THE DEBATE ....

It was like watching an episode of "The View" ... a bunch of women cackling over each other.  Not one word of substance.  It was all name calling and insults.  Seriously America ... how can Republicans overlook this behavior?  It was like the WWE.  They should have just thrown them all in a cage and let them have at it.  

All Trump offers is his ridiculous wall which will NEVER be built because it's unbelievably stupid and Mexico will NEVER pay for it.  Danny and I sat on the couch and laughed out loud and then he would hit pause and we'd discuss how sad the whole thing was and shake our heads in disbelief that THIS is what politics in the United States has become.  

America has become a dumbed-down, angry, bitter populace who relates to this type of trashy behavior because most are uneducated and follow FOX News.  Its true.  The wild cheers from the crowd were as if they were watching a NASCAR rally.  The GOP is out of their minds.  The only sane ones have already left the ticket!

Lindsay Graham said that the GOP has become bat-shit crazy!  Lindsay Graham!  And he's right.  There was no intelligent debate, not one candidate EXCEPT for Kasich who actually has solutions ... a plan he has actually thought about, outlined and presented and wants to implement.  I haven't heard a plan from either Cruz, Rubio or Trump. And now Christie is endorsing Trump.  Well, you all know what that's about.  Endorse me and I'll pick you as my running mate.  

America has lost it's mind.  

I'm almost 60 years old.  I have seen politics evolve and change over my life but I have NEVER witnessed such adolescent, immature, childish behavior in men who are supposedly educated, smart and have so much power.  It's insanity.  But more than that, it is sad.  So, so sad.  

If I were younger, I honestly think I would leave this country and move somewhere where a country's citizens are educated, valued, and protected.  I feel for my children and grandchildren.  They are not highly educated.  They have good paying jobs, BUT they are in the service industry that is ruled by a corporate mindset that will follow you throughout your working day timing you as you drive from one place to another, or take a break from your workday and pointing to the employee handbook that states it should only take you approximately 3 minutes to take a bowel movement while on the job.  

You may laugh or scoff at this but all you have to do is ask someone who works for UPS who now have cameras installed in their trucks that watch the driver at all times, or talk to my husband who works for a company (that shall remain nameless) for which he has to answer to some bigwig for the truck idling for more than five minutes before a voice pipes into the truck saying "IDLE ..... IDLE .... IDLE".... IT'S TRUE.  He has to explain WHY the truck was idling and WHAT he was doing while the truck was idling?  Were you wasting time?  Why?  It's very serious people.  He has to jump through hoops before getting into his truck to start his day, his truck that I might add is in dire need of repairs (SERIOUS repairs) that they keep putting off and putting off.  If you were to Google the name of his company you would get THOUSANDS of class action lawsuits for unlawful deaths and firings.  This company would rather pay millions in fighting lawsuits than fix their faulty trucks and equipment.  THAT is the corporate mindset, the FREE MARKET working for no one but the RICH CEO. 

We are entering strange times indeed.  No middle class.  Rich and poor.  Only until YOU find yourself on the receiving end of what America is slowly doing to its workers will you understand what pain and suffering is.  As Danny calls it, it's the misery factor.  I pray for my kids and grand-kids.  They don't know it yet, but they are on the receiving end of a long, slow, screwing and when they're my age God only knows what will have happened to their jobs, their 401(k), social security, or if they will be required to work until they are 85 before they can think about retiring.    

WHERE TO INVADE NEXT ....

Saw a great flick this weekend that you all should check out.  Michael Moore's "Where to Invade Next" ... and yes, I am a left-wing, liberal pinko commie (just wanted to save you time when you send me comments) ... anywho, it is totally not what I expected.  Danny wanted to see it.  It is a long documentary so take snacks. 

