Donald Trump- The 45th United States President. My Thoughts...

Twenty Four hours prior to my writing of this post, I was absolutely confident Donald Trump didn't have a snowball's chance in Hell to win this. I was confident the same BS games played by the Democrats against Bernie Sanders would affect Trump the same way, and that's not mentioning the blatant bias perpetrated by the media, entertainment in music, TV and sports, and the various social media outlets. I had to be up early in the morning, so I had no idea what was occurring or about to occur while I slept. 

I have to say I was more than surprised when I woke up this morning. In fact, I was stating the day before that should Trump win, I would be quite surprised. I was and, admittedly, still am a bit surprised by this. I will state I voted for Trump so my surprise arrives rather pleasantly. 

With that, I have to state I am mildly surprised also by the outcry from so many on the Dem/Liberal position. Of course I understand they wanted their candidate to win; I'm not that naive. But what I fail to comprehend is how people convinced themselves a Trump Administration would be the end of all they hold dear and important. After all, Trump doesn't have ANY prior record of political corruption (or political anything, for that matter) outside of providing campaign donations to virtually every candidate who came along. Thus, the guy really is a blank slate from which we can apply some new ideas and still have room for Constitutional principle. 

I should openly admit, however, I harbored dark and gloomy dreams of what the future would have looked like under the shadow of Hillary Clinton. It isn't the D attached to her name since I find party line philosophy rather bizarre to adhere to since these party positions too often drift from Constitutional principle, which is the supreme position, regardless of anything else. Rather, my concern was, first, her shocking comfort in conducting business via blatant corruption, and second, her supporters being so supportive and blissfully ignorant of this corruption. Hillary Clinton could crawl out of a sewer grate with the blood of shrieking children dripping from her face and they simply wouldn't care. This woman wasn't just corrupt but she reinvented the corruption wheel. She and her husband achieved more dirty politics than any twenty of the remainder of the corrupted bunch. 

I was fearful Political Correctness was going to eat us alive from within. Take note that most strong countries and societies that have failed did so because of internal conflict and mayhem as opposed to any external factors, and we haven't demonstrated any exception to this rule. But Trump doesn't come across as snuggly to the PC Factor as his predecessor, who wielded its divisive chain with verve and a smile. I was fearful that the trend to dismiss all that is traditional American would be driven into the dark in order to make way for Illegal Aliens, Islamic Invaders and flag-burning liberals who demand all for free while demanding no accountability to anything else. I was fearful our Constitutional Rights were on the coattails of the rule of law, which was being driven into obscurity by the policies of the privileged. I feared those like me, who fall into no minority category, would become the ultimate dismissed category. 

So, if I had a worrisome fear of the future under a Clinton Administration, do Liberals, Progressives and Democrats have a genuine reason to fear Trump? They might have some valid concerns since the PC card isn't going to have the mileage it did, but their freedoms aren't at stake. I assume the free college option might be pushed back, but I cannot help but to think a man whose business successes and economic prowess should serve to offer opportunities the Democratic agenda of nearly a decade dashed onto the rocks with reckless abandon. It won't be easier to spit on uniformed public servants and burn the flag to the witness of applauding spectators, but the opportunity to be free people might provide better things to do. They may not be able to pin the Race Card on everything under the sun, but they might discover that card harbored no face value. 

It should be noted it's a bit early to start with the backflips and cartwheels. Trump is not, I repeat, NOT a traditionally conservative guy, and I doubt he harbors much of any substantial understanding of the United States Constitution he'll soon swear to uphold and defend. I feel confident he'll wing it much in the way others before him have without referring to the Constitution when in doubt, which means we're sure to see bluster and confusion whilst muddling through decisions they'll want seen to pass regardless of reality or principle. I want to be wrong on that, but who is the last President who really cared about the Constitution with passion? I'd like to say Reagan but he allowed various Federal Bureaus to continue during his time in office despite their clear violation of the Tenth Amendment. The Federal Department of Education began in 1978 if I'm not mistaken. It and other departments like it are direct violations of our rights, yet they stand without threat of dismissal. 

So, what is it about Trump that got him this far? Well, first of all, those who are Republican and Conservative voters have made it abundantly clear they're more than done and fed up with politicians of any sort. There were well over a dozen others in the running, but they were all career politicians, which is a demographic that demonstrated a great talent for offering the land of Oz and never having to lift a finger in order to honor any offer. But then there was a guy who had to honor his word in order to get to where he was. He might be a vulgar cad and cuddly as a cactus, but it isn't as though the population of politics is peppered with the pinnacle of human ideals. They might wear nice suits and sport hundred dollar haircuts, but they're about as bloodthirsty as they get. So, why is it so bad to have someone wander in who smiles when he sucker-punches someone in the balls? Honestly, it isn't great to have that, but it would be recommended to have someone who isn't afraid to enter the cage. Besides, this guy isn't used to losing, shrugging his shoulders and not caring about the loser label. If anything, his personal ego should serve as a good buffer from failure. His ego is almost certain to demand he prove to be one of our finest Presidents. 

From there, let's just be intellectually honest and point out there isn't a person in existence who can turn this around for the benefit and satisfaction of everybody. Hillary Clinton viewed those who weren't Liberals and Progressives as nonredeemable deplorables,  Bernie Sanders vied to ensure we found ourselves looking to Venezuela for some good ideas on how to get out of the Hell we created. While I cannot blame Millennials for liking him, he was more than old enough to know Socialism and Communism only lead to Dictatorships and destruction of humanity. He ought to be ashamed of himself and I'm glad to see he'll dissolve into obscurity without being able to cause further harm. Cruz and Paul were fantastic Constitutional Intellectuals, but sadly the majority of people today don't find the appropriate value in that anymore. Why? Because the above mentioned Federal Department of Education ensured they grew up not having any idea of what that meant. And while I voted for Trump, many others who did so are now discovering that decision brought about a burning when they pee. They only did it to stop Hillary, but not to further or reinstall true American ideals. Many do feel Trump can help bring back the America we've all loved and hoped for, but since he doesn't cite the Constitution habitually, we can only assume. 

I'm glad Trump is there for a few reasons. I certainly didn't want the old rulers (Clinton, Bush, or Obama) affecting the future anymore, but I'm hopeful when I think about someone in the position who hasn't been a career politician. That in itself is bound to factor in one way or another. I really, really, really rooted for Cruz before Trump, but even he spoke too much like the average politician. I like that Trump doesn't pull punches as opposed to digging for seven-syllable words to help distract the glazed-eye viewer while prepping to obfuscate and scoot along some verbose agenda hitherto not brought up yet that day. He's more than happy to refer to the federal government as a swamp that needs to be drained. That sounds sweeter than stating he'll propose legislation and seek some sort of referendum, whatever the fuck that means. Rather, he states he wants to make America great again, and I'm not sure I believe him fully, but I believe he believes it.  

Eight years ago, when Obama was going to be the guy, I worried about some of the things he said but I had hopes he would carry through his plans. I hoped he would prove to be one of the finest Presidents this country ever witnessed. I hoped he would unite the country in a way only someone like him could. But no. He decided to run the country into the ditch and create divisions that will take generations to repair. He decided to sit on the chest of the country and dangle spit in its face. These unfortunate series of events were not consequences, but part of his Alinsky-like plans. So rather than becoming a historically profound and wondrous President, he's sure to go down in history labeled as something worse than Wilson, Johnson, or FDR. I firmly believe he's happy with that. 

So, with Trump, I have high hopes. Now, since we have almost no evidence he'll seek the Constitution as a guide, we can only cross our fingers and rely on his business instincts. If anything, most career politicians only know how to take and ruin and never create, but Trump has created more business and jobs than all the other living politicians alive combined. That speaks for something, of that I'm sure. But they, meaning the government who now sees the Republicans almost fully in charge, must get this right. Because if they screw this up, that party will crumble to the ground. They'll never have the chance to prove themselves and seek forgiveness and another chance ever again. From there, Socialism and eventually full-blown Communism will fill in the gaps, and the United States of America will end as we know it. 

No pressure, Mr. Trump, but the future of the greatest country to ever exist in the history of the world and all of humanity is now in your hands. You win and we all win. You fail and that failure will spread for decades at the least. 

Like I said. No pressure. 

Hannibal Lecter- More Worthy of Admiration than You Thought?

