Author: plinyblogcom

We find ourselves ruminating on an empirically terrifying conception of the words “displacement” and “replacement; indeed, one more rational than the nouns tactically employed by America’s horde of ignorant and un-American, White Christian Nationalists. Our dread concern relates to a predictable result of the inventively capable, but thoughtless and ultimately suicidal, computer industry.

Although we recognize the pragmatic value of Silicon Valley’s ubiquitous accomplishments in speed and efficiency relative to scientific research, medicine, manufacturing, and data storage, we fear, analogous to the fictional danger evinced by Ducas’ “Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” that the apparently, thoughtless, and irresponsible race for innovative profit will result in existential tragedy to humanity.

We have expressed our concern, which is affirmatively not “Luddite” ( i.e., against technical innovation), that the exponentially monofocused race for enhanced development of digital robotization of human functioning portends the nightmarish possibility of the ultimate replacement of the admittedly less efficient humanistic society by appliances of mechanically digitalized efficiency. A giant step toward such dehumanization, as we have repeatedly declared, is the insalubrious substitution of societally natural interaction by the impersonal “smartphone.” We have far less concern regarding voice-activated appliances, robotized vacuum cleaners, and the “smartwatch

We fear that the observably irresponsible lust for profitable advancements in technical “improvements” ultimately portends a resultant dystopic society, indeed, a digital Armageddon-like planet inhabited by robotic appliances, perpetually activated and eternally operative, per installed algorithmic instructions.

“Artificial Intelligence” (“AI”) in its present application is utilitarian in many practical applications, such as organizing health data and self-driving automobiles. It has also been found, negatively, to be useful in the perpetration of fraud and deceit and in mass manipulation. Instances of its perverse applications have been seen in the perpetration of “deep fakes,” such as false voice replication, tactically reconstituted photos, including the inclusion or exclusion of subjects, undetectable dissemination of propaganda, fraudulent replication of sculpture and pictorial art, as well as copyright infringement of written property. These acts of robotic replication render it difficult to detect the difference between the original and the identical copy.

In our view, the most nightmarishly dystopic “advancement” is demonstrated by the drone and other military weapons, operated robotically, without the mitigation of human sentiment or empathic discretion. The conception of robotic bombing and destruction of human lives and property is chilling. More chilling is the empirical reality that such egregious monstrosities have become the weapons favorably used in contemporary warfare.

Additionally, and most disturbing, is the ultimate creation of robotic facility, superior to the capabilitiies of Homo Sapiens; which carries with it the implicit danger that the robotic actor will have the ultimate capability to act, independent of control and supdercede the hapless, less capable human being,

We can imagine a dystopic, nightmare scenario, in which obsolete human beings on terra firma have been replaced by robot engines, but war, nevertheless, continues perpetually, between the obsolescent nations by insensate robotic machines.

Based upon our long and disappointing experience with the human lust for profit, we have little expectation that the business of advanced computer science will be responsibly limited; however, the pragmatic enactment of relevant, strict regulations, as soon as possible, would certainly be appropriate.
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Having attained the aged status of late octogenarian, may somewhat qualify to comment on the several developmental stages of the individual’s developmental progress ( the “Odyssey”) in the desired destination of Man’s learning. The contextual question,” When is a Man old enough to learn?” we would respond with the following empirical answer: in the period between his birth and his funeral.

To once more reprise the declaration of the English empirical philosopher, John Locke, “Man is born with a ‘tabula rasa'” (a blank slate), and all of his knowledge is acquired by his experience. We would point out the implicit ingredient of objective reality.

The dynamics of experiential learning are normally sequential and governed by the developmental stages of life. The newborn learns about light and dark, warmth, safety, comfort, discomfort, nurturance, feeding, and, as advised, has an instinctive fear of falling. Ironically, the cogent awareness of such phenomena (in addition to his accumulated, experiential lessons) is notably reprised in Man’s elder years. In sum, while Man’s natural impetus in his lifetime, of necessity, prioritizes survival and safety, life’s presenting experiences afford the fertile ground for knowledge.

