America, Where are You Now?

 America, where are you now?

Don't you care about your sons and daughters?

America, we need you now,

We can't fight alone against the monster.

                                        Steppenwolf, Monster,  1969

Ironic, isn't it that a protest song from the 60's has so much resonance in 2025? Don't you think it is pathetic that we are mimicking Germany in the 1930s? We have armed and masked quasi-militias with unidentified members roaming the streets of our large cities, suburbs,  and small towns, arresting without warrants whomever they please, taking them off the streets in unmarked vehicles with no known destination. No court dates are set, no hearings are scheduled. Deportations are conducted without any legal process being adhered to.

 Children are being detained, taken away in the middle of the night, hands zip-tied, separated from their parents. The "worst of the worst" criminals? What do these actions say about us as a society? Are we now afraid of children? They watch in horror as their parents are arrested and taken away from them in front of, and in, the schools.  

Yes, some of our cities have become battlegrounds, but the battle is not "Antifa" (there is a subject for long conversation) taking over the cities, it is the battle for the right to exist, the right to live freely, the right of peaceful protest without fear of imminent, unwarranted arrest, as spoken of in The Constitution of the United States of America and the Bills of Rights. You remember, those "Founding Documents" we supposedly learned about in schools. Is this the America you grew up in? Is this what you want for America? 

No amount of flag-waving, no military parade, no ballroom, no "imminent danger" can excuse this childish behavior.  Were this behavior not so tragic, so serious in its consequences, I would call it out as bullies in a playground. It has now gone far beyond that. Where are the adults in the room? Where are our finest legal minds?

Generations of political leaders in our country have worked, with some success, to feed and house the poor and working class families when  incomes did not meet expenses. Now, affordable housing, even affordable rent, is beyond the reach of many Americans. Grocery prices continue to climb but wages are not keeping up, regardless of the rhetoric from Washington. Older Americans struggle to afford the basics-food, housing, insurance. Young families are desperate to find safe communities in which to raise their families, to have the great American Dream. Jobs are vanishing, unemployed/underemployed Americans are finding it harder and harder to afford housing, day care and medical care. Is this your version of the Great American Dream? 

Health care is under attack, not from immigrants unfairly using it, but from our government. You know, the government of the people, for the people, and by the people. The Republicans in our Congress have stripped away subsidies that allow Americans to afford health care, and have caused a shutdown of the Government by refusing to even have honest discussions about this critical issue. Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the office of the President, yet they fault the democrats for the shutdown. Is this how Republicans govern? 

What can we do? What can you do? Write/email/call your Representatives and Senators, tell them you are not happy with them, not happy about the healthcare issues, not happy about SNAP going away, not happy with illegal detention and deportation,  not happy with the shutdown. 

Then, most importantly, VOTE whenever you have the opportunity. Votes do matter in elections! And yes, your vote does count, particularly in the elections for Representatives and Senators. (For the record: undocumented individuals do not vote.) 

Make voting a civic duty.  I was speaking Monday night with a Ukrainian (now a United States Citizen) who moved his family here just before the outbreak of the war. He was totally bewildered that a third of the American citizens failed to vote in the last election. In Ukraine, it is considered a citizen's responsibility and an honor to vote.

It is OUR country, America! Stand up for the America you believe in, the America that takes care of it's citizens, the America that was, and hopefully will become again, the beacon on the hill, the great light of Democracy!

As always, your comments are most welcome. 

Thanks for reading!

R.M. "Bob" Hartman

I Am

 I am a citizen of The United States of America, and I am proud to say that; I am proud of this country-our country, yours and mine. It was, and continues to be, literally an experiment in self-government that had never been tried before; it has been a very successful experiment, and our form of a constitutional representative democracy or some moderate variant thereof, has been successfully duplicated many times since 1776. 

The direction of this great and wonderful country, over the long arc of time, has been and continues to be toward, in the words of Jefferson, "a more perfect union."  We have never been perfect, nor do you or I know we ever will be; and the events of the past 10 years remind us of the work that remains yet unfinished. 

Huge swaths of our country lack access to quality health care, education, and employment. An explosive and violent drug epidemic is killing children and adults without prejudice. We incarcerate at a rate far above the norm for a first-world economy, yet corruption and treason run unfettered through our governmental offices. At its inception, social media was advertised as a way to build community; isolation, hate, fear,  bigotry and racism have become its suburbs. 

Yet I retain an unashamed optimism about our future, short and long term. Ours is not a static social construct, rather it expands and contracts as necessity requires. We have the ability, given to us by the foresight of the founders of this great nation, to change the direction and tenor of our country, of our political landscape. It is within our ability to control our government, to control our social discourse, to tone down the racism, bigotry and hate. All that is required to improve what is right, and correct what is wrong, is for you and I to say "no more." We can amplify our voices by voting for the candidate, not the party, by helping with voter registration, by standing up for democracy. Each of us can and should demonstrate with action and word, that bigotry, racism, and hatred are not acceptable virtues of a civilized society. 

Do not misunderstand me, I am not advocating physical violence, riots, or insurrection! I am advocating citizenship, an active participation in the affairs of our society. The most important action you can take is to VOTE. if you want to make more of an obvious impact, speak out, speak up; let your congressman know how you feel, put letters in the local paper, etc. Don't waste time arguing with the uninformed. 

Why do I remain optimistic about America? Because I truly believe in America, and in Americans. I believe the vast majority of us are good, kind, and generous. I believe we all want a good, prosperous future, and I believe we want all Americans to have the same opportunity as we ourselves have. 

I invite you to share in my optimism, and also to leave comments and opinions about this article.

Thanks for reading! 

R.M. "Bob" Hartman

The Dialogue, Part 1

 In our lives there are times, events, and phenomena which, while we may understand why they occur, cannot be reconciled with any aspect of truth or even reality. They are of such magnitude and depth that comprehension is impossible.

Events like these destroy our underlying beliefs in a number of ways; the shattering of norms, of concepts of human dignity and compassion; an abrupt changing in the rules of law we have come to accept and adopt as human rights.

Perhaps it is our own fault, for we have come to believe and trust in an America where right prevails over might; where the individual matters; where we celebrate freedom of thought and action (violence towards others not included).

