Tuesday, November 15, 2022

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE MUST BE DESTROYED!

 

In the history of our country no one individual has done more damage to America, the American people, American values, and American democracy than Donald J Trump – the 45th President of the United States.

Trump has proven time and again by his words and deeds that he is a totally worthless piece of garbage, completely devoid of intelligence and humanity, who does not possess a single redeeming positive quality or value, and who has not performed a single totally unselfish positive act in his entire adult life.  He was the most ignorant, incompetent, corrupt, and unqualified President in US history, with absolutely no knowledge or understanding of the responsibilities and limitations of the office of President.

Trump was never the choice of the American people for President.  Trump lost the 2016 election to Hillary Clinton by 2,868,686 (2.9 Million) votes.  Clinton received 48.18% of the popular vote and Trump received 46.09%.  Looking at the total vote for President in 2016, and the votes for all candidates, 10.7 Million more Americans voted against Trump than voted for Trump.  Despite losing the election Trump was placed in office by the Electoral College.   

The Electoral College is an anti-democratic process that abandons the concept of “one man (or woman), one vote” and the will of the people and gives the votes of some Americans more weight and importance than the votes of others.

One of the reasons for the creation of the Electoral College, as explained in “Why the Electoral College” by Marc Schulman at HISTORY CENTRAL by Marc Schulman, is –

The founding fathers were afraid of direct election to the Presidency. They feared a tyrant could manipulate public opinion and come to power.”

Schulman tells us –

Hamilton and the other founders believed that the electors would be able to ensure that only a qualified person becomes President. They thought that with the Electoral College no one would be able to manipulate the citizenry. It would act as a check on an electorate that might be duped. Hamilton and the other founders did not trust the population to make the right choice. The founders also believed that the Electoral College had the advantage of being a group that met only once and thus could not be manipulated over time by foreign governments or others.”

So, the Electoral College was created to ensure an unqualified candidate, like Trump, or, also like Trump, a demagogue – a person, “who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument” – would never become President, to prevent foreign interference in the election of President, and to prevent poor administration of government.  It clearly failed in 2016.

It is important that the Electoral College be abolished – and the President of the United States become elected by the popular vote – so that a dangerous, ignorant, incompetent, corrupt, and unqualified malignant narcissist like Trump will never again be put in the White House against the will of the people.















Thursday, November 10, 2022

TODAY'S REPUBLICAN PARTY LIES!

 

Republicans will NOT end inflation.

* They have voted against every single recent attempt by Congress to combat inflation.

Republicans will NOT protect Social Security and Medicare.

* They have clearly indicated that if they gain control of Congress, they plan to cut Social Security and Medicare.

* They consider Social Security and Medicate “government welfare entitlement programs” and not what they actually are – a government administered defined benefit pension plan and government administered health insurance “policy” funded by employee and employer contributions.

Republicans will NOT stop crime.

* They refuse to protect Americans, including school children, from continued mass shootings by consistently refusing to support an assault rifle ban and refusing to support effective and responsible gun-control legislation.

* They oppose holding the January 6th insurrectionists accountable for the attack on the Capital and downplay the seriousness of the seditious insurrection.

* They refuse to hold Trump accountable for his multitude of crimes.

Republicans will NOT protect your freedoms or protect democracy.

* They want to “whitewash” and censor the teaching of true American history in schools.

* They want to ban books that oppose and denounce their bigotries and prejudices.

* They want to force Americans to live their lives based on erroneous extreme radical Christian fundamentalist beliefs.

* They want to be able to reverse the outcome of fair and honest elections that they lose.

Streisand sings, DeNiro acts, Republicans lie – it is what they do.

No intelligent and patriotic American with a conscience could possibly support today’s Republican Party.

 

 

 











Wednesday, October 26, 2022

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NOT CONSERVATIVE!

 Today’s Republican Party is NOT Conservative! 
 
The agenda of today’s Republican Party is directly contrary to the basic underlying core principles of Conservatism – individual freedom and limited government. 
 
The primary tenet of Conservative politics is the belief that the government should have minimal involvement in the personal and business life of the citizen.  Today’s Republican Party, and its agenda, is controlled by the extreme Christian fundamentalist so-called “Evangelicals” of the repressive and racist Religious Right.  The Religious Right wants the government to dictate how citizens should live their lives.
 
Banning abortion, opposing homosexuality and banning same-sex marriage, banning contraceptives, banning books, censoring and “whitewashing” the teaching of history and science are all federal and state policies and programs of today’s Republicans.  These are NOT policies and programs of Conservative politics.
 
