Divisivism - The Real Issue

Divisivism - The Real Issue

by Thomas Balderston.  June 8, 2020

The GF Spark

America experienced a tragic event on Monday May 25 that will become an historical moment, yet the why and the questions continue.  Know it by its’ initial, GF. Racism rose to the top again making it all about ‘racism.’ But is that the truth, is that the real issue? 

The evening of Tuesday June 2, a retired police captain working in a Pawn Shop, met his fate at the hands of looters.  He was taken from his shop, beaten and left to die, all the while a posting on Facebook, showed live his body as blood poured from it until he passed away.  David Dorn was working.  This job was his livelihood.  He was sober. He was killed by thieves for whatever value there was in the items they carried away. 

GF was not working.  Police were called when as store owner reported attempts to pass fake $20’s.  GF was confronted, the details of any conversation with the police officers that arrived the scene are not known.  However he was taken-down, a knee put to his neck and he suffered loss of breath and, most unfortunately and wrong, the loss of his life.  An autopsy called it homicide.  GF was high on crack cocain at the time, and diagnosed with coronavirus.  He did not have symptoms of the virus, but was a carrier.  GF was murdered by what appears to be an overly zealous police officer.  That officer has been charged with murder 2, in Minnesota.  Other officers on the scene have been charged as accomplishes.  

Immediately after the GF incident protesters took to the streets in Minneapolis and soon thereafter, in many cities, in over 40 states, protesting ‘racism.’  The media has closely filmed the demonstrations that were referred to as protests but soon turned to riots involving pillaging, looting, marauding, breaking windows, arson, confrontations with police officers including stabbings and shootings, harming business owners, men and women, and killing David Dorn.

Everyday GF was heralded as the example of systemic racism in America and the protests and looting/rioting was to honor this black man claimed to be murdered by a member of the Minneapolis police force.  The legal elements of the case will proceed.  Whether it will be the outcome the protesters desire, or find as justification for their behavior, is another question. However GF was just a spark, a reason, a justification, an act sufficient, with the right elements to stir those that seek to divide America.  

There have been other GF like sparks.  There was Ferguson, or the Ferguson Uprising. A black man, Michael Brown was shot by police (August 2014).  The Rodney King incident in the spring of 1992. LA police hogtied, beat and kicked Mr. King. It was filmed. The officers were acquitted, even with video tape, by a jury. Riots followed the jury verdict.  King died in 2012 of accidental drowning, with alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and PCP found in his system as contributing factors. There was the Freddie Gray death in Baltimore in 2015, a man died in police cutaway while being transported to be incarcerated.  He was not restrained during transport and suffered a spinal cord injury believed to have resulted from sudden stops made.  Written on Wikidedia, “In a May 4, 2015, interview on Fox News, Alan Dershowitz said that he believes Mosby (Baltimore City State's Attorney, Marilyn Mosby) overcharged the officers in an attempt to satisfy protesters and prevent further disturbances.”  Problems between police and blacks, to include minorities have been ongoing.  They are not universal, but they exist. Ask why?

Self-Preservation

Policing and race relations are a task unto themselves.  Put yourself in their shoes.  White, black or hispanic.  As a police officer not all areas policed are quiet residential neighborhoods.  Where and how people live varies. Police assignments vary.  Over time your mind develops a profile based on experiences.  The experiences involving risk are in the forefront and self-preservation becomes a concern, such concerns most would consider valid.  In the same way when first meeting someone, before any words are spoken, we are all prone to making assessments.  Dress, composure, cleanliness, and eventually how someone speaks enters through our sensory passages, our body and mind more than AI.  If prepared before with verbal or written information on the person being met, our initial perception may be different.  The unknown always makes us leery, just as entering a dark room, or dark alley.  Humans are innately suspicious of personal harm, surprises from circumstances new, unexpected, and foreign.  Conditions and places where persons are first encountered can change attitudes.  This innate element of profiling, all based on what we know, have learned and experienced, is profiling, or a form of racism.  Social and economic factors are in play (socioeconomics). Outward appearances and nature of locations make a difference.  How we protect ourselves is another issue.  But ask should we all simply expect any situation we enter to be perfect, and to react with calm, even when confronted by someone impaired, belligerent, stronger than we are, loud, obnoxious, armed, or providing the impression they are prepared to attack and harm you?  Read and ask yourself that question again. We have our own defense mechanisms.  At times unprepared, when we’d prefer not to be.  If a police officer we are always to be prepared. 

When a police officer finally subdues an assailant, no longer facing a threatening situation, then further force, undue force is not needed.  Vengeance is not needed.  Few of us would readily volunteer or seek as a career path to be a police officer, especially a police officer in a known dangerous area.  That being said, if so employed, once in the dangerous area, getting to know residents, trying to help, you would get to know the good and evil of the environment.  You would know when to be more and better prepared given expectations.  Self-preservation prevails.

Defund the Police

Opinions abound. Some suggestions valid, others crazy.  Something must be done.  Change the model for how police provide security for our citizens.  Defund police. For many it is just about the numbers -  the disproportionate numbers of Indigenous and Black people in our prisons. The back stories are of less importance. Claims are made that bias and diversity training and the use of body-worn cameras have not done enough to change the culture of policing.  The cries ring out, white people are privileged, police are brutal, and inequities exist such that minorities, especially blacks, do not have the same opportunities, even access to the same opportunities.  It becomes a sociology question, and a socioeconomic question.  But there is more.

