#AncientTexan

So the belief is that if we silence Trump and Trumpites everything will be okay.  The enemy is not the Republicans or the Democrats, themselves, but those corporate elites that support and enable our government (Democrats and  Republicans) to follow their agenda for America and not what the working class, and all Americans, need and want to happen.   Much of this podcast comes from...

Where is the forum for debating solutions to the problems facing us?   The forum obvious does not exist inside the Republican Party, but is their room for democrats to challenge the Sacred Democratic Opinions of the day?

A lighter but wise poem:  "I said Yes but I meant No" by Dean Young

A core problem that enabled Trump still exists.  Until it is addressed the pressure will build for a bigger riot.  What must we address to change our fate?

Would you publish a novel that reveals who you really are?

Symbols seen at the capital riots included: Noose, confederate flag, wolf-man, bombs, Gadsden Flay, Trump Flags, Medicine Man, cross, gallows. Notes below from The Roots of Josh Hawley’s Rage Why do so many Republicans appear to be at war with both truth and democracy? By Katherine Stewart, NY Times. In today’s Republican Party, the path to power is to build up a lie in order to overturn democracy...

What action(s) help bring our country back together?  What makes us feel connected with each other?  What self-examination should we undertake when 70 million people believe Trump is the only one standing up and speaking for them?   Is our society providing what a human being needs to thrive?   Now, put impeachment in that context.  

Even monkeys have a sense of fairness.  

Trump is attempting a coup of our government.  Those that condone and encourage his lies to be popular with his base are also traitors.  Ted Cruz wants to take over Trump's base; is he willing to act like Trump and adopt Trumpian Values.   We are seeing the damning effect of not loving the truth, of tribalism, of prejudice, and of wealth inequality.   Is America willi...

Will the election of Joe Biden change your life?

Let he who is innocent cast the first stone.

Compromise Finding common ground necessary to make progress between groups with different points of view toward a shared goal. An ability to listen to two sides in a dispute, and devise a compromise acceptable to both Not: accept standards that are lower than is desirable. HYPOTHESIS For politics to be successful, for humanity to be successful we must revive the ancient art of compromise What step...

I find resolutions impossible to do well.   My top three resolutions quickly become my top 20 resolutions that I shuffle through over and over hoping that a few will pop to the top and stay there.  I also find it easy to focus on the results I want (lose weight) instead of the hard work required (daily hiking, no snacks) to make the result happen.  And, can we ever get to the h...

Why do some people make billions while others make pennies.   Does this strike you as fair?  What determines wealth distribution: merit or power?

Galway Kinnell - 1927-2014 Wait Wait, for now. Distrust everything if you have to. But trust the hours. Haven’t they carried you everywhere, up to now? Personal events will become interesting again. Hair will become interesting. Pain will become interesting. Buds that open out of season will become interesting. Second-hand gloves will become lovely again; their memories are what give them the need...

A look at some myths in the music of "Americana";  how do these myths serve us as a people?  

A lighter look at meditation. 

Should our suppliers around the world have to conform to the same environmental, OSHA, and safety regulations of plants operating in the United States?    How will this impact the competitiveness of our American plants?  What does it do for good-paying jobs in America.?  What is our dream for our country?

Trumpism will soon reappear with conspiracy theories on the vaccine.   People will believe them as thousands of people continue to die from Covid.  When you are living on the sand, see the previous podcasts, it's easy to see dark shadows in the night. 

Two songwriters from and singing to the working poor before the 2016 election.  They were singing, but no one was listening. Colter Wall:  "Living On The Sand" Leave them lights as they are And keep your clothes on, I've had More than my fill Of whiskey and women And good-hearted villains, but there's a Wickedness in me still Keep that gun locked away Locked away boy Well you know you're...

Some states are not allowing the second gay parent, male or female, to be on the birth certificate whether the child is birthed or adopted.   The core argument is that in straight marriage the male contributes "sperm" to the child and therefore is the parent.  But one case where one woman had contributed an egg to the other for artificial semination was not enough to get the second...

Two poems about life ... enjoy.  One about getting dirt on your hands in life and gardening ... 

How does an embodied mind impact our lives, our morality,  and our politics.?  How does understanding how our brains work help us to communicate better to the other side?

Why is the mind and how the brain works important in politics.  Well, put this in your pipe and smoke it:   all brain activity is thought, and 98% of your brain activity is unconscious.    News flash:  we are not logical creatures or creatures that guide their lives primarily by logic.   So why do we think presenting people with facts causes them to act...

A personal story on what poverty means ...  luck, effort, and ability make success.