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Bullies are everywhere. To compensate for their insecurities and to try and control, they bully people, countries, companies and so on. They have always been around, and they always will be. But, day to day life and history demonstrates that in the long run, they always lose the power over someone or something they thought they had. And furthermore, their comeuppance is often staggering.

When you create wide-ranging malice for many others, you ultimately reap what you sow. The others ultimately gang up on you and you’re done. Your power is gone. If you have wealth, it’s gone. In terms of countries, this is how great powers meet their demise. Again, history has demonstrated this over and over. Bullies don’t expect to ever become the victim. Life and history tells us otherwise.  

The number of people expressing visceral buyer’s remorse after voting for Donald Trump this last election continues to quickly escalate. Again, you were warned. What were you expecting? The good part of America everyone knew will be gone by 2028. If you are anything other than white, you are in trouble. And, even if you are white, that is no guarantee. I know you still don’t believe it, as you stand on the sidelines looking at your phones or in some cases sipping your lattes, but the highly vaunted American freedom is going to be gone. Already, the government has started to ignore court rulings. The right white is might.  

Trump, Musk and the Acolytes. Cool name for a band, maybe? I do say HA HA HA and how do you like them now? More to come. You were warned!     

“Good night America, how are you?”, sings Arlo Guthrie. I think many people are now waking up to the reality that America is not doing so good. A few months ago, Americans thought it was both business as usual and a renaissance as they conducted life in a cell phone and electronic stupor; or for some  Christians, a new, although non-Biblical principled re-birth. And for some, it was the second coming of America. Surprise…it is not.

People are starting to see what is really happening in their country and buyer’s remorse is already starting to show up in anguish. Remember, you get what you voted for. It’s on you. And for the more than one third of eligible Americans who did not vote, you’re really getting what you deserve. And this is only in a couple of months. As the rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive sings: “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet.”      

Thar’s gold in them there hills…if you have $3,000 for an ounce. I find our global economic system fascinating. As scientific as everyone would like to think it is, especially experts, it is not. Gold and money are based upon the value human beings give them and emotion is a key factor in determining this value. They actually are worthless on their own.

The point is, with today’s plethora of economic uncertainties, people are turning to gold as a “safe” investment. Even this “safe” investment is not 100% full proof. Gold only has value if everyone agrees it is worth something. In the event of a dire catastrophe, and this is always a possibility even if we don’t want to acknowledge it, it is not.

We need food and water to survive. What’s more important, having gold or having food and water? If you need these two commodities to survive, would you choose an offer of gold over getting food and water? Economics is not scientific and the value we give to things is very subjective, including money and gold. There is no full proof place to invest money and the global economic system is jittery at the best of times. Just think, our entire economic system is based upon human whims and frailties. Maybe you don’t want to think about it.   

You didn’t ask for it, but, this is my first ever Top Ten List for things that are under-hyped or under-rated. I will do this from time to time because it makes me think of the possibilities. Yes, it’s a given that this list is already under-hyped and under-rated. Here is today’s list in no particular order.

True friendship

Healthcare aides

Public servants

Reading with comprehension

Daycare workers

Women

Anything that gets you off the phone

Compassion

Nature

Three meals a day

In these very difficult times, I wanted to write something positive, happy. Initially, it was difficult finding a place to start. Then, I realized, again, I can’t control everything around me. I only had control over myself, and it was up to me to be happy. This opened the “Happy” door for me.

I was grateful I woke up again this morning, which was later morning because of the time change to DST. This made me laugh. I thought about all the good things I enjoy…decent health, my wonderful family and friends and all the good memories I had and all the good memories to come. I thought about my love of music and words. This brings me sustained hope and joy. I was grateful for what I had…a warm place to live, food on the table, and some household technology. I don’t have a lot of money. Sure, I would like a little bit more, but, it’s all good.   

Ultimately, I felt happy and could express this sentiment in spite of such dark days around the world. I know it can be hard, but, look inside for your happiness. You can’t control the world around you, but, you can control yourself, and that’s where happiness lives.

32%. It’s the number of registered American voters in the last Presidential Election who voted for Donald Trump. Not quite 1 out of 3, but, he and his acolytes have the hammer now and they are widely, unwisely wielding it, often without any consideration of the real people of America including some of their supporters. So, what happens now?

Well, the other 68% need to realize the direction the government is heading in and have the strength and courage to reject the narrative of authoritarianism and the loss of the coveted American liberty. 68%, the longer you let this government go down this path, the harder it will be to stop it. Eventually, you reach a point of no return.

Add to the 68% the former Trump supporters who are being victimized by this government, and those numbers are growing. You have the numbers, but, do you have resolve? Or, are you too busy using your phone to even realize what’s going on?

Jennifer Piggott was a big Trump supporter until she recently got fired from her federal government job at the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Fiscal Service in West Virginia along with 125 others. Now, she says, she never would have if she knew it meant she was going to lose her job.

There are, or, will be many others who will echo this same sentiment. Buyer’s remorse? Remember, you get who you vote into office and the resultant governance you deserve. “The times they are a-changin’”, and not necessarily for the better for you, even if you are a supporter of someone or party. There’s almost 4 more years left in this government’s mandate. I hope America is getting the big picture here, before it’s too late. Even a supporter is subject to the desires of a small cabal of people consumed with power and control. You have to understand, they do not care about anyone including you.