I was shared a story of a couple that opened an ice cream store in a small city in Florida.  A customer that got to know them one day asked how they came to this location.  The story told was a move from New York City where the husband was a police officer.  He had been shot 4 different occasions.  Enough was enough.  The wife offered to leave with him or without him.  A baby was expected.  He quit the force.  She wanted a husband and father alive to raise their child.  So what does her experiences suggest to her about the Big Apple.  She has her prejudices.  Prejudice and racism go hand in glove.  There will always be racism. 

Divisivism

So what is going on.  My contention is that ‘racism’ as used, when the opportunity caused by a GL like spark occurs, when the crowds that wish to protest police brutality peacefully, a fair cause, morphs into mob rule, anarchy and insurrection, then it is not about ‘racism.  It is about ‘Divisivism.

There are elements in our society that seek to destroy the freedoms we enjoy.  They use, actually abuse, sensitive issues to stir fear, create distrust, and cause division.  It is mostly political, but it has roots.  The roots are in the education of our children, from the earliest grades through college.  It is also the family structure.  There is a growing population of fatherless homes.  When did this begin? My date goes to the Lyndon Johnson era and the establishment of welfare reform, medicare and medicaid.  History tells us after the era of slavery, blacks in America began to find new freedoms.  It was not immediate and not ubiquitous.  But their church, their community, and their families became more important and an expression of their freedom and their willingness to take advantage of opportunities and show their localities, their States and the Nation they were vital contributors and just as human, with the same rights as others, primarily white people with whom they at one time found as their employers and oppressors. Yes, there was resistance.  There was prejudice.  There were superior attitudes.  It would take time for that to change.  Progress has been made.  Great progress.  Not enough progress by the tone of the protests.  Why the dividers? Progress will continue. Most Americans believe we are on the right path and want it to fully succeed. Equal human rights being equal.

Our politically correct culture has sewn a fabric of heightened sensitivity deriving from those who expect the world to be perfect.  In this perfect world everyone is equal, everyone is the same.  There are no poor.  There are no billionaires, or even wealthy people.  Achievers are wrong for their success, as they are in essence showing off to those less able, or less wanting to strive to the extent needed.  Jobs are shared, exchanged.  One day you are the boss, the next you are the janitor, and serve in all levels between.  In a fashion equality and inequality in a society are the same, yet different.  We are equal as to our rights and opportunity.  But we are unequal when it comes to outcomes, as we may not be equal in our hopes, desires, God given talents, and achievements.  We are different as to the sexes and as to our physiques.  Some exercise and some do not, creating inequalities.  So is that unfair?  What is fair about a child being born in a family without a father, or whose father leaves?  How do we equalize that child.  If up to our politically correct society government becomes the substitute for a father or mother, when there is only one as head of household.  But is government effective in that role?

Let me mention one idiom.  God is in charge.  But there are things we can control.  You can study.  You can work.  You can try harder.  This is what makes people different.  And to complain that those that do what they can do are creating inequality is just wrong.  It is a lame reaction to those that lack the desire and will to make an effort.  Followers of God must work at their believing, grow in their faith and become an example to others.  To be a believer does not make you better, it does not make you superior (as Islamism claims).  What it does is make you humble and more accepting of everyone.  If you need a path to less chaos, a more peaceful world, then seek God.  

The Liberal View

Why give up victimhood, it works for the race hustlers. This is a point made by Thomas Sowell, a black intellectual.

The world view of young millennials and others, I am talking liberals, is different from the older, 50’s, and 40’s, liberals. In part that may be due to maturing and successful careers, some with families, and experiences that in the radical leftist liberal Democrat environment become burdensome, troublesome, and less appealing. Passions substitute for the reality of life. Why liberals? The view from the mind of a conservative is different from that of a liberal, regardless of color. The conservatives, black or white, are not taking to the streets. They see the impact on jobs, businesses, and lives as destructive. It destroys opportunity and makes the platform position goals of those pandering to actual racism less attainable. It takes any progress to date and puts it in reverse. It may be temporary, but it impacts gains made. To get ahead you do not stomp on the toes of efforts, achievements, improvements and ongoing successes for minorities. You cannot say the whites are not trying. When you do you confuse, frustrate and stem advances. You create impediments by those making an effort to continuing, concerned, disappointed, saying, ‘what’s the use.’ Nobody cares, they just want more. 

Candice Owen, a black conservative, spoke out during the GF protests and looting saying words much different from those commonly spewed from the main stream media.  She does not give the police officer that killed GF a pass.  But she criticizes the culture of the black community that have repeatedly honored and defended the criminal element, seldom holding up the same of the successful, the accomplished blacks.  All too often the achiever as conservatives are called ‘uncle Toms’ or worse, and that by other blacks.  That is not the case for latinos or whites or other minorities.  She questions that.  But what it comes down to is the liberal lefts Democrats using the blacks, not helping the blacks.  This is Divisivism.

Here is Candice Owens You Tube discussion. 

Candice Owen noted that most uprisings, protests for police brutality of blacks, as a common habit, as if whites are not also brutalized by the police, the criminal element the issue, occur during election years.  Why is that?  Simply the left wants power.  And to get power they need the support of the black poor.  Keeping them poor, in blighted neighborhoods, with a weak economy and limited job opportunities helps Democrat politicians appeal for votes from this ID (identity) group.  Why do Democrats and liberal leftists seek illegal immigration, which takes jobs and primarily jobs that blacks can readily fill?  One answer, to keep them jobless and wanting the welfare checks and the largesse from government, offered by Democrats, if indeed they are the majority of the government.  Divisivism is political.   So too is Racism.

