Presumed Thought

A niece recently unfriended my wife and I for arguing the appropriateness of protester behavior devolving into destructive chaos.

For years our children have been encouraged to focus on their feelings of worth and importance. For years our children have been taught that the world is obliged to accept their inexperienced views as gospel. The result of this teaching, is the creation of a generation of ignorant, self-indulgent spoiled brats.

The Corporate Thought Police

"The idea that free speech is not a fundamental liberty that must be defended at all costs runs deep in Sweden."

I find myself withdrawing from arguing with my friends on these topics, they are first and foremost my friends, and by withdrawal, I am sparing them angst.
In America, today, we see that Orange County California is contemplating changing the name of their airport, removing the name of John Wayne. The cause is statements made in an interview John Wayne had with Playboy magazine in 1971. Orange County can do what it wants, they renamed the airport 40+ years ago and they can do it again if they want. Those politicians who make the decision, will face their referendum at the voting booth. Something I suspect for most residents of county is not a big deal. As to the statements by John Wayne, I would suggest that we've far too many citizens with tin ears, these comments were unfortunate but not said to be hurtful.
Here in Atlanta, the airport name used to be Hartsfield International Airport, that was changed to Jackson-Hartsfield International Airport. At the time, I knew many folks who were upset with the change, to which I would suggest that in 50 years, the name could be changed to something like Gomez-Jackson-Hartsfield International Airport. The dominant demographic gets to make the choices.
I have said things in my life that are regrettable, usually to people that I loved. Many of those same people, have made awful comments to me. As a youngster, I was teased, unmercifully, for having buck teeth.  The point is that with age, experience and religion, you get over it, learn that we should not judge a person by a single utterance, but by the balance of their life accomplishments and failures.
When people seek to restrict speech and opinion, it is evidence of both a need to control, and failure to convince by reason.

WWJS

A variation on the acronym for What Would Jesus Do (WWJD).

David Hogg lived through a terrible ordeal, that experience deserves my empathy. 

The many utterances, tweets, and lectures that spew from this young man have earned my disrespect.

There seems to be a symptom expressed by the modern press, the opinions of the young are treated with reverence and presumed enlightenment, a superior opinion to those having lifetime of experience beyond that of a hormonal teenager.

There are reasons that children are not allowed to vote, or allowed to drive under the age of 16, or serve in the armed forces. The main reason is that children have not fully formed their personal manner of reasoning. Teenagers have a higher probability of acting immaturely, and for that have limited rights.

David, please just shut up.

A Lot of Meaningless Words

NumbersUSA does an excellent job generating opportunities to converse with our representatives in Congress. My representatives include two Republican Senators and a Democrat fills the seat in the House of Representatives. The Senators tend to favor increasing immigration when the chips are down and vote for restriction of immigration when expected effect is minimal. Basically they are full of shit. David Scott on the other hand is a standard Democrat who votes party line on everything relating to immigration. The following is a response to an email sent last week. A little long winded....

Dear Mr. Otis:
Thank you for contacting me regarding immigration and the environment. I appreciate your thoughts on this issue.  
Immigration is a leading topic of debate for Americans across the country, including Georgians in my district. We have seen the topic of immigration increase tensions between political parties and dominate mass media.  As a nation, I sincerely hope that we can debate immigration with mutual respect and reach bipartisan solutions to achieve common sense reform.  I strongly believe that we can secure our borders without sacrificing our morals and the humane treatment of migrants, while still providing resources to border security initiatives.  
Please be aware, I do not support illegal immigration. I believe we must stop people from entering this country illegally by improving resources for border personnel and modernizing border security technology. To that end, I support legislation that increases the number of border patrol agents, improves our asylum procedures, and modernizes border technologies such as advanced cameras and high-powered radars. I also support using the National Guard and other military personnel, to help with border security.
Some Americans expressed concern about the impact of immigration on the environment. Please know that I am aware of the changing environmental factors that are damaging precious natural resources and harming Americans quality of life. Large issues such as water, air and land pollution, the depletion of the ozone layer, and the steady rising of average temperatures ravage the planet and are strongly correlated with dying species and the destruction of ecosystems.  For this reason, I am hopeful that progress will be made in the future to pass measures into law that ensure greater protection of the environment. Members from both sides of the aisle must come together to provide bipartisan and safe solutions to address immigration while considering the finite natural resources of our nation. As your elected official, please know I am dedicated to protecting life on earth whether it be our species who are at risk of endangerment, or citizens who hope for a better life.
As immigration continues to be a leading topic in our current political climate, please rest assured that I will continue to keep your views in mind throughout the 116th Congress.  I believe that our borders must be secure while remaining sensitive to the desire of immigrants to reside within the U.S.  Immigrants improve the U.S. economy, reduce labor shortages, and contribute to the diversity of our great nation. Although not perfect, immigrants must come to the U.S. through current legal pathways. I look forward to working with members within my own party, and across the aisle to support border security initiatives and common-sense immigration reform.
Again, I thank you for sharing your views with me. I hope you will continue to give me the benefit of your opinion in the future. In addition, I encourage you to visit my web site at http://davidscott.house.gov, where you can view the latest news and obtain information on issues and legislation that is important to you. You can also sign up for my electronic newsletter, and receive periodic updates on my activities as your representative in Washington. Thank you again for contacting me, and I look forward to continuing to serve you.
Sincerely,
David Scott
Member of Congress

