Dave of the Woods

“Dereliction of duty”……… What does it mean?…… Who CAN commit it and what are the possible consequences for committing it? Look up the definition if you are unsure of its definition. Let’s just say that it is a serious offense that CAN carry serious consequences depending on who does it and in what circumstances. “Dismissal….. to Death”……. is the range of appropriate punishments. A Private can be put to death for falling to sleep while on guard duty……….. Harsh as it is, sometimes it is appropriate. How about a Senator? Can they be charged with this offense? If not, why not? If they can, (they too took an oath to uphold the constitution), what should the possible punishments be? How about ANY government employee, elected or appointed….. are they too subject to the consequences of such an act? When is the last time an elected politician suffered grave punishment for obvious acts of “dereliction of duty”? Should they be held to at least the same standard a “Buck Private” on guard duty is?

Think what you will about the “Durham Report” recently released, but the findings are revealing an attempted take over of our political system. That it happened is no longer in question. What WILL be done with the information, what SHOULD be done with it? Unfortunately it seems like it is being treated like a football game, our side against your side. Not only that, but a game in which the ref’s are on the take. (Judge shopping). Without naming names those that make “excuses” for the crimes committed instead of being up in arms in unity against these assaults on our very election PROCESS are at the very least…. guilty of “dereliction of duty”. Those that have proven, (by their own recorded statements) to be derelict should suffer severe consequences. Such as what???????? Swift removal from any publicly held office, incarceration in federal prison, possibly for lengthy sentences, fortiture of pay and benefits, and disqualified from ever holding any office again. Like any felon, they too should lose their right to vote. The forfeiture of any professional license, (legal or medical) for life along with the inability to ever lobby, or be associated with any lobby. In other words they are never to have the opportunity to harm our system again.

Our system was set up so that our elections would prevent, or at least deter, the situation we find ourselves in now. Had we stayed with the original rules it might have. However over the years our “system” has been changed drastically in the “NAME” of “FAIRNESS”, which is just code name for “ELECTION FRAUD”. Like it or not THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS!!!!!!! If people don’t become involved and demand election reform we are in for some VERY tough times. Those working to destroy our way of life have become embolden and are now in your face on every front, no matter how perverse, demanding their acceptance and our approval.

“MaMa BEARS UNITE“…….. How’s that for a slogan? Strange as it seems right now that is our strength. Our mighty military forces are no contest for the force of concerned parents. Stay involved, don’t get disheartened!!! The good will win!!! YOU are needed by your kids and your country. Our country is based on Judeo Christian principles. Staying with those same principles, believing in God, and being INVOLVED can right our ship of state. Not giving into the wants of group in the name of inclusiveness. PRAY and ACT! Stay involved.

Going for morning coffee to cool me down…… It’s Dave of the Woods!

Good people do bad things…..sometimes…… bad people do good things… sometimes. People in , or what they perceive as being in, desperate situations will make decisions based on the emotions that they have at the time under pressure, real or assumed. I can think of no situation that creates as much emotional turmoil as an unexpected and unwanted pregnancy. The ways in which a person can find themselves in this position are many. From just not wanting to be, or having caused someone to be, pregnant. Secret dalliances, rape, incest (forced or consensual), or even just “weak moments” can and do cause pregnancies that bring a great deal of pressure. Although the pressure, and the accompanying guilt, is shared by both people involved it can hardly be described as being “equally” shared. In todays world women are told that they have a right to make a “choice”. Government funded agencies help women by making available the ending of the pregnancy and describing the “choice” as the “right thing to do” some even tried to say that it is guaranteed in the Constitution. This “choice” is to forcibly end the life of a developing baby. It is called an ABORTION!…….. a horrific end to the completely innocent result of a “CHOICE” already made by one or two people. No matter the circumstances of the conception the developing “person” is without blame yet pays the ultimate price. Women bear the scars of making this choice to varying degrees for the rest of their lives. The Center for Disease Control tracks the numbers of these “choices” according to ages, race, and other factors. Numbers….. NUMBERS!!!!!! These are not numbers………. and they are not “categories”…… they are “PEOPLE…… BABIES”…….. innocent results of “choices” already made. Helping women relieve the pressure and turmoil of unintended pregnancies should also have as a goal protecting the life of the innocent. Protect the never to be seen smile of our grandchildren. These are Gods gifts to man……. not NUMBERS! The smile from your baby or grand baby can bring a man to tears faster than the impact of a cat of nine tails. Evil exists and one of its faces is ABORTION.