Statistics - Facts

Statistics are important.  What the left ignores are the stories behind the statistics.  In the last year deaths of unarmed persons at the hands of policemen were 9 black, 19 white, and what is cited is that the blacks as a percentage of society (13%) are not represented in that stat.  It is higher for blacks.  But the backstory is crimes in American are committed by blacks at a much higher percentage, 44%, than the 13% of society this minority represents.  

Conservative radio show host Larry Elder voiced support for law enforcement after police officers came under fire following the death of George Floyd while he was in custody.

Elder, who is black, noted that statistics show that more unarmed white people were shot and killed in 2019 than unarmed black people.

“How many unarmed blacks were killed by cops last year? 9. How many unarmed whites were killed by cops last year? 19,” he tweeted Tuesday. “More officers are killed every year than are unarmed blacks. When do the #BlueLivesMatter protests begin?”

48 felonious deaths of police officers occurred in 19 states and in Puerto Rico. The number of officers killed as a result of criminal acts in 2019 was 8 less than the 56 officers who were feloniously killed in 2018.  

From the Crime and Law Enforcement Society, “In 2018, there were 686,665 full-time law enforcement officers employed in the United States. The number of full-time law enforcement officers reached a peak in 2008 with 708,569 officers, and hit a low in 2013 with 626,942 officers.” That is about 2/10 of 1% of our Nation.  So to compare, 48 dead of 2/10 of 1% compared to 9 dead of 13% compared to 19 dead of 67%. I’d say the big losers are the police. Of the 48 officers 40 were white, 7 were black, 83.3% compared to 14.5%. 20 died serving traffic tickets or serving warrants or conducting various investigative matters not involving the use of weapons. 

From the WSJ, “The po­lice fa­tally shot nine un­armed blacks and 19 un­armed whites in 2019, ac­cording to a Wash­ing­ton Post data­base.... The Post de­fines “un­armed” broadly to in­clude such cases as a sus­pect in Newark, N.J., who had a loaded hand-gun in his car dur­ing a po­lice chase. In 2018 there were 7,407 black homi­cide vic­tims. Assuming a com­pa­ra­ble number of vic­tims last year, those nine un­armed black vic­tims of po­lice shoot­ings rep­re­sent 0.1% of all African-Amer­i­cans killed in 2019. By contrast, a po­lice of­fi­cer is 18½ times more likely to be killed by a black male than an un­armed black male is to be killed by a po­lice of­fi­cer.”

What is the Fuss?

Why all the hullabaloo? What Officer Chauvin did went too far. It is a tactic used by the MN police force, however this time it went too far. Police interact with civilians, it has been reported, over 375 million times per year. Accidents happen, passions can run hot, and errors in judgment can occur.  Many time events can unfold very rapidly resulting in tragic endings. How often have Americans peacefully protested the death of a police office, or a white bad actor. Why is it mostly blacks receive all the support, criminals no less, for the error of a police officer?  GF was not an innocent man. GF was not a community leader or pillar of the community. He was a black man that was committing a crime, possessing illegal substances, high on drugs, and known by the police due to his extensive police record and history of incarceration. He was not on the mend, reforming in his ways as portrayed by the liberal media. The truth is being hidden, while the murder is being exploited.

This is what the dividers, the divisivists, do. And it occurs most frequently in election years. No crises goes unused. The goal of Divisivism is to reduce any resistance to their objectives, which includes reducing the policing of their actions, reporting all the facts, exposing the truth, and debating their issues. When they can stir any pot of hatred it serves their purpose as they parlay the negative to make it the issue, magnifying any crumb that benefits the goal. They will attack the critic not the criticism. They will blame the one exposing their lies to avoid the lie and it’s connection to them. In Islam it is Takiyya, saying anything if it assists Islam, the truth be dammed. Divisivism has a Manuel, the Rules for Radicals, by Saul Alinsky. It could be the Quran, except the Divisivists embrace the LGBTQ, the Socialist, ANTIFA, and other hate groups.  As with Islam, who care only for the Muslim, the Divisivists only care for those that agree with their ideology. Their expressed hate for God exemplifies the positions they take, which does not avow, ‘live and let live.’  They will destroy their enemy. They boil with hatred. However, different from Islam, they can leave, become a conservative. As an apostate, seeing the truth, they change. Such change elected Donald Trump as President. The apostate of Islam is to be punishable by death. Wouldn’t the Divisivists love that!

The Divisivists have decried, some, not all, the use of military to quell destructive rioting and insurrection. On June 3, Tom Cotton (Arkansas Republican Senator) wrote an opinion piece published by the NYT, titled, “Bring in the Troops”, in which his final paragraph said, “The American people aren’t blind to injustices in our society, but they know that the most basic responsibility of government is to maintain public order and safety. In normal times, local law enforcement can uphold public order. But in rare moments, like ours today, more is needed, even if many politicians prefer to wring their hands while the country burns.” The NYT subsequently apologized to its readers for printing the piece, citing, on June 5, “After publication, this essay met strong criticism from many readers (and many Time’s colleagues), prompting editors to review the piece and the editing process. Based on that review, we have concluded that the essay fell short of our standards and should not have been published.” Everyone has a right to their opinion, but only if it meets media standards, established based on the bias and preferences of the editors and their audience. The NYT tilts left. The editor responsible has left the Times.  