America's system of government, slow, laborious, and time-consuming as it is, works as well or better than any other; yet it is a relative newcomer to the world stage. If it is viewed on a timeline progressing towards Jefferson's "more perfect union", we can see progress; not so much on a daily or even yearly basis, but as an overall effort, moving inexorably toward a time and place where all mankind will be equal, one toward another.

Our current elected officials, on every level of government, are failing us; the violence, hatred, and fear consume every news cycle, the senseless killing continues unabated. No, there is no one size fits all, one bill will fix everything solution; the problems are of great magnitude and will require great statesmen to begin the process of correction.

With minute exception, "our" elected senators and congressmen are not ours, they are owned lock, stock, and opinion by the despicably wealthy donors they have courted. This, in and of itself, is more than adequate reason to void the Supreme Court's ruling on Citizens United; an action that can only be undertaken by Congress itself. But, that is a discussion I will hold for another post.

The murder of 21 human beings in Uvalde, Texas has brought out the best, I suppose, in our public leaders. They have all offered sympathy, condolences, prayers, and tears. But, and it is a big BUTT, that is all they are going to do. Until such time as voters make Senators, Representatives and Governors feel the danger of not moving gun control forward, nothing will change.

So, you might ask, why won't voters make congressmen take action? Three words, alphabetically:

Abortion

God

Guns

These three immovable planks of the Republican party are the great dog whistles of our times. The mere mention of any of the holy trinity of politics will rile up the base; get them out and voting, not for any one candidate in particular, but against "them;" the ones who will put an abortion clinic on every corner, abolish all religion, and take away your guns. The Republican party has been very adapt at focusing American voters on fear, without ever using the word; they provide on our television screen, a dismal picture of the future if we elect "them."

Short of the reversal of Citizen's United, it will take a strong, principled, self-funded Republican to stand up to the gun lobbies millions and do the hard work demanded to pass meaningful gun control regulation in the United States of America. Frankly, I don't see Congress wiling to take on Citizen's United in the near future; and I am not holding out for a true statesman to come forward from the Republican party.

The most demanding work in politics is always left to the American voter, that is, you and I. Only by studious attention to detail and records, can we filter out the good from the spoils. We must decide what we want America to look like, not only to the world, but to our children and grandchildren and then act in accordance to our decisions. We must decide how many more human beings we want sacrificed on the alter of "gun rights"; how many more lives we can afford to lose as a poor example to the world of American Greatness, as an example of democracy at work.

Thank you for reading; as always, your comments, opinions, and thoughts are welcome. Click on the pencil below to leave a comments.

R.M. "Bob" Hartman

Litmus Test

 I remember, as I am sure you do, the litmus test for Supreme Court Justices, how they would vote on abortion; the test then turned to gun control, then gay rights. The republicans decried these tests, at least when democrats would bring them up.

Now the dour faced Republican party has a litmus test of it's own, one that could destroy the party; indeed, it's even now fracturing and splintering as the more vocal members of the party apply it to legally elected members of Congress.

I'm referring, of course, to the Big Lie. It now is apparent to any thinking person that you must swear allegiance to former President Trump's continued falsehood of election fraud, and agree with him that the election was stolen, and that President Joe Biden is not,in fact, the legally elected President of The United States of America, if you want to remain in Congress, or as governor of your state.

How the leaders of a party traditionally based on conservative values-the rule of law, strong military capabilities, unbreakable ties with our allies-can, in a space of 4 years, redefine the party into a cult based upon one man staggers the imagination.

America had never been, even in it's infancy, a cult worshiping one leader. We are a country founded upon the rule of law, and a strong believe the the core value of democracy; that right of the people to decide their leader in free, honest, and open elections.

The great challenges that faced our country during the pandemic forced our state and local officials to explore and expand opportunities for voters to cast their legal ballot, and I truly believe those leaders performed a Herculean task successfully; more Americans cast their ballot than in any preceding election.

Those American voters, and you are most likely one of them, elected Congressmen, Senators, and Governors of both parties to office; indeed, both houses of Congress are more equally balanced than at any time in recent history. And yes, those American voters elected Joe Biden President of The United States of America at the same time.

For the first time in decades, both parties have an equal opportunity to present their policies and values to the public. Both parties have the ability now to entice voters to support them, based upon what their parties can do for America.

Instead of giving Americans ideas and policies that could benefit all of us, the Republicans have chosen to present a party of cult worship.

I don't think this can end well for the party of Lincoln.

Thank you for reading, your thoughts and comments are always welcome!

R.M. "Bob" Hartman

A Rant

 

Ok, I need to rant. And no, it is not about politics. My rant is about everyday people who seem to forget history, or perhaps never studied it to begin with.

Beginning in the mid-1800’s, Polio was responsible for sickness and death in the world population. Here in America, as many as 15,000 people were infected each year; although most did not die, the lingering effects of paralysis permanently damaged lives and affected common well-being. It was not uncommon for families to be quarantined as a whole because of a case of polio; nor was it uncommon in the 1940’s for entire U. S. towns to be quarantined to prevent the spread of the virus. Travel was restricted between “infected” communities and the rest of the nation. Children were frequently kept from playing outdoors because they might encounter someone carrying the virus. (Does any of this sound familiar?)

Two vaccines were found to be effective, one in 1955 and one in 1963; the United States (and a large portion of the rest of the world) began a vaccination program targeting school age children, and later included pre-school children. Some of you may remember the sugar cubes, often administered in schools.

Net effect: in the 1970’s, less than 10 cases of polio were reported in the United States. Polio is now considered eradicated world-wide, except for Afghanistan and Pakistan, which are still at epidemic levels.

So, what is my rant?

People who refuse to take this current pandemic serious. People who refuse to follow the best science and medical advice. People who still insist that this pandemic is not real, or that people are not dying of Covid-19. People who refuse to wear masks, who refuse to observe social distance, and who insist on gathering in large groups, particularly unmasked. Leaders who refuse to acknowledge just how serious this is.

In the space of one year, we have lost more Americans to Covid-19 than were killed in combat in the 4 years of WWII.