“But,” you may say with caught breath and wide eyes, “Hannibal Lecter is a villain! He is a monster, a horror, and, worst of all, he is a cannibal! A cannibal, I say! He eats the flesh of people! He kills others for his own amusement and then feeds their flesh to unsuspecting friends!”

“Come on, now,” I’d be sure to reply. “While those things do seem rather dramatic and somewhat villainous at first glance, you have to look deeper into this wondrous individual. Dr. Lecter offers so much more than fine dining and force majeure. Dr. Lecter is urbane, well educated, calm and certainly mollifying. Surely you don’t want him angry or disappointed with you, but can we not say the same for most accomplished and demanding individuals? If you would just take a closer look, you’ll find more than enough to embrace and admire. I don’t find him amongst my most favorite heroes merely because of his culinary skills. No, my friend; there is so much more to admire.”

Verily, the life lessons one can learn from Dr. Lecter are voluminous, valuable, and impressive, and it should be noted this information is not merely cherished in terms of ensured survival but living accomplished with aplomb and style. The dear doctor would not only place advice facilitating success but triumph with shitake mushrooms, roasted asparagus with au jus joined by a fine Chardonnay. Oh, and keep in mind the Cantata #76 by Johann Sebastian Bach in the background provides one with a charming ambiance whilst stepping beyond the flowing blood in order to protect one’s Salvatore Ferragamo shoes and Giorgio Cosani wool suit. Be mindful of the priorities.

As one travails through life beginning when young, challenges and hard lessons seemingly arise from around every corner and shadow. It’s particularly notable to remark how even the most favored young people have so much to learn when it comes to the world they live in, be that world of the sophisticate or it rather indigent, coarse and perhaps even replete of moral grounding. Those born in the poorer Appalachian regions might very well come from a loving and wise background, while the silver spoon be the only indicator of wealth to others born among heathens with access to money. Look, we all have our challenges in life, particularly when young, since we all must face our earliest years which happen to also be our most ignorant, and vulnerable.

The original story of young Hannibal (admittedly, back story due to pop success of the character recognized by Harris) and his sister is quite tragic, mentioned then because it was so much of the catalyst to create what Hannibal was to become. If you’re not familiar, Hannibal was originally from Lithuania and a young boy during WWII, orphaned suddenly by parents lost to the ravages of war. Vulgar, filthy heathens came to the home where the defenseless children were at their most vulnerable. These men were mean, cruel and morally bankrupt, and made matters so much worse for children already surrounded by tragedy. 

They were not just vicious, but took it upon themselves to kill Hannibal’s little sister and actually eat her. For the purpose of this writing, I am pointing these things out because it’s important to recognize who we knew Hannibal Lecter to be later in life compared to when he was a child in order to see the pathway. Then, he was small, vulnerable, weaker than his nemeses and ignorant of any beneficial solutions. He was eventually taken in by someone who strived to provide more but still struggled against the lowbrowed of the world that often still possessed too much influential power. Imagine a little boy surrounded by three large bullies on a playground. If that little boy is going to make it through, he’s going to have to see a way beyond their power and numbers, and knowledge may very well be the key.

In the story, Hannibal grew to manhood receiving a rather cornucopian education while learning to enjoy the finer things culture and sophistication provide. For this particular fan of the story, it was easy to ascertain Hannibal recognized power in knowledge, and we must appreciate he pursued medicine as both a surgeon and then psychologist. The point is we have a young man who found himself to be a work in progress, finding a way to power and security through intimate knowledge of the creatures surrounding him, both body and mind. Hannibal found that knowing people so well and then doing so in the security of wealth and influence saw him rise far above the frightened, dirty little boy who cringed at the feet of creatures influencing so much of his childhood and forcing him to endure injustice of incredible magnitude.

It was important to the story by Thomas Harris because Harris began with Hannibal the Cannibal (in both Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs) and saw that character rise to popularity, so he pursued the backstory in grand fashion, only serving to lend to the popularity of the character, and because of the popularity he evolved Hannibal into a sort of antihero rather than mere super villain. Like him or not, Hannibal Lecter has become one of the prominent literary characters of today, clearly demonstrated with several successful books, movies and even a three-season television show (which offered an updated and slightly different Hannibal than the other stories, arguably to the betterment of the character’s legacy), all of which place him within the ranks of Jack Ryan, James T. Kirk, and the Joker from Batman. Sure, Hannibal is mainly seen as a villain but he’s so much more complex than a mere bad guy. This complexity is why he’s endured. Because yes, he will kill a person and eat a part of them, but he doesn’t bend over them and dig his face into their body while they shriek; he will be in a fine suit and a high-priced apron in a splendid kitchen preparing the ingredient while fine music fills the air. He’ll then sit quietly and enjoy the meal with fine china and silverware, living a life of sophistication while knowing he vanquished some asinine plebian. Hey, he’s making the world a better place.

You must recognize, friends; Dr. Lecter makes the world a better place.

The part of this I take away is Hannibal grew to rise above being the frightened and dirty little boy petrified of vulgar freaks, becoming something those vulgar freaks should fear…if they had any idea he was there at all. Further, he’s truly better than them. But this isn’t to say I have learned we must vivisect our enemies and eat whatever aspect pissed us off the most. Rather, I choose to see Hannibal’s strength from an even more valuable aspect.

When I was younger, I was like so many young men, most, in fact, being angry at the world and often lashing out against it. It wouldn’t be difficult to see a particularly angry young man standing at the shoreline, kicking and fighting the incoming tide to no benefit at all other than getting cold and wet. It is little more than an amusing cliché. And so we’re getting to the heart of the matter of my affinity for this character. A heart patted down with olive oil and breadcrumbs while the oven’s preheated to 325 degrees.

Rather than be a continually weak and emotionally overrun fool standing at the waterline and facing an oncoming hurricane with clenched fists (illustrating the notion of doing something perfectly impotent and utterly pointless despite enjoying a moment of false empowerment), one should have prepared for the oncoming storm and be either well away from the area or somewhere constructed well enough to withstand the coming onslaught. 

Hannibal isn’t seen losing his temper but often verbalizes a wondrous potential solution. He has access to a resplendent amount of information (which today is not much of a challenge if one recognizes the benefits of technology) and enough of an understanding on how to use this information to a greatest benefit.

It isn’t Hannibal Lecter v. The World, with it being a dog-eat-dog world and Hannibal trembling in a corner. Instead, this character always has the answers (although most of what we know from him is while he is behind bars and even confined behind a straitjacket and bite mask) and often knows the best way to manipulate the problem towards not just a satisfactory but a superb solution. But we must be smart enough to recognize this character flourishes not just with an exemplary education and understanding of a bounty of methodology, but is more than happy to break the law, commit incredible evil and actually remove one’s liver and eat it. Within the fiction, he operates above the common law and implements what he perceives as God’s Law. Keep in mind with honesty, God allows for miracles but will idly watch immense suffering for reasons we cannot contemplate.

One aspiring to the better of the character doesn’t have to do this. We do not have to act in the sociopathic manner he does (if he is truly sociopathic). But sometimes it does help to recognize life can be unfair. It can be beneficial to see life can be dirty and one might have to play dirty to win it. What would have Saul Alinsky thought of Dr. Lecter? What part of Alinsky would Hannibal enjoy the most? Alinsky recognized the value of chaos but offered no effective solutions, or order, to the chaos. I imagine Dr. Lecter would prepare Saul’s tongue and legs.

All Trekkies and fans of Captain Kirk know he’s more than willing to manipulate a situation, even downright break the rules and outright cheat, in order to succeed when success would otherwise be impossible. But Captain Kirk wouldn’t just overtly kill someone for that (although some personnel in red shirts might argue to the contrary) while Hannibal would be more than happy to pursue an individual who he finds uncouth and serve their body in various dishes to a party, all the while smiling as he watches unsuspecting people consume this person into oblivion. Dr. Lecter would smile to the compliments Hillary Clinton gushed to the savory meat of Alinsky’s thighs. There are tightropes and there are lines in the sand, my friends. Pick and choose.

At this point I would like to bring in something unrelated that also means a lot to me and is separate to these fictional characters- The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Those who know of this incredibly beneficial treatise recognize how preparation and careful planning supersede careless shots in the dark. They also recognize how war may very well demand manipulation of information to vanquish an opponent. But it also recognizes one must tread the moral high ground. It cautions that while one may manipulate things and dupe the enemy, one should not be the bad guy.

