The Fascist Republic of Texas

If there ever becomes a Republic of Texas it will be ruled like a fascist dictator would rule, with media control especially prominent.
But, for now, a federal judge in Austin blocked Texas' social media censorship law, which prohibits large social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter from censoring users "based on their political viewpoints." The law, known as House Bill 20, was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on Sept. 9 and set to take effect Thursday.
I cant help but expect the possibility that 2022 is going to be a very dangerous year around November.   https://www.twobitsmedia.us/greg-abbott.html

The Second Amendment and Young Girls

  December 2, 2021: https://www.twobitsmedia.us/

   Second Amendment is powerful enough in this country now that I dont think it matters how many school children have to die before the far right pays attention. In the Michigan school shooting authorities are looking at charging the parents also.
     I think, when it involves a school or school age kids that the parents should always be charged. I guarantee that after a few parents are charged that theres a lot of adults with kids that will start making sure their kids cant get their guns and teach the will teach them a little common sense.  Granted, that will not stop all shootings..but will slow it down and possibly curb school shootings altogether.
If we continue the trend we have now, there will be another school shooting by January or February. Four school kids aged 14-17 died in the Michigan shooting. The 15 year old shooter had a gun his dad just bought. The kid posted a picture of himself with the gun on Instagram and posted threats online the night before. Social media has been a detrimental force in society in everything from politics, pandemics and shootings and even basic academics on some things.
    
     There's a new trend on youtube where people who have never heard of older songs, listen and react to them live on video. As a long time music fan and even dealer, I watch them off and on to see how they react to certain songs and how they interpret them. Sometimes they are rather comical, but then again, most of these people are pretty young and havent had a big dose of 60s 70s or 80s music...even a lot of 90s music.
Last night I saw a react to a song by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap called "Young Girl." Now I have heard that song many times on oldies radio and even had the LP once. But I guess I wasnt paying close attention to the lyrics. The song is actually about an adult male who loves an under age girl and knows it is wrong and is asking the "young girl" to "get out of my mind."
I cant imagine someone recording that today without major controversy, but it kind slipped by the morality police in the 60s. I might have just been out of the loop on that one. I did find this article where Puckett addresses the song: Gary Puckett chats about singing ‘Young Girl’ in the age of #metoo

America is Not Christian by foundation

In Christendom, conservative humanism is no better than a liberal humanism. It's the humanism that is wrong not merely the political coloration. The First Amendment was enacted that there would be no united church of the 13 colonies and that the state would never interfere with religion. The concept of the "separation of church and state" was to keep the state out of your religion. It did not, however, forbid, religious people from being involved in government.

What is not there (and never was) is an invite for people who call themselves Christian (or any other religion) to take over the state. The Bible makes no case for that either. Even the late theologian Francis Schaffer stated "there is no place this side of the New Testament for a theocracy...there should be no theocracy til the King comes back."

Too many Christians over the span of the last few decades have bought the idea that America is Christian by foundation and gives them license to push theocratic Christianity. Today this is more commonly known in todays vernacular as Christian Nationalism. CN's claim to do it in the name of freedom of religion and "for God," but it is truly fascist and tyrannical at its very nature. ....and would likely be worse as it attempts to implement.

"Religion" per the Constitution, does not give Christianity any special designation. CNs, however, view themselves as the only protected religion and cite books or ill informed blogs or pastors that say that since America was founded as a Christian nation that only Christian religions should be protected. That idea gives them license to hate anyone from any other religion and often race.

Democracy, however, and the Constitutional protections naturally works against that notion. Pushing back against the tyrannical efforts of Christendom, Athiests and even Satanists in recent years have declared themselves religions. I am not endorsing their world view but it is tyrannical efforts by Christian themselves that created that dilemma. What they are doing now could cause unimaginable harm as the events of Jan 6 testify to.

Jesus referred to Christians as the salt of the earth. When salt is mixed with water, the salt dissolves because the covalent bonds of water are stronger than the ionic bonds in the salt molecules. So diluted Christianity eventually destroys itself. As Jesus pointed out "but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

Christianity and the freedom thereof only works through Jesus Christ. There is no substitute for it.

A Cherry-picked Bible verse on top of a nutty "I Screamed."

 

Ive noticed a lot of folks on social media who claim both Christianity and Nationalism love to put out the most absurd nonsense and even QAnonsense and then follow it up by posting a Bible verse. Marco Rubio is one of the most notorious ones that do it. Ted Cruz does it.

Before Cruz went off the rail for The former guy he often touted his Christian convictions. But not having any real moral convictions anymore he seems to scream out crazy stuff with a Bible verse on top. Its like an absurd scoop of ice cream with a cherry picked random Bible verse: A cherry-picked Bible verse on top of his nutty "I Screamed."

