IT'S BEEN AWHILE

 THERE IS NO WAY I CAN KEEP UP ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH THE CONSTANT CHANGES of the local and national government mandates, the updates on the Covid changes, much less the various thoughts on the efficacy of the vaccines available to the public. So, on that note, I will offer a few things I have on my mind and you can ruminate on them if you so desire. 

First; I'll address the Covid pandemic. Is it real. Yes it is. We have family members that have been afflicted with this virus. For some it has been mild and others it has been devastating. We have had a few friends pass away with this virus. So, yes, it is real.  Does the vaccine work?  Some will say yes, some ae saying no, some are saying maybe, but it is my choice, not the governments.   Me, I'm saying that it probably does. I'm vaccinated. Vaccines have been on play for decades for a variety of things and they are effective for those things. Two issue's people have at this point, is that they feel this vaccine was rushed and that the government is mandating you to have it. I don't like the government interference either, but then most things that the vaccines that we are used to don't have a world wide pandemic striking people down either.

Next;  I guess I will mention the government. Of course I will. I don't like Biden. Never did. But he is the President, kinda, so I will live with it and do what puny little I can to blunt his efforts to sabotage us, the American people. No, I will not go to Washington and assault the government.

But I do have to wonder about one thing. Biden said recently that he would sell Atomic Submarines to Australia. OK by me. But France got their undies in a wad and cancelled some festivities of some kind because of that. I have to wonder why does it make a difference to France if Biden sell a sub to Australia. Seems like a good thing to me for the world peace. Including that of France. Guess I just don't understand. 

Last: Will the Covid virus go away. I don't know, but I'm thinking it is here to stay until the Millennium is ushered in. Just like the flu pandemic of a 100 years ago, it will be with us, and we will just get a Covid shot along with our flu shot every year. By the way. Have you got your flu shot this year?

So, I pay attention to the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints that I belong to and follow his advise. And his advise is good and since he is also a retired medical Doctor, I will trust him and follow his advise and look forward to a time when we can once again gather together sans masks and fear of infecting any one. Hugs and handshakes without immediately feeling the need to use a bottle of hand sanitizer. Being able to go to a public park and not wonder if someone left a virus on a hand rail or a water fountain handle or even a bench that I may want to sit on.  Those were better days for sure and I look forward to a time like that again.  At my age, and with the world like it is, I may not ever see it, but hopefully my descendants will.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

OK I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO

THOSE FEW OF YOU THAT ACTUALLY READ MY BLOG WILL HAVE NOTICED THAT I HAVEN'T PUBLISHED LATELY.

Well, I am kinda fed up with the political scene, and not wanting to document my daily boring life, I just haven't blogged much lately.  However, there have been a few that actually read the blog that have commented on the lack of new posts. So, for what it may be worth, here is a new one.

Three points to start, then we will see if any thing else shows up.

First, Climate Change.  How is it working for you.  I saw a news article recently that those proclaiming climate change had recently erased past climate changes dating back longer than 1960 ish. The dust bowl of the 1930's is no longer listed with regard to climate change. Other times dating back farther than the 1960's are also being ignored by climate change advocates. That way they can point to what is happening now and say see, we told you so. BUT, we told you so doesn't work if you go back into ages past.

AOC is at it again.  She recently said that if the country would just stop building jails, and then stop putting people in jail, there would be less crime.  Eye roll and head shake here.

Dr. Fauci and the Biden administration are now saying that the Corona virus probably started in the Wuhan lab in China. In fact, they are getting quite insistent on that and are leaning toward holding China responsible. Aren't these the same people last year that was slamming President Trump for saying the same thing?  Seems to me it is. Of course the news talking heads won't say that.

One last post.  Our Governor recently announced that she was going to run for re election. Shudder that she actually does get reelected. There was a group of protesters at her rally/announcement and they were causing a stir among the crowd.  She said it was too bad she chose a place to make her announcement in the same place that the Qanon lizard people were having a rally. She don't seem to realize, or don't want to admit, that there will be protesters wherever she choses to appear, short of her office in the State building. 

