and up and up? But then I sensed I was riding a zig-zag escalator stairs. That zipped me up and down at an extreme rapid rate. And this escalator was located in the middle of the building. In a huge atrium. And I sensed I was walking to work for the first time. Going to work for, of all things, an insurance company. And it was 5 o'clock in the afternoon. And as I approached I saw smoke spiraling out from lower levels of the building. And as I got closer, the smoke became thicker and thicker and continued to spread and flames started shooting out. And I thought, 'Oh my gawd, how are they gonna fight this fire? And how many people are in there?' I also thought, I'm thankful that I wasn't inside. That I was outside, looking in. --Jim Broede

Capitalism, American-style.

I hear economists decry that Congress isn't taking necessary steps to prevent another economic collapse in the U.S. We've really had no new significant regulations since the crisis began 18 months ago. Paul Krugman, an economist and a New York Times columnist, said we need "a sea change in attitudes, a recognition that letting bankers do what they want is a recipe for disaster." Krugman said that Canada weathered the recession much better than the U.S. because Canada had relatively strong regulations in effect from the beginning. Unfortunately, Wall Street and other bankers want continued free rein. And they may get it. Because greedy capitalists control decisions in Washington. Our politicians give 'em what they want. Why shouldn't they? Bankers and big corporate interests finance their campaigns. So the rich keep getting richer. And the poor keep getting poorer. That's the nature of American-style capitalism. --Jim Broede

Peace, tranquility & happiness.

The nice thing about life is that one can almost always find something to be happy about. Doesn't mean one will be happy 24 hours a day or 7 days a week or 30 days a month. But I can't remember the last day when I didn't find significant time to savor. To be happy. Even when things went wrong. It wasn't as if the whole day was a wreck. And I always seem to go to bed happy. Oh, I complain about things. Such as politics. And the state of the economy. But complaining often makes me feel happy. Because I got it off my chest. And when I complain I often do it in funny and sarcastic ways. Makes me laugh. Makes me feel good. Even unhappy people make me happy. To some degree. Because the contrast makes me feel as if I'm well off. That I've been blessed. That I don't have as many troubles as the next guy. I know I live in a world in which bad things happen. But I tell myself, I can't do much about it. Some things are just far beyond my control. But often I can control my immediate environment. I can withdraw into a cocoon. And look at it as my little niche in the world. Where I can have peace and tranquility. And yes, happiness. --Jim Broede

Tell me you ain't a racist.

Here's a political writer that thinks the Tea Party is all about race. And I couldn't agree more. Racism is still rampant in America. Click below. Read Bob Cesca. Tell me what you think. And if you are a Tea Party member, tell me you ain't a racist. With a straight-face. --Jim Broede

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/the-tea-party-is-all-abou_b_484229.html

A pending collapse of America.

Michael Moore is one of my heroes. Because he sees America for what it is. A foul capitalist society. Rotten at the core. And in need of change. A revolution. And the sad thing is that it won't come until America goes into a complete economic collapse. And Moore says it's coming. And I believe him. And I'm pulling for the collapse to come. Because there's no other way. It's the only way to save America. Have it collapse. So that we can start rebuilding America. From scratch. Click below to catch a Michael Moore interview. --Jim Broede

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/michael-moore-theres-goin_b_483508.html

You barbarians won't take it away.

I'm reading reports that China's annual military spending hovers around $105 billion. Do you know how that compares with the U.S.? Well, would you believe that outlays for our national defense will be $719 billion this year? Yes, six times that of China. And more than all the money spent on defense by all the other countries on Earth. It sure shows we Americans have our priorities straight, doesn't it? We lack universal health care. We have an infrastructure that's crumbling. We have hordes of jobless people. Poor and destitute people. But by golly, we'll defend our country and our way of life against outsiders. And we'll show 'em all how to live. That we Americans have the good life. And we'll defend ourselves. So that you barbarians can't take it away. --Jim Broede

Bad for the power elites.

