Way back in the day when John Adams became our second president the vice president was the one that came in second by the number of votes cast. As a result Thomas Jefferson became Adams' vice president just like John Adams had under George Washington.
At the beginning of Adams term Jefferson in every way possible tried to undermine the president. Eventually Adams found all kinds of ways to remove Jefferson's supporters. Thus diffusing Jefferson's influence over him. In other words the two major leaders of this country were at polar opposites when it came to how governing should be put forth for this new nation.
During their dueling campaigns one could say this was the earliest beginnings of dirty negative campaigning which pretty much carried on through the beginnings of Adam's presidency.
How we elect a vice president changed in 1804 when a 12th amendment was added to the constitution. This followed after the votes counted tied both Jefferson and Aaron Burr (members of the same party) proceeding John Adams presidency leaving it up to congress who decided on Thomas Jefferson after intense bickering over having to vote on 36 ballots to arrive at it's outcome. Eventually Vice President Burr tried to under mind Jefferson's authority and was later arrested for treason.
Eventually 12 years after Adams left office both he and Jefferson renewed their friendship over the next 15 years exchanging letters to each other until both their deaths on the same day July 4th, 1826. Coincidentally on the 50th anniversary of the 'Declaration Of Independence' both had signed.
Here's My Point This nation has consistently stood on a precipice. Our fight with England, the civil war, world wars and the depression, each could have gone either way. So far either by good fortune or destiny we've managed to survive. I'd hate to think this generation were the ones to drop the ball in the nextpresidential election. Granted some things were a lot nastier then present but there's no guarantee we will always be so fortunate. Let us never experience these same separations resulting in further bloodshed.
My hope is we're willing to put aside our differences in-so-much as we never ever again become violent once again as this nation once was. Make no mistake, as past history indicates, this nor any other nation is immune. Beware of such.
A time when we weren't so damned worried about being politically correct. A time when TV was at it's best. A time when people wouldn't be outraged as they would be today.
"The Dean Martin Show"
"Celebrity Roast"
Redd Foxx
Why is Jesus white? - Muhammad Ali
Archie Bunker Gay?
Pat Paulson on Social Security, Firearms & Other Issues
The very same issues we face today
Speaking Of Pat Paulson, here he is on Merv Griffin...
Can you only imagine if they tried to air this routine today !
Smothers Brothers and George Segal- Draft Dodger Rag
Face it. We lost the ability to laugh at ourselves In it's stead been replaced by intolerance and hatred
I tend to think of it this way. A computer's basic hardware is designed to first get it up and running before it's installed software begins to run. Humans may not be so different. DNA not only stores the patterns of how our brains will form but also is capable of recreating patterns of learned experiences from past humans as we continue to evolve as a species.
This is not as far out as it first may seem. Present day developers are experimenting with DNA computing-- "a branch of computing which uses DNA, biochemistry, and molecular biology hardware, instead of the traditional silicon-based computer technologies."
This leads us to two lines of reasoning. (1) Oh well this is the way stuff happens or (2) we just may be the product of a higher intelligence similar to what present day developers are trying to accomplish with their experimenting with DNA computerization. If it be the latter it further leads us to questioning just how much latitude humans are allowed to have with their self determination?
Recent researches into biogenetic DNA research & engineering indicates these are not unreasonable questions to ask.
Perhaps one day these engineered creations of ours may be asking themselves these same questions.
The Social Security Fiasco: Since National Penn Bank has been converted over to BB&T the wife went online to Social Security in an attempt to convert her direct deposits over to her new routing numbers. Social Security no longer recognizes her even though she applied online three years ago. So she filled out all the questions as if she never had a login.
What followed was a series of multiple choice questions in which they already knew the answers to. They recognized she had a car loan asking how much a month & to who? Which credit cards did she own? Who did we have a prior mortgage with? And a bunch of others I never would have guessed they had privy to. After all was said and done Social Security requires the number to your cell phone so they can send a text message with the required numbers they give you to sign in on.
