USA: The New Banana Republic

Yes you have no Bananas but the Rest is a Match

Look up a definition of banana republic. 

Although bananas are not associated with America and it does have more than one product to export, the rest is a fit: politically unstable; exploitation by corporations; usually a large impoverished working class and a ruling class plutocracy; run by business, political, and military elites by way of the exploitation of labour.

That's a good fit and it is getting worse. Elections have been rigged for a long time - NOT the way Trump maintained, but rigged just the same in the background and it is getting worse. Just look at all the bills that Republican states are passing today - every one designed to weaken the opportunity for visible minorities to vote, and the right to replace anyone responsible for counting votes etc. at will. Reversing a Democratic wave next time will be a breeze.

It won't be the Democrats. It will be the other side. They are meticulously preparing for it. This includes one attempt already to overthrow the legally elected Biden administration. Watch out for more. When Republicans who were inside The Capital when mobs were looking for people to hang, are now trying to cover up any investigation into how it happened, something is rotten at the top and it ain't in Denmark folks!

The only reason Trump started crying foul way before the 2020 election was that he and his team realized something - not the base who are just Trump lemmings. The efforts underway to undermine the minority vote, were not working.

In 2024 America needs international monitors for its election. How about China, Russia, The Philippines, or after this week Lukashenko from Belarus?

America finally joined other nations to defeat Germany. Who will help Lady Liberty defeat those overthrowing her own country?

#thebrewsterblock

The Graduate and Ocean Pollution.

Benjamin Braddock was seduced by Mrs. Robinson and... ?

Once again readers are probably looking at today's title and wondering what I am smoking. There is a link folks. For those old enough to have seen this great movie when they were themselves about the age of Ben (Dustin Hoffman), see if you can remember. Someone else took him aside for a little talk.

Mrs. Robinson gave him the most famous "talk" and also a look at one side of women he might not have seen before. However she was helping herself as much as Ben.

I was watching a documentary on ocean pollution. They were trying to capture a seal ("Buckethead") in order to remove a plastic ring from a bucket which had become stuck around his neck. It also featured underwater shots of the terrible amount of floating plastic in the ocean. Sometimes people are the lowest creatures on the face of the planet.

Remember yet? The actor was Walter Brooke who played Mr. McGuire. I had to look this up but I remembered him saying one word. I also remembered how beautiful Katherine Ross was as a young bride.

At a graduation party where everyone was so proud of Ben (Dustin), Mr. McGuire steals him away to have a quick word. When alone he says 'I only have one word for you - you listening Ben? One word - PLASTICS.' Ben is silent and puzzled. The idea was that there would be a great future in plastics and Ben should consider a career choice in the field.

What a future. Plastic is one of the most widely used man-made substances - it is in everything. One problem - there is no viable way to get rid of it. It is ruining our oceans and our bodies. No doubt though, many Mr. McGuires have made fortunes on it and still are.

Welcome to the Industrial Revolution. Like all revolutions, something gets out of control other things are unintentionally destroyed.

#thebrewsterblock

Katherine Ross

No Masks and The Big Lie

To Tell the Truth - so Help You... YOU!

I have spent my life trying to uphold certain beliefs and principles ingrained during my formative years. One of them, fool that I am, is honesty - telling the truth. Although I still practice those behaviors, life has taught me that I have wasted my time.

Saying that honesty is the best policy is like believing: size doesn't matter; the golden rule; you should do a good turn every day; justice will prevail. Successful people for the most part rejected such tripe long before rising above their peers. Have I become a cynic? You bet your ass I have.

What you might ask, am I going on about? Re-read the title folks. The common element between Trump and co. and not wearing a COVID mask is that same illusive thing - honesty.

How? Recently America announced that wearing a mask to avoid catching or spreading Covid-19 is optional if you are fully vaccinated. Many people have pointed out that this means you are totally dependent now on people being honest about that condition - are they fully vaccinated? Proof is not required.

Biden himself stated that he has ultimate faith in the honesty of American citizens. Really? Millions of them believe that he is not the legitimate President. Why? The answer is that dozens and dozens of elected members of Congress who are Republicans and the previous POTUS himself are willing to lie through their teeth, saying that Trump won - just to keep their jobs.

Honesty? Who values it anymore other than me? I'm not so sure. In my lifetime I have learned that most people I know will lie in an instant if it suits their needs.

The most famous democracy in the world - based on the law and truth - is lead by a bunch of liars - present President and many around him excepted.

Perhaps the famous words associated with Lady Liberty herself should read: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, Your most proficient liars.”

The new GOP: Group of Prevaricators.

#thebrewsterblock

Rand Paul Eye Doctor who Fails to see the LIght

Rand Paul Eye Doctor or "I" Doctor?

I read that Rand Paul was an Ophthalmologist. Maybe he should go back to his practice.

When a dancer, athlete, skater etc. does not have what it takes to be No. 1 or get the gold medal, they often end up teaching their skill. For others, they end up becoming a politician. Which is Rand Paul?

It seems that he was so used to shining lights on everybody else that he decided it was his turn to shine the light on him. Hence he became a professional politician. He has been sounding off ever since. Top doctors in his former field make top dollars. Maybe he wasn't so "top." If on the other hand he is following in his father's footsteps, remember that Ron Paul tried three times to be President and failed. Not a good omen.

In any event he should not be criticizing Dr. Faucci over COVID any more than Faucci criticizes the former Ophthalmologist about his eye practice. I'm sure that does not happen.

Everybody in the USA who is bent out of shape about the inconvenience of this virus should look outside their own country for a change. This applies to most self-centered American issues. Those who did best with this pandemic - and it IS a pandemic Dr. Paul, took the tough decisions and steps to lock down. To hell with the "you can't make me" crowd - another American problem.

Nobody - including Faucci and Paul - has yet said conclusively that people who have had the virus or the vaccine can not transmit it to others who might not be so lucky and die from such selfishness.

Doctor's take the Hippocratic (not hypocritical) Oath. Perhaps it is confusing to some.

Doctor Faucci did not switch to being a professional politician. Thank goodness - and that's exactly what he exudes.

#thebrewsterblock

Life by the Decade

Life's Times Table

I don't know if kids learn their times tables anymore the way we did. They rely on their phones and smart devices. Our smart device was a brain. We count using a base of ten. Most computers prefer two. Regardless of the base, life happens at warp speed and is accelerating.

Can anyone else relate to the following? I'll use 10 for the older generation.

When I was ten my Mom and Dad
Seemed pretty old to me.
If I could be their age again
What would my future be?

At twenty I still shared their home
When I was not at school.
I charmed the girls or had they all
Just played me for a fool?

When thirty came I settled down
We worked hard for our money.
And life itself soon let us know
It ain't no bowl of honey.

Was forty our life's half time show?
Where was the raucous crowd?
Now I avoid most anything
That's boisterous and loud!

By fifty we had lost our Dad
I'm like his clone folks say.
Alzheimer's took him from us all
Will I go the same way?

At sixty I still thought I was
Still thirty in my heart.
But soon I had a specialist
For every body part.

Now seventy has come and gone
We miss our Mom each day.
If I could find life's reset key
I'd press it right away.

What would you do different? I can think of many things. As long as I can do that, maybe things could be worse.

#thebrewsterblock