Sunday, January 14, 2018

Living dissatisfied


This has been a rough and tumble year for this country. My life has settled into a comfortable routine that includes disseminating my political opinions at most opportunities. It’s nice to have a “grown up” conversation with a friend, or someone I recognize as a “dissenter”.

It’s satisfying to throw a politically disturbing thought into a group, friends, acquaintances or strangers. It’s over the top to foment heresy among the opposition. But then, my opportunities to drive my car up a twisting township road in an ice storm are limited. It’s about maintaining “the edge”, as well as potentially replacing weeds with crops in new minds.

The latest statement from the projection artist Robin Bell, and his mobile projector, is the Sunday headline. Shithole, emblazoned across the front of Trump’s DC hotel for profit. The dichotomy emphasizes Bell’s subsequent projection, “We are all responsible to stand up and end white supremacy.” A strongest average citizen sentiment this past week  is, Shitholians will be at the polls in November.


Descriptors of the worst presidents of all time include corrupt, inept, oblivious, irresponsible, criminal, ignorant. That last, GW, is not two decades old, and I thought the worst of my lifetime. That just was the wake up call. Ignorance is our crime, as is civil irresponsibility, complacency, silence.

Living dissatisfied is not a big job, not consuming. Mine resembles carrying a handout in a breast pocket and using it if opportunity arises. Except, I carry issues and opinions. My arena is the place I see the most people, the gym. Trump is a big help; he makes it easy for me to keep up a conversation.

My former trainer, now a certified cardiopulmonary rehab specialist at a different Cleveland Clinic facility, is a former Republican. I did have the advantage of her undivided attention for an hour a week for the last two years. Had I tried the same tactic with my late brother, for instance, he would have left the room. Pick your battles. After the November general election my trainer flashed her I Voted sticker, grinned, and said “You would be proud of me.” ‘Nuff said.

Another ground is right here in my trailer park. I have neighbors. I see people at the mailboxes, in the office. I am more than happy to give an explanation of health care changes if the opportunity presents. That’s coals to Newcastle here, however. The object is instilling the importance of voting, especially by mail. It all starts with registration.

Jen Hoffman has a lengthy gratitude list this week. It will keep me busy. I may even borrow Laura’s sparkle pens. Resist.






37 comments:

  1. That looks like my kind of nightclub.

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  2. This Shitholian will DEFINITELY be at the polls in November, and I plan to offer rides to folks who may have a need for transportation to vote. These midterms are going to so very important. We need to take the GOP in hand and put a stop to the dangerous direction this country is currently headed in.

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  3. Hari OM
    voting is such a precious power and it disappoints me here in the UK how few take up their right to that act. It is especially important for the USA this year. I do miss OZ and its compulsory (or pay a fine) voting measures. It encourages and full and proper engagement. More power to you Joanne! YAM xx

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  4. This past year has been the saddest year I have ever lived through. I just don't understand how this happened in our great country!

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  5. It irritates me when I hear women say they didn't vote, can't be bothered, there's no point etc etc.....we had women jailed and abused for daring to ask for the right to vote. Damn it y'all...get out there and vote every opportunity you get.

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  6. Voting is a privilege. Which should be exercised. Says the woman whose partner doesn't in a country where voting is compulsory.

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  7. I believe that if our country is going to come out of this debacle, we must be smart and not get into the mud with them. Those of us who find this administration frightening and unqualified must fight back within the law, put up excellent candidates, be specific about the agenda and get out the vote. Most of all, the opposition needs millions of Joannes.

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  8. of course you know my views, tax cuts (heard in February 90% of workers should see an increase in their paychecks), economy booming, stock market up, wages increased, bonuses being given, more jobs opening up, immigration reform hopefully on the horizon, restrictive regulations pulled back, companies repatriating their money back to this country, new manufacturing jobs coming in many locations, border security a priority, unfair trade practices being examined,investigations of corrupt politicians who should have been prosecuted, biased FBI investigations, high time for all this and much more. I didn't see an increase in my measly SS but it didn't go down so I can live with that.

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  9. It's not just important to vote, it's important to be an informed voter. It's a damn sight harder than voting by tradition, by gut, by chance, or by single issue, but it's the only way to make a good choice.

    Roll on, Joanne!

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  10. We have presidential elections in February. The only bright point on the horizon is the reaisation that we can't do worse than the U.S.A....though one candidate is trying hard...

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  11. too bad we can't clone you and set you on the whole country.

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  12. Love the artwork and this statement: It’s about maintaining “the edge”, as well as potentially replacing weeds with crops in new minds. You are not in an easy area for that and deserve credit for the planting of those crops.

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  13. I admire your ability to resist. Keep strong ♥

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  14. Robin Bell's art makes my long forays in the Twitter morass worth it.

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  15. I do hope more people will take up the voting option and perhaps effect some real change.

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  16. Some are interested in money. Some are interested in right and wrong (i.e., morality). They are not usually the same people.

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  17. I live in a very red town in the very red state of Texas. (I'm originally from California.) Apart from my husband, I have one other friend of the Democrat persuasion. We meet once a month for lunch to vent. Everyone here just assumes you are a Republican so they feel free to say whatever pops into their head. I was on the elliptical at my gym and a guy wanted one of the four TV screens changed to a football game. The guy in front of the one that had CNN on it said, "You can change this one. Everyone hates CNN." I was in the back of the room but I piped up and said I was watching it and they needed to change another one. When I left I thanked the trainer for not changing that TV and told him "No, not everyone hates CNN." God forbid if the one with Fox News is tampered with. That one is sacrosanct, it seems.

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    1. Keep kicking. We can get on down the road.

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    2. Guaranteed you are not the only one in this situation! That is exactly why our house sees no local news. Too much of it is shown with a red filter! Wish you lived near us. We could do some talking!! We live in the DFW area.

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  18. Dear Joanne, I applaud your efforts to help us all become of aware of the dire presence in our lives of an unfit president and a spineless Republican Congress. I wish that I got out and about as you do and so could talk with others about my views and theirs. But mostly I'm homebound. Any suggestions for what I can do to help the cause????? Peace.

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  19. Click on the link above to Jen Hoffman and her weekly email newsletter, 'Americans of Conscience'. She summarizes the weekly issues and items coming to vote in congress. She gives names, addresses and phone numbers, and even a script to use. I'd start there. It's working for the cause, from your own living room.

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  20. I went to a T-shirt place and had one made...very pink shirt, with the word 'RESIST." LOL I love my shirt. And after class at the gym, we gather in the hot tub to discuss Trump. :)

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    1. I ordered one. Smoky the Bear, raised arm and fist are the I in resist. In support of the defunded national parks. It's probably in the mailbox, which I'll probably get to tonight. I'll take a selfie!

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  21. I recently connected with an old friend on Facebook. We talked on the phone for awhile and revisited old times. It all came to a screeching halt when politics came up. She could not believe I voted for a woman who "murdered" our military men. When I asked about her proof of that, she could not provide it. She said she thinks Trump is a "great" business and will bring prosperity to our country and has done a great job so far! Once again, when I asked about his "accomplishments" she could provide no example. The only thing that comes to mind is that the supporters are simply parroting someone else's opinion and doing no research on their own. Most of them admit they either don't watch the news at all, or watch Fox exclusively. It is downright scary.

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    1. It's really hard, isn't it Kathy, to suck it in and try to turn the conversation.Yes, they're parroting. Someone quoted a "newspaper" article that called California lawmakers, and I quote, malign. That sucks my breath away. I pointed out malign means evil. Hitler was evil. The average council person is not.
      It's a long road back. Resist. Vote.

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  22. "Ignorance is our crime, as is civil irresponsibility, complacency, silence."

    Indeed it is. As a fellow dissenter, I believe getting people registered and to the polls is an important and goal. I will check out the link you provided. Thoughtful and substantial post. Too bad it is necessary.

    And, I left a response to your question on my completely irrelevant blogpost. Good to hear from you as well.

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  23. it's just such a tough line knowing when to make a comment, when not, and how to traverse the daily immoral assault on our senses. :(

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