Immigration-The Source of the Problem is within the Countries People are Fleeing From

 There is an amazing fact to the immigration crisis.  Governor's of  some states are trying to pass on the responsibility of taking care of the immigrants to other states.  But, why are those Governors not focused on the conditions in those countries immigrants are fleeing? I have not heard one governor talk about the United States applying pressure to the governments where immigrants are coming from, or providing aid to those countries from whence the immigrants are coming!  There has been no talk about those countries taking actions to build up the foreign countries' housing and job infrastructure, or stopping any mistreatment of the citizens causing them to flee to the United States.  Their is no talk of providing aid to those countries, under specific conditions, so those countries can build affordable housing, and have clean water, food, and jobs, for their citizens.  Would that not be a better solution than giving the inhabitants of those countries the one choice of embarking on a dangerous journey to the United States?  

Instead politicians and their followers gripe and moan about all the immigrants and aliens coming into the United States.  Does the land where the immigrants are coming from contain poisonous soil and unbreathable air?  Are those countries unfit for human beings to live?  If not then what's the problem?  If the problems can be fixed in those countries, fix them.  Then the United States won't have to worry about trying to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people a year into the United States.  Governors will not have to expend state dollars to ship immigrants to another state.  Is that not the widely touted "win-win" scenario of legend?  

So, to the federal government, to the President, Vice President, and our dysfunctional Congress and Senate I ask you to answer the question.  Why are you not working with those countries where the immigrants are fleeing, or applying pressure to the governments of those countries to fix the conditions that are making their citizens flee from to the United States?  

In the Presidential debates that would be a topic I would like to hear the candidates talk about.  Having the countries of immigrants fix the conditions in those countries that are making their citizens flee to the United States.

"Florida is where woke goes to die" - Governor of Florida Declares in "victory" speech

 The education of Governor Desantis starts.  The governor of Florida has the attributes that European Americans adore.  Male, European American, war veteran, European Wife and children.  Plus he is using all the traditional code words that support a "God bless European Americans, and no one else" ideology.  In his comments after the election that gave him a second term, he made two catch phrase comments.  "Freedom is here to stay" and "Florida is where woke goes to die".

Let me address first the "...woke goes to die" comment.  Governor Desantis.  Your high school and college education apparently did not cover the 1960s and the civil rights struggles during that period.  During the early 1960s and even before, people would venture into the southern states of these United States to register black people to vote and to support their civil rights.  These efforts were not met peacefully by all the "fine people" in the south.  People risked physical harm and even death in making those efforts. In 1964 three men, Mr. Chaney, Schwerner, and Goodman were killed for their civil rights activities in the south.

So Governor, you are correct that activities that deal with freedom, openess, and inclusion are often met by violence.  Your statement that "Florida is where work goes to die" reminded me of the lives of the three men murdered in 1964 and the many others killed, harmed or run out of the south during those years.  You carelessly used the word "die" in reference to the beliefs and views of people in this country.  The same country whom you want to become President and lead all the people in the United States, to include those who call themselves "woke".

I suggest you meet with vaarious components of people who express to have a "woke" ideology.  Learn and understand what it means before you condemn it and the people in it to "die".  You will find out that the ideology covers a range of viewpoints.  It is not focused on specific races of people.  One component of "woke" is to include facts about the history of this country, to include your state of Florida, that have been swept under the rug and hidden from public knowledge or discussion.

Your statement declares that the truth will never see the light of day in Florida.  You want to paint a clear blue sky as your worldly landscape free of any rain clouds.  Being a native of Florida, you know that the storms and hurricanes cannot be stopped.  All we can do is prepare for a storm and in some cases flee from the storms/hurricanes.  I have never heard you say, "Florida is where hurricanes come to die."  You should welcome a dialog of clarifying what does "woke" mean and how it can lead to the improvement of these United States.

Next, your comment "Freedom is here to stay".  I never knew there was a threat to freedom in the United States?  What are you talking about Governor?  Does freedom mean, the freedom to think one way?  The same way that Ron Desantis thinks?  Freedom for who?