As observed in previous writings, we accord existential importance to the development of one’s personal identity and stable self-image, and the resultant acquisition of a referable basis of perception. The same provides the foundational platform on which learning is perceived, acquired, recalled, and to which it is accordingly responded..

We have previously declared that the experience of “meaningful” social interaction may be credited with the reactive development of such requisite personal identity and stable self-image to be receptive to cumulative, experiential learning so vital to the individual and his society. For this reason, we have consistently castigated the errant choice of unhealthy impersonality and humanistic failings attributable to the current, widespread use of impersonal smartphone interaction.

The possible retrospective conclusion of perceived success, by the individual as to the acquisition of a fulfilled life, is best achieved employing a stable persona, enhanced by the personal acquisition of wisdom. from life experience, when enhanced by the development of a personal elective interest (*see earlier blogs). Well-informed, knowledgeable, and contemplative citizens, in addition to their personally achieved sense of personal fulfillment, ultimately constitute the most valuable natural resource in the success, endurance of a democratic nation.

However, it is notable that many people do not enjoy the ubiquitous benefits of informed personal reflection and choose to exclude the pursuit of knowledge and thoughtful, philosophical inquiry from their life experience. It is to be recalled and considered that Thomas Jefferson presciently stated that an educated and well-informed population is mandatorily required for the successful endurance of a Democratic Republic.

The elevation of the dystopic persona of Donald J. Trump to the American Presidency is inarguably symptomatic of many of the diverse American population’s failure to knowingly and willingly heed the disastrous lessons in history, evincing an oblivious, “populist” inclination, contrasted with empirically knowledgeable reason.

Participants in the developmental journey to enlightenment obtained by the human journey or odyssey, towards experiential wisdom are capable of the restoration of America’s venerated and humanistic tradition of governance; many others, not so inclined, nevertheless, have more recently experienced, and possibly, learned, that life under autocratic power is not as acceptable as one salubriously grounded in liberty and democracy.

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We, in common with a great many traditional American citizens, have been alarmed concerning the current threat to our Democratic Republic posed by the autocratic policies of Donald Trump and his cavalcade of cultish sycophants. It would seem superfluous to reiterate the previously noted myriad of fascist policies and executive orders promulgated by this declared, “would-be” dictator.

In earlier writings, we have expressed our view that the Nation will, ultimately, recover from this present nightmare, as it has at other times of National stress, and return to its uniquely humanistic democratic policy.

Further contemplation has led us to another (non-historically based) foundational basis for such optimism, notably possessing metaphysical and sociological resonance, and significantly furnishing an additional sense of positive expectation.

Trump has presented the American citizen with an unfamiliar and unorthodox pattern of executive policies and unfamiliar expectations, contrary to the experiencial understanding, of his citizenship experience accumulated over the one-and-a-half centuries of the universal and expected American way of life; singularly featuring liberty, legal equality, and, notably, limitations on governmental authority as provided in the Constitution’s “Bill of Rights.”

Donald Trump’s famous (and infamous) public declaration of intention to be a dictator, communicated from his singularly egoistic and impenetrable bubble, reductively and thoughtlessly omitted to consider America’s historical record of democracy, freedom of expression, and opportunity; a reductive assumption, consistent with his characteristic denial of empirical reality.

From the limited view of his impenetrable, bubble, Trump looks eastward at the oligarchic government of his bromantic friend, Putin, and other like autocratic polities existing in China, North Korea, Hungary, and Saudi Arabia, and longs to enjoy their status as “Supreme Leader” of a downtrodden and doggedly obedient population. Donald Trump wants power, unlimited by the Constitution or the rule of law, and religious-style admiration from blindly “loyal subjects.” He, like other tyrannical leaders, wants full military parades, large pictures of himself at prominent venues, and unlimited monarchial wealth, albeit simultaneously with the denial of the basic needs for life and health of the ordinary citizen. He has taken executive action to eliminate scientific research and humanitarian assistance, to intimidate Universities and other institutions of learning, to assure himself of a more docile and compliant population, and has surrounded himself with a veritable menagerie of loyal incompetents to serve his needs in the running of the country. When added to the striking plethora of impropriety and criminal behavior, as mentioned in earlier writings, the mainstream American citizen has sufficient cause to be concerned. Moreover, legal action to date has not been sufficiently effective.