WELL NUFF SAID FOR TODAY 

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

WELL, WHY NOT

 AS ANYONE WHO MAY ACTUALLY READ MY POSTS WILL HAVE NOTICED, I HAVEN'T POSTED ANYTHING FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. I HAD ACTUALLY TOYED WITH THE IDEA OF NOT POSTING ANY THING ANY MORE. THEN TODAY I DECIDED WELL, WHY NOT. So I will post from time to time.  But first, a little background.

When I first started this post all those years back, I did so at the encouragement of some of my children. I balked at starting a blog because 1. I figured my life was so boring that no one would be interested in reading about it and 2. Even if they wanted to I considered my life my business and not for public consumption. So when I finally decided to write a blog, I decided to write about my perceptions of the things going on around me in the world. And that mostly turned out to be on politics.  But now, the political world is in such a shambles that I just didn't feel like writing about it any more.  So, we will see what transpires with this post today and any future posts as we move along.

Say what you want and feel how ever you want to about Donald Trump, brash and crude as he may be, he did have the economy in a good shape, gas prices were down and the border "crisis" was being handled and North Korea had backed down from shooting missiles around the area and making threats of war. Then the pandemic hit and after a time he came up with some money to fund a lot of vaccine research and he supported various companies retooling to make ventilators etc. The economy tanked a bit because of that and he made some rash statements that upset some people and so he lost the election.

Joe Biden came into office and immediately through executive order began undoing every thing Trump had done. He cancelled the pipeline and shutdown oil production in a lot of areas, resulting in the rapid rise of gas prices. He stopped the building of the border wall resulting in a current crisis at the border. Children are coming in at an alarming rate.  Towns, including on not so far from where I live, are having a spike in the virus as a result of many of these children and youth coming in already being infected. Will the national news media tell you that?  No they won't. But the local news media does. 

I will comment on one more item that close for this post.  6 books written by Dr. Seuss have been banned because they were determined to be racist. Maybe they are. I don't really know. But I find it odd that those books can be banned, but the song that is being touted as a great song and the performance of some of the performers on the Grammys as being very disgusting. But that is considered "Art" or something, so that makes it OK.   Not to me.   

Nuff Said for now.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK 

THE FIRST ONE FOR 2021

 WELL, HERE WE ARE THREE WEEKSW INTO THE NEW YEAR OF 2021. SEEMS LIKE MUCH HAS HAPPENED SINCE I LAST POSTED.  Even though not a lot of time has gone by, a lot of events have happened, some of which I may comment on. Not really sure just what I will write today, except this.

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.  You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help strong men by tearing down big men. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.---Abraham Lincoln said this many decades ago. It still holds true today. I could probably end this post right here and that would be nuff said, but I guess I won't.

On January 6, 2021, a group of people, a mob if you like, stormed the congress building and trashed a lot of it. I watched the events as reported by the talking heads on the news and had to wonder why they did it.  But, deep down, I know why. Or at least why some of them did it. The people are just really tired of the political process and the politicians that seem to want to rule the lives of the people of the United States. Donald Trump has been blamed for that event. What ever your opinion is, mine is that he did not incite it. At least not intentionally. Those who were there and took part in the destruction of the halls of congress did so intentionally. I know personally, one couple who was there and left when the violence started, as that is not what they, and hundreds of others went there for. It was to legally protest the election. Not to violently trash the place.

On January 20, Joe Biden took the oath of office as President of the United States. I didn't listen to his speech for a variety of reasons, but know that he promised that he would fix things that are wrong with the United States.  He said he would create jobs and stimulate the economy,  and then the first thing he did was sign executive orders that put thousands of people out of work. And anger our neighbor to the North, namely Canada. When the labor unions that supported him to get elected find themselves out of work, they may just turn against him.

