Politics and Monkeys

During a classroom discussion about bullying, an elementary school kid was quoted as saying that he doesn't like Donald Trump because he is a bully.  The child eventually explained that he doesn't like Trump because his parents don't like Trump.

This underscores the fact that children copy what we do, what we say, and how we behave.  Monkey see, monkey do.

The teacher was bemoaning children's lack of respect for teachers, and lack of respect for adults in general.  She said it's worse than ever.  Social media have a lot to do with that.  Kids can be mean, especially online.  We've all heard stories about bullied kids committing suicide.

There are lots of reasons why so many adults are drawn to Trump's fiery politics, not the least of which is Americans' frustration over their lot in life and anger at how their government is run.  They blame the President, Congress and all things government.  That flows to children, who conclude that dissing authority is accepted.

These next few months leading to the nominating conventions -- and especially the months afterward -- promise bitter, scorched-earth politicking.  Civility and respect will be the first casualties.

How you and I conduct ourselves directly affects what kind of people our children become.

Monkey see, monkey do.

May Elephants Never Forget

After President Obama won reelection, some fool posted a photo of the American flag hanging upside down. That is not what he thinks it is. It is a Naval sign of distress.

I've held off commenting on Mr. Obama's reelection and -- more to the point -- why the GOP got shellacked until I could calm down.

As the misnamed "fiscal cliff" looms, here's what I think.

The GOP lost for the same reason that Ronald Reagan abandoned the Democratic Party in 1962: the party lost its soul. Back then, Reagan said he didn't leave the Democratic Party; the party left him.

And clearly, the GOP left a bunch of others, too, despite the billions spent by corporate and industrial PACs to malign the incumbent as a communist, socialist and mongrel -- among other sins.

Make no mistake: Barack Obama won four years ago on his personal appeal to the masses, especially the underclass, and not on his credentials.

He won this time because you guys came across as extreme right-wing nutjobs. You let Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin and Fox News define you.

You publicly declared that your Number One objective the past for years was to make Mr. Obama a one-term president. Really? Since when is your job to scuttle the presidency?

That alone disqualified you. You lost this election a long, long time ago. Worse, you didn't realize it 'til the Wednesday after the election. Your state of shock was laughable.

What you should have done the past four years was everything you could do to help this thinly-qualified president by leading us out of the financial crisis that he inherited. Remember the balance of power thing? The U.S. was in crisis, and you idiots abdicated your responsibilities to help. All you did was hinder. You assigned blame (wrongly) and pointed fingers like a bunch of 4-year-olds.

I've talked with enough Republicans and Democrats in Washington over the years to know that there are some fine people who have sacrificed a lot and work hard to do the people's work.

It is time to prove your worth.

Address this fiscal cliff prudently and quickly. We don't want brinksmanship; we want wise leadership.

Follow Harry Truman's example: stand up straight, look us in the eye and tell us the truth.

Unlike you, we can handle it.