Is that serious enough for you?

Do not tell me that this was all dreamed up so President Trump would not be re-elected. And please do not tell me again that wearing a mask or washing your hands interferes with your “God-Given Rights as An American Citizen.”  To be totally honest, I do not think for one minute that the release of the vaccines was held up to embarrass then-President Trump.

Frankly, I do not wear a mask to show support for one political party or another. I wear a mask to protect myself, my family, and yes, you.

I get it.

We are all tired of this COVID-19 stuff. We are all tired of wearing masks, etc., of our favorite restaurants not being open. Tired of not being able to spend time with friends and family like we want. Tired of our children and grandchildren being schooled online, of not having play time with their friends. Tired of being unable to have our social interactions, our clubs and groups, our churches.

But think about this for a minute. We are almost to a point of getting this virus under control. The vaccines for Polio took decades to develop, and 30 years to reach herd immunity; but the Covid-19 vaccines have been developed in the space of a year. Current predictions have the United States at herd immunity in a year.

Let us buck up, America. Stand up and do the right thing. Wear the mask, wash your hands, and do not get too close. Get the shots when they are available.  

If you believe your ancestors are watching you from afar, make them proud. Let us show them that America can do this, together. As Americans, we have stood together in times of national crises before and come out the better for it. It is time to come together and do it again.

Thank you for reading, and as always, your comments are welcome.

R. M. “Bob” Hartman

Of Flags and Patriots

I have noticed, over the past several years, an increase in the number of people displaying an American Flag, be it on their vehicle, house, or even clothing. Certainly, this is not a bad thing at all; we do live in the greatest country on earth, and there is nothing wrong with being proud of one’s country.

When I watched the insurrection on January 6^th, I noted several American Flags. This caused me to thing about the flag, and its meaning and position in events such as this.

The act of waving a flag does not make you a patriot, nor does it make your cause just. When you commit a crime, waving a flag does not make it any less of a crime, nor does it protect you from responsibility for your actions. When you physically assault someone with a pole, having a flag attached to it does not make it legal.

If you are displaying the flag as a symbol of your loyalty “. . . to the Republic for which it stands . . .”, then you should also be mindful of the duty of America’s citizens to be obedient to her Laws and Regulations.

We, as citizens of the United States of America, enjoy certain freedoms which are the envy of the world. We have freedom of the press, and we have the right of peaceful assembly. The right of peaceful assembly does not, by any stretch of the imagination, include the right to violently storm the Capitol whilst shouting “Hang Mike Pence,” regardless of the oration you just heard.

It is exceedingly difficult, nay, impossible for me to understand the word “patriot” being commandeered by people who want to invalidate the very action which defines our democracy-voting.

Using force to attempt to alter the outcome of a free and fair election is not patriotism. Rather, I see it as a sign of cowardice, a desperate act undertaken by individuals who will not accept this single, basic concept-the majority of Americans who voted did not want President Trump to have a second term.    

Calling yourself a patriot and carrying an American Flag while participating in armed insurrection does not change the facts: you are not a patriot saving America, you are a criminal and should be treated as such.

 

Thank you for reading; your comments are appreciated.

 

R. M. “Bob” Hartman

Thoughts from the Desert

It's early Saturday, and I'm waiting for my morning coffee to perk. I can hear some birds, singing out to each other as the sun rises over Utah's western desert.

The covid pandemic has brought major changes in lives throughout the world, and Kathleen and I are no different. She now works from home, and has been doing so for several weeks. My employer offered a furlough to those who are in high risk categories, of which I am considered one, so I have been at home as well. I can say I have achieved a lot these past six weeks, including a complete remodel of our home office, however, it is still a work in progress.

This furlough has also given me the opportunity to study the behaviour of people under stress. I still find the hoarding of toilet paper and gas cans sadly irresponsible, and tragically funny. As I posted before, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, to which a majority of Utah citizens belong, was quick to respond to the social distancing protocol, and I credit that response for keeping the spread of the virus slow in Utah. When I take rare trips to stores, etc., I find most people wearing masks and gloves, including me. Utah's public officials, including our governor, have responded quickly, and well. There are daily press briefings from the governor and the state epidemiologist, which are well used to inform the public and keep panic to minimum.

It is disappointing to see people,like Alex Jones, and some websites like Infowars, feed into the reopen now movement. Even in Utah,some folks are holding reopen rallies and protests. My opinion is that these events are going to result in an uptick of cases of coronavirus, and should not be held; it is my firm belief that flattening the curve is more important than being able to eat at my favorite establishments.

The President is doing a disservice to the public when he tweets "liberate Illinois" or other states where the rallies are held. It's discouraging to note that he is only sending those tweets in states with Democrat governors, or those cities where he and the mayor have differing opinions. It is interesting, to say the least, to compare the strong leadership of most governors and mayors, who are using facts and hard data to determine the course of action, with the self-centered, constantly changing actions proposed by President Trump. To say America deserves better from him is a gross understatement.

At this time, our President should be encouraging the citizens to follow the protocols established by the CDC and the elected officials in each state and locality. He failed to follow the previous administration's lead and advice, that a pandemic of this sort would reach America and affect Americans citizens. When he talks about his great response to this massive threat to American lives, the voters should remember that this President has tried, and in many ways succeeded, to reduce the funding for the CDC during his administration. He has also been slow and weak in his response to the financial damage to everyday citizens, focusing instead on helping large corporations survive the financial storm. This is a time when the President of the United States needs to support the working class, or we shall see economic disaster of a scale not seen since the 1930's.

Just my thoughts, please let me know what you think. Click on the pencil inn the white box below to post your comments.

As always, thanks for reading!

R. M. "Bob" Hartman

Mass Hysteria, Fueled By Mass Ignorance

Really, people? Hoarding toilet paper? I was at my local Sam’s club this morning, there was a waiting line to get in-limiting the number of people in the store. Ok, that I can understand-distance is a way to contain the spread of viruses. Toilet paper in 36 roll packages was limited to 2 per person.  I saw families lined up, mom, dad, 5 kids; each person had a basket to put their 2 packages of toilet paper in. How much toilet paper do they normally buy in a shopping trip?

