You may wonder why I’m concerned about Democrats. After all, a well-known quote is, “I’m not a member of any organized political party… I’m a Democrat.”
It’s not Democrats that concern me, it’s Socialists. Socialists have been a minority party for decades. Eugene Debs ran for President in 1900 and four more times. You probably don’t know him because he never got any serious votes.
Socialists realized they weren’t getting anywhere as socialists. So, starting with Sen. Bernie Sanders, they are horning in on the Democrat Party. The mayors of New York and Seattle got elected on Socialist promises. Candidates, including Senators in Maine, Michigan and Texas, and candidates for Congress and city council are running as Democrat-Socialists.
Who votes for these Socialists in a Democrat Primary and/or General Election? Mainly people who are ignorant of common sense, and government union members. They like the persuasive campaign promises of more services without paying for them. They believe the high-income wealthy will gladly “share the wealth” (a phrase made popular by Sen. Huey Long of Louisiana). We’re at high risk as a society when the voters who are “on the dole” or working for a government check outnumber the voters who are manufacturing products such as cellphones, cars and life-saving drugs (and growing our food).
Here is a key fact these folks ignore: Socialism is only possible in a capitalist society. Otherwise, they “run out of other people’s money” (quoting Margaret Thatcher).
Journalists and Democrat leaders need to ask these candidates, “How has socialism worked in Cuba and Venezuela after the capitalist economy was eliminated?” And the follow up question, “How do you keep the capitalists from leaving your city or state or country?”
As we celebrate 250 years since July 4, 1776, we have had plenty of Presidents, from George Washington to Donald Trump. A few were unpopular. But I don’t recall a time when political opponents decided a good way to express their hatred of a President was to vandalize the National Mall. A few weeks ago, vandals sprayed Roundup on the grass to write a threatening message. Now the refurbished Reflecting Pool is getting a lot of attention from the media. Not sure if vandalism is involved or just bad luck with the paint and algae.
Our Department of Homeland Security has its hands full protecting fans at World Cup games and, incidentally, stopping an organized attack on the White House grounds on June 14. They should not have to send dozens of armed guards to protect the entire area from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol.
The World Cup is drawing huge crowds and compliments from foreign fans. They like us! They like our food! Even Waffle House. Scots in Boston drank all the beer in town and joyously sang, not a hit song from Scotland, but one of my favorites, “Country Roads, take me Home.” The Japanese cleaned up the trash in their section of the stadium. Meanwhile our own NY Knick fans trashed their city.
I watched part of a game today, Belgium vs. Iran. After 90+ minutes the match ended, 0 to 0. The Ayatollah praised the team for a huge win over Infidels.
As a soccer outsider, I offer a few tongue-in-cheek ways to add excitement and reduce the number of games ending 1-0, 2-1 or 0-0. Increase the width of the goal by 3 meters (that’s 10 feet here). Add a shot clock. Games can go 10 or 20 minutes with no one taking a shot. Count turnovers. That could give the clock operator something to do between starting the clock and stopping it 45 minutes later. Keeping track of 200 to 300 turnovers in 90+ minutes could improve the kicking. What player would want to be reminded, “You had 47 turnovers.” He would be encouraged to get that down to a league average of 22.
Historic quote by Will Rogers:
On a Mother’s Day tribute, 1935, Will added, “Father had a day, but you can’t find anybody who remembers when it was… It’s been so confused with April the first.”