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

DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR

 In response to the virus spreading around the world, officials ban public gatherings and implement quarantines. Schools close, ecclesiastical leaders cancel church meetings, and those who venture outside are required to wear face masks for protection. The year is 1919, and the raging influenza pandemic that began the year before will claim tens of millions of lives.

Since that time a vaccine has been developed and it changes or is updated every year since the flu mutates or changes every year also.  Now, with the current pandemic upon us, we are facing similar situations.  A vaccine will be developed, many lives will be saved but the Covid may be with us for years to come, in some form or another. And we have been ask to wear masks by medical offices for decades if we go to the Dr. and we feel bad.  Well, why else do we go to the Dr.?

I've been putting off writing this blog because of all the nastiness going around.  And no, I'm not talking about the Covid.  I'm talking about the political situation. Local, State and National. It almost, I say Almost, makes a person want to just go hibernate somewhere without a radio or TV. Or news paper, for that matter. That being said, I will make a few comments and then go do something else.

I heard on the news this morning that Trump and Biden are campaigning hard in THE seven battle ground states.  THE ELECTION WILL BE DECIDED BY HOW THOSE STATES VOTE. Hmmm, if that is the case, then those of us in the rest of the states need not even go to the polls and just let the people in those seven states go vote and decide for us.   UH! Nope, I guess not.

Amy Barrett was sustained to serve on the supreme court.  Good for her. I watched a little of the hearings. I felt that of the three people Trump has nominated for the court, she was the most qualified. She was calm and answered the questions in a very forth right manner. I did get a little irritated at Diane Feinstein and the questions she was asking. She kept pressing for an opinion on a question that Amy Barrett had not been presented with. Mrs. Barrett kept explaining how the supreme court works. Lawsuits have to be filed in lower courts and IF they make it to the supreme court, then a decision will be made.  I think Diane understands that, but she pressed on this cause she just has a hatred for the President. Now she has been sworn in and Schumer is in a snit and acting like a two year old who didn't get his favorite sucker. Nuff said.

I have been against the political process since the 1960's. I was hired to do a job by a county commissioner in the county where I lived at the time. I was ( and still am) a republican and the commissioner was a democrat. I did the job and was never late or absent. The job was kind of a plum job for the time and the county. And the democratic party got kinda upset with that commissioner for hiring a republican. Even though I held the job for over a year, he finally succumbed to the pressure and told me he had to let me go so he could hire a democrat. Fortunately for me, I knew the job was eventually coming to an end any way and had obtained some education for another job, which I got a few days after he terminated me. 

And things has went downhill ever since, regardless of the party in power.  And now those in Washington, of the D.C. do nothing but argue and quarrel worse than siblings and nothing gets done.

Part two in a few days.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BBANK

ON THINGS LIKE THEY USED TO BE

AND SOME LIKE THEY ARE NOW.

I have a multitude of thoughts running through my mind.  I try to write them down when I think of them, cause if I don't they run right out of my mind and I forget to post about them. So, I will post a couple of thoughts today of some things I remembered to write down.  I'll even number them.

1. BLM.  I was raised in a farming and ranching community.  When I see or hear these letters I automatically think  Bureau of Land Management.  And I always will..... that means period...

2. TV reporters.  I was around when TV reporters reported the news. Just the news.  If you wanted commentary, you went somewhere else. Reporters like Walter Cronkite on CBS, Chet Huntley and David Brinkley on NBC.  I liked them and viewed them regularly. I actually met David Brinkley once, back in the 1960's.  Even though our paths crossed, he was not there to interview me so it was a brief moment in time and then gone. I remember that now these many decades later. He probably forgot I even existed moments after the meeting was over.  Still, I liked his style, second to Walters.

3. Do you ever watch those shows on TV where they are remodeling houses.  It seems to me there are two styles.  Ultra modern, whatever that means, or southwest design.  And it seems to me that there is a lot of southwest design going around. Can't say that I blame them, I like southwest design also.  Course, I was born and raised and live here.  Lucky me.

4. I keep hearing the talking heads on TV now mention the A listers or the Elite.  Just how did these people become elite? They have a profession for the most part playing someone that may or may not exist. A good movie or play is essential for most of us to escape the rigors and cares of the world for a short time. And those that can entertain us in that manner and do so in a good manner are essential. Just like a Dr. or lawyer or someone of any other profession such as a welder or plumber or truck driver or school teacher. Just pick a profession. All should be A Listers or elite, not just some one that feels they are superior to the rest of us, just because they can play act like fake people.

5. And of course I have to end on a political note.  The news is full of stories of President Trump calling veterans losers. But the news also quotes an unnamed source. Just have to wonder who that would be.  There is miles of footage of the President saying things that are considered by many to be inappropriate.  I can almost, and I said almost, be sure that he did not say this since there is no one who filmed or recorded this. If it was recorded or filmed, then put it out there in front of the public for people to see, in full context.  It is well known his feelings about John McCain and some have made reference to this.  I know the President says a lot of things that he shouldn't say, I just have skeptical feelings about this one. And Michael Cowen. Is he to be believed. He admitted in an interview that he had lied about a lot of things, but he was not lying now. And why was he not lying?  he was ask.  Well, because they threatened his wife if he didn't tell the truth.  So, is he telling the truth, or is he lying to save his wife? Or a combination of both. Time will tell. We can always hope.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

DOES ANY ONE REALLY CARE

 THERE IS A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW.  NO, NOT AT MY HOUSE, THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS IT HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME, BUT OUT IN THE WORLD. SO I AM GOING TO COMMENT ON A COUPLE OF THINGS AND THEN HAVE TO WONDER OF ANY ONE REALLY CARES. 

