Thursday, December 29, 2016

AS THE YEAR ENDS

OK, WE HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS LEFT IN 2016.  So, as the end of the year draws to a close, I have a few things I feel to comment on for 2016 and the upcoming 2017.
1. Undoubtedly 2016 has been a year of divisiveness. As in the country has been heavily divided politically as I have never seen in my many years on this third rock. Many people on social media are commenting on the year and looking forward to it's end and the coming of 2017.  Yes, it has been a very eventful year for many.  My perspective is somewhat different from the media. Social and otherwise.
2. 2016 did not kill all the celebrities that have died this year. Many died from substance abuse. Others from accidents or illness. Hundreds of thousands of people died this year without fanfare. From the same issues as the Celebs. My heart goes out to those in war torn countries that have no recourse but to fight or starve or try to escape to a more friendly country and look for a better life. Children that have no control over what is talking place are torn from parents and family members, left to what ever fate may hand out.  They deserve much more attention than any celeb.    
3. I am disgusted at the actions of the many that protested and looted and tore up the country when Mr. Trump was elected.  I have expressed my opinion of Mr. Trump in past posts, so will not rehash that here. I will only say, he was elected.  Live with it and move on.  I have mentioned in past that I am a member of the LDS church, AKA the Mormons. I am not ashamed to say so. Now, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has been invited to perform at the inauguration of Mr. Trump and they accepted.  Over 17,000 people, presumably church members, have signed an on line petition asking the choir to not do this.  For shame.  They were invited and they accepted.  The leaders of the choir and the church have said that this is something they do. They have performed in the past for inauguration's of both Democrat and Republican presidents. The church has made a statement that this is not an endorsement of political policy, but a statement of freedom and patriotism.  Accept that and support it. 
4.  People are looking forward to 2017 being a better year than 2016.  For many it will be, for others it will not. For most of us, it will just be another year of doing what ever we do.  There will be successes and failures. Other Celebs will pass away and be mourned by those who idolize them. People will protest President Trump. Others will support him.  But when all is said and done, 2017 will be good or bad according to your circumstances and will have nothing to do with what the calendar says. 
5. A final thought.  Someone on social media has suggested raising $2000.00 in a go fund me account to protect Betty White from death in 2017.  So here is the dilemma. If Mrs. White passes away any way, do the donors get their money back?  And if she does not, does she get the money? One just has to wonder.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

ARE WE DIVIDED

WELL, THE ELECTION IS OFFICIAL. Well, almost. The electoral college has met and voted and even though a couple of electors flipped their votes, Trump was still declared the winner.  This will become official On January 4 when congress counts the votes and formally makes it official.
In spite of this, this country is divided.  Many are still calling for the demise of Trump as president. The Democrats are still trying to place blame on why Hillary lost. They have blamed it on FBI director Comey. On the Russians. On a lot of different things.  So, let me put my spin on this.  Well, this is my post, so I guess I can put my spin without permission.  So here goes.
Director Comey may, and I repeat May, have had some influence in those who were sitting on the fence swinging their vote to Trump.  But in the overall scheme of things, if Hillary had been more in tune with the people, this probably would have made no difference.  And the Russians.  Did they actually hack into any thing?  I Don't know, but from what I have seen on the news, if they did, they hacked into the e mails of the director of Hillary's campaign. And then leaked what they said. Or something like that.  They did not hack into the voting machines.  So, here is my idea on why Trump won. 
President Obama helped institute the Affordable care Act, AKA Obama Care. Even though there is a lot of good things in that plan, premiums have risen so high that for many it is not affordable, if they can even find an insurance company willing to insure them. Hillary said she would continue this program, Trump said he would get rid of it.  People liked that.  Obama has shut down several coal mines and put people out of work. Hillary said she would shut down even more. Trump said he would put the people back to work and the people liked that.  Obama pushed for gun control and when that failed, he shut down mines that provided the lead for bullets, making ammunition hard to get and very expensive.  Hillary said she would continue that plan. She even went so far as to say that the 2nd amendment needed to be rewritten and that she would push for taking peoples guns based on the Australian plan.  Trump said that he would support the 2nd amendment and the people liked that.  Hillary had rally's featuring "stars"  The "Elite".  She talked at the people.  Trump went to out of the way places and talked to the people. And the people liked that.  Many of these Stars even said that if Trump was elected they would leave the country. I guess they thought the people cared enough about what they do to change their vote.  The people said, go ahead, leave.  They changed their minds after the election.
So Trump was elected and Hillary's people went nuts.  Looting and burning and destroying the country.  Sending death threats to members of the Electoral college and doing their best to get them to flip their votes to Hillary.  Didn't work.  
So, now the country is divided. Possibly divided worse than it has been since the Civil War.  Next month Donald Trump will be inaugurated as President of the United States.  How his presidency plays out, only time will tell.  He may heal the divide in the country, or he may widen the divide. he may bring jobs back to America, or he may not. He may redo the Obama Care insurance program, or he may not.  We will just have to wait and see.  And hope that the people who are opposing him will give him a chance.  AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK