One Man’s Opinion
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Yeah buddy… lots of commentary action since I’ve been here I Hawaii. Interesting… very interesting. When I first stared my ‘blog,’ the term ‘blog’ didn’t even exist yet. Wow… what a forward thinker I am! Anyway, in the beginning not only did I not yet have the technical capacity to allow comments, I didn’t’ want to allow them anyway. I figured, ‘Hey, it’s my space… get your own.’ Hard facts over the years have proven to me that the only constant in this life is change and I have re-evaluated my opinion on a lot of things, and this is one of them. I have a comment section and y’all can say almost anything you like. By the way, you’re welcome. Anyway, as the comments descended into politics and social commentary, I thought I’d add my two cents worth. Hey, it’s my blog. I can say anything I want… well… almost.
Yo… we got Bernie Sanders and the Pope not only in the same comment but the same sentence. You got my attention. My wife loves the Pope. She thinks he’s a Rock Star, whatever that means. On many levels he seems more enlightened than some of his predecessors. Cool, if that’s the way you roll. I can’t tolerate dogma and I have no need for anyone on this earth to intercede on my behalf If I want to have a dialogue with G_d. Then there’s the ‘rock star’ thing. I hate that nomenclature. There are no ‘Rockstars!’ I have found a more than comfortable place in this world as a musician, storyteller and sometimes commentator. I am not a ‘Rockstar,’ and neither is anyone else.
Let’s move on… Bernie Sanders is probably a really nice guy. I have family members who think he’s the second coming of sliced bread. We try to avoid talking politics. It makes dinner more enjoyable.
Bernie is a self avowed Socialist. Sorry pal. That lets him out when I go to vote. Who am I going to vote for when the time comes? That’s none of your business. My Mom and Dad didn’t discuss that and my family doesn’t either.
A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on
the support of Paul.
George Bernard Shaw
Way to go George. I hear you brother.
Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep
voting on what to have for dinner.
–James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)
Even though Bernie’s metaphor of the American Problem being couched in the abundant selection of hygiene products in Wal-Mart and the like may be closer to the truth than we would like, I’m sure there is more to it than that.
In general, the art of government consists of taking as much
money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to
the other.
–Voltaire (1764)
By golly, there sure is nothing new under the sun, is there.
Now I see that Andriy got all fired up by Jim’s comment. Congratulations to you both. Welcome to America Andriy… as you have noted… we get to have these discussions in this country.
I am a second generation American. My Mom’ s folks came over from what was then Russia in the late 1800’s. Hey, my grandmother was sent to a Czarist Gulag… she escaped… found her brother and most of her family trampled to death by the hooves of Cossack horses. It is said that she and some of her friends committed acts of violent civil disobedience and then left Russia for America… where she and my grandfather had long and extremely interesting lives. My Dad’s folks escaped the dearth of work in Finland and went to the copper mine country of the UP in Michigan. Now… you history buffs will know there were Red Finns, Pink Finns and White Finns. Lot of cool history here… My family was not Communist or Socialist. That’s just how it was… just another American Story.
No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the
legislature is in session.
Mark Twain (1866)
Like I said… yeah buddy! Anyway… I’m not going to engage in a political dialogue with anyone. That’s like trying to teach a pig to dance. It’s frustrating for you and it pisses off the pig. I’m just spewing here. In my line of work I have many colleagues who have quite different opinions than I do and that’s more than OK. We get to do that here in America. Try that in Afghanistan or Syria. Have a nice day.
The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the
blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing
of misery.
Winston Churchill
Wow… good thing I’m still sort of on East Coast time… I’m up early with nothing to do except blather on the internet. I’ve got a couple more quotes I like that I’m going to lay on you and them I’m going to do some exploring on this magnificent island… Hawaii.
A government big enough to give you everything you want, is
strong enough to take everything you have.
