Politics are rarely ever talked about at the lunch table but on Thursday I eavesdropped on five known MAGA supporters talk about Kennedy's confirmation to head the Department of Health and Human Services which includes oversight of the CDC and Food and Drugs. A well known vaccine skeptic, Mr. Kennedy has spread conspiracies theories about them to the point that my Liberal Ladies group (who eat together on Tuesday nights) is worried we're going to suffer another pandemic before 45/47 is out of office. Among the other things being cut by Executive Order is funding to any school with a Covid vaccine mandate for staff and students. These five MAGA fans were saying things like, "There really wasn't enough testing done on the Covid Vaccine" and "I won't be getting any more Covid vaccines until they prove they are safe." Thirteen billion dosages of the vaccine have been given to people world-wide! How much more 'testing' do they need?"
They went on to talk about how Kennedy wants to get rid of all the additives in our foods and by then cynical me was thinking about how much the Republicans made fun of and had hissy-fits over Mrs. Obama's White House garden and her project to teach city people how to grow, cook and eat healthier foods. Sometimes I feel like I'm living in an alternate world. It's certainly a tribal world. Ideas are only good if your team is pitching them.
One night I challenged myself to watch Fox News to see how they were covering the demonstrations across the country over firing all the people in USAID and they didn't even mention there was any push back in the courts or in the streets, in fact they were praising Musk for the fine job he was doing gutting USAID and other government agencies and "saving the tax payers trillions of dollars." If that were true why is 45/47 calling for the federal debt ceiling to be raised 4.5 Trillion dollars? Could it have anything to do with Musk getting 8 millions a DAY from federal contracts for his SpaceX project? We can't buy grain from U.S. farmers to send overseas to starving people because that's "wasteful USAID" but there's no oversight what so ever on how that eight million dollars a day to go to Mars is being spent. And what's the point of colonizing Mars---the goal of SpaceX---when we can't even agree on which groups of people here on earth are worthy of getting our tax money.
Another one of our hard core MAGA supporters died this week. He was such a nice, gentle guy. But a man with Pro-life and Trump bumper stickers on his car. Married 75 years. he lived a life devoted to his Church, his wife and large family. He held his wife's hand where ever they went and they never had a meal at the lunch table without praying (out loud) over their food. He was a one issue voter who could overlook all kinds of 45/47's sins in exchange for his promise to "save the babies." I try to remind myself of this couple when I'm about to I spout disrespect and hate towards all MAGA people. They are many things but most of them are not evil.
Yes, it's very tempting to sit here and write a bitch session about everything that is annoying, wrong or downright scary going on in the country right now. The current administration's bull-in-china-shop approach to governing is destabilizing the entire world. And they are proud of that fact. If I was two years old I'd be that kid who'd be laying on the floor right about now, kicking my fat little legs up and down and crying while the adults do their best to ignore my temper tantrum. But I'm not two years old and in my eighty+ years of living I've learned enough to know that I'm the only person who can hop on the metaphorical white horse and save myself from what ails me. Unfortunately my armor is not shining at the moment from falling off the damn horse too often because I worry too much about things beyond my control.
But I can save myself from my continued weight gain which is pretty much what my doctor told me last week that I have to do. He did look up a medication that he thought would be safe for me to take, but it requires a daily shot in the belly and he stated Medicare wouldn't cover it. So he asked me what has worked in the past and I made the mistake of being honest, confessing that lots of time spent exercising worked better than anything. He was what I predicted he'd be: sympathetic about how much I hate being fat and I hate exercise but he told me none the less to start walking three miles a day on the treadmill. It's been three days since I saw him and I've been to the gym three times since but I've yet to make it the full three miles.
He also gave me a prescription for some liquid iron for my blood and a nasal spray for a persistent cough I've had all winter. My blood work showed that my Stage 3 Kidney Disease has not progressed---good news. But something I answered on the Medicare Wellness questionnaire must have triggered an automatic reply because a few days after my appointment I got a list on my patient portal for places seniors can get help with food or housing insecurities or mental health issues. I do not need a list like that but sadly for those who might, many of those services listed probably will get cut by President Musk. ©
Until Next Wednesday…
That picture made me smile in spite of all the destructive things they are doing.
ReplyDeleteIt may be just a silly photoshop, but if you saw the press conference where Musk did all the talking in the Oval Office and he had his four year of son with him who picked his nose and wiped it on the president's desk while 45/47 glared at him you'd wonder who really is in charge.
DeleteI loved the nose picking and especially having it rubbed on the desk. Orange Man is a known germophobe, so I'm sure he loved it, too. LOL.
DeleteI'm in the alternate world with you. Why does everyone succumb to his every whim? Closing libraries? Putting himself at the head of many cultural communities? 💩 There is not one sane idea around him and his oligarchs.
