Friday 5!

Random Thoughts on a Friday Afternoon

One

I’ve not been able to write a Friday Five for the past couple of weeks. First, there was the fallout from The Debate … then there was the string of SCOTUS decisions that knocked me off my feet. It’s taken that long to process just how bad things are, and let me tell you folks, they are bad, just not for the reasons you think. 

Sure, Biden is old. We all know that. However, the economy is roaring, despite what folks in the media are saying. Unemployment is at historic lows, inflation is now in the negatives, which is deflation and that means prices are going down.  Markets are at historic highs. For the first time in decades, we are making significant steps to shore up our national infrastructure. Crime is down. Why? Because Biden is also wise. So what … he makes gaffs, he always has. He also gets results, like he always has. 

So, what’s bad? We are witnessing the culmination of a well-orchestrated effort to undermine our constitutional republic. It’s that simple. SCOTUS handed down two rulings at the end of their term that end the way our system has worked for the past 50 years and beyond.  

First: Overturning the Chevron decision makes it significantly more difficult for the executive branch to implement the laws Congress makes because that requires that agencies be able to make rules based on those laws. SCOTUS all but stripped them of that power. They took common sense out of the equation. We had a system where laws were passed by Congress and implemented by agencies who were able to interpret what Congress intended as times and technology changed. We’ve now got something that looks like this: Congress passes law and it can only be implemented exactly as it’s worded. If that requires finagling, then Congress must change the law. Our current House of Representatives has passed about 67 laws this two-year term. That’s over 300 below the average passed over the last 50 years. By overturning Chevron, the SOTUS has hamstrung the very agencies that carry out the will of Congress. 

Second: Trump vs. United States handed the sitting President of the United States total immunity from criminal prosecution for all official acts while in office. ALL of them. Now Trump is claiming that everything he’s done for the past 76 years was an official act. Don’t believe me? He’s working to have the hush money conviction tossed as an official act … SCOTUS has created a position that is above the law and handed all but handed it to a convicted criminal. There are more implications in this ruling, but even this TL: DR is terrible. 

Two

The other day I was sitting at the counter of my local diner and clearly I didn’t come here often enough, even though I’ve been eating here for over 30 years. The retired guys are walking in and everyone knows their names. I walk in and it’s just me, some random guy sitting here typing on a wireless keyboard. Maybe they know me, but I’m such a nerd that they can’t admit it? Anyway, eating locally and keeping these diners in business is your patriotic duty, or at least, it’s good for the local economy.

Guess I need to add “Become a regular at my local diner” to my retired guy bucket list.

Three

When I started writing these years ago, I wanted them to be light and fun, observations about the world around me. Well, that’s next to impossible to do when there are storm clouds threatening on the horizon. 

Google Project 2025. Read it for yourselves. It’s all right there, at least until they pull the site down and hide it. There are already armies of trolls on Twitter and other social media platforms calling it a “Democrat conspiracy.” 

It’s not. It’s the Trump Campaign transition plan courtesy of the Heritage Foundation’s plan to redesign our federal republic into a Christian nationalist state headed by Trump. The principal authors are former Trump administration members. Trump says he knows nothing about it in public, but he’s lying … go figure.   

The list of right-wing organizations involved is long. All the important players are involved. Look for yourselves. 

Four

I’ve started a new short story. “The States War.” My darkest thoughts always seem to find their way onto the page. 

Five

Here are some pictures from the past couple of weeks because we all need something beautiful to look at.