The good, the bad, and the ugly

For better or worse

As I write this blog the first Presidential debate

looms on the horizon. A public event most

Americans dread for a variety of reasons. One

which is guaranteed to offer a televised bevy

of fireworks for Mr. Trump's ardent loyalists.

While most true blues worry about how Biden

will stand up against his aggressive onslaught.

In the end it may be much ado about nothing.

Given that most pundits are of the opinion that

the majority of us have already made our minds

up. That said the less said tends to benefit most

of us. Hence chances are somebody is going to

screw up tonight. But who?

Fact versus friction
If history repeats itself, Mr. Trump is going to

come out punching. Which means that beyond

name calling he'll spew out a plethora of false

accusations. The question is whether some of

us are dumb enough to believe it. Meanwhile

Mr. Biden will armed with truth and facts. All

to prove that his opponent's job performance

thus far has been questionable at best. Along

with commentary on recent revelations about

Donald Trump's taxes - or lack thereof. What's

uncertain is how Americans will react to said

back and forth. Ultimately it will come down

to each man himself. And who we trust.

May the best man win
As you read this you know what happened last

night. My question is did any of it lead you to

a different conclusion? Or did it simply affirm

what you already knew? Unfortunately even the

most open of individuals filters things through

preconceived notions. Hence it's doubtful that

the few who can't make up their minds came

to a decision. Said end game will not happen

until they fill out their ballot by November 3rd.

Meaning that we still have an opportunity to

guide them get to a better place. Thus whoever

you know who doesn't know needs your help.

Tell them like it is. Before it's too late...

A TAXING SITUATION

Is that all there is?

It has been said that there are two things one

can't avoid - death and taxes. Therefore most

assume the odds are against us. And that we

have no option except to pay our fair share.

Most millionaires try to avoid the inevitable.

Yet the average tax rate for the top .001% of

Americans comes in at 24.1%. Or about $400

million per annum. Whereas the President's

tax returns for fifteen years show that he paid

the I.R.S. nada for eleven. Only to the shell

out $750 in 2016 and 2017 - his first year in

office. Compared to Barack Obama's tax bill

for his first year which was $1.7 million plus. 

Fool's gold 
Oh and let's not forget that Mr. Trump also

received a $72.9 million tax refund for his

failed casino venture. Which is the reason

he has been under audit and could be liable

for one hundred million plus should the IRS

find him in the wrong. Hence if we are to

believe Mr. Trump's paper trail and signed

tax returns - he's a total business failure. So

how does he still live like Midas? Obviously

 by writing off his homes, private plane, and

even coiffures as business expenses. Along

with paying his daughter Ivanka "consulting

fees" while she collected a corporate salary. 

Naked ambition

All of which causes some to conclude that

not only does our emperor lack new togs -

he can't afford them. Or that he is so smart

that he's cheated the U.S. Treasury out of

it's fair share for decades and then some.

So how can this man of the masses - their

successful businessman icon get away with

not paying his way? By purposefully hiding

the facts. And thus allowing "we the people"

to cover his ass for decades.  Isn't it about

time that we hold him accountable? And

pay his way like normal folks? Why give

him four more years as "cheater in chief"? 

FEELING ANTI-SOCIAL?

 

Victims of circumstance
As I've often said - as a resident of Lewistown

Montana I live in a bubble. An isolated, rarified

yet rather lovely hideaway. Within said isolated

confines one's perspective can be rather warped.

The other day I saw a sign that read "Freedom

not socialism." As if some overwhelming threat

to our democracy was about to attack Fergus

County. When in fact our home turf is the last

place anybody is interested in. Except maybe

the Russians should they want to alter the course

of the nuclear armaments hidden beneath our

rolling prairies and docile cattle. So what is all

of the fuss about? Is rural Montana in peril?

From bad to worse

One of our more vocal local politicos tends to

be an alarmist. Hence anybody who disagrees

with his uber conservative stances is deemed

a "socialist".  Sadly for reasons beyond my

comprehension many friends and neighbors

share his fears. That everyone is against them.

Plotting to undo the American dream as they

know it. Their worst fear coming to fruition

in that their "normal" is abnormal. As most

of their fellow Americans live in a way that

is their polar opposite. No wonder they're so

afraid of what they see on TV. A world that

is weird, foreign, and different from theirs.

Much ado about nothing

Ignorance may be bliss. But fear mongering

does nobody any good. Recently the same

red herring made a stink about our County

Clerk's recommendation to shift to voting

via mail versus opening polling places. His

trumped up arguments based on rumor, lies,

and innuendo. But why all the fuss? Trump

garnered 73.1% of 6,082 registered voters

(79% turnout) in 2016. Could there really

be some deep state hidden agenda to skew

Fergus County's results? Or are histrionics

the preferred secret weapon of our local

conservatives? Anything but the truth huh?

7th Day Surprise: A NEW LEAF

Signs of the times...

On this the first weekend of autumn
one can't help but have a bit of wanderlust.

Thus while it still feels like summer
in much of Ameirica...

it's starting to look like fall.

COLOR  YOUR WORLD!