Fatherly Advice: Every Daughter Needs a Fuck-You Fund

GrizLeave a comment

Gather ’round, because this old pirate has some fatherly advice, and I don’t particularly give a damn if it makes somebody uncomfortable.

Every young woman needs a secret bank account.

And if you’re raising a daughter, you ought to be helping her build one.

I’m not talking about a college fund, a wedding fund, or money for her first car.

I’m talking about an honest-to-God, get-the-fuck-out-of-Dodge fund.

An escape fund.

A little financial life raft that belongs to her and exists for one very important reason:

Nobody should ever have to stay with someone who makes them unsafe simply because they can’t afford to leave.

Parents, Start Building That Life Raft Now

If you’ve got a daughter, start putting money aside for her.

Use an age-appropriate account. When she’s old enough, make sure that money is under her independent control.

Birthday money, Christmas money, twenty bucks here, fifty bucks there. Whatever you can afford.

You don’t have to be rich to give your daughter a head start on her freedom.

And here’s the part that might ruffle a few feathers.

Keep that account private.

When she’s grown, nobody needs to know about it unless SHE chooses to tell them.

Not her boyfriend.

Not her fiancé.

Not her husband.

And parents, once that money belongs to her, don’t you dare treat it as something you can borrow from when your own finances get tight.

That account isn’t there to rescue the family from an unexpected bill.

It’s there to rescue your daughter if life ever puts her in a situation she needs to escape.

Ladies, If Nobody Started One for You, Start One Yourself

Maybe your parents never thought about this. Maybe they couldn’t afford it. Maybe nobody ever told them why it mattered.

Well, I’m telling you now.

Open an account of your own, preferably at a bank separate from any accounts you share with a partner.

Put money in it whenever you safely can.

Five bucks. Ten bucks. A little overtime money. Whatever you can squirrel away.

Don’t worry about how small it starts. Even the biggest treasure chest was empty before somebody dropped the first coin into it.

And no, you don’t need to tell your partner every time you make a deposit.

This money isn’t being saved for a rainy day.

It’s being saved in case the whole goddamn roof comes off.

Keeping Your Treasure Chest Private

Now, having a secret account doesn’t do you a whole hell of a lot of good if the bank sends a statement to your house and your partner opens it.

So let’s put a little thought into keeping this account private.

First, consider using your parents’ address.

If your parents are trustworthy, supportive, and willing to help protect your privacy, ask whether you can have your bank correspondence delivered to their home.

Maybe your parents don’t need to know every detail of your relationship or your finances. Maybe all they need to know is that you’re building a little financial independence.

And if your parents aren’t the right people for that job, consider another trusted person who would keep your confidence.

Second, consider renting a P.O. box.

A small P.O. box may be a relatively inexpensive way to keep sensitive correspondence from showing up in your household mailbox.

Prices vary by location, but compare the cost against what that privacy could mean for your future.

I would consider that money well spent.

Call it your happiness insurance.

You pay for car insurance hoping you’ll never need it.

You pay for homeowners insurance hoping the house never burns down.

Why the hell wouldn’t you invest a little money in protecting your ability to get yourself somewhere safe?

A P.O. box can also be useful for other personal correspondence you would prefer to keep private.

One important detail: a bank may still require your actual residential or business street address to verify your identity. Ask whether it can use a separate mailing address for statements and correspondence. Don’t provide false information to open the account.

Third, keep your banking separate.

Use a bank that isn’t connected to your household accounts.

Don’t add your partner as a joint owner.

Don’t give anyone else access to your debit card, password, or online banking.

If you use electronic statements, make sure they go to a private email address that your partner cannot access.

And for God’s sake, don’t use a shared email account.

Fourth, remember that your phone can give away your secrets.

Banking notifications, saved passwords, shared devices, synchronized email accounts, and transaction alerts can expose things you thought were private.

If someone else has access to your phone or computer, consider how they might discover the account.

And remember that moving money directly from a shared bank account may leave a transaction trail on the other account.

Privacy takes a little planning.

If you’re already in a controlling or abusive relationship, please don’t take unnecessary risks trying to establish this account. A domestic violence advocate can help you figure out what is safe for your particular circumstances.

The goal is to get yourself out of danger, not create more of it.

This Is NOT Your Regular Emergency Fund

Now listen up, because this part is every bit as important as opening the damn account.

YOU DO NOT DIP INTO THIS MONEY.

Not because the washing machine broke.

Not because the car needs new tires.

Not because Christmas is coming and you’re a little short.

Not because your partner really, really wants that new television, motorcycle, gaming system, hunting rifle, or whatever expensive toy has caught their eye this month.

I don’t give a flying fuck how good the sale is.

This money is not for that.

You need a regular emergency fund for life’s ordinary little disasters.

You need retirement savings.

You need money for vacations, home improvements, and all the other things that come with building a life.

Those are different buckets.

This particular bucket has one job.

To make sure you have the resources to get yourself somewhere safe and start over if you ever need to.

A broken refrigerator is an inconvenience.

Being trapped in an unsafe home because you cannot afford to leave is a whole different animal.

Don’t confuse the two.

And don’t let somebody talk you into emptying this account because they promise they’ll pay it back.

Maybe they will.

Maybe they won’t.

But if the day ever comes when you need that money, a promise to repay you next month isn’t going to buy you a hotel room tonight.

Treat it as though it doesn’t exist.

Let it grow.

Let it sit there quietly doing its job.

The best fucking insurance policy in the world is the one that’s still there when you need it.

But Griz, Aren’t Relationships Supposed to Be Built on Trust?

You’re goddamn right they are.

I believe in honesty between partners. I believe in sharing your life with someone, building something together, and having each other’s backs when the world decides to kick you both in the teeth.

I don’t generally advocate keeping things from the person you love.

But this?

This is my exception to that rule.

Because life doesn’t always turn out the way we expect.

Sometimes the person who promised you the world turns out to be the person you need to escape from.

Sometimes the sweet, thoughtful person you fell in love with slowly becomes controlling, manipulative, or downright dangerous.

And sometimes you don’t see the storm coming until you’re already standing in the middle of the goddamn hurricane.

I’ve got no crystal ball, and neither do you.

You can make what seems like the greatest choice in the world and still end up needing to leave.

That’s life.

People change. Circumstances change. Sometimes we discover things about people that we never imagined could be true.

And when that happens, I want you to have choices.

I want you to be able to grab your kids, grab your essentials, and get somewhere safe.

I want you to be able to pay for a hotel room, a tank of gas, a plane ticket, or the deposit on a new place.

I want you to be able to look at someone who thinks they’ve got you trapped and say:

“Fuck you. I’m leaving.”

And actually have the means to do it.

Because staying with someone should always be a choice made out of love.

Not a sentence you’re serving because you’re broke.

What If You Find the Right Person?

Well, shit. That’s the best part of this whole thing.

Let’s say you find yourself a wonderful partner.

Someone who respects you, loves you, makes you laugh, and doesn’t make you feel like you need an emergency escape hatch.

You build a beautiful life together. You get old. You retire. You spend your days enjoying the life you’ve built.

And that little account?

It’s been quietly growing all these years.

You never needed to use it.

Fucking fantastic!

Now you’ve got yourself a retirement bonus.

Throw it into your retirement savings.

Buy yourself something you’ve always wanted.

Or take one hell of a retirement vacation.

Go sit on a beach somewhere with a fruity drink, your toes in the sand, and absolutely no goddamn responsibilities.

Maybe take that wonderful partner with you.

Or don’t.

It’s your money. I ain’t your cruise director.

And if you’ve got a daughter of your own, maybe use some of it to help her build the same kind of financial independence.

That’s how we look out for the next generation.

One Last Thing From This Old Pirate

Parents, you cannot guarantee that your daughter will never have her heart broken.

You cannot guarantee that everyone she falls in love with will deserve her.

