Musings …

Category: Politics

  • The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. A Film For Our Time!

    Fun to watch! A lot to think about, especially in light of 1/6. The film became contemporary, more than a historical movie from 1962. Not sure how its message related to its time. Not the same thesis as High Noon, but likewise relevant to a time of social, political and existential jeopardy. As of today – indeed, yesterday in the news – spot on. Specifically, voter intimidation:

    A lawless movement seeking hegemony by any means! Like now!

    It’s obvious that, as High Noon was for 1952, this was a message film for its 1962 audience. A Black man and Hispanics can attend school together with whites, but the Black can’t drink, and since he stays outside during the voting, presumably he can’t vote. I wonder why the story didn’t let Pompey take the drink? Did the film want him to take it. Did the film want the audience to want him to? I hope they did. I sure did!

    Interesting political choice by the newspaper editor: The legend would put a stop to Stewart’s ambition – his disappointment was palpable – but, the truth would set him free.

    Great supporting cast. No way to not love Andy Devine. Took a long time to recognize Edmund O’Brien. Thought of White Heat, “See ma, top of the world!”

    I had been hoping that Pompey shot Valance.

    Wonderful film!

  • Bob Woodward Should Have Outed Trump When it Would Have Mattered!

    It is truly a shame that villains – like Trump – have an exquisite sense of right and wrong, especially wrong! Years ago I read Nixon’s memoir – written to be part of his self-rehabilitation. I was struck by his pitch perfect sense of ethics and responsibility. Knowing right and wrong is one thing, but being a subscriber is another.

    As we all know, on February 7th Bob Woodward caught Trump on tape clearly understanding the dangers of the Virus and outright acknowledging its calamitous potential. Just now, Trump correctly called out Bob Woodward for not speaking out immediately after it became clear that he, Trump, was grossly downplaying the situation, etc. And Woodward, like John Bolton, is guilty of holding out for publication at the expense of the National Good.

    We will now be arguing about the comparative responsibilities of Woodward and Trump. Trump clearly understands the “right” of speaking out, and the “wrong” of holding back. He’s surely not a subscriber to ethics and morality, but his clear sense of them ably arms him against those who screw up.

  • We Need a Test For Those Who Had the Virus and are No Longer Infectious!

    My question:

    Is there a test that can tell us that someone had the virus already, and can no longer communicate the disease to others? This, for any who had symptoms, or had no symptoms at all. These would then be safe to join the workforce. Some official certification, like a pin or badge, could indicate to others that they were safe. The consequences of such a test that reveals to us those who are safe are vast.

    We will know who is safe!

    These will not have to sequester themselves, and therefore be available to help others. This especially applies to heath care and other essential personnel. These would be safe to congregate, among themselves and with others. We would know who can join the “emerging return to society” and hasten its return.

    At the moment there are more pressing needs for testing and allocation of resources, but the time for this test SHOULD come.

  • Should the Democratic Candidate Accept Mike Bloomberg’s Help?

    Mike Bloomberg will support the Democratic nominee through to election day, even if he is not the nominee. Should the nominee accept his help? This question applies to any of the candidates, but is of particular significance to the “anti-billionaire” candidates, Sanders and Warren. Would accepting Bloomberg’s help be ethical?

    The answer depends on understanding “Capital P” Pragmatism. It is not the pragmatism of “pragmatically” using a screw driver to screw in a screw. In Pragmatism, in difficult ethical choice situations, the two famous formulas, “The ends justify the means,” or the abjectly amoral, “If it works it’s good,” apply. In dire situations like ours with Trump, the question is addressed in an original Star Trek episode, “Does survival cancel programming?” The answer depends on our understanding of “P” Pragmatism. If we survive, can we forgive ourselves for the heinous thing we had to do to survive? In “P” Pragmatism, we have no problem, we cancel programming, because either amoral formula escapes ethical scrutiny.

    If, for example, Elizabeth Warren, believes that she will lose without Bloomberg’s help, should she take it and be able to look at herself in the mirror. The key question: Whether or not she cares, can we look at ourselves in the mirror after voting for her?

    If she, or we, don’t care, we have excused ourselves for doing an awful thing by taking the Pragmatic off ramp into the universe of amorality. It is “the caring” about the ethics of our choices that distinguishes the ethical world of morality, from the ethical void of Pragmatism. Observing the actions of others will NOT inform us of this difference, because we cannot be in the minds of others to know whether or not they care.

    But we CAN know within ourselves. If we don’t care, we will excuse ourselves and go on to excuse ourselves in likewise fashion for the next “survival” action that would trouble us if we cared. That’s Pragmatism!

    If we care, we will say to ourselves, “Oh my God! What I had to do! I will never forget what I had to do! And I will live my life going forward, to NEVER be responsible for getting myself into any situation where I felt I could not forgive myself for what I had to do. That’s ETHICS!

    ___

    The concept of “P” Pragmatism and its implications draws heavily on my readings of Any Rand on the subject.

  • How Does Ukraine’s Helping Trump Jeopardize our National Security?

