You Better Think (think)

Three thought experiments on a Saturday night.

Thought experiment I:  Hillary is elected in November ’16 & then proceeds, for months, to make ludicrous, inflammatory, and plain-old guano-infused nonsensical comments online and at public and private events.  How many Democrats within and outside of the Beltway would be saying it’s time to give VP and harmonica-enthusiast Tim-Bo a shot at the Big Chair?  I would wager far more Democrats than the number of non-alternate reality feckless GOPers who can barely manage to give America’s unhinged Chief Executive even a mild side-eye. 

Thought experiment II:  If our country had a parliamentary form of government, would Trump have made it this long?  As weak as he really is, I personally believe that Republican back-benchers would have ousted him a couple of months ago, just like Thatcher was bounced by a Tory revolt in ’90.   

Thought experiment III: A hurricane devastates Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and ANY of the other 2016 presidential candidates, Democratic or Republican, resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  How would they be faring in terms of relief and recovery efforts for our fellow Americans: better or worse than the current occupant of the Oval Office?

In solidarity.

"The Full Moon is Calling"

The 1970s were a special decade.

Slats, of course, would tell you that some of his best years were spent working alongside Jean-Claude Killy as the famed alpine ski champion attempted to reboot his ski-racing career.   Then again, he would also say that his brief tenure as an assistant road manager for the Eagles during their Hotel California Tour also constituted his “best years.”  He is not the most reliable narrator of his own life story, but that is a defining characteristic of those who were young adults during the “Me Decade.”

Slats did not practice many of the celebrated excesses of those of his generation, but he sympathized with those who possessed more relaxed attitudes regarding consciousness-altering.  While not a toker himself, he embraced the mellow lifestyle. 

And while he supports full-on legalization, he related to me his considerable amusement that even some modern-era Republicans support common-sense decriminalization of the plant. 

“The GOP base must be fuming.  Guess they lost another battle in the culture wars,” he laughed.  “Hey, did I tell you about my work in the Jamaican elections? Let me tell you, Peter Tosh would be Prime Minister today if it wasn’t for that madness in ’87.”

He launched into a history of the People's National Party and their unfortunate electoral setbacks in the face of a global conservative shift in the late 70s/early 80s.  Reagan, Thatcher, Seaga- it was all related. 

But, over time, some societal values changed.  The sphere of individual liberty expanded and the liberals of the ‘70s eventually found greater acceptance of, and legal protection for, certain rights they were denied during the decade of Watergate and Malaise.   

Progress is not assured, it is neither consistently nor fairly applied, it often comes with fits and starts, and occasional retreats…but it is the American Promise that a road toward a more perfect Union should always be open.  It is our choice as to whether or not we take that path.

And now, from the aforementioned Tour: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETx_vYePz5w

Stay tuned, as more will follow.