I'll tell you the difference between big business and big government. Corporations are in business primarily to make money. Lots of money. Big profits. The bigger, the better. And often it doesn't matter if the customer/consumer gets screwed. Big business tends to evolve into monopolies. The little businesses are gobbled up. Or destroyed. So the big guy can thrive. Such as Wal-Mart. And why don't we have little farmers anymore? For the same reason. They've been pushed out by the big agri-businesses. And look at the health insurance industry. Basically, 4 or 5 big corporations that control the entire market. They call the shots. Dictate the rates. What you and I pay. And they calculate into their bottom lines enormous profits. Obscene profits. And they don't hesitate paying their top tier executives outlandish multi-million dollar annual salaries. And they give 'em stock options. Yes, it's pretty much to hell with the common good. And they have the gall to criticize big government for being inefficient and extravagant spenders. They rave against government for bringing socialism into the marketplace. But they don't tell you that would serve the common good. Because that'll be bad for big business. Bad for their profits. Bad for the power elites. --Jim Broede

We've been manipulated.

I have absolutely no faith in the private health insurance industry. I'd trust the devil before I'd trust the insurers. Because they are out to make obscene profits for the health care business. I want health care to be a non-profit industry. That includes the providers, the insurers, the phamaceutical businesses. You name it. The closest we can come to that, it seems to me, is to have Medicare for everyone. Yes, a public option. And only a public option. Universal health care under the auspices of the federal government. Not out to make profits. Get the profiteers out of the health care business. And get the whole shebang regulated. It'll happen some day. Because if we leave the private sector to run the show, we'll get more of what we have now. Higher and higher health care premiums. So that most of us won't even be able to afford it anymore. Largely because of the immense profits being stashed away by the providers. Take the insurers, for instance. It boils down to about five large corporations that have corraled almost the entire market. And they make obscene profits for their shareholders and executives. And they keep raising rates. So that they don't have to insure sick people. The ones that really need the insurance. And now the insurers are happy. Because Congress seems about ready to adopt legislation requiring everyone to buy insurance. Yes, from private insurers. That'll give the private insurers a vast pool of new customers. Many of 'em young people that generally don't get sick. Yes, health care in the United States is a racket. A rip-off. And it's gonna stay that way until we get real reform. No more private insurers. And Medicare for everyone. That ain't gonna happen. Under a Republican Congress. Or even under Obama-care. The health care profiteers are in the driver's seat. They know how to get what they want. But we, the people, we're too stupid to see what's happening. We've been manipulated. By the dirty rotten profiteering capitalists. --Jim Broede

I could have played it safe.

My idea/concept of moderation isn't the same as others. Like in the matter of exercise, for instance. Two days after hernia surgery, I decide to walk 9 miles. Not all at once, for goodness sakes. But 9 miles in total. And at a rather slow speed. About a 20-minute mile. To me, that's moderation. But others tell me it's absurd to walk 9 miles. Even when one hasn't had hernia surgery. But I respond that exercise makes me feel good. Mentally. Physically. Anyway, I do understand why some people think I overdo things. I admit that I go off deep ends. Because I like to explore. To go beyond horizons. Just to see what's there. I suppose that can be dangerous. I could have signed up for a voyage with Columbus. Or I could have played it safe. And stayed at home. --Jim Broede

They seem beyond redemption.

When I run into people without scruples, I can be mean. Because I tend to treat them just like they'd treat others. Without too many scruples. That's why I can say nasty things to some people. Because they're nasty. And I can out-nasty them. Of course, if someone is nice to others, I'm capable of being even nicer to them. I find that some of the most unscrupulous and nasty are Republicans. So it doesn't bother me to rake them over the coals. And even to be downright mean and sarcastic in my criticism. Because they do the same. Many of 'em are scum-bags. And I often try to heap more scum on them than they heap on others. Unfortunately, that's the nature of life. Albeit, I often enough try to treat people better than they treat others. An experiment. To see what happens. And I have to admit, sometimes it works. They begin to treat others better. But it doesn't work with Republicans. They seem beyond redemption. --Jim Broede

An idiot is born every minute.

