Random Thanksgiving Thoughts

Of all the bluster and idiotic comments regarding Ferguson, MO, here is, finally, a reasoned response.  And, it comes from an NFL player.  Its conflicted thoughts and emotions reflect the complexity of, if not the immediate incident, at least the larger issue.  Here is a link to it, very important to read:

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/nfl-player-benjamin-watson-reflects-ferguson-viral-facebook-post-n257291

I wonder what will happen to all of the innocent people in Ferguson and elsewhere whose homes, businesses, and other property have been destroyed or damaged.  Imagine how their lives have been diminished or even ruined.  Will these rioters/thugs be required to pay for the damage?  Surely a good number of them can be identified.  What gives them the right to inflict such misery on others?  The only think I can think of is a government that lacks courage, one that is afraid to enforce laws designed to protect the innocent.  I wonder, too, if those who have been hurt can sue, the rioters/thugs and the government officials who didn't live up to their oaths of office.  If they can't, they should be able to nail these cowards.

And, the NFL guy above excepted, all those other celebrities (at least in their own minds) with their idiotic tweets and twitters and whatever else they are called have left themselves open to criticism.  If they are so exercised about the decision of the grand jury (more about that in a minute), are they going to donate any of their millions of dollars to help those whose homes and businesses have been destroyed?  Of course they aren't.  Well, I'll be very surprised if they do.  They are, as usual, all talk.  And that goes for the Jesse Jacksons, the Al Sharptons, and even the President.

The grand jury, after weeks of gathering evidence, interviewing dozens of witnesses, etc. deliberating and unanimously ruled there was not enough evidence to have an indictment.  And, remember, a grand jury's ruling does not require the same degree of certain of a trial jury ("beyond a reasonable doubt").  A grand jury has a lot of wiggle room; it doesn't have to prove guilt, just enough evidence to hold a trial.  And it didn't--unanimously!  All these people rioting, looting and burning other people's, innocent people's, property weren't interested in justice, not at all.  They, along with the LameStream media, were only concerned with seeing the completion of a narrative.  The system?  Justice?  They can be damned.  It's as if they say, and they do with their words and actions, "The system only works if the outcome is the one we want."

BTW, did you catch any of the questions some of the LameStreamers asked of the prosecutor at the rather unprecedented press conference?  Let's put it this way.  If I was a member of the press or radio or television corps, I'd be very embarrassed with my profession.  Let's just say, I hope all that critical thinking that is supposed to have been taught in the schools the past couple of decades has worked and that Americans recognized the idiotic media response.

And, we have all heard of the instances of kids' lemonade stands being shut down by local government.  Then there was the guy last winter, out east somewhere, who was being a good Samaritan during a snowstorm and cleared off the streets of his neighbors, but when then cited and fined by the city for doing so.  Yep, well let's toss this one in the "Big Government Must Go" bin.  A local school promised students a free doughnut if they raised $5 or $10 (I don't remember the amount, but it was minimal.) in a school fund raiser.  The principal, when the students met the challenge, sent home an e-mail to parents, congratulating their children and reminding them of the free doughnuts.  Whoa, hold a minute there, Bozo!  Someone somewhere noted that doughnuts are not on the federal healthy food list, whatever the heck that is.  If the school did provide the doughnuts, it would be jeopardizing federal funds for violated the healthy food regulations pushed by Michelle Obama.  The problem, obviously, lies with the principal.  He should have promised the students a stalk of broccoli or an artichoke heart instead of a doughnut.  I hope those students sent a heartfelt "Happy Thanksgiving note to Michelle Obama, urging her to mind her own business.  BTW, how long will it be before school fund raisers that sell candy/candy bars, cakes and pies, and cookie dough will be outlawed/banned, violation of which risks federal funding?  Government, get out of our lives and start doing what you are supposed to be doing--such as stopping the thugs who are rioting in Ferguson and other places.

An article in the newspaper this week lauded the Michigan governor's efforts in attracting trade with China, Commie China.  Oh, the financial benefits are many and the governor is to be commended.  Hmmm......  "Commie China," with its terrible record on human rights, from its own people to Tibet/Nepal.  Can we toss in the hacking of US government and US companies' secure computers?  But, no, if we gain financially, let's overlook the other stuff.  Hey, weren't US companies sued after WW2 for their complicity with Hitler in that they did business with them?  Don't, esp on college campuses, people seek to divestment with companies that have, in the past, done business with, say, South Africa?  Now, it's seeking to have colleges, pension funds, etc., divest from companies that aren't green enough.  Ah, but it's OK to continue to deal with the commies in China (Does anyone think any large business, maybe even small businesses, operate in China without the approval of the commies?) their horrible human rights record notwithstanding.  So, I guess, some "greed" is OK?

And I see the Establishment Republicans have done as expected, blustered but retired to go home for the holidays.  Maybe they'll actually do something, that is undo something, when both houses return on Jan 3.  But I don't hold out much hope.  Imagine what the Democrats would do if a Republican President unilaterally issued an executive order suspending the US corporate income tax.  Right......  My guess is they wouldn't just pack it up and go home for a break.