So, we go but so far when conjuring up in the mind, hmm, what would Dr. Lecter do?

In The Art of War, it is cautioned to the student that it is not always necessary to level the enemy and burn them to the ground, but perhaps manipulate them in such a way that they are no longer the enemy, or no longer desire to be a threat. Do not go in with crushing them as your first goal, but offer a less costly, viable solution. But, be able to crush them if you have to! You have to have the most brought to the table.

In the television show, Dr. Lecter demonstrates an aura of sophistication as well as a veritable library of pertinent information helping find grand solutions. Those who know the outward Hannibal find him admirable and inspiring. Even charming. They may not know he’s consumed more people than he can recollect (but hey, once one is out of their teens, how many people count their sexual encounters?) but they do know he’s remarkable in an array of categories.

We aspire to the man who is well spoken and successful, dresses well and is capable of taking care of himself, and command, in a wide range of challenges, even if they become violent. But nobody who is anybody aspires to the asshole at the bar who is openly rude to the girl with the guy who happens to appear mild-mannered and half his size. However, if we see that man is Hannibal Lecter (let’s place aside the obvious notion he would not be at some common bar) we would not fear for his safety, but for the safety of the aggressor. Moreover, we just might enjoy seeing this knuckle-dragging fool put in his place.

Earlier I mentioned a challenge with anger as a younger man. It’s so common it’s hardly worth mentioning, really, but it is worth pointing out that I recommend seeing anger as a weakness. We do not get angry, but give in to anger. We succumb to it. While I can still lose my temper (just ask the stubborn lawn mower), I have been conscious of this nugget of wisdom for some time.

Part of the anger originated with the helplessness of a childhood replete with dysfunction in a loveless upbringing. I didn’t know my real father growing up as my parents split when I was young, and my mother married a man who failed to see his step-kids as his kids let alone as anything at all. I do understand this can be difficult for some people; one cannot further one’s genetic lineage by pouring one’s resources and time into those not truly related. Those people likely went extinct. I get it. But there was a lot of abuse in the home and eventually the abuse and resentment, along with alcohol and other miserable factors, fractured the home so much that I sought ways away from it (I ran away a lot as a kid) at a young age and virtually counted the days until I was old enough to escape. I really saw my eighteenth birthday (or to be more specific, my graduation day) as a parole date. Now, I had to wait until I graduated from high school (I knew it wasn’t an option) and then await my entry date into the military, a mere few weeks later. The Army was my exit strategy.

All that time of dealing with the challenges and dysfunction during those younger years have proven to be a significant time of my life. I had to endure and learn to cope in an environment where I had no say or personal empowerment. There’s no benefit in me peeling back the scabs of the time, but suffice it to say I had to learn how to survive in an environment where I should have been most secure and comfortable but it was anything but that. And then when I entered the military, it wasn’t much different at first. Being a mere Private at first doesn’t open one to a myriad of choices, but one can learn quickly that time passes for all of us at a rate of sixty minutes per hour, so learn a lot and say little. Do as you’re told and do your best in what you’re tasked to accomplish. One’s rank will improve with time, particularly with gained knowledge and experience.

I should note I just so happened to be a soldier during the Cold War era. Battles were not often fought on the open battlefield with bullets and blood, but more often covertly, with subterfuge and espionage, cloak and dagger, smoke and mirrors, wires and pulleys hidden in the shadows where one is discouraged to peer. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. As a young soldier I learned how to manipulate certain things to my benefit. For example, when I was near the end of the days of Basic Training, there were periods of down time where the recruits could sit on these bleachers and have a smoke or chat or whatever. But it was quite common for any one of the Drill Sergeants to approach with a request.

“I need four volunteers, right now!”

Now, there wasn’t anyone who knew what they were volunteering for, but it would be a good guess it would suck. So at first, nobody raised their hand or stepped forward. As you could imagine, the said Drill Sergeant would scream at everyone, “Every one of you soldiers should be volunteering, ready to go at a moment’s notice!” (This has been edited for content). He’d then choose the required number of volunteers from the masses.

Well, eventually a few would volunteer when approached. But every single time, the Drill Sergeant would dismiss them and grab up from those who didn’t volunteer. Every. Single. Time. I learned that quickly and was right there before the Drill Sergeant eager and ready to go. Or so I made it seem. I was never volunteered for a damned thing, but always sat back down and watched those who just didn’t catch on get hauled off to KP.

Now, this I did not learn from Dr. Lecter, but the frame of mind runs parallel with much of what we can learn from the good doctor. Hannibal would have never done KP despite his allure to the kitchen.

Now I would like to share a memory from my childhood that occurred likely before anyone had ever heard of Hannibal Lecter and perhaps before Mr. Harris thought of him. I bring it up because this was a formative and influential moment that surely would find Dr. Lecter taking me under his wing.

When I was about nine or ten years old, I had a friend my age whose mother often hung with a rough crowd. Looking back, I’m quite confident she was a prostitute, but that doesn’t apply. What does apply is there were often biker types who spent a lot of time with and around her, and I recall going to visit this friend and seeing one of these bikers polishing up the chrome of his motorcycle.

I wasn’t within fifty feet of him or his bike, but I said something to the effect of I thought his motorcycle was really cool. He quickly squared off at me (being at least five times my size and said, “If you come anywhere near that bike, they’ll find your body lying out there in the street like just another dead dog.”

I had no intention of getting near his bike before he said anything, but by this time I wanted nothing to do with him, either. But I felt threatened and quite uncomfortable around him, and the more I thought about it the angrier it made me. I was angry because he threatened a kid who meant no harm and wasn’t in a position to be a problem. But I kept it in mind.

Fast forward to a short time later, perhaps a few weeks at the most. I often witnessed this bully blazing up and down our road with his loud bike and mean-spirited demeanor. So, when I was tasked by my parents to rake up the falling leaves in the yard (the street was lined with numerous maple trees and those leaves are a nuisance during the fall) I decided to cope with dead-dog dude by raking all the leaves in the area into the street and spreading them evenly. Now, I had no way of truly knowing this would get the guy, but I recall thinking I hope he slips on the leaves and bangs up his motorcycle. I also recall thinking I hope that if that happens, he doesn’t know I did what I did. To offer full disclosure, the only reason I knew the leaves could be slippery was because I skinned up my knees quite nicely after losing control of my bicycle on wet leaves.

Wow, to this day I never will get over how that motorcycle burned. The flames had to be twenty to thirty feet high. I heard the crash (I was sitting in the living room watching TV when I heard it, and our front door had a window looking into the street) and looked to see what it was. And there, just a few feet from the burning motorcycle, was that bully, lying there like just another dead dog.

My parents came to see what I was looking at (they didn’t see me smiling and about to wave) and once they did, they promptly called emergency services. He was complaining about the wet leaves as they wheeled him into the ambulance. I never saw or heard about this guy ever again.

It long stuck with me, silently wishing I knew that’s how that would turn out as opposed to just being a bizarre fluke. So, imagine my rapt attention many years later when I saw Dr. Lecter fully capable of creating situations like that. But by the time I met the good doctor (via the silver screen) I was also making myself familiar with The Art of War. While I will intentionally edit out the details and sequences of events of certain episodes where I had to face certain so-called nemeses and created situations that significantly lessened their impact on my life and situation, I will state I was able to do so without causing a scratch. Usually. 

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Get your enemy good, but the best way to get them is in a way they never know they were got. Violent harm is far from being a necessary solution, particularly at step one. Through a combined effort of channeling Dr. Lecter’s mode of thinking combined with some bullet points pulled from Sun Tzu’s ancient text, I have been able to enjoy a few quiet yet tasteful victories here and there. Revenge is a dish best served cold, would be what Dr. Lecter would write on the board within the first minute of his unique Lesson 101. Then he would add, but revenge isn’t a necessary ingredient on its own merits.

It is quite clear that emotional control is one’s primary key. Seeking as much knowledge on as many subjects as possible is also a key to success, since knowledge truly is power. But it has to be noted the Appalachian notion one must bust skulls in front of a hundred witnesses while in the lot of Walmart is not, I repeat, not, ideal. Because it cannot be found acceptable, one would assume, to commit an act like that and assume the following repercussions are going to be okay. In case anyone missed this, the idea is to do what you’re going to do and not face potential subsequent consequences. Your actions are supposed to be the solution, not complications distancing you from solutions. If this must be explained, perhaps you need not read on any further.

