Things That Aren't Here Anymore
Years ago, in the 1960s and 70s, there was a PBS series hosted by a local broadcaster in Los Angeles, Ralph Story, “Things That Aren't Here Anymore”. Ralph would highlight the passing of Busch Gardens, Lion Country Safari, the Brown Derby restaurant, and many old Southern California attractions into history. This series found life in other cities throughout the nation hosted by their local broadcasters. Fast forward to today, what’s not here anymore?
Not so much the physical elements of our society that have be scrapped but far more important things aren’t here anymore. Honesty, integrity, and fairness in the information given to the 330 million citizens of the greatest nation in the history of civilization.
Of course, one starts with the elected leaders of this nation. Has there ever been, on both sides of the aisle, a bigger bunch of disingenuous, sneaky weasels directing what affects our daily lives? Americans are misled. No, lied about what may impact their daily lives, and it starts with “The Big Guy”. Like it or not Joe is telling/reading the nation some tall tales.
America is heading in the right direction according to him. The border is secure, the Communist Chinese are no threat (spy balloon), and the evil Republicans are going to cancel Medicare and Social Security. Fighting for the working man, taxing the billionaires instead of the little guy and on and on and on. Joe’s non-stop blather reached a new low when he didn’t take the fentanyl overdoses of a mother’s two sons seriously, but instead laughingly referenced the congresswoman who blamed him for their deaths. It didn’t matter when it happened. It was tragic. The man’s foot is permanently stuck in his mouth.
The president of the American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, went on an epic rant in front of the Supreme court Tuesday, as the Justices were hearing arguments about Biden’s plan to cancel 500 billion dollars of student debt. The Court will likely rule that Joe’s executive order is unconstitutional. This screaming loon who represents 1.7 million education workers was “pissed”, she shouted, about likely outcome. How many of her members have student debt do you suppose? It’s about fairness, a concept that Randi doesn’t understand.
There was no video of the Pipefitters Union president, Mark McManus, carrying on like a madman at the Supreme Court. He wasn’t there. Chances are not a lot of his members have student debt. So why should these folks be responsible for Weingarten’s members debt? Years ago, people understood that if you borrowed money there was an obligation to pay it back.
New Yorkers elected a Congressman (Republican) George Santos, to represent parts of Long Island and Queens, who admits 'embellishing his résumé'. Most would refer to this as lying. Since his November election, the facts revealed continue to dispute the phony life narrative that was featured during his campaign. His credulity is beyond suspect as the real truth surfaces.
The honorable action would be a resignation and an apology to his constituents. Perhaps in another time, the Watergate Era, a politician would do this. Not George. This phony has announced that he will serve the people as their elected representative regardless of his tattered history. Just another example of integrity on vacation. Hopefully he will be thrown out of office.
Sure there’s always reminiscing about “the good old days” and most of the time it’s dismissed as maudlin, wishful thinking. There was a time when honesty, integrity and fairness was very prevalent in society and those who didn’t practice it were exposed. Now those practices are “things that aren't here anymore”.
Maybe the “good old days” were the good old days after all.