ReplyDeleteHe's hoping to wear us all down in his first 100 days so he can walk all over us afterward.
DeleteYeah some of the MAGA people are nice, misguided people, every time Trump opens his mouth I want someone to shut with a fist.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you think. LOL
DeleteOh dear, such a lot of worrying things happening in your country like ours, I find it difficult to understand anti vaxers, what did they want to do instead, just watch people die?
ReplyDeleteAnother questions is when did we quit believing in science? We're having measles break out again after decades of not having any cases in the USA.
DeleteI recently heard MAGA voters referenced as low information voters which is certainly a kinder and probably more accurate designation than other labels at least for the majority. What gets me is that they don’t seem to want the hear factual information. I am trying not to let fear and despair over things I can’t control take over my mental health but the first month of the Trump/Musk presidency has been horrible for our country and the world.
ReplyDeleteI agree that low information voter is a more accurate designation but they still frustrate me, it like they can't handle complicated concepts so they take the road of least resistance for themselves. I remember trying to point out cases where abortions are necessary to save a woman's life or because the fetus was died inside the womb and this couple still wouldn't admit their should be exceptions.
DeleteYes to what you said. I find the lack of care for individual lives appalling.
DeleteThe MAGA voters think you guys are "low information voters" as well. Just curious, have you guys been keeping tabs on the wasteful spending numbers coming out? How about the millions of dead people they found on the social security rolls? Do you see that on your liberal "low information" news channels?
DeleteThose so-called dead people the Musk 'found' collecting Social Security at 150 years old was a coding thing that Musk's team didn't understand, According to ABC News "Part of the confusion comes from Social Security's software system called COBOL, which has a lack of date type in its programming. This means that some entries with missing or incomplete birthdates will default to a reference point of more than 150 years ago. The news organization WIRED first reported on the use of COBOL programming language at the Social Security Administration. " Musk had to back track on that claim.
DeleteP.S. Did 45/47 or Musk correct his claim of wide spread dead people collecting S.S. in all the same venues where he spread those false claims? Did they tell MAGA fans about how he fired 300 employees were managing America's nuclear weapons only to realize no one was left to do the job and when they scrambled to rehire them they couldn't get in touch with them because Musk had wiped their contract info from the system?
DeleteAs far I can tell, the "wasteful spending" numbers are all generalized and no one is seeing actual reporting. With Musk's platform, he can broadcast anything he wants and it will be magnified to MAGA without anyone questioning it. Example: When asked about the (false) accusation re: $50 million for condoms in Gaza, he said, "Some of the things I say will be incorrect." I don't see him rushing to share corrections though.
DeleteHe doesn't. He 'sh*ts' and flies away as if it didn't happen.
DeleteWell girl you really opened Pandora’s box today. I can’t see how you can sit and listen to the comments about our leader without gagging. Every morning I hate turning on the news and hearing the latest cuts and seeing how proud our leader is about them all. The cuts to education slice into our family with 4 teachers, soon to be 5, as they struggle already to educate our future leaders. The Kennedy confirmation is down right scary as he will destroy our health and human services and it will take years to repair it. Senior citizens are scared they will lose their Social Security that they paid into and their Medicare. No one should live in fear of losing what is rightfully theirs. Oh girl, you got me stirred up this morning. Oh, about the weight loss meds, why does it have to cost so much to get healthy? That’s a topic for another day. JJ
ReplyDeleteAt our Liberal Ladies table last night a woman was telling about her granddaughter who is a lawyer and her granddaughter told her that all her friends are getting their passports in order and making sure they have $1500 in case in hand in case they have to leave the country in a hurry. I guess its not just seniors who are scared. I still have a teacher in my family. I feel so badly for what is going to happen to them and all they laid off federal workers. I spent an hour yesterday online waiting to get some information I needed from a government office, can you imagine the wait times in the future when all those departments are gutted.
DeleteEducation is being returned to the states. As a former teacher, I believe it is a better thing for the nation. Each state can more efficiently manage its educational system as it is closer to the source. Furthermore, it is just another states rights vs. federal rights issue. Neither really a dem or rep issue. As to the social security issue, it was explained that the social security information runs throughout other government agencies and some erroneous payments due from other agencies were actually made. But you won't hear it on your liberal channel. If we all listen to both and keep an open mind, we really would be better informed.
DeleteHaving 52 standards for what you have to know to be a high school or college grad could complicate things when you apply for a job in another state or the military. There has to be a compromise between totally doing away with the Department of Education and giving the whole ball of wax to the states to control as all states do not place the same value on education as others do.
