You're as mad as hell ...

Many years ago the movie Network challenged us to announce to the world "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." Now in 2016,
we've finally accepted that challenge. Middle class white men, like myself, have gotten mad as hell and announced it by voting for Donald Trump.
Of course, this makes absoulutely no sense. If you are mad at billionaires for making more money than you, why would you vote for one? But then,
anger is never logical.
From the beginning of recorded history whenever anger has been used as the catalyst for action inevitably bad things happen. Murder, riots, war,
genocide can all be traced to people getting angry and taking irrational action and then justifying it because of "righteous anger." The truly
sad thing is anger tends to escalate and reignite. The 100 year war, centuries of violence in Ireland, the never ending acts of terror in the middle east
all due to rage that could not be forgotten and constant new acts of violence to reignite it.
Responding to anger and violence with more anger and violence is not the answer. I hope enough people in this country realize that. I hope that
our natural compassion and the history of fair play in this country will overcome our equally long history of intolerance. We will see in a
few months. In the meantime, if you are feeling mad as hell, ask yourself why and then instead of being angry take a deep breath and go hug
someone you love, or better yet, someone you think you are angry at.

Florida Equals Wonderland

   When Alice falls down the rabbit hole to Wonderland, she is greeted by the Cheshire Cat. When she asks directions he kindly explains that she
can meet the March Hare or the Hatter, both of whom are mad. Alice exclaims that she doesn't wish to go among mad people. Why, asks the cat, did you
you come here then?  I must ask the same question of anyone coming to visit or live in Florida.
   Whenever my state makes it on the national news scene, it is invariably about some craziness which you won't find anywhere else. Escaped king
cobras and pill farms are just the tip of the latest pyramid scheme. Not only do we not really do much about the insanity, I am fairly certain
those of us who are long time residents go out of our way to encourage it. Originally, I am fairly certain the idea was to discourage carpetbaggers
and copperheads. The population and fraud statistics (not to mention who we elect to political offices) tells me that that plan hasn't worked.
The only conclusion that makes any sense is we just like it this way.
  So welcome to Florida, white rabbits are just the beginning. Welcome to Wonderland where words mean whatever
our politicians and policemen want them to. Welcome to a state whose slogan once was (and still should be) "The rules are different here." If you
run fast enough, you might just get to stay where you are. More likely, it's off with your head.