If You Don't Have Anything Nice To Say

     Then don't say anything at all.

Or at least stay off social media

    There is an overabundance of hate on X (Twitter...whatever), Threads, Instagram, and Facebook.  I'm sure there's a ton on what's called Blue Sky, too, but I don't post there.  I can handle only so much crazy, you know.

    As a rule, I don't post serious topics on Facebook or Instagram.  Instead, when I want to give an opinion on current events, I head over to Threads or Twitter (X...whatever).  The way I figure it, Facebook, especially, gives me an outlet to post silly things and interact with family and friends.  I generally keep my opinions to myself.

    Same goes for Blogger and Penwasser Place, as you know.

    However, those other two platforms are often chockful of people fighting with each other over this, that, or the other.  If it's not Biden crapping his pants, it's Trump crapping his pants.

"Is that what that was?"

      If you disagree with something, you're immediately derided as a libtard idiot or a MAGA idiot.  "Stupid." "Imbecile," or "Moron" are all over the place.  These labels are usually accompanied by vulgar epithets.  The "F" word (and I don't mean "firetruck") is as common as doughnuts in Chris Christie's pants.

"You say that as if it's a bad thing."

     Now, mind you, I have resorted to these mean-spirited attacks in the past.  And I'm sure that I will call someone an "idiot" in the future.

    But, that doesn't make it right.

    No, I try my very best to refrain from ad hominem assaults when I post or tweet (X...whatever).  Because, while changes of heart are as rare as Slim Fast in Chris Christie's refrigerator,

"COME ON!!!!"

they can happen.  However, people will never be swayed to your way of thinking if you first call them a "fucking toe-eyed cabbage."  It just won't happen.  Perhaps, though, they may come over to your way of thinking and say to themself, "You know, maybe letting unvetted criminals into the country isn't such a hot idea, after all."

    In my experience, courteous debate is much more preferable than ranting and raving like a keyboard lunatic.  After all, some of my very best friends are Liberals.  By the way, if you don't know that I'm a Conservative-NOT MAGA-by now...

 

"You haven't been paying attention."

    In fact, I don't think my children are Republicans (not the same as Conservatives, but another story for another day).  We never talk politics because why bother?  The love we share is more important than any orange clown or cackling imbecile.

    If you are my friend, you are my friend.  You may think I'm wrong and I may think you're wrong.  But, we are friends.

    While strangers on the internet may be perfect targets for my bile, I don't want to fling useless insults their way, either.

    Granted, some of them make it so very to not respond with a "What are you? A rucking fetard?" (Stephen King, I'm talking to you), but I really want to try (I will fail on occasion, though).

    Because, while I try not to be, I can be a hateful buffoon.

    And, quite possibly, a fucking toe-eyed cabbage.

I'm Old Enough To Remember

 When this was considered ludicrous....

What An Odd Thing To Say

     Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Donald Trump met with Vladimir Putin in Alaska this past week.  The entire point of the visit was to discuss a cessation of the carnage taking place in Ukraine (or is that THE Ukraine?).

Similarly, is it "THE Batman"?  Or just plain "Batman?" 
 

    Odd that the little midget dictator, Zelensky, wasn't in attendance.  Seemed strange to me.  But, whatever.

"Hey, money laundering machine still on 'Spin' cycle. 
You see my dilemma."

   At his press conference following the meeting, Trump stated that Putin told him the war would never have happened if Biden was not president when it was Russia that invaded Ukraine.

"But, hey, I say stupid things a lot of times.  It's part of my charm."

    If Putin did, indeed, say this, what an odd thing to say.  Mind you, I am no fan of Ukraine (or Russia, for that matter), but Vlad came off as a victim.  He's blaming Biden for starting the entire thing in the first place? 

"Demented muppet, he for making me for blowing joint up! My hands, they were tied!"

    Sure, the Delaware Pine Cone was no bargain (especially around stairs), but he didn't make Russia act the thuggish aggressor.

"But, I love Russian Dressing."

"I love Russian Undressing."

    Now, let's give Putin the benefit of the doubt.  Maybe he meant that, if Trump were president, then Russia would not have acted badly in the first place.  In other words, "Yeah, I would have unleashed death and destruction of millions, but Orangeman was in charge."

    But, if that were the case and he did say that, I must repeat...

    What an odd thing to say.

Socialism. Ain't So Bad?

 

"Rent control, no cops, city grocery stores, U-Haul trucks everywhere!"

    Much is being made about the probability, nay likelihood, of Zohran Mamdani being elected mayor of New York City.  This would be a disaster for the citizens of our largest city.  So much so that, God help me, I’m hoping Andrew Cuomo gets the gig.

I'd prefer this guy, though.
Although that hat.

    Mamdani calls himself a Democratic Socialist which, in my opinion, is an effort to woo impressionable skulls full of mush to his side.

    “Hey!  He’s using the word ‘Democrat!’  How bad could he be?”

    The answer?  Very bad.

    Ever hear of the “Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea”?  You know, North Korea.

    Yeah.

"No food for you!  Me?  I got pwenty."

    Since I didn’t want to go off half-cocked, 

"Hush your mouth!"

I looked up the definition of “Socialism” in the Merriam-Webster dictionary.  Then, just for fun, I looked up “communism.”

    Incidentally, the italics?  Yeah, those are mine.   

Socialism:

1.  Any of various egalitarian economic and political theories or movements advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.

2.  A system of society or group living in which there is no private property.

 3.  A system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state.

Communism:

1.   A system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed.

2.   A theory advocating elimination of private property.

     To me, the two look very similar.  In fact, our good friends at MW state that “communism” is a advance form of socialism.  Although, I really can’t tell the difference.  Other than it’s bad.

     As a theory, socialism would be an outstanding way to go.  In fact, it would be utopia.  “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.”  That sounds vaguely familiar.

"Ahem."

     Can’t argue the basic fairness of that.

     The only problem is that socialism is not restricted to a laboratory.  As a way of life, it will be soured by human beings.  And human beings are notorious for being wildly self-serving.  Some (most) people will work for the betterment of their neighbors.  They believe in the family of nations.  These are good people.

     However, there are those who will question why they should have to earn what they receive from Uncle Sugar if the government is just going to hand them cash, food, housing, and a way of life.

     “Hey, let the suckers work for their money.  I’m good.”

     So, what was once a cart hauled by many eventually becomes a cart loaded with many lazy slack asses pulled by a few.

     Or, as Margaret Thatcher said, “The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other peoples money.”

"Or, as I told those punks at Jamestown, "He who shall not work, shall not eat.' 
Then, I bagged Pocahontas.  According to Disney."

Wrong Pocahontas.

     Are there people who need a hand-up?  Unquestionably.  Are there also those who will just sit on their ass, waiting for the next government check?  Absolutely.

     These are the people who laud Zohran Mamdani as the savior of Gotham.

     God help them.  

     Because this Gotham doesn't have Batman.

Even a sucky one.