Revolution 2.0

Introduction This voting guide will concentrate on issues, not personalities, and help you to understand how the issues influence your vote. There will be no commentary about things like dementia or narcissism. Feel free to contribute your own thoughts on those subjects in the comments.  That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing If you believe that the Republic form of government laid out in the Constitution is the right choice, vote for Trump.If you believe that we should abandon the Electoral College, a fundamental part of the Republic format, then vote for Biden. In other words, if you want a national popular vote to replace the College, vote for Biden. If you believe the New York Times Pulitzer Prize winning work on the 1619 project was correct in saying the year 1619 represents the real founding and legacy of America, vote for Biden.If you believe the view that the real founding occurred in 1776, with documents that Jefferson called, “A silver frame (Constitution), around a docum

Introduction When I was young, the milkman would deliver his product in glass half gallon jugs, left by the backdoor in portable metal wire carriers that would hold, if memory serves me, a total of 2 gallons. This was before homogenization, meaning that the cream would rise to the top, and the milk jug had to be shaken by hand each time you poured if you wanted it blended. Alternatively, if you wanted just cream, you could pour it off the top for cooking, coffee, etc. It greatly benefits all of us to praise anyone who reaches their full potential, and to encourage others to do the same, including those with more talent, more opportunities and more resources. A rising tide does indeed raise all boats. All of us need the cream to rise to the top. As we need everyone to be able to live up to their full potential. Before the homogenization process, if left alone, the cream would always rise to the top. Today, we are homogenizing our society so that we are becoming more and more blended, more and more the same.

Introduction “Who is La’Ron Singletary?” Chief Singletary is the suddenly retiring Black Police Chief in Rochester, NY. Announcing his retirement in the wake of the firestorm following the death of Daniel Prude while in police custody, the Chief, only 40, said, “As a man of integrity, I will not sit idly by while outside entities attempt to destroy my character. The members of the Rochester Police Department and the Greater Rochester Community know my reputation and know what I stand for.” Police leadership, and the rank and file, are beginning to feel betrayed by the very people they serve. They are retiring, quitting and otherwise giving up in the very cities and neighborhoods where they are needed the most. That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing The iconic novel, “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand, starts with “Who is John Galt?” As the book unfolds, it is revealed that Mr. Galt is the reclusive leader of the capitalist producers of the world, who, led by Galt, go

Introduction These two Martians, prompted by our probes on and around their planet, landed here in the US. They were looking for signs of intelligent life. That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing Revolution 2.0™ stumbled into an exclusive interview with two self-professed Martians, Gog and Magog. I took them at their word about their planetary ethnicity because they were thoughtful enough to be small and green, arriving in a flying saucer; some stereotypes are downright helpful.  I call this meeting an interview, but as you will soon see, they asked most of the questions. I was out in our backyard, repeatedly saying “Good potty!” to our 9-week-old Standard Poodle. (BTW, lest you think the life of a podcaster is all glamour, consistently hobnobbing with presidents and celebrities, I do this a lot…:)  ). Their saucer landed a few feet away from our blazing fire pit.  As they emerged from their spacecraft, one of them said something that was entirely unintelligible. I responded with,

Introduction Queen For A Day was a popular radio and TV program that ran for 20 years, starting in 1945. The “contestants” were women who would tell their tales of woe, often crying in the process, hoping to persuade the audience that their plight was worse than the others, thus deserving of the cash and other prizes.  Sarcastically referred to as “Poverty Porn”, Queen For A Day was not only a precursor to future TV giveaway shows, it unwittingly preceded the creation of the victim hierarchy, wherein various identity groups vie with one another to claim being the worst off, therefore winning the title of being the most deserving. Instead of the Biggest Loser being about the person who was disciplined enough to lose the most weight, this version of the Biggest Loser is exactly that; the one who has lost the most and has not come up with a fix somehow winds up being the biggest winner. That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing In QFA, female contestants worked to convince the audience t

Black Lives Matter, “My Fair Lady” and Sports: Meh (EP. 261) Introduction People watch movies and watch or attend professional sports events for much the same reasons. They want to be entertained by the best in the business, and to live in a world for 3 hours or so where they are lifted out of the mundane, and can be immersed in a world where COVID, politics and finances are forgotten. Refreshed after the exciting event, they are better prepared to face the issues in front of them. As sports continue to insert politics more broadly and deeply into their events, they are depriving their fans of a big part of what they came for: temporary refuge and peace. That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing I am not boycotting any sports, nor am I encouraging anyone else to boycott. Boycott “Transitive verb: to engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with a person, a store, an organization, etc., usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions…”. I

Introduction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeBron_James (LeBron James) is one of the best basketball players of all time; some make the credible case that he is the very best. The GOAT; the Greatest Of All Time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rand_Paul (Rand Paul) is a US Senator and physician. As an ophthalmologist, Dr. Paul established his own clinic in 2007. Now in his second term as a Senator, many look to him as a leader in Libertarian and general political thought. Both are beyond expert in their fields. When I want expert advice, I go to an expert.  That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing I enjoy having talks about this and that with friends and acquaintances. When I am in conversation with my friend who is an expert about all things Porsche, I listen very carefully, ready to implement any of his advice and thoughts that apply to my current driving needs. And I will file everything else away for future use. He has made a successful career knowing about Porsches, being an inst