True conservatives have absolutely NO voice in today’s Republican Party.  No true conservative could support or vote for the candidates and agenda of today’s Republican Party.
 
 












Monday, October 24, 2022

WE MUST MAKE SURE THERE IS NEVER ANOTHER PRESIDENT LIKE TRUMP EVER AGAIN!


 

We seemed to have forgotten about a lot of issues that arose during the disastrous Trump Presidency.

Once the Democrats take control of both houses of Congress in November they need to work on the following legislation -

1) Repeal the Electoral College.  Clinton won the 2016 election by about 3 Million votes - but the outdated Electoral College put Trump, a self-absorbed demagogue who was the worst President in US history, in the White House.

2) Require all candidates for President and Vice President in the general election to make public at least the most recent 3 years of federal income tax returns in entirety (all forms, schedules and attachments).

3) Require all Presidents and Vice Presidents to divest themselves of all business and investment holdings and place proceeds in a blind trust before taking office.

4) Forbid the federal government and any federal agency from paying an entity for goods and services that is at least 50% owned, either directly or indirectly, by the President or Vice President, or a family member of the President or Vice President – spouse, parent, child, sibling, or a person similarly related to a child or sibling.  And require the President or Vice President to pay back to the federal government from personal funds any such payment discovered after it has been made.

5) Codify the ability to indict and prosecute a sitting President or Vice President for any federal or state crime.  And clearly forbid a sitting President from pardoning himself or members of his immediate family for any crimes, or pardoning any person for any crime directly linked to an abuse of office or crime for which the President has been accused.

We must NEVER allow another President like Trump to be put in office or to be able to abuse the office as Trump did, and MUST make sure all future Presidents are held fully accountable for their crimes and abuses as soon as they are discovered and identified.

TAFN








Monday, July 25, 2022

WHAT I BELIEVE - ROBERT D FLACH

 

I thought it might be helpful for those who are interested in understanding the thinking behind my posts and comments on social and other media, and a good and helpful personal experience, to identify in detail my political beliefs and philosophy.

* First and foremost, I very sincerely believe that in the history of our country no one single individual has done more damage to America, the American people, American values, and American democracy than Donald Trump.  Opposing, denouncing and disavowing Trump has absolutely nothing to do with partisan politics – it is about patriotism.

* I am not a “card-carrying” member of the Democratic Party or Republican Party or any other Party.  In the past I have voted for Democratic, Republican and third-Party candidates in various elections, based on the issues and the individual candidates.  However. I will never again for the rest of my life vote for any Republican candidate in any election at any level unless there is a drastic change to the leadership and agenda of the Republican Party.

* The application of strict libertarian/conservative beliefs and of strict communist/socialist beliefs are both based on the false assumption that all individuals are honest and enter each transaction and relationship with complete honesty and integrity.  Of course, we all know this is not true.  The government has the right, and obligation, to enact restrictions and regulations to protect individuals from dishonesty and harm.  And the government must recognize that the rights and freedoms of the individual citizen are just as important as, if not more important than, the rights of the “state”.

Winston Churchill is credited with saying, “If you’re not a Liberal at age 20 you have no heart.  If you’re not a Conservative at age 40 you have no head.”  I believe to be effective and successful a government needs both heart and head.

* I firmly believe that my current financial and social position is the direct result of the actions and decisions I have made in my life, both good and bad.  I do not blame the wealthy, “the man”, illegal immigrants, minorities, liberals, conservatives, or anyone or anything else for my current situation or my lack of wealth.  I believe I, and I alone, am personally responsible for my current situation and take full responsibility for my actions and decisions – as should everyone.

I do acknowledge that other groups of individuals may have faced more, and different, obstacles than I have as a WASP growing up in northeast America, but history is full of stories of individuals with a variety of “handicaps” successfully overcoming obstacles of all kinds.

* It is not the responsibility of the government to “redistribute wealth” or provide guaranteed income or welfare benefits to citizens.  However, it is beneficial to society for government to provide appropriate benefits and assistance to families with dependent children (for the benefit of the children), veterans and individuals with physical and mental illness and disability.

* I believe that government has a fiduciary requirement to be fiscally responsible with the money it raises via taxes, fees and other sources.  Like a family or a business, it should spend and borrow judiciously.

As the Concord Coalition states - “Fiscal responsibility is essential to creating a better, stronger, more prosperous nation for the next generation. The choices we make today -- or fail to make -- will determine what kind of future our children and grandchildren inherit 20 and 40 years from now.”

* In addition to exercising fiscal responsibility the government must also exercise responsible stewardship of our country’s lands, waters, minerals, timber, air, and all other aspects of the “environment”.

