I AM HAVING A HARD TIME RECONCILING WHAT I HEAR WITH WHAT I SEE

According to Trump, the economy stinks. It is rigged (for people like him). It is not what the Obama administration promised. Again, according to Trump, the unemployment rate is 10 percent, maybe 20 percent and he even heard up 42%. We know he is nuts but the people are starting to believe this crap. It comes down to an old joke where a wife comes home and finds her husband in bed with another woman, as he steps away from the bed he asks, “Are you going to believe me or are you going to believe your eyes?”

In this case, the economy, I am opting for what I see. Not what I am hearing. Yes, you can make the argument that there are people hurting, there are always people hurting. The reasons are not always of their own making, but many are because they won’t “flip burgers.” There are so many people who are under qualified and won’t take the job that is there – hence migrant workers, braceros on the street looking for manual labor, handymen and women without green cards. They get jobs.

If Trump deports the 11 million “illegals” I am confident that the people who are out of work, will still be looking for a job. That is not the answer.

So, if this economy is so bad why are the 38 million people going on a trip this Memorial Day weekend? Why are the security lines so long at the airport? People without money don’t travel. The planes are full. They don’t go Disney Land or World. They don’t go camping. They don’t spend billions at the movie box office. This is not the top 10% is the “middle class” that is being destroyed in s systematic way by the Right. They, the Right, are trying hard but 20 million more people are enjoying health insurance for the first time in spite of the Right.

Is the economy a state of mind or is it really bad? Make your own analysis.  Next time that you are stopped at a traffic light look at the ten cars around you? (Remember, many of the foreign brands are built on the US by us). How many cars are three years old or younger? I will bet that you will be astonished at what you see. I had a guy tell me yes, but they are all leased and the payments are lower. There are two things wrong with that argument: 1. There are still payments to be made 2. The lessee needs a better credit score to lease than to buy. You get a better score by paying your bills.

Trump and others tell you how bad it is so often you almost have to believe it. Believe nothing of what you hear and half of what you see. Maybe then you won’t let the politicians on the left and right depress you.

Go to a major league ball park and see how many people, not in the 10%, are there. With their kids, buying six dollar water (I have written about this), wearing logo shirts and having fun. They are the working class that the pundits says are angry. Really! Angry? May be pissed at $15 parking, but angry they are not.

I often hear that college kids that are graduating can’t get jobs. True, they can’t get the jobs that pay what they are expecting. I am not saying we don’t have problems within the economy, but we are better prepared to deal with them. We must not let the Right increase interest rates on student loans or prevent them from adjusting them as the economy may dictate. We, the people, are aware of the solutions but look at who are stepping in front of the way to solve the problems. There is the Tea Party, the ultra-right, our right wing congress members who won’t raise the minimum wage but give themselves enormous raises to do nothing and they appear to do nothing quite well. They have created the appearance of a negative economy so they can install their solutions – privatize it.

Take the TSA for example. They, the right (they are in control of Congress) cut the TSA budget. So, we get longer lines and poorer security. What did they suggest? Yep, privatize it.

The US Postal Service is doing well, well enough to drop the rate of a first class stamp. No one is going “postal” these days. That is killing the right that imposed major financial regulations that required the USPS to prefund all pensions. So, even with one hand tied behind their back,  to the Right’s chagrin, there is no need to privatize.

Social Security is not broke, it could be better if the cap was lifted. The Right and some lefties, won’t do that either. The Social Security program is one of insurance not investment. Since its inception, not one Social Security check has ever bounced or been missed.

Will Hillary, Bernie or the Donald fix any of that? For sure, the Donald won’t. Our best bet is with someone from the left. That is for you to decide, but they and us, feel that America is great now, but it could be greater. Listen to the issues not the propaganda.

What makes America great is the fact that I can write this blog, you can read it,  and you can agree or not agree.

I want a leader to lead us, not a conniving business man with a record of distortion, a record of deceit. Not someone with a record of cheering for our misfortunes so he can make a larger fortune. Not a bully that wants to dominate other world leaders. That is a recipe for disaster and Trump, using that word to describe everything but his ideas, will be the largest, and biggest creator of disasters. They will be “huuuuge.”

I just drove down a major thoroughfare here in the San Fernando Valley. There are several large “Now Hiring” signs displayed. Go the mall and see the “Hiring Now” signs in the windows. Need a job, you can get a job. Don’t blame the other guy for your situation. Take charge of yourself and change it. The guy with the different color skin is not causing your problem, you are.

That is my take, you decide

 

THE MIRACLE OF THE GANGES

I just came back from two and one half weeks in the heart of India. As someone pointed out India is an acronym for I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN! Wrong, it is a country and culture that one trip just won’t cut it. It is a very large country (with just one time zone) allowing for many religions and varied cultures all in one large place. All are welcome. (Deal with that Trump!)