Introduction The overwhelming tendency is to allocate 100% of the fault to one entity or the other. That agenda-driven process is almost never either useful or accurate. That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing “Bring the guilty bastard in, and we’ll give him a fair trial.” I overheard the senior officer on a three officer court-martial board say that to the other two officers in the hallway just prior to entering the room where the trial was about to begin. The accused was found guilty.  As soon as news of a black being shot by the police is released, there are often one of two typical knee-jerk reactions: “If he had not resisted, he would still be alive.” or He is black; that is why he is dead.”  And here is an interesting, all too common approach, “I demand an instant investigation, ending in the immediate firing of the officers involved, followed by murder chargers.” That is today’s version of, “Bring the guilty bastard in, and we’ll give him a fair trial.’ In the hi

Introduction Diversity and inclusiveness are two concepts, goals, really, that are much in the news. Where is our desire for diversity and inclusion in the news and opinions that we seek out? Here’s a better question: Why should we have to seek out different sources of news and information in the first place? Why have the various outlets stoppd reporting the news straight up and without bias? That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Cronkite (Walter Cronkite) was an American broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_Evening_News (CBS Evening News) for 19 years (1962–1981). During the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as “the most trusted man in America” after being so named in an opinion poll. Many people preferred to get their news from CBS because they liked Walter, but you could go to NBC or ABC, CBS’ rivals, and get the same information. Only the personalities were different.  Mr. Cro

Introduction Revolution 2.0™ does not support the various get out the vote campaigns. Here we encourage only the get out the deeply well researched and thought through get out the vote campaigns. To be completely honest, I don’t want the casual, mostly disinterested voter participating. No, I do not want to change the law; I want to change behavior.  That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing One of the eternal truths in politics, is that the less well informed voter, the casual voter, including those who are so disinterested that they cannot stir themselves to register and go vote every two to four years, will support the party that promises them the most, for the least effort in return.  It takes an average of about 30 minutes a year to: Keep your voter information current. Go vote, or Vote the mail-in ballot sent to your correct address, and addressed to you as a registered, active voter. If someone is not willing to do that, how likely are they to do more than bumper sticker

Introduction The role of VP on a presidential ticket is usually unimportant; ticket balancing and vote getting are the main selection criteria. Not since Harry Truman replaced Vice President Henry Wallace on the Democratic ticket in 1944 has a VP pick been so consequential. Truman was Vice President for only 82 days before he became President when Franklin Roosevelt died on April 12th, 1945. If the Democrats win in November, how long will it be before Senator Harris becomes the President? Knowing how close VP Candidate Karris is to being the President of the United States, was she chosen for the right reasons?That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Thant is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode. Continuing If a major corporation is looking to hire a key Senior Vice President, the obvious heir apparent to the soon-to-retire President, this is not the hire where any success-seeking business would think about ethnicity or gender; the laser like focus would be on who is the best person to

Introduction Here are a few examples of intentionally misleading–and dangerous–doubletalk: Defund The Police Black Lives Matter Me Too Antifa Mostly Peaceful  That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing Today’s Key Point: The groups and political forces using intentionally misleading doubletalk are cynically looking to appeal to groups that have different thoughts about each of these slogans. They will speak out of different parts of their mouths depending upon which group they are addressing. They keep the different interest groups supporting them with the various topics and agendas, while expressing false amazement at how any interpretation of the slogan, save the one they are putting forward at that moment, could be believed by any non neanderthal. Let’s look at these examples. Defund the police: The word “defund” has never before been open to interpretation. Let’s get some help from the dictionary. “De·fund /dēˈfənd/ Verb, gerund or present participle: defunding.

Introduction It only takes a moment to realize that 2020 is not about Trump v Biden.  That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing Before we go any further with each other today, allow me to tell you where I sit, before I tell you where I stand. In 2016, Trump was my 18th choice among the 17 Republican candidates for the nomination. Then the Dems nominated Hillary Clinton; what was this registered Unaffiliated voter to do? When I expressed my view at the time that the choice was between a known lifelong criminal and a possibly dangerous buffon, I infuriated everyone. I was being honest, and paid the price for it. And here I go again. The upcoming election is between Trump and the Progresive wing of the Democratic party; Biden is just a placeholder. This election has nothing to do with small v big government, fiscal responsibility v soaring deficits, or conflicting foreign policies. With Biden in his basement, it looked like it was going to come down to Trump v Trump, with the Democrats b

