#inspiration

Above The Law

Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) intends to introduce legislation to amend the Constitution. His bill? Reversing the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity while conducting official business. Mr. Morelle is treading into dangerous waters.

There is no hiding the fact that he’s targeting former President Donald Trump. The Supreme Court did not single out Trump. The ruling covers all former presidents. I doubt Morelle’s bill will get any traction, just sound bytes to rev up his base.

The Court assured Biden he won’t be held liable for the deaths of thirteen soldiers during the horribly botched Afghanistan withdrawal. Obama will escape liability for the drone strike he ordered on three innocent Americans in Yemen (2011), including a teenage boy. Bush can breathe easier because he gets off scott free for leading us into a war in Iraq under false pretenses (WMD’s).

We have three branches of government for a reason. The crafters of our constitution didn’t want any single branch to become too powerful. It works!

It is true that no one is above the law. But we need to allow the law to apply the way it is intended to…

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#inspiration

Dividing Lines

It’s an election year and you know what that means. People are drawing lines in the sand over their candidate. There are many factors that influence voters selection: history of voting for a party, a desire for change, they like the way a candidate sounds, or they just plain hate one of the choices.

Arguing over politics is as old as America herself is. You almost can’t avoid it. In today’s internet connected world the debate sometimes turns nasty. People hurl insults at others from behind their computer keyboard, with no consequences for the ugly things said. We get to peer into the heart of others through their words and actions. It’s not always pretty.

Take a moment to examine your own heart when you feel yourself getting amped up over politics. People throw insults at me regularly because of what I believe. They don’t bother me. I have a sound basis for what I believe, and I won’t lie or exaggerate. Facts matter. Opinions are…just opinions.

I encourage you to reach out to those with whom you disagree with. Listen and learn from each other. You will be better for doing it, and so will our country…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Rights

A few years ago, DFW Airport was shut down and all of the planes were grounded because of weather. I happened to be a passenger on one of those airplanes. An ornery passenger started hitting the call button repeatedly until our nice Flight Attendant appeared. He immediately started chastising the young lady, almost bringing her to tears because “he had rights” and needed to be in Austin for an important meeting. I had had enough. I tapped him on the shoulder and when he turned around, I told him to “shut the fuck up. It wasn’t her fault the airport was shut down. It’s safer to be on the ground than to try to fly.” The entire cabin clapped, he shut up, the Flight Attendant opened the bar and served everyone but him!

Our rights have become used and abused to get our way. Had the airline accommodated the emotionally disturbed man I mentioned before, the exercise of his “rights” would have endangered everyone else.

Freedom of speech is one of our greatest rights in The United States. With that freedom comes responsibility to be honest and to speak with integrity. Politicians and the media tell outright lies and are not held accountable. This is a perversion of our first right cited in The Bill of Rights. we expect politicians to stretch the truth, but lying is a whole different level.

It’s best to exercise your first amendment rights by telling the truth. Free speech does not mean the freedom to lie…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

A Line in the Sand

It’s an election year in the United States. That means much of the adult population will become pundits, pollsters and experts in 2024. It’s as predictable as the sun rising in the East and setting in the West.

For some reason, our society has become politicized to the point where we draw lines in the sand. This truly baffles me. Voting is one of our greatest privileges, and we are free to vote for whoever we choose. I have been called unprintable names by people on the left who don’t even know me. I have been called names by people on the right because I went to hear Bill Clinton speak. Then I had the audacity to vote for a friend of mine who was running for president of the Travis County Democratic Party. Friendship transcends politics. At least it does to me.

Government is not the answer to our problems. The government has tremendous resources, but they are the most inefficient purveyors of those resources. If you want to move mountains, put those resources in the hands of the faith and philanthropic communities. They will move Heaven and Earth while wasting very little. It would be awe-inspiring!

If you want to draw a line in the sand, make it count. Draw a line for goodness over evil, for law and order, and for equal justice for everyone. Those count!

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#inspiration

Inaction

People on the internet can act like real jerks. They will insult others, offering unsolicited opinions about how we should vote. Rudeness has become part of life, I guess, but some remarks are incendiary.

In the United States, we live in a totally free society. Freedom of speech is one of our greatest treasures. Therefore, people are free to say whatever they wish. Yet I don’t believe insulting others is productive. You can disagree without acting like an ass. With every generation that passes away, some decency dies with it.

When dealing with passive aggressive behavior, no response is the best response…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Did It Work?

We are coming into political campaign season. All the “experts” in their political views will be alive and rampant on the internet. But do their opinions really matter to anyone besides themselves?

In my observation, I have never seen anyone affected by someone cramming their opinions down someone else’s throat. This applies to politics, religion, and even sports.

People must come to their way of thinking on their own. We should question ourselves, test our convictions and constantly evolve as we mature. This is part of the strength of a free society…

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#inspiration

Guilty!!!

In the United States, our law states that an accused person is innocent until proven guilty. Sounds fair, right? It is fair until emotions get involved.

Former President Donald Trump was accused of being in bed (figuratively) with Russia. All the people who hate Trump believed it because their hatred blinded them. When “Russia-gate” was shown to be a hoax, some still refused to believe the truth about it. The truth still matters.

There are thousands of examples where we condemn people before they have their day in court. Think of how you would want to be treated if you were on the receiving end of false accusations. Let’s show others some grace.

After all, the truth still matters…

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#inspiration

Misnomers

The legislation called “The Inflation Reduction Act” is one of the best examples of a misnomer in recent history. Why not introduce the “Crime Elimination Act” or the “Stop Fatherless Homes Act?”

All politicians realize if they called many of their bills what they really represented, the people would call them out on it.

The point is, when something doesn’t sound right, question it. Think…

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#inspiration

Entertainers and Politics

For over 20 years, there has been a growing trend for those in the entertainment world to willingly share their views on political and societal issues. In my opinion, they may keep their opinions to themselves.

We go to concerts, movies and the theater to escape the real world for a short while. Life is still waiting for us after the show. We want the world to be right for just a couple of hours.

Only an outsized ego believes we care about the entertainer’s politics. Just my humble opinion…

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