In a Letter in early June to Trump by Cardinal Carlo Maria Viganò*, he wrote, “We will also discover that the riots in these days were provoked by those who, seeing that the virus is inevitably fading and that the social alarm of the pandemic is waning, necessarily have had to provoke civil disturbances, because they would be followed by repression which, although legitimate, could be condemned as an unjustified aggression against the population.…The American people are mature and have now understood how much the mainstream media does not want to spread the truth but seeks to silence and distort it, spreading the lie that is useful for the purposes of their masters.”  There are many seeing the Divisivists at work. 

The Cardinal's letter.

The riots and the many protests, the continued call for more, is a product of the deep state. Many protesters do not realize their passions are being used and mis-directed.  This is an attempt to overturn Trump in November.  After the 3rd of November all of this will quiet down.  If Trump wins there may be some residual uprisings as in the past from the ‘losers’ (call it, ‘upset uprisings').  Biden is being manipulated by those who want to promote the ‘deep state’ and have our Federal Government altered to favor the many forces of evil that appear inherent in their efforts.  He does not embody the goals and objectives of the deep state, but will do anything for the office of President. These Nietzsche übermensch are the ungodly.  Their first attempt to eliminate their competition was and continues, is the attack on God and the church.  Efforts to defund ICE and now the police are just a continuation of their want for a human morality that does not comport with human nature.  Attempts to convince people otherwise is via intimidation, name calling, lies and protests. Would you put your destiny in the hands of these people, the Divisivists? The Cardinal noted, “hidden behind these acts of vandalism and violence there are those who hope to profit from the dissolution of the social order so as to build a world without freedom.” And without hope and joy. 

The Divisivists, the deep state operatives, or as many refer to as the ‘children of darkness,’ have revealed themselves.  This uprising from a tragic consequence is reactive protocol of Divisivism.  Oddly they have as their champion for President, Joe Biden, now living in darkness, figuratively and actually. And as one would expect him to say, “Come’on man, help me outta here.”  But when he emerges from the darkness of his basement, his support for GF will be announced, but unfortunately GF will not be available to be his VP.

There is so much to consider in all this chaos.  Keep your mind open.  Be objective.  

Author:  T W. Balderston, author, blogger, and believer. 

* Titular Archbishop of Ulpiana

Former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America

George Floyd Tragedy

George Floyd Tragedy

Justice for George is needed. But the terrorism and riots post-Floyd murder need to be addressed, the perpetuators accounted for and action taken.  What transpired did more to harm race-relations.  Certainly George Floyd’s death was wrong.  The opportunity for those calling others racists had the opportunity to show they can heal, they are above the fray and can standup for the rights of others as well as themselves,  They did none of that. And those that wanted to were denied the opportunity as rioters took the stage overwhelming the issue, and making a new one.  Not to belittle the murder, the outcome may be worse.  Why target Target or other’s property, regardless of race.  It makes the whole nation nervous and worried about those that take advantage of tragedies to commit violent acts, as if “protest” is their cover for pillaging and marauding.  What they have done is criminal.  Arrests must follow and charges be brought against those involved, or any that may have funded and supported such sedition. 

A group, change.org, sent messages to millions, by email, asking the following “On Monday, George Floyd was murdered after a police officer used his knee to pin George to the ground. The violent assault was caught on camera, sparking national outrage. …Millions of supporters had to take action. Their petition is demanding charges and accountability for the four police officers involved in this horrific crime. Add your name….George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. George was handcuffed and restrained and being completely cooperative when this all went down. The officer put his knee on George’s neck choking him for minutes on minutes while George screamed that he could not breathe. Bystanders beg for the police officer to take his knee off George’s neck, but the officer didn’t listen and continued to choke him. Not that it would matter at all, but George was not even wanted for a violent crime. A grocery store said that he was signing a bad check. … Please help us get justice for George and his family!”

After a week with riots in 41 States, a national disgrace posed as protests, what about justice for all the victims from the violence and destruction.  In cities throughout the United States agitators, using the George Floyd murder as justification, took to the streets.  This is the tragedy.  We need mass incarceration for all those engaged and responsible for the destruction of personal property.  This is violence.  It was violent.  There was no justification.  The Floyd murder was but an excuse for criminals and haters to take advantage of an opportunity to steal, commit arson, break windows and harm fellow Americans.  

Where is the love?  Where is the peace?  Many of the actors are those that are the first to cry ‘racism.’  What they have committed has done more to harm their arguments, harm the black community and set back progress made towards better relations among all people. 

Inspired

One news report headline read, “How Anger over Floyd’s Death has Inspired Nationwide Unrest.” I take exception to the use of the term ‘inspired.’ That word to me signifies a positive outcome reflecting hard work and the execution of a good idea. Something creative, new and exiting is inspired. There is nothing good resulting from the thuggery disguised, or excused by liberal and racist protagonists, to include the Main Stream Media (MSM), as a response to ‘inequality.’  The policeman was wrong, had a history of abusive actions towards criminals or suspects and yes, blacks.  He does not reflect on all Americans, or all whites or those labeled anti-black or racist. There is more racism reflected in the intrusive destructive selfish actions of the rioters, wrongly credited as protestors, collectively, than our nation as a whole. 

The real word is “incitement’ not “inspiration.” Riots were incited. 

The author of that headline should be fired for a lack of journalistic knowledge of the meaning and intent of words used. 