BTW – I fully believe in science, whether it involves global warming, virus and disease prevention, or whatever.

* A healthy and well-educated populace is beneficial to and important for the security and the future of both the individual citizen and the state.  The government should provide or enable universal access to free or reasonably priced health care and to continuing education and “pre-Kindergarten” education opportunities.   

A well-educated and intelligent electorate is especially important for the continuation of our freedom and democracy.  In the past few years, we have seen the danger and damage that ignorant and “under-educated” voters can do.

* Social Security and Medicare are not discretionary government welfare or “entitlement” programs.  Social Security is a government-maintained employee retirement plan and Medicare is a government-maintained employee health insurance plan – both paid for by employee and employer contributions. 

* The government does not have the right to prohibit, restrict or inhibit the sexual relationship or activity of two freely consenting adults who are both fully capable of freely consenting.

* Marriage is a legal contract.  The government does not have the right to prohibit, restrict or inhibit the ability of two adults capable of free consent to enter into a marriage contract based on their sex or sexual orientation.  Nor should it restrict or inhibit the free and equally consented dissolution of a marriage contract.

* The strict separation of Church and State, as outlined in the Constitution, is a foundation of American democracy.  Every American has the right to worship and believe as he or she so chooses – or to choose not to worship or believe.  The government cannot force anyone to choose one religion and set of beliefs over any other, or to choose any religion or beliefs.  No specific religion, sect or church can dictate government policy or legislation.  The specific religious beliefs of a religion, sect or church must never be legislated.  

If the religious beliefs of your chosen sect or religion tells you that abortion is wrong – don’t have an abortion.  If the specific religious beliefs of your chosen sect or religion tells you that homosexuality and same-sex marriage is wrong – don’t practice homosexuality and do not marry someone of the same sex.  But you cannot force someone with different religions beliefs, or no religious beliefs, to act in accordance with the specific religious beliefs of your chosen sect or religion – and most definitely not via legislation or government regulation.

America is not a “Christian country”.  The greatest threat to the future of America and American democracy today is the Republican Party because it is totally controlled by the repressive so-called “Evangelicals” of the extreme Christian fundamentalist “Religious Right”, whose agenda is directly contrary to the true teachings of Christ and contrary to true conservative policy.

As an aside, while I acknowledge and appreciate the “good works” performed by legitimate organized religion and genuinely religious individuals, I truly believe that in the history of the world more evil than good has been done in the name of a god, God or religion.

* I believe the 2nd Amendment has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the unrestricted right of an individual to own and carry any kind of gun.

The Amendment reads – “A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”  U.S. Supreme Court Warren Burger, nominated to the Court by Nixon, correctly observed - “The real purpose of the Second Amendment was to ensure that state armies – the militia – would be maintained for the defense of the state.”  The state militias that existed in the time of the Revolution have since been replaced by state police, the National Guard and the US Armed Forces.  State militias no longer exist – so the Second Amendment is obsolete and has no application today.

I believe no individual of any age has a need or a right to own and carry an assault weapon or an AK-anything.  It is not needed for hunting, target practice or protection.  The one and only purpose of an assault rifle is in its name – to assault.  And ownership of a “normal” gun or rifle must be treated in the same manner we treat automobiles and driving.

Another aside – while it is true that guns don’t kill people, people kill people, people with guns kill a lot more people more quickly and efficiently than people without guns.

* I believe the one and only purpose of the Tax Code is, or should be, to raise the money necessary to fund the government.  The Tax Code should be fair and equitable and treat all taxpayers equally, be consistent and treat specific conditions, situations, and activities the same in all instances, and encourage savings, investment, and growth.  It should not be used for social engineering, to redistribute income or wealth, or to deliver social welfare and other government benefits, to encourage or discourage certain economic decisions (other than savings, investment, and growth), or to provide exclusive benefits for specific industries, business activities, or classes of taxpayers.

The government should not “punish” ambition, entrepreneurship and success.  I do not believe the answer to all our problems is to excessively tax the rich simply because they can afford it.  I do not believe in a “progressive” tax rate schedule.  I believe every American should pay his or her “fair share” of taxes – but if it is fair for a person with net income of $50,000, after appropriate deductions, to pay, let’s say, 10% of that income in tax then a person with net income of $1 Million or $10 Million or $100 Million of net income should also pay 10% in tax.  The person with millions in net income is obviously paying more tax than the person with $50,000 of net income, but not disproportionately so.   

