Tag Archives: opinion

Political, Random Thoughts, Thought of the day

Modern News Companies and Politicalization

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Is it just me or is every news channel on Cable, satellite, and the internet focused on making every news broadcast political even when the subject is not? They show you the news and information they provide through their political lens. Many of them accuse the politicians of stoking the flames of the political divide when in truth some of the news outlets do more pushing on politicization and that does not help in reducing the political divide in our nation.

Being a middle-of-the-road kind of person when it comes to politics, I am not going to focus on which political position may be right or wrong but more on the fact that politicization of every opinion and most news on the various mediums does nothing but further the political divide and causes nothing but unrest and even violence in the end. Politicians and News Media outlets are only partially to blame, a good part of the blame falls on us, the citizens and viewers.

We spend way too much time glued to our electronic devices watching the news station that best suits our political views and we lose focus on the fact that regardless of our political party we back or our political views, we all are citizens and fellow residents of this great nation. We should be more focused on working together to fix the problems we face here in the U.S. and on finding ways to come up with compromises on the most politically divisive issues.

It is called the United States because we all agreed to work together for the betterment of everyone regardless of political affiliation, race, religion, or sex. We the people means everyone, not just one elite group or only one class of people etc. So let’s get to work on closing these political divides and find compromise on the issues we may all not agree on one way or another.

I myself have chosen to turn off all news from cable, newspapers, and the internet. I only watch the local news for the headlines and weather now. Still a small bit of political bias and opinion but far less than the other media platforms. I prefer to form my own opinions and come to my own conclusions than follow those of others blindly. Free thinking is the cornerstone of a healthy mind and a good worldview.

Take opinions of others with a grain of salt, think for yourself, and always verify any and all sources of information my friends.

Ray Barbier

Random Thoughts

Random Thoughts 12-13-2022

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Elderly people are not disposable, they are the people who helped build this world you are enjoying now. Many of those we call elderly once built the cars we drive, and designed the buildings we live in. Some may have just cleaned the buildings we worked in or served coffee to our parents and grandparents before or after work. Heck, a good portion of the elderly is in the U.S. federal government and they even cast aside the elderly at times.

Seems like the focus is always on the children or the younger working-aged group of citizens when it comes to congress and our government. But then why should a senator who makes a 6 figure salary and has a guaranteed retirement from our federal government worry about social security or the welfare of the elderly citizens that still can vote and contribute to society through the experience they have and the wisdom they have gained.

My opinion is that if they want to cut the budget look to their own salaries and retirement packages, their perks for being in office, and the wasteful spending in the defense budget instead of trying to cut social security or veterans benefits. Cut out some of that pork barrel spending in bills passed, and do straightforward bills without all the little perks for their states that do nothing but gain them possible votes.

Don’t even get me started on how tired I am and probably most people are with the partisan bull that does nothing but keeps congress from getting anything meaningful or worthwhile done. Or how money from lobbyists keeps what the people want from being passed due to money coming before constituents to some people in congress.

No government is perfect, there is always some sort of corruption and/or under-the-table deal going on. Just wish those in congress would remember they are elected to represent all of the citizens not just the base of the party they are in or the lobbyists that paid them the most money. The Meaning of We the people of the United States in the constitution is that the government is for the people and by the people, not just one party, group, social group, or individual.

One of the problems is that being a senator or representative is seen as a career instead of a civic duty by many of them in office. They lost their way and serve money and party over the people who voted for them. Wonder if they would be different if they made minimum wage and couldn’t receive any money from lobbyists and if they had term limits similar to a president. Who knows, it is what it is and unless we get more politicians that do it for the people and not just for the party and money it will remain as it is.

More than likely Social security and other social programs that were created to help the less fortunate will be constantly underfunded and at threat of being sunsetted until there is some sort of change in congress. Sad those that worked all their lives and helped build America and funded the federal government will be considered as a burden on the government. Human lives should always be more important than party politics or satisfying the political base that got someone elected.

Well, that is the opinion of this near-retirement-aged man, agree or disagree it is what it is. I wish everyone Happy Holidays and pray we all can find peace and happiness in life.

Ray Barbier

creative commons, Random Thoughts, Thought's on World Issues, Ukraine, War

Random Thoughts 4-4-22

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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

We are always living in History in the making, some years are more notable than others and sometimes there are worldwide incidents that will overshadow the rest. We are living in times where extremism has once again reared its not so pretty head, world superpowers trying to regain once lost territories with little regard for human life or freedom. And almost in every nation’s political system, there is a battle between the extremes of their political parties.

The civilian population is being fed political propaganda of one sort or another through opinion pieces often disguised as news which leaves them either divided or confused. Democracies are facing growing pains and some want to say that democracy is dying, though I just believe it is growing and changing. Any political system that is too rigid and/or too inflexible to adapt to change in the world is destined to fail.

So here we are at a pivotal and important time in history, will we navigate through it and come out the other side better as a whole? We are on the edge of what may be a world war, a war that could bring about the end of humanity and possibly all life. What we do individually is as important as what we do collectively in the end. Of course, the war scenario is more in the hands of the leaders of all the world nations, but it is the lives of each person that will be put on the line.

War is never a good option, though it will always be an option as long as we have militaries and conflicting national interests. Diplomacy is a better option but it requires all sides to be willing to compromise to bring peace. As we see in Ukraine war is a terrifying and ugly thing to live through. There is very little respect for life and/or compassion on the battlefield and most of the time civilians are looked at as unfortunate casualties / Fatalities of war if not cannon fodder by some.

Photo by Mathias P.R. Reding on Pexels.com

Extremism, Imperialism, and nationalism are all diseases infecting the world and may one day bring the end of humanity if we are not very careful. I am not saying one shouldn’t be proud of their nation or that you should abandon having your extreme ideals, I am saying you should also be open-minded to the possibility that there are other views and nations that could be just as good if not equal to your own.

Well, what do I know? I am just an average man in the mix and these are just my opinions that were formed from my half-century worth of experiences. I could be wrong just as well as I could be right or somewhere in the middle. I do know that war is not a good thing, what happened in Ukraine to the civilian population thus far is an atrocity and should never have happened.

We are at a pivotal point in history, which way will we pivot? what will be the new direction of humanity as a whole? We will continue down the road of war, greed, and extremism? or will we find a better path for humanity and forge a future all of our children can be proud of and live in. The choice is not only in the hands of the Governments that rule our nations, the choice is in everyone’s hands in the end.

One Lifetime

Ray Barbier

Personal, Poems and Writings, Random Thoughts, Religious, Thought of the day

Sometimes I get inspired to write

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062Sometimes I get inspired to write, other times I just write for the sake of it. Either way I follow my own path and try not to do anyone any harm. I know not what my actual purpose is as of yet but I walk in faith the best a man can. I seek truth, knowledge and the wisdom they can contain. I try to share what I know as well as learn from the sharing I do. I try to be open-minded so I do not become someone unable to learn or grow. I try not to offend though sometimes there is no way to totally avoid it. I am who I am and that is all I can be, what I am becoming is what God has planned for me. So the path I follow may be my own but it is the path God has led me to walk at this time.

God Bless

Ray Barbier

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