One of my fellow travelerseloquently journalizied what we learned and experienced over the 17 days we were there. This blog is about just one aspect of the adventure – the waters of the Ganges River.

Here are some “facts” related to the Ganges that were told to me by people who either did not know, never been there, never read anything about the river or wanted to let me know that based on their knowledge, I was crazy to go there. I am so glad that I did not listen to them.

Yes, the Ganges is quite crowded during the day as Indians bathe in the Ganges. Others are washer people doing laundry in the Ganges. No, I did not inquire as to whether that is where my hotel got their laundry done. Others are steeped in prayer, kids are diving in and women are bathing in their saris.

In the spring, the Ganges water level is quite low. When the monsoon season hits the Ganges will rise up to 30 feet above the current level of the water. The Ganges is actually wider than what it appears because of the sandbar that the low water level exposes that makes the opposite shore look closer.

The water Is not a pretty color. However, the water comes from the Himalayas and some say it is clean. I saw the people who bathed in it also drank it. Not for me. BUT, I had to put my feet in the water just to report that I did get some experience in the Ganges.

The night before we visited the Ganges and saw funeral pyres along the Ganges River. I did not see any bodies floating by as I was told I would by some back home. I did see bones that did not incinerate in the funeral fire being thrown into the Ganges. In one crematorium I counted 11 pyres going and more being built. It is  a three hour burn. The families attend the cremations.

Further down (or up) river there were daily religious ceremonies being performed with 30 to 40 thousand people in attendance. About half of the people were in boats as we were. The boats were jammed in together – most full to capacity and many were way over capacity. It was a beautiful ceremony with fire, lights, bells and chanting. It was enchanting.

As we sailed back to our departure point, the sky was dark and the river was dark save for the lights on shore which went out as we were approaching our “docking” point. We navigated by the lights in our smart phone. Imagine Holland America announcing all hand on deck and light your iPhones, we are at the next port of call!

We safely navigated our way off the boat, up the stairs and down the crowded dark streets to our coach.  Everyone made it back safely and when we took a count, we found a cow also joined our group. Not really, but it was possible.

The next day it was back to the Ganges for a ride back to where we experienced the pyres and the religious ceremonies to experience the Ganges in the daylight. I had just spoken with a lady friend back home. She is a Registered Nurse and asked about the Ganges experience. When I told here we would be back to Ganges she instructed me to obtain Ganges water to bring home. I said,”OK!” When I mentioned this to our trip leader he said some people think that Ganges water can cure you of ailments. Hmmm. How would Gina know that? He also told me that they sell containers to take Ganges water back. (Not in my carry on bag!)

As you float in your man powered boat other boats , like floating souvenir shops come by and they sell everything including little brass containers which they will fill with about an ounce of Ganges water for you. Problem solved. I will carry it on.

If the water will cure ailments I figured I will dip my legs in it. My knee has been hurting, so why not? The water did feel good, but my knee still hurt. Along the shore area there were Hindi priests painting faces, chanting prayers, tying strings on your wrist.  Once again, why not? I did all that and my knee still hurt! But, I had my Ganges water to take home.

A few days later and a 13500 mile flight, I was home. I actually forgeot about the two little Ganges brass bottles until I got to the bottom of my tchochke bag. When Gina came by I gave her the bracelet, the necklace and the blouse I got for her and one of the brass containers. With the Ganges water.

After dinner last night she said, “I have something to tell you.” Hmmm. She is too old to have a baby,  or she might have won the lottery, I was curious. When she said it had something to do with the Ganges water I was nervous as I told her it could give you severe Delhi Belly. No, she said. If you recall, she is a registered nurse who works in an assisted living facility. It is an expensive facility, apartments can run up to $7000 per month or more.

Gina’s friend, also a nurse with a patient in the same facility . She asked Gina to rub some of the Ganges water, our Ganges water, on her patient with Pancreatic cancer. What could it hurt? Gina took her finger and dipped into the brass container, rubbed the liquid on her hand and then rubbed her hands on the lady with the cancer.

Later that day, her friend said the lady wants to talk to you. The cancer patient reported that she did not need any pain medication for more than six hours. She felt good for the first time in a long time. Gina, a devout Catholic, saw it as matter of faith and a miracle for the lady who has limited time on earth as her cancer has spread. But the six hours were wonderful for the patient. Gina felt so uplifted as I did because I was able to bring the water home with me and have it do some good. 

India, I know I will Do It Again.


July 15, 2016 - the lady succumbed to her cancer.

 

That is my experience, you decide.