Riots not Protests

Those blocking highways, torching police cars and precincts, breaking windows, running off with TV’s, liquor, other store inventory considered of value, leaving shelves overturned and debris everywhere, are not civil rights activists. They are evil racists.  They are thugs.  Some say they are anarchists.  

Carol Anderson, chair of African American Studies at Emory University, said, "We have a nation that consistently criminalized blackness, that has systematically denied the humanity of black people.” But I say great progress has been made and incidents such as this do little to alter a feeling those blacks looting and burning, the whites too, are criminals. I find what they are doing is disgusting. It does not help their cause or plight. Who is responsible for this outcome?  Whoever is must be identified, all of them, and if black, white, rich or poor, called out for what they have done. 

The tension and chaos created is unnecessary and uncalled for. There is no justification. This is not about blackness or inequality. The result, there will be more Americans fearful of American large cities and crowds. How many will have a mindset and concern as to questionable neighborhoods, entering, shopping or investing, even walking?  The presence of a well dressed white, black, asian, male or female, person, will generate cat calls, threats, and even acts that can cause harm. Same for police and military.

One protester, apparently a frequent protestor said, “There was no respect for his life (Floyd’s). With everything happening with the coronavirus and everything happening in the world, we need all lives to pull together, supporting one another.” Given this statement where is the mutual support for peace. It is more mob rule, support for evil, intolerance and hatred to be applied to anyone and anything they can get their hands on with little or no resistance. If there are peaceful protests the media is not showing them, they prefer stirring the fames. 

These looters are a menace to all peace seeking Americans, the vast majority of which are nor racist.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison supported protesters in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death and said black people have reason to fear Minneapolis police, while also calling out people from outside the state who he claimed contributed to “negative behavior” during riots in the city. Another question, do people have reason to fear blacks, especially in historically troubled areas?  In the past Ellison showed sympathy for ANTIFA and just the other day his son, a City Councilman, publicly announced his support.  This is indeed problematic in itself.

It all went down on May 25, 2020, a Monday.  At this writing it is June 1, a week later.  Protests, most labelled as riots, not protests, have occurred in 41 States, mostly large city areas, more depressed in nature, and many being rehabilitated with new stores and businesses and restaurants where there are jobs and items for consumers.  For most Americans the George Floyd crime is losing its notoriety as the destruction, the violence, even deaths and horrific beatings, of men and women, are taking place closer to where they live, not Minnesota. Blacks cry out fear of police brutality, the use of excessive force and unequal justice, but now all Americans are expressing their own fears and concerns about those prone to take selfish acts, harm others, destroy personal and public property, and steal, from beer to luxury goods, and more, whenever the opportunity seems to present itself when a person of color, is wrongly harmed, especially by a member of a police force.  

What Next

All rioters should be arrested, their names should be posted, age, schooling, other info. They should be classified as more than a felon, a rioter/agitator. They should be billed for damages. And work to clean-up the mess created.  Maybe they should be required to wear orange jump suits while doing public service. 

Today it was reported in separate instances the tossing of molotov cocktails at police vehicles by young men and one woman, all lawyers. They were arrested. This is not a game they are playing. Their lives forward should be sans a law license. Disbar them all, as they have proven they do not respect law. Why practice it? Who were the law professors that taught them that such actions are responsible, even justified.  Peaceful protests, yes, but not riots or the tossing of incendiary devices. 

A police officer in Raleigh announced he would not protect businesses, as that is not his job or that of his department.  What?  Police are there to protect us all.  Property taxes pay their salaries. Those that do not wish protect America’s property should not join any police force. All businesses are essential. All Americans matter. All properties matter.

The rioters are mixed, white, black and other races.  The areas under siege tend to be in closer proximity to black neighborhoods.  License pates from out of state are common.  Wherever one is noticed someone needs to take the plate number down, notify the police and post it.  The crowds are young, generally.  The rioters arrive with heavy trash bags prepared to carry away their loot, thus prepared.  Cars have been stopped by police having several looters and many bags of the stuff they managed to take. The Governors, the Mayors, the police need to protect those in harms’s way, not the rioters.  They gave up their rights as soon as they broke a window, tossed a brick, spit on another person, or stole anything that was not theirs. 

All Lives Matter.  

by Thomas W. Balderston, author and blogger.  Books on amazon.  

What is Pelosi Thinking?

What is Pelosi Thinking?

(May 18, by Thomas  Balderston)

This is the 3 trillion dollar question.  It can also be referred to as the new never to be Left Behind series, no intent to malign Mr. Jerry Jenkins or Dr. Tim LaHaye.  The ‘left’ referred to is the Party of Pelosi, the Democrat Left.  

Her political career has spanned 4 decades, first elected in 1987.  She is the 1st woman to be Speaker of the House, a role she served during the Obama Administration and again after the first mid-term election during the Trump Presidency.  She is an octogenarian. Many would consider that old.  But since I am almost there myself, and consider myself still active and vital, the term ‘old’ suggests in-firmed and senile.  She may be neither.  Yet her political trend has been decidedly left of the left she initially adhered to.  She helps to define her home State of California as the ‘Left’ coast.  But in that regard she is not alone. This ‘left’ State has 53 Congresspersons, of the Nation total of 435, or 12.2% of the total.  In CA you have Maxine Waters, Barbara Lee, Jackie Speier, Eric Swalwell, Zoe Lofgren, Judy Chu, Adam Schiff, Ted Lieu, and Karen Bass.  There are more, Democrats that is, but there are also a few Republicans. 

