Will the Wealthy Run America's Government under Donald Trump?

I found this on the Facebook page of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders:

Trump is assembling the wealthiest cabinet in history — so wealthy that its members have more money than the bottom 1/3 of American households combined. That does not sound like an "anti-establishment" administration to me.

Can this really be true? Well, let's explore abit to see if there is anything to corroborate the assertion made by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.

Open the following embedded links for more on this subject:

• Donald Trump's Cabinet Could Be the Richest Ever, Sam Dangremond, December 5, 2016, Town & Country.
• Trump’s wealthy cabinet choices hark back to Gilded Age, Shawn Donnan, December 2, 2016, Financial Times.
• Trump assembles America's 'richest cabinet', 1 December 2016, BBC News.
• Bring on the billionaires! Donald Trump's cabinet is the richest in modern history - with a combined wealth of $10 BILLION (excluding the man himself), By Nikki Schwab, 1 December 2016, Daily Mail.

Okay, enough of that. Let's learn abit more about the folks with whom Donald Trump is surrounding himself. Open the following embedded link to learn:

• Who’s in Trump’s Cabinet? courtesy of CNN

In my opinion:

The wealthy have always seemed to control America, albeit covertly behind the scenes. Now, it looks as though the wealthy have overtly taken political control of the Government of the United States of America. The dominate force in the American electorate have sold their souls to the company store.

Hmmm.... How about a little diversion?

Have you ever wondered about the phrase, "sold their souls to the company store?"

Well, now you can learn about that phrase by opening the embedded link contained within the following:
Who Sold Their Souls to the Company Store?

As an aside:

The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. I just thought I'd throw that in just because it came to mind.

Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the U.S. (1829–1837), in his 1832 bank veto, said that, "when the laws undertake... to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society... have a right to complain of the injustice to their Government."

William Henry Harrison, the ninth President of the U.S. (1841), said in an October 1, 1840 speech, "It is true democratic feeling, that all the measures of the government are directed to the purpose of making the rich richer and the poor poorer."

I am mindful of the urban legend that in 1789, when being told that her French subjects had no bread, Marie-Antoinette (bride of France's King Louis XVI) supposedly sniffed, “Qu'ils mangent de la brioche”—“Let them eat cake.”

I cannot help but wonder what will America be like for economically disadvantaged people and for the working middle-class in America under The Millionaire/Billionaire Club, aka the Executive Office of the President and The Cabinet of the administration of Donald Trump.

Workers Unite! All workers deserve to be paid a decent living wage.

Mechanic's Life (@mechanics.life2016) on Facebook posted a meme that stated:

"Share if you think Mechanics should be paid more than McDonalds workers."

Several people of whom I know re-posted the meme and others who I also know clicked onto the "Like" icon and/or commented favorably in support of the meme.

Me?
Well, here is a copy and paste of the response from me to an "friend" of mine who had re-postedthe meme on his Facebook wall:

Roland Louis Hansen - I believe everyone should receive a decent living wage above the poverty line and above the income level that qualifies people for food stamps. I would rather pay more in the private marketplace for goods and services than to pay more in taxes for welfare programs needed to supplement poverty level wages paid by employers who exploit working men and women. That being said, rather than put any group of workers down, I say pull all workers up. We need not pit one worker group over another in place of advocating for the betterment of all.

I say Workers Unite!

"Workers Uniting is the name of the new international union created by Unite - the biggest union in the UK and Republic of Ireland and the United Steelworkers (USW), North America's largest private sector union."

Follow the embedded link to visit and explore the website of Workers Uniting.

The problem as I see it, however, is that many people are competing with other people on the issue of wages and benefits rather than joining together in co-operative efforts. Instead of uniting for the protection and advancement of the mutual interests of all working men and women, workers in one or another occupation are, in fact, belittling workers in different other occupatious.

I ask that you read (just follow the embedded link contained therein):
Why Workers Won’t Unite

It is my opinion that the wages and benefits of American workes have declined as a result of the decline in American labor union membership.

I read an interesting article that started out with "Union membership has plummeted in the U.S., from nearly one-third of workers 50 years ago to one in 10 American workers today."
To read the rest of that article, go on over to:
The incredible decline of American unions, in one animated map, Ana Swanson, Wonkblog, The Washington Post, February 24, 2015.

I could go on and on about all this, but instead of that, I just would like to recommend you read each of the following (embedded links contained within each title):

• A Decade of Declining Wages, From Bad to Worse, Publications, POLICY NOTE 2015/3, Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, March 2015.

• For most workers, real wages have barely budged for decades, Drew DeSilver, Fact Tank, Pew Research Center, October 9, 2014

• Here's the real reason you don't make enough money, Commentary by Thomas A. Kochan, Fortune, September 1, 2015.

