T Minus 7 Days to Election 2020: Thoughts

 T Minus 7 Days to Election 2020: Thoughts

   Socialism is the stepping stone, or pit stop, on the way to communism. Marx himself said so. The more centralized government becomes, the more totalitarian it gets. This is the frightening course on which these United States is on in the year 2020. A loud mouth business man vs. a progressive leftist Alzheimer's patient, and a Marxist. One must ask, what are the leftist progressives progressing toward? The only logical answer is: Communism. 

   This communist takeover has happened over many decades, begun most likely, with the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, and "progressing" steadily since. The communists have been very patient. Remaining in the shadows at first by infiltrating the education of the citizenry from kindergarten, up. They skewed history lessions to their agenda, withheld truths, and vilified the most prosperous system ever created; Capitalism, the free market. 

   No system of government has lifted more people out of poverty, created wealth, fostered innovation, and raised the standard of living, as Capitalism. Especially when that system lives in a representative republic. Communism on the other hand, has led invariably to shortages of essential goods, increased proverty, the quashing of innovation, vast abridgements on freedom of speech (resulting in political imprisonment), torture, and ultimately, the death of millions of innocent people, all while systematically chipping away at all of the rights of the individual. There is no freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, or any other unalienable rights, within the communist system. The people become slaves of the government, and if one believes otherwise, they are clouded by delusion, and institutional brainwashing.

   Thomas Paine wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls" in December of 1776, before Washington crossed the Delaware River during the War for Independence. Some 244 years hence, and here we go again. When will we ever learn? Sadly, it may be never, certainly not before my generation passes. It is a terrifying prospect, and one that worries so many. Worry however, is not enough: Action is necessary. Action not in the form of violence, for that is a futile and destructive endeavor. No, we must act with our vote. In order to preserve the Union, we must vote against those who hold leftist principles and vote for the conservation of the values on which we were founded; those based on the individual and the immutable characteristics of a moral people, thos that maintain freedom, the rights of each and every person, the preservation of law and order, the free market, innovation, and, dare it be written; American Exceptionalism.  We must vote to  honor the spirit and intent of the Founders and their documents which were written with the open eyes and the ultimate purpose of protecting us from our most obvious, and oft chosen obscured enemy: Ourselves.

     

What Matters

What Matters

by Lori Slager

(Copyright 2020)

I don't care...

If you love Trump,

because you make me laugh when we're together.

I don't care...

If you love Obama,

because I see how you grieve your mother.

Do you care?

I don't care...

If you're a vegan

because I feel good when you are here.

I don't care...

If you're a carnivore

because as a friend, you're always there.

Do you care?

What matters is our humanity,

What is felt between you and me.

What matters is the way we see,

The reflections of ourselves so clear,

When we look into each other's eyes.

I don't care...

If you hate Trump,

Because you love your children so.

I don't care...

If you hate Pelosi,

Because your hugs lift me from being low.

Do you care?

I don't care...

What you think about gender

Because I see only your kindness.

I don't care...

What you think about the climate

Because the warmth between us is my fuel.

Do you care?

What matters is our humanity,

What is felt between you and me.

What matters is the way we see,

The reflections of ourselves so clear,

When we look into each other's eyes.

Don't let our politics divide us;

We are not made of just these views.

We must not box each other in

Because we reach different conclusions.

We see the world through different eyes,

Shaped by our singular experiences.

Let me love your heart, your passion, your emotion.

Please accept my unconditional devotion.

I was your friend before political campaigns,

I'm still me, I haven't changed.

I see the qualities that are unique,

How you treat the world around you.

Your politics are not your character,

It's your integrity that is.

Can you still see how much I care?

Can you still see me?

Will you dare...

To look beyond, behind, and around

To appreciate the person that you first found, in me?

I don't care...

What gods that you believe in,

Because you reach out to the whole community.

I don't care...

If you are an atheist,

Because you have faith in humanity.

I don't care...

If your house is clean and germ-free,

Because your door is open.

I don't care...

About your tattoos, or piercings, or clothing,

Because your heart is beautiful.

What matters is our humanity,

What is felt between you and me.

What matters is the way we see,

The reflections of ourselves so clear,

When we look into each other's eyes.

What matters is that we are free,

To think, and feel, and live and be,

As different people, you and me,

As members of humanity.

You're Fired! Part I

     Last Sunday the season premiere of Celebrity Apprentice aired and although I have never seen previous seasons, I decided to watch the show on line today for several reasons. First of all, my #3 teenage idol (behind Donny Osmond and Bobby Sherman), David Cassidy is among the contestants as is Meat Loaf, whom I adore for both his music and for being an outspoken fiscally conservative celebrity. Secondly, Donald Trump has been popping up on my radar screen more lately and it seems clear that he is toying with the idea of a presidential bid in 2012. It may also be notable that I was not attracted to the show by any of the female contestants and in fact do not even know who several of them are or for what accomplishments they find themselves famous. Now that I have tuned in, I am hooked and will be watching on line every week.