It amazes me too as to how many of the Democrat representative have become millionaires while on government salaries. Maxine Water for one.  Pelosi is worth more than $120 million.

The Democrats have made a name for themselves in the Kavanaugh hearings and the Trump Impeachment, not necessarily a positive name.  Pelosi stood behind them, and to the left, on each occasion.  Schiff has been labelled ‘Pelosi’s Liar.’  He certainly lies, but distances himself from speaking under oath, as then he would surely be indicted for perjury.  He covets records that reveal the truth about which he contends, yet when exposed, there is naught but exculpatory evidence. For most of the actions led by the left coast representatives of the Left Party, the “there is no there there” application falls short of seeing the light.  They keep truth under wraps so they can spew forth from their volcanic underbellies the lava of their flaming hatred as claims of un-American activities by conservatives.  When the lava turns to rocks and the ashes are blown away, what is revealed is factual evidence of “no wrong doing.”  

Lies, lies, lies, indeed they are not spies, spies, spies, even though in a leftist’s eyes, eyes, eyes they see only what they perceive.  America is awakening to the perceived truth of the left as fake news, fake views, and a waste of tax payor dollars to promote personal falsified agendas. The gears to their Democrat machines lack reverse.  It has become a curse. And what is worse, it will result in a further erosion of left-minded sycophants to the idol of their communist, or socialist, or progressive, identity favored candidates that may find the voter booth flushing those of their kind from the toilet bowl that will always be Washington’s political elite. Unless you like politicians.

Recently with little collaboration Pelosi championed from her ice cream ladened kitchen a $3 trillion program under the guise of ‘coronavirus relief.’  As everything she does is suspect, so too is this grand scheme. 

A bit or parody, “We need ventilators. People are dying,” to which Pelosi replied, “quick, let’s fund the Kennedy Center!”

But in reality what she calls her “Hero’s Act” seeks to 

1.) Eliminate ALL Voter ID requirements 

2.) Bail-out Democrat controlled states (who have long been in deficit because of their incompetence) and 

3.) Provide $1200 to every illegal immigrant. 

What does this suggest as to her priorities? 

She is not a get-along-with-others type. Not even in her own Party. This may be the reason she has asked the House to pass legislation that allows her to stay and work and vote from her home. She requires isolation, but that means she needs to get along with herself. She may discover what many others already have. She is a mess!  

Scott Walker, a writer for The Washington Times, also past Governor (45th) of Wisconsin, refers to the Pelosi Bill as the “Zeros Act” due to the number of zeros (3,000,000,000) in her progressive, socialist, blue State bailout, back-to-work deterrent, and cash for illegal immigrants wish list.

Pelosi has historically been the lead in several bills, to include: 

1.) The Affordable Care Act: Better known as Obamacare with the public option (the option was eventually taken out for the Republican compromise of the Heritage Foundation mandate, yeah the one they say they hate). 

2.) Dodd-Frank: This Wall Street reform was passed as a response to the recession of 2008 with hope that a financial crisis like that will never happen again and in hopes that banks will never become too big to fail. 

3.) Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay: Sought to make sure women receive equal pay for equal work. 

4.) Economic Stimulus Act of 2008: Passed to lessen the blow of a recession and boost the economy away from a financial free-fall. “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 put $787 billion into the economy in hope of blunting the effect of the recession.” 

5.) The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: Which allowed LGBTQ individuals in our military to serve openly without consequence. 

Pelosi leads a Democrat majority House with the idea they are the responsible party to monitor Trump. They are his shadow making him accountable. The problem, however, is the lack of any effort to cooperate with Trump or the Republican Party over issues impacting all Americans, regardless of race or creed, Republican or Democrat, believers in God, Allah or not, or region in which they live. Accountability is one thing, obstruction is another. She rails against Republicans favoring the wealthy, yet her “Hero” Bill directly favors the wealthy by restoring deductions of State & local taxes. Scott Walker wrote, “Pelosi’s plan repeals the cap on the state and local tax deduction. This is a big gift for her fat-cat donors in high tax states like California, New Jersey and New York.”  Democrats need the fat-cats to support their political campaigns, thus finding ways to favor them, while as hypocrites, railing against Republicans as if that is part of their agenda. Trump never received credit from the liberal Main Street Media (MSM), or the Democrats, for the elimination of this tax benefit to the more wealthy. Trump taxes the rich and the Democrats bitch (complain).  

On May 18, 2020 Bill O’Reilly posted, “You might ask why a sop to the wealthy is included in a (Pelosi) virus relief package in the first place. Or why quasi-amnesty for the undocumented is in there. Or major assistance to companies that legally sell marijuana. Or dozens of other things that have nothing to do with fighting the pandemic.  The answer is politics. Ms. Pelosi is signaling the updated democrat platform leading to the election.”

The concern over actions by Pelosi from her pedestal of power is (quoting O’Reilly) “exactly what the socialists and their sympathizers want.”  Private enterprise is important to America.  Public enterprise is the government.  Should the private side collapse, “the federal government will have to take it over - completely.”  This would play into the hands of the Socialists like Bernie Sanders, AOC, Ilhan Omar and other companions of the socialist left. “We live in a country full of distractions, distortions, and dismal challenges like Covid. Many of our leaders are not interested in problem-solving and often bury their true agenda in legislation….” Pelosi’s bill is quite lengthy, over 1500 pages is my understanding.  Having never read the ACA bill (ObamaCare), why would any Democrat read this Pelosi plan, having little to do with true ‘heros.’  O’Reilly goes on to say, “…let me give you the true headline: the Pelosi bill uses the contagion danger to advance left wing power.”