Treasuring each and every one of my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with a tear in my eye……… it is

Dave of the Woods

The raid on Trumps home in Florida just has to one or the other. It is impossible to believe that any American can endorse the actions carried out by the FBI at Trumps residence. Love him or hate him it is not possible to condone what the Government agency did to him. What are the results of the FBI’s actions? What were their goals? Whatever authority gave the go ahead for the raid had to act on the idea that they could destroy, or at least erode Trump’s support. How did that work out? Lets look at the primary’s results of last night. 100% of Trump endorsed candidates won their races….. 100%!!!!!! Was the vote influenced by the thuggery of the “justice dept”? You decide. Have the Trump endorsements given 100% positive results before? If so I don’t remember it. The results were so predictable that one would think that Trump himself requested the raid. I think in the end HE is going to be the recipient of a tremendous boost from fence sitters and from Democrats that have been pushed to the other side. Even people that pay little attention to what is going on understand government “abuse of power“. Either way the type of power and abuse exhibited by the FBI can NOT be allowed to stand.

I need some Rolaids, from my medicine cabinet…………………….. It’s Dave of the Woods

I do both…… do you? If so do you have to ask permission to do either? Well…….. it seems so. How does it make ANY sense that it can possibly be so? It used to be that swearing in public was not only frowned upon…. it was illegal. Those times surly were terribly oppressive weren’t they? At some point someone, (if I remembered his name I wouldn’t repeat it) decided that he was oppressed because the constitution guaranteed his right to be crass and offensive to any or every one. FREEDOM OF SPEECH……….. a simple right interpreted to be inclusive enough to allow people to be as offensive as they chose regardless of social or community norms. So that has evolved to the point that people, including police, are required to tolerate other people hurling all sorts of expressions and vulgar insults, (some mixed with accompanying spittle), without any recourse. On the face of this it seems like an unjust imposition on people that have done nothing to incur this assault. Has the result been an open exchange of ideas and frustrations, or has there been an erosion of civility and acceptable terms of expression. Personally I don’t like the atmosphere created when any type of foul language is deemed to be the norm. If the use of foul language means using forceful language I think it has become counter productive. Foul language has become so commonplace that it no longer has the impact of force, it just seems to reduce ones opinion of people that use it. Have you ever noticed that when someone unleashes a string of obscenities their main point is lost? Be that as it may, the court says that the offenders have the RIGHT. I don’t like it so maybe we, no I, should organize a march of some kind to try to change the high courts decision. No…….. wait a minute……. I accept that the high courts ruling is the law of the land unless and until the same court rules otherwise. I swear this seems to be an out of date opinion. Is the use of this language the sign of a weak mind or just a surrender to what has become the norm? What do YOU think? How does this seem to you?

