In response to a FB posting that listed pretty much all of our errors and mis-steps over the last 75 years or so, then asked why we would want to return to former Greatness, I replied with the following.

Wow. America is not perfect. Well, I'll be darned. Who knew?

Let us review the immigration statistics for all 207 countries. Oh, look, more people want to come to America, and less want to leave, than any other place on the planet. What a shock. 

Maybe it's because of the freedoms we offer, the opportunities, the lifestyle to be whomever one wants to be, the ability to improve one's life and take care of one's family. Our warts and our mistakes are out there for all the world to see and discuss and rage against and point fingers at. At least we allow that, heck, we encourage it. 

Try speaking out against the ruling governments in: Turkey, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and all the countries ending in stan, N. Korea, Vietnam, China, etc., etc. Dissent is either not allowed at all, or tightly tightly controlled. 

So many firsts in our political system this last national and state election alone. You can look up the "Firsts" elsewhere. Folks of all backgrounds, sexual choices, and religions were elected to various levels of our govt. This is known as inclusion, and it's a good thing. 

The Dulles Brothers/Eisenhower foreign policy of the 1950s has set up the world as it is today. Our own confused unclear national foreign policy has perpetuated it to a certain extent. Interfering in the internal affairs of other countries was thought to be the best way to insure American dominance for the second half of the 20th century. What we overlooked, was that 1) countries tended to take offense at our approach; and 2) all our foreign aid, Peace Corps, Voice of America, Exchange programs, and others, led to the improvement and independence of many, many countries around the world. Not all of them chose to be associated with Western principles of individual freedom of speech, religion, and life itself.

Pointing out our faults is putting our country's existence out of context. No country, no empire, has ever, ever been perfect. More countries have modeled their constitutions and forms of govt after us, than after any other type, period. Communism and monarchy are proven failures. Utopia doesn't work, and neither does Socialism nor Fascism. I think our country has, in just over 240 years, gotten a hell of a lot more right, than wrong.

I am aware of its warts and its mistakes, and I am also aware that despite its missteps, people are still willing to dig tunnels, hang on to a floatable object, swim, stowaway, do whatever it takes, to get in here, so they too can have a better life than from whence they came. We must be doing something right.

Anyone else disturbed at the increasing national trend, going on some 30 years now, of eliminating competition in the market place? This is NOT how we made the 5,000 Year Leap in society.

One box store and one on-line store overwhelmingly dominating retail; a tiny handful of communications giants; half a dozen networks; half a dozen newspaper conglomerates with no journalism views or skills allowed; cars that must meet strict federal mpg guidelines that insure a one-design system (car shows 50 years from now are gonna suck); one national health care system with little to no competition to control products and prices (see Epi-Pen); look-a-like chain stores across the country, eliminating the small business owner.

This is what this election is all about. A new World Order where we are told where to buy, what to read, what to believe, where to go get ourselves healed. This, is nonsense. This, is not the pursuit of Happiness. This is not freedom.

Not voting, is simply not an option. You're not "showing" anybody anything by not voting, other than you are a moronic and irresponsible citizen. Few people like the candidates we are stuck with. That does NOT absolve us of our principal duty as citizens. Section 60 in Arlington, and cemeteries around the country are full of young men and women would love the opportunity to vote. I know that my vote will probably cancel someone else's for the other candidate. I have resigned myself to the non-option of having to live with one of these two disgusting human beings in the WH come Jan. But vote I must. We must. And I will. We all need to. 1968 remains the only year that at least 60% of us did so. And that, is pathetic.

If you and I approved mortgages for un-qualified applicants, we'd of been fired, or sent to jail.

If you or I refused to pay our taxes, we'd of been fined, or sent to jail.

If you or I had created false bank accounts for real customers without their knowledge, we'd of been fired, fined, or sent to jail. 

If you or I failed to properly handle classified material of any level, we would have gone directly to jail, for years.

After the mortgage banking fraud, only one guy out of thousands was left holding the bag, and went to jail. Meanwhile, thousands lost their jobs, homes, and life savings. 

Fortune 500 and other companies across America have inverted themselves to register and bank overseas, abdicating their tax responsibilities to the nation and to the communities in which they live and depend upon tax-funded operations. 

Slithery Clinton is walking free after an alleged FBI investigationt that we now know was fraudlent from day one.

The upcoming election is, more blatantly than ever before, about the ongoing battle between rich and poor, the haves vs the have-nots. Those with power willing to abuse for personal interest, at the expense of the majority of the citizens of this once great country. Nation in Distress indeed.

Enron and Worldcom Frauds = I believe three execs went to jail, while thousands lost their jobs, homes, life savings.

Mortgage banking Fraud = crashed the world economy, cost people their homes, jobs, savings. One guy, left holding the bag, went to jail.

Fortune 500 companies = either inverted, or banking off shore to avoid their share of taxes. Govt goes nothing, burden added to few members of lower and middle classes that still have jobs.

Wall St. stocks have never been higher = not reflective of real world. Slithery's fans want her in to keep the ride going.