You cannot guarantee that the world will treat her fairly.

And no matter how badly you want to, you can’t always be there to rescue her when life goes sideways.

But you CAN teach her to protect herself.

You CAN teach her that love doesn’t mean surrendering her independence.

And you CAN help make sure she has the resources to walk away when walking away is the safest thing she can do.

This isn’t about teaching our daughters to distrust everyone.

It’s about teaching them that they deserve to be safe, respected, and free.

Raise your daughters to love with their whole hearts, but never let them be financially trapped by someone who doesn’t deserve that love.

Give them the tools to build a wonderful life.

And give them a way out if that life ever turns into a nightmare.

If they never need it, wonderful.

If they do, it might be the most important gift you ever gave them.

Every daughter deserves a little treasure chest of her own.

And every woman deserves the freedom to tell the wrong person to fuck off.

Keep your heart open, your eyes clear, and enough gold buried to sail away when you need to.

A note for anyone who needs that escape fund right now

If you’re in an unsafe relationship, money is only one part of getting to safety. A plan, trusted people, important documents, transportation, and a safe place to go can matter just as much.

You don’t have to figure all of that out alone.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline can help you develop a personalized safety plan, including financial safety, whether you’re ready to leave or just trying to understand your options.
NNEDV
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Call: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

If your phone or computer is being monitored, use a safer device to seek help.

A very old memory

GrizLeave a comment

How about some more somber times?

Among my earliest memories sits when my mother told me that she and my dad were divorcing. I do not know why one of us had to go to the doctor. (For the locals, we were headed to Pill Hill) We were riding the bus across town and up the hill. It was on the climb on the hill that she broke the news. I can only imagine how hard it was for her to break it to me.

She assured me that it was not my fault. Looking back, it was, but only because I was a surprise.

That breakup seemed to have resulted in a trip to Disneyland. Or so that is the memory. I suppose it could have been just before or just after.

The real reasons were never discussed later. I know that my father was devastated by it. At the time, it was just that sometimes people grow apart. My suspicion is that mom may have gotten bored. She was trying to explore live and it was still the hippie generation after all. So much to try out.

For me, it meant dad and I getting a new and much smaller house. He was a workaholic. Something that I did not understand until much later. He worked far too hard. He did provide a fun life, and tried to teach me well. I was not ready for it yet, and sadly he will not speak to me to let me share my adult realizations.

During the mid 70’s divorces were still not well received. It was bound to scar the kid(s) horribly etc. blah blah… So, I was set up with the school counselor. All that I felt it got me was out of class for a regular session and cried out. fuck, it was not pleasant at all. They tried counselors in later years, but it was never my thing. I know that some people really thrive on it, but I share in my own time and space. (Yeah, lucky you)

It is lucky that if I were to find the correct person AND be properly open to it, it could be helpful. Or, I could end up being committed some the really in depth shit to be sorted out.

I was raised that I could do anything I wanted to. It was the mantra of the era. But what did I want to do? no damned clue. SO I was pretty rudderless which left me enjoying life on a more spontaneous level, but without any kind of a plan.

I think that happened to far too many in GenX.

Oh what a phreak I was

GrizLeave a comment

It may be a good time to cover a section of my life that was ages ago.

I was a minor, and with it being forty years ago, I doubt that their are any statutes of limitations still ticking. Even with that being said, do not think that I am going to reveal my phreak name. nuh uh, no way.

Do you know what a phreak is/was? The phone systems have changed drastically so what I was doing then is likely not used much at all anymore if at all.

The context with my kind of phreak, is a phone phreak. We did pretty much everything that one could do with a phone.

We abused the lines in all kinds of ways. Some of my favorite forms dealt with long distance services. I was interviewed by the security groups of all the major players at the time. And not for a job.

Before ESS-5 came along giving us cool features like caller ID, we could do so much more with less fear of being caught. We of course, felt that had we been caught there were two likelihoods, prosecution (for the non-minors) or getting hired. Yes, we would not have minded going from black hat phreaks to white hat phreaks.

I was known for building teleconferences. Let me side step for a moment. Are you aware of loop lines? A loop line is a pair of numbers xxx-9948 and xxx-9949 for example. One was silent until someone called the other number thus making the connection. The other number had an oscillating tone that was really annoying to listen to. The nice thing about loop lines, if you felt that they were recording the numbers that you were dialing, you could use the loop since neither party called each other… you never really talked right?

When creating conference calls, you needed to do it as if you were the operator. They have a different set of touch tones. Consumer phones use dual tone multi frequency touch tones (DTMF). But operator consoles were MF, their tones were different. So, we needed to bump the operator off the line to have our fun.

2600hz, I am sure that you tube has a video demonstrating it. You may have heard of the now infamous Captain Crunch whistle. It was a toy you could pull from a box of Captain Crunch cereal, back when they let us kids have fun and cheap toys in the box. When you blew that whistle while on the phone with say directory assistance who was on an old phone system (I liked using Texas DA) it would knock the operator off the line. We found a Hallmark card that played Let Me Call You Sweetheart with e 2600 in the song. That was nice because the operator at least got a nice song before she was so rudely dropped form the call. Back then, I could whistle that tone manually. However, it was just easier if I did it with my TRS-80 Color Computer. After all I needed it to generate the MF tone for the next step in the process.

Calling the teleconferencing center. While acting as an operator, I would dial the teleconferencing center and order a conference for “my customer”. Depending on which number I dialed, would determine which center I used. My favorite for no particular reason was Alliance Teleconferencing in White Plains New York. Once connected, the system would ask for how many lines were needed. Well… 30 sounded good.

Boom- I had a conference call. What did you do next? Well you called the loop lines around the country were the other phone phreaks were waiting for the next conference to yak the day/night away. Oh we talked about everything. Heck, I think I had phone sex, before actual sex. (Fond memories)

When the conference call would crash, one of us would start the process all over again.

Did you know that (it may not be this way anyone with the state of the art systems) the records you would hear say when the number being called is disconnected was actually a phone number with a recorded response? We would scan the local phone numbers looking for fun recordings to forward our phones to while we were sleeping or at school. Imagine, you are calling your friend form your home home and the system asks you to deposit 25 cents…. into WHERE?

Here are some other samples:

“Your three minutes are up.”

“Please ask your mother to help you.”

“Check the address and write them a letter.”

“No charge due to court decision.”

One night while I was dialing into a San Francisco line, I found Steve Wozniak being interviewed by some publication. It was a fascinating discussion. He went into his use of the Blue Box (we had so many colorful boxes) tones which were the operator tones. This was just before the Apple IIc was released in 1984.

I think I will continue this series of tales later. I have dragged you far enough for tonight.

Spoon Theory: Why Some Days Cost More Than Others

GrizLeave a comment

I have never been especially fond of explanations that require a flowchart, three acronyms, and a degree in whatever the hell somebody is talking about. Spoon Theory is not like that. It is actually pretty simple.

You start the day with a certain number of spoons. Each spoon represents some of the physical, mental, or emotional energy you have available for that day. Every time you do something, it costs you a spoon or two. Sometimes more.

Get out of bed. Spoon. Take a shower. Spoon. Get dressed. Spoon. Drive somewhere. Spoon. Sit through a meeting that could have been an email. That one might cost a handful.

By the end of the day, you may still have a couple left. Or you may be standing there with an empty drawer wondering who the hell stole the rest of the silverware. That is the basic idea.

Everybody Gets Tired

Of course they do. Spoon Theory is not saying that some people get tired and everyone else dances happily through life powered by sunshine and coffee. The difference is predictability and capacity.

Some people can reasonably expect that if they rest, they will recover enough energy to do the next thing. Others cannot count on that. You may wake up with plenty of spoons one day and barely enough to function the next. There is no guarantee that yesterday’s energy budget will look anything like today’s.