Hey I thought I better check on mine. I use my Social Security login about two or three times a year. When I logged on a screen this time it came up telling me I had to change my username and password. GOOD GOD! So I did. The next screen said enter your cell phone number so they could text the security code to proceed. Well that went down the dumper real fast. My cell phone's battery blew up wrecking mine so I've been using my wife's. NADDA. Nothing happened. Tried it again and another screen popped up saying try again in 24 hours I've been locked out. 48 hours later same damn thing. So I called Social Security. The person answering unlocked the account. While I stayed online the screen requiring a cell phone number said the number was invalid. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!
She said try again. I did three times. Even though the wife's cell phone is only in her name the operator said it shouldn't matter but conceded it was possible. So apparently Social Security already knows the damn cell phone account holders too! Bullshit, She said she already filed complaint but never heard back. How freaking dumb is this! Not every last senior has a cell phone. Indeed in some areas of this country there's not even cell service available especially in Western States far more rural.
Wells Fargo Fiasco: That same night I went on to my online banking. Wouldn't you know they were as screwy as Social Security. After 10 years of using the same username and password a screen came up forcing me to change them both. At least they allowed an option of a robo voice call to our landline. So I took care of that. The next day when I logged on again the same damn procedure came up forcing me to change my username and password Are you kidding me.. two in two days! I'm afraid to even take another shot at it for now. F*ggig nuts!
Back To BB&T Headaches For The Wife So now she tried to log onto BB&T to enter these updates. A screen comes up that said her browser is outdated and she can't use it. They link to Microsoft's update site. Problem is she has the last browser offered for her VISTA computer. Therefore she's screwed. She downloaded Google's CHROME browser where she gets the same warning but at least allows her through.
Here's what pisses me off. I'm not about to drop a couple of hundred buck$ for a new computer and cell phone because of these ignorant monkeys. Indeed that's what they are. When I called Social Security I followed their directions and the menu for "online help" never came through. It asked me to press "5" for other options. I did and it took me to an area where I can apply for a new card. Are you kidding me! I called again and a completely different voice menu came up. HEY IT AIN'T ME!
Other Frustrations
Hackers & Programmers: These software programmers are so over the top about the only ones who can get into accounts are the hackers. No matter how many updates, computer system releases or new smart phone purchases it never ends. The way I figure it the experts at company headquarter servers, the Pentagon, etc. need to worry more about themselves then we. If they can't prevent hacks nobody with a computer or smart phone can either. It starts with them.
Protect Your Privacy: Bullshit. You can't. Everyone everywhere wants your Social Security, credit card information and cell phone numbers . Social Security already has this information. The credit bureaus already has the information. Retailers, banks, cops, the IRS as does every Harry, Dick & Jane and everyone in between. What privacy.. there ain't none!
APPS There's apps for riding trains, Easy Pass, parking games, pay-per-view. Most have access to direct deposits. Some even requiring maintaining a certain amount in advance before you even spend it. This makes no sense to me.
Hope I Never Get Arrested I think of bails as blackmailing someone before they've even gone to trial. Supposing someone gets hit with a $75,000 bail, they've got to come up with $7,500 (non refundable to a bail bondsman) or the $75,000 itself. Else sit out in jail for weeks or months for something they may not have been found guilty of. OK I can see why this is necessary for some and repeat offenders, but it's gotten out of hand. Takefor example the case of the John Cramsey who owns a gun store and range in Emmaus. He lost his business after it was broken into three times while he rots in jail. Face it the guy's not going anywhere. It's to a prosecutor's advantage to strip the guy of any money that could go towards lawyers for his defense. Hardly what I call fair justice.
Bridge/Turnpike Tolls/Sales Taxes: Pennsylvania is taking taxing to a whole new level (as are many other states). In Flint, Michigan garbage collection has been suspended. New Jersey gasoline taxes going up. These are services people can't get around using. What we're seeing is government out of control. Neither party nor their candidates are going to bring an end to this.
"Belief disconfirmation paradigm--- Dissonance is felt when people are confronted with information that is inconsistent with their beliefs. If the dissonance is not reduced by changing one's belief, the dissonance can result in restoring consonance through misperception, rejection or refutation of the information, seeking support from others who share the beliefs, and attempting to persuade others."