'There's a sucker born every minute.' P.T. Barnum was alleged to have said it. But I also suspect it's the credo of the Republican Party. The GOP comes up with crap on a daily basis. And expects people to believe it. And many do. Because there are lots of suckers in this world. I mean really stupid people. Look at how many were sold a bill of goods on George Bush. Not once. But twice. Now the Republicans are blaming Obama and the Democrats for the poor economy. That takes a lot of nerve. The Bush administration took over with a budget surplus. And ended with something like a $7 trillion deficit. And unregulated banks. And two wars. And an infrastructure left in shambles. And out-of-control health care costs. With almost 50 million Americans without health insurance. And 49,000 deaths a year just because Americans don't get proper medical care. And Obama has had barely more than a year to fix the problems. And because they ain't all fixed yet, the Republicans say the Democrats should be thrown out of office. And the Republicans, the very people that got us into this mess, should be returned to office. And polls show that maybe that'll happen in November. Proof beyond a doubt that a sucker (idiot) is born every minute. Right here in America. --Jim Broede

There's no incentive.

I watched C-Span this morning. A senator. From Wyoming. He's also an orthopedic surgeon. And he's a Republican. With the usual GOP spiel about the evil's of Obama-care. How bad it is. Poor guy. I'm sure he's rich. Monetarily. And he wants to be richer. He'll never have enough money. He's afraid that doctors won't be adequately reimbursed. Yes, health care is a business. A way to make money. Lots of it. Otherwise, it isn't worth going into. Doctors don't make enough money under socialized medicine, he says. There's no economic incentive in merely serving the common good. --Jim Broede

Yes, I need my fix.

I'm addicted. To love. And to exercise. Probably in that order. I've been put to a real test. In terms of the exercise addiction. I had hernia surgery. Barely 48 hours ago. And this morning at 5:30, before sunrise, I could no longer stay in bed. I had to satisfy my compulsion. I went for a walk. Yes, 2 miles. And I saw the sun come up. And I heard the birds greet the first glimmer of daylight. Oh, so wonderful. To be alive. And in love. And able to walk. Here it is about noon. And I've gone 7 miles so far today. And I feel like I'll go 20 miles. Yes, I need my fix. --Jim Broede

And let the foulest & dirtiest win.

As far as I'm concerned, it's tit for tat. Republicans are crying holy hell because Democrats appear ready to pass health care reform legislation through a process called reconciliation. That requires only a simple 51-vote majority in the Senate. Makes sense to me. Because the Republicans threaten to filibuster the legislation. That would require a super majority 60 votes to pass a bill. Anyway, that's the way the game of politics is played. You find a way to outmaneuver the opposition. You play dirty pool against each other. And let the foulest and dirtiest win. --Jim Broede

Two normal guys: Bush & Hussein.

I heard interviews with Iraqi citizens the other day. And apparently significant numbers of 'em say they'd vote for Saddam Hussein again. If he were on the ballot. Because that would be better than the choices they are being given in upcoming elections. So, tell me, after George Bush's long war to rid Iraq of Hussein, wouldn't it be ironic if we had the return of a second Hussein? Maybe the Iraqi people want a return to normalcy again. Fact of the matter is that one man's craziness is another man's normalcy. Afterall, many Americans thought of a Bush administration as normal. So, why not a Hussein administration in Iraq? --Jim Broede

A figment of our imaginations.

I'm being told there's lots of anti-Washington sentiment. At least, that's what I'm reading. And hearing on TV and radio. Not quite sure what that means. I hear it from liberals. And conservatives. Seems like there are many disenchanted Americans. From so many spectrums. So I'm beginning to wonder. What's to become of all this? Griping. And more griping, I suppose. Incumbents seem to be losing an increasing number of elections. I'm more inclined to stay away from the polls. Because all the choices seem bad. Doesn't seem to do any good when new office-holders come to power. Maybe it even becomes worse. I periodically call for a revolution. But even then, there's no guarantee that things will get better. But I try to be an optimist. Thinking things will bottom out. And get better some day. But then, maybe I have to learn the nature of politics. It's the quest for power. Often unbridled power. For the few to rule the many. Usually, the few with the most money. There is no such thing as democracy. It's a figment of our imaginations. --Jim Broede