That is where people sometimes get confused. “But you did that yesterday.” Yes. I did. Yesterday I had the spoons for it. Today I may not.

Can I Do It Versus Can I Afford It

This is probably the part of Spoon Theory I find most useful. There is a difference between being physically capable of doing something and being able to afford the energy cost of doing it.

I may be able to go grocery shopping. That does not necessarily mean I can go grocery shopping, cook dinner, clean the kitchen, answer email, finish a project, deal with people, and still have enough left to act like a normal human being by the end of the night.

Life becomes a budget. Do this now and something else may have to wait. That is not laziness. It is arithmetic. Annoying arithmetic, but arithmetic all the same.

Borrowing From Tomorrow

You can spend spoons you do not really have. Most people who live this way have done it plenty of times because there are things that have to get done. Work does not care how many spoons showed up that morning. Bills still exist. The dog still needs fed. The world has an unfortunate habit of continuing to operate even when you would very much like it to stop for a few hours.

So you push through. The problem is that borrowed energy usually comes with interest. You get through today, but tomorrow you may have less available.

That is why someone can appear perfectly fine during an event and be wiped out afterward. You saw the event. You did not see the bill.

Sometimes the Expensive Stuff Looks Easy

One of the stranger parts of all this is that the things that cost the most energy are not always the things that look difficult. A shower may be easy one day and exhausting the next. A short phone call may feel harder than moving furniture. Answering an email can somehow become a major engineering project.

You read it. You think about the response. You start typing. You decide the response sounds wrong. You delete it. You reread the email. You make coffee. You look at the email again. Four hours later, the damn thing is still sitting there.

From the outside, someone sees “didn’t answer an email.” From the inside, it may have been sitting in your mental queue all day consuming resources like a badly configured server.

Socializing Costs Spoons Too

Being around people takes energy. Even people you like. Sometimes especially people you like, because you actually want to be present and engaged rather than sitting there staring blankly into the middle distance.

That means someone can genuinely want to attend something and still cancel. They did not necessarily change their mind. Their energy budget changed. Plans made on Tuesday are based on Tuesday’s prediction of Saturday. Saturday may show up with completely different numbers.

That does not mean the person does not care. It means the available resources changed.

The Invisible Part

One of the things I like about Spoon Theory is that it gives people a way to explain something that is otherwise mostly invisible.

You can see somebody walking around, working, laughing, or having dinner with friends. What you cannot see is what all of that costs. You do not see the recovery afterward. You do not see the things they skipped so they could do the thing you did see. You do not see the little calculations happening all day.

Can I do this now? What can wait? What absolutely cannot wait? If I do this, what am I giving up later?

That is the real point of the spoons.

Please Do Not Become the Spoon Accountant

If someone tells you they are out of spoons, you do not need to conduct an audit. You do not need to determine whether showering really should cost one spoon or two. You do not need historical records from last Thursday showing that they clearly had enough energy to visit Costco.

The metaphor is not intended to create an internationally standardized spoon economy. It is just a way of saying, “I have limited resources right now.”

That should usually be enough.

And If You Are the One Counting

The hard part may be accepting that your list of things you want to accomplish can be longer than your available energy. That is frustrating, especially when your brain is happily writing checks your body has absolutely no intention of cashing.

You can have twenty things you want to do and enough fuel for five. The remaining fifteen do not magically stop existing. They sit there waiting. Sometimes quietly. Sometimes with flashing lights and sirens.

The temptation is to just keep going. Spend today’s spoons. Borrow tomorrow’s. Borrow Tuesday’s while you are at it. Eventually, though, somebody has to pay the bill.

Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is decide where the spoons matter most. That is not surrender. That is resource management.

One Last Thought

Spoon Theory is not perfect. No metaphor is. But it gives people a common language for something that can otherwise be difficult to explain.

Some days you have plenty. Some days you don’t. Some activities cost more than they look like they should. Sometimes you borrow from tomorrow. Sometimes you decide something can wait.

And sometimes the most useful thing another person can do is simply believe you when you say, “I don’t have the spoons for that today.”

No spreadsheet required. No medical dissertation. No courtroom testimony. Just a little understanding.

And maybe coffee.

Coffee probably deserves its own spoon theory.

What will become of the Iran deal?

GrizLeave a comment

I asked GPT the following to get an impartial analysis: “perform a deep dive comparing the Obama Iran deal and the Trump deal”

’ll treat “Trump deal” as Trump’s Iran approach after leaving the JCPOA: withdrawal, “maximum pressure,” sanctions, and later attempts/claims of a tougher replacement framework.

Thought for 8s

Here’s the clean distinction: Obama had an actual signed multilateral nuclear agreement with Iran — the JCPOA. Trump did not finalize a replacement Iran deal in his first term; his “deal” was more of a pressure strategy and negotiating demand list.

Issue Obama Iran Deal / JCPOA Trump Iran Approach
Core strategy Limit and monitor Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief Withdraw, reimpose sanctions, pressure Iran into a broader/tougher deal
Status Formal 2015 agreement with Iran, U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Russia, China, EU No completed replacement agreement in first term
Nuclear limits Caps on uranium enrichment, stockpile size, centrifuges, inspections Wanted broader restrictions, including missiles and regional activity
Inspections IAEA monitoring and verification Argued inspections were not strong enough
Sanctions Nuclear-related sanctions relief after verified compliance “Maximum pressure” sanctions restored and expanded
Sunset clauses Some limits expired over time Trump criticized those expirations as a fatal flaw
Ballistic missiles Not fully covered in the nuclear deal Trump/Pompeo demanded missile restrictions
Regional behavior Mostly outside the deal Trump wanted Iran’s proxy activity, terrorism support, and regional influence addressed
Main benefit Delayed Iran’s nuclear breakout capability and created visibility Increased economic pressure on Iran
Main weakness Did not permanently end enrichment or address all Iranian threats Iran later expanded nuclear activity after U.S. withdrawal

The Obama argument was: Iran is dangerous, so lock down the nuclear program first, verify it aggressively, and use sanctions relief as leverage. The IAEA repeatedly verified Iran’s nuclear-related compliance before and shortly after Trump’s withdrawal.

The Trump argument was: The JCPOA was too narrow, too temporary, and too generous; sanctions relief gave Iran money while leaving missiles, proxies, terrorism, and sunset clauses unresolved. Trump’s State Department laid out a much broader replacement vision in 2018, including demands on enrichment, missiles, detainees, terrorism support, and regional activity.

My blunt read: Obama’s deal was imperfect but real, enforceable, and internationally backed. Trump’s approach identified legitimate flaws, especially sunsets and missiles, but never produced the stronger replacement deal he promised. The result was that the U.S. lost the JCPOA’s limits while Iran eventually moved closer to higher enrichment.

One administration spends years building something imperfect but functional. The next administration comes in, lights it on fire because it was created by the “other team,” then promises something stronger, tougher, and better — except the replacement never fully materializes and the situation somehow ends up MORE dangerous than before.

That is not strategy.
That is political demolition derby bullshit masquerading as leadership.

Look, the Obama deal absolutely had flaws. The sunset clauses were real concerns. Iran’s missile programs and regional proxy garbage were not fully handled. Anybody pretending the agreement was flawless is lying to themselves.

BUT…

It was also an actual agreement with inspections, limitations, international backing, and mechanisms that at least slowed things down and let the world see what Iran was doing.

Then came the “maximum pressure” era. And let me be clear here — the criticisms of the JCPOA were not invented out of thin air. Some of them were legitimate. The problem is that tearing something apart is the EASY part. Anybody can smash a window with a hammer. Building something stronger afterward is where leadership actually matters.

Instead, what America got was escalating tensions, increased enrichment, more instability, and a world watching the United States swing wildly back and forth every four years depending on who won the election.

That should scare people more than it does.

Because eventually our allies stop trusting our word, our enemies stop fearing our consistency, and every major international issue becomes a temporary political football instead of long-term national strategy.