Thomas Jefferson
Heads up folks. We’ve got another big election coming in 2016. It’s not even close yet and I’m already sick of political posturing. We need a hero or a heroine to rise up out of the forest. It ain’t Hillary Clinton, I can tell you that! As for politics in general… do I vote in all elections. You bet I do! As a student of American history, I find there is nothing… I said nothing, new under the sun. The bloviating, mendacity and mediocrity that surrounds the politics of all parties has been with us since time immemorial.
Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of
Congress. But then I repeat myself.
Mark Twain
OK… enough windbaggery from the old guitar picker. Well, almost enough…
Like I sort of said, I’ve had my chance to re-evaluate my opinion on a lot of things… and I’m not done yet. A quick revisiting of the Rock star thing. I know when the Jefferson Airplane hit it big I become a legend in my own mind and happily assumed the mantle of the Rock Star… which is why I know what a pile of poop it is. Sure, I know… when we’re selling merch we invoke the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee stuff… and that’s OK from my point of view. We’re working here. On the street, it’s ‘How’re you doing and how is the family?’
We’re all just folks here.
Wait a minute… another couple of good quotes popped up.
Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor
people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
Douglas Case, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University.
As you may have guessed, I’m really having a lot of fun with a really serious subject. I think that’s about it… It’s a beautiful day here on the big Island of Hawaii… I’m going to have some breakfast and hit the beach.
To my brothers and sister who read my stuff… enjoy this great day wherever you are.
I didn’t read your June 25, 2015 post until today, almost a year and half later, and the day before the election. I say, Amen, Brother! That’s as well as I’ve seen it said. @Jorma
Jorma, let us know how you really feel. 🙂 Love the quotes. Let’s leave the politics for the voting booth, and my shameless Facebook page. 😉 Yup, the past becomes our future.
Well Captain you really started a rolling blog here. Like your Hillary op.
So right, it posted twice!@John Foote
Jorma, BRILLIANT! After all the ‘legislating from the Bench’ this week, all need to be reminded what wickedness and further damage could be done to our country by Hillary Clinton. Shameful human being. Bravo, and keep up these posts/entries here!
Jorma, BRILLIANT! After all the ‘legistlating from the Bench’ this week, all need to be reminded what wickedness and further damage could be done to our country by Hillary Clinton. Shameful human being. Bravo, and keep up these posts/entries here!
These woman were very brave. I think if they were not in Russia there would be news reports on film and a documentary would be made about this amazing story.@jim hitchcock
This is a shorter version, a not well known story:
http://www.seizethesky.com/nwitches/nitewtch.html
Very interesting I will read that but books take me a long time to finish.
No documentary about those women or news reports?@jim hitchcock
Wiki night witches. They we’re a squadron of female pilots who harassed German encampments in WW2 night flights, flying obsolete biplanes that flew too slow for German aircraft to be effective against them.
@jim hitchcock
I like a program on television title “American Monsters and Mysteries”.
One program had people reporting they see witches in the sky not just on broomstick but flying around. They have reports of all kind of monsters like lake serpents, Big Foot, dogmen, and there is a Big Foot in the area where Jorma lives they call it The Grass Man.
Unvarnished would have been a better word choice in my comment. We all have our individual truths, and often times we are just full of beans 🙂
Hey, read the book if for no other reason than learning about the Night Witches. It’s a great story.
Thanks for the link and the book I will read it.
VICE is very terrific and last night was the most honest and truthful program about current problems with Cold War 2.0
I did not mean to insult any person here but it is very hard to describe how scary this is so the program did that very well. To see that program is hard to watch but then understanding will result.@jim hitchcock
Forgot to add, Vice is just plain terrific. It presents it’s stories in an honest, truthful way, unlike so much of the toned down, one sided stuff the MSM gives us.
Man, I owe Jorma a bunch of bandwidth.
Dangit! Plumb forgot!
https://dancingwithfools.wordpress.com/
Since you’ve gifted me with book rec’s, Andriy, check out The Last Citadel by David L Robbins. It’s historical fiction primarily centered on the battle of Kursk, the biggest tank battle of all time. The Ukranians portrayed in it are among the most amazing in history; Stalin, to put it mildly, was so undeserving of these heroic folk.
Jorma, we are on page 2 of comments if we fill page 2 and go to page 3 this will be a record for comments on this blog.
I don’t see a link to that.
Anyway, tonight on HBO the series “VICE” has a very interesting program about the war in Ukraine.
Title: “Cold War 2.0”
about how Russia is trying to invade not just Ukraine but also looks to invade the Baltic states and defy the NATO Alliance.
@jim hitchcock
Just for a few days, Andriy 🙂@Andriy
Hink you might get a laugh at some of these comic strips…the 4th one down illustrates where my initial innocent yet inflammatory comment came from 🙂
Oh , do not impose a self banishment on yourself. I like you and your comments are good. You have an understanding of the immigrant experience in modern day America.
All the best to Bernie (I like that we can call him Bernie).
All the best to you Jim. You are a good guy.@jim hitchcock
I can’t please every person. If you don’t hold me dear to you, that is not my fault. Peace.@Joey Hudoklin
To be fair to Bernie, he knows that he has no chance (or ambition) to gain higher office than he holds now.
He’s just out there to speak (his) version of truth to the 250 billion dollar created public personage of HRC, as well as the rest of the clown show. That is the value I see in him. He’s the Jerry Brown or maybe Ralph Nader of this kabuki theater. Would I actually vote for him? I honestly don’t know, but I don’t feel it’s intention anyway 🙂
/back to self imposed banishment for the next few days 🙂
You really have a way of endearing yourself.
So now we can only speak in the ideal language and express thoughts made from butterflies and rainbows. Other than that, there is the unrealistic expectation and feeling of personal affronts based on political beliefs?!
Oh man, please be happy and thankful that you will never go to live or even experience what it is like to live or spend time in another country, like Ukraine (not a communist country but maybe soon Putin will take it back and complete plan to make again the USSR.) You don’t know how lucky you are.
Yes I can say “Peace” and sorry apologize for writing things that upset you.
The real world is so difficult for you to understand.
Peace to you.
yes for sure it is o.k. to have different opinions. I point that out many times and only offer my opinions based on my personal experience. It is not a “generalization”. It is the way it is for every person from there.
I don’t make derogatory comments to you no matter how it seems.
This blog comments section is not a war zone. I know what a war zone really is.
@Joey Hudoklin
I was just listening to the Tuna show fro Asbury Park Conventon Hall.
7/19/75
Just a complete monster set….Greg Douglas fit in well with the band.
They hadn’t abandoned the earlier stuff just yet..nice electric versions
of “Whinin’ Boy Blues” and “Know You Rider”….but Yellow Fever jams
showed a more heavy direction they would take or the next 2 years.
This needs to be officially released.
1975-07-19
Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
Serpent Of Dreams
I Know You Rider
Hit Single #1
Trial By Fire
Easy Now
Another Man Done Gone
Great Divide: Revisited
I See The Light
Funky #7
Police Dog Blues
Sleep Song
Hamar Promenade
Free Rein
Been So Long
I’ll Be All Right Someday
Rock Me Baby
Sea Child
Living Just For You
Song For The Fire Maiden
Bar Room Crystal Ball
Invitation
I Don’t Wanna Go
Walkin’ Blues
Lineup:
Jorma Kaukonen – guitar, vox
Jack Casady – bass
Bob Steeler – drums
Greg Douglass – guitar
Support act:
Dan Folgelberg
Dude, this is not about competition, this is not you vs. anyone else. Relax, it’s OK for there to be differences of opinion. I’m sorry my words evoke a response that seems to hurt anyone personally. That is not my intention. I’m not trying to discredit your personal experiences. I have mine. You have yours. Your examples of how miserable people are in the countries mentioned is subjective. No one can speak for everyone in generalizations. And…I’m sure you’re right, I would not want to live in a communist country. So, please understand, no one is trying to discredit your opinion. And, these conversations don’t have to become a personal affront to your views. So, it isn’t necessary to make what seem to be derogatory comments at me, or anyone else based on political beliefs. This blog is not a war zone. Again, I apologize for my part in this.