Guess I'll stop here with this prediction. A prediction that I hope does not come to pass. I predict that the unemployment rate will rise higher than it has been for the past four years. I predict that more people will be laid off as employers of small businesses cannot stay in business and pay the minimum wage of $15.00 an hour. A wage that for now is geared at government jobs, but will soon spill over in to the private sector, in spite of protests against it. I predict that with the executive orders shutting down the pipeline, oil drilling and exploration and the other things that Biden is against, the price of gas will go up. And while the current pandemic may eventually go away, it will be because of the things that are currently in place, not because of any thing that Biden does, even though he will probably take credit for it. 

I could continue, but I will end this for now and if you actually made it this far, I will refer you back to the opening paragraph.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

GOODBYE 2020

 WELL, HERE WHERE I RESIDE, IT IS JUST A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE NEW YEAR IS USHERED IN. GOODBYE 2020, HELLO 2021.

Will there really be a noticeable difference between December 31,2020 and January 1, 2021. I rather doubt it.  When we retire on new years eve we will still be wearing masks in public and social distancing. When we arise new years day we will still be wearing masks in public and social distancing. The only difference will be the onset of the covid vaccine. A few hundred thousand people have received the vaccine so far and several thousand more are in line to get it as they become available.  More vaccine will be coming on line as time progresses, so perhaps by the time we say goodbye to 2021, this pandemic will be tamed.  And, time alone will tell. We can only pray that those working on these solutions are heeding the spiritual guidance that they are receiving, even though they may not be asking for that guidance. There are those of us that pray for that guidance in any case. 

Speaking of the vaccine.  If you are offered the chance to get a shot, will you take it?  I have heard many responses to that question from definitely not, to definitely will, to those who are undecided at this time.  For myself, I was on the fence of indecision, but have just recently decided that I probably will. For any one who may read this and don't know, I am on dialysis and the parent company of the dialysis clinic I attend has ordered vaccine shots for those on dialysis. So when ever these arrive, I will probably accept it. I get a flu shot at the clinic and have seen so many dialysis patients refuse a flu shot. And several of them have said definitely not to the covid shot.

Well, I digress.  As we say goodbye to 2020, we need to look back at the positive things that have happened during this year. If you are reading this, then you either haven't contracted covid or have survived it. We survived a presidential election the likes that most of us have never seen. Regardless of your opinion of the outcome, we survived. How is your health?  Good?  Then that is a good thing. Are you able to travel, even in a limited basis? Are you still able to contact family and friends, even if it is via zoom, phone or social media? Can you still go outside and take a walk? Can you take a camera and go find a picture to take? Even with the dine in restaurants closed for the most part, can you still go and get a take out at your favorite restaurant? There are many things that you can do that still gives you a certain amount of freedom until the covid is tamed.  The national economy didn't tank it had been predicted it would. Businesses found novel ways to stay afloat, and they will be there when things loosen up.

As we say hello to 2021, we can look forward to a better year. We can look forward to more and more vaccine shots becoming available to the general public, and then the loosening of the current restrictions by the various government agency's. Unemployment is high, but as governments loosen restrictions and people begin to return to work, the economy will rebound, depending on the rules of the incoming administration. That is something that people will be watching closely. I hope that any one who manages to read this far will have a positive outlook for the coming year of 2021 and will do their part to make it a part of unity, but watch for freedoms that may be lost and speak out against any injustices.   I hope you all have a great next year.

AND REMEMBER THAT NEXT YEAR HIND SIGHT WILL BE 2020.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

THE ELECTION IS OVER

THE ELECTION IS OVER, THE RESULTS ARE KNOWN, THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, IS CLEARLY SHOWN.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING LINES OF A POEM THAT I LEARNED WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER BACK IN THE 1950'S.

It seems like that line and the resulting lines would apply equally today. However, I have a few opinions on the election and the coming four years.

Joe Biden has been declared the winner by most states. While he is being referred to as the President Elect, one news cast I saw said that was actually a misnomer. He is not the President Elect until the electoral collage meets and actually declares him the President Elect. Splitting hairs, I guess, but found that news report interesting.