My greatest regrets stem from moments I drifted from appropriate courses of action Dr. Lecter would have recommended and perhaps applauded, where I chose to pursue more mainstream solutions rather than solutions better fitting. The consequences of these decisions are twofold:

The resulting situations often brought more chaos and heightened obstacles and, then, my experience and skillset deteriorated rather than refined. This is the basic definition of a bad habit. Not only did I discover my situation was worse, I realized I then had even more work to do just to get to where I was to begin with. Not only were the compromises compounding but the spotlight on the situation was that much brighter. Dr. Lecter did not allow the census taker to move on and report his findings; he simply recognized quickly the fool’s liver was best paired with seasoned fava beans. The Chianti was a gentle reward for knowing better.

Now, we know of Dr. Lecter at all because of his failing. If it wasn’t for his mistakes, we would never have known of his eccentricities. But for our purposes here this is just fine, mainly because he is a fictional character primarily designed for engaging drama. Is it unfair to say we cannot scold a child for finding a hero in Batman because this child wasn’t orphaned by wealthy parents who died before him at the hands of a lunatic?

“You don’t have his resources or his passion, so go enjoy heroes in politics like a good boy.”

We see heroes and villains accomplish tremendous things in fiction because the writer or team of writers had plenty of time to formulate engaging and fantastic solutions. Such benefits aren’t often afforded to most of us. But in time and over time we can learn from past lessons and recognize the better course of action is not direct confrontation dovetailed with seething only to have to explain your foolishness to a judge and probation officer. We can do this even when past mistakes cost us time, money and other resources. Often, when we think it’s too late it isn’t truly too late. Learn from your mistakes and calculate the steps required to counter-strike. And, for the love of all that is Holy, do not counter-strike in such a way that prompts a counter-strike. The term proportionate response is for those who do not expect to bear the ensuing consequences. Getting in as many effective punches as possible is for boxing, not fighting. If this must be explained, perhaps you need not read on any further.

Recognize Dr. Lecter is not just about conquest and vanquishing. He didn’t wrest his love for the finer things from a chump; he knows with confidence many things are worth what you pay for them. He did not steal his education but pursued it with honest passion. Sure, he may have dined on the flanks of a particularly liberal professor and confiscated his gold, but he didn’t have cheat sheets lining his sleeves. Further, Hannibal Lecter is not void of moral grounding. He would not, would never, sell heroin to kids or kidnap a lovely girl to sell her into sex slavery. Would he neutralize those who would? I have every confidence one who would commit such deviance would regret it before becoming no more.

We should recognize Dr. Lecter reached a point where he had a, shall we say, God Complex. And this isn’t saying he thought he was God, of course, but he felt justified in playing by God’s Rules as he saw them. He believed God allowed the tragedies and insanities of life to factor with such intensity, much of what led to the killing and consuming of an innocent little girl at the hands of monsters running free. God creates beauty and splendor but allows ugliness to threaten it at will. God has allowed a hurricane to destroy a church full of frightened believers. At the moment you’re reading this as well as the moment I am writing it, ISIS is selling innocent girls into sex slavery at such a success that they’re doing it on the internet. What’s being done about it? If you could ask ISIS, they’d likely brush it off as amusing and continue making vast quantities of money at the expense of innocence while the rest of the world sits on their hands worrying about offending those holding down a nine-year-old girl and brutally raping her while she screams.

Would Dr. Lecter sit on his hands and wait for the moment to ask her how she feels? Not likely. Would he have the courage to ask why God does what everyone else does? That might be more likely, but he very well might take effective action despite the misgivings of the average bear. Not only might he do more, but he has taken the time to know how to do more.

 Therein lies his God Complex. It seems as though Hannibal recognizes God works in mysterious ways so his ways are mysterious or at least kept to himself.

Admittedly, this is an aspect of the character most difficult to emulate or even entertain. Hannibal’s level emotional state is admirable as is his level of knowledge in a myriad of subjects, and his personal conviction to see through a task or goal is tremendous. But who among us can run on with the notion we can pursue life according to what we’ve perceived as God’s personal rules? Sure, your church pundits, Pat Robertsons, Jim Bakkers and so forth might have something to offer for you when it comes to God’s Law, but these are according to the Law passed down by God as understood within certain faiths. Hannibal is more likely to emulate God himself based on what he’s witnessed, and that, dear reader, is courageous at best, but frightening. Further, each of us may have a different perception of what God is doing.

Many see the miracles and splendors of the world as the work of God while others see natural tragedies such as floods (understandable given the written history) or volcanoes as the Holy efforts by God’s judgment. And then, many see ALL as the work of God, with going so far as to say all is the manifestation of God in perceptible form. While these are a matter of faith, it does appear Hannibal’s faith in God is pursued through what he’s seen God do. Such as weed out the weaklings and push for the survival of the fittest, and, well, kill countless innocents to accomplish a goal. Because yes, Dr. Lecter eats the rude and offensive, but he may very well kill a security guard or anyone else (well, there are exceptions for people who make the world a better place with their presence) in order to ensure his pursuits are not impeded.

That is generally considered psychopathic in nature and rather distasteful in the eyes of the public. Sure, Hannibal has washed his hands of the public opinion due to such opinion happily allowing for the sale of innocent girls into sex slavery amongst other heinous acts, could you? Could I do this in my life? Anyone who knows me knows I am quite outspoken when it comes to Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation, but those same people would shun me if I began displaying cooked remains of traffickers at the family barbeque. It wouldn’t be any better if I was merely killing them and keeping count via blood slides ala Dexter. Instead, most would suggest I leave it in official hands even though those hands have allowed trafficking of persons to vie for the number one slot in the world’s most prolific organized criminal activity.

One must suppose moderation is the key. Sure, you can be like Hannibal when you maintain a calm demeanor. You can emulate this hero when you articulate in verbose fashion your disapproval of certain issues and behaviors. You can personify him through being the best at your profession and therefore widely respected in your field. But you cannot hunt down the rude, crude, offensive and worthless so you can consume their flesh with culinary flash. Hey, that kills people. And no, we’re afraid, you cannot operate incognito with the mystery of God.

But then, if you did it well, nobody would ever know, would they?

But judging from the history of our selected character, not even those as good as Dr. Lecter continue forth without being discovered eventually. So, simply because you admire your favorite fictional character, could you see what it’s like to eat the rude? Could you gut your enemy and eat his liver? Could you run his severed leg through a bandsaw and chop it up into steaks? Could you place his mutilated body on display for all to see, just to prove a point?

Within the confines of the fiction this makes for excellent drama. But when we know better and conduct ourselves according to the laws of both society and reality, such acts would, we should say, be morbid and grisly at the least. So, let’s go back to the child loving Batman.

A young boy doesn’t have to be the orphaned child of billionaire dead parents and then become a true-life Caped Crusader complete with his own Bat Cave in order to enjoy Batman. He may merely emulate the convictions of the character or pursue goals through innovation and the courage of his convictions. There is a saying going around that we may love Batman as a child but we understand the Joker more as adults. Bruce Wayne may have recognized he has the ability to utilize his intelligence and resources to fight crime and evil, but the Joker long ago came to the realization that we might as well pursue humanity according to what it is rather than what we claim it ought to be.

Earlier, I stated a particular aspect of Dr. Lecter I admire is his ability to maintain his composure under pressure and think through his objective rather than burst forth with emotional angst. Dr. Lecter might plunge an axe through the skull of a deviant but it would be significantly out of character for him to take that axe to a lawn mower refusing to start. I can honestly say I have never killed anyone with an axe, but I have destroyed a lawn mower with one after struggling to get it to run. Dr. Lecter would have pursued a solution to start the machine or simply and calmly replaced it. He would not have chopped it apart, splashing gasoline all over himself only to discover the culprit to the problem was a disconnected spark plug wire, only to look to the house to see his spouse peering at him through the window, shaking her head in disbelief. Batman wouldn’t have done that, either.

In moments such as these, we see the value of heroes.

