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 starts Entry #265.
Greenie: “Jordan, while Gelly and I were getting coffee did you get ahold of Rock Man and Two Dogs?”
Jordan: “Left messages for both of them. I’ll talk to them later. Let’s get started.”
Gelly: “May I stay for the conversation, please? Sounds as if it could be interesting.”
Jordan: “Of course. I assumed you were going to stay. Your perspective is always valuable. And, as if you need a reminder, feel free to jump in the conversation any time.”
Greenie: “OK, so now we need to figure out…or at least discuss…if there is any validity to the assumption that long-term culture could affect current behavior of different nationalities or ethnic groups? And, if so, how and to what degree? Right, so far?”
Jordan: “Right so far. Keep going.”
Greenie: “Then we asked, ‘For any ethnic group or nationality in the US, how much of the culture should melt in the US melting pot and how much of the culture should remain…un-melted as it were?’ Getting some idea of how much should melt might help us understand what affect long-term culture might have had on the Revenge Revolution…and how US society might address culture-related issues in the future.”
Jordan: “You got it.”
Gelly: “Before the coffee break youse guys decided to do a quick study on three groups…blacks, Native Americans and Jews, and starting with Jews.”
Jordan: “Your mimicking of ‘youse guys’ was pretty good. Yes, we agreed to start the analysis with Jews, which somehow seems appropriate since we just finished the High Holidays.”
Gelly: “Seems to me a specific question or two might help get the conversation started. So, here goes. An issue that often comes up when talking about Jews, ‘What is it about the culture of Jews that seems to push for so much education? Why does it seem the vast majority of Jews have college degrees…and a very high percentage have advanced degrees? What about the culture would make that happen?”
Greenie: “Good way to get started, Gelly. I think the answer involves two factors. The first is Judaism promotes education throughout life. And some pretty intense education starts at an early age. By the time you’re a 12-13 year-old, you’re learning all kinds of things preparing for a bar or bat mitzvah. And these kids are required to lead part of the Shabbat service, including reading a bunch of Hebrew…which is not major language these days outside of Israel.”
Jordan: “Point well taken, Greenie. Lots of pressure at an early age to learn something that’s very difficult for many. The experience begins to build a foundation for a willingness to try to learn difficult subjects through one’s formal education…and for many, a lifetime of learning.”
Gelly: “What was the second reason?”
Greenie: “Jewish immigrants realized that education was a way out of the ghetto. With an education, you didn’t have to be involved in some type of manual labor. And, education was a way to improve socio-economic status.”
Jordan: “Gelly, here’s a story that illustrates the point. The scene: the inauguration of the first Jewish president. A lady turns to the president-elect’s mother and says, ‘The first Jewish president. You must be very proud of your son.’ The mother turns and says, ‘Yes, I’m very proud of him…but you should meet his brother, the doctor.’”
Gelly: “That’s a good story. Now, help me understand the link between those examples and how long-term culture might affect current behavior? In the Torah there are lots of examples of Jews as shepherds and some examples as skilled trades. Where’s the link from those old-culture jobs to the attitude today of life-long education?”
Greenie: “To me, the link is an understanding by many rabbis and many Jewish families that education has been and continues to be a way to break from the past. Much like leaving Egypt was a way for Jews to break away from physical slavery, education has been a way to break away from economic slavery.”
Jordan: “In virtually every service at the temple, there is a reminder to congregants that Jews were once slaves in Egypt. While not discussed in services, just a few generations ago, whether Jews were in the ‘old country’ or in the US as immigrants, many were slaves to lower-paying jobs.”
Gelly: “That’s interesting. So, if I interpret you correctly, understanding how to break away from adverse circumstances without completely throwing out the old culture is a key lesson. In a way the lesson is a balancing act — in the US understanding what part of the culture should melt into the melting pot and what should not melt. Being able to create such a balance might be a key lesson for other groups – blacks, Native Americans, etc.”
Jordan: “Let’s hold that thought and match it against what information comes out of the conversations with Rock Man and, as you guys keep saying, Two Dogs.”
Greenie: When you talk to them, could you please remind each of them we are only in the data-gathering phase? Let them know we are trying to determine if our assumption has any validity. If it does, we’ll need more guidance from them and help from some of their contacts. I just don’t want them to think the call is the end of the study. It’s just the beginning.”
Jordan: “Yes, I’ll be very clear with them. Thanks for the reminder.”
(Continued)
Gelly: “Some background for articles she writing about the Revenge Revolution. She said no preparation necessary…at least for now.”
Greenie: “Hello, Gelly…and you, too, Jordan.”
Greenie: “As I’ve been working on articles about the causes of the Revenge Revolution, one idea keeps rattling around in my head.”
Gelly: “Has anyone studied this before? Seems like an ideal topic for a graduate thesis or a book.”