No diapers or feminine protection products available. No baby 

formula, no milk. No coffee, no bottled water; plenty of soda pop and snack crackers.

Where I work, a store that sells sporting goods, hardware, clothes, 

toys-we are out of 55-gallon water barrels, toilet paper-including RV toilet paper, any type of face mask, Kleenex, gas cans, any form of sanitizing cleaner, even bleach.

It’s a virus that affects the respiratory system, not your intestinal 

tract. It’s an air-borne virus, not a water-spread virus. It can’t live in our treated tap water.

It does spread though social contact, I understand that. I applaud 

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for cancelling the General Conference and suspending all local worship services for the time being. They probably did the best thing possible to avert the spread of the virus!

Our State government has closed all K-12 schools for two weeks, 

again a very positive move in my opinion. Classes have been moved to on-line wherever possible. There will be sack breakfasts and lunches available for children who need them. Again, a good response.  

Gun and ammunition sales at our store are up, way up over a year 

ago. Some types of ammunition are out of stock. I spoke to one of my regular customers, he told me he was stocking up on ammo because of the riots. I changed the subject.  

Hysteria runs rampant in our population. In many ways, it is 

probably worse than the virus.

Why? One can only surmise. Our government has been kind of 

slow on the response; in my opinion, they should have let the CDC handle the information, get the facts out rather than the speculation. 

At this time, during this crisis, we need a leader who will calm the 

people, who will work to make sure the proper tests and treatments are available to all who need them. We need a leader that will help people understand what they need to do, and what they don’t need to do. We need a leader who will unite us and bring Americas great resources to bear on the problem at hand. We need a leader that doesn’t cut funding to the CDC and other health organizations, a leader who supports community hospitals, doctors and nurses. We need a President of the People, for the People, and by the People.

We need a Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Kennedy. Our reality 

TV star is not getting the job done.

Thanks for reading. Of course, these are only my opinions. I’d like

to hear yours, agree or disagree with me.

R.M. “Bob” Hartman

To leave a comment, click on the pencil in the white box below.

What Did I Expect?

Somedays, you just shake your head, you cannot believe it. No, I’m not talking about anything in Washington, at least, I don’t think the problem is there. I’m curious if you noticed the same sad occurrence where you live, perhaps you can let me know if your experience was different.

Authors, columnists, politicians and pundits; from all shades of the political spectrum, we hear about patriotism, our shared American values, and our great country’s history. America First, take our country back, Make America Great Again-the list of patriotic statements is long.

My employer does not sell food, tobacco, or alcohol; this means we are one of the companies that can hire high school students for part-time positions. For many, this is a first job, a first entry into the real world. While I am sure it is an eye-opening experience for them, it also allows me a small window into the current condition of education standards in Utah.

I hear some of these young people talk about our country; some is just a parroting of the social media they follow; some is actually about real events taking place. So, I decided to take a sampling of these high school students when the opportunity presented itself.

Saturday, December 7th, provided an excellent testing date. I asked 4 students what day it was, what date it was, and what significance the day had to America.

Not one of them could tell me. To make matters worse, two of them are 4.0 GPA seniors.

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” FDR

Have we, the American People, so quickly forgotten the sacrifice of so many Americans on that fateful day in Hawaii? Is this perhaps just the tip of an iceberg, so to speak, a micro-view of a paradigm shift in American values?

It’s been said by many, and I am afraid it is still true today: Those who fail to learn from the mistakes of history, are bound to make them again. Did we not learn from Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, what happens when you attempt to appease a dictator? And yet, our seemingly historically ignorant President coddles up to dictators, and trash-talks our allies. He ridicules the United Nations, and brow-beats our fellow member countries. And for what? “Likes” and re-tweets?

The Office of the President of The United States of America is the biggest bully pulpit available in the world today. When the person that holds the esteemed office of President denigrates our elected representatives, the rule of law, our democracy, our fellow-citizens, and our own history, it should come as no surprise when the next generation of American voters and taxpayers fail to see any value in the sacrifices and lessons of history.

The President of the United States of America should be, and in the main has been, a person that exemplifies the best that America has to offer. He, or she, should be someone that we can tell our children to look up to as an example of leadership and statesmanship.

Historically, our presidents have lead America through natural disasters, financial collapse, wars both hot and cold, internal strife, and international affairs. This president appears to be leading us down the unhappy path of impeachment and his personal dishonor.

I had expected this president would want to have his term in office held up in history as a significant time; a time in which the interests of America and her citizens would improve. I had expected this to be a time to be noted in the history books as a good point in American history, perhaps with the improved education of our children, progress on eliminating income inequality and racial discord.

I believe this presidency will not meet my expectations.

R.M. "Bob" Hartman

As always, your comments and viewpoints are welcome.

Thanks for reading.  

It's Been A While

Since I felt like writing about our county’s condition; and I can’t say that I am happy about where we are today or that I am comfortable about where we appear to be headed. It seems America is riding in a small lifeboat, lurching badly on an angry ocean of upheaval, lies, distrust, discord, and angst.

Candidate Trump promised to shake up Washington, and to drain the swamp. I’m sorry to say, but he has succeeded beyond even his wildest dreams of shaking things up in Washington; and as for draining the swamp, he appears instead to have aroused every alligator within several thousand miles. I believe there is a lack of common courtesy or even decency in Washington, including in the White House; and I fail to comprehend how our country has managed to become so childish. On both national and international levels, our country’s reputation and honor are being trashed daily, even hourly; and there seems no clear reason for this outlandish style of governing. Although President Trump likes to blame any bad news on the “Fake News,” I don’t think that is accurate; honest reporters tell the news as it is happening, that is, they report the facts and the words said; that honest reporting may not be what the president wants to see or hear, but facts are not to be trifled with, downplayed or excused away. Facts are exactly that, facts; they cannot be changed to fit the President’s wishes.

We are approaching the end of year three of the Trump presidency, and I don’t see America as being better off than we were before Mr. Trump was elected President. The current occupant of the White House has caused great harm to our standing in the world, both by his actions and his words. He has succeeded in distressing our Allies, and in bringing out the worst in the behavior of common Americans.