So, to those among us who require stable ground to grasp when we feel it shaking us to our core, Dr. Lecter’s stability in the face of strain is worthy of aspiration. For those among us who feel ourselves boiling over when a disagreement is turning up the heat, Hannibal’s loquacious clarifications lend themselves to leveling things to a gentle simmer. When we’re unsure or actually frightened, Dr. Lecter’s careful calculations serve as a guiding light to follow. Thus, we recognize as sane people we do not require a marinade for the shoulder meat of whomever pushes our buttons, but the perseverance to see reason succeed rather than emotional torment. All of this is worthy of aspiration, and Dr. Lecter is admirable for offering these examples to follow.

Take a look at the true, real examples you have to find aspiration within. Many, for some bizarre fucking reason, are political in nature. I’d like to step forward and state for the record it is perfectly deplorable, if I may borrow the term, to see anyone in politics as worthy of admiration. From there, we have those in entertainment, and there are plenty of them. 

Now, if you’re an aspiring guitarist, looking towards the numerous people who have excelled at the art is a worthwhile goal when it comes to their talent, but sadly that’s about it. Why, oh, why, would anyone look to anyone in acting for traits to mirror? At least rock stars don’t appear to be the monsters they used to be, even though they likely still are.

In sum, perhaps it’s better to look for those positive traits in people in order to find a guiding light. Gene Simmons might offer the entrepreneur a lot to aspire to in business, but in personal conduct? Well, perhaps not so much. And could anyone tell me why the Kardashian family is known and admired for anything whatsoever?

So, my friends, in a world full of Obamas, Kardashians, Biebers, Republicans, Democrats, Islamics, pundits, Clintons, Trumps, analysts, musicians and actors, reality TV stars, internet magnates, assaulters of Presidents who live with their mother according to judicial mandate, BLM supporters and organizers, race and conspiracy baiters, and safe space pursuers, just to name a scant few, I recommend you be a Hannibal Lecter.

When you’ve come to the realization that, in the year 2016 there is nobody left to admire, find something to admire in Hannibal Lecter. At the very least, you’ll never go hungry. 

9/11 and How This Day Changed Who I Am, Even Fifteen Years Later

I am writing this the day before the fifteenth anniversary of one of the most evil occurrences I have witnessed in my lifetime. 

My wife and I were just beginning a small vacation, staying at home and merely relaxing for a few days. The TV and the coffee pot were on, and we were getting ready to run a few errands needing attention and we'd just came back inside after taking the dogs out for a morning walk and run. The Florida weather was pleasant and stress levels at a marked low. And then the news began perking up. 

We turned to the news to see what this plane crash in NYC was about, knowing something like that would be profound in that environment. I was sitting there wondering to myself, how could anyone make such a mistake as to lose control of a plane like that and actually plow it into the side of such a landmark? What level of mistakes and shortcomings lead to that, and what's the level of damage and loss of life? The news people were gabbing on and on as the cameras focused on the event, and I knew this would go on for quite some time. I was mainly waiting to hear about survivors and if there were clues to what led to this. 

And then, while sitting there with my coffee in hand, right there on live TV, I saw the next plane come into view and blaze into the other tower. Literally, the first words out of my mouth were, "We're at war."

What occurred and how it all unfolded doesn't need to be relived here; we all know what happened. And yes, the conspiracy theories abound as to the real deal of the day. But what went on the next day and the next and the next to the moment I am writing this here on a Saturday morning with my coffee getting tepid are the events that changed me forever. In fact, this is a continual and chronic evolution of me. 

At the time, we quickly learned of the people responsible for this, or at least we thought we did. We were led to believe these were the lunatic fringe of an otherwise peaceful and moderate religion who conveniently picked and chose what elements of their faith they would adhere to and then justified these snippets with violence. We also saw a country, our country, come together in a way rarely seen, joining us in a common cause and concern for our people. 

How this genuine nature and outreach of humanity from the populace deteriorated so quickly did and still does give me pause, but it was through continual exposure and honest analysis of the enemy at hand that has changed who I am as a person. At the time, I had been out of the military for nearly a decade and gave matters of political strife little thought. I was duped into thinking we'd vanquished the strength of Communism (wow, was I wrong on that one) and we didn't have another significant enemy to combat. When I left service, they were driving out everyone in droves, making it clear that all the peace breaking out renders you people redundant. We'll pay you to officially get lost. 

What continues to burn at me is, A, how the media and our political body continually paints a picture of peace and civility within the evil that is Islam when the overbearing evidence demonstrates to the contrary, and B, how fucking idiotic nearly everyone is to buy into this fallacy despite the evidence literally threatening their existence. 

I have spent a considerable amount of time and energy learning far more about this thing called Islam and I'm only more concerned with every bit more I discover. What I've learned frightens me on several levels, such as how convicted the extremists are to prepare for their quest and how nonchalant the ignorant are of this. 

Shortly after that tragic day, I moved to rejoin the military as I recognized my place was indeed not over yet. But I have a bad ankle that's been repeatedly injured over time that shut that avenue down. I was trying to regain a proper physical fitness but kept causing the ankle trouble, forcing me to recognize that ankle isn't going to endure the rigors of Basic Training I would have to redo. I had it examined and was told that it actually required surgery if it wasn't going to plague me as I aged (that surgery never occurred and it has placed me on a cane and I know struggle daily) and it certainly wasn't going to endure Basic. 

So, I had to pursue this another way. Rather than go in and fight in uniform with my Brothers in Arms, I would have to stand vigilant from out here. Being surrounded by ignorant fools who bury their heads in the sands for the benefit of Political Correctness has proved challenging, but I hold steady and forge ahead despite the constant label of being a chronic asshole. 

I don't recall how much information I've gained about this plague of Islamism because I've lost count of all the books I've read, written by experts and, more importantly, people who were once in the extremist fold and changed for the better. I've read books, paid attention to news pushed down by the mainstream media because it doesn't support the peaceful Muslim narrative, and today I know more about Islam than I do the faiths of my own land. 

I live in constant fear, but not for me. I worry horribly about the future of the world and how it will look ten, twenty, fifty or more years from now. Will the good people of the world continue to gobble up the fantasies and fellate the Islamic agenda preparing for world domination? I have reached out to friends and family, but still I receive but just a tiny bit of understanding and a lot of criticism and, frankly, a good dose of mocking. My beliefs and convictions are not based on anger and hatred (but they do make up some of the foundation) but rather a cornucopia of information gathered up over the last fifteen years. 

I do this every damned day. I learn more and share more daily. I continually seek more information and readily share it as this threat grows in strength and our political body grows ever more corrupt and incompetent government. I see many get it and understand the nature of the war we fight, both hot and cold, but I fear for those who choose to remain blissful in their ignorance as the slaughter chute narrows with every step. 

I have prepared and gathered the necessary tools for me to engage if necessary but I grow worrisome about my daily aging and the issues that come with that. I have a bad ankle and failing shoulders, and my back wants in on the game. I have more than enough to defend myself but my job (I am a truck driver) keeps me from my family far too much and I fear this vulnerability. Of course I share my feelings and knowledge with family, but my girls can only do so much. I recognize the knowledge and experience gained during my time in service might prove invaluable, but will it be enough? The game played by this enemy is FAR stronger and better organized than I am alone. 

Every waking moment passes seeing me recognizing I am surrounded by both evil and stupidity combined with stark ignorance and limitations, and I know the moment is coming. For fifteen years now I have readied to take this on should it reach me locally, and I know I'm not alone. I have learned there are major threats but also major allies. I know fighting this is my mission in life and I know there are others better prepared to fight this mission and their all around me. But as this thing exercises it's patience and builds on its strength, my mortality creeps in. If this thing pushes back another ten years, how much can I really do at that point? I am educating my loved ones on the use of firearms and other weapons of defense, but these Islamics are training their kids to kill from toddlerhood. Our own government is stealing our liberty and freedom while most of us cheer with thunderous applause that this government claims it has our backs. 

For fifteen years now I have moved away from who I was fifteen years ago. I am different and I'm told I actually look different, whatever that means. As time moves forward I worry that the average American attention span will falter to a point that we may very well be sitting ducks when the prophesied moment comes, and there will be only so much I can do. As time goes and my body breaks down (my injuries combined with my age actually prevent the proper level of fitness and endurance required of a soldier) my mind and spirit are challenged to make up the difference. I can't run two miles in a matter of minutes anymore, but I can shoot just fine (and I'm quite experienced with cutlery) and I sure as Hell don't have anything better to worry about. Defending my family and my country are Priority One. My Oath didn't go inactive on my ETS date. It does that the moment of my last breath. 