Jordan: “Interesting. If I may, let me try to reframe the question. ‘If the United States is to be a melting pot of different cultures, do some parts of the cultures not melt?’…or something like that.”
Gelly: “In the US, for a particular culture, what part of the culture melts in the pot and what part doesn’t melt?”
Gelly: “And for those who want homogenized milk, their measurement yardstick is ‘if you don’t think like me and/or have the same values as me, then you’re not a real member of the American tribe.’”
Jordan: “Seems to me we should take a few examples of tribes and test the theory, at least to determine if there might be any link between long-term culture, the tribes as you describe them and the Revenge Revolution.”
Jordan: “I’ll buy that idea. Before we start, let me call Rock Man and see when he’s available to provide his insight on blacks.”
Jordan: “Trump’s behavior. I mean he had to know one or more of the investigations, especially Mueller’s, would lead to his finances. How could you think otherwise?”
Gelly: “He thought he was king. The Donald lived in his own goofy ‘I’m-above-it-all’ world. Surely the rest of the family von Trump had some common sense.”
Jordan: “Another example of the apple not falling far from the tree.”
Gelly: “I have some friends who were part of the White House staff early on in the Trump Administration. Most had worked for the Obama Administration and a few also had worked for the Bush Administration. All…and I mean every single person…was shocked at the lack of professionalism among Trump’s key staff members. They said calling it ‘amateur hour’ would be a compliment.”
Gelly: “In more polite terms, you mean like dogs who take on their master’s behavioral characteristics?”
Jordan: “For Trump, money for sure. And Trump had to try to hide the Russian connection. Because of all the earlier shady financial dealings Putin had Donnie boy by the short hairs.”
Gelly: “There’s probably a better way to phrase it. But just step back and think about it. Who in your life do you respect? If you made a list, I’ll bet many on the list don’t have much money…and certainly aren’t famous.”
Jordan: “There is? What’s that?”
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Gelly: “Wow, what a pleasant surprise. Two civilized people in the office. Didn’t think you’d still be here.”
JC: “More about scandals? That seems pretty well researched by now.”
Greenie: “I agree it’s unusual for a Congressional committee to be exploring such a topic. Is the hearing going to be open to the public?”
JC: “Any idea what sources of data will be used for the study, aside from our expert witness here?”
JC: “My conclusion was that people who follow religions that preach or instruct congregants to follow strict rules or believe that certain statements are absolutes that should not be questioned…the people who continue to follow the religion have been brainwashed.”
Gelly: “You mean like people who insist on buying only Apple products, even though Apple costs more and might not perform as well? Or those people who vote only for one party no matter how flawed the candidate? Are you considering these people brainwashed?”
JC: “Another group that seemed prone to brainwashing was the group that ‘can’t connect the dots.’ The ‘no-dots’ crowd seems to view each event as discreet and somehow not linked. They cannot fathom that somehow someone might be manipulating them.”
Greenie: “The idea of modern-day mass brainwashing is scary stuff. I never really considered the possibility being so widespread. I mean, there’s always been some portion of the political parties that was effectively brainwashed. The old Blue-dog Democrats, for example, and the more recent alt-right Republicans. But you’re paper implied a higher percentage of the population.”
Greenie: “I’d like a coffee, too, please. By the way, where’s Gelly?”
JC: “You suggesting it wasn’t the FBI…but somebody else?”
Greenie: “I think the real issue was early-stage dementia. It wasn’t very bad before the election. Then the deterioration accelerated once he was in office. It was like his brain was on a ski slope headed downhill fast.”
Jordan: “Alright. I know his father, Fred Trump, had Alzheimer’s. There’s also data indicating a higher probability of being inflicted if a parent has had Alzheimer’s. Assuming your prognosis is correct, do you really think the dementia was having that much of an effect?”
JC: “And think about the tweets? He’d take one position one day and then a few days later he’d do a U-turn and contradict himself. Then he’d claim he never sent the first tweet. I agree he seemed to have less and less control over his emotions.”
JC: “Oh, nothing more than insulting heads of state, insulting the mayor of London and then disclosing Israeli secrets to the Russians. Oops, I forgot he effectively gave the finger to his own cabinet members by regularly contradicting them publicly. Then, he attempted to trash any media that questioned anything about the administration. What was really kooky was the wrestling video aimed at CNN. Shall I go on?”
JC: “I sorta remember that incident but why do you think driving a cart on the green is so important?”
Greenie: “Now, we’re out of here. Please tell Gelly we said hello…and not to take you too seriously.”
Greenie: “Unfortunately, by the time the FBI took Trump out, the damage to the country was too great…and we had the Revenge Revolution.”
JC: “Think about it…and I know you realize this. The Donald was more of an enabler for the Revenge Revolution rather than the cause of the Revenge Revolution. For 20+ years before Trump, the Republicans had been moving farther and farther right. The Donald let the Republicans do a really hard-right turn.”