DeleteI've tried to watch Fox. I really have. I don't feel I can criticize what I haven't seen. But I can't get through a whole show. I just can't. Rick is at a groundwater conference in Richmond right now. One of his favorite people in many ways is a Southerner with whom he doesn't talk politics but guesses was probably a MAGA guy, just because that seems to be the thing in the industry. Salt of the earth guy, does good things for the community, would give you the shirt off his back. It's a hard dilemma and as you said, one of those things you have to remind yourself of when considering the mass generalization. (Although I wonder how long that will last...) I'm glad your appointment was pretty good. I've got to get back to walking. No treadmill and too much ice outside. Maybe I just need to go back to Costco. Once around, hitting up and down every aisle, is a mile.
ReplyDeleteWe can never get through to the MAGA people if we lump they all in one pot and as long as FOX and X are pumping out so much misinformation. And its not just misinformation, it's hate they are sowing. Like Musk saying that he's finding so much corruption with no proof other than he doesn't believe in helping poor people or poor countries.
DeleteI'm not walking outside either until spring. My doctor's appointment when as I thought it would but I was hoping for a wonder drug to help me lose weight.
Some friends and I were talking the other day about health issues -- weight gain, particularly -- and we all agreed that regardless of what does or doesn't happen in D.C., it won't affect that issue for us. One admitted an inability to stop with the sugar; most of us haven't been walking as much as we should --at least partly because of wet and cold weather. My apartment complex has a fully equipped exercise room available for us; do I use it? Nope. A treadmill bores me to death. I'll be glad for my work schedule and the weather to both ease, so I can get outdoors more and kick up those miles!
ReplyDeleteThe weather here is bad for outdoor exercise unless you're into snowshoeing or skiing and I left those sports in the dust a long time ago. I've always been a stress eater so what happens in D.C. does effect me. I know it shouldn't but can only do alternative things like meditate or practice living in the moment for a few weeks before I revert back to my default for dealing with stress.
DeleteI had my medicare evaluation and told them I was depressed ever since the election. And that it was affecting my mental health. And until things changed politically in this country, I expected to be worse and worse. She said "okay".
ReplyDeleteI didn't say it as directly to my doctor as you did but I did admit to a level of depression I hadn't had before which is probably why I got the follow up letter/list.
DeleteI plan to say the same when our Medicare Eval comes up soon here at Home during their visit. They need to know the level of Anxiety and Depression and Insecurity this vile Administration is causing so that it is well documented and held into account what it's really costing.
DeleteGood point. I wish I had been more direct in pinpointing my depression.
DeleteWe seem to be ignoring all the lessons of history, not to mention science, and it just doesn't bode well for our country or the world. I'm trying to read just enough to know what's going on and then do other things to dissipate my anxiety, which is pretty high right now.
ReplyDeleteMe too. I'm limiting my news to 3 to 4 hours a day which is a lot considering I used to have it on from getting up in the morning to going to bed at night. Been a news junkie my entire adult life. I wish we didn't have a bridge between us and Canada. lol
DeleteI think we're all doing that, limiting exposure because its all so heavy and a lot to unpack right now.
DeleteMy kids' father is Canadian, so they have the option of taking out Canadian citizenship, and my youngest is in the process. (She works in Canada already.) I think a lot of people with the dual citizenship option are taking it.
DeleteI don't blame them. I've never had a passport or passport card and I've been looking into what is required.
DeleteI'm proud of you for getting on that treadmill! That's a big step. You don't have to do 3 miles at first. Just do any amount and you will build up your energy. I haven't exercised as much since it has been cold. I need to follow your example and workout more inside.
ReplyDeleteOne odd thought about RFK Jr. and the people who won't get the vaccines in your place - those MAGAs will die off from those diseases.
They think Covid is just a bad cold that the CDC blow out of proportion.
DeleteSince it mostly killed old people and those with other health conditions, but the administration (under which the vaccine was developed) is against mandates for hospitals and nursing homes, how does one reconcile that mandates are the only way to save lives in some circumstances? The contradictions are mind numbing.
DeleteIn our assisted living building things spread so fast and they are quick to quarantine people to their rooms and limit visitors. I don't think the current administration cares if elderly people die off. I personally know five people in their 40's who where hospitalized with Covid and two almost died.