Fifteen years ago I concerned myself with ambition for my future, the best pizza and the moments that make up a quality life. I mainly wanted to love and laugh. I thought I did my part for the bigger picture after they told me to pack up my stuff and go home. I wanted to spend most of my day at Disney World and check out the pretty girls. I wanted to see my daughter grow up to become something marvelous (check). I wanted to correct some of my failures and make my wife and kids proud of me and happy with me (still working on that- check in later). 

Fifteen years from that time, my brow is troubled and I have a bad limp. My teeth suffer from the severe grinding and too many worry about what the ocean levels might be in a century rather than how those levels might rise due to the influx of cold blood any day now. My heart is dark and I certainly have no fucking desire to be a centenarian. Today, I truly believe humanity is the worst thing to ever happen to the universe, even though I truly believe that same humanity just might become the best thing should it really desire it. It doesn't seem likely but it surely seems worth the effort. 

Today, I am not who I was fifteen years ago. Today, I don't know if I'm better or worse, but I hope I am who and what I need to be, should it come to that. 

Why I Believe Donald Trump MUST be Our Next President

Yes, I know. It was just the last post where I stated Ted Cruz MUST be our next President. Honestly, I still stand behind that. However, that ship has sailed and this is where we are now. Unless something beyond bizarre happens (and nobody should rule that out) the choices are now between Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton.

I really do not see Bernie Sanders having a pathway to victory and I am so grateful to that. I do not and would never believe that man has any other desire than to see the systematic decimation and crushing of this country. His pathetic hippie fantasy was long ago crushed and he wants someone to pay for it.

While most people under the age of forty find it difficult to grasp the horrors of Socialism because they weren't there to see the chaos directly, Bernie Sanders is more than old enough to see and appreciate what happened to Cuba, Venezuela, China, North Korea, and even lesser travesties such as Norway and Sweden. So, it is only fair to conclude he desires to see the United States of America fall in a way any one of them did, or fall harder and burn hotter.

While I recognize his opportunity slipped away from him, it breaks my heart to see how popular he became, and if it wasn't for the blatant corrupted nature of the Democratic Party's election process (Super Delegates) he may very well have had a smooth path to the White House and could have seen this country destroyed before the end of his days. While I find it difficult to believe our system of government is so fragile, Obama demonstrated how vulnerable it really is.

Hilary Clinton would only be about as bad as Sanders, and in many ways she would be worse. There's no doubt to anyone who demonstrates some level of intellectual honesty that she is likely the most corrupt politician operating in politics today. Furthermore, she has openly claimed to be a Progressive. If you do not understand the problematic nature of this, you're a part of the problem. That is because there has been a very active element operating within Progressivism and Liberalism and said element is seeking your rights and desires to be the single most influential entity in your universe, regardless of whether you like it.

Although she may not articulate this in this way and she may actually believe some of which she states, but Hilary Clinton is among those who seek the systematic destruction of this country and perhaps the world. Her methodology desires to reduce all peoples to a minion, a mere pawn in the hands of authoritative figures in government. I am confident she believes she is a superior element to the mere humanity she desires to wield for her desires.

I cannot say Donald Trump would be much better, but I have to be honest and state he may in fact be just what we are looking for. I do not believe the rhetoric and hopes cried out by his staunch supporters, but I do not believe the rhetoric cried out by his staunch opposition, either.

As stated in my last Post, I fear Donald Trump may very well reduce his position as President to being all about him. I believe he wants to be more of a leader of a nation and among the most influential in the world for the sake of himself over anything else. But with that being said, I am not labeling the man a monster. I believe he would so adore the notion of going down in history as one of America's finest Presidents as opposed to among the most infamous. Barack Obama seeks that infamy with a smirk, but I don't believe Trump is like that.

However, Trump is inherently nasty at times and is happy to smack down those who oppose him, so I fear he might have the capacity to smack down a country not toeing his narcissistic demeanor. But I also think he might have the ambition and drive to be the catalyst to significantly positive change in this country. I have every confidence Donald Trump would love to see this country rise to its highest peak during his administration, but he might be dark enough to see it fall should he grow to hate it for not seeing him the way he sees him.

I just do not know. He could be the best thing this country has seen in modern history, or he might be the worst. I really do not have any firm idea either way.

But we do with Hilary Clinton. We who desire to be honest with ourselves know she desires the ruination of America. Her supporters support her only because they have duped themselves into thinking the destruction of America would give rise to a better country under her ambition. But these are the same people who believe in uncountable genders, Islamics are pacifists and only governmental officials have the wherewithal to tie a shoe.

Donald Trump may prove to be the worst thing our country has experienced in Washington, but he just might disprove that and become one of the most wondrous Americans of modern times. And that is why I state we have to elect Donald Trump to the Presidency. We simply do not have a better choice and we only have an evil choice. We can place Trump in that place and hope for great things in a time of uncertainty, or we can place Hilary Clinton there and resurrect the mindset of some of the most infamous political dictators this planet has experienced.

It seems fair to state the choice is obvious.

So, these Never-Trump people who are also Never-Hilary people need to take a look at the landscape as it presents itself now. Did we not learn any lessons during the last election cycle? Because Republican and Conservative voters didn't feel it for Romney, they just sat it out and allowed Barack Obama another four years in control. How did that work out for you guys? Not so hot, huh?

I simply cannot fathom how people in the Libertarian and Conservative mindset could do this once more. Okay, okay, okay, OKAY! I get it! I understand the fears and opposition to Trump. In fact, I agree with most of the criticism. I fear Trump could be the death of Conservatism and the (genuine) Republican philosophy. But the Republican Party is replete with Democratic Socialists who chose to play Bad Cop for the sake of the Progressive agenda they support. I cannot say for sure, but he just might not want to be one of them, but might desire to see them dismissed.

Trump is a magnificent businessman. Obama is a Socialist who sought the destruction of the American future, but Trump knows the value of a strong dollar, a strong economy and a strong nation. If Trump does indeed Make America Great Again, might he desire all the credit for himself and see himself as the greatest President in the history of our nation? He might desire all the credit and all the parades, but if he actually does it, then what? If he wants his face on the One Dollar Bill, then what?

America is about hope for the future. That's what we do here. I will never, NEVER accept that one human being can bring about the hope all of us should share in building, but I have to accept that one evil individual can usurp the American Dream and turn American minds from desiring freedom and liberty over governmental permission to exist according to governmental standards and whims.

So, Donald Trump MUST be the next President of the United States of America. Because if he isn't, Hilary Clinton will hold that position, and the world may suffer the consequences. Do NOT think the world could not again suffer the horrors of our recent historical past, particularly what humanity endured throughout the 20th Century. Just think that Donald Trump wants that less than Hilary Clinton does and the choice makes itself clear.

Why I Believe Ted Cruz MUST be Our Next President

I can tell you that I am not a one-issue voter, but I will allow one major issue to sway me closer or away. I’ll pay close attention to what’s said and what’s going on, but I don’t often root for someone or dismiss someone based on a single simple point. But with that being said, I have to say that because Ted Cruz is the only, I mean the only, Constitutional Conservative in this race, he has to be our choice and this is why.

Bernie Sanders sinks this in better than Cruz himself. Sanders and his blatant love for Socialism is garnering massive amounts of youth into his corner, but this is because this youth doesn’t possess a basis of reality when it comes to the horrors of Socialism. None of these younger voters understand what Socialism is because they haven’t witnessed it in the way those of my generation and earlier have. I grew up during the Cold War era and I was there in Germany when the wall came down. I still have a piece of that wall that I personally gathered shortly after the opening of the infamous Checkpoint Charlie.

My point is that these kids of today are enamored by a Socialist because Socialism always sounds great when touted from the podium to those ignorant of what it is. So, because we’ve gone so long without anybody in Washington truly caring about our Constitution in the way Cruz does, I fear that if we continue further in our history without someone demonstrating this level of passion for it, it will soon disappear into myth and legend in much the same way Socialism did. However, the horrors of Socialism have faded out to be replaced by the same old rhetoric unsuspecting citizens have fallen for before. What could happen to our Constitution could be similar, but it will harbor only discord and distrust when mentioned around those who no longer understand it for what it truly is. Rather than being seen as a forgotten stanchion of liberty and freedom, it’ll be labeled as a slavery document written by terrorists who brought a coup against the government standing proper.