Peace
I did not ask for this competition here.
I don’t defend my position without personal experience.
Some Americans live with belief and expectation not based in reality.
Good luck with that and have a nice day in your alternate universe.
The compromise for “love it or leave it” is to go just for a visit to see how life is uncompromising (a new vocabulary word for me) in Ukraine. Or another country that has been listed here above. Good luck with that and have a nice day
while you are there. Maybe you will not get arrested and maybe you will return to USA.
Try being gay people in Russia or one of those other countries. You don’t need to live there just bring your partner and try to go on one day the same as in America.
Good luck with that and maybe you will not get arrested and maybe you will return to USA.
No quick or slow changes. Nothing but no happiness, joyousness and no freedom. Accept that life maybe if you are weak but no change will come. No change is inevitable in those other countries.
Go to Russia or Ukraine to understand what real being “sad” is like. The truth whatever that is will not be there for any person.
I am happy with any Hot Tuna lineup.
It makes me sad when I hear the same old “love it or leave it” diatribe that is so uncompromising. Keep moving forward America, progressive change is happening. The truth cannot be kept hidden forever.
Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, but more and more of us will experience the happiness, joyousness, & freedom which comes from the acceptance of life, and the changes that are inevitable.
By the way…in my humble opinion, the best Hot Tuna lineup is Jack & Jorma.:-) 🙂
The events of the last two days serve notice that things are indeed progressing. The hateful response coming from the likes of judge Scalia makes it clear that some are unwilling to allow that the Constitution serves all Americans. This is the age of information. No longer can the masses be kept in the dark.
Here is a quote:
“I don’t care if there is no dishwasher in our apartment because I never had one before I wash the dishes in the sink. I don’t care if we share a 2 bedroom apartment with 2 other people because that is the way we can afford to have it.
4 people live together in small 2 bedroom apartment I have a bedroom for me because I am the only woman. I live with my son and 2 other young men under 30.
I don’t care we have no washing machine, no television, no phone no computer.
I take washing to laundry mat. My son has the iphone his only thing costs money.
The washers and dryers at laundry mat are very nice. I never had bathing suit before now I have one go to the beach for it is free. I live now in free country. I am free to live.”
quote from my mother “Dahlia” (she says it in Ukraine language mostly and I translate)
This is well said Jorma.
All I know for sure is that Bill de Blasio is the new mayor of NYC. He is a democratic socialist progressive. NYC is worse now with him and getting worse every day. The crime is going crazy. The programs he said he will put in to help the people are a mess very incomplete some not happening at all. He give up change his mind. He can’t get up on time in the morning so he is late to meetings and community events. Sometimes he does not show up until it is over.
The schools are worse. I can’t be math tutor any more because de Blasio shut down the program because he say it is not diversified enough. I was willing to teach any child no matter what color or religion.
America is the best country because I have lived in another so I can compare.
Try saying anything any person has said here in Russia. Ukraine fights every day for rights to stay free. I did not come here for social programs. I work and pay taxes. My mother is here now with me, she work and pay taxes. We don’t take welfare or food stamps.
We do jobs that others don’t want to take. We both work 6 or sometimes 7 days a week maybe 12 hours a day sometimes. We don’t have a car I walk to work a mile. My mother take the bus because she work far from home. We never had air conditioner in Ukraine and our refrigerator was small with a tiny space for ice one cube tray. We didn’t have a car there we walk every place. I could say more but it will not be about better things there.
I am happy to be here.@Jorma
Thanks for the response – I hear you. And I am grateful to have been born and to live in the US. It’s just that it breaks my heart that so many folks get left behind. And it’s my own personal observation that we’ve been undoing a lot of the progressive gains we made since the late 1800s which had been making possible for those people to be treated fairly and have a better chance at getting ahead.