1. This election coming up in a few weeks staring Trump vs. Biden and a few lesser players. If some of the lesser players could get the funds and the media attention that the two main opponents have, maybe neither one of them would win and the presidency and the results would be a shock heard around the world.  No one really cares about them, but one can dream, any way.

2.  I saw a TV spot that was a quote from I think Joe Biden. Correct me if I am wrong, but he was commenting on how the country would be if he won the presidency as opposed to Trump. He called it Joe Bidens world as opposed to Donald Trumps world.  My thought at the time and still is, is this is not either one of their worlds, but the people's world. Your world and mine and it is up to us to make it so, regardless of who is in Washington.

3. I'm really getting tired of police officers being called to something criminal going on and when they tell the perpetrator to stop and put up his hands or what ever they tell him and he refuses to obey but continues to do what ever he wanted to do and then he gets shot and then the people "protest" and make the police the victim and then they burn and loot and destroy the city and then they are heralded as heroes because they protested for racial justice. Did it never occur to any one that if the victim had just obeyed the police order they would not have been shot in the first place. Have the police been out of line?  Sure, on occasion. Are some of them racially motivated. Again, I am sure some of them are. But still, if you are not breaking the law, the police officers would not be called in the first place.  Think about that, a minute. 

4. Pro Sports.  The players in pro sports have cancelled some of their games in protest of a police shooting.  While I have my opinion about a cop shooting, I really don't care about the pro sports people protesting. If they feel that refusing to play a game because of that, then cut their pay for that game. And all subsequent games that they refuse to play.  Actually, they are like a lot of the politicians and the hollywood fake people, the populace of this country are just trying to get by, and really don't care how they feel. Most of them are so wealthy they have no clue about how the rest of us live any way. At least I don't care about them and their concerns. They don't affect me in any way.

5.I will end this rant with a quote I saw and liked.   There is not enough room in your mind for both worry and faith. You must decide which one gets to live there.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

SOME ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS

 I'M GETTING OLD, AND I'M OK WITH THAT.  BUT PART OF GETTING OLD, OR MAYBE PART OF ME GETTING OLD, IS THAT THINGS CHANGE AND I DON'T LIKE CHANGE SO MUCH.   Like this blog post. I went on blogger this afternoon to find the format has been "updated". I'm not in favor so much of the update. So, I was told I could change back to the old format, but that was going away on September 1, so why bother.  Just learn to use the new format, or quit blogging.  I assume that the few people who manage to read my drivel would just as soon that I do quit.  But then again, they don't have to read it so I guess I won't.  But I don't like change.

Well, except for one kind of change. You know the kind. The one that jingles in your pocket. And that seems to be going away.  Why? Well that was the initial purpose of this post, until I got on and found the format had changed.  A couple of things about money.  Other than there is never enough, whether you are on welfare or a millionaire. In a  car wash we like to use, in a city not so far away, a few weeks past wouldn't take our money. Nope, they had to have a credit card or a debit card. Cash was not acceptable. When ask why? they said, and I quote,  By order of the governor.  Nope, not true. Well it is true what they told us but not true that the governor made that order. So we had them open the gate and we drove out in a dirty vehicle.  Then a few weeks later ( notice how every thing is a few weeks, another sign of aging) we went to a gas station we use in a city a little closer than the car wash city and was met with a sign on the door, correct change only. When ask why, they said there is a coin shortage. We have since seen a similar sign on a local burger joint that we patronize from time to time.  We also have heard news items about a coin shortage and an abundance of reasons of why.  Some of those reasons;  The federal mint is not minting as many coins as they used to do; Banks are not giving them out because people are buying online and using plastic at local stores; the covid-19 crisis has created a shortage of hard cash flow; and people are hoarding them and they are not in circulation like they should be.  Well, OK, what ever the reason, I'll just save mine for a future time when they may be acceptable again.  Mean while, I'll continue to pay cash, or by on line or whatever is convenient at the time.  Maybe I'm part of the problem.

And finally, you know I can't post a blog without sniping at the tics a bit.  Sometimes I wish we had a good choice for president. And sometimes I wonder if we ever will again. I don't care for Biden. He's been in politics for 40 or 50 years and hasn't solved much yet, so why should we depend on him to do any thing good as president? And whoever he picks as a running mate, will not be good for the country, just good for Joe. Trump had a strong economy going before the covid hit, and he did do some good things for the country, but he has had to fight every day against those who oppose him.  If congress would work as hard for the country as they are to impeach Trump, and if Trump would keep his mouth and tweets shut, maybe we could get something accomplished.  BUT I SUPPOSE THAT IS TOO MUCH TO ASK.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK