#and 3/4 of those are known for being VERY very thorough and and complex. AK and MD are also VERY long-winded

[llycaons]

I'm willing to admit that I may not be in the most forgiving reading mindspace for YA fantasy right now considering what I've just finished

[groovyeggdeputyscissors-blog]

Now that I have your attention: About ten days ago I accidentally stumbled upon a lengthy comment within a Facebook piece posted by my grandson’s partner. The gist of the comment was that Boomers were the cause of the problems in this country, and, basically, we’d all be dead soon, and things would get better.

I went nuts inside. I refuse to “get into it” with anyone on social media, so, with no way to vent, my anger level just kept increasing to an almost unbearable level, further bolstered by a Robert Reich video, which talked about how millennials felt about Boomers. I actually posted this video on my own FB Timeline because I thought the point made about needing a strong, third political party in this country, was important. But, the anger continued right through this morning, the day I need to post this piece, and nothing’s been written.

My first gut reaction, when I initially read the FB comment, was off the charts rambling anger:

Dear  Millennials; Get educated, read history, stop profiling, you’re as bad as everyone else. What have you Millennials ever done, anyway? “March for Our Lives” isn’t you, it was created by a younger, Generation Z. Your time has passed.  Where was your outrage, where were your actions, when Sandy Hook happened in 2012? Why haven’t you been protesting and marching while cops have been shooting unarmed black men and boys dead in the streets for the past ten years? 60 dead in Vegas wasn’t enough? There were 39,000 gun related deaths in the U.S. in 2017; why wasn’t that enough to get you involved? Until very recently, you, like Generation X (yes, your parents) before you, have been conspicuous by your absence, with little apparent involvement, or caring, about any of the human rights and social issues facing this country. Why is it 41% of white Millennials who voted, voted for Trump, or did you even know that? That compares to 52% of Boomers, not a huge spread. Talk to me after you’ve been beaten, gassed, or locked up, for protesting against an immoral war, against racial discrimination, for civil rights, and for women’s equal rights, as we did for almost a decade.

I even randomly pulled some Trump rally pics—Yup, see some Boomers…

  But I also see a whole lot of Generation X and Millennial people.

My ranting thoughts and emotions continued until I read a piece about this past weekend’s March for Our Lives, calling it the largest mass protest since the Viet Nam era. That’s when I realized that the same Facebook comment that set me off ten days ago, could just as easily have been made by me, about the previous generation, if social media had existed 50 years ago. In the 60’s I had the same attitude toward previous generations as that Millennial, who made the comment on Facebook, has about Boomers.

March for Our Lives, Washington, DC, 2018

  Viet Nam Protest March, Washington, DC, 1969

  Our only chance: Stop profiling. Stop dividing. Attack the real problems in this country

A lesson that I, and many of my generation, learned the hard way: Don’t assume that everyone in your generation is the same. When you are surrounded by like-minded people, whether in small groups, or marches of several hundred thousand, it becomes easy to fall into the trap, and believe: “My generation, we’re all the same.” Millennials, if you’re on campus, liberal— and you naturally surround yourself with similar people, remember: There are many others in your generation who think, and act, totally differently.  I came from a generation known for artistic Rennaissance, protests, and fighting for social change. When I see that 5 out of  10 of those Boomers who voted, cast their ballots for Trump in 2016, I realize that a whole of more of my generation either didn’t care about, or were against, the fights to end Viet Nam, stop discrimination, legislate civil rights, or institute women’s equal rights.

Millennials, 4 out of 10 of your voter generation isn’t on board with your agenda, either, or they wouldn’t have voted for Trump. Of course, figures only reflect those who actually voted; I don’t know what percentage of either generation picked up their marbles and went home after the rotten Hillary and DNC machines  eliminated Bernie Sanders.

If there is ever going to be any meaningful change in this country, like-minded people need, more than ever, to unite across all generations, races, genders, ethnic backgrounds, and issues. The more divided we are as a people, the better it is for the opposition. They count on us being divided.

We need, now more than ever, to be better educated, to realize that each and every problem this country faces is related, based on a Predatory Capitalist system. This is nothing new. Google, and read about, Smedley Butler, the World War I Marine Major General who, when he died, ridiculed and discredited, in 1940, was the most decorated Marine in U.S. History. He’s worth studying. Read War is a Racket which he wrote in 1935, clearly detailing how wars are paid for by taxpayers, paid with human lives, while major corporations reap enormous profits. Read about Wall Street’s attempted coup on Washington in reaction to Roosevelt’s changes in the banking system, and social changes with The New Deal. Smedley Butler was approached to march 500,000 troops, The American Liberty League, into Washington to seize control of the government. Smedley exposed the plot. The McCormick-Dickstein Committee verified the planned coup, troop camps around DC were broken down, and no one was prosecuted (it’s all on Congressional record). When you read the names of the people behind The American Liberty League, you’ll recognize many family names that were also behind the 2008 housing crisis, and worst economic times since the Great Depression.

Hit Google, and check out Dwight D. Eisenhower’s farewell speech, where he clearly warns about the power and control the Military Industrial Complex has over this country. Check YouTube and search:  President Jimmy Carter’s “Final Warning” speech. Stream or rent Michael Moore’s Capitalism, a Love Story, and SICKO. The problems we face in America are systemic, not generational. Rampant Opioid addiction, medical and drug costs (Pharmaceuticals), war, guns, healthcare, banking, fossil fuel energy: They’re all related. They’re all part of a broken system the Oligarchy controls, virtually rendering our government, as it was initially created, useless, or dangerous to it’s people— take your pick.

Once we realize and fully accept that the United States, as a nation, is an Oligarchy, not a Democracy, we’ll finally realize who the true enemies are, and know not to expect meaningful change from within our current system of government.

Until we understand that racial, ethnic, religious, sex and yes, generational divisions among us are not only beneficial to the ruling Oligarchy, but encouraged and fueled by it, then we will continue to be weak. It is in the Oligarchy’s best interest that we are an uneducated society that can easily be swayed by propaganda and slight-of-hand diversions. Today, Trump is the slight of hand, diverting our attention away from a runaway Congress who is taking more away from the people every day. Social Security and Medicare are next. And, while Trump diverts everyone’s attention away from legislation that’s being created in Congress, and while Congress convinces most of the country that the problem is that there will be no money for Social Security, no one will address the real issue: Social Security is a Trust, separate from the U.S. Government budget, funded by workers’ money. Congress won’t answer for the 26 TRILLION DOLLARS they have taken, and not paid back, from this fund over the years. I can almost guarantee that the 26 trillion will not be included in the figures GOP Congressional leaders project as proof of future lack of funding for Social Security.

There is enough wealth in this country to provide universal health care to every citizen, educate our young through college, provide a living wage to all working Americans, and still have corporations make decent profits. Do you think the ruling Oligarchy is going to give up one dime, give up one bit of wealth, control, and power to allow any of that to happen? Congress is working now to privatize student loans—that can’t turn out well for college grads; how many more average years will they be in debt after banks take over the program?

The propaganda machine is already at work on  March for our Lives in DC this past weekend. Initially, it was estimated that, nationwide, 1.2 million people marched, and according to march organizers, up to 800,000 marched in Washington. Digital Design & Imaging Service has estimated the Washington DC crowd to be just 200,000, which is being reported by mass media. I know it’s not scientific, but I’ve spent time at N.E. Patriots games in Foxboro with around 62,000 people and to me, from the footage I’ve seen, there were a lot more than 4 times that many people in DC.

I’m willing to bet that a couple of crumbs will be thrown to the peasants because of the outcry over mass killings in this county; bump stocks will probably be banned, background checks may become a little more thorough, and the age to buy weapons may move to 21. But, AR-15’s and AK-47’s will still be sold. The problem won’t go away, but weak legislation will quiet part of the outcry, anyway, and another part of the Oligarchy will have been protected.

When November of this year rolls around, I’m pretty sure that Democrats will obtain a majority in the House, and that 3/4’s of the 12 Senate seats will go to Democrats, because complacency won’t occur with voters in these elections. Non Republicans won’t sit home, they will turn out at the polls in huge numbers, and will vote for any Democrat, in lieu of an opposing GOP candidate. And, when the next Presidential election is held, I envision a Democrat, any Democrat running against Trump, to be voted into office. The trouble is, I don’t see anything changing. I think there have been 12 Presidents in my lifetime. As administrations and Congresses have come and gone, I have witnessed more and more taken from the people, and passed to the Oligarchy, regardless of whether the President was a Democrat or Republican, or whether Democrats or Republicans maintained a majority in Congress. The standard of living for the people this country has continued to decline, as has hope for a better future for upcoming generations. Too few control too much, including politicians, for things to ever turn in the right direction for our people under the current system.

The only hope I see is for a strong, third party to develop in this country. Bernie was close, but a Democrat, so he was destroyed by the Hillary/DNC machine. We need a third party candidate, and candidates, who can make it with grass routes support of the people, and without the help of Wall Street giants who currently influence and control the direction in which our country goes on any issues, at any given time. But, we, the opposition to the Oligarchy, have to be united for any real change to occur. We have to unite on all the issues, not just pick the one that directly affects us, because all of the issues are related. Maybe it will be Generation Z who will lead the charge and fight the good fight. But, it will take the unified support of everyone who realizes the injustices and wrongs in this country, yes, even Boomers—more than you think—for them to succeed.

                    OK Millennials, you suck too… Now that I have your attention: About ten days ago I accidentally stumbled upon a lengthy comment within a Facebook piece posted by my grandson's partner.