Citizen Trump

Watched a special on MSNBC last night entitled “Citizen Trump”. It chronicled Donalds life and it triggered feelings of bitterness. An emotion I try not to embrace as it is not productive or useful. The bitterness didn’t hit until the part about his youth.

Born a year before me, he was characterized as a “spoiled brat” and “a problem child” until they sent him to a military prep school. They said he embraced the military discipline and became a star on the baseball team and “ironically” a medical deferment kept him from being drafted.

Dad didn’t buy that for him.                     Right!

That ominous government intrusion into every 18 year old male’s life, the draft, influenced every decision we made in those days. Taking time off after high school or even college was not an option. It was stay in school or get married and have a kid, or get drafted. Even that didn’t work for my brother. Five years older than me, he ended up enlisting in the Marines to avoid the draft. But that is another story; quite a story indeed.

Most of us would have loved a medical deferment, it wouldn’t stand in the way of doing what you wanted with the rest of your life. Unless you wanted to fly for a living. Another way out was the reserves or National Guard. Most of them weren’t getting activated (that would change). But they were very selective and depending on the unit, you had to know someone to get in.

This brings me to the bitterness. Rich or connected guys had no problem getting those deferments or Guard slots. The most famous was W. He not only got into the Guard but he got a slot to fly jets. And still, he couldn’t be bothered to show up. There was probably a lot of father/son rivalry going on there.

I would have given my first born male child to fly jets (sorry Ryan but I didn’t know you then, I am so glad I didn’t make that deal) But to dwell on this isn’t constructive. It only hurts me and they will never be held accountable.

Trump is scary! I’d be the last person to disagree with anyone who says that our government isn’t working; but a dictator is not what we need. The Republicans broke our government rather than let a black man they hate get any credit for accomplishing anything. They love to hate “Obamacare” but it is a republican program that turned our healthcare system over to the insurance companies. Not the single payer system he would have passed if he could have.

That’s the bitterness showing up again. Back to Trump; the special is running again tonight, check it out. I’m going to have a drink!

Weather is perfect here. Thunder storms last night; 67 today for the second time this week.

Stay warm where you are.