Greenie: “Exactly. I know you think the comment about brainwashing was tongue-in-check but I really believe many who claimed to be Republicans were brainwashed.”
Matt: “So the total was 1,000 but I guess each team earned 500…right?”
Jordan: “That’s exactly what happened. One team negotiated supposedly in good faith…and then at the last allowed negotiating session told the other team they were being bombed.”
Jordan: “After the class found out about the bombing, people no longer trusted members of the group that bombed. The change was immediate. The entire class has a casino party on Saturday night, the day after the bombing. Some members of the group that bombed staffed the casino tables – dealing cards, for example. And guess what?”
Jordan: “I can still tell you the names of the key players in the group that bombed. What’s more I can tell you their careers were not much different that their behavior in that group. I’m still friends with two of the three key guys but I would never work with them.”
Matt: “Alright, so you had an interesting exercise or even informal final exam. Now bring that exercise back to the Trump administration. You think there were parallels?”
JC: “Agreed, but the Democrats didn’t seem vicious like the Republicans.”
JC: “Republican leaders crafted the proposals to reward the very wealthy and screw the very people who voted them into office. I recall one of the Republican senators who crafted their bill in secret making the following statement, ‘Medicaid does not pay doctors enough per visit.’ Followed by ‘The proposed bill cuts Medicaid payments by hundreds of millions of dollars.’ Duh, oh wise senator, do you understand what you just said?”
Jordan: “Fortunately for them, Trump had so many other personal conflicts that affected the presidency, especially financial links to the Russians, the FBI had to take him out.”
Greenie: “JC, I agree that a lot of people in Congress have been influenced by money. Trump certainly was, too. But…”
Greenie: “The movie director’s problem? He was either too stupid to realize the potential consequences or had too much hubris. And look what happened to the director’s prized possession.”
Matt: “Since when did Fox News become a real news organization? Anyway, Comey’s testimony did not provide clear-cut evidence of obstruction of justice. Questionable behavior by Trump? Definitely, but no clear-cut evidence of obstruction.”
JC: “But, no, the Donald thought he was doing another episode of the ‘Apprentice.’ Scowl and look mean. For some reason he couldn’t apologize and took the opposite approach by ratcheting up the negative rhetoric.”
Matt: “He did make Tillerson and Mattis each look like a fool. Each had worked hard to convince NATO allies that the US was committed. Then during the meeting at NATO, Trump claims…incorrectly I might add…claims that US taxpayers were footing the bill for other NATO countries. Worse still, at the NATO meeting he refused to support Article 5…the key to NATO.”
Greenie: “Can’t have the Attorney General following the law. Have to be tough.”
Greenie: “Mid-June. I remember because we’d just moved to Alexandria…Virginia, not Egypt.”
Greenie: “Think about Trump’s meeting with the Russians in the Oval Office. No reporters except for a Russian photographer. Only when the photographs were published by the Russians did the US public know who really attended the meeting.”
Greenie: “So Trump slobbers all over the Russian’s the Saudi’s and then a few days later trashes our allies in NATO. Trump was clearly not working for the best interests of the United States. His argument at NATO about the extra burden on US taxpayers was wrong. A week or so later his argument to drop out of the Paris climate accord was completely false. That’s why I believe there was lots of money funneled to the Trump family.”
Matt: “And you think Pence and Sessions were in on the deal, too?”
Jordan: “Let me jump in. Yes, the tax returns would have helped. Highly likely that most, if not all the foreign payments were never reported. Releasing the returns would have subjected Trump, and probably Kushner and other family members, to income tax evasion. In addition to tax evasion acknowledging payments from foreign governments would have violated the emoluments clause of the Constitution.”
JC: “Supporters claimed the events were left-wing hyperbole and the actions by Trump were meaningless or innocent. I don’t buy in. There was a pattern. Too many so-called “odd” events in such a short period of time not only doesn’t smell right…but it defies logic.”
Jordan: “I’d say the odds were well beyond 1,000,000:1 and likely well above 100,000,000:1.”
JC: “Let me guess. #1 is supporters didn’t really understand the issues. Recall Trump saying something like, ‘Who knew healthcare was so complicated?”
Matt: “I agree with one exception. People with a college degree who continued to support Trump after the first few months in office. It’s impossible…or at least I think it is…to go through college and not develop some understanding of how events are linked.”
JC: “Yes, Fox News. I’m not certain that was the intent of Fox News, at least when it was started.”
Jordan: “I agree the other channels could be a bit biased at times, but not like Fox. You know as well as I that Fox should have been called the ‘pants-on-fire’ network.”
JC: “That’s my point. Fox routinely made up stuff and presented as hard facts. Trump supporters actually considered Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity as serious journalists.”
Matt: “Let me go back and ask again. What about certain members of Congress…McConnell, for example. Was he brainwashed? Is that why he stonewalled any investigation of Trump? What about Pence and Sessions? Were they brainwashed?
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