     Mr. Trump divided the candidates along gender lines, which always makes for interesting dynamics. He revealed that their first task was to run a Manhattan pizzeria for a day and raise money for charity. Once the teams were delineated and the task was announced they were off to their Trump Tower suite to choose a team name and a project manager.  The men came to the table with different ideas for a name, quickly found areas of common ground, took to an internet thesaurus for inspiration and decided on the unifying name, Backbone. Richard Hatch, the first winner of the popular Survivor reality series was chosen unanimously as their project manager. The women also came to their table with different idea for names. Rather than coming up with a unifying name to bring about cohesion, they chose A.S.A.P.P. (Artists, Singers, Authors & Professionals with Purpose). It was so obscure even to them, that when the time came to reveal it in the board room, they had forgotten its complex meaning. Star Jones, an attorney famous for being on The View was unanimously chosen as project manager for the women's team. Then the fun really started.

     Backbone took over a Famous Familglia  Pizzeria near NYU while A.S.A.P.P. chose the location closest to Times Square in the theatre district. Although timing is a bit unclear, it seems they had one day to train and prepare and one day to be in business to make money. Each team quickly set about assigning tasks: pizza-maker, counter service, cashier, delivery, marketing, etc. Almost immediately subordinates began complaining about their project managers being too bossy, controlling or otherwise unpleasant.  To me, this meant that both teams made good choices in leadership.  Though they were frustrated, each participant set out about doing the necessary preparatory work required for a day of food service.  They made, weighed, portioned and stored dough; they grated cheese and sliced toppings, etc. 
     The gender dynamics played out like textbook scenarios. Men formed a cohesive team, remaining task and goal oriented while setting personality differences aside - for the most part.  The standout in this was David Cassidy who was appreciably less industrious than the other men and far more needy as a worker.  Richard Hatch took his project manager role very seriously and put his megalomaniacal control freak tendencies to work with unwaivering determination to win. Unfortunately he expresses himself in an overly aggressive, demeaning and downright bullying fashion. He also has little self awareness and absolutely no humility. This makes him unlikeable. Is it necessary to like one's boss to get a job done?
     The women failed to form a team and there were catty remarks being tossed around under their breath and lots of negative judging of their chosen leader. Although they could not set aside their personality conflicts they did hunker down and get their preparations done. Lisa Rinna was the most whiny, catty and backstabbing. She would say one thing to her fellow workers and another to her "boss" which makes her unlikeable. Niki Taylor, a supermodel was the most surprising to me. She stood out as a team player, confident in her strengths and ready to put them on the line and work hard, she was the pizza-maker.
    Hatch chose Hip-Hop artist Lil John, Country & Western star John Rich and actor Gary Busey as his marketing team. They created a fun and effective campaign from menus to street hawking. Putting Gary Busey out on a street corner in an ill-fitting suit with menus and pepperoni confetti as the  evangelizing "Pizza Profit" was genius. All team members were encouraged to use their network connections, to call friends, family or whomever to get donations.  Some slices of pizza were sold for thousands of dollars in the name of charity.  The worker bees had fun running the pizzeria for a day and took joy in brining in money, Hatch was a mostly hands-off manager who demanded productivity while celebrating successes.
     Jones took the marketing task on personally while sending the other women back to the prep kitchen. Although she was sure in her confidence, her results at print posters and menu were lackluster at best. Her biggest mistake was taking two people out of the store for delivery. She sent Lisa Rinna and Marlee Matlin.  That was too much personnel out of operations which caused some major fallout when Star decided to close the retail side of the business to focus on what was to be a large delivery order. 
     Ultimately the win went to the women's A.S.A.P.P. team because they raised almost 2 1/2 times what the men brought in.  They did this in spite of their operational shortcomings and even though they missed a final delivery to a fire station that would have added an extra $35K to their total.  How?  They leveraged their natural gender traits. Women are relationship oriented and they called everyone they knew to come and support them. Their friends came through spectacularly.  One man came in and ordered 20 pizzas for each of his two offices @ $1,000 per pizza for a total of 40 pizzas for $40,000. When Star realized that time was running short and her operation could not support the order in time, she called her friend and asked him if she could do just 20 pizzas total and was told just one would do. A monkey could have come through with one pizza. She and her team were let off the hook way too easily and she should be extremely grateful for that kind of generosity. 
     With the women snagging the win, someone from the losing men's had to be fired.  The boardroom antics leading up to the firing were quite dramatic and very entertaining.  David Cassidy continued to whine about not being heard, complained about Richard Hatch manhandling him and offered multiple excuses for his dispassionate attitude and less than optimal performance.  Richard was classless both during the task in his treatment of Cassidy and the boardroom by referring to him decidedly feminine terms, i.e. little, delicate, needy, etc. However he was not responsible for David's poor performance. The men seemed united in the desire to see their leader be let go but it was "Keith Partridge" who got fired by "The Donald." Baseball player Jose Canseco was particularly chivalrous in his indictment of Hatch and defense of Cassidy. I look forward to learning more about this intriguing athlete as the show progresses.
     All things being equal, if both teams had to run their businesses for a month or more, it seems clear that the men would come out on top with their more cohesive team, better operations and relying more on the generosity of the general public rather than calling in favors from friends. The women's personality issues, cattiness, failure to form a team and sloppy operations set-up would have ultimately caused their demise. They were lucky this time.
     Finally, on a personal note, I believe that the reason I was so immediately hooked by this program has a lot to do with my current path of self-reconstruction. It is clear that I will learn a lot about how different qualities come into play in the success or failure of a business venture. As a new student in Trump University, I look forward to my education.