Now on the I pray part. How is it possible that the very people that find it acceptable to hurl vulgar insults in someones face find it OFFENSIVE……… even illegal for a person to say a prayer in public view? Even if it is not audible to them or anyone else. How is so offensive to them and their civility that the SUPREME COURT must put a stop to this vile, offensive behavior? Anyone caught participating in such behavior must be stopped! They must lose their jobs. They must not be allowed to teach or coach at any level! Let that fact sink in for a minute…………….. Prayerful respectful language and action are offensive while vile incivility is acceptable???? What universe do we find ourselves in and how did we get here? I’m not sure on that , but I WILL bet it wasn’t through prayer. Has it come to mean that respectful and polite people have come to be deemed as weak? Is that the yardstick? If you don’t use foul language you are weak? Where did that lesson come from? I think this is another example, a very “in your face” example of the good vs. evil world we find ourselves in. No….. it’s not a new battle, but the intensity is certainly increasing. Step back a bit and consider all of the changes that we have seen in the last……… you name the number of years…….. are you nostalgic or pleased? It’s hard to think that our kids and grand kids will be nostalgic about these times……….. but maybe so………… after all we have given them the foul field that they are growing up in to consider as normal.

As for me I will try to watch my language, so I don’t offend anyone, no….. so I don’t present myself as one that needs the foul reinforcement for my ideas, and I will try to be more mindful of my prayers in both frequency and content. Wish me well?????? I do you!

From my morning coffee, it’s Dave of the Woods

No thanks?…….. NO THANKS??…….. NO THANKS????? YOU ……….. yes, YOU have to pay attention……….. our lifestyles, maybe our very lives depends on it! Before you say that you are tired of listening about that stuff, or that you can’t make any difference anyway, consider just what IT IS that you are gambling. Is there a point when even the most uninvolved citizen says, I have to get involved……. what can I do? We should all encourage that very thing.

Our Constitutional guaranteed rights are under attack like never before. Forces are blatantly mounting attacks to strip all americans of our guaranteed freedoms in unprecedented ways. Who are the attackers? What forces are behind these attacks? Are they coordinated? I don’t believe that there is a worldwide Kabul coordinating the demise of our country. I think it is more of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” thing. Like a “yeah, me too”…… attitude. The forces behind it, I believe, are forces of EVIL……. These forces, though not coordinated, are worse than that, they are tempting “SIRENS” that know no national or lingual bounds and like it or not, YOU were either born in, or emigrated to, the country established on the basis of good for all citizens. The United States of America!!! This “GOOD” established here has been spread throughout the world and oppressors do not like it.

The attacks have been like erosion by water, drip by drip eating away at our freedoms, but tolerated. Just like erosion, as soon as any inroad is made it gets accelerated by the path established. The drip drip becomes a constant flow and then it becomes a flood. When it is recognized as a “flood” containment becomes much more difficult. I think that this is exactly where we find ourselves today.

The second amendment has been under attack for a long time. It has taken many forms, you know the chorus….. “it’s for the safety of the children”…….. “how many guns do you need”………. “how many bullets do you need to hunt rabbits”…………… and all the other claims that have nothing to do with the “freedom to own arms“. Notice that “arms” is used instead of “guns” in the second amendment? That subtle difference is evidence of the foresight our founding fathers had. You DO need arms, not guns, to own “freedom”. They took into account that the type of “arms” would change over time, and “arms” are whats is needed to insure freedom. The willingness of politicians to attack the second amendment has been very dangerous to their chances for reelection, at least until recent times. Now not only are they openly going after the second, they are embolden enough to go after the first amendment. “DISINFORMATION GOVERNANCE BOARD”!!!!!!!!!! Is it possible to be any more blatant in an attack on our very FIRST amendment? The manner in which it is being done is no accident either. Appoint a board…….. don’t try to pass a law…….. create the fissure and let it expand…….. Drip……. Drip……… Drip… This proposal should generate a howl that is many times the intensity of what is being heard in Shanghai. Locking people into their homes will only affect the 10 million or so that are locked in. Bypassing our FIRST AMENDMENT will affect all of our future generations…….. even the very future of our country.

NO THANKS!!!!! should be the guttural howl heard from every corner of this country at a volume that is impossible to ignore.