I agree with most of what you say – disagree with some. Life will go on. These political debates can be endless, and maybe a blog about musical stuff isn’t the best place to have them anyway…
Now let’s move on to something totally uncontroversial, like which incarnation of HT was really the best! 😉
@Rick Ilowite
Well put.
Everyone deserves to live with dignity, and in comfort.
Even if they’re not the CEO of a huge corporate entity.
Greed is one of the seven deadly sins, and it is little by little eating away at the ideals that made this grand experiment of a country.
Sometimes it has to be reigned in.
Let me help to end this with a little levity:
“Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it’s just the opposite.”
– John Kenneth Galbraith
Oh yeah, and a footnote: As a practical matter, the next President will almost certainly nominate two, and maybe three, SCOTUS justices. So if we care about stuff like abortion rights, gender equality, voting rights, and corporate money in politics, we should be aware that if we get another couple of Alitos and Scalias, we’re likely to see a significant regression in those areas that may persist for many decades..
Hey Jorma!
Never posted on your blog before, but I think this was worth a weigh-in. I don’t get why Bernie loses your vote because he’s a “Socialist”. Socialism is just a word – and Sanders clearly does not support many of the odious things people often associate with it.
A fire department is a socialist enterprise – the reason a lot of local departments are called “fire companies” is because that’s exactly what they used to be – for profit companies. If your house caught fire and you weren’t rich enough to pay them, you were sol. Nowadays few people are unlucky enough to have a fire – but if you do it’s good to know we all paid in to support a governmental entity that provides equal firefighter service to everyone. Not sure I understand why some people think the way we pay for healthcare should be any different.
I personally believe it’s a compelling moral principle anyone in this country, citizen or not, is entitled to a basic level of sustenance that may not be opulent, but provides a basic level of dignity and security – a clean and safe place to live, nourishing food, clothing, and healthcare. So many people in this country live in abject poverty, and even a lot what’s left of the middleclass struggle day to day with a lot of fear about losing their job, providing for their kids, or how they’ll get by in retirement. And even college graduates now start off with truly insurmountable debt. Doesn’t have to be that way. We have more than enough wealth to fix all that, and the wealthy will still get to keep their toys.
I don’t buy the argument that if we do that, everyone will then just goof off. Sure, just like it is now, a small percentage will game the system – so what? That always happens. But it’s in the basic nature of people that the vast majority want to contribute and work and try to get a little further ahead. Once we lessen the feelings hopelessness and social disenfranchisement, then the neighborhood gets better for everybody – people tend to not piss on their own floor.
While we’re tossing out quotes, here’s mine from Kurt Vonnegut’s (imho best) book “God Bless You Mr. Rosewater”:
“When the United States of America, which was meant to be a Utopia for all, was less than a century old, Noah Rosewater and a few men like him demonstrated the folly of the Founding Fathers in one respect: those sadly recent ancestors had not made it the law of the Utopia that the wealth of each citizen should be limited.
This oversight was engendered by a weak-kneed sympathy for those who loved expensive things and by the feeling that the continent was so vast and valuable, and the population so thin and enterprising, that no thief, no matter how fast he stole, could more than mildly inconvenience anyone.
Noah and a few like him perceived that the continent was in fact finite, and that venal office-holders, legislators in particular, could be persuaded to toss up great hunks of it for grabs, and to toss them in such a way as to have them land where Noah and his kind were standing.
Thus did a handful of rapacious citizens come to control all that was worth controlling in America. Thus was the savage and stupid and entirely inappropriate and unnecessary and humorless American class system created. Honest, industrious, peaceful citizens were classed as bloodsuckers, if they asked to be paid a living wage. And they saw that praise was reserved henceforth for those who devised means of getting paid enormously for committing crimes against which no laws had been passed. Thus the American dream turned belly up, turned green, bobbed to the scummy surface of cupidity unlimited, filled with gas, went bang in the noonday sun.