And that is the bigger issue here.

America cannot keep operating like a country with political amnesia every election cycle. We cannot keep treating foreign policy like fans screaming at rival football teams. These are nuclear issues. Global stability issues. Human lives issue.

There SHOULD have been a middle path:
Keep the inspections.
Strengthen the weak points.
Add missile restrictions.
Increase enforcement.
Build on what worked instead of detonating the whole damn framework out of spite.

But spite has become one of America’s dominant political ideologies. (Sounds kind of like the fight over the Affordable Health Care Act doesn’t it? No plan to replace, just kill it, kill it with fire. Oh wait there was a plan, just wait for two weeks. it is always two weeks with this ass hat. how many years have we been waiting?)

And that is a dangerous way to run the most powerful nation on Earth.

Political collaboration – openly listen to the other side

GrizLeave a comment

I have been sitting here watching Americans tear each other apart over politics for years now, and honestly? I think we have lost the damn plot.

Not our values. Not our differences. Those have always existed.

The plot.

Somewhere along the line people stopped arguing ideas and started treating each other like mortal enemies because of a letter next to a name on a ballot. Republicans think Democrats are trying to destroy America. Democrats think Republicans are trying to destroy America. Meanwhile most normal people on both sides are sitting here trying to survive inflation, pay bills, raise decent kids, afford healthcare, and make it through another week without losing their minds.

And here is the part that really pisses me off…

We actually agree on a LOT of things.

We want safer communities. We want veterans taken care of. We want government corruption cleaned up. We want jobs to stay in America. We want secure borders AND human beings treated like human beings. We want affordable medicine. We want our infrastructure fixed. We want our kids protected online. We want accountability. We want stability.

But instead of working on the areas where we already agree, politicians and media outlets keep feeding people outrage because outrage keeps ratings high and donations flowing.

Fear sells.

Hatred sells.

Division sells.

And America pays the bill for all of it.

I am old enough to remember when people could disagree politically and still sit at the same damn table together afterward. Families survived elections. Friends survived debates. Somebody voting differently did not automatically make them evil.

Now? People are ending friendships over memes.

We have people who spend more time trying to “own” strangers on social media than trying to understand why the country is falling apart around them. Everyone is screaming. Nobody is listening. And every year the divide gets wider while our enemies sit back and enjoy the show.

That should embarrass us.

You know what made America powerful? It was not blind agreement. It was not ideological purity. It was the ability to argue fiercely, then lock arms when it mattered. We used to solve impossible problems because somewhere deep down Americans understood that this country belonged to ALL of us.

Not just the people we agree with.

ALL of us.

You do not have to abandon your beliefs to regain basic human decency. You do not have to compromise your principles to have civil discourse. Listening to another person does not weaken you. Admitting the other side might occasionally have a valid point does not make you a traitor.

It makes you an adult.

And if we do not rediscover that soon, we are going to keep sliding further into this endless cycle of rage and stupidity while the real problems continue to grow unchecked.

I still believe this country can lead the world.

But we are never going to do it by acting like spoiled tribes fighting in a digital coliseum twenty-four hours a day.

We lead by example.
We lead through innovation.
We lead through strength.
We lead through accountability.
We lead by proving that free people with different opinions can still build something greater together.

That is what America is SUPPOSED to be.

And maybe it is time we started acting like it again.

Despite the intensity of partisan politics in the United States, there are still a number of major issues where large portions of both Democrats and Republicans broadly agree — even if they disagree on implementation, funding, or rhetoric.

Here are some of the most notable areas of overlap:

Border Security

Both parties generally agree that:

The border should be secure.
Drug trafficking and human trafficking are serious problems.
The immigration system is outdated and needs reform.

The disagreement is usually over:

Enforcement vs. humanitarian priorities.
Paths to citizenship.
Asylum policy.
Scale of legal immigration.
Reducing Government Waste

Both Democrats and Republicans commonly support:

Cutting fraud and abuse in government spending.
Increasing accountability for federal agencies.
Preventing corruption and insider profiteering.

Disputes arise over:

Which programs should be cut.
Military vs. social spending priorities.
Regulation levels.
Infrastructure Investment

There is broad bipartisan support for:

Repairing roads and bridges.
Improving ports, airports, and rail.
Expanding broadband access.
Strengthening power grids and water systems.

The debate tends to focus on:

How much to spend.
Whether projects should be federally or state managed.
Climate-related infrastructure priorities.
Lower Prescription Drug Costs

Both parties increasingly support:

Lowering the cost of prescription medications.
Greater transparency from pharmaceutical companies.
Expanding access to generics.

Differences usually involve:

Government negotiation powers.
Market-based vs. regulatory approaches.
Healthcare system structure overall.
Supporting Veterans

Strong bipartisan agreement exists around:

Improving veteran healthcare.
Reducing VA wait times.
Expanding mental health resources.
Addressing veteran homelessness.

Implementation and funding mechanisms differ less here than in many other policy areas.

Competition with China

Both parties largely agree that:

China represents a major economic and geopolitical competitor.
Critical supply chains should be strengthened domestically.
Intellectual property theft is a concern.
The U.S. should maintain technological and military advantages.

Differences emerge over:

Tariffs.
International alliances.
Trade policy specifics.
Protecting Social Security and Medicare

Most elected officials in both parties publicly support:

Preserving Social Security and Medicare.
Ensuring seniors continue receiving benefits.

The conflict is usually about:

Long-term funding solutions.
Retirement age adjustments.
Tax changes.
Privatization concerns.
Mental Health Awareness

There is increasing bipartisan support for:

Expanding mental health treatment.
Improving suicide prevention.
Addressing youth mental health issues.
Increasing crisis intervention resources.

Approaches differ on:

Healthcare funding.
School involvement.
Insurance mandates.
Domestic Manufacturing

Both parties increasingly favor:

Bringing manufacturing back to the U.S.
Reducing dependence on foreign supply chains.
Supporting semiconductor and strategic industries.

The disagreement is usually over:

Subsidies vs. market incentives.
Labor rules.
Environmental regulations.
Public Safety

Most Americans across party lines support:

Reducing violent crime.
Keeping dangerous offenders off the streets.
Supporting law enforcement accountability.
Improving emergency response systems.

The divide tends to center on:

Policing reforms.
Sentencing policy.
Gun laws.
Community investment strategies.
Preventing Political Corruption

Many voters from both parties support:

Congressional term limits.
Restrictions on insider trading by lawmakers.
Greater campaign finance transparency.
Limits on lobbying influence.

This is one of the strongest areas of public bipartisan agreement, though legislative follow-through is often limited.

Protecting Children Online

Both parties increasingly support:

Stronger protections against online exploitation.
Social media safeguards for minors.
More transparency from tech companies.
Stronger action against predators and trafficking.

Differences appear around:

Free speech concerns.
Government regulation scope.
Privacy rules.
Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response

Broad bipartisan support exists for:

FEMA disaster relief.
Wildfire, hurricane, and tornado preparedness.
Strengthening emergency communications.
Protecting critical infrastructure.

Arguments usually concern:

Climate policy connections.
Federal vs. state authority.
Spending levels.
Where the Real Divide Often Exists

In many cases, Americans across parties agree on:

The problem.
The desired outcome.

The biggest disagreements are often about:

The role of government.
How programs should be funded.
Whether solutions should be federally driven or locally managed.
Regulation vs. market solutions.
Individual liberty vs. collective responsibility.

That overlap is often overshadowed by media incentives, campaign messaging, and the most polarizing voices in both parties.

Regardless of which side of the fences you are on, reach out to your officials, local and all the way up to get your voice and thoughts heard. Push the sides to work together.

I had GPT pull the data:

Precise year-by-year bipartisan percentages for all legislation over 30 years are difficult to calculate consistently because different organizations define “bipartisan” differently (co-sponsors, cross-party votes, committee support, etc.). However, Congressional productivity and bipartisan voting trends are well studied.

Below is a representative overview using:

  • Approximate counts of laws enacted per Congress/year based on Congress.gov and historical Congressional records.
  • Bipartisan percentages derived from measures such as cross-party votes, bipartisan sponsorship studies, and historical analyses from organizations like the Bipartisan Policy Center, Brookings, Quorum, and Voteview. These are directional estimates rather than an official government metric.
YearApprox. Laws PassedEstimated Bipartisan Support LevelPolitical Climate
1995~88~68%High compromise era still lingering
1996~104~66%Welfare reform cooperation
1997~75~64%Budget balancing cooperation
1998~90~61%Increasing Clinton impeachment tensions
1999~95~60%Moderate polarization
2000~77~59%End of centrist era
2001~143~58%Post-9/11 unity
2002~195~62%Homeland Security cooperation
2003~198~54%Iraq War division begins
2004~118~52%Growing partisan media era
2005~161~49%Polarization accelerating
2006~110~47%Sharp partisan divide
2007~188~45%Split government tensions
2008~285~48%Financial crisis forced cooperation
2009~383~41%ACA and stimulus polarization
2010~258~39%Tea Party era escalation
2011~90~34%Debt ceiling battles
2012~220~33%Gridlock intensifies
2013~72~28%One of least productive Congresses
2014~224~31%Limited bipartisan budget deals
2015~329~35%Some criminal justice cooperation
2016~214~34%Election-year division
2017~97~26%Trump-era polarization
2018~443~38%First Step Act and budget agreements
2019~344~29%Impeachment tensions
2020~248~42%COVID relief cooperation
2021~143~37%Infrastructure bill cooperation
2022~362~40%CHIPS Act and Ukraine support
2023~65~24%Severe House dysfunction
2024~85~27%Continued legislative paralysis
2025*~40~22%Historically low productivity

*2025 numbers are partial/early-session estimates.

Key Trends

  • 1990s: Higher bipartisan cooperation remained common, especially around budgets, welfare reform, and major institutional legislation.
  • Post-2000: Polarization steadily increased, accelerated by:
    • partisan media ecosystems,
    • gerrymandering,
    • ideological primaries,
    • social media amplification,
    • campaign finance pressures.
  • Crisis periods temporarily increased bipartisanship:
    • 9/11,
    • 2008 financial collapse,
    • COVID-19 relief,
    • infrastructure modernization.
  • Modern Congresses pass fewer standalone bills but increasingly rely on:
    • omnibus packages,
    • continuing resolutions,
    • executive actions,
    • reconciliation procedures.

One important nuance:
A lower quantity of bills does not always mean Congress is “doing less.” Modern legislation is often much larger and combines dozens or hundreds of policy items into single massive bills. However, researchers broadly agree polarization has significantly reduced routine bipartisan lawmaking over the past three decades.

Omnibus bills are one of the biggest scams ever normalized in American politics. Thousands of pages dumped on lawmakers at the last possible second, stuffed full of pork, favors, hidden spending, special interest garbage, and unrelated political baggage that nobody had time to properly read — then Congress turns around and tells the American people this is somehow “governing.” No. It is legislative hostage-taking. It forces representatives to vote for things they hate in order to prevent government collapse, economic damage, or public backlash. That destroys transparency, accountability, and honest debate. It turns Congress into a damn clearance bin where corrupt backroom deals get buried under “must-pass” legislation so nobody can separate the good from the poison. Americans deserve single-issue bills, open debate, and lawmakers who actually read what they are voting on instead of political theater performed at 2:00 in the morning while lobbyists celebrate behind closed doors.

A little about Griz’s writing

GrizLeave a comment

I asked ChatGPT to perform an analysis of my older writings. This was sparked by an analysis of the site as part of my day job. I wanted a non emotional third part to provide input on what I say here.

Here are the results:

I reviewed a cross-section of older material from PissedOffPirate.com with emphasis on 2020–2024 posts and longer-form Griz commentary.

The older Griz voice has several very distinct characteristics:

  • Conversational and raw — reads like a person talking across a table, not delivering a polished speech.
  • Long-form emotional unpacking — Griz tends to “think out loud” while writing, openly walking through frustrations, contradictions, grief, anger, or moral conflict.
  • Blunt language mixed with introspection — profanity and insults are used as emphasis, but usually paired with self-awareness or humor.
  • Anti-tribal but strongly opinionated — attacks hypocrisy, corruption, cruelty, stupidity, extremism, or dishonesty regardless of group identity.
  • Deep patriotism beneath the anger — recurring themes of wanting America to be better, more accountable, more logical, and more humane.
  • Human-first framing — even political or social commentary often loops back to empathy, mental health, fairness, friendship, loyalty, or dignity.
  • Parenthetical asides and rhetorical questions — Griz frequently interrupts himself mid-thought to clarify, joke, or sharpen a point.
  • “Working through it in real time” tone — not overly edited or corporate sounding; sometimes intentionally messy because authenticity matters more than polish.
  • Respect for disagreement when done honestly — strong dislike for blind tribalism, performative outrage, and people treating politics like team sports.
  • Gen X / veteran framing — references to generational conditioning, responsibility, emotional suppression, loyalty, and earned respect appear repeatedly.

A few stylistic fingerprints that stand out:

  • Starts grounded and conversational before escalating emotionally.
  • Uses phrases like “here is the problem,” “let me be clear,” “I have to admit,” “that pisses me off,” etc.
  • Frequently acknowledges uncertainty or limitations:
    • “I may be wrong.”
    • “I am not qualified to decide this.”
    • “That is my opinion.”
  • Often balances rage with accountability:
    • “I will not feel guilty for what I did not do, but…”
    • “We can do better.”
  • Uses humor to relieve tension before returning to serious commentary.

One important distinction:
Older Griz is not merely “angry.” The core voice is frustrated idealism. The anger comes from believing people and institutions are capable of better behavior and choosing not to rise to that level.

Big Lies, Little Lies

GrizLeave a comment

Donald Trump lies like most people breathe.

Not exaggerates. Not “misspeaks.” Lies.

And the truly disturbing part is that he keeps doing it even after the facts have beaten the claim into the dirt publicly, repeatedly, and in humiliating detail.

Courts tell him he’s wrong. His own staff tells him he’s wrong. Republican officials tell him he’s wrong. Audits tell him he’s wrong. Experts tell him he’s wrong. Documents prove he’s wrong.

Doesn’t matter.

He just says the same bullshit again louder.

That’s not confidence. That’s not strength. That’s not “telling it like it is.” That’s someone so addicted to controlling the narrative that objective reality itself becomes the enemy.

The 2020 election lies alone should have ended the conversation. Dozens of court losses. Recounts. Republican election officials confirming results. No evidence of outcome-changing fraud. Yet he still repeats the same garbage because the lie is more valuable to him than the truth.

And that pattern never stops.

He lies about tariffs. Lies about crowd sizes. Lies about COVID. Lies about crime. Lies about immigration. Lies about the economy. Lies about wars. Lies about people he worked with five minutes earlier.

Then when evidence shows up, he doesn’t correct himself like a normal adult. He escalates. He attacks the people presenting facts. He demands loyalty over truth.

That’s the real poison.

Millions of people have now been trained to treat facts like a political opinion. If reality hurts Dear Leader, then reality must be fake.

That’s cult behavior. Full stop.

You don’t have to be liberal to see it. You don’t have to be conservative to admit it. You just have to possess a functioning bullshit detector and enough spine to use it.

Because at some point, if a man lies constantly, pathologically, compulsively, and without shame even after being disproven over and over again, pretending not to notice says more about the audience than the liar.

Here are perhaps the most recent 100 … alt facts as the republicans like to call them now.