University of Chicago economists, using 2019 Government data, estimate that 68 percent of unemployed workers who can receive benefits are eligible for payments that are greater than their lost earnings. A $600 weekly bonus was provided in earlier stimulus.  The provision provided by Congress is 134% above the average original wages. (1/3 more). The figure is more than 150% higher for those workers in low-wage professions like food service and janitorial work. Limited to just 3 added months, Pelosi’s Hero bill wants that extended through January 2021.  Sounds nice, but the problem.  Where is the incentive to return to work?  The bill suggests if your employer wants you back and your refuse, the money train stops.  But will it really in the presence of a nation with so many Democrats and  liberal judges. 

Pelosi may have aged to the point that thinking is no longer needed.  She just reacts.  The Democratic Party trend is further left, and to maintain her status she is leaning, more tilting, in that direction to remain, in her view, relevant.  Having the MSM mostly on the side of the liberals, it is a wonder our Nation has not sunken further into the Leftist muck. Pelosi is knee deep in it.  

Those that work, that have achieved something, see there is value in opportunity beyond what a socialist cabal of elitists can provide to keep them in line. As with the stay-at-home order, and in many blue states, enforcement, freedoms can be restrained,  But only for a limited period if it benefits everyone, but freedom itself cannot be denied. 

Are Democrats and Socialists forced to watch only CNN, MSNBC, and NBC to insure they are informed by the opinion-makers (not journalists) of what they need to know, or not know (as never revealed). Distortions of words said, selective clips of conservative speeches, photos from the wrong places, and unwarranted claims made, lies without consequences, are too frequent and without recourse.  Perjury only occurs under oath.  Lying occurs when a Democrat like Schiff, Pelosi, Nadler, Max Waters, Brennan, even Obama move their lips in public.  Facts in hand, however, independent, discerning, minds making their own assessments and judgments, can make decisions and take risks accordingly.  Such a risk was electing Donald Trump as President. 

Our free society is not to ignore being considerate of others. Keep your social distance.  Wear a mask.  If an environment appears unsafe, there is choice, enter or not. Keep on your face mask or go without. The burden of risk rests on that of the individual.  America is a nation of risk takers.  Not even the risk adverse Democrats, their science advisors, their climate-control hawks can prevent those that want to expose themselves to whatever from doing so, as much as their ‘nanny-state’ attitudes and Democrat office holders try.  The Whitmer-effect (Michigan governor) is to engender protest (not proper distancing), beach-goers, and selective barber and beauty shops open, and others businesses commanded to remain closed defying her order, as she then proceeds to take away their license, even their children. Oh how the Democrats love to use and abuse their power. This is the Pelosi-effect. This is how Democrats begin to look like Socialists and Communists, and tend to support even China and Islamists. When a Democrat tells you, you are free, be prepared.  It would be as the Ayatollah of Iran informing you of your freedom. 

What is Pelosi thinking?  She is thinking as most Democrats are thinking.  If the Democrats in her circle are not in line, then they are threatened.  No committees.  No financial support from the DNC.  Be a good puppy and obey, or else.  Her thinking is to have her way with America.  But let that never come to pass.

This November we need a tent to fall over the whole of the voting booths in American as if Democrats are termites and the voter is the gas that can rid our house of this destructive insect. The outcome can be a clean house, fresh views, and no more gnawing away at the foundations of our freedom.  The House of Freedom is America which only the Termites that are the Democrats can destroy.  Let not Pelosi’s thinking to have more termites in DC continue.  Help us all make American great, greater and greatest.  

Be strong.  Be objective. Be prepared. Vote.  Love God. Have hope. Work.  Consume.

(Thomas Balderston is an author and blogger: TomBalderston.Blogspot.com and Understand-Islam.com). 

Shelter-in-Place, Why?

Shelter-in-Place, Why?

California has received a lot of notoriety in this Covid crisis. However it’s important to note the percentages of deaths in that state. The mortality rate in CA is 0.00006925 (May13, 2020). That means 99.999931% of the population will not die yet are forced to remain sheltered.  Deaths are more prevalent among the elderly, people over 65, having co-morbidity issues. No one is recommending that individuals avail themselves to this virus, but this virus itself is not a killer. That at least is the case in California. But it also applies to most other parts of the country. From the facts that have been offered reopening the economy, even sports arenas, would save more lives that those lost from Covid.  Focus on areas with no reported cases, or minimal cases, and restore as before.

On May 12 and 13th there were congressional hearings with Dr. Fauci reviewing the pandemic caused by this virus first appearing in China. During that hearing senator Tim Scott from South Carolina made some valuable information available. It reflected again on those that have died from the coronavirus as a group. The young, school and college age children, have had zero Covid deaths. That begs the question why should schools be closed. The vast majority of deaths are people that are retired, over 75, and are not part of the workforce anyway. There was a category of people over 60, as well, say 60 to 75, and many in that group are employable. So taking them out of the work environment can affect an economy, but at a much lower rate than taking everyone out of the work environment. 

What is really being said is there is no reason for not going back to work. Precautions can be taken. 