‘E Pluribus Unum’ is surely an ironic motto to inscribe on the currency of this Utopia gone bust, for every grotesquely rich American represents property, privileges, and pleasures that have been denied the many. An even more instructive motto, in light of history made by the Noah Rosewaters, might be: Grab much too much, or you’ll get nothing at all.”
Have a great day, and Mahalo!
Yo Rick:
There’s a lot of ‘socialism’ everywhere if you look for it. That’s life in the modern world. There is no such things as a pure social systems in a real society. Communism can kiss my ass and Socialism as a pure philosophical concept is not far behind. As Paul Simon so wisely said, “A man hears what he wants to and ignores the rest.’ I get it. That’s OK. I hear people talking about entitlements. I’m not going to debate this here or anywhere else. Social Security is not an entitlement. I’ve paid into it since 1954 and the money is mine and my family’s. We could debate Medicare, but we’re not going to. They’re giving it. I’m taking it. It rocks. I’ve heard all your arguments about the wretched calumny of our horrible America dozens of times before. Wow! This is not an eye opener. That’s history. We do the best we can in the world we live in. As for workers dealing with ‘class’ problems, I’ve been a union man all my life. My family was too. People bitch about unions. How’s that working out for them. I’m glad I don’t live in a Right To Work State. speaking of class systems, you show me a civilization where there is no class system on any level in any time and I’ll warrant it’s in another universe. If you think the American Dream has turned belly up, maybe it’s time for you to find another country to live in. How about Syria or Afghanistan?
Have great injustices been done to people over the years? Of course they have. Do we try to do better? I would like to think so. The history of politics in general is filled with one venal act after another. Sometimes good things happen. Maybe not enough… probably… it’s progress not perfection.
Let’s get to Bernie. Like I said, I have family and friends who love him. Great. They’re entitled to their opinion as I am. This is America. We can say what we like for the most part. We can also disagree. Try that in the Sudan. Anyway,we need a genuinely strong man in these times more than ever. I don’t see Bernie as a strong man. I don’t mean strong of conviction. He is that. In these troubled times, when faced with the international situations that surround us, one needs to be able to negotiate from a position of strength. If you negotiate from a position of diffidence at best and weakness at worst, you might as well surrender the field.
I don’t find anyone in our political theater of any affiliation who is worthy of being President in this United States Of America. OK, call me a pessimist. I will probably find the one who is the least offensive to me and vote for them and I don’t care what party they belong to. Nothing could make me actually sit out an election. There is no such thing as throwing a vote away.
For all our faults, and we have plenty, it’s still the greatest country in the world. Those who don’t feel this way are free to leave… but they won’t. They still realize it’s the best place to live.
I am now done with this conversation.
Vellly intelllesting . . . .
I’m not what you would call a word man or a deep philosophical genius. I am really turned off by the politburo. Yet, I also feel compelled at this pre-dawn hour EST to voice yet my own opinion. We all know that opinions are like a-holes – I don’t want to hear yours . . . yet the airing of opinions as in the airing of gas allows for the interesting odoriferous mix of ideas which is how mankind advances even in retreat.
I personally was raised with ‘rockstars’ as my idols
out here on the perimeter
there are no stars
out here we is stoned
immaculate
Don’t trust anyone over 30 . . .
What a year it was as I turned 30 years old, and I was to give up all of my toys . . .
My respect for authority and the politics of the day were shaped by the outlaws that came before me. I am very fortunate to be a free man and alive today, which seems to be the general flavor surrounding this discussion. As previously mentioned, even with this country’s glaring faults, so far, we are still able to air these opinions and live as free men. There does seem to be a change in that odor of freedom as dictated by what seems to be the formation of the New World Order. God help us all.
And yet, as Jorma has pointed out, we all are just human beings that put our britches on one leg at a time like all the rest. Truly, the important matters are family, friends and the greatest of these is Love.
Also, as the Cap’n has alluded, my opinions and ideologies have changed drastically over the years. I suppose, it’s due to finally clearing my mind of old ideas, mind and mood altering substances, those very things I once worshipped, that always seemed to yield results of chaos and calamity.