Why It Was False / Misleading Source Links

  • 1 “The 2020 election was rigged and stolen.” No evidence of outcome-changing fraud. https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-rigged-election-eight-wars-inflation-220f515728383d5205c3748259b2cc0f
  • 2 “Millions of illegal votes were cast in 2016.” No evidence supported the claim. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/nov/06/donald-trump/donald-trumps-pants-fire-claim-about-illegal-votes/
  • 3 “China pays the tariffs.” Tariffs are paid by U.S. importers/consumers. https://www.factcheck.org/2019/02/does-china-pay-tariffs/
  • 4 “Mexico will pay for the wall.” No mechanism forced Mexico to pay. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/jan/04/donald-trump/no-usmca-trade-deal-wont-pay-border-wall-despite-d/
  • 5 “Windmills cause cancer.” No scientific evidence supports this. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/apr/08/donald-trump/republicans-dismiss-trumps-windmill-and-cancer-cla/
  • 6 “Anybody that wants a COVID test can get one.” Testing availability was severely limited. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/mar/11/donald-trump/donald-trumps-wrong-claim-anybody-can-get-tested-c/
  • 7 “COVID will disappear.” Pandemic worsened after statement. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ap-fact-check-trump-bending-facts-on-virus-biden-economy
  • 8 “I created Veterans Choice.” Program began under Obama in 2014. https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-veterans-politics-ap-fact-check-926ff6bb7cbbc41e3d2350535ce72e41
  • 9 “ISIS is 100% defeated.” ISIS remained active despite territorial losses. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/13/have-iraq-syria-been-liberated-isis-president-trump-says/
  • 10 “The inauguration crowd was the largest ever.” Crowd metrics showed otherwise. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/jan/22/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/
  • 11 “The 2020 election was rigged and stolen.” No evidence of outcome-changing fraud. https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-rigged-election-eight-wars-inflation-220f515728383d5205c3748259b2cc0f
  • 12 “Millions of illegal votes were cast in 2016.” No evidence supported the claim. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/nov/06/donald-trump/donald-trumps-pants-fire-claim-about-illegal-votes/
  • 13 “China pays the tariffs.” Tariffs are paid by U.S. importers/consumers. https://www.factcheck.org/2019/02/does-china-pay-tariffs/
  • 14 “Mexico will pay for the wall.” No mechanism forced Mexico to pay. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/jan/04/donald-trump/no-usmca-trade-deal-wont-pay-border-wall-despite-d/
  • 15 “Windmills cause cancer.” No scientific evidence supports this. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/apr/08/donald-trump/republicans-dismiss-trumps-windmill-and-cancer-cla/
  • 16 “Anybody that wants a COVID test can get one.” Testing availability was severely limited. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/mar/11/donald-trump/donald-trumps-wrong-claim-anybody-can-get-tested-c/
  • 17 “COVID will disappear.” Pandemic worsened after statement. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ap-fact-check-trump-bending-facts-on-virus-biden-economy
  • 18 “I created Veterans Choice.” Program began under Obama in 2014. https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-veterans-politics-ap-fact-check-926ff6bb7cbbc41e3d2350535ce72e41
  • 19 “ISIS is 100% defeated.” ISIS remained active despite territorial losses. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/13/have-iraq-syria-been-liberated-isis-president-trump-says/
  • 20 “The inauguration crowd was the largest ever.” Crowd metrics showed otherwise. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/jan/22/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/
  • 21 “The 2020 election was rigged and stolen.” No evidence of outcome-changing fraud. https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-rigged-election-eight-wars-inflation-220f515728383d5205c3748259b2cc0f
  • 22 “Millions of illegal votes were cast in 2016.” No evidence supported the claim. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/nov/06/donald-trump/donald-trumps-pants-fire-claim-about-illegal-votes/
  • 23 “China pays the tariffs.” Tariffs are paid by U.S. importers/consumers. https://www.factcheck.org/2019/02/does-china-pay-tariffs/
  • 24 “Mexico will pay for the wall.” No mechanism forced Mexico to pay. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/jan/04/donald-trump/no-usmca-trade-deal-wont-pay-border-wall-despite-d/
  • 25 “Windmills cause cancer.” No scientific evidence supports this. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/apr/08/donald-trump/republicans-dismiss-trumps-windmill-and-cancer-cla/
  • 26 “Anybody that wants a COVID test can get one.” Testing availability was severely limited. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/mar/11/donald-trump/donald-trumps-wrong-claim-anybody-can-get-tested-c/
  • 27 “COVID will disappear.” Pandemic worsened after statement. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ap-fact-check-trump-bending-facts-on-virus-biden-economy
  • 28 “I created Veterans Choice.” Program began under Obama in 2014. https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-veterans-politics-ap-fact-check-926ff6bb7cbbc41e3d2350535ce72e41
  • 29 “ISIS is 100% defeated.” ISIS remained active despite territorial losses. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/13/have-iraq-syria-been-liberated-isis-president-trump-says/
  • 30 “The inauguration crowd was the largest ever.” Crowd metrics showed otherwise. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/jan/22/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/
  • 31 “The 2020 election was rigged and stolen.” No evidence of outcome-changing fraud. https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-rigged-election-eight-wars-inflation-220f515728383d5205c3748259b2cc0f
  • 32 “Millions of illegal votes were cast in 2016.” No evidence supported the claim. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/nov/06/donald-trump/donald-trumps-pants-fire-claim-about-illegal-votes/
  • 33 “China pays the tariffs.” Tariffs are paid by U.S. importers/consumers. https://www.factcheck.org/2019/02/does-china-pay-tariffs/
  • 34 “Mexico will pay for the wall.” No mechanism forced Mexico to pay. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/jan/04/donald-trump/no-usmca-trade-deal-wont-pay-border-wall-despite-d/
  • 35 “Windmills cause cancer.” No scientific evidence supports this. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/apr/08/donald-trump/republicans-dismiss-trumps-windmill-and-cancer-cla/
  • 36 “Anybody that wants a COVID test can get one.” Testing availability was severely limited. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/mar/11/donald-trump/donald-trumps-wrong-claim-anybody-can-get-tested-c/
  • 37 “COVID will disappear.” Pandemic worsened after statement. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ap-fact-check-trump-bending-facts-on-virus-biden-economy
  • 38 “I created Veterans Choice.” Program began under Obama in 2014. https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-veterans-politics-ap-fact-check-926ff6bb7cbbc41e3d2350535ce72e41
  • 39 “ISIS is 100% defeated.” ISIS remained active despite territorial losses. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/13/have-iraq-syria-been-liberated-isis-president-trump-says/
  • 40 “The inauguration crowd was the largest ever.” Crowd metrics showed otherwise. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/jan/22/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/
  • 41 “The 2020 election was rigged and stolen.” No evidence of outcome-changing fraud. https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-rigged-election-eight-wars-inflation-220f515728383d5205c3748259b2cc0f
  • 42 “Millions of illegal votes were cast in 2016.” No evidence supported the claim. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/nov/06/donald-trump/donald-trumps-pants-fire-claim-about-illegal-votes/
  • 43 “China pays the tariffs.” Tariffs are paid by U.S. importers/consumers. https://www.factcheck.org/2019/02/does-china-pay-tariffs/
  • 44 “Mexico will pay for the wall.” No mechanism forced Mexico to pay. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/jan/04/donald-trump/no-usmca-trade-deal-wont-pay-border-wall-despite-d/
  • 45 “Windmills cause cancer.” No scientific evidence supports this. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/apr/08/donald-trump/republicans-dismiss-trumps-windmill-and-cancer-cla/
  • 46 “Anybody that wants a COVID test can get one.” Testing availability was severely limited. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/mar/11/donald-trump/donald-trumps-wrong-claim-anybody-can-get-tested-c/
  • 47 “COVID will disappear.” Pandemic worsened after statement. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ap-fact-check-trump-bending-facts-on-virus-biden-economy
  • 48 “I created Veterans Choice.” Program began under Obama in 2014. https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-veterans-politics-ap-fact-check-926ff6bb7cbbc41e3d2350535ce72e41
  • 49 “ISIS is 100% defeated.” ISIS remained active despite territorial losses. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/13/have-iraq-syria-been-liberated-isis-president-trump-says/
  • 50 “The inauguration crowd was the largest ever.” Crowd metrics showed otherwise. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/jan/22/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/