SCREAMING NO THANKS from my kitchen counter…… Dave of the Woods

” I’ll Sleep with one eye open. ” It is an old saying that was said to give someone comfort that they were being protected by someone in one way or another. Ironically being blind was intended to give comfort too. How can that be so? Blindness was the symbol of fairness in our judicial system. Lady liberty with a blindfold on holding the scale of justice carefully weighing evidence and being blind as to whomever it was looking for justice. The ultimate step in this endeavor is, (or maybe was ) the Supreme Court. Nine impartial jurists weighing the compliance to the Constitution of any situation brought before it, blind to the affiliations of the seekers of that justice. The nine Justices are given lifetime appointments to help insure impartial decisions. THAT is how the Supreme Court was set up. Adherence to the Constitution! Sadly that is not how it stayed. The Supreme Court jurists are PEEKING!!!!!! It probably always was impossible to select jurists that could set aside their own thoughts and always weigh objectively the merits of all cases. Selecting men of HONOR, having records of their rulings that were seldom overturned by higher courts seemed to insure “compliance” to the Constitution. However “Feelings” have replaced compliance in the pursuit of a “living Constitution”. Instead of a set of rules it has turned into a “what we would like it to be”. The selection process of jurist selection has degenerated into a PARTISAN exercise by one side that wants to install their “ideology” and the Constitution be damned.

How can this be accepted by the the “people”? I think that it’s symptomatic of the idea that people do not want to be held to any standards. Whatever anyone wants to do has to be accepted by everyone else as “NORMAL” seems to have replaced our rule of LAW. Look at what that outlook has given us. Deadly riots causing millions of dollars in damages are called “mainly peaceful”…….. a Jurist nominee is unable to say what the definition of a “woman” is………. people are now marrying anyone and anything that they want including animals……… theft isn’t theft unless it is………. is what……… over a certain dollar value? These are just a small sample of a much larger problem. NO STANDARDS MEANS NO SECURITY FOR ANYONE!!! What kind of a world do YOU want to live in?

Aside from the groups of people that want no standards are groups of moral, well intentioned, law abiding and unfortunately, disengaged people. WHY…….. HOW…….. can they stay off of the team of “righteous standards”? Doesn’t this disaster affect them? Have they created their own “mini society” that isn’t threatening to them? I DO believe that is exactly what is happening. Living in their own neighborhood, going to their work, being involved with their own religious groups, and ignoring all the “bad news” out there, (you can’t do anything about it anyway), gives a certain sense of security in a world that is going mad. Those IDEAS ARE WRONG!!!! It IS at your back door now. Awareness is power!

So what can this huge mass of good people do? How do I………. ME……… WE……. make a meaningful difference? GET INVOLVED!!!!! A while ago Bill Bennet said, “we have made a terrible mistake turning over the education system to the liberals” how true that statement is. Go to the local school board meetings to see exactly what is going on and give your input. The students that these schools “educate” will affect your way of life in a few short years. Ask about the books the school is making available to the students. I’m betting that you will be shocked as most people are. We have seen recently the power of the “MA MA BEARS” at these school board meetings and they are striking abject fear into groups like the N.E.A. and they are making a difference. This sudden involvement is as grass roots as it gets and it is impossible to be ignored. It’s like being attacked by mosquitoes in a swamp. Swinging at them is useless and ignoring them will kill you, there are way too many of them…….. of us…… of the parents. The politicians will respond or they will be replaced. Contact them and give input on the type of Justices YOU want. I think we are in just another chapter of the “Good vs Evil” war………. and YES……. it is a war. Divine guidance and courage to do what is right is our only option.

Remember to sleep with one eye open and let’s put the blindfold back on THE lady of JUSTICE!

With my morning coffee and new hope….. it is Dave of the Woods. Soon to be “Tweeting” too!