America has been a world leader for democracy since the end of the Second World War. Our State Department has worked to build and strengthen our relationships with our allies, not only for support in case of war, but also in matters of trade, in dealing with humanitarian crises, and in actions relating to rogue states or stateless terrorist organizations. The Trump administration has been in isolationist overdrive, pulling out of treaties on pressing environmental issues, Iranian nuclearization, and trade with our Pacific Rim allies and our North American neighbors. Most recently, and perhaps most damaging to our standing in the world, President Trump reneged on the working agreement with the Kurdish forces that helped the United States in the war with ISIS.

Here in the United States, decades of hard work, and the sacrifice of many lives, have gone into the process of improving the relations of Americans of different races. It is work that is not complete now, not by a long shot, but progress has been made in the acceptance of our neighbors, regardless of the color of their skin. That is, until the Trump presidency. Even during his campaign for President, and since his election, Mr. Trump consistently fans the flames of racial and ethnical division. He has used the bully pulpit to deride and disparage any peoples he can; people of color, women, academics, political opponents, and immigrants of any nationality; but most consistently, the people of Mexico and South America.  This race-baiting and xenophobic behavior has empowered those who, like the KKK, are afraid of “others,” and who see a conspiracy behind every tree or news report. President Trump apparently does not understand that he is the President of all American citizens, not just the ones he likes.

One thing our current President does understand well is the power of the spoken word. Don Miguel Ruiz, who writes about the philosophy of the ancient Toltec Indians, describes The First Agreement thusly:

“Be impeccable with your word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.”

Mr. President, please speak with integrity. Be impeccable with your word.  

Thank you for reading; as always, your comments are welcome.

R. M. “Bob” Hartman

A Wish List

The Democrats had a two-evening debate last week. I didn't watch it (work conflicts), but I did read reports from and about it. Frankly, I didn't learn much.

What I want,and what I believe most Americans want from the Democratic Party, is a clear platform of goals for the next administration, and a clear pathway to achieving those goals.

Here's some ideas for your consideration.

Stop wasting time bashing President Trump. It fires up his base, and makes it appear that you have nothing to offer, except to bash him. You need to be better than that, and I think you are.

Our economy, both on Wall Street and main street, is suffering from bad decisions on trade and tariffs; let's go back to the trade table and re-think our economic priorities. Develop programs that reward small businesses and incentivize American manufacturing.

America put a man on the moon in a decade, and we have, in our colleges and Universities, great and wonderful talents and abilities. Create a program putting those talents and abilities to work on providing America with sources of clean, safe, affordable energy to power our country forward.

Stop punishing people who want to escape wars and famine in their home countries, and welcome them to our shores. Clean up the immigration "problem" by putting into action policies that assist immigrants in become productive American citizens. Punish those companies and individuals that exploit undocumented workers.

Education, or the lack of it, creates poverty; and the United States is suffering from a lack of trained, educated tradespeople; and has a surplus of unemployed, or under-employed citizens. Bring back, in volume, trade schools that teach welding, plumbing, carpentry, electrical, and other skills. Make them affordable, and show how a tradesman, well skilled, can again become a part of the middle class. These are jobs that cannot be exported to India, China, or elsewhere.

Our public schools are lacking qualified teachers. How about a program that eliminates student debt for teachers that stay in the profession for four years, at the K-12 levels; and continues on by providing a tax break each year they remain teachers?

Eliminate the revolving door on our prisons, in part by closing the for-profit prison system. It has put a burden on law enforcement by demanding a certain percentage of the for-profit cells will be filled, and this in turn contributes to an unjust proportion of non-whites being incarcerated for the crime of being poor.

Renew our standing in the world by working with our allies and reducing the threat of global terrorism, while holding sacred and inviolable our beliefs in human rights, dignity, and the rule of law.

Well, there's a few ideas for you to think about as you campaign this year.

Thank you for reading, and, as always, your comments are welcome.

R.M. "Bob" Hartman

Senator John McCain

This morning, I allowed myself the privilege of watching, and then reading, the wonderful oration of Honorable Senator John McCain’s (R-AZ) on October 16th, when he received the well-deserved Liberty Medal Award at the National Constitution Center. I listened to, watched, and read the entire speech, not just the sound bites presented by the media.  

In doing so, I was transported back in time; back to the days of statesmen and honorable leaders, who frequently used opportunities like these to build on America’s successes and yes, to outline concerns they felt obligated to bring to the discussion.

To the talking heads and political pundits, this speech consisted of a bashing of the current administration. Perhaps they should listen to (or read, if they have the intelligence required) the entire speech. By my count, there are 17 paragraphs in this speech, and only one was a comment on his perception of the current administration.

Instead, Senator McCain used this time to speak about America’s greatness, its rightful place on the world stage, and on the ideals that have shaped our great country.

He spoke, with emotion at times not well suppressed, about service to our country-not only his, but the service of countless men and women who have fought, on the battlefield and in politics, to build America, to display the best that we have, and the better place we all hope for.  

I’d like to ask your indulgence, as I quote a paragraph from his oration:

“What a privilege it is to serve this big, boisterous, brawling, intemperate, striving, daring, beautiful, bountiful, brave, magnificent country. With all our flaws, all our mistakes, with all the frailties of human nature as much on display as our virtues, with all the rancor and anger of our politics, we are blessed.”

Senator McCain pointed out something I believe every American needs to admit. We, as a nation, are not perfect; we have made mistakes in the past. Doubtless, we will make mistakes in the future.  He enumerated some of the incredible characteristics that have served our country very well, traits that have long defined America as a leader on the world stage. The Senator pointed out that America has, historically, been the benchmark of freedom and democracy, as well as the driving force and defender of those ideals around the world.

No, America is not perfect, and yes, today we face a morass of problems, domestically and internationally. I do believe that statesmen, such as Senator John McCain, will find solutions to our problems and lead America again to firmer ground.

Thank you, Senator McCain, for a wonderful speech, and for your service to our country.

R. M. “Bob” Hartman

Your opinions and comments are welcome, as always.

Here is a link to the Senator’s speech: 

https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/10/remarks-by-senator-john-mccain-at-2017-liberty-medal-ceremony   retrieved October 19, 2017

Spring, hopefully.