Nevertheless, we are fully confident that, from a metaphysical perspective, the American way of life will doubtlessly prevail over the potential unfamiliar and constricted future of hapless fascist worship accompanying an autocratic despot. It is our pragmatic expectation that the history and expectations of the salutory franchise of personal agency, a cultural concomitant of the American democratic lifestyle, will doubtlessly prevail; no diner will choose a limited menu of watery soup and stale bread when he has had a prior lifetime of more acceptable and savory menu choices.

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There are few experiences, singularly capable of revulsion and disgust, comparable to the shocking highway sight of a wild animal crushed by an automobile (often further enhanced by the impact from later autos). The futility of our unsuccessful attempts to look away or avoid the nightmarish sight is beyond our rational understanding.

For analogous reasons, we have failed, of late, in our determined attempts to avoid commenting on the revolting subject of Donald J. Trump and his repulsive MAGA acolytes. It appears that we have been haplessly drawn to the allure of his dystopic persona and behavior, with the comparable inability to look away from the nauseating appearance of mangled, bloody animals on the highway.

It appears that we cannot look away from the sight of the malign, deceitful, and harmful activities of the Orange Presence, energetically supported by his demonic, T-shirted, baseball-capped, billionaire autistic confederate, in a purported mission to eliminate “Waste and Abuse” from the government.

The American public has sadly witnessed the virtual carnage of its Federal Civil Service, including the existentially vital health research facilities of the NIH, CDC, and others, the reduction in tax enforcement personnel of the IRS, elimination of the essential Education Department, hobbling of the FBI, and the Nation’s intelligence services, the reduction of services of the Veteran’s Services, already significantly backed up, the threats to citizen health and safety by the curtailing of health, food, water and medicinal regulatory agencies and the basic superstructure of our utilitarian Federal Civil Service.

It is to be frustratingly noted that these vitally important agencies were legally created by Congressional action, not the Executive, and, notably, that no evidence of “Waste and Abuse” has been proffered, no relevant Congressional Inquiries or Hearings convened, but simply, Trump’s authoritarian acts, accomplished with the arbitrary wave of his Royal Scepter (Trump’s “Sharpie”). The crippling effect on the operation of government, the loss of employment by thousands of dedicated civil servants, the inconvenience and hazard caused to the American public and its environmental health, it appears, was deemed less important to this egoistic President, than the overt demonstration of authoritan power. Any contemplative observer, with requisite information, can easily determine that any possible savings are far outweighed by the pragmatic hampering of the Nation’s day-to-day operation. and notably, Trump’s cruel demonstration of autocratic power,

Trump, a billionaire, improperly employing his office to accumulate millions of dollars for himself and his family. has insensitively expressed the intention to curtail Medicaid and Medicare, the vital health services of the poor and middle class, as well as the Nation’s program of social security. Marie Antoinette may have been less heartless when she famously declared, “Let them eat cake.”

Our “snake oil,” authoritarian, Chief Executive, who ubiquitously purports to be of unique service in “eliminating governmental waste and abuse,” has officially expressed the desire to have a full Military Parade (in the style of his fellow dictators) to celebrate his birthday. The Parade, as reported, is estimated to exceed Forty-Five Million dollars in cost, not including the extensive repairs to the roads caused by the birthday celebratory military tanks and heavy military artillery.

So much for “eliminating waste and abuse” and the nauseating aesthetics of roadkill.

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We have elected to take a brief, needed break from the exhaustive subject of the orange, “would-be” King, arbitrarily dispensing ego-driven Monarchial decrees with his soft-tipped “Sharpie,” and, for the moment, consider the pleasant subject of the arrival of the pleasant month of May. The “Merry Month of May” (Thomas Dekker, 1572-1632) is singularly delightful: sunshine, emerging daffodils and tulips, scampering woodland critters, newborn pups, warm rain, and kind breezes.