If someone tests positive for the virus they can be asked to stay at home for a period of time. But even those that test positive, in the workforce, are not likely to die. It’s the same scenario as people with the flu, stay home, do not infect your colleagues.  Sick days are for the sick, not for everyone simultaneously. So we can proceed to live our lives like we used to knowing it’s the elderly that we are most concerned about and particularly the elderly that have other medical problems.  The tradeoff is lives versus livelihoods.  We can prioritize to protect the most vulnerable. 

Alex Berenson, once a reporter for the New York Times, has been a critic of public policy regarding the Covid pandemic.  As to the lockdown strategy he refers to it as a ‘colossal mistake.’ I agree. The statistics simply do not support the extent to which the ‘fear’ of this virus was promoted to close the world economy.  It was vibrant.  This virus is virulent, yet not that dangerous.  Statistically it is not fatal.  Yes, it can be to some.  The elderly and most vulnerable appear to be mostly non-working persons.  The economy relied on them more as consumers than producers.  One of his statements, “The economic devastation and the societal devastation of the lockdowns appear to be greater than even the worst projections were a month ago (April).”  Proper analysis and consideration, by politicians particularly, did not adequately judge potential outcomes on society and economy. The medical and science experts created a worst case scenario and advised our leadership accordingly.  Trump took steps to close our borders, but a total economic shutdown was never warranted.  There was little balance between pessimism and optimism.  The spread of the virus also was not ubiquitous.  There were many areas that still have had no experience with the virus, except for the scare tactics and the actions of the elected politicians reacting to the overly hyped death toll that would be experienced, and which has not been experienced.  

In addition needed hospital services were denied.  This occurred to the detriment of the balance sheets of hospitals that were called upon to accept only Covid patients, preparing for the most awful pandemic in world history, only to be surprised as in most areas anticipation failed to achieve results. Also, as was the case in New York, Pennsylvania, and I believe New Jersey, Governors viewed nursing homes as placement centers for Covid victims.  They were wrong in doing so.  States regulate nursing homes to care for the frail elderly, not for sick elderly.  Neither staffed nor equipped to handle illnesses, nursing homes may be the most frequent user of 911 to transfer the frail to hospitals when they contract an illness.  Health Departments in every State know this, as they are the ones as overseers.  Either they did not advise their governors accordingly, or the Governors ignored or did not seek their advice.  The Governors are responsible!  In my view what was done was criminal.  They have no excuse. There have been 22,000 Covid deaths in NY. Over 5,000 were in nursing homes, that is 25%.  That is tragic. The report for Virginia is that 60% of Covid deaths in that State were in nursing homes. 

From the Los Angeles Times on May 11, articles titled, “The economic devastation wrought by the pandemic could ultimately kill more people than the virus itself,” indicated,  “The economic devastation the pandemic wreaks on the ultra-poor could ultimately kill more people than the virus itself.  The United Nations predicts that a global recession (caused by Covid fear-mongering) will reverse a three-decade trend in rising living standards and plunge as many as 420 million people into extreme poverty, defined as earning less than $2 a day.”  Those that advocate reopening as many aspects of the economy as possible only makes sense, common sense. Destroying the hands that feed our families is worse that contacting the virus, suffering for a week or so. Protect the elderly and vulnerable. They are not the vast majority of the work force.

A proper ‘fear’ for all Americans is the actual and potential imposition of restrictions on the mobility of citizens.  Said another way, our freedom. The political monitor patrols will be able to follow your every move, with whom you  associate, where you eat and drink, your travels, and so on. This will be done in the name of health care. This is a travesty upon our freedom.  It is a perfect excuse for politicians. This is a device for citizen control. This virus is being used as a cover for introducing socialist communist programs that only liberals can love. Their “nanny-state” is a cover-up for an autocracy with only permitted freedoms. A possible outcome could be, if you sneeze in the wrong place or without proper sneeze protection reflexes, you can be fined or incarcerated.  There will be a video captured by drone or cameras placed everywhere possible.  And as free citizens your tax-payor dollars will be used to provide the surveillance.  

Beware also, the terms “vaccine” and “cure” will be introduced as factors that restrictions, impositions of our freedom and independence, will and can continue in light of the current virus or new ones, “until” one or the other occurs.  But if there is never a “vaccine” or “cure,” then be prepared for NannyGate.  Without “vaccine” or “cure” the government rules, rule. This is power to the governing, not the governed.

Why should States or Counties without a single case of the coronavirus require businesses to close, be shuttered, and require residents stay at home? Discerning individuals need to properly analyze the risk/reward of opening businesses especially in areas that are Covid free. The risk in this pandemic is political overreaction.  People will suffer more greatly from not having a job or the ability to properly feed one’s family or plan for the future, than from the virus. 

Politicians, in too many cases, have lost their sense of reality. Is it insensitive to consider the cost to the economy of one Covid death?  Today that figure is $25 to $30 million.  Add to that the further cost to recover from the economic shut-down on a per death basis.  Jobs permanently lost.  Businesses permanently closed.  Hospitals closed.   Are those dying from Covid, the vulnerable elderly primarily, from an insurance perspective, that of an actuary, worth that much to an entire economy?  How much is a death worth, knowing now the nature of those most exposed?  

From the data, the numbers, and considering the political fear tactics, this virus crisis does not justify the extent to which our Country or any Country has been closed.  Area by area, yes, but but not on such a global scale.  

Maybe the politicians are reacting just as China wanted them too.  

So the question posed, Why have we had to shelter-in-place as we did?

Be smart, be independent, consider all facts, care for your family, be objective, and be safe.  Let’s get American back to work.  Start consuming. 

Blessings