The sun has risen, shining through the light broken clouds surrounding the mountain tops that make up my beloved Wasatch Front. Birds are singing outside my window, and I have a cup of hot coffee and a pipe. Everything is well in my world. Spring, I believe, is finally trying to arrive in the Salt Lake Valley.

It seems to have been a long time arriving, this spring. The winter, while not rough in the valley, has been good to the mountains; we experienced a very good snowfall, with lots of moisture content. Given the past several years of below-average moisture, this is a good sign of things to come!


It has also been a long time since I have felt the desire to write here. The whirlwind that pretended to be the election cycle has severely shaken my faith in our electoral process with the constant tweets, interruptions and unfounded allegations rapidly, and repeatedly, overtaking substance and fact. The rude, crude, obnoxious, and insulting behavior of the field of candidates left me with the feeling of being in a bad dream. Unlike a dream, however, it continued past dawn, and even continues to this day.


Not since the days of “yellow journalism” (mid to late 1800’s) have the people of our country been exposed to such inane behavior and rude attacks by the candidates on each other. But this was not a matter of difference in policies, or a debate of the kind that causes serious reflection on the part of the electorate; rather this was nothing more than a cheap, shoddy effort to rally the base (whatever that may be) while demonizing the opponent.


Personally, I was ashamed of the behavior and demeanor of our candidates. “The whole dern lot of them”, as grandmother would have said.  No one seemed willing, even for a moment, to step above the fray.


Was this what the American public wanted, or more to the point, was it what we needed? Was it what the American voters deserved? Sadly, we have become a nation that is fixated on 30 second sound bites, 24 hour or less news cycles, and reality TV. (Which, frankly, is not reality.) You can pick any discussion point, pick a side, and find a talk radio or a TV commentator willing to bolster your opinion. Easy, isn’t it? No thinking required.


No thinking required. The same held true of the rallies each candidate held. There was little or no discussion about “this is what I want to do, and this is how I will achieve it.” Rather, we sat through month after tedious month of “the other side said this” “the other side wants to take your _________ away.” Scare tactics, creating fear of the boogieman, seemed to be the best the politicians could achieve. If fear was what the politicians wanted to achieve, they succeeded, all too well. Fear of the angry, disenchanted white males; of the liberal eastern elitists, the mainstream (or lamestream) media, the tree-huggers, big business, real or imaginary terrorists, people of other races or origins, other faiths. Plenty of fear to go around. And little or no uplifting messages, no spirit of “can do”, the type of spirit that propelled us to victory in WWII, and put an American on the moon in a decade.


But, who is to blame for this? Certainly, blame can be laid on the politicians and pollsters, the pundits, the media. But more to the fact, I am afraid, the blame is on us. You and me. The voting (I hope) public. We allowed the powers behind the politicians to tell us what they wanted us to hear. In the main, we refused to exercise our duty to say, “hold on, this is not what we signed up for.” We-you and I-refused to hold our politicians accountable to us, the American people.


Fortunately, we are allowed a do-over. Elections for the House are held every two years, and the Senate and President, every four. We can, and should, start now to hold our elected officials responsible for their behavior and actions. We have voices; we have email, petitions, and letters to our officials, as well as potential, untried politicians waiting to enter public service and help us overcome the morass we have created. We do not have to settle for the status quo, we do not have to re-elect the incumbents.


Read, follow, and study your elected officials. Let them know what you think, and don’t be shy about it. Support those who are working to make America a better place, a more civilized society, and work to replace those who spread hate and fear.


I am remembering the words attributed to Colin Powell: “You break it, you own it.” Well, in my opinion, we broke it, now let’s fix it. We, the United States of America, are better than this.


As always, your comments of agreement or opposition are appreciated.


Thanks for reading,

RMH   

Politics and Religion

I’ve watched, at times fascinated and at other times sickened, as the various segments of our American politicians and society debate religion, its place in our great country, and in our laws and behavior.

The Declaration of Independence, which took our country away from the dominion of Great Briton, does state: . . . that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among them are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. . .

Note that it states, all men are created equal. It does not state that only those of a certain religious belief have these rights, more rights than others. Nor does it say you must have a belief in any one particular, if any, Creator.

It states that all men are created equal. We can argue the statement about “all men,” but at this point, I believe the reference was to all people. Therefore, it includes women as well as men (historical introspection is mine).

The Constitution of the United States of America does not define any religious belief, or any set rules of religious behavior, or belief.

In fact, the 1^st amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America (part of the Bill of Rights) states: 
      "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, prohibiting the free exercise thereof; abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Well, hello freedom! This gives each of us the right to believe what we want about the existence of a Creator, or not. It gives us the freedom to worship or not as we desire. It removes from the discussion the right or privilege to say, the United States was founded as a Christian nation. It does give us the right to practice our religions, or not; to believe or not as we wish, to attend church or not as we wish; however, and this is a BIG however, it does not give us the right to force our beliefs on others, or to use that belief to divide us. We are bigger that that as a nation, as a people. 

Politics in the United States has become a dirty, nasty business. To entice votes, politicians are trying hard to divide and conquer the voters. They are trying, and to a large point succeeding, to divide us upon religious grounds. The rhetoric has become evil, nasty, even putrefying. It is no wonder that the majority of Americans turn away from the debate.  

The American people deserve, and should demand, better. We need to know, politicians, what you plan to do to improve our economy, our health care, our standard of life. We don’t care about where or how often you worship. My belief, or non-belief, in a Creator is “none of your damn business,” as Grandmother would have said. 

Politicians, let’s take your religious belief out of the discussion, for this moment. Do not tell me what your “God” wants us to do. Tell me what you are going to do. Are you going to support health care for all people; are you going to say those who are outside of your comfort zone they have no right in their decision; are you going to allow women to decide how and when they decide to bring new life into the world, or would you prefer to tell them what they have to do? Will you feed the hungry children, provide them education, will you provide daytime child care so mom and dad can earn a living, or would you prefer they end up on welfare for the rest of their lives? Are you going to allow me to make my own end-of-life decisions? Are you willing to allow medical marijuana to ease my discomfort from chemo? Or would you prefer I suffer when the pain can be relieved? Are you going to pay the bills, or would you prefer my family goes hungry?