Is it true that people like to stand in line? I’m not sure, but I do know that I don’t. Whether they like it or not one thing that’s true is that a line draws attention. My daughter and son-in-law have a summertime business on lake Michigan that serves Hawaiian Shave ice. This is an island delight that is relatively unknown in this area. It’s gaining popularity rapidly which will usually mean that there is a line formed waiting to be served. Their market is all foot traffic and nothing increases their business like a line waiting to be served. Some people will actually get in line without knowing what they are in line for. Now, to me, that defies logic…….. standing in line isn’t fun….. so there must be something else…….. what could it be? I think that it is fear……… fear of missing out on something good. “Logic” says that whatever it is, it has to be good or people wouldn’t be standing in line for it……… RIGHT????

I have noticed that this same “logic” seems to apply to other things too…….. like…… “global warming” for example. This movement has undergone a name change, it is now climate change, since the warming part has slowed down. It still attracts a lot of followers that feel good about being involved in something that they are sure is very important to all mankind, therefore “they” are important……. without having to actually do anything constructive. People will march, carry signs, even give “opinions” based on “science” they say……… is it accurate? Is it?………..It depends on what part of their point of view you are considering. Is the climate changing………(yes) if so how quickly (not sure)……. what is causing it (you)……… what can be done about it (very little)……… and how are YOU…… YES YOU……….. injuring our very ability to survive by your actions. Feel guilty yet? Then do something……… what…….. here carry this sign……. DONATE……… aahhhhhh……. finally a reason that makes sense. Money……. money gives power to all causes and it draws attention, and validity, to their ideas. A string of “experts” will be ushered out to support their theory. Any “experts” with opposing views, will be vilified.

Global warming can be questioned, after all periods of time go by when the climate goes the other way, but climate change can’t be disputed. That has been going on since the birth of our planet (Thankfully so, where I live there used to be a very large glacier). The rational question to ask might be is this “change” a normal ongoing condition for a planet such as ours, or is the impact of human activity throwing things out of whack thereby DESTROYING our very survivability? How does a rational person decide? Lets look at the record of the people and groups that have been giving the clarion call about the looming disaster. I think of them as “chicken littles”…….. sincere…… but…… wrong! 1. Have they been right on their time line predictions? (NO) 2. Have they been right on the consequences of the change? (NO) 3. Do they do the things that they claim you must do to avoid the looming disaster? (NO) 4. Do they still buy homes by the sea (yes)……….. (why would they do that if they know that the sea is going to raise drastically) these are reliable experts? These experts do not want their lives impacted, just yours and mine. FEEL GOOD is expensive even if it is ineffective, soooo………… stand in line and pay up. Usually their dire predictions are based on ” at the current rate” of activity. Disputing their predictions you will be the target of at the very least, “name calling”, and vilification. (name calling is ALWAYS the first sign of a weak argument), IF human activity is the cause of “climate change” then human activity MUST be controlled and CHANGED!! If you equate “climate change” to a forest fire how should, or would, it be fought? With a forest fire you go after the large part of the fire with the big assets, air drops, heavy equipment, and a lot of boots on the ground. Once the fire is “contained” you go into the mopping up stage putting out what is left. With all the resources thrown at wild fires it is still usually the change of seasons that finally puts them out……. snow…….. nature…… global cooling if you will. So if “climate change” is caused by human activity the question should be what humans……. and what activity? Where are the hot spots and what fuel feeds them? Fossil fuel is an easy target. It hasn’t been around all that long and you can see the smog. The largest concentration of humans on the planet is in China and India so it stands to reason that these countries are the “hot spots“……. and their consumption of fuel has grown due to their industrialization? So ironically fossil fuel usage and climate change can be equated to human progress. does this mean that being against climate change necessitates being against a better standard of living for under developed peoples? Hhhhmmmmm…… a conundrum………….. well if a hats brim reduces sunlight on your face thereby making you cooler it only makes sense that air pollution is giving the Earth unnatural “shade” making it cooler…. right? What is causing air pollution…….. the burning of fossil fuels of course…… isn’t it obvious? If you put these “truths” together it seems that the “cure” for climate change is to send letters to China and India letting them know of the problem and tell them to stop polluting! Problem solved……… maybe not…….. because they do not give a whit about the “problem”, they agree with this nations ideas about “necessary changes” just so that they can maintain commerce with us. Where are the “lines of people“, or the protesters screaming about climate change in those countries? They are not committed to taking any action until sometime way in the future. Only we are required to “take action now”! That equates to demanding more money from you that will have zero impact, in any way, on climate change. Our negotiating skills are nothing less than amazing.