So a couple of items regarding Bidens comments.  1. He said he would not raise taxes on any one making less than $400,000 a year.  So, most of us say, OK, that won't affect me.  Wrong.  No matter how much or how little you make, it will affect you. For instance.  How much money does the grocery store where you shop make.  Over $400,000?  Then they will raise the price of groceries. Want a new car? Does the dealer make too much money. Price of the car goes up. Have a mortgage? Is it a fixed rate? If not, the finance institution makes over $400,000 their taxes go up and so does your mortgage. I could go on and on, but I think you will get the picture.

2. Any one that owns a gun will be in peril of losing it. Think not. Think you are protected by the second amendment?  Biden and Harris have been vocal for years against that amendment and they want to put in gun controls that will just get tighter and tighter until it will be nearly impossible to own a gun. For an purpose. Even if you are a Biden supporter, you should be concerned about this one.

3. Are you a religious person? States and eventually the government are cracking down on religious institutions already. Only a narrow defeat by the Supreme Court on a law suit in New York allows Religious institutions to stay open during this current pandemic.  religious institutions have been a target of many politicians for a while now.  OK   just a couple more comments.

4. Surprise! Barack Obama recently blasted OAC and the political people that are part of her group for fracturing the democratic party.  Getting bad when Mr. Obama can even see the destruction they are doing and speaks out against them.

5. This is in the speculation category. Many people are concerned about the mental capacity of Joe Biden. Many are speculating that with in a year he will be declared incompetent under the 25th amendment and Kamala Harris will be declared President.  Heaven forbid if that actually happens.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR, PART 2

 WELL, TODAY'S THE DAY. ELECTION DAY 2020. THIS IS A TIME THAT THE COUNTRY WOLL TURN RED OR BLUE. I have to wonder, where the heck did this red or BLUE designation come from.  Is there a GREEN party? Oh right, there is and I can kinda understand where that came from. But by this time tomorrow, or the next day or next week we will know who is leading this country for the next 4 years.  Well, on to other things.

Did you hear about the student that was suspended from school in Louisiana? For bringing a gun to school. You didn't. Well it was on the news. Kinda.  The thing is it was a B B gun and it was in his room. He was in virtual school or whatever they call it and someone saw this B B gun in his room as he was on the computer doing school work. A little extreme I think, even for anti gun people.

Another note on the green theme.  There is so much being said about going green and getting away from fossil fuel. AKA coal and oil.  Well, ain't gonna happen without a lot of pain. 1 case in point.  The city of Albuquerque made a deal with the Jicarilla Apache tribe to put a 500 acre solar farm on their reservation. This 500 acre's will provide enough electrical power to power half of Albuquerque's government buildings. NOT half of Albuquerque but half of their government buildings. Can you imagine the amount of acreage it will take to provide the power to supply the whole of the United States with this kind of technology? Not to mention all the wind mill farms that will continue to spring up. At least the land under these windmills can still be used for something else. Like cattle grazing.

To continue the above theme. I don't think those pushing this getting rid of fossil fuel and going with wind and solar have any idea of the amount of mining that will be needed to fuel these programs. Products need to be mined from the earth in order to get material to produce all the batteries for the electricity. Plus batteries for all those "clean" cars and copper for all the electric wires in said cars and to bring electricity from the solar and wind farms to the public and on and on. And when these batteries and windmills wear out, as they will, they can't be recycled, so they have to be buried in special landfills, of which there is only three in the United States at this time. Don't seem like a very Green solution to me.

And finally, Biden claims Trump ruined the economy. Really he didn't. The country had a strong economy until the covid hit. And Trump didn't shut down the economy. Governors of states did that. But Biden, who has never created a job in his life, claims he will shut down the country, make every one wear a mask on penalty of law and then claims that he will bring back a string economy. Well, no he won't. In over 40 years in government he hasn't done that and he wants us to believe he will do it now.  Not a chance. 

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK