Disarm, defund, abolish?

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This isn’t even close to the answer.

Not sure what kind of fantasy land people are living in, but most people know this isn’t even the practical, let alone realistic. But, there are a whole bunch of progressive and liberal people in power who are going to placate and pander to the loudest voices even if they make no logical sense.

I hate to tell ya this, but people ain’t gonna suddenly decide to live in a Utopian world just because the police go away. It will, in fact, go exactly the opposite as people and groups clamor for power over others.

Disarm?

I can accept that some equipment might be overkill. Maybe, just maybe, the budget could be better spent on training and non-lethal tactics/equipment. Arming the police like the military might not be the answer. But taking away their weapons won’t work and we all know it. Remember those instances where even the LA police were outgunned by bank robbers? What about gangs and drug cartels? How would that work?

I can see some concessions here but, as we have seen with protests all over the nation over the last decade or more, when you take away ability of the police to maintain order in communities you get crime on a  massive scale. As such, our expectation of what law enforcement can and can’t do is going to have to change. We won’t be able to expect that they are going to respond to crimes during protests, large gathers, sports celebrations, etc.

Every massive protest or celebration in the US these days leads to looting, property damage, and usually other crimes as a byproduct of such behavior. The police have basically had to stand back and let it happen because they are overwhelmed, either by the sheer numbers of people or by the fact that they lack the ability to respond.

Seattle’s police chief said that things are going to have to change. That’s not only the way the police do their business but it’s also the acceptance from the public that you aren’t going to be safe or protected at all times.

Crime won’t get better if you take away their ability to handle it or prevent it.

Defund?

This option is bad at best, besides a veiled effort to push more socialism. You all know that a budget means, right?

What exactly are you going to defund in a police department?

Cut money from buying weapons? OK, again, maybe this might work. But again, what happens when the police are outgunned?

Cut money from training? Yeah, that doesn’t seem like a good idea either. If anything, funds could be diverted from arming to training. Taking money isn’t the answer.

Cut money from payroll? Also not real bright. Money means staff. Staff means there is someone to respond to a crime, to investigate, to rescue, to protect, to arrest those who need and deserve it. Are you really prepared to be told when you call 911 that an officer will be there in 30 minutes to 2 hours, if at all? It also means that paying (for all intents and purposes) them a quality wage. They are supposed to stand in harm’s way, right? So are we asking them to take less pay to do the same job, while being under armed and understaffed?

Do more with less? We have been doing that to teachers for years and that is clearly working (that’s sarcasm if you can’t read between the lines), so what makes you think law enforcement can do it?

Starting to get worried yet?

Disband?

Asinine.

Sure, let’s just get rid of the police department altogether. That won’t create a whole other set of issues that will have to be dealt with.

Crime will just magically disappear! Humans are naturally good by nature so there will be no problems and we’ll all live peacefully together in one big happy family…gather ’round the fire folks! We’re about to sing Kumbaya and hug and stuff.

The fact is, this won’t work either. The human heart hasn’t been fixed yet. Evil will always rear it’s ugly head and the vacuum left by an absence of law enforcement would quickly be filled by people who have no intent on sharing power, safety, or resources.

I am just not that optimistic of my fellow man. As such, I’ll be buying more guns to protect my family, friends, and property.

That is the natural assumption, right? If someone else who is armed to protect me and others is removed from my community, then I will have to fill that void myself. You can’t have it both ways – no police force AND an unarmed populace.

Can no one see how stupid this is? (That’s rhetorical, as I know there are lots of people who see this as completely stupid).

So what then?

I’ll be over here building my arsenal and fortress.

If you need me or want to visit, text me. I’ll unlock the gate, lower the bridge, pull the gators outta the moat, and tie up the attack dogs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“News to me”

Uh, excuse me?

This is national news. It has been national news for days. It’s been BIG news in WA for days.

So, the governor says it’s “news to me”? It would appear he REALLY IS AS CLUELESS as he has come across in the past.

OMG!! This guy is the epitome of stupid and his response baffles everyone.

He has already proved he doesn’t actually govern a state so much as dictate over it. His agenda has been busted wide open by his own admission. He has been wrong nearly this entire time when it has come to Covid-19 and how the state operates, and he won’t relent and open the state up for business and livelihoods to recover from his crappy leadership.

Maybe I’ll adopt his response when it comes to following the rules he set.

Wear a mask? “News to me.”

Stay home? “News to me.”

Can’t go to work? “News to me.”

Not supposed to go to certain businesses? “News to me.”

Listen, gov, your feckless leadership should result in an immediate resignation from your office. THAT news would be greeted with exultation by nearly everyone in the state. How about you make that kind of headline?

Irrational

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Irrational makes me irritable.

Thus, I have been irritable for quite some time.

Most days, I’d rather talk with a brick wall than engage with humans who are irrational. Mostly because their inability to be rational makes them stupid.

Some days my irritability gets to me and I can’t do anything but throw my hands in the air and shake my head. The irrational are winning and it’s disheartening.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Redefined #1

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It’s interesting how those who don’t like something are always trying to redefine it. If it doesn’t fit your agenda, redefine it so it will by turning the meaning around so it fits your message.

Here is current examples I’ve seen recently:

Looting

The definition we all understand and have used in the past is NOT a tough one to remember. It is basically stealing or taking something that isn’t yours by force. If you need a reminder of what the definition is you can look at Dictionary.com (here) and Mirriam-Webster.com (here).

My guess is that you really don’t need a reminder.

Bernie Sanders and his Socialist friends are trying to create a class war (this is a Communist tactic) by specifically trying to redefine the word during the present crisis. Maybe you have seen some of this flying around social media.

The looting of America has been going on for over 40 years – and the culprits are the ultra-rich.  ~ Bernie Sanders

American billionaires got $434 billion richer during pandemic. (widely reported by news media)

So, people who spent their lives building a business and positioning themselves in a place to prosper are going to be faulted for consumers going to their place of business to buy supplies?

Example: Amazon (I mean, because it is so obvious). It was literally set up so that you could order anything, any time, from anywhere, and have it delivered to your doorstep. It was set up to make it as convenient for you as possible. And you love it.

So consumers were forced, or they willingly complied, to stay home and order things online. This is exactly why the business was created or has adapted to the changing retail landscape. They didn’t do anything wrong and is perfectly acceptable for them to do. That would make them pioneers and visionaries in retail, right? As such, it’s perfect for those who have had the foresight to establish, or adjust, a business that has this capability.

Why then would you fault Jeff Bezos or any other person for making money during the pandemic? This is what a business is for. To make money. By ordering online. As far as I can tell, he wasn’t price gauging people for the goods he was selling. Prices didn’t suddenly and ridiculously increase because of the situation. He wasn’t taking advantage of the situation. He literally continued to do what he set up his business to do.

Sure, there were probably some 3rd party sellers who may have taken advantage of the platform and increased prices. Sure, that will always happen. That isn’t new to any crisis. But was it a systemic, company wide policy/effort to defraud the population? No. Amazon and others worked to correct the issue as it was discovered and reported.

Look, I think it is clear that the work of a political party is trying engender bitterness, anger, and dissatisfaction with people who make money in legitimate ways. They are trying to pit the poor, and even the middle class, against those who are rich. For them, they can’t gain ground politically any other way so redefining words and making the word to encompass a broader meaning means that they stimulate mistrust and hatred.

This word being redefined is nonsensical. Let’s keep it a crime and not turn it into something it isn’t.

 

 

Denied

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Again.

The goal posts keep moving. The “red line” keeps moving. The rules are changing without notification. You don’t know what you’re actually required to do until you’ve been told you can’t do it they way they told you to do it previously.

We all knew this was going to happen.

My county has been denied, for a third time in three weeks, the ability to move forward into Phase 2.

In each case, the rules changed after the application was submitted and according to the Secretary of Health (and by extension the governor), the county can’t move forward base on the criterion it applied under but only when the new criterion is met.

Talk about an agenda. Clear demonstration of such is now not even a question.

It’s time for the county to tell the state, “Thanks, but no thanks.” We have met the requirements that were initially established and we are ready to roll moving forward.  Not gonna play your game any longer.

Local government is the only government that can address the true needs of the people. The people need to say “Enough is enough” when it comes to government over-reach and control.

Backwards

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Going backwards? Strange concept in the times we live, but it I think it bears asking since we have set ourselves up for it…

Given the situation with Covid-19, is the public (general population) going to accept going backwards when it comes to a “disinfected” shopping experience? Or are employees going to be OK with going back to the way it was before? Are government services going to be restored and go back to business as usual? Because germs and disease existed before this whole thing and they will continue to exist after as well.

So, some questions?

Is everyone OK with the removal of the plexi-glass cages cashiers are now in? They protect the public and the cashier, so are they going to stay?

Is everyone OK with discontinuing the disinfecting of each and every shopping cart? Again, it gives the perception that the business cares about it’s shoppers. Is that not important after the threat of Covid-19 has dissipated? What about the flu and other infectious bacteria/viruses?

Is everyone OK with going back to full capacity seating in restaurants?  More people packed into a small space is good, right?

Is everyone OK with door handles, counter-tops, and self-serve check out stands not being cleaned after each use?

Is everyone OK with standing inside of six feet of other customers, shoppers, employees, co-workers, supervisors, non-family members, etc?

I am being the devil’s advocate here because, of course, we are going to go right back to the way it was right after this whole things is over and everyone has moved through the proper “phases of reopening.” Right? Back to “normal.”

But in doing so, we basically are going to say it is OK to go back to a society that allows for thousands of deaths each year from the flu. Or, we are going back to a society that expects less of the places we frequent because, well, it isn’t practical or cost effective to keep it up.

So, dirty and contagious it is. Kinda makes you think, doesn’t it? If it was possible now, why not then. If it was possible now, why not continue it? It’s a lose-lose battle for consumers and businesses.

Happy back to normal! Eventually.

 

Shady

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Politicians being politicians.

Of course, this isn’t a surprise and should be a surprise to anyone, really. But it is infuriating nonetheless.

So, the governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, has decided that he won’t extend the “Stay home, stay healthy” order that expired last night. But, we are still to follow the “phased opening” he and the WA Deparment of Health mapped out previously last month. As such, a full opening of the state and it’s economy isn’t likely to happen until at least mid to late August, provided everything goes perfectly.

Here’s the problem. He has done the politician thing and he is trying to wiggle off the hook for making decisions or taking responsibility for bad decisions going forward. He has put the Secretary of Health in charge of making the decisions from here on out. Essentially, he puts someone else on the hook and if they make a bad decision (like having the ability to decide which counties live or die economically or open up and then have a major outbreak again), he can fire them. Thus, it’s not his responsibility. At least he would like to think that is the case.

Now, I don’t know about you, but to me this smacks of shadiness.

Again, this isn’t much of a surprise considering its Jay Inslee. But, it also concerns the heck outta me! He has put an unelected official, but one he appointed, in charge of making some pretty important decisions. You read that right – unelected. The only individual this person has to report to is the governor himself.

Now, if that doesn’t raise some hackles you might want to check your pulse.

The governor put in charge someone that only answers to the governor and the people have no recourse against. The governor is trying to hid behind the decisions of another person while trying to demonstrate that he is “leading.” And, if things don’t go well from here, well, he can just fire the guy.

Shady, and I don’t mean like a tree.

Just plain shady.

 

 

New normal

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Anyone else tired of hearing this?

Sorry, but I am getting the idea that the “new normal” is going to stick in one way or another. Some of what we are seeing isn’t going to go away, and I don’t like the trends I am seeing.

Face Masks

So, it was first recommended that we not wear them in public. Then it was recommended and even “required.” Now, we are seeing businesses implementing policies, and even counties strongly suggesting that face masks be worn in public.

Are we going to do this all the time now? Flu season? Wear a mask. Allergies? Wear a mask. Cold? Wear a mask.

Who’s to say that cough is any different than the other cough? When or how are we going to know? Who makes the determination for when we should or should? Why not just wear them all the time so we make sure we’re safe under all circumstances?

Perhaps we should just make hazmat suits more fashionable and then we wouldn’t have to worry about anything when we leave home.

The future doesn’t look bright, folks…

You have choices

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Anyone else wanna just throw up your hands, shrug, and say “Screw it!”?

Can’t keep up with the ever changing guidelines and requirements related to your lockdown? Frustrated that you can’t get a straight answer on what you can and can’t do? Irritated by contradictions and uneven applications? Just frustrated by the whole state of affairs?

“Wave your hands in the air like you don’t care…” (thanks Cameo…) and go about life like you normally would, well, at least as much as you can.

I know that some businesses have put their own limitations on customers (you know, to appear they are doing something effective), but you have the freedom to choose where and where you won’t shop too. Consumer choice still rules when it comes to who wins and who looses in the marketplace.

Take precautions, as necessary, because you are a reasonable and rational adult (assumptions…) but don’t let the government and hysterical people dictate to you their fear.

You get to control that too. Something I think a lot of people have forgotten. You can, and should, control your fear. We all assume risk every day of our lives. If we live in fear, which so many people are doing these days, then you won’t get to live. Plain and simple.

Go, live and be free.