Or, let’s put your “God” back into the discussion, for the moment. What would He say, what would He do? Would He heal the sick, feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted? Would He say, “Provide for them, and their families?” Would He be there, or would He say, “Well, too bad for you?”

Perhaps more importantly, it is time for the American voters to wake up, to say, Hello! We need our governing bodies to work for us, for the greater good of America. It is time for us to no longer accept the R or the D in the voting booth. It is time for us to look the politicians in the eye and ask, what are you going to do for us, for our nation? The time is now to ask for answers. It is time for us to look beyond their business connections, beyond their religious affiliations, read beyond the sound bites, to look at what they have done, to ask them what they are willing to do for us as a country.

It is time to ask our politicians what they are going to do for greater good of America. 

As always, your comments are welcome! Thanks for reading. 

RMH

It’s July 4, 2015. Independence Day in the United States of America.

It has not been an easy year; some of us have cried tears of joy, others among us have gnashed their teeth. We have seen changes in our country this year, changes that have taken years to occur yet seemingly happened overnight. People have died, churches have been burned; all in the name of (a) God. But God is not in charge of our secular laws, which are the basis of our freedoms.

Its important today, I think, to remember our founding fathers; who wanted to establish a country free from the 16^th century boundaries of god and country. The founding fathers, in my study of history, wanted America to be a country ruled by the laws of reason, of equal rights, of fair play.

The founders could not imagine the tools and abilities we have now. They had to rely on post by horseback, of letters written by hand, using quill and ink. Today, we have the internet, IM, email; all unfettered by officials and accident of riders. I think, personally, they would have enjoyed the instant communication; the ability to reach out through blogs and social media.

I will agree, that the founders did not envision publicly a country where women and those of color had the right to vote, the right to be equal. I think those ideas were beyond the scope of their vision; but not for the reasons so many think. They were trying (and I think they succeeded well) to establish the original ideas of freedom, they were caught up in the moment of trying to have freedom for white middle class men, they did not dare to dream of the same freedom for women and people of color. It was not an error of omission; rather they were doing, in my opinion, to achieve the best they could at the time. Remember where, and when, they were. Remember what they were trying to achieve. In all of the documents, papers, and letters I have researched from those brave men, there was not any mention of denying those same freedoms to all of the American people; they were simply trying to establish some basic firm ground, a ground from which we could expand and grow.

And grow we have, far beyond even the most fertile imagination of the founding fathers. We have a world-class economy, a growing but frustrated middle class, and an over-expanded military, even as we work to understand our own internal struggles. From their initial work, we have seen women and people of color achieve the right to work, and to be accepted as equals. Is it perfect? Far from it! But we must now continue the work of our founding fathers.

America always has been, is now, and forever (I hope) will be a work in progress. America was, at the time of its creation, the most democratic of nations. We have been an example to other nations trying to work to independence. Many other nations have used our declaration of independence, our methods of laws, and our systems of governance, to establish their own countries. Of that, we should be proud! We, as a nation, are looking for ways to improve, to be more inclusive. That work is hard, difficult, and fraught with peril. We may at times, lean more right, or more left. But it is a work we should always embrace. It is our duty, our debt to the founding fathers, to examine our relationships and to grow; if needed, to change how we deal with the challenges of our times.

It is time, my fellow Americans (thank you LBJ) for all of us to look hard at what we believe, to look at the big picture. It is time to overlook the sins of the few, and look for the good that is present in all our fellow people. Past time, I think, to remember we (America) are the best of what the world has to offer. It is time for us to put that to work, to develop the best that is in us, to allow others to develop their best, to push America forward again to our rightful position as the beacon of democracy and freedom.

Freedom, and democracy, are not easy. It takes guts, willpower, and willingness. It’s easy to sit on our couches and moan. It’s harder to reach out and shake hands with a neighbor. But, it can be done. It’s hard, I know, to have discussions about uncomfortable subjects. But don’t we owe the founding fathers that discussion? They were willing to die for their freedom; can you and I not at the least open lines of communication with our neighbors?

It’s July 4^th! Let Freedom Ring!

As always, your comments and thoughts are welcome.

RM “Bob” Hartman

Senator Lee again, but not what you think!

It is not often I feel the need to admit that a member of the Republican delegation from Utah has done something I can applaud. Usually, the delegation from Utah follows tea-party lines, policies that I cannot accept.

Yesterday, however, I learned that the junior Senator from Utah, Mike Lee (R), has co-sponsored a bill with  a (gasp) Democrat; Patrick Leahy of Vermont that would reign in the National Security Agency, the agency charged with collecting metadata from all Americans that use email, cell phones, and landlines.

Metadata- the information about we use our communication devices- can be used to trace who we call (or email) and where our devices are located. That information allows the NSA to listen to our private discussions. There is a huge, brand new, data center in Bluffdale, Utah that operates 24/7/365 to follow your calls and emails. The NSA currently traces who we talk to, and what we say. This is the information that the “USA Freedom Act” will not allow the government to have.

Your calls to a grandparent in Europe, or in Topeka, are recorded. Did you mention how you feel about the laws and legislation that affect you and your family? It’s all recorded for future use, under the current law. It can be used to brand you, or your grandmother, as a terrorist. Would my grandmother be a terrorist, under today’s vision? She had strong feelings about Democrats, going back to Roosevelt. God forbid the NSA had listened to those conversations; she referred to him as a dictator! (The only time I heard her use a cuss word was about Roosevelt! That Damned Democrat!)

I grew up in rural Colorado, and we had party lines. Agnes listened to every conversation my family had. We knew that, ok? Mrs. Thompson (also on the party line) subscribed to the Wall Street Journal, and sent a letter off to our congressmen almost every day! (Ok, the postmaster had loose lips.) “Everybody knew” she was a communist because of that.

But for the Government of the United States of America to listen into, record, and more importantly judge, the conversations I now have with my sister, brother, and friends? WHY? I don’t think it is necessary for “national security.”