Mr. Scott has been saying for years that he supports  controlling immigration, including the border. I have yet to see a vote supporting the wall, or ANY viable alternative. My belief is that electronic surveillance of borders is only useful as a support system to a fortified wall. 

This Damned Guy

'CAREER CRIMINAL' Suspect Charged with Attack on 92-Year-Old Woman Previously Arrested 100+ TIMES | Sean Hannity:

For a 92 year old with something close to a concussion, Bronx native Geraldine exhibits a firm grasp of language and judgement.

“This damned guy put me in a state where I’m fearful to walk the streets alone. So my super’s trying to find somebody who will walk me to a park nearby or to the supermarket, that kind of thing. So that’s the problem.”

A convicted six offender, arrested over 100 times, Rashid Brimmage has been arrested.
Let's hope he is on parole, so that his likelihood of incarceration is increased.

Loeffler UNSUBSCRIBED

Georgia governor Brian Kemp installed Kelly Loeffler as Senator after the retirement of Johnny Isakson. This was over the recommendation of the President, at which time I believed that as a show of independence would benefit the governor, and all things being equal, she couldn't be any worse than the RINO Isakson.

Her short lived voting record has been very similar to her predecessor so that is a disappointment.

Just prior to the COVID crisis becoming a public emergency, she dumped her portfolio of stocks, exchanging those for stocks focused on on-line conferencing.

From Wikipedia...

On March 19, 2020, the public release of federal financial disclosure documents showed that Loeffler and her husband, Jeffrey Sprecher, had sold stock in companies vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic with an aggregate value of several million dollars. Loeffler has denied any wrongdoing, saying the trades were made by a third-party advisor and that she learned about them only after they occurred.[22] The disclosures included that between January 24 and February 14, the couple sold between $1.275 and $3.1 million worth of stock in 27 companies, while buying stocks worth between $450,000 and $1 million, including in Citrix, a collaboration software company.

She's trotting around saying she's been cleared by the Senate.

Loeffler is guilty of using inside information for financial benefit, and legal or not, that for me is an ethical violation.

I will vote for a Democrat before selecting Kelly Loeffler on the ballot.

Wish she would stop sending me email, UNSUBSCRIBED.

Science on the Police Abuse of Power

Excellent statistically based article by Heather MacDonald of the Wall Street Journal, was published today. Heather MacDonald is a Senior Fellow at Manhattan Institute for Policy Research.

A link to today's article in Wall Street Journal The Myth of Systemic Police Racism

The following is a link to a video recording of today's C-Span interview between Bill Scanlon and the author Ms. MacDonald
C-span.org washington-journal-heather-mac-donald-discusses-protests-george-floyds-killing

France's No-Go Zones

America, do not think it couldn't get worse.

France's No-Go Zones: The Riots Return

A quote from a police union representative....

"The government knows that a large-scale uprising could happen, and that a minor incident might be enough to set the powder keg ablaze. Therefore, police officers have unwritten instructions: they must avoid incidents at all costs. If an incident occurs, they know that the government will blame the police, and no one else".

and a police officer....

"They consider themselves at war with France and with Western civilization. They act in cooperation with Islamist organizations, and define acts of predation and rampage as raids against infidels". 

from a survivor of  Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack....

"France is living hours of disillusionment as deep as those it had known in May 1940... Before our eyes, everything collapsed at an unimaginable speed... We will have to ask a question: why such a disaster... how was this possible. And the present catastrophe inevitably brings us to the same conclusions: incompetence, disorganization, lack of long-term vision, improvisation. In summary: the nullity of our leaders."

A government's denial of growing disruptive force, of any sort, is a willful abdication of responsibility. Such acquiescence reminds one of kissing up to the Nazis in the 1930's. Lessons learned by war and genocide have been forgotten. I hope France can take the bull by the horns before they've been trampled.

Here at home, such enclaves are growing, in Brooklyn, Queens, Dearborn and Minneapolis. Minority cultures have often congregated in America, seldom failing to integrate within 2 or 3 generations. That may be the case for these new Muslims immigrants as well, but until they do, their growing isolationist force must be met with greater resistance.