World Lockdown

   The latest version of the corona virus has spread so widely and so rapidly that countries around the world are shutting down in a desperate bid to control it. 

   In America, many of the nation's most popular sports activities are delaying their games because players are testing positive for the latest variant of the disease. 

   Many cities are canceling their New Year's Eve celebrations, which draw massive crowds overnight no matter how cold it may get. New York City, however, has not yet pulled the plug on its Times Square gathering. 

   Stay tuned. The mayor may yet say, "Don't come." Don't be surprised, however, if thousands of people gather in Manhattan no matter the weather or the cancellation.

   A virus, however, is not known to be politically correct in its willingness to follow a government official's orders.

Block Aid

  Former president Donald Trump is suing to block New York investigators from continuing their probe of his business activities in the years before and during his term in office.

   Whether this has any likelihood of succeeding is an open question. One wonders where it says that someone can stop an official investigation that has only just begun. Moreover, civil investigations often take years. In addition, this one is a state investigation, and federal officials have no authority over what New York chooses to probe.

   There's also the question of funding. News reports have detailed the ex-president's money-raising political activities even as his personal and business activities show a lack of funding.

   So who's paying the investigators? Besides, if a person is innocent, why bother to stop a probe?

   One answer would be a strong ego. Another would be ... 

Freedom and Speech

    "The times, they are a-changin'." -- Bob Dylan

 

   America was formed from change.

   From its earliest days, when European invaders pushed Native tribes aside and brought their own customs -- including slavery -- to the New World, to the current years, those who suffered from any change accepted the consequences. At least, that's what the winners claimed. Reality, however, said otherwise.

   "Nobody likes a loser," the winners insisted, trying to persuade others to accept the new situation and do what they're told.

   There comes a time, however, when someone who is accustomed to winning -- no matter how it is arranged -- finally is outvoted and has to leave his elevated position.

   So does this loser accept the vote and move on with his life?

   For someone who has spent his life seeking approval and demanding to be liked, this is not acceptable. Therefore, he does not accept the vote, even if it is a strong majority.

   This is the problem that faces America today, and the question becomes, what to do about it.

   Those who did not like the results of the recent presidential vote gathered nearly a year ago to protest the inauguration of the winner. But the opposition candidate could not and does not accept the notion that he is, in fact, a loser.

   The question now is, what to do about it. There is strong evidence that suggests the loser encouraged his believers to overturn what he insists was a "rigged" election and prevent the inauguration of the winner.

   Losers have the right to complain about the results of anything -- in this case, an election -- and this free speech is protected by the Constitution. But when this allegedly free speech causes followers to cause harm to others, the speaker becomes little more than a trouble maker, and there are laws about that.

   It may well be true that few people love a loser, but when a loser gripes so loudly and for so long that it leads to violence, it's time for society to gather its resources and shut him up.

Viral Politics

   Playing politics with public health is, to put it bluntly, stupid.

   Unless, of course, those in government have a larger, longer range goal, and that would be to undermine public loyalty to the opposition political party so they can increase their own power.

   Perhaps if politicians had a better reputation for speaking truthfully, America would not have its current problems.

   That's another way of noting that hypocrisy rules.

 

Packing SCOTUS

   Republicans are suddenly outraged at the idea of expanding the Supreme Court, allegedly so Democrats can add some of their own to the bench and thus pack the court in their favor.

   Therefore, wrote one of their flacks, "there has never in history been a more important time" to defeat Democrats in November. The pitch cites a tweet indicating that Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) supports adding four seats to SCOTUS. (Therefore, send money.)

   An odd pitch, warning of a court-packing, since the GOP did just that a few years ago by stalling President Obama's single appointment so Donald Trump could name three conservative Republicans to the court.

   But they do make one valid point: Politicizing the judicial system is a bad idea.

   Perhaps they will listen to their own propaganda.

  

Mandatory Foolishness

    Junior Trump warns that the anti-covid vaccine is an "authoritarian mandate" to crush the Constitution and to fire "millions of hard-working Americans."

   To stop this assault on American freedom, the son of the ex-president adds, he asks for political contributions "to stop Joe Biden."

   Meanwhile, more than 800,000 Americans have died from the virus, and variants threaten to push that total to nearly one million. Hospitals are once again filling up with patients as the virus continues to spread. And around the world, the disease continues to sicken those who do not have access to a life-saving vaccine.

   Apparently, politics is more important than American lives.

Oak Wise

   Druidry is growing around the world as people look for a spiritual practice that does not require strict obedience to a set of rules imposed by others.
   Many folks look for specific instructions on how to contact a spiritual advisor or deity. Druidry does not give specific directions. Rather, it suggests that every person reach out to the Otherworld in their own way. This is similar to what practitioners of other belief systems do, including variations of Shamanism, the Asian term used for native belief systems in cultures around the world. Each has been modified as people adapt the principles to better fit the cultural traditions they know and are comfortable with.
   This is also true of other spiritual traditions that live on in their cultures despite attempts by newer religious organizations to stamp them out. Sadly, this strategy has been the root of many wars -- the belief that one way is right and all others are evil. Politics and economics are usually cited as the causes of military conflict, but an underlying reason is often religious.
   When conversations mix politics and religion, the result often leads to argument and violence. Add economics to the mix, and on a national level, this means war.
   Some preachers assail faith healers as wishful thinkers or at worst as devil worshippers, especially those who do not share the same spiritual beliefs. And they criticize physicians who do not emphasize the healing power of faith. There is room for both. Each contributes to a person's well being. They both are healers -- one through faith and the other through the physical. That's why medical healers are called physicians.
   Conflicts often arise between physicians and faith healers. It's not likely that some faith healers will abandon their criticism of medics, but it is possible to counter-balance what they say. They rely on their right to freedom of speech, but those who disagree can do the same.
   A problem arises when radical preachers claim that right for themselves but want to take it away from others. At the same time, a preacher may want to establish his belief system as somehow official and others are unconstitutional.
   In this context, some will ask which religion or belief system is best?
   The answer is the one that works best for you. Find a spiritual path that is comfortable for you to follow and stay on it regardless of what others may say.
   There is a temptation to share the cause of your spiritual or religious comfort with others in such a way as to convert them to your belief system.

   If they ask, go ahead and share. Otherwise, don't do it, because what works for you may not work for others.
   That way madness lies.