* Bill Clinton said in a television interview given after leaving office that the difference between his and the Democratic Party’s world view and that of then President Bush and the Republican Party was that he and the Democrats believed America should work and act together with the other nations of the free world whenever possible and act independently only when it was absolutely necessary, while Bush and the Republicans believed America should act independently whenever possible and work with other countries only when absolutely necessary.  I support the world view of Clinton and the Democratic Party.

Your thoughts?













Thursday, January 20, 2022

HEY MAGA MORONS - HERE IS THE TRUTH

 Hey MAGA morons and other Republicans – here is the truth:

ü  TRUMP LOST THE 2020 ELECTION – BOTH THE POPULAR VOTE AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE – IN A FAIR AND HONEST ELECTION.  THE ONLY IDENTIFIED ELECTION INTERFERENCE AND IRREGULARITIES WERE COMMITTED BY REPUBLICANS IN SUPPORT OF TRUMP AND BY TRUMP HIMSELF.

ü  TRUMP ALSO LOST THE 2016 ELECTION BY ABOUT 3 MILLION VOTES IN A FAIR AND HONEST ELECTION.

ü  TRUMP PURPOSEFULLY INCITED A SEDITIOUS ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL ON JANUARY 6th IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMAIN IN POWER.

ü  GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL.

ü  THE COVID VACCINATIONS ARE SAFE, LEGITIMATE, EFFECTIVE, AND EFFICIENT.

ü  A BUSINESS, ORGANIZATION OR GOVERNMENT UNIT HAS A RIGHT TO REQUIRE CUSTOMERS, CLIENTS, MEMBERS, AND EMPLOYEES TO WEAR MASKS TO PROTECT THEIR CUSTOMERS, CLIENTS, MEMBERS, AND EMPLOYEES.

ü  A SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS A RIGHT TO REQUIRE STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES TO WEAR MASKS TO PROTECT THEIR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES.

ü  BLACK LIVES, BROWN LIVES, YELLOW LIVES, AND RED LIVES MATTER JUST AS MUCH AS WHITE LIVES.

ü  TODAY’S REPUBLICAN PARTY NO LONGER REPRESENTS TRUE CONSERVATIVES AND “TRADITIONAL” REPUBLICANS.

And, oh yes, one more thing –

ü  IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY NO ONE SINGLE INDIVIDUAL HAS DONE MORE DAMAGE TO AMERICA, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AMERICAN VALUES, AND AMERICAN DEMOCRACY THAN DONALD TRUMP. 












Wednesday, November 24, 2021

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

 


No individual of any age has a need or a right to own and carry an assault weapon or an AK-anything.  It is not needed for hunting, target practice or protection.  The one and only purpose of an assault rifle is in its name – to assault.

Conservative icon Barry Goldwater once said (highlight is mine) –

I've never used an automatic or semi-automatic for hunting. There's no need to. They have no place in anybody's arsenal.”

We must totally ban all assault weapons.  It should be illegal for an individual to purchase, own and carry an AK-47, an assault rifle, or any such weapon, or anything that converts a traditional rifle into an assault weapon.  Upon passage of the ban legislation the government should begin a program to buy back all currently held assault weapons.   

The Second Amendment to the Constitution has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with a citizen’s personal right to carry any kind of gun. 

Conservative former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Warren Burger, nominated to the Court by Nixon, has observed –

The Gun Lobby’s interpretation of the Second Amendment is one of the greatest pieces of fraud, I repeat the word fraud, on the American People by special interest groups that I have ever seen in my lifetime.”

He explained –

The real purpose of the Second Amendment was to ensure that state armies – the militia – would be maintained for the defense of the state.”

The state militias that existed in the time of the Revolution have been replaced by state police, the National Guard and the US Armed Forces.  State militias no longer exist – so the Second Amendment is obsolete and has no application today.

The sale, purchase, and use of guns should be regulated just as automobiles and boats are regulated – as Burger suggested in 1992.

I believe -

* All gun owners must have a valid license, which must be renewed every year. The initial issuance of a license must be based on a thorough and comprehensive background check.

* To get a license a person must pass a written test and a “practical” test. Gun licensees must demonstrate they know how to properly operate and maintain a gun.

* Underage individuals must not be allowed to own guns.  The minimum age for a driving license is usually 17, but the minimum age for owning a traditional gun should be 18.

* Gun owners must be required to have insurance similar to auto insurance.

* We must title and tag each gun at point of purchase, so each gun is registered in a local data base and law enforcement can know if a person is stockpiling an excessive number of guns.

* Guns must be inspected at least every other year.

We have had too many mass shooting tragedies not to act.  The Republican Party must acknowledge that American lives are more important than political contributions.