Wells Fargo Bank, as CORPORATE POLICY, creates millions of false accounts using their own customers. CEO stammers before Congress, finally resigned yesterday, forfeited $42m in stock. While he has no golden parachute, he also has NO LEGAL CHARGES pending, and "at $134 million, the 63-year-old's retirement fund will pull in $3.6 million a year if he bases his planning on living to age 100 before investment income or inflation are taken into account."

"Besides whatever retirement benefits he has accumulated over the years at the helm of Wynn Resorts, founding CEO Stephen Wynn would get a payout of $358.1 million if his board terminates him without cause or a change of control, such as in a merger, according to filing checked in August.

David Simon of real-estate firm Simon Property Group stands to walk with $302.4 million and Leslie Moonves of CBS would get $225.3 million.

Some cash in. When Viacom gave the boot to CEO Philippe Dauman, he stood to make $84 million on the way out, according to executive pay tracking firm Equilar.

If Yahoo succeeds in selling its core assets to Verizon, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer stands to get about $50 million as part of her package."

Justice Dept allegedly investigates Slithery for any illegal activities in regards to handling of classified materials, finds she lied, BRINGS NO CHARGES.

Congress robs Social Security fund, involuntaryily contributed to and built by, American workers. No relief in sight.

Presidents overextend Executive Order powers, thus circumventing Congress and the whole point of having three balancing branches of govt.

Monopoly laws are ignored.

De-regulation has left us with one govt-run passenger railroad without competition, and four U.S. airlines carrying 80% of all air traffic, thus controlling what they have to give as customer service.

And THIS, then, is what the coming election is all about. Do we as American voters and citizens, continue to allow the status quo to continue, to allow our system of govt to be trampled over by the rich and haughty, who were RAISED to believe the rules don't apply to them? Or do we put into the WH a guy, who for all his flaws, remains an unknown quantity who says he will turn things around?

Granted, there's no great choice between the two. But, based upon the behavior of Big Business, Big Oil, Big Pharmaceutical, Big Banking, Wall St., and the failure of any part of our govt to reign any of them in, for at least 40 years, I think the choice is clear.

Seems to me that the only folks up in arms over Mr. Trump's comments recorded 11 years ago, are the talking heads who need new fodder to chew on. No one else, including the populace, seems all that upset over his remarks. Men will be men. And, people change over time. Women talk about men in the same way.

I liked retired CBS respected newsman Bill Schaeffer's (sp) comments Sunday night, post-debate: "that debate resembled a banana republic...." I'm paraphrasing here. What an ad hominem debacle and disgrace on both sides. I don't believe the issues facing us were discussed at all.

What we have is the Perfect Political Storm, constructed by both major political parties nominating as their candidates, the two worst possible people to ever be considered for the most important job in the world. Neither candidate has the class, character, or integrity the office demands and should receive.

Slithery has all the national and international experience, but is a liar, a cheat, a thief, a disengenuous speaker who will say and do anything to get back to the WH. Her denigrating and disgusting treatment of staff wherever she has hung her purse is well-known. Trump is right in that she is a hypocrite. Her husband is itching to return as well. They are two of the most disgusting American citizens we have put in the international limelight since Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.

Mr. Trump can't get out of his own way. He clearly believes since he can run a boardroom, that he can run a country. Good grief. However, Slithery is a known quantity of the most disgusting. Trump is the unknown and despite his too-plain talk, at least offers some hope of turning our country away from Big Business, Big Oil, Big Pharmacy, and Wall St.  It is thought he will bring hope and economic stability to We the Deplorables, er, People, and restore the disappearing middle class, the backbone as always, of our once-functioning society.

I will be forced to vote on Election Day, only to cancel out a vote for the other person. That is NOT how our system of representation and election is supposed to work. 

In reply to MSNBC artilce 5 Oct 2016 about 38,901 of Muslim immigrants allowed to enter the U.S. so far in 2016:

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It's an organized terror group under the cover of a religion. It's been in hateful existence since the 7th century.

Our leaders of both parties had better wake up to the truth of this cult. They have not ever hidden their true goal: world domination and worship of Allah and following the strictest tenets. These people are nuts. They are deadly. They are dedicated to violence. They strike out from their terror cells every now and then, and we all act surprised: "It's a nice community. We never thought it could happen here."  

I am tired of hearing that. The list of Muslim attacks in America, and around the world, is more than long enough to tell everyone these people are nothing more than terrorists.

Since for centuries they have made their mission clear, they should not be admitted to this country. There is a wonderful greeting inscribed at the base of our Lady with the Lamp. It simply does not apply to these terrorist killers born with tunnel-vision hate in their hearts. They are not welcome here, nor in most countries.

I could care less if they are fleeing war-torn areas, if women and children are involved. It's all smoke and mirrors. They will use, and believe in, any method, fear, intimidation, lying, acting, to get implanted and eventually pull off their plan of killing any and all who disagree with them.

They are the entire world's latest curse, in a long line of such activities. It is past time to snuff them out, as an entire people.