DeleteThat Meme, LMAOROTF!!! Glad your Kidney Disease hasn't progressed and that you are doing your best at the Gym. I have to get back in there with consistency too, no excuses now, Dr. Kim told me to resume all pre-Stroke activities and it will help with the shortness of Breath and Fatigue, I know he's right. When I exercise I do feel better, so does The Man when I get him out Walking a lot. We did that on his Birthday, his request to go Canning *LOL* and we made just over 20 Bucks doing it, not bad for a Day in Sunshine doing Environmental Cleanup Roadside! There's a Working Homeless Young Man the Age of The Son, also a Painter at a nearby Warehouse, who lives under the Bridge at the Riverbottom with his Dog, can't afford an Apartment and his Family live in Washington State. He always saves his Aluminum for us, stops and talks, he's a Veterans, didn't make a Career out of the Military tho'. There shouldn't be Homeless Working People, especially our Veterans, but, here we now are. He said the Sheriff rousted him to move, he was camped under the Overpass across the River and bags his Trash and keeps a clean Campsite. But he said some other Homeless person ruined it there by setting some Fires that then the Fire Dept. had to put out, so everyone got rousted. He told us where he's moving to, another thick stand of Tamarack Trees a little further down the Riverbottom, and we told him to stay Safe and Well. Breaks my Heart to see any fellow Americans having to Live like that. He said he's Thankful for his Military Training which Taught him how to live off the Land and Survive in any situation, but, still... Yes, I know some MAGA who aren't evil, I just hope they see The Light eventually, that the Long Con played them and they are supporting what they do at America's peril.
ReplyDeleteThat's really sad, the homeless vets. Every homeless person I know has something personal that keeps them on the streets, a heart breaking story...of mental illness or abuse in the home. We could do better as a country but instead we have to waste money fighting in the courts over MAGA issues or going to MARS.
DeleteThank you for the report on FOX. I’ve been curious but just couldn’t bring myself to click there.
DeleteSince November, I’ve just been in the sit-back-and-watch-him-self-destruct mode, occasionally chuckling at non-vaxxed measles victims and job loss maggots. But the latest blow I can’t just accept is the nasty, inhumane comment that Ukraine should yield land taken by force because Russian soldiers “died for it.” What the actual f? So that’s the trump doctrine? Gather your forces, invade, rape, and destroy the country of your choosing, and get approval for it from the orange menace? I’m just sick about this. And now he’s added that Ukraine started it? And no push back from Congress? Unreal.
I really, REALLY hate what he is doing to our standing in the world.
DeleteI would just like to recommend The Christian Science Monitor as a reliable news source. It has been known to be non partisan and "just the facts, ma'am". It was founded to counter the ridiculous news sources and reports that were rampant in the early 19th century. It was recommended to me in a college political science class when discussing the issues of what media can you really trust?
DeleteGood to know, Thanks!
DeleteI’ll never in my life understand how any decent halfway intelligent person can support trump..especially now. I think it’s many years of being brainwashed by Fox or their own, sometimes well hidden bigotry, racism and religious fanaticism.
ReplyDeleteI hope I can live alone for a long time yet, as the thought of being around trumpers would cause me great stress. Mary
I don't get it either. I truly do believe that racism and religious fanaticism is a big part in why otherwise intelligent people don't care if 45/47 isn't a decent human being. Anyone can see that no matter your news site or source.
DeleteGlad to read that your kidney disease is not progressing, Jean. I think collectively everyone in North America is stress eating - everyone in my family and everyone I talk to is stressed and worried about what is happening in your country and how it will play out here in Canada and around the world. People have this underlying sadness and anger and it's like we are all walking around with dark clouds over our heads.
ReplyDeleteDeb
A dark cloud over our heads is a great way o put it. We can be having a normal conversation and do normal things but when there is a pause our minds go to anxiousness over what is going to happen next. Hope you guys up in Canada are ready for a border crisis because I hear a lot of chatter about going to Canada if it gets too bad. Heck, even I'm seriously thinking about getting my first passport for no other reason than it might give me a sense of control over my future.
DeleteOh so glad to have come upon your blog. It's lonely here in my red-as-red-can-be state--the one with the large measle outbreak. I too try to watch Fox, but can't make it long watching their pandering to and spreading the ignorance.
ReplyDeleteMy husband, who is a dear sweet man in oh so many ways, does not share my political views. After 48 years of marriage, I wonder if I can make it through the next 4 years without divorce or bodily harm (his). sigh. I told him I hope he will at least tell me "You were right," as they cart me to a camp for non-conformists. I wrote each of my representatives in DC before I went to bed last night, all red, so absolutely no use whatsoever, but perhaps another tick in their negative columns.
I was very, very happy at my last doctor appointment to see a big NPR logo on the face of his smart watch. I don't see a lot of resistance in my community, but when I do it is like seeing a star point of hope in a dark sky.
I live in a pretty red county and it took me a while finding like minded liberal thinking people to have dinner with every Tuesday. I don't know how you do it without someone to vent with. I do think it helps to write and call our representatives. They need to know that people do pay attention to their actions and are holding them accountable.
DeleteThanks for stopping by and the comment!
I'm with you about how not all Trumpists are evil, some are kind, but only to those people who they understand. And control I suppose. Once the discussion extends to people who are different from them, their hearts close and their minds turn off. It's disturbing to see, difficult to understand.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean. I've overheard a few conversations here about Transgender kids that make my skin crawl regarding how little understanding and empathy they have.
Delete