Put CHRIST back in Christmas

Here we are in the year 2016; and, The War on Christmas has begun once again!

As a person of the Jewish religion, I am so frustrated by the deluge of people offended by the greeting Happy Holidays" who clamor all over the place with the battle cry "Put CHRIST back in Christmas."

Why does this controversial non-controversy happen each and every year?

The religious holiday (as in HOLY day) of Christmas is observed by Christians, not non-Christians. A Christian may observe Chanukah without violating his or her own Christian belief; but, a Jewish person cannot observe Christmas without violating his or her own Jewish belief.

I am aware of many people who are prejudiced, racist, anti-LGBT, xenophobic that are extremely assertive that Americans need to "Put CHRIST back in Christmas." To them, I put forth the following meme:

The truly religious and observant Christian has always put CHRIST in Christmas! Christ has never been removed from Christmas.

So, what does the phrase "Put CHRIST back in Christmas" really mean? For the answer to that question, I implore you to read the article as embedded within its title:
What Do We Mean By 'Putting Christ Back in Christmas'?
By Phillip Larsen 12-05-2013
 
That all being said, I now wish to shout out:

To all my Christian friends, I wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

The USA Should Adopt The Danish Health Care System

Awhile back I published a Roland Hansen Commentary entitled Obama Basher Spinners that addressed a concern I had regarding those people who just wanted to belittle and demonize President Barack Obama with reckless disregard to truth and who routinely dismissed and criticized anyone who did not subscribe to the "Obama Basher" perspective.

In that commentary, I reproduced a photo originally published by "Right Wing News" that was shared on Facebook by Pat Benson, a former high school classmate of mine from the early and mid 1960s. The link to that photo no longer works in that commentary. However, the rest of my commentary remains intact.

If you go over to read it, you will see that I wrote of an exchange I had with Pat Benson on Facebook in which the topic of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and the Danish Health System was broached. In the exchange, I suggested that she "and everyone else take a look at the health care system of Denmark." I further stated "The simple thrust of what I have written is that I wish the issue of adequate, sufficient, and affordable health care for all Americans would have been made available throughout the years."

It has been and still remains my firm belief that the United States of America should revise its health care system to be more like The Danish Health Care System. [Please open the preceding embedded link to read about the Danish health care system.]

I would also like to suggest the following for further reading:

OPINION, The Denver Post
Health care in Denmark
By SPECIAL TO THE DENVER POST
September 3, 2009 

THE BLOG, The Huffington Post
What Can We Learn From Denmark?
05/26/2013
Sen. Bernie Sanders 
U.S. Senator from Vermont

Come January 20, 2017, the new incoming United States Congress and President-Elect Donald Trump have the opportunity to revise the Affordable Care Act.

When President-Elect Donald Trump takes office, the right wing of American politics will be in control of all three branches of government in the United States of America.

I wonder if they, these right wing politicos, have the chutzpah, have the concern for ALL Americans, and have the political fortitude to do the right thing by modeling the American Health Care system after that of Denmark.

As I entitled this Roland Hansen Commentary,

The USA Should Adopt The Danish Health Care System

The Electoral College Elects The President of The United States of America

The people of the United States of America do not elect the President.

It is the Electoral College that elects the President of The United States of America.

The Electoral College was established in 1787. The framers of the Constitution of the United States of America considered a variety of ways in whih to elect the President and Vice President. They debated whether the President should be elected by a vote of Congress or whether the President should be selected by the State Legislatures or whether the President should be elected by a direct vote of the people. The ultimate decision was a compromise that was a unique blending of approaches; the framers chose on using the Electoral College for the election of the President of the United States of America.

Incidentally, the Electoral College is a not a place, it is a process.

Further Reading:
Presidential Election Process
What is the purpose of the electoral college?
WHY THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Presidential Election Laws

The 2016 Presidential Election

"For the fifth time in U.S. history, and the second time this century, a presidential candidate has won the White House while (apparently) losing the popular vote."
And now for the rest of that story, go on over to read:
Trump’s victory another example of how Electoral College wins are bigger than popular vote ones
BY DREW DESILVER

The fact of the matter is that Hillary Clinton did not win the majority of the popular vote. A majority of the vote would require obtaining at least one vote more than fifty percent of the total vote. While Hillary Clinton did receive more of the popular vote than Donald Trump, she still only won approximately 47.7 percent of the ballots cast for President of the United States of America; but, that is not a majority; Hillary Clinton got a plurality of the popular vote.
ref: Latest Popular Vote Results 2016: Hillary Clinton Has Almost 400,000 More Votes Than Winner Donald Trump
BY GREG PRICE

And to be perfectly clear on a very important point, HILLARY CLINTON DID NOT GET A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. The plain and simple fact remains that only 56 percent of the American voting-eligible population turned out to vote. That means that only about 26.7 percent of the American voting age public actually cast a ballot for Hillary Clinton for President this year.

