Readers: this blog is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020). Each entry assumes there has been a 5th revolution in the US — the Revenge Revolution. More about the Revenge Revolution and author, Entry #1. List and general description of entries to date.
Note: most entries are formatted as conversations. Characters appear in a number of entries, with many entries building on previous conversations. Profile of characters (see link at top of page). You’ll catch on quickly. Thanks for your time and interest…and comments.
Scene: Jordan’s office, Washington, DC. Conversation began Entry #289.
JC: “I agree that Paul Ryan could have set an example of leadership for generations to come. But, what did he do?”
Greenie: “He retired from the House. I guess you call it retired if not seeking in November 2018 qualifies as retiring.”
JC: “Whatever you want to call it, he bailed out. Seems like Ryan ran away from the bully Trump. Not what you call a good example for future generations, and not what you call a good ending to your political career.”
Jordan: “Enough of Ryan and McConnell. I’ve got an idea.”
Greenie: “You’ve got an idea? JC, did you hear that? Jordan has an idea.”
Jordan: “Why do I hang out with you guys? Such abuse.”
JC: “C’mon, you love it. Now what’s the idea?”
Jordan: “Looking in the rearview mirror and analyzing the past with a critical eye is important, but as we’ve talked about before, it’s hard to drive very fast by always looking in the rearview mirror.”
JC: “Tell that to some of the cable news talking heads. A lot of them can’t stop driving fast and looking backwards at the same time.”
Greenie: “Let’s keep in mind the past does provide some guidance to the future. You do agree with that, don’t you, Jordan?”
Jordan: “Very much so. And that’s the foundation for the idea. I think we should provide to the post-Revenge Revolution members of Congress a list of suggestions.”
JC: “What kind of suggestions?”
Jordan: “For lack of a better phrase, because I hate to say it, credible suggestions for really how to make America great again.”
Greenie: “I agree with the idea, but please, we need a different slogan. I mean, we don’t need to reincarnate the Donald.”
JC: “You guys serious? What makes us qualified to suggest anything to Congress? Granted none of us is the dullest crayon in the box but what gives us special insight?”
Jordan: “For one, Greenie’s articles about the Revenge Revolution. We might have more understanding about the causes of the Revenge Revolution than anyone in Congress, especially incoming members or staffers.”
Greenie: “I vote, yes, let’s make a list of suggestions. If nothing else making the list will be cathartic…and will make us seem smarter at parties.”
Jordan: “JC, you, in?”
JC: “OK. How do you want to start?”
Greenie: “Why not have a brainstorming session? You know, just blurt out ideas and write them down. We can sort the list later.”
(Following is the list from the brainstorming session about how to really make America great again. Over the coming blog entries, a number of these ideas will be discussed in more detail.)
- True leadership starts at the top.
- Congress needs to work as a unit and with independence from the Executive Branch. Not everyone in Congress will agree, nor should they agree, on every issue but Congress must function separately from the Executive Branch.
- Relationship building is critical. Presidents and administrations that reach out, listen and act for the good of the people are far more effective.
- Re-establish the independence of the judicial system. The White House and Congress need to respect the system, the law and quit trying to influence cases.
- Public’s confidence and other countries’ confidence in the White House will take several administrations to rebuild – probably 15-20 years.
- Adults with demonstrated skills should be selected as cabinet members.
- Time devoted in teaching civics needs to increase in grammar, middle and high schools.
- Conscription should be reinstituted. An alternative to military service would be a civilian corps.
- Widespread infrastructure programs need to be initiated – think WPA approach.
- Increase research and development sponsored by Federal government, with particular emphasis on pure research.
- Reinstitute environmental and financial regulations…judiciously. Companies and industries have proved repeatedly an in ability to manage themselves.
- Increase tax rates across all quintiles with the highest rate increases on upper incomes. Use part of revenue to fund infrastructure and part to help offset the negative long-term effects of Trump tax cut.
- Make all elections for Federal office publicly funded with no private contributions. allowed.
