Moving on from Conservatism

Let us move UP from conservatism, a once respectable idea (in the tradition of Edmund Burke) of implementing progress and change incrementally (vs. not at all; or worse - rolling back progress already made).

Modern conservatism – certainly in the USA – is a reactionary force – rather than a practical or governing force. Railing on about what you are against only gets you so far.

Up from Conservatism by Michael Lind

https://www.amazon.com/Up-Conservatism-Michael-Lind/dp/0684831864

"If by a 'Liberal' they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people-their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights and their civil liberties-someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a 'Liberal', then I'm proud to say I'm a 'Liberal'." --John F. Kennedy, Profiles in Courage

Let the Right-wing Witch Hunt Begin (again)

If there's any doubt about the right-wing foaming at the mouth to profit from another Clinton presidency, I offer a correspondent I received today from a "Miss Fran Griffin" promoting a 1990s book called "Hustler: The Clinton Legacy" by Joe Sobran.

Right-wingers are shameless in pursuit of their fantasy demons. And lazy, too, as they apparently can't be bothered to create new material for a new generation of right-wing dupes.

Why did I receive this solicitation in the first place? Because I was once an anti-Clinton Republican.

I've gotten smarter and wiser with age and no longer fall for this kind of manufactured nonsense. But, I do get joy from wasting their money when they send me easily recyclable trash and collectible stamps.

Trump Fails the Character Test

The New York Times may have uncovered the fact that Donald Trump has not paid taxes, possibly for many years.

The sad part is that Trump probably did it all legally, thanks to loopholes Congress has put in place to make it easier for the wealthy to skip out on their responsibility.

Recall the Republican gospel is that taxes are too high on the "producers." It was only a natural extension of that ideology to go to bat for the wealthy any way they could, including the tax code.

For those who take the admonishment “to whom much is given, much is expected” seriously (like Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, etc.), they accept their responsibility (in what they say and what they pay) rather than evade it.

Trump has failed the test of: "Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking."

Well, everybody is looking now.