In my life as a Christian I know very well that there were times (too many times) I did something stupid then tried to justify with a Bible verse but I also know, from experience, that doing that is not a road to maturity by any means....and has no good end.

As a non Christian I self justified stupid stuff by lying about it (wasn't me") or denying I did it...all designed to make me appear better then I knew I was. I think thats why these people like Cruz and Rubio do it:

they know better and throwing out the Cherry picked Bible verse to cover the "I screamed" stuff helps them comfort their guilt.

It is also a hallmark of Trump Evangelicals. They post the most absurd stuff and then throw out a post and a Bible Verse about how God is prolife. It doesnt help their absurdities by any means. But, I suspect it maybe it helps them sleep at night believing that God is so proud of them for standing up for the "prolife" cause while pushing lies simultaneously

US Economic System is based on faith

 If there's a revolution in the U.S. say hello to a great depression.

Our economic system is based on faith in the system, if that's gone, it all collapses. Any Wall street investor with even a minimal amount of sense will tell you that.

Those uneducated folks pushing to continue the insurrection started when the former guy started rambling about how he would only lose if the election was corrupt dont realize where an insurrection ends up.

Destablizing the election process for 2022 could begin the self destruction of the economy as we know it.

Border Crisis?

 As a "conservative" I have long held that there is a major problem at the border that does need to be dealt with. And, truthfully, there is, though probably not as bad as Fox News is reporting.

On this issue, however, I am surrendering my "conservative" credentials on this issue. I have other "changed" issues, but on this one I had a "duh" moment this week listening to VP Harris from Guatemala. My philosophy has always been that if you want to permanently deal with a problem you have to attack it at its root. So what I see is year after year candidates --especially GOP --say "Vote for Me" I will help fix the border problem. The number of officials who did is "0." Trumps "wall" did nothing and I have no reason to believe it would have even if it were completed. Security needs to remain there because of the drug cartel and trafficking issues.

I think Biden/Harris are on the right track. If not, it sure seems like the right one and worth a try. To me...I view the relationship between the Mexico President and Trump was suspect. The first thing that makes it suspicious to me is that they liked each other in spite of the way Trump degraded the Mexican people. Obrador, if you know much about him, is likely a thug similar to Trump.

Anyway, back on topic, I think the Biden/Harris approach makes sense. Deal with the root and it may make that problem go away...or minimize it. It will never end 100% but I think letting their actions play out could be beneficial for all involved. IMHO

Boulder Strong

 

Back when I lived in Aurora, Colorado one of my favorite places to "hang out" was in Boulder. It was largely a university town. I was in my 30s. It was a bit different from other areas. I always thought if Mork was real he probably really would have fit right in there. But it had a friendly atmosphere. I shopped at a lot of King Soopers store across the front range. The shooting there was tragic but I could see Boulder-ites rallying together. The shooter bought the gun about 6 days before the incident. Closing the loopholes in back ground checks makes sense..in spite of what Ted Cruz wants to bloviate about.

Words are an extremely powerful force

 

Words are an extremely powerful force. The Bible goes so far as to say that "death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." (Prov 18:21).

People like Donald Trump dont understand this. But his election lie lead to Jan 6 insurrection (and deaths) and his words about "China Virus" has lead to attacks on Asian Americans.

WE have a couple choices:

1) There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,

2)but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Prov 12:18).

Anger makes the first choice tempting, but #2 is the better route.

Dr Suess Estate Pulled Dr Suess Books.....NOT a government ban

 

I was not necessarily on board with the idea of banning any of the Dr Suess books. (I mean, in a world where I can buy a new copy of Mein Kampf, but not Dr Suess, is kind of odd). BUT, after looking closer at what happened, it was not a government intervention or anything, it was a decision made by the company that owns the rights to the books. So I dont think I would have done it...(although I am not in a habit of reading Dr Suess so I have no pressing opinion either way)....but it is important to underscore that Last year, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, decided that it would cease publication of six different Dr. Seuss books, including the following.

And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street

If I Ran the Zoo

McElligot’s Pool

On Beyond Zebra!

Scrambled Eggs Super!

The Cat’s Quizzer

I support their right to do whatever they want with the books they own all rights to. Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, published over 60 children's books over the course of his career..1931 to 1990 (the year he died).

The Failing GOP

 

Because of Trump, Republicanism seems to becoming a minority party. With what little power they can muster they are trying to combat that by changing voting rules throughout the USA and bend them in their favor. They have become so corrupt. There are some with integrity but they are becoming the minority in the minority.

In the Congressional hearings this week:

The Republicans seem to only want to deflect away from Jan 6 to every other riot that happened last year.  And was Josh Hawley fishing to find out whether the FBI has anything on him?

CPAC Trump railed against cancel culture, while naming Republicans he plans to cancel.