People that claim that the planet can be destroyed by man are underestimating “nature”. Populations of all things on this planet ebb and flow. If humans do have an adverse effect on any part of the planet nature will correct the problem…….. droughts end, over grazing comes back, forests re grow, the numbers of predators and prey cycle. People can not control nature! Does it make sense to me to have as little impact as I reasonably can on my surroundings? I think so. Just because it is cold outside you don’t throw your trash in the living room do you? As for you…… do as you will because that is where you can make a difference in your world. Oh…. and I recommend that you stay out of lines unless you know what they are for.

From a clean living room, and out of line, it is Dave of the Woods

Most good and bad things start with money. That is understandable….. actions require money. When it comes to political action it has come to mean a lot of money. Everyone knows that and everyone realizes that a lot of money offered also brings with it a lot of “payback” from the election winners for the donors. Different rules on political donations have been tried to reduce the “influence peddling” that large donations always have attached to them. That large donors expect to be paid back is not a surprise. After all “influence” is just another commodity…….. it is bought and sold all the time. Rules that regulate the size of donations have had NO effect at all……… nor will they have. They just outline the “hoops” the large donors have to jump through in order to comply with the laws that have zero effect on regulating donations. Why is that? Maybe because it fights the humans nature of trying to get an advantage in whatever endeavor they are involved in………. such as: pitchers throw spit balls……. coaches steal opponents signs or play books…….. game officials are bribed……… fighters take dives……. AND…….. politicians………. TA… DA….. “SELL INFLUENCE”!!! People are always looking for an edge. What BIGGER edge is there than influencing the lawmakers that affect the rules for the whole country? If promoting anyones, or any groups, agenda is a reasonable goal, at what point does this promotion cross into the category of a “bribe“……… or does it ever??

If it is believed that controlling human nature is a fools errand and that “influence peddling” is just that….. what should the rules be for lawmakers selling their “wares”? Maybe it should be that ALL DONATIONS have to be directly linked to donors and their organizations and attach the promotional material such donations can buy with “label warnings” similar to those side effect warnings that drug companies have to include on their drug ads. Such as this “opinion” is brought to you by……….. whoever. Along with those warnings come repercussions to the candidate in the form of…….. you pick the penalty…….. go ahead because……… it will NOT MATTER…….. adherence will be replaced by avoidance……. it is human nature!

No…… rules will not regulate human nature. The only way that the situation can be changed is by “limiting” the amount of any influence any individual can have on the process of enacting laws, OR regulations that affect anybody or any industries. How can this be done and still have any petitioning of the government be legal? A couple of things that would help is to have term limits and restrict any former legislator from being a lobbyist for any reason. Restricting donations (payments) to politicians would have little affect other than to make their donations harder to hide. “Donors” would be harder to find if they get less “bang for their buck”. They didn’t get their money by making bad Investments. Mark Levin has a book called, “Liberty Amendments” that I HIGHLY recommend. It addresses so many of the situations that have morphed from the plain language of the Constitution. Our founders expected the attacks on our way of life to come and they set forth remedies for handling them. The Convention of States is our best bet of correcting the course that our country has taken, in my opinion. We are a Nation founded on Judaeo Christian beliefs that is tolerant of other beliefs. That does NOT mean that we should be willing to let any other beliefs dictate, or change in any way our FOUNDATION!! Our foundation was divinely directed and we find ourselves needing Gods Direction as much today as the founders needed it then. Prayers, and the courage to do what is right can get us out of these troubled waters.

You can bet on it!

From stormy seas it is Dave of the Woods