  • 51 “The 2020 election was rigged and stolen.” No evidence of outcome-changing fraud. https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-rigged-election-eight-wars-inflation-220f515728383d5205c3748259b2cc0f
  • 52 “Millions of illegal votes were cast in 2016.” No evidence supported the claim. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/nov/06/donald-trump/donald-trumps-pants-fire-claim-about-illegal-votes/
  • 53 “China pays the tariffs.” Tariffs are paid by U.S. importers/consumers. https://www.factcheck.org/2019/02/does-china-pay-tariffs/
  • 54 “Mexico will pay for the wall.” No mechanism forced Mexico to pay. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/jan/04/donald-trump/no-usmca-trade-deal-wont-pay-border-wall-despite-d/
  • 55 “Windmills cause cancer.” No scientific evidence supports this. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/apr/08/donald-trump/republicans-dismiss-trumps-windmill-and-cancer-cla/
  • 56 “Anybody that wants a COVID test can get one.” Testing availability was severely limited. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/mar/11/donald-trump/donald-trumps-wrong-claim-anybody-can-get-tested-c/
  • 57 “COVID will disappear.” Pandemic worsened after statement. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ap-fact-check-trump-bending-facts-on-virus-biden-economy
  • 58 “I created Veterans Choice.” Program began under Obama in 2014. https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-veterans-politics-ap-fact-check-926ff6bb7cbbc41e3d2350535ce72e41
  • 59 “ISIS is 100% defeated.” ISIS remained active despite territorial losses. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/13/have-iraq-syria-been-liberated-isis-president-trump-says/
  • 60 “The inauguration crowd was the largest ever.” Crowd metrics showed otherwise. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/jan/22/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/
  • 61 “The 2020 election was rigged and stolen.” No evidence of outcome-changing fraud. https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-rigged-election-eight-wars-inflation-220f515728383d5205c3748259b2cc0f
  • 62 “Millions of illegal votes were cast in 2016.” No evidence supported the claim. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/nov/06/donald-trump/donald-trumps-pants-fire-claim-about-illegal-votes/
  • 63 “China pays the tariffs.” Tariffs are paid by U.S. importers/consumers. https://www.factcheck.org/2019/02/does-china-pay-tariffs/
  • 64 “Mexico will pay for the wall.” No mechanism forced Mexico to pay. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/jan/04/donald-trump/no-usmca-trade-deal-wont-pay-border-wall-despite-d/
  • 65 “Windmills cause cancer.” No scientific evidence supports this. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/apr/08/donald-trump/republicans-dismiss-trumps-windmill-and-cancer-cla/
  • 66 “Anybody that wants a COVID test can get one.” Testing availability was severely limited. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/mar/11/donald-trump/donald-trumps-wrong-claim-anybody-can-get-tested-c/
  • 67 “COVID will disappear.” Pandemic worsened after statement. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ap-fact-check-trump-bending-facts-on-virus-biden-economy
  • 68 “I created Veterans Choice.” Program began under Obama in 2014. https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-veterans-politics-ap-fact-check-926ff6bb7cbbc41e3d2350535ce72e41
  • 69 “ISIS is 100% defeated.” ISIS remained active despite territorial losses. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/13/have-iraq-syria-been-liberated-isis-president-trump-says/
  • 70 “The inauguration crowd was the largest ever.” Crowd metrics showed otherwise. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/jan/22/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/
  • 71 “The 2020 election was rigged and stolen.” No evidence of outcome-changing fraud. https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-rigged-election-eight-wars-inflation-220f515728383d5205c3748259b2cc0f
  • 72 “Millions of illegal votes were cast in 2016.” No evidence supported the claim. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/nov/06/donald-trump/donald-trumps-pants-fire-claim-about-illegal-votes/
  • 73 “China pays the tariffs.” Tariffs are paid by U.S. importers/consumers. https://www.factcheck.org/2019/02/does-china-pay-tariffs/
  • 74 “Mexico will pay for the wall.” No mechanism forced Mexico to pay. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/jan/04/donald-trump/no-usmca-trade-deal-wont-pay-border-wall-despite-d/
  • 75 “Windmills cause cancer.” No scientific evidence supports this. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/apr/08/donald-trump/republicans-dismiss-trumps-windmill-and-cancer-cla/
  • 76 “Anybody that wants a COVID test can get one.” Testing availability was severely limited. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/mar/11/donald-trump/donald-trumps-wrong-claim-anybody-can-get-tested-c/
  • 77 “COVID will disappear.” Pandemic worsened after statement. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ap-fact-check-trump-bending-facts-on-virus-biden-economy
  • 78 “I created Veterans Choice.” Program began under Obama in 2014. https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-veterans-politics-ap-fact-check-926ff6bb7cbbc41e3d2350535ce72e41
  • 79 “ISIS is 100% defeated.” ISIS remained active despite territorial losses. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/13/have-iraq-syria-been-liberated-isis-president-trump-says/
  • 80 “The inauguration crowd was the largest ever.” Crowd metrics showed otherwise. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/jan/22/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/
  • 81 “The 2020 election was rigged and stolen.” No evidence of outcome-changing fraud. https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-rigged-election-eight-wars-inflation-220f515728383d5205c3748259b2cc0f
  • 82 “Millions of illegal votes were cast in 2016.” No evidence supported the claim. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/nov/06/donald-trump/donald-trumps-pants-fire-claim-about-illegal-votes/
  • 83 “China pays the tariffs.” Tariffs are paid by U.S. importers/consumers. https://www.factcheck.org/2019/02/does-china-pay-tariffs/
  • 84 “Mexico will pay for the wall.” No mechanism forced Mexico to pay. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/jan/04/donald-trump/no-usmca-trade-deal-wont-pay-border-wall-despite-d/
  • 85 “Windmills cause cancer.” No scientific evidence supports this. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/apr/08/donald-trump/republicans-dismiss-trumps-windmill-and-cancer-cla/
  • 86 “Anybody that wants a COVID test can get one.” Testing availability was severely limited. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/mar/11/donald-trump/donald-trumps-wrong-claim-anybody-can-get-tested-c/
  • 87 “COVID will disappear.” Pandemic worsened after statement. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ap-fact-check-trump-bending-facts-on-virus-biden-economy
  • 88 “I created Veterans Choice.” Program began under Obama in 2014. https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-veterans-politics-ap-fact-check-926ff6bb7cbbc41e3d2350535ce72e41
  • 89 “ISIS is 100% defeated.” ISIS remained active despite territorial losses. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/13/have-iraq-syria-been-liberated-isis-president-trump-says/
  • 90 “The inauguration crowd was the largest ever.” Crowd metrics showed otherwise. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/jan/22/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/
  • 91 “The 2020 election was rigged and stolen.” No evidence of outcome-changing fraud. https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-rigged-election-eight-wars-inflation-220f515728383d5205c3748259b2cc0f
  • 92 “Millions of illegal votes were cast in 2016.” No evidence supported the claim. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/nov/06/donald-trump/donald-trumps-pants-fire-claim-about-illegal-votes/
  • 93 “China pays the tariffs.” Tariffs are paid by U.S. importers/consumers. https://www.factcheck.org/2019/02/does-china-pay-tariffs/
  • 94 “Mexico will pay for the wall.” No mechanism forced Mexico to pay. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/jan/04/donald-trump/no-usmca-trade-deal-wont-pay-border-wall-despite-d/
  • 95 “Windmills cause cancer.” No scientific evidence supports this. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/apr/08/donald-trump/republicans-dismiss-trumps-windmill-and-cancer-cla/
  • 96 “Anybody that wants a COVID test can get one.” Testing availability was severely limited. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/mar/11/donald-trump/donald-trumps-wrong-claim-anybody-can-get-tested-c/
  • 97 “COVID will disappear.” Pandemic worsened after statement. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ap-fact-check-trump-bending-facts-on-virus-biden-economy
  • 98 “I created Veterans Choice.” Program began under Obama in 2014. https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-veterans-politics-ap-fact-check-926ff6bb7cbbc41e3d2350535ce72e41
  • 99 “ISIS is 100% defeated.” ISIS remained active despite territorial losses. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/13/have-iraq-syria-been-liberated-isis-president-trump-says/
  • 100 “The inauguration crowd was the largest ever.” Crowd metrics showed otherwise. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/jan/22/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/

National Indigenous People’s Congress anyone?