Introduction The cure is education, encouragement, and one-on-one love, assistance and belief.  Giveaways in any form, including reparations, loan forgiveness, unearned certifications, above market pay and below market goods services may look attractive in the short term. They are really cruel teases, doomed to leave the recipient angry and feeling some combination of having been cheated and remaining entitled to more. Like a huge meal of junk food, these measures leave you temporarily satisfied, but soon to be hungry again–and devoid of the needed building blocks to grow smarter and stronger. That is the subject of today’s 10 minute episode. Continuing But Will, what about making things fair with income and wealth redistribution? My claim, my conviction, is that if somehow, by waving a Marxist magic wand, we could suddenly make everyone’s current income and total wealth exactly the same; everyone has the same paycheck, same value in homes and cars, and the same amount of money in the bank, n

Introduction “The road of life is filled with flat squirrels that refused to make a decision.” -Unknown “The Silent Majority must stop being silent, or it will no longer be the majority.” -Will Luden That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing It is time to stop the wedding, the marriage of our government, our money, and our futures with the call for:  Defunding the police. Severely limiting free speech. Medicare for All, along with free education and housing for all. Open borders combined with a welfare state. Believing that America as conceived and founded is inherently and irredeemably evil rather than flawed but inherently good with the progress to prove it. The destructive belief that government, not the individual, is the first place to turn to make ourselves, our communities and the world better.  And so very much more. If there is a Silent Majority, and I believe there is, it is time for those in that majority to speak up and act up. Make a difference. Get educated ab

Introduction I am not trying to paraphrase Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he famously said, “I have a dream.” I had a dream that came to me while sleeping, a dream that rocked me to my core. “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:1-5 That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing The meaningful part of my dream starts with me sitting on the ground outside of a church resting against a pillar. I wasn’t thinking about much of anything when a pleasant looking man, about 35 or so, walks up and asks, “Do you mind if I sit with you?” “No” I replied, moving around on the pillar a bit to make room. As we start talking about this and that, the opening chit chat that starts many conversations with friendly strangers, I notice that he is more than pleasant. Even though he is looking away as we spoke, there is somet

Introduction Cancelling and other forms of suppressing free speech, pushing for the President to be elected by the popular vote, and the move to end the filibuster in the US Senate are all examples of the belief that Might is Right. This is the belief that those with more votes, with the bigger guns, with the willingness to be more violent than their opposition, are automatically in the right.  But when the tables get turned, and they always do, these very same people, facing Might on the other side, will abandon their Might is Right stance, and then claim that Might is Oppression. That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing This process usually starts out with protesters claiming that those in power are oppressing them and others: Might is Oppression. Cries of “Fascist” and “Nazi” will screech from the mouths of those who cannot accurately define either term, and certainly have no useful or accurate knowledge of the history of either philosophy. Should those protesting against the curr

One Percenters–Of All Types (EP.249) Introduction The top 1% of income tax filers make more than $500K each year, and pay more income tax than the bottom 90%. The bottom 1% of cops nationwide participate in causing the horrific damage that results from the murder of George Floyd and similar actions. Most protesters are indeed peaceful, but the 1% who are not are causing untold damage to people, their neighborhoods, the economy–and inviting civil war. If we are going to talk about one percenters, let’s talk about all of them. That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing It seems that belonging to the top 1% is no longer a compliment, but an accusation, as in “How dare you cheat the other 99%?” The 1% referred to here are the top income earners; let’s remember that they pay more in income tax than the bottom 90% of all earners. This is not a “fair share” episode, but it is asking the question in passing, how much more would it take for them to be paying their fair share? If

Introduction When I take a “Red” position, e.g., advocating personal responsibility or standing up for fiscal discipline, the Red people see me as a 100% ally, and are appalled when I advocate for something they have put in the “Blue” handbook. Conversely, when I push something from the Blue book, e.g., face masks when in close public contact, the Blue people see me as a 100% ally and are appalled when I take a Red position on a topic like school choice. The above examples represent dangerous groupthink on both sides. That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing Yes, Revolution 2.0™ is not all red, not all blue, but still not at all purple. Purple implies a simple compromise, like you want to spend $40 on our dinner date, I want to spend $20, so we compromise at $30. That’s a meet in the middle compromise. Revolution 2.0 is based on seeking and fulfilling common goals, not compromise for the sake of compromise. And a state, perhaps Colorado, is described as purple if about half of

Introduction “The death of one man is a tragedy, the death of millions is a statistic.” -Joseph Stalin, Russian dictator. We grieve and want to make needed changes when a Black man like George Floyd is killed, suffering for long minutes right before our eyes while law enforcement officers seem to be either unconcerned or intentionally cruel. And we are right to do that. But we seem unconcerned when Blacks are shot and killed in the thousands by other Blacks on a regular basis. The dictator seems to have a point. That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing Today’s topic is going to be at least as controversial as abortion, which Revolution 2.0™ has tackled more than once. Let’s start with what “Black Lives Matter” means. Does it mean that: Black lives matter as much as any other lives? Black lives matter more than other lives? All Black lives matter? Black lives matter differently because of how many have been treated; racist treatment that while perhaps falling short