However, May is officially designated as “Mental Health Awareness Month,” and we find ourselves obliged to reprise an alarming subject to which we have frequently made reference.; namely, the recent reports of widespread mental disturbance, depression, and anxiety, particularly observed relative to the young.

We do not profess the adequate competence to discuss those cases having their etiology in matters other than those perceptively societal; yet have consistently maintained that most of such empirically observable health conditions, in our view, are the proximate result of society’s change from identifiable, personal and emotionally rewarding interaction to cold, impersonal, digitalized “smartphones.” We humbly acknowledge the risk that this generalized observation may, initially, be perceived as overly ” reductive.” Nevertheless, we are of the view that this impactful cause has been anecdotally and widely demonstrated.

To avoid misunderstanding, we affirmatively endorse the view that the exponential development of computer prowess has had ubiquitous utility in industry, media, scientific and medical inquiry, in business, and in countless other applications, but is societally and personally neither emotionally satisfactory nor salubrious in place of personal communication, as in person to person, telephone communication or written correspondence. In sum, it is our view that the need for human communication, restricted to the “smartphone,” depersonalizes and isolates the individual. We will elucidate further.

A referential “self-image,” or personal identity, is existentially vital to participation in the societal milieu. The healthy, societally adjusted individual, in the course of his personal interaction with others, relative to his perceived effect on others, and, the nature and effect of their responses to him, in time, develops a referable self-image and a consistent identity, i.e., comes to know himself, His acquired and developed personal identity is the “home office,” or perceived identity from which he speaks and chooses to act. The development of personal identity and self-image is, in large part, the reflective product of personal interaction with others. This requires the recognition of the voice on the telephone, nuanced expression, singular point of view, and other referential qualities that render such interactions personally meaningful and referentially notable. It is our view that our persona, in notable part, is colored by the observed consistency of other persons’ perceptions.

When society chose, for facile convenience, to eschew societally existential personal, familiar, and expressive interaction in exchange for cold digital images, reflected on a small, handheld screen, temporally exchanged at some random, possibly irrelevant time, it sufferred the impersonality of solo conversation, lacking identifiable personal nuance, spontaneity, and emotional expression; thereby, the route to the natural and useful acquisition of persona and identity was sadly and unhealthily eliminated. For the young generation, particularly, not having the personal experience of years of interactive communication, this facile but emotionally harmful “progress” has resulted in personally devastating and unhealthy results.

The curtailment of vitally required developmental, interactive relations took its toll in the myriad reported cases of anxiety and depression, most notably, among the young. Loneliness, feelings of isolation, and lack of the interactive benefits of personal development, of the security of personal identity, and social status.

Numerous essays and reports appearing in the Atlantic and other reputable sources, re that in recent years, adults have been socializing less, having fewer neighborhood backyard barbeques, parties, even marrying later; which we presune to be the by-product or consequence of the modern “benefit” of communication by computer particularly, the use of handheld phones, in place of meaningful social contact.

We do not Pollyannishly expect a return to the previously more healthful forms of personal communication; life seems to instruct the contemplative observer that conveniences, regardless of their observably negative toll, will nevertheless persist. We might, however, recommend more salubrious social get-togethers, town meetings, dances, club activities, backyard barbeques, book clubs, and other social engagements for adults, and more interpersonal contact, team sports, clubs, dances, and considerably less “smartphone” interaction for the young.

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• Title borrowed from a book by David Riesman

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For years, we have been entirely and frustratingly unable to comprehend the contemporary political scenario, which bizarrely features an incompetent, immoral, and neurotically egocentric individual who succeeds in getting elected to the august office of the American Presidency, and despite committing heinous criminal offenses against society and the Nation, remains in office uncensured and officially blameless; who causes hordes of individuals to be arrested, cdeported and incarcerated on little or no evidenced of wrongdoing?

Can the American law and tradition of “equality under the law,” or the system of due process entitlement of every person, be universally applicable, but with the singular exception of Donald J. Trump? This conundrum has severely vexed us for several years until our present bizarre conclusion.