I have no hope that the United States will ever achieve the lofty goals of equality for all, no racism, or anything that establishes a semblance of real humanity.  Selfishness, racism, stupidity, ignorance will continue with pockets of rationale human behavior scattered across the land.  Whomever reads this article I pray you live in a rationale "respectful of others" environment.

I look forward to the next governor of Florida declaring, "Florida is where we peacefully respect each other".

It's Hate Time In America

It is unfortunate that this political campaign features an individual who has caught on because he has become a spokesperson for hate, biases, and prejudice.  Many people are voting for that candidate because he is making statements they themselves are afraid to say in public.  This candidate has become the de facto spokesperson for other people's' hatred, meanness, and bully tactics.  It's apparent by the positive response to the candidate that many people in this country are not as sophisticated in terms of feelings on race as they want you to think they are.  People are flocking to political rallies to support someone who expresses the racists biases and dislikes that they have kept under wraps for years.

That co worker of yours who has been trying to be politically correct, now has a spokesperson who can say all the hateful things they can not say at work.  That neighbor whom gives you a fake smile or no smile, now is sending in money or attending campaign rallies for their candidate of hate who looks and sounds like them.  Yes, it's feel good time for those hateful people in America.  The hateful people are fighting back and feeling good about themselves.  Under the banner of freedom of speech they and their candidate are overflowing with all that is bad about our so called freedoms.

Freedom supports the right to be hateful.  There is something about that which doesn't seem correct. We as people are still a long way from being able to express different viewpoints without crossing over into the realm of violence and hate.  If we don't want to compromise and try to understand each other, a second option is to stay away from the element you refuse to get along with.  It's not the best of solutions, but a problem not encountered is not a problem.

If there is an element of life that I do not like, I try my best to stay away from it.  I understand that people do what they want to do.  My likes are not the likes of everyone else in the world.  What I try to do is put my efforts into causes that I support.  Why should I waste energy trying to tear down something when I can easily put that energy into promoting what I believe in?  Of course protesting against the views of others is very good drama as the news coverage attests to.  It makes for good TV and contains the violent acts and confrontation that we as humans seem to like viewing.

My advice is to understand the viewpoints you are hearing and take positive action to support what you believe in.  If someone is just griping about other people but doesn't offer any solutions, what do they really have to offer you?  If you are looking for someone who just supports your hateful views, well you may have found the candidate you are looking for.

Presidential Politics - Time to Start Paying Attention

I must admit that I've only watched a portion of one or two Presidential debates over the past few months.  I don't know the political views of all the candidates.  I have not taken time to read information regarding what each candidate believes or what policies they are advocating.  The sound bites in the media or alleged "news" blurbs via the internet have been my main methods of staying in touch with what's been going on in the Presidential campaign.

My initial views are that Hillary Clinton has a wealth of experience that would make her a good President.  I don't know much about Bernie Sanders, but from watching him in one debate I did come away with a favorable impression of him.

On the Republican side, it seemed as if there were over 10 people running at one time.  Jeb Bush never reached people with a message that caught on.  The same with the governor of New York who now seems to be Donald Trump's torch bearer or water boy, whichever comes first.  Trump.  My initial reaction is that Trump seems to be a bully or the anti Christ.  I sometimes wonder if he has three 6's carved into his scalp somewhere?  Is he Damien from the movie "The Omen"?  Or is he a throwback to Adolph Hitler?  The people who are voting for him apparently are using him as a way to express their true viewpoints that are not politically correct.  Trump loves to attack people and say the mean things that we want to secretly say to minorities, and people we just don't like.

Now it's March with the election some 8 months away.  It's time to start paying attention.  It's time to ensure you are registered to vote, so you can express your opinion come election day in November.  The eight years of Barack Obama's administration are coming to an end.  Now comes the dawn of a new era.  That glimmer of sunshine you see over the horizon will either blind and burn you come January 2017 or provide you a warmth and promise for the future.

Now's the time to read about the viewpoints of the candidates and to even start asking questions.  After that comes decision time.  So, what's it going to be?  Do we elect the first woman president in the history of this country?  Do we tear down another barrier that has existed for years by actually giving a woman a chance to lead the country?  Or do we return to the days of hateful viewpoints, finger pointing, blaming others for our problems, and re establishment of racial barriers?  You decide by your vote.