Party Matters: Secret Subject Swap

 

Welcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This month 3 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. Read through mine and at the bottom you’ll find links to all of today’s other Secret Subject participants.

 

My subject is: This country has been through a lot in the last few years. What is one thing that you think is the worst that has happened and why, and one thing that gives you hope for the future? 
It was submitted by: Rena of The Diary of an Alzheimer's Caregiver.

 

 

Under normal circumstances, this question would be overwhelming. I mean, to say this country has been through a lot doesn't do justice to the level of damage done here. Number one has to be the deaths, many senseless, from Covid. Beyond that is the complete chaos, the loss of any moral compass, the manipulation of our court system, the lying, cheating, stealing. . . And as each day finds us hitting a new low, yes, trying to choose just one instance would be overwhelming. 

 

But through the past few years, I've addressed a lot of what has been going on. I've talked about the deep depths to which the republican party has fallen (and continues to fall) and my frustration at the lack of definitive action by the democratic party. I've made the case for the democrats effectively being enablers through their hand wringing and pearl clutching instead of using the tools in their arsenal to staunch some of the blood flow. 

In order to refrain from making the same points over and over again, I'm going to tell you that honestly, what I think is one of the worst things that has happened is the loss of the republican party.

I'm not conservative in my beliefs in general, but I value a conservative voice in our politics. I think one of the healthiest things our democracy has benefited from is our two party system. It is a system of checks and balances, one that requires open minds, a platform for multiple views, an ability to negotiate, and the respect for opposing views and those who have them, productive discourse.

 

And friendships on both sides of the aisle. 

 

Politicians able to leave the debate on the floor and share a dinner or watching a game together, buddies with a mutual respect and in many instances, genuine friendships.

 

 

Apple Cinnamon Buddy Snacks

 

All of that is gone. And this is a profound loss. It was all necessary for a functioning democratic government. But there is no longer a viable republican party. There is only carnage, a battlefield of lies (even those that result in death are continuing to be disseminated), gerrymandering, changing of rules, bigotry, and hatred. The republican party no longer exists. And those true conservatives out there, the voices we desperately need to hear, are either leaving politics or being voted out.

We need, yes, need, a viable, rational conservative party in this country.

 

 

You probably think that the one thing that gives me hope is the midterms. You'd be wrong. Even though the results of the midterms do show that there are many people in this country who will not (or will no longer) align themselves with a party of lies, death, cheating, bigotry and deceit, too many of those elections were won by far right candidates with nothing to offer but robotic recitation of the party line. And of the rest, too many were far too close. 

 

What I once thought was a small, maybe 10% of the population, is now . . . still . . . despite everything that has happened, more like 45% of us. So no, sitting there with my heart in my throat through the midterms is not what gives me hope.

 

What gives me hope is our youth. Yes, there are young vehement Christian nationalists, Nazis, haters, but as opposed to the older generation, I see far more good, acceptance, rationality in our youth. I see they espouse less bigotry, accept their black and brown, LGBTQ+, Jewish and Muslim, disabled and mentally challenged societal brothers and sisters. Science matters, marijuana has healing properties, clean air and water take precedence over greed.

I grew up hearing, from my grandparents, my parents, and even have said it myself, that we hope to create a world, a country, a life, where our children have it better than we did.

We have failed. Dismally. Embarrassingly.

 

We now are in the position of looking to our children to save our planet, our society, our country.

And they have given me reason to hope that they will.

 

 

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

Climaxed 

The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver 

 

Apple Cinnamon Buddy Snacks        

                                                                    ©www.BakingInATornado.com

 
Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

6 cup Apple Chex cereal

4 cups Cinnamon Chex cereal

1/2 stick butter, softened

1/2 cup cookie butter (speculoos)

1/4 cup caramel baking bits

1 cup cream cheese baking chips

2 cups powdered sugar

3/4 tsp apple pie seasoning

Directions:
*Mix together the Apple Chex and the Cinnamon Chex. Set aside.

*Place the butter, cookie butter, caramel baking bits and cream cheese flavored baking chips into a large bowl. Microwave for 40 seconds. Stir. Continue to microwave and stir at 20 second intervals until the butter, cookie butter, and cream cheese baking bits are completely smooth (the caramel baking bits will be coated but not melted).

*Add the cereals to the bowl and gently stir to coat. Pour into a large sealable plastic storage bag.
*Mix together the powdered sugar and apple pie seasoning, add to the bag with the cereal, seal, and gently shake the beg to coat all of the cereal with the powdered sugar.
*Spread out onto a large piece of parchment paper for about 30 minutes. Store in a sealed container at room temperature.

Spontaneous Trouser Inflammation: Secret Subject Swap

 

 

 

Welcome a Secret Subject Swap. This month 5 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. Read through mine and at the bottom you’ll find links to all of today’s other Secret Subject participants.