Trump is remembered as demagogically causing a large audience to cry out, “Lock her up!” “Lock her up!” referencing Hillary Clinton, his political opponent in his first race for the Presidency, for the technical offense of having some official data on her private server. Yet there is no cry for punishment and incarceration regarding Donald Trump, who has committed a plethora of offenses of personal and National implication. Notably disturbing is the fact that much of Trump’s criminal actions have actually been revealed to the public on television, inclusive of vote extortion and corruption. treasonous liaison with enemies of the Nation, feloniously withholding top secret documents, dangerously storing the latter in accessible places, payment of “hush money” to prostitutes, and fraudulently covering up such acts, treasonous liaisons with, and support of Christian White National Militias, incitement and support of a violent insurrection against the United States Capitol Building, resulting in death and serious injury to Ca;pitol police and others, in addition to death threats to the Vice President and the intimidation of legislators and others in the beseiged Capitol Building, disgracefully praising and then officially pardoning the offenders, gross and numerous violation’s of the Emolument Clause of the Constitution by various nefarious but personally profitable transactions, virtually transmogrifing the reverenced Oval Office into a virtual shopping mall ( including sneakers, bibles, baseball hats, cologne, viodka, etc.), profiting from leasing Trump owned hotel rooms and other Trump owned facilities to foreign representatives and the public, publicly revealed tax and corporate conspiracy and fraud, consistent official mendacity, libel and slander, extortion (including that nefariously practiced against the beleagured Ukraine), and a virtual cornucopia ((more aesthetically stated, “a full dumpster”) of other reprehensible misbehavior.

Such an illegal morass of criminal and improper record of palpably evil behavior was incredibly exacerbated by the recent intended acceptance gift (“bribe”) of a $400 million airplane from Qatar.

In the distorted fun house mirror of Trump’s own ubiuquitous criminality, where scores of individuals can be arrested and deported to a foreign torture prison, without due process simply for sporting assorted tattoos, the only conclusion possible is that Trump (himself with multiple adjudged felonies and standing criminal indictments) is as effective a mass hypnotist as well as a snake oil demogogue; and the American population finds itself in a state of deep hypnosis.

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The iconic Statue of Liberty, the eternal symbol of welcome, holding aloft her beacon-torch and enhancing the National significance of New York’s East River, is the American Nation’s standing invitation, in Emma Lazarus’s words, ” to all the huddled masses, yearning to be free.” While pragmatically, considerations of economics, security, and humanism are appropriate to maintaining a manageable and fair immigration policy, unhappily, certain supplemental ly contested political issues have caused the subject to be shifted to the politics of the executive branch.

President Donald J. Trump has arbitrarily chosen to employ his executive power to severely limit American immigration, a policy inarguably antithetical to the American humanistic tradition as espoused by Lady Liberty and Ms. Lazarus.

Refugees, fleeing their native countries for fear of political persecution or death, have recently been reviled and programmatically sent back to their country of origin to suffer their dreaded fate by the Trump-MAGA policy founded, perceptibly, upon their reductive, bigoted xenophobia. As we have often stated, America can be appropriately described as a Nation of immigrants and their progeny. It would, inarguably, seem callously selfish for it to maintain a policy that would deny entrance to foreign refugees or, generally, to immigrants seeking a better life.

Donald Trump’s zero-tolerance policy has, in stereotypically fascistic manner, authorized a governmental militia of Gestapo-like (often masked) individuals (“ICE”) to summarily arrest, at homes, church or on the street, foreigners deeme4 suspect of being “illegal” (unregistered) aliens; and, in many cases, splitting up families and deporting individuals to foreign countries (previously remunerated by the Trump administration) for indefinite incarceration and predictable torture, notably, without the due process guaranteed by the Constitution to “all persons.”

Mainstream American citizens have, uniformly, been shocked and frightened by this unprecedented, draconian, un-American policy, and entertain the hope that such outrage will be ultimately and appropriately addressed by the responsible (i.e, non-MAGA appointed) judiciary.