In the early days of America, groups of people met in bars and taverns to discuss how to birth our country. They were careful as to how they spoke, and if a stranger entered into the room, they became quiet and circumspectfull in their speech. It was illegal to speak wrongly of the King and the Empire. Is it illegal today? Some would say no. I disagree.

Today, we don’t know who is entering into, or listening to, our conversation.

Today, under the current NSA policies, those discussions will be recorded. What happened, friends, to free speech?

When I was younger, I read and studied Ayn Rand. I agreed with a lot of what she said and proposed. Over the years, I have moved away from that philosophy. Does that label me as a terrorist? I don’t think so, but. . . what does the NSA think?

It is my opinion that discussion among friends and co-workers, family, etc., helps us form our opinions, our beliefs. It is the open dialogue about where our country is, and where it should be going, that will propel our country forward. We are a diverse country, and in our diversity, we can form common opinion.

Let me repeat that: We are a diverse country, and in our diversity, we can form common opinion. It is not easy, it is not comfortable, but it is what this country was founded upon. We may have to accept people who do not believe as we do, who do not worship as we do, who form alliances we disagree with.

But, this is what America was founded upon! It took, what?, 10 years, to develop our current constitution and its system of laws and regulation is still being improved upon! It is indeed a moving goal; freedom is not easy nor is it free. In the immediate aftermath of September 11 2001, the so-called “Patriot Act” was passed. Now, 14 years later, Senators Lee and Leahy are acting to correct some of its most obvious mistakes.  

Senator Lee, while I am opposed to a great majority of what you have done in the past, and continue to do so today, I applaud you for this surprisingly liberal stance.

Your opinions and comments are welcome, as always.

R. M. Bob Hartman

The Question Is. . .

Republican Senator Mike Lee, the junior senator from Utah, posted an op-ed in the Deseret News (4/27/2015), in which he purports to discuss the question before the Supreme Court; namely, should same-sex marriage be legal and honored throughout the United States of America?

However, the good Senator misstated the question. To quote his article:

“Tomorrow the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case involving four separate lawsuits, each dealing with the same question: does the U.S. Constitution require the redefinition of marriage?”

Sorry, Senator, but you misstated the question. The question is not redefining marriage, rather it is "should same sex marriage be given equality with opposite sex marriage?" In America, the civil contract known as marriage grants the individuals participating certain rights, privileges, prerogatives, and responsibilities. These include, but are not limited to, such rights and privileges as visitation at hospitals, end of life decisions, joint ownership of property, right of survivorship, filing taxes jointly; and should include having your marriage recognized as legal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

To further quote you, Senator:

“And unless it’s an issue of specifically national or interstate consequence, the Constitution directs this decision-making process to occur at the state level, to create the space for the greatest diversity of opinions to be expressed.”

Your own sentence, Senator Lee. I suggest you read, and re-read it, carefully. It is one of the best arguments for equality of same sex marriage.

Today, SSM is legal and recognized in 36 states and the District of Columbia. If a same-sex couple is legally wed in Utah, should they not also have the same rights, privileges, prerogatives and responsibilities if they move to Texas?

Marriage has already been defined as a civil right by the United States Supreme Court. Civil rights should not be limited to the current state of residence; rather, they should be recognized throughout the land.

Therefore, Senator, this is an issue of specific national consequence. Thank you for making the case for equality of same sex marriage in the United States of America.

As always, your comments and opinions are welcome.  

R.M. Bob Hartman

Source: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865627365/Let-people-not-courts-define-marriage.html retrieved April 28, 2015

Missed Opportunities

Republican senator Rafael Edward “Ted” Cruz, the junior senator from Texas, participated in a forum at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Summit; a summit called to allow presidential candidates and potential contenders to present their points of view regarding religious liberties in America.

In his comments, Senator Cruz said "there is no room for Christians in today's Democratic Party." He continued, stating “There is a liberal fascism that is dedicated to going after believing Christians who follow the biblical teaching on marriage."

Wow. This from an attorney who graduated cum laude from Princeton University, and continued on to receive his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1995. While at Harvard, he was the principal editor of the Harvard Law Review. One would be inclined to believe, with his education, he would know that liberal and fascism have opposite meanings.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines liberal as “not narrow in opinion or judgment.” The same source defines fascism as “a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation, and often race and stands for a centralized autocratic, often militaristic government.” The two terms are polar opposites on both political and social scales. For Senator Cruz to use these two terms, together, to describe the Democratic Party is akin to his defying the existence of gravity while his feet are buried in quicksand.

Every individual I have met, who self-aligns with the Democratic Party, as well as the party itself, defines the Democratic Party as being a “big tent” party; that is to say no litmus test exists for membership or active participation as a candidate within the party.  There are those within the party who are strongly pro-life, even as the party defines itself as pro-choice; there are those who are against any form of gun control, even as the party works for stronger gun control legislation. From my own hands-on experiences, I have met and worked with Democrats who held no religious belief, as well as those who have very strongly-held religious convictions, be they Christian, Eastern, Middle Eastern, or Deist.

In my lifetime, I do not remember ever hearing, or reading about, any organized group “going after believing Christians who follow the biblical teachings on marriage.” I wonder, is Senator Cruz trying to form a wedge issue using the current events circulating around the hot-button issue of same sex marriage? Is he creating a boogie man to take the focus off the important issues facing our nation; issues such as stagnant wages, a Congress with the lowest approval rating in decades, a complete lack of compromise between the two major political parties, and much-needed immigration reform?

Presidential candidate Cruz missed a golden opportunity. He could have used his time at this summit to explain how a Cruz administration would work with Congress to ensure that all Americans would enjoy religious freedom while simultaneously guaranteeing the civil rights of all.  He could have explained how discrimination, in any form, goes against not only the constitution, but also the 2nd great commandment, “Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself.”  Senator Cruz could have spoken to the value of diversity in both public and private arenas, and the need for acceptance of diverse religions and lifestyles.

But he didn’t.

You opinion and comments are always welcome. Thanks for reading!
R.M. Bob Hartman

Sources:

CNN http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/26/politics/ted-cruz-liberal-fascism-iowa-speech/index.html ,   retrieved April 26, 2015.