Maturity. What a concept.
I will not even attempt to join the discussions of the political or religious views expressed by the other opinions displayed here other than to say that the original founding fathers of this great nation must be screaming for another revolt against the politics of today and a return to the guidance of the God they professed. It worked then, why not now.
Today, I will do my best to:
Pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
As the greatest social architect of the 20th century once said, ‘I thank you all for your lives.’
Peace and Love Fur All
mutt
Thank you for this, I learned a few things. A government big enough to give you everything you want, is
strong enough to take everything you have.
Thomas Jefferson
This is so true- and we are lucky to live in USA where we can have discussions.
Jorma enriched my mind..thanks!
This is a funny idea and probably the job Jorma would never want.
Bernie was an independent and is now a democrat. That’s how it goes in politics.
Vermont is a small state very nice place more like Norway and Finland.
Being the leader of America is a big job for a big country.
Jorma for President!
@Art
Thank you for clarifying that perceived label moniker.
Adding the word “Democratic” (which is exactly how Bernie describes himself) changes the meaning dramatically.
Do you still have those “Jorma for President” bumper stickers at the FPR store?
Thanks for this ramble, I couldn’t agree with you more. The political climate for the upcoming 2016 national election is coming on hot and heavy and the matter of opinion of one….highly devissive contentions become the order of discussion between people. I like your position on religious supposition and how one has the ability to address their concerns directly as opposed to making it a topic of discussion for a soap box. And it is with both politics and religion that your “Teaching A Pig To Dance” analogy really makes sense. I had high hopes for Obama in the 2008 elections, however, what he said to cultivate his support and what his actions actually accomplished were diametrically opposed, completely opposite. We do need a person who can lead, be trusted in doing what he says, and most importantly be a person of integrity. But ‘Nuff said. Society needs to pull together instead of pulling itself apart at he seams. Thanks Jorma for your wisdom and thoughts.
I believe you said it best one morning after breakfast at FPR, “if you dont like the results there will always be another election”
Jorma
Glad you got to Mauna Kea. The US has a terrific history of supporting science. I hope that continues.
I will take the risk of endorsing an individual for POTUS — his name — Jorma Kauknonen. Yes, that’s right. ‘Bout time we had a fingerpicker runnin’ things!
I see Bernie Sanders was calling for a “revolution” so I wondered if his campaign song might be a certain familiar JA number, but turns out that Neil Young has given him permission to use “Rockin’ in the Free World” after Young earlier refused to let Donald Trump have it.
I have no intention of endorsing any political candidates in this space. But I should say that It woud not be correct to think of Bernie Sanders as a “socialist” in a way that implies that he favors Cuban-style government and economy. He is more accurately called a “democractic socialist,” meaning that he favors the kinds of social programs found in places like Norway and Finland.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/magazine/21Sanders.t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
amen brother!
No apology need to me either. In America is possible to disagree about things with no harm done. I still like you.
I know about the Pope encyclical. He is a good Pope because he lives as a simple life not fancy. But most people who have air conditioning are not going to give it up. Is o.k. to use energy-saver setting and set temperature up a few degrees to 70 and save.
The infrastructure can not be fixed without using energy. Here in New York there is new bridge being built to replace old Tappan Zee bridge. Using big machinery runs on energy sources. I see the highways being fixed here but some people complain it is not fast for them to take alternate roads.
I still suggest read the book “A Farewell to Alms: A Brief Economic History of the World”.@jim hitchcock
I might not agree with your politics but I’m cool with it. Living in Iowa, the First Caucus State, I’ve had to develop a lot of tolerance and acceptance. It ain’t easy being a Lefty in these parts.
Hey Nick, fight the good fight… always… I have lefty friends in Iowa… you’re in goo company!
Hey Jorma –
I enjoyed reading this. You have a great perspective. Got a good laugh from “That’s like trying to teach a pig to dance. It’s frustrating for you and it pisses off the pig.” Ha!