Jordan: “OK, let’s take a break. When we get back, we can clarify the wording of some of the ideas, maybe add a few others. We also can start digging a little deeper on these ideas.”
(Continued)
JC: “Grande, medium roast.”
JC: “And, so what?”
Sandy: “Hi, Jordan. If I recall, it’s JC, right?”
Sandy: “Sure you did. You wanted to ban the sale of all assault weapons…and even make owning one illegal.”
JC: “You’re right. I don’t understand. The assault ban still allowed ownership of all kinds of hunting rifles, shotguns, pistols. I’m not a hunter but why would you need an assault rifle to kill a deer? Where’s the sport in that? Maybe we should arm the deer. That would make it more fun.”
Sandy: “So why have a ban on owning assault weapons?”
First, it appears more and more people are realizing what the military and gun enthusiasts have known for some time – the AR-15 is not a sport rifle, is not a hunting rifle but is an assault weapon designed for killing as many people as possible in as short a time as possible.
Why such a harsh recommendation? First and foremost, these type weapons are not needed outside the military. For those who insist on firearms to protect self and/or property, hunting rifles, shotguns and pistols are more than adequate. For hunters, using AR-15’s is hardly sport, even if hunting elephants, lions, tigers or bears, which you shouldn’t be doing anyway.
Banning assault weapons is not unprecedented. Beginning in 1994 Federal law banned the sales of newly manufactured assault weapons. Former presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan, wrote to the U.S. House of Representatives in support of banning “semi-automatic assault guns”. The law passed with bi-partisan support. Congress let the law expire in 2004.
ll not be infringed.”
In that context, the Second Amendment seems perfectly logical. Guys, get it? The regular citizens of the country made up the military when the Constitution was written. And, if you’re a strict “Constitutionalist” and interpret the Constitution as originally written, the weapons were single-shot flint locks, not AR-15’s.
Get serious conservatives. If you understood government, you might realize that you already live in a country where the government allows you basic rights. That piece of property you think you own? Your right to ownership is a function of government. The freedom to travel? That freedom is a function of government. Hate to burst your conservative bubble, but the freedoms that you have are because the government lets you have those freedoms.
I hope these students ask their grandparents to coach them about how the grandparent protested the Vietnam War. Then the kids can go to Washington, march in front of the White House and chant, “Hey, hey, Donald J! How many kids did you kill today?”
Gelly: “JC, I’ll get you some coffee, then I need to get back and work on a project.”
JC: “Greenie, is this info for your articles about the causes of the Revenge Revolution?”
Greenie: “Mmm, you thinking the military culture is that much different?
Greenie: “What still gnaws at me is the behavior of John Kelly when he was chief of staff for Trump.”
Greenie: “What galls me even more is Trump’s press secretary Ms. Congeniality Susan Huckabee told the press they should not challenge a 4-star Marine general. BS Sarah.”
Jordan: “OK, we’re even. I think the military culture started to change with the elimination of the draft.”
Jordan: “With the draft there was a reasonably good cross-section of ethnic groups, backgrounds and education. Yes, some wealthier guys chickened out of the draft and bought off doctors to get an exemption…”
Greenie: “I’ll go with 13 years…finished one year college.”
Jordan: “Nope. Just regular guys like me. I don’t recall many of us being really gung-ho, rah-rah types. We were in the Army doing our time.”
Greenie: “What about the SEALS and those Special Forces guys? Aren’t they really professional?”
Greenie: “Yikes. Not good. Know anyone else?”
Greenie: “Your pal? Well, your something or other. But let’s be fair. You know some other guys in the military, right? I mean your top-gun buddy and some other guys in the group that designed those jet fighters.”
Greenie: “So the quality of recruits is so-so. Let’s go back and talk about the big-dog generals…specifically General John Kelly. When chief of staff for Trump, Kelly claimed that military personnel were superior and the general population should, in effect, bow down to them.”
Greenie: “So do you think to make the culture of the military more like the US population as a whole, we should reinstitute conscription?”