But, Donald Trump supporters need not gloat over his win of the Electoral College vote for President. There is NO MANDATE FOR DONALD TRUMP. The fact is that fewer than 26 percent of the American voting age public cast their ballots for Donald Trump to become President of the United States of America.

In regards to the two immediately preceding paragraphs, I suggest you read:
Why did Trump win? In part because voter turnout plunged.
By Paul Waldman

Donald Trump In Comparison With President Barack Obama

Gee, I wonder how politically conservative Obama Bashers rationalize their support for Donald Trump to be the President of the United States of America upon examination of Mr. Trump's character.

Upon looking at Donald Trump's lifelong record of his personal and professional business life, how anyone could make a personal recommendation of Donald Trump for President is beyond my understandiing.

After close examination of the curriculum vitae of Donald Trump, writing a letter of reference for the position of Dog Catcher isn't even in order.

Donald Trump in any position of public trust is unfathomable to me!

Is Donald Trump A Racist?

Quite awhile ago, I came across some interesting reading regarding Donald Trump, the 2016 Republican Party nominee for President of the United States of America, and racism.

Given that the first debate between Donald Trump and the Democratic Party nominee, Hillary Clinton, for the upcoming 2016 Presidential election was held last evening, I thought I would make reference to that of which I had read regarding Donald Trump and racism.

In his 1991 book Trumped!, the former president of Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino, John R. O’Donnell, recalled Trump declaring that “laziness is a trait in blacks,” and exclaiming: “Black guys counting my money! I hate it. The only kind of people I want counting my money are little short guys that wear yarmulkes every day.” Trump acknowledged in a Playboy interview (5/97; cited Huffington Post, 4/29/11), “The stuff O’Donnell wrote about me is probably true.”

REF: Ignoring Trump’s Record of Racism

Did you go over to read the article that I have referenced? If so, I have a question for you.

Is Donald Trump a racist? 

A YouTube Video Explains Why Facebook Is Detrimental To Your Life!

If that is not enough to convince you why Facebook is detrimental to your life, then take a look at the Google search results for the phrase "Facebook ruins" where you will find lots of interesting reading about the negative impacts of Facebook use.

You might also be interested in something I published here on Roland Hansen Commentary back on Monday, July 20, 2009; just go on over to read:
Social Network Services Diminish Family Life And Friendships

What do you think?

Driver Beware!

It happened to me again, today! 

While heading north on a major street, a driver pulled out from the side street to the right of me to make a left turn heading south while crossing in front of my path. Had I not suddenly braked, I would have t-boned him/her.

It seems that not one single day of me driving from one place to another does not result with some other driver abruptly pulling in front of me, cutting me off, turning left in front of me coming from the opposite direction, making a left turn in front of me from the lane to my right that is going the same direction, or even making right turn in front of me (from the lane to the left of me going in the same direction), tailgating me and riding my bumper, weaving in and out of traffic, turning from a side street into (and driving in) the center lane for left turns while trying to merge into a traffic lane that goes straight ahead, sitting at a green traffic light while texting or on a cell phone, weaving in lanes while texting or on a cell phone, slowing down in fast traffic while texting or on a cell phone, not pulling over for emergency vehicles with lights flashing and sirens sounding, etc., etc. The list goes on and on and on!

Years ago, these types of things happened from time to time; but nowadays, it seems as though they happen on a regular occurrence. Nowadays, it seems that bad drivers are everywhere all the time!

Why Are U.S. Drivers So Bad?

Bill Griffith has written 18 annoying habits of chronically bad drivers that you may wish to read.

You may also wish to read 5 Types of Terrible Drivers: A Dossier from a 1955 Driver’s Ed Manual by Brett & Kate McKay.

All I can say is:

Driver Beware!

Team USA. Sports Players are worth more than the President. American Priorities.

Team USA is doing very good in the Summer Olympics. Professional athletes in America are also doing good.

Basketball player LeBron James gets a two-year, $64 million deal with a roughly $36 million player's option."

The President of the United States receives compensation in the aggregate amount of $400,000 a year, to be paid monthly, and in addition an expense allowance of $50,000 to assist in defraying expenses relating to or resulting from the discharge of his official duties. Any unused amount of such expense allowance shall revert to the Treasury pursuant to section 1552 of title 31, United States Code."

American Priorities?

Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole

Happy Birthday to Adam Roland Hansen of Toledo, Ohio

Here it is, July 31, 2016.
That means today is the forty-third (43rd) anniversary of the birth of my son, Adam Roland Hansen.

I want to give a shout out, and I invite you to join me.
Here goes:

Happy