Trump, ( himdself, a convicted criminal and adjudged woman abuser,) availing himself of his characteristic serial mendacity, represents that his motivation is based upon his solicitous desire that “criminals and rapists” be denied entry, for the welfare of our Nation’

The true, pernicious motivation of Trump’s (and MAGA) restrictive grant of the benefits of “refugee status was irrefutably made public by hispublic welcome to dozens of white South African immigrants (“Afrikaners”); which irrefutably uncovers the malign truth of his contrasting restriction against needy immigrants from Sudan, Central America, and Afghanistan. The policy is incriminating proof and admissible evidence that the Trump-Maga motivations regarding immigration are blatantly racial, regardless of their purported claim of protecting the Nation.

It is no less than revolting to recall that it was the minority ruling class of White Afrikaners who persisted in the egregious “Law of Apartheid” in South Africa until 1994.

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We may have missed the mark in our previous presumption that Donald Trump, as a permanent resident of his personal, impenetrable bubble, is, by such bizarre mental confinement, perceptively unaware of the Nation’s Constitution and Rule of Law. He has routinely undermined both, causing Americans to feel less safe. Upon further contemplation, we have come to see that his pernicious actions including, firing vitally needed public servants, dissolving federal agencies, taking taxpayer money from our communities, tactically firing inspector generals, and notably, by his all- pervasive failure to adhere to societal moral and legal mandates, that his motivating dynamic is more accurately described as blatantly and shamelessly, intentional.

Based on his exemplary record of self-serving and bizarre behavior, we, in our previous perception and writings, had ubiquitously described his persona as neurotically incapable of awareness or recognition of the humanistic social contract and, secluded in his singularly impenetrable mental bubble, oblivious of the Nation’s rule of law and its societal standards of propriety,

With appropriate apology, we have come to the alternative, accurate perception of his true repulsive sociopathic persona. Our confident view is that Trump is, in plain fact, demonstrably cognizant of the societal and legal rules of the road, but, in his diagnosably sociopathic arrogance, perceives himself, singularly and imperiously, not bound by such societal strictures. Such an amended understanding as to Trump’s speciously neurotic sense of exclusivity is conceptually consistent with his sociopathic self-image. Stated differently, we have become obliged to assume that in some primitive section of Trump’s brain, there is, in fact, a basic awareness that no society can endure without ubiquitous ground rules; it is simply that the kingly orange haszmat does not see them as personally relevant to or binding on “HIM.”

The following recognizable traits, we understand, are traditionally and diagnosibly concomitant with sociopathy: defining oneself by, an overweening sense of self-importance, a sense of power over others, manipulative prowess, the aspiration for greater power, and the absence of any discernible sense of guilt. The foregoing adjectival description might adequately serve as a final sketch before the traditional painting of the Presidential portrait of Donald Trump.

We can painfully recall an incident when our protagonist rudely and without a trace of sympathy chose to mimic the symptomatically shaking body and voice of a palsied reporter, dutifully questioning him, on public television. The crass billionaire with gold residential bathrooms who, with an empty conscience, strives to cut needed support to starving third world countries and eliminate the empathic programs of governmental empathy, such as FEMA, Social Security, Medicaid, as well as the Nation’s medical research services, merits little ameliorating sympathy.

In past writings, we have proscriptively suggested that as a mandatory prerequisite to their nomination, all aspiring Presidential candidates be responsibly vetted, as an assurance of basic acceptability, characterologically and experientially, to hold the august office of the American Presidency; just as a job interview is universally required to apply for far more mundane employment. We will continue to do so with the ample, additional evidence of the ill-suited present Chief Executive..

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It is our somewhat radical, but sincere view, that, consistent with the universal American principles of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” Equal Protection of the law, and individual human dignity, in general, the approval of abortion in the “landmark case” of Roe v. Wade, was in reffect, legally superfluous, and its abhorrant reversal, erroneous, and of no fundamental legal import. Our opinion is obviously not in sync with the current understanding of the controversy and the legal impact of the overturn of the famous case.