I have paid close attention to Trump and really liked him at first, but it’s clear the Constitution will never really matter to him. He’s been at the top of his world his entire life and now wants to wrap up his golden years on top of the world. But he’ll never shake loose the habits and demeanor that placed him and his company in such fame, and we should be more than tired of politicians who make their position all about them. I fear Trump would attempt to run the Presidency in the same manner as he has Trump Enterprises, and there the only one who truly mattered, ever, has been him. Further, those whom he dismissed for not worshipping at his tower report a bitter side of him and his minions.

Hilary Clinton is the single most corrupt politician alive today. It’s tempting to say Obama is, but he’s been nearly open and forthright in his desire to crush this country without blatantly tipping his hand to the Impeachment process. So Hilary is truly the most corrupt, so much so that it seems there’s no end to what she’ll do and say to get elected and no end to how far she’ll go without tipping her hand to a Grand Indictment Committee.

I was so relieved when Jeb finally quit this thing. We all know we didn’t need any more of the Bush legacy and therefore we don’t require any more of the Clinton one, either. Fresh blood is what we need and, yes, we got that with President Obama, but I’m not sure if the country can sustain any more of his fundamental transformation.

In fact, I’m confident it won’t. Either Trump or Hilary would be the other side of the same Obama coin, and Sanders wants to literally vilify all coins, honestly earned or not. We’ve already gone down the Socialist road far enough, with all the dastardly PC and nobody knowing anymore how many genders there are or where they should relieve themselves. This country desperately needs to have someone turn the tide back to common sense and Constitutional principles and soon or we won’t have anyone younger than Bernie who knows how.

If you think I’m wrong or being dramatic, consider this. China has been one of the dastardliest governments since applying western socialism to their methodology, and today they are one of the world’s most feared superpowers after just a few generations of annihilating millions of their own people to appease the perversion of one man, Mao, and today every Chinese citizen is but a pawn and kidnapping victim to their supremacy. The Chinese have no say or influence over their own lives. There are approximately seventy-five people ruling all the remainder of the Chinese population.

Look at Russia. The people of the former Soviet Union no longer openly tout communism but the lives of the Russian people still belong firmly under the boot heels of the leadership. None of them know any other way, and the citizenry is content to worship the on-high and bend to their will, even though they really cannot articulate why they should.

Look at Cuba. Traitors and monsters such as Michael Moore give their blessing to totalitarian regimes such as this one, but Cuba is still a repressive and third-world dictatorship in place to appease two guys, the Castro brothers, even though our President (damn, I can’t wait until you are gone, you vulgar piece of shit) jokes, laughs, does the wave and fellates the images of Che, a murdering monster, all the while giggling about how liberal fools worship him despite how much he wants to see them die in anguish.

Admittedly, a bit of opinion injected in here.

But the fact that North Korea is a living nightmare is not an opinion. An entire country of people is held down under the cruelty of one family and their latest inbred fool, and it’s been that way for so long that should South Korea knock away this Jong idiot, those people might take decades to recover from being subhuman puppets to one demigod. To further this all we need do is look at Germany. For several decades these people were divided by a hard wall (proving a wall can work just fine) and when it came down, those from the East were caught up in such a culture shock that refugee status was placed on those coming across as soon as the avenue was opened. And…look at Germany today. Through foolish political correctness on a guano-madness scale, they have allowed a Nazi-worshipping invasion force from the Middle East overrun their country. They stand there with their hands in their pockets and openly allow these Satanic invaders to rape and kill their prepubescent daughters with impunity.

This is where we are going if you do not place Ted Cruz into the White House. Hilary would hold your daughter down for the rapists much in the same way she did for her husband. I cannot honestly say Trump would do this, but if this country doesn’t toe his line the way he demands they should, he very likely might be worse than all of this. He was raised and made incredibly famous to be a megalomaniac. The Presidency would solidify his belief he is superior to everything else and this could push him over an edge should he garner scrutiny from the people. He’s done great in life and he is approaching seventy. He can relax and enjoy the fruits of his labor from here on out.

Bernie Sanders is a Kim Jong Il wannabe and if you cannot recognize that, you may very well learn the hard way, with your life while watching the greatest country this world has ever seen burn down around you.

While I recognize my exquisite political analysis is superb, I don’t want to find out the hard way I was right all along. I would rather see this country return to some common sense, appreciate what we have as the finest country ever, recognize honest labor begets honest income and recognize, finally recognize, the government is inherently stupid if not downright evil, and we stand tallest when we stand united.

So, I ask that all of you who read this do some homework and take an honest look at what you have going on around you. If you do not want to end up being a North Korean wannabe, vote for Ted Cruz. 

Humanity and Our Continual Need for War

Does it require an exceptional individual or any particular think tank to recognize humanity is teetering on the very brink of calamitous disaster? A significant percentage of humanity is suffering immensely, yet the majority of this is brought on by the way we do things in our existence. Most governmental leaders function in a way facilitating their power and influence for their own benefit rather than the benefit of the people they represent or lead, and there are numerous governments that unfortunately perceive their people as something to be quashed or controlled. Few societies function peacefully anywhere on this planet and then only because they’re quite small in size and scope coupled with most being in agreement of the situation or at least in acquiescence to it. Fewer societies operate with a working financial system functioning for the benefit of the said society as a whole and in fact, most are forcing upon themselves severe financial hardship. Multiculturalism has failed so horribly that everywhere this experiment has taken place suffers immense adversity few can explain honestly. Religious dogma runs the mindset of most people despite the claims of secular tolerance and there is at least one major religious doctrine demanding all others toe its line or face annihilation.

Places where life is relatively peaceful are far too few and far between, and most places endure continual trouble emanating from more sources than most can identify. Further, it seems there are too few people who desire any form of peace in their world unless an insurmountable and numerous amount of unrealistic demands are met. Few countries can claim a hefty amount of strong allies yet many harbor numerous potential enemies of some level of threat. In fact, many countries, most to be fair, are strictly out for the benefit of their specific homeland and are more than happy to see their society benefit from the suffering and woes of other nations. A few of these nations, such as North Korea, function to appease the psychopathy of one influential individual who wallows in grand megalomania while the citizenry is reduced to a hostage crisis.

Racial tensions are at a breaking point despite the impressive gains made on the front of easing these tensions. Tolerance is at such an all-time low that people feel more than comfortable in confronting others around them for the slightest of irritants. Demands are so widespread and numerous that they’re equitable to the amount of people making such demands and yet no other demands matter but the ones claimed by those claiming them. Many Islamists demand the world convert to their way of thinking and believing or else, and far too few people even care to recognize their world is akin to a plane in a tailspin spiraling to the ground.

The world seems continually at the brink of war and most people today find such an outcome just shy of inevitable. Honestly, many look forward to it. Preparing for an upcoming apocalypse has become trendy and quite in vogue; so much so that those who aren’t on the bandwagon are seen as sure to suffer and die when the shit hits the fan. They should’ve read the pamphlet.

Is this what we are? Does this really make sense that in this day and age and after our kind recognizes the incalculable suffering the world has endured in the past we should focus on ensuring the suffering of the past wanes in comparison to what’s to come?

So it would seem. There are still vast amounts of people alive today who were there to witness and endure the Holocaust that occurred during WWII, yet it seems there are so many more who believe it wasn’t nearly bad enough and needs to be repeated and then escalated to levels the world has not seen since the catastrophe ending the era of the dinosaur. The percentage of people who believe only their way is the way is so high that these people are seeking grander endeavors in order to ensure their approach rises above all the rest, at just about any cost, even when they know with confidence their philosophy and methodology only serves their microcosmic interests at the expense of just about everyone else.

How could we possibly expect the world to function into the long-term in this manner? It seems that very question has no place in the dialogue and rhetoric we hear from every rooftop.

We have to consider that such suffering and violence has been a significant part of the human landscape since time immemorial. The civilizations of the past two centuries have actually lessened the problem to some degree (based on the rise in the human population over the past two centuries despite the warfare) but it seems this is akin to tectonic plates pushing against one another for far too long. The illustration here is to indicate when minor earthquakes occur it’s due to smaller shifts, but great pressure built up for too long breaks loose with tremendous force, causing catastrophe. This helps color in the point that humanity just might be building up to a grand and horrifying quake that will surely be felt around the world.

