Month: February 2022

The Other Great Divide

In the last few weeks I received two communications via snail mail from the Republican National Committee.  Both asked for money under the guise of “Voter Affiliation Tracking” and “Congressional District Canvass”.

I’m a registered Republican as if you register as an independent you can’t vote in the primaries. And I research and vote for the best candidate, regardless of political affiliation.

Both communications (re: first paragraph) reeked of “stop Joe Biden”, “counter democrats”, “budget busting, freedom-destroying, big government, socialists agenda”, “failed leadership”, and on and on and on.

Nothing about finding a way to work together, with the other party, to address the country’s major issues!

One of the leading Republicans, Mitch McConnell, was quoted early as saying, “there will be no legislative agenda in the Senate until after midterm elections.  Read about it. 

https://www.axios.com/mcconnell-no-agenda-midterms-91c73112-0a2e-441b-b713-7e8aa2dad6bf.html

I believe that explains the division.  As I have written previously, it is a war between the political parties; it is not about managing, leading and running the country.

It is scary as there appears to be no fix to this “great divide” which, through bad leadership, spreads like a virus across the country. So badly broken!

***** S&E *****

Quite A Dichotomy

The Presidents of two major world powers appearing together at the Olympic Games Opening ceremonies, one threatening to invade a neighboring country’s democracy, the other supporting him and accused of gross human rights atrocities, and a third world-power president* not present, boycotting the games.  

Quite a dichotomy, hypocritical, considering the goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.

More great leadership. 

***** S&E *****

*That country a political mess, the politicians responsible for and feeding one of the worst country-wide divisive situations in its history.

Help me understand this…

1.22.2022. As of this entry, about 35% of the USA adult population are unvaccinated. 63% are vaccinated. The implications, the unvaccinated:

  • Pose a great risk to each other
  • Pose some level of risk to the vaccinated
  • Pose a risk to health care workers, other first responders, and all those they interface with
  • Are the majority of Covid related hospitalizations
  • The cost of hospital care for the unvaccinated is huge (one way or the other we all pay for that)
AT Risk
  • Cause medical facilities to refuse or delay care to others
  • Impact many businesses and industries, driving job loss for others

Vaccines have proved to be beyond safe.

Some causes: Bad information on social media, anti-vac (all vaccines) mentality, the political mess and mismanagement, the belief that individual freedom in the USA is a right, not a privilege (see footnote). To the list one might add Ignorance. Stupidity.

One might ask if it is a right of the unvaccinated to infect others; possibly kill others. Is that a right?

It is all beyond all reason and logic!

***** S&E *****

___________________

The Bill of Rights of the US Constitution protects basic freedoms of United States citizens. … The Bill of Rights protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, the freedom of assembly and the freedom to petition. (It does not give others the right to harm or threaten others).

Ya gotta love this one…

Amid all the less than positive press about tuition costs at colleges and universities, Snhu has a great story to tell about that and more:

  • It is accredited
  • Enrollment growth: 1,282% from 2000 to 2019
  • 3000 students on campus; 135,000 on line. Yes that is 3 zeros.
  • It offers over 200 programs, from certificates to doctoral level degrees
  • Fields include business, education, liberal arts, social sciences and STEM.
  • Named 2020 Most Innovative University in the North and one of the nation’s “Best Regional Universities” by U.S. News & World Report.
  • Awarded the 21st Century Distance Learning Award for Excellence in Online Technology by The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
  • Founded in 1932: Named “Great College to Work For” by the Chronicle of Higher Education every year since its inception.
  • Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative Companies (2012)
2020 Great Colleges to work for Logo

And what Snhu says about its social impact: “As a university built for people, not for profit, we invest in our learners and their communities. You’ll find us on soccer fields, military bases and in underserved neighborhoods in NH and across the globe, because we believe in using the power of education as a force for social good. And all of us – alumni, students, faculty and staff – play a part in making it happen.”

Read about this great institution: https://www.snhu.edu/about-us

The total tuition of a 120-credit online bachelor’s at Snhu is $38,400, or $320 per credit hour. Then, read about the other — four year non-profit in state: over $100K.

https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college

***** S&E *****