We have always disagreed with the public perception that Roe v. Wade was the genesis of the woman’s (natural) right to determine highly personal matters in her own life, relevantly, the choice to bear children or not, and that Roe’s overturn disturbs any metaphysically fundamental principles. To our perception, such a publicly accepted view seems legally and logically inconsistent with the Nation’s avowed liberty regarding personal freedoms, constitutionally afforded to American citizens, viz., the overturn of Roe v. Wade, is understood to have led to a perceived proscription against abortion. In our view, this understanding would result in a singular proscription against the citizen’s personal choice of lifestyle, analogous to the elective choice of marriage and/or personal choice of spouse, inarguably, outside the purview of any polity which historically avows individual freedom and liberty.

In our nuanced, but sincere contemplation, Roe v. Wade did not grant, nor is it the source of, the woman’s right to determine the configuration of her own family, but can effectively be understood to have recognized that natural right. Its reversal, presumably, under unconstitutional pressure from the religious right, was not only tragically injudicious and violative of the “Establishment Clause” of the United States Constitution, but constituted an autocratic exercise of tyranny, unbecoming to, and inconsistent with personal freedom espoused by the Founding Fathers; however, it is our belief that it should not be read as denying women the right of abortion.

Our Democratic Republic is now under great pressure, stemming from the autocratic policies of the Trump-MAGA Administration, regarding the latter’s castigation of the Constitution and its Separation of Powers, the denigration of America’s media, the attack against its educational institutions from Grade school through University, the devastation of its health research institutions and federal civil service, the cruel elimination of government programs of assistance such as Social Security and Medicaid, the foolhardy elimination of health and environment protective regulations, the fouling of our traditionally salutary relation with our traditional allies, the despoilation our favorable economy, and a full and foul dumpster of assorted MAGA detritis vitally mandating amelioration by the informed, mainstream citizenry at election time.

It is of existential importance that such a nightmarish, dystopic Presidential holocaust be brought to an end. We optimistically believe that the Nation, having ubiquitously experienced the intense pain of the aberrant Trump Presidency, will administer to it the coup de grace (See Blog # 272, ” THE ANCIENT LESSON”).

However, assuming that our positive prognostication is realized, the Nation’s message of liberty will remain unfulfilled until the Nation, additionally revitalizes the metaphysical understanding that its female citizens are legally vested with the requisite legal assurance relative to their legally implicit personal agency to determine all personal matters of their private anatomy and their personal lives.

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As traditional American citizens, we have been shocked and appalled at the Gestapo-style program of unannounced, summary arrests of peaceful and law-abiding immigrants by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (“ICE”) most especially, the denial of constitutional “due Process” guaranteed to all “persons.” Such cruel and un-American practice is fully consistent with the Trump Administration’s right-wing, biased program of prosecution of foreigners; under the zealous administration of an Adolph Eichmann-like psychopath, Steven Miller. We have chosen to remain hopeful such shameful, un-American travesties will soon legally be abated.

Our shock and angst are greatly exacerbated by the disconcerting and dystopic sight of the arresting ICE officers’ practice of wearing black facemasks and thus adding a bizarre Dark Ages Inquisition-esque atmosphere to their shameful violence. It may be noted, historically, that neither the Nazi Gestapo, the Communist KGB, nor the East German Stasi, sported masks in the respective courses of their political malefaction.

Masks, functionally, are objects worn on the face for protection, disguise, theatrical purposes, or religious, ethnic traditions. Notably, the prophylactic use of face masks, recommended by the publicly responsible medical profession, during the COVID pandemic was denigrated by the MAGA- Trump political adherents, who, in their lemming-like cultish worship of the excrable Orange Deity, opposed the wearing of the recommended, health protective masks.

The televised arrests are irrefutably unconstitutional, obscene, and un-American, nevertheless, we are optimistic that such practice of political arrest, with or without face masks and the outrageously unconstitutional denial of due process, will soon be addressed by the judiciary.

Our observational question is an obvious one: If the arrests are legally legitimate law enforcement activities, why is there a necessity to disguise the arresting officer in a black mask? We would be considerably happier if the use of masks were reserved for Halloween and to the Lone Ranger.

And, considering Donald Trump’s recommrndation to keep felons, rapists and criminals out of the country; we are willing to pack his golden suitcase and make a quick telephone call to the airport taxi.

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