Thanks for coming back to Maui and giving us another great show! Have a great time on Maui Jorma, best place on earth.
Peace
– (the other) Jorma
Little known fact…Bob Steeler came from a long line of Whigs.
And I misspelled environment. I’m doomed.
Fwiw, I used the term rock star as an anology…in a somewhat comical way. I am not a follower of dogma, but I liked that that the future of this wonderful planet has a lot to do with how we treat our envirobment, and was impressed that it was an important part of an encyclical, something I’ve never much had much truck with. That’s all I meant.
Apologies, Jorma, sincerely, I will never go this route again. Also to Andriy, it felt like you misunderstood my feelings about this, is all. Fair to say this isn’t the first or last time I will engender this response. Oh, well, I continue to live and learn 😉
Jim… no apologies necessary… we’re good to go.
The Irish people will only be free, when they own everything from the plough to the stars
James Connolly
“The man with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.”-Samuel Clemens
I prefer George Carlin and Groucho @ Bob b
Bernie sounds interesting to me now. @ Jorma
Peace
Love All Ways
A lady asked Dr. Benjamin Franklin, “Well Doctor what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” The Doctor replied, “A republic, madam – if you can keep it.” (1787)
Like many others I follow current events and compare them to our human history. A reliable retreat and a healthy escape has always been my love of music. The more ugliness I see, the more my soul thirst for some great tunes. Jorma and friends have kindly satisfied that craving for many moons. Thanks for that Capt. Hope to see you back in NJ soon.
“I never wanted to join a club that would have me as a member.” – Woody Allen
Hey Bob… I think that’s a Groucho Marx thing… Woody might have said it, but it would have been a quote.
I liked your reference to Thomas the Tank Engine. My son’s favorite back in the day. Did you ever get to play with “Mr. Conductor” aka RINGO STAR?
I never understood why a person would declare themselves a Republican, a Democrat or any political party, unless it meant a job promise. I understand that, but would hope not to sell out to that thinking.
My friend is in East Hampton and I call her to say look at this Jorma blog.
She say: “Andriy I don’t care I am helping to move everything inside because the thunderstorms are coming soon and the rain falls on everyone rich and all others.
So don’t go outside take cover eat some dumplings until the storms pass. There is also a tornado alert. Even Dorothy got caught in a tornado decades ago and ended up in Oz. The Wizard of Oz was a faker he was just an ordinary man.”
What a country…The old Jewish mother-in-law of ours told me this morning that I must read this, and that you sounded just like me (LOL)…well, you ARE sounding just like me (great minds do think alike!) a true “middle of the road extremist”!!!
I Love it, my brother…
Good stuff. I’m so happy to be alive.
Enjoy the rest of your trip Jorma.
I agree with Jorma because it is best not to comment about religion or politics.
If both in the same comment then a debate will follow.
I write about from my own personal experience. America is great and nobody I know tried to get visa to go living in Greece or France socialist countries and now not so good for the economy and people there.
If being a rock star Pope is because many love him then yes the new Pope is a good Pope. No matter what every Pope gets the large groups of people from all over this world and they go to him wherever he is and in Vatican City they are there in big crowd like a rock concert.
I also do not like to vote for a self-described Socialist. Sorry Bernie.
Hillary Clinton is for sure not on my good list.
For my family history is of immigrant to America I also think the same as Jorma for thinking about his family history.
Thank you Jorma for allow us to have a debate here.
I did not introduce the topic only reply to the comment.
My comment would be as today Jorma is in Maui having a nice time but it is still work for him.
I am in Brooklyn working and happy for being here. My topic for comment is weather.
The weather is cloudy and hot with humid because the thunderstorm will be here in next hours. Is 90 degrees.
Jorma great insights enjoy your trip
Im off to Santa Clara
FARE THEE WELL
BE GOOD
MARK M
Jorma, love your political musings—-just the right blend of sincerity and irreverence in the good ‘ol U.S. of A.
Pigs can’t fly?
Day-um!