TheWiseOldFart

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart From the time I was growing up in Los Angeles in the 1950’s, I heard the adults complain about our nation’s government “sticking its nose in the business of other countries.” I didn’t know what it meant. However, after I graduated from high school in 1964, thanks to a teacher who inspired me, and as it became apparent that our government was planning to participate in another war halfway around the world, I was very aware of our country’s greatest crime: imperialism. Here is the definition of Imperialism: “Imperialism is a policy or practice where a powerful nation extends its control and influence over foreign territories, often for economic, political, or military gain, sometimes through direct territorial acquisition and sometimes through indirect economic or cultural dominance. It can involve the establishment of colonies, the imposition of foreign rule, and the exploitation of resources and labor in the subject territories, leaving a legacy of social and ec...

Our nation’s leadership at all levels is dominated by hypocrisy. One issue I have addressed multiple times involves our nation’s military who serve in war zones at the will of Congress and the Pentagon. It’s been the same old story all of my life, from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan. The Pentagon tells Congress that they need more troops to win the war, and they say how many. With each increase in the number of soldiers ready to give their lives for who knows what, the number of body bags is doubled. The fat asses who sit in the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill will not be risking their lives or the lives of their children in battle. The irony is that our military leaders have lost every illegal and immoral war since WWII. The sad truth is that none of the young men I knew who were forced to fight in Vietnam knew what they were fighting for. I make an admission here about my negative personal feelings for the military. However, it has no influence in this story. In the mid 1960’s the war ...

  Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart Just once more, at least for today, read the First Amendment carefully and take special note of the last line. [ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances .] In July, our nation will celebrate 248 years since the Declaration of Independence began the creation of the United States of America. There have been occasions when our overpaid government has accomplished great things. However, most changes which benefit all Americans were the result of demands from the people. From labor protests to the demands of younger Americans to end the illegal war in South Vietnam, to the peaceful marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which were followed by recent Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality against minorities, ...

  Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart   Between 2017 and 2021 our nation moved backwards. During the same time period, the rest of developed nations moved forward in areas of social responsibility and quality of life. A recent survey revealed hope for our nation’s future, revealed by the values of millennials and generation ’Z,’ ages 18-38. The average age for all Americans is 38.2 and I trust that our nation’s youth will move America forward and force the changes we desperately need. [The values that Americans view as important have shifted over the last two decades, as younger Americans place less significance on patriotism, religion and having children.] This according to the Voice of America News. The truth is that old, white men, who have led our country for 247 years, have failed miserably. Even some of our founding fathers were incompetent as our nation’s leaders. The United States remains a young nation, and giving control of its future to old men who amassed enormous powe...