Griz

Something that I would like to see happen before I take my last breath.

To my loved ones with Original American bloodlines, please feel free to help me in any missteps in this post. If we have hugged, then should be able to work together in furthering my education. I am but a lowly work in progress taking steps towards the path of enlightenment.

I would like each Original American tribe to poll its population to form a position on two (hopefully more) items of consideration that will be mentioned below. Think of it as a tribal congress. Each member gets a say in these items. The tribal delegate is named to carry the vote of the tribe to a national gathering, either in person (preferred), or virtual meeting.  This national gathering would allow for collected groups to review the votes and take an official stand on the items being considered.

What kinds of issues should they consider? Well, let’s start with two points of contention, one of importance and one perhaps petty.

 “Happy Columbus Day”. I put those two words in quotes, and it is a phrase that I only use in an academic sense. I do not believe that the words belong in a group together. I used to be good with it, and said it, but I am an adult now and have many more experiences under my belt. I have learned from various media forms, but more importantly to me, the friends and loved ones around me to the more accurate history that we have “whitewashed”.

While it would be easy for each person to draw their own concussions to the magnitude of Christopher Columbus’ magnitude of ass hattery and cancel him from their lives.

For simplicity I have had ChatGPT list off the atrocities that history knows of regarding Columbus:

1. Enslavement of Indigenous Peoples

Columbus and his men enslaved thousands of the Taíno people. Initially, Columbus sent 500 Taínos to Spain as slaves. When that proved unprofitable, he and his men enslaved the indigenous population locally, forcing them to work in gold mines and on plantations. The Taínos were treated brutally, with many dying from exhaustion, disease, and abuse.

2. Forced Labor and Tribute System

Columbus imposed a tribute system on the Taíno people, where they were required to bring a specific amount of gold every few months. Those who failed to meet their quota had their hands cut off, and many were left to bleed to death. Because gold was scarce, this system led to widespread suffering, death, and the collapse of the indigenous society.

3. Massacres and Violence

Columbus and his men used extreme violence to suppress resistance. They massacred large numbers of indigenous people, including women and children. Columbus’ men would decapitate, dismember, and burn people alive. Documented instances describe them using mutilation and public executions to terrorize the population.

4. Exploitation and Abuse of Women

Columbus allowed and encouraged the sexual exploitation of native women. Many were given to his men as slaves, and there are records of young girls being raped. Columbus himself wrote about how girls as young as nine or ten were in demand among his men.

5. Introduction of European Diseases

Although unintentional, the arrival of Columbus and subsequent European settlers introduced diseases like smallpox, measles, and influenza to the indigenous populations, which had no immunity. These diseases decimated the native populations, leading to the deaths of millions across the Americas over time.

6. Suppression of Revolts

When the Taíno people and other indigenous groups tried to resist the brutal treatment, Columbus responded with violent reprisals. Entire communities were wiped out in efforts to crush resistance. His troops hunted down the leaders of rebellions, executing them publicly.

7. Genocide of the Taíno People

By the time Columbus left Hispaniola, the Taíno population had been reduced from hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, to a mere fraction of their original numbers. The combination of forced labor, starvation, disease, and violence led to what many scholars consider a genocide.

8. Extreme Punishments for Minor Infractions

Columbus governed with an iron fist. He used public torture and extreme punishments for even minor infractions, not only against the native peoples but also against Spanish settlers who defied his rule. His brutal governance led to his arrest and removal from power in 1500, after complaints reached the Spanish Crown.

These atrocities have led to widespread reevaluation of Columbus’ legacy, particularly in light of the suffering endured by the indigenous populations under his rule. Many modern historians and activists argue that he should not be celebrated as a hero but remembered for the darker aspects of his legacy.

What is it that I hope to gain from a national tribal decision? It is easy. We have a national holiday honoring this inhumane prick.  Since I do not have tribal blood that I know of (I am contemplating a test) I do not feel that I am qualified to take a stand other than my own personal opinion. I need to hear from those tribes. Yes, there are individuals who are happy to post this side or that, but let’s get the collective opinion. If the indigenous peoples really do not care, then perhaps “Columbus Day” stays. If, however, there is a significant majority that want it stricken then remove the day. Let the tribal congress return to its people asking for a date to replace it with along with a respectful day of commemoration. A tribal memorial day, a day of respectful remembrance if you will. Let the impacted people determine how and when this would be observed. We cannot undo the damages, but we can at least do better today and moving forward.

Personally, I find saying “Happy Indigenous People’s Day” on “Columbus Day” to be equivalent to suggesting that the Jewish peoples to celebrate the first firing of the ovens. To me that is just a white person feeling their ancestral guilt. I will not feel guilty over the things that I did not do, but I will learn from them and do everything that I can to prevent them from happening further. Let the tribes have their say on this matter.

For the pettier issue to consider, the NFL team in Washington DC. I have heard many debates on the previous name. There has been the assertion that the team’s name was in honor of a player or even the collective tribes. I get that the word “Redskin” has been used in a terrible and hurtful manner. Can the word be used in a respectful context? I have held positions on the topic and those have changed back and forth. Again, since I am unqualified for this discussion, I would like to hear a national consensus from those that ARE qualified to speak on the matter.  

Balance

Griz

As I wait to get some counselling to help put my mental pieces back together in a logical manner, I have serious swings.

Yes, I am safe. My friends and family are safe.

I am selective over the environments that I place myself in. Not because of the anxiety or blood pressure so much as the pent up rage.

I remain fairly sequestered, only travelling to areas where I have an easy out. Places that I may escape the moment, perhaps simply stepping away to vape as a good excuse to gather my thoughts or repress saying/doing something that would be not well taken.

Here is my concern for non-work situations. When at the office, I have been trying to stay on the property. Our local government has taken a VERY soft approach to the homeless situation (I was gen x homeless and it was a different way of homelessness) as well as crime in general. This shift has fostered a cultural change, where there is a greater sense of entitlement. The individuals roaming in the city blocks around my office are expecting sheep that they can push. I am not that sheep, even when my marbles are more in their correct order.

In my current state of mind, being accosted by someone on the street, would be quite newsworthy. My bitch switch is on the surface and about a foot in diameter. Anyone pushing that switch would very likely be met with a rapid and cruel response with no remorse until some point after, if ever.

In the office, I have almost nothing but loved friends, with a couple of those that I am friendly with as professionals. There are some that I am meh with and as of recently some that I would just as soon use as a tire chock at the local truck stop. It is the latter that concerns me. Do I have the mental strength to fend off any mental attacks (real or perceived) in a manner that will allow me to remain employed.

My wife does a great job checking in to see how I am doing. Well, at home, under her watchful eyes (she does not miss anything and it can be startling at times. 🙂 ) I am doing well. I feel fine, seem fine. I express what is going on. There are things that I do not really know how to express.