    Our media needs to incorporate into their presentations a retinue of mantra issues. Take note: That is exactly what Trump’s choir does all day long. We must help the public to understand and appreciate key issues in depth. There are many issues left adrift. Often mentioned, but hardly ever explained, is that Trump’s solicitation of a Ukraine investigation of the Bidens damages our national security. But how does it do that? I have heard the “how” just two, or perhaps only three times.

    If Ukraine helps Trump to avoid impeachment, or to get re-elected, Ukraine will lose the support of Democrats. Ukraine is fighting a hot war with Russia right now. Given the “coincidence” that most everything we have been doing in international affairs benefits Putin, losing Democratic resistance to protecting Ukraine will jeopardize Ukraine’s independent existence. Losing Ukraine to Russia would be a disaster!

    There are other critical issues that should be brought up every day AND explained. Here, reiterating, however often, that Ukraine working on behalf of Trump is bad for national secutity has little power without explaining how. The power of understanding is in the HOW: Losing Democratic support could lose Ukraine to Russia and Putin. This knowledge MUST be kept in the public mind.

    This, and all other KEY elements to a crystal clear BIG Picture sense of what is happening, must be brought home to all of us – especially to those who without it would have muddled impressions – and must be brought home each and every day!

  • Yesterday, I got lost in Prospect Park

    I was on my way home from visiting with my wife Janet in the hospital. My route not only took me alongside Prospect Park, but to a miraculously available parking spot. The park was very busy, with families of the Orthodox all over the place, celebrating Sukkot. I waved the lulav and etrog for my first time.

    I decided early on in my walk that I would take every path or stair that went up. There were many.

    Prospect Park is spectacular. Since the park is roughly a huge square, you have no sense of the city surrounding, because you never see it. The possibilities of wandering around and getting lost are limitless. And I did. I ended up at the diagonally opposite point, Grand Army Plaza, from where I started my walk at Park Circle, at the foot of Ocean Parkway.

    Along my way I passed a gorgeous lake, a monument to George Washington – “GOOD GOD! WHAT BRAVE FELLOWS I MUST THIS DAY LOSE”

    A monument to Lafayette, and horse back riders, a taste of Autumn, and many paths and stairs going up and down. All this while listening to Bach’s Art of the Fugue and Cantatas.

    Today I got lucky again and parked at the Ocean Avenue entrance. Prospect Park is wonderful!

  • It’s Time to Own Up to “What America Does,” When America Does Wrong!

    Last night on Bill Maher, Amy Klobuchar said, “I would never leave those Kurds, have left [those Kurds] for slaughter, like this guy has done. That’s not what America does!” WRONG! Unfortunately, that IS what America does.

    When I was a teenager my father explained to me that in international affairs – not to mention any affairs – it was of paramount importance for America to KEEP its word! That America be trusted!

    So many times we have broken trust over the years: Pakistan after the Soviets were defeated in Afghanistan; the Kurds after the first Gulf war; Gaddafi, after he gave up his WMDs and nuclear weapons program; … ; and now the Kurds again.

    No problem can be addressed that isn’t recognized, or worse yet, denied. Our Democratic candidates are in the best position to carry this message. They should all make the restoration of respect in the world for America a key issue. They must commit America to “Keeping its Word!”

    Amy! All of you! Everyone! Please say, “Unfortunately, we must restore “Keeping our Word” to what “America Does!”

  • Does Even Trump Believe His Accusations Against the Bidens

    Do we believe for a second, or even a nanosecond, that Trump and his minions, or even Trump himself, believe even a scintilla of the stuff they’re accusing the Bidens of doing. I don’t!

    It’s all about going through the motions in exponential quadruple spades, to create the illusion that there’s something there!

  • Buttigieg Should Withdraw NOW!

    Mayor Pete should not attend the Democratic Party debate. He should remain in South Bend and unsuccessfully deal with his problems with his Black Community. He should withdraw his candidacy immediately, if not sooner. His candidacy is dead!

    If I were a black South Bend resident, or resident of conscience of any stripe, I would promote an anti-Buttigieg agenda to destroy the possibility of his getting any support from blacks, and others of conscience in the country. Buttigieg is not too young. He is qualified except for this. He should withdraw now. He should announce his intention to make a public statement and his first words should be, “I am disbanding my campaign and as of this moment I am not a candidate for the presidency of the United States.”

    He could then dedicate his next years as mayor to addressing all the issues that separate him from the black community. If he succeeds excellently, the blacks, and others of color and conscience in his community, could support him for President. They could make him the formidable charismatic candidate the Democratic Party and the country desperately needs.

    That is, unless they come to love him so much that they want to keep him in South Bend.

  • 10 Minutes From War!

    Let’s say the only thing true about the pullback from attacking Iran was that the decision was made and transmitted 10 minutes before it was too late.

    We returned from Florida yesterday:

    At long last we are home safe and sound. The flight was fine, but it was supposed to leave at 1:30; delayed to 2:30; delayed to 4:05; and then they couldn’t extend the bridge so the incoming passengers couldn’t get off; and then after a comfortable flight we were held in a holding pattern; and then after taxiing we were informed that another plane was at our gate and we had to wait for it to clear. Took a cab. That went well. Home around 9:15.