Sometimes I just sit and think. It’s not a pretty thing. I think about things that are cock-eyed. There’s really quite a number of things that are cock-eyed.
For example, the Iowa caucuses. Unless I’m misinformed, the organizers of the caucuses knew about 4 years ago that they would be doing this again this year. Yet this past Monday was a lesson in how not to caucus. Some precinct caucus votes are totally lost. And when 6 precincts are so close they are decided by a coin flip, a serious problem lies therein. Even the NFL, one of the most cock-eyed organizations in existence, has a better tie-breaking system than the Iowa caucuses. More on them later.
Immigration. There are laws about immigration on the books. There is a system whereby a person of foreign extract can apply to be an American citizen. Yet immigrants, and now “refugees”, can flood the country almost at will. The only talk is about “compassion” and being an open society. There is little or no talk about the actual laws governing this. It’s like there aren’t any. If it’s OK to ignore one law, why not others? Why do we have to pay attention to traffic lights and speed limits? Shouldn’t people in a compassionate and open society be able to go wherever they want, whenever they want, as fast as they want?
Term limits. How is it that a person can be a congressman or senator forever? Does anyone believe for a minute that this system doesn’t lead to corruption? We woke up to this during FDR’s attempt to “pack” the Supreme Court and passed an amendment for presidential term limits. Yet congressional members have no such restrictions to curb their excesses. In fact, we encourage it by providing lucrative retirement plans for when they do leave office. Furthermore, they can vote a raise for themselves. Can you vote a raise for yourself? Think of the absurdity of that.
Double standards. Some of the laws passed by congress that we must obey, they are exempt from themselves, the most recent being certain provisions of Obamacare. Does “one law for thee and one law for me” sound like justice to you? Why is this OK with everyone?
Now back to the National Football League. This travesty of fines and punishment is well documented. A well-known all-pro running back physically assaults his wife and knocks her unconscious. It is recorded on tape. He is originally suspended for two games. A well-known quarterback allegedly deflates the game footballs so he can throw them better. He is suspended for four games (later overturned). This is just the one example on cock-eyed rulings by the NFL commissioner. I won’t bore you with the others.
Concussions. There is a groundswell of concern now about the concussion problem in football. This is good. There is hard evidence that the abundance of concussions or near concussions accidentally suffered by football players during their playing lives causes a brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE. It is very serious. But here’s my problem. Have you even once heard about this complaint in the world of boxing? In boxing, the whole idea is to intentionally give someone’s head such a jar that it renders them unconscious. It’s called a knockout. The more you have knocked your opponents out, the more famous you are. You are revered by the boxing world for causing more brain disease in people than the other guys. Where is the outrage on this?
And finally, O.J. Simpson. He kills his wife and a friend. The evidence against him is overwhelming. He then runs from the law. He is captured and put on trial. He is found innocent. Luckiest man in the world, right? He then proceeds to get arrested a few years later for an armed robbery that he didn’t really commit. He was only getting back some memorabilia that someone had stolen from him. We know this because he said so. He is convicted anyway and is serving a 9 to 33 year sentence. He told us he was “110% not guilty” of killing Nicole and turns out he was right. But we don’t believe him when he says he didn’t really do the robbery? That’s cock-eyed.
The Cvillean 
It’s not just America, it’s everywhere. In a world where ‘me’ is the only thing that matters, is it any wonder?
Absolutely dead on Tilly. I call it the “mymes”, as in my me is more important than your me.
Oh, I like that.
I cannot work out what American politics, never mind elections are all about. I only hope there are enough good people to wipe Donald Ducks attempts into the gutter.
As I said after watching a video report of a speech he made to a particular audience at Liberty University: If this video is a true specimen of how he prepares to speak to this group of people, just imagine how he would represent all the good citizens of the United States of America at a G7 or G8 meeting or indeed on any state visit to another country. (I just counted, President Obama has made 90+ visits to places overseas).
America wake up and stand together sing your National Anthem with your hand on your hearts before you cast your votes, but not for this man if you still want to believe your country to be the best in the world.
Al, I owe you and Barbara an email, Life is finally calm for me today, so I hope to get it whizzing off to you before bed time.
I’m still a little vague on your position about Trump. Are you saying he’s not your guy?
There is no trumping about it!
Good post, Al.
I recently read an article called ’16 Reasons Why the United States is Going to Hell in a Handbasket’. It was posted in a survivalist blog, and while it is a bit over the top, it is an indication of the large variety of ‘voices’ that agree with you – things are cock-eyed.
Many of us in Canada feel the same way about our country. While we are cautiously optimistic that our new Federal Government might ‘grow up’ and figure out how to run a country, our new left of centre provincial government is spending us into poverty.
Thanks for the comment, Margie. I guess I’m just dense but I don’t understand how liberal politicians look themselves in the mirror. I would be ashamed if my vision for running for office was based on “vote for me and I’ll give you free stuff.” You and I know, of course, that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
The lack of critical thinking among voters is astounding.
Geez Al, lighten up. I can tell you need to detox from the news.
Politics have always been like this. I don’t believe in the sobriquet history repeats itself, because it doesn’t. However, there really is nothing new under the sun. Really, politics have always been this screwed up. Rent the film “Gangs of New York” with Daniel Day Lewis, and chill out.
LOL, Dianne. You’re right, I need to watch a good “shit-kicker” movie and forget about politics. Now if only I could get politicians to forget about me…..
Well said. I am an economic refuge and need to have all of your money. If this were truly a compassionate and just society, you would be forced to give it to me. Oh, wait…that’s what taxes are for.
Brilliant, Peg! That’s how to do away with the income tax. Instead of using the government as middle man, we’ll just ask the richer 50% give money to the poorer 50% until everyone has the same amount. Peg for President!
As a Brit, and therefore some way removed from the concerns of which you write, I cannot offer an opinion based on anything but the flimsiest of understandings although, as we know, that seldom stops me. Having said that, I know you are a man of deep common sense and so I am sure when you write these words you echo the thoughts of many people.
We are in the same boat when it comes to the flimsiest of understandings about our American system of government. So much of it doesn’t make sense now, but I’m fairly certain it didn’t start out that way. All this because we were just too cheap to shell out a few shekels for tea.
I think about injustice, too, and EVIL. I wonder how some people are seemingly oblivious and live in la la land. Do they read romance novels all day? My mother used to say “there’s so much sadness in the world” as she clung to her guns and her Bible…no, kidding…she did cling to her faith and her family though. She did go to church, join groups like prayer circle, and yes, read the Bible. I wish I could just do that and be happy, but I have to get into the thick of the news and ugliness of the truth, and then have nightmares. I need help! Great article, AL.
I’m with you, Cindy. I can’t help myself. Although I have totally (and I mean totally) quit watching news on TV (even local news), I do still follow it on the internet. My blood pressure rises and falls depending on the latest idiocy out of the White House or the Congress. Do these people even have the slightest clue what the majority of citizens want? Would they even care if they did?
Oh well said Al, on all subjects! And what the hell was up with Iowa, right? Don’t they have this caucus thingy down yet? Good point about concussions in boxing too, I never, ever even thought of that.
This sentence here though is a doozy, “Shouldn’t people in a compassionate and open society be able to go wherever they want, whenever they want, as fast as they want?” Indeed, well worth an entire blog post to answer that one.
Cheers my friend. 😉
Thanks for the comment, Tricia. This selective law abiding by Obama is absolutely amazing. A common citizen would be in jail now for just picking the laws he/she wanted to obey.