They Are All Wrong...Every Single One of Them...

Top of the evening folks.

Over the years, we have all been had to contend with whether we believe in Creation or Evolution. Of late, I think that I hold by Evolution. The reason is simple. Look at the level of political discourse that we have all been blessed to witness over the last several months. The only word that comes to mind devolution. If every action has an equal and opposite reaction, devolution must mean Evolution.

Why do I call it devolution? Because we are unable to see the humanity in those who would disagree with us. Rather than accept that those who are pro-abortion at any point in a pregnancy have real concerns about the health of a mother, we hear that women are being denied reproductive freedom. Rather than accept that those who are against all abortion have genuine concerns about all life, including the mother and including life that has not yet seen the light of day, we hear that we are back in medieval times.

They are all wrong...every single one of them.

Why are they all wrong? They are all wrong because when we go to the extremes, when we talk about abortion in those latter months, we must realize that those abortions are 1.5% of the total number of abortions. I am going to put a thought out there to ponder. If such abortions, those that take place in the last trimester, are such a tiny number, it stands to reason that the mothers (and the fathers) are not being cavalier about it. This is a tragedy. This does not end with dinner and dancing to celebrate. This ends with tears, heartbreak, and shattered dreams. Those on the right need to realize that anyone who carries a pregnancy that far is most likely committed to that pregnancy. Something serious got in the way. Those on the left need to realize that the word 'choice' dehumanizes everyone. That fetus is not a choice. It is a potential life, or maybe even a life. It is not a coin toss.

So I have an interesting idea. Let's leave those late-term abortions out of the discussion. Abortions in the third trimester must be legal. Given that they are so rare, and given that such abortions are probably never simple decisions, I see little point in building a law around such extremities. Instead, let us come together and help a family through this, if by no other means then letting that family know that they will not become a cudgel for one side or the other. Let us help a grieving family while holding a hand and crying with them. Surely we can all do that.

Where the grey areas in the law might be found is in those first six months. I do not have the answers here. But I am willing to listen to people who might disagree with me. Maybe we can all learn from each other.

Go to sleep.

R/SCG

Political Temper Tantrums...

Good evening to all.

I have just about reached my wit's end. I have also hesitated to write this blog entry. I have every expectation of receiving some sharply-worded responses to it.

What is on my mind this evening? On my mind this evening is the political temper tantrum emanating from Capitol Hill in the United States. This will be a difficult blog entry to write. The reason is that it could lead one to the conclusion that I either like or dislike certain people in Washington DC. While that is in fact the case, my politics are not the question here. I will continue to keep those thoughts personal.

For the record, President Obama got the following things right during his time in office:

1. He wore the office with dignity.
2. He made health care an indelible part of the national discourse.
3. Israel was a far stronger nation during after his tenure than it was before. While he made some serious mistakes in this regard, he got a great deal right also.

For the record, President Trump has thus far gotten the following right during his tenure:

1. The Koreas are talking to each other.
2. While clumsily, he is forcing a national conversation on how to handle borders.
3. ISIS no longer controls territory.

If you are unable to point to three things that either president got right, then you are frankly reacting with only emotion. Neither President Obama nor President Trump got everything wrong.

For the record, those who voted for Secretary Clinton were concerned about the following:

1. Environment and climate change.
2. Abortion rights.
3. Gun control.

For the record, those who voted for President Trump were concerned about the following:

1. Overextending abortion rights.
2. Their jobs.
3. Lower taxes.

You may agree or disagree with the concerns expressed by either side. If you are unwilling to consider those concerns as valid, it is no longer about POTUS. It is an utter lack of sensitivity to the concerns of others.

To the points at hand...

I am at a loss as to why the House wants the President's tax returns. Absent some compelling legislative issue, it seems out of their jurisdiction. Becoming the President does not mean that personal and business privacy are suddenly forfeit.

Bob Mueller concluded emphatically that there was no collusion. With a report that is less than 1% redacted, the House needs to let it go. It is illegal for the AG to put people who are named in the report and not guilty of anything in any sort of legal or personal jeopardy.

The President is responsible for the violence in San Diego. Really? Does this mean that President Obama was responsible for the shooting in Orlando or at Fort Hood? President Trump was not yet on the political map.

The Democrats seem to be after the President for anything they can conjure. Whether that statement is true is irrelevant. It is my perception, and very possibly the perception of others. It seems petulant. I want nothing to do with it. If this is all that they have to throw at the President, the Democrats may well find themselves losing big and ugly come 2020. I for one have no wish for their political temper tantrum to continue.

Good night everyone.

R/SCG