So I basically felt really bad about America after watching this.  And at one point I wanted to ask Michael Moore WHY DON'T YOU MOVE TO EUROPE IF YOU HATE AMERICA SO MUCH? (Which is totally not me and I couldn't figure out why I was thinking such a right wing-ish type of thought???? .... ) BUT, I continued watching.  And I learned quite a bit. 

Years ago I read an amazing book called "All God's Children" by Fox Butterfield.  It is an incredible true story about a young black kid who grows up to become a violent killer and is eventually sent to prison forever.  The writer became interested in the idea of whether or not violence is inherited.  He basically traced the main characters family back to slave times and what you learn is that America has always been a very violent country.  Before, during and after slavery.  It is an extremely interesting book and a worthwhile read if you want to check it out. 

But I digress.  Back to Michael Moore's movie. 

Michael basically traveled to several countries to "invade" and "steal" some of their best ideas for implementation here in America.  And amazingly, most of the countries in Europe have very humane societies deeply rooted in social justice and fairness for all.  It is not COMMUNISM BAD it is SOCIALISM GOOD. 

Granted, I've never lived anywhere but here, but it is no secret to anyone that the America is going to hell.  We are driven by a greedy corporate culture beholden to shareholder interests ONLY with no regard for the common working citizen who pays the bulk of taxes and who are getting the shaft more and more every day. 

We have a bunch of buffoons running for President whose behavior is imbecilic and adolescent at best and basically, an embarrassment. 

I've often said I wouldn't care how much I paid in taxes if I knew what I was paying for.  My paycheck stub reflects FDIC, social security, 401(k) and insurance.  NOTHING ELSE.  In Italy you get a complete total, I'm talking dollar amount and where it goes listed on every working person's paycheck.  Yeah yeah.  Personally, I've always wondered how much of my tax dollars go to fund wars, purchase arms, and all other negative things that I would not want to be a party to.

In Italy, they get 80 days of vacation a year.  You can literally take two months off and go somewhere fab to relax and rejuvenate.  It's normal and expected.  They feel that happy/rested employees make good employees all the way around.  I agree.  The Italians get so much time off I would consider moving there .... if I were 30. 

Finland has the best educational system IN. THE. WORLD.  And why is this?  Because they were once rated the lowest.  They completely revamped their educational system and came up with some brilliant results.  Finnish children do not start school until they are 7.  School is only 4 hours a day.  These kids get NO HOMEWORK and are encouraged to play/learn music/play sports, etc., et al.  Most Finnish students know AT LEAST three languages and sometimes more.  And just listening to these kids speak it is apparent that they are knowledgeable and articulate.  Talk to an average high school kid where I went to school and you'd slit your wrists.  I don't mean to be a hater, I really don't, but it is SO OBVIOUS that Finland is doing something right and we are NOT. 

Here, you can pay for a great private school, or live in a ritzy area and get a reasonably good education.  If you are born in the hood or some less than desirable area, you will not have access to the BEST education possible.  In Finland, ALL students learn the EXACT SAME CURRICULUM and it doesn't matter where you live!  Incredible.  Educating your citizens to be contributing human beings who are educated, well spoken, without private interests making as much money as they can themselves .... amazing.  This is a country that does not have homeless population because, in the worlds of one female CEO, "I don't know how you Americans can go to bed at night when you know there is someone who is hungry and has no home.  I don't know how you can have yours and not care about your neighbor.  It's wrong."  YES.  IT IS WRONG. 

Next we went to Sweden.  Their prison system is not to be believed. In fact, it is mind-blowing.  But without giving away everything in the movie, I would really encourage you to see it.

The main message of this film is that if other countries are capable of looking at those things that can improve and better their society, why can't we?  It's because America is totally beholden to, and run by super rich CEO's, banks and Wall Street.  There is no democracy or sense of social justice.  These very powerful institutions have no moral compass, are corrupt and greedy ... all about money, money, money and who can I screw next.   

I'll stop now.  I don't want to give too much away.  See the movie and then send me your thoughts.  And please, try to do so with an open mind.