The Book of Revelations tells of the End Times, but this is not the only series of prophecies warning of this. Islam also harbors similar prophecies, and even Nostradamus warns the world will suffer the greatest woes of warfare before a grand peace eventually reigns supreme. There is no way of knowing surely if any of this will certainly come to pass and most secularists find these claims baseless, superstitious and bizarre.

But historical relevance certainly helps us prophesy where we are going via empirical data, and it doesn’t appear attractive. All the signs indicate we are on a precarious brink.

I believe it’s wise to peer at our kind from outside it if we can. Religious doctrine will say what it will, but we can easily recognize we are a creature not much unlike any other creature in existence (but for extraordinary exceptions). What’s more, we are a predatory creature and an apex one at that. While at first glance this may seem as though we face few if any significant predators hunting our kind (unless one wanders in the wilderness unprotected or bleeds in shark-infested waters) but Nature always demands a sense of balance. Lions, crocodiles and other predators help keep down the wildebeest population and frogs eat bugs, snakes eat frogs, falcons eat snakes and perhaps the eagle may prey on the falcon if he isn’t careful. A bear just might kill a wolf for a deer kill. My taxonomic skills just aren’t to par but the point is that there really isn’t anything out there killing us; a predator that masters most environments it chooses even at the expense of the indigenous species is dangerous by any standard. This has allowed us to expand from eons of maintaining a world population of somewhere near two billion to ballooning to more than seven billion in less than two centuries. To add to this, the human population has nearly doubled in the last fifty years, and that population fifty years ago was a record at the time.

Is it a stretch to assume something might be looming on the horizon?

The state of the world combined with upset balances in most ecosystems and even the global influence demonstrates there has been a level of upset in the balance of human coexistence. Now, we hear untold amounts of people crying concerns about climate change and continual extinctions brought about by human influence and irresponsibility, but it’s safe to assume Man will not tower over the power of Nature Itself. Humanity is as susceptible to the ravages of nature just as much as any other species. But what Nature wants from us is still a mystery, although the mystery itself seems as evident as a typhoon.

This point deserves more light on its matter. It is more than reasonable to assume Humanity harbors no power over Nature and in fact, everything Humanity is results from the dictates of Nature. A shimmering urban center is no less natural than a beehive or coral reef. Neon lighting is no less natural than the light of the sun or the luminescence of the firefly. The city bus is no less natural than the wings of the eagle. Human technology is Nature’s way of acknowledging technology is necessary for life. To testify, sixty-five million years ago, Nature learned the entire planet could suffer irreparable damage and potentially suffer global extinction, so we can hypothesize it chose a species to develop a means of global or planetary migration when regional migration proved insufficient.

This is an assumption but a sound one. Further, humanity developed a great compassion (not always easily seen, one must admit) and could someday save the future of innumerable species of this planet long after the planet is no longer capable of supporting life. Yea, it seems as though I’m reaching but this assertion is easily defendable with an extended moment’s explanation. At least it would be difficult to dismiss out of hand.

But Nature has made it abundantly clear that trial-and-error is the key to evolutionary progress. So it stands to reason Nature offered humanity the means to be the apex species leading all Terran life into the future away from this planet, but something akin to more than 99% of all species have lost out in the past after proving unable to cope with the changes. Science hypothesizes this planet has seen several mass extinctions over the past few billion years. Could it be that humanity has failed the tests placed before it and we are now at the brink of self-annihilation to make way for a more fitting species to develop Sentience and Civilization?

Nature offers us the options. Our nuclear capabilities (no less natural than a beaver dam) offer to propel us into a high-tech future or to eradicate our future entirely. Nature offers us the ability to reason and exercise logic, but verily through the prism of an effective predator. After all, those who prowl the urban streets with the intent to attack the elderly have to exercise some significant logistical thought in order to pull the caper off and then escape to either enjoy the spoils or high-five one another in celebration.

It is fair to say we are at a severe crossroads. We can accept the challenges to our intelligent and civilized mind in order to find a way to a better global society someday capable of reaching the stars, or we can fester in our predatory intolerance and destroy ourselves to pave the way for the next sentient species. The successful child predator has to pay close attention to the details and not miss one bullet point.

But, there’s more to consider than just the mayhem. These ancient and various prophecies often tell of a great peace and rising of civilization after the apocalypse in one form or another. Does Nature demand a grand cleansing across the species to teach us one final lesson of peace and tolerance? Does Humanity have to entertain the brink of extinction to learn how to prosper and advance? Conflicts between countries today are no less natural than the conflicts between Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons ages ago, or between ant hills. After all, science has shown there were once numerous species of humanity at various points in time. There’s but one today, despite all the claims to the contrary.

Some would argue about the on the brink assumption but we have to consider that we chose to become dependent on our technology. We would not simply revert to who and what we were in 1770; we no longer possess the skills. We couldn’t even revert back to 1900. The loss of modern technology at this moment (the grid going down and all going dark with no reliable method of getting it running again) is expected to see population reduction by as much or perhaps more than 90% within less than a year, and there’s no way to ascertain how long those left would need to regain peace and civility, particularly since predation against one another would be the primary way to survive. Why? Because that is the only instinct we possess.

What humanity is today is unlike anything it has been in the past. There are so many more of us than there were two centuries ago, and those skills from then are all but gone. Nearly everything we do today is entirely dependent on satellite technology, or at least modern technology. Just about every semi moving in the Unites States and most other countries depends on today’s technology, so if that technology is lost, they stop. Commerce and distribution would cease, and then what? Just about all communication would cease. We would go from being able to communicate globally to simply word-of-mouth. Civilization would collapse to chaos and then we can only assume the wreckage to come. We can safely assume it would be horrific. The strong and predatory would exact heinous chaos and violence all around, and no child, particularly girls, would ever be safe. In fact, sex slaves would likely replace gold as one of our more valuable assets. Hey, it’s what we are.

But some sort of phoenix would rise from the ashes eventually. Would humanity regain what it lost and turn everything back on? Certainly the human population would be so severely reduced that those surviving would have plenty to keep them busy. It’s just a matter of who is left having the ability and skill set to even recognize what’s before them. Evacuate everyone from today and bring in those from two hundred years ago, and then task them with mastering today’s environment, its technology and options. It’s easy to assume it just wouldn’t happen anytime soon, and all those satellites out there would continue on their journeys whilst all below is perfectly oblivious to them until they fall.

But there being so few people and so much to do just might be the very point. Returning to a civilized state and being respectful of some sort of law while getting the power on while others find something to do with all the rotting bodies may be what’s required for our kind to see what we’ve done to ourselves and the rest of the planet. Is this what we’re getting ready to do? While I have no way of knowing one way or another, I do believe my examination and interpretations of the situation as it stands harbors weight, even if for no other reason than simply because an honest look at the world today reveals a pathway so unsustainable that a major paradigm shift is inevitable, and the way we’ve always done such a shift is through warfare. That’s just simple history. And how bizarre is it that not long ago the world saw a holocaust of unimaginable horror and yet today another one promising to be even worse is blooming while we all sit back and chow on pizza and watch through bored eyes. So to see one roll their eyes to the mere mention of societal collapse prompts one to almost feel sorry for these blinded fools.

This particular post is reaching its end, but I hope to further on the point as time goes by and I would hope to see some dialogue erupt as a result of these examinations. And what to do in the meantime? Well, there are a lot of people far ahead of me, so I first recommend paying attention to them. The Prepping Industry is thriving as well as those who teach reality-based self-defense, and companies selling non-firearm weapons (because the AR-15 is dazzlingly wonderful in its effectiveness…until it runs out of bullets) are doing wonderful. People all around you are learning to bug out, fight, engage in combat with blades and blunt force, and survive in a calamitous environment. It might behoove you to get on some bandwagon while you can.

But none of this means we have no pathway to improve before we reach some resemblance of a zombie apocalypse. So while it’s smart to have a way to defend yourself and your family, we should be even more attentive on engaging in conversations and activity designed to level the plane before it plows into the mountainside or the sea. That’s because doing so won’t necessarily stop the apocalypse from occurring (it seems inevitable to me, to be honest) but at least we’ll have some damage control in place when TSHTF.

Because let’s face it; we’re only at our best when things are at their worst.