 

 

 

 

My subject is: If you could change one thing that is wrong with America, what would it be and how would you fix it.
It was submitted by: Rena of Wandering Web Designer and Technology Therapist.

 

 

 

 

Put succinctly, what we need is spontaneous trouser inflammation.

 

Of course, I put nothing succinctly and leave it at that, so let me treat you to the thought process:

 

There is so much wrong with this country right now, I don't even know where to start. But I've written about many of the issues that weigh on me fairly frequently, especially during the trump debacle, on this blog. In all honesty (I'll get to that soon), I think the level of my despair is partially that so much of the behavior that was previously surreptitious has now become blatant. But I also have to admit that part of it has been my own naivete. 

 

I have an understanding of how our political system is supposed to work, including the checks and balances to safeguard integrity. But I now see how our party system has steadily chipped away at the crevices in the framework. Then came trump, who didn't chip away, he came in with a wrecking ball (sorry, Miley). What was once concealed, based I'm sure, on some level of (now long vanquished) shame, fear of public backlash, is now the bold, and blatant.

Boosted by systematically compromised federal agencies and cable news personalities espousing the same agenda without any regard for the truth. Emboldened by the segment of society that not only eats it up whole, but seems to believe that conquering is all that matters, and rules are for the other side, conspiracy theories are now mainstream. Lies are truth and truth is lies.

 

If I could change one thing, though, it wouldn't be our political system.

Overwhelmingly, what I see is that we are exactly as we're characterized throughout the rest of the world. We are a lazy, entitled, egotistical, inconsiderate society. If we want something, we buy it. If we can't decide, we buy both. If we don't like it, we throw it out. We believe what's convenient. We acquire what we want, take what we want, go where we want, wear what we want, eat what we want.

 

Crockpot Chicken and Pork Dinner

Never have I seen the embodiment of stark selfishness as what I saw during Covid. People who would not wear masks because they didn't want to be inconvenienced just to protect others. People who would not and will not get vaccinated for the same reason. Both politicians and media personalities publicly inciting fear while actually not just getting vaccinated themselves, but being first in line. Doing for themselves not only what they will not do for others, but actively, publicly, and consistently discourage vulnerable people from doing. Selfish. Stunningly egotistical.

 

There was a time, when I was raising my kids, that selflessness was the goal. Actively doing for others. Truth is, it's not one or the other, there's a vast chasm between selfish and selflessness. You can not be selfish and also not be selfless. When it comes to our society at this point, I'd settle for the midpoint. If we could all just function outside of the realm of narcissism and take a step towards the center, a sort of do no good, but do no evil either place. I'd call it a win.

 

 

But the selfishness isn't what I'd change either. We need to go way down deep, to the roots.

 

If I could change just one thing, if I had to start somewhere, I think the core of the issue is a basic moral principal, honesty. 

 

Was the election stolen? Tell the truth.

Did the covid deniers get the vaccination? Tell the truth.

Was there a violent insurrection against our government? Tell the truth.

 

What I can't help but think about is the movie Liar, Liar. You know, the lawyer who had no moral compass, lost all of his personal relationships in order to build his legal reputation. Until one day, for 24 hours, he could only tell the truth. If only I could blink my eyes (OK, moving on from Liar, Liar, to TV shows like Bewitched or I Dream of Jeanine), and force everyone to tell the truth. Even if it's only for 24 hours. 

 

How would I do it? Liar, liar, pants on fire. I don't have the power, of course, to enact a spontaneous combustion consequence to dishonesty. I bet if I did, C-Span would find itself bolt to the top of the ratings chart. But if I could, that's what I'd do. 

 

Spontaneous trouser inflammation. It's a start.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

Wandering Web Designer 

Climaxed 

What TF Sarah 

Part-time Working Hockey Mom

Crockpot Chicken and Pork Dinner        

                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

about 1 1/2# pork tenderloin

1/4 cup Italian salad dressing

1/4 cup creamy parmesan salad dressing

2 TBSP olive oil

1 can golden mushroom soup

1/2 packet (or 2 TBSP) dry onion soup mix

1/2 cup white wine

1 clove minced garlic 

1 small red onion, sliced

6 oz mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

2 small potatoes, peeled and sliced 

Directions:
*Cut the chicken into about 1 inch cubes. Trim the pork tenderloin and cut into about 1 inch cubes.

*Whisk together the Italian salad dressing and the parmesan salad dressing. Place into a sealable plastic bag with the pork and chicken cubes. Massage to cover all of the meat with the marinade. Refrigerate for 2 - 4 hours.

*Grease the inside of the crock pot. Whisk together the olive oil, golden mushroom soup, onion soup mix, white wine and minced garlic and pour into the crockpot. Add the meat (with marinade), onions, and mushrooms.

*Turn crockpot on to low. Cook for 4 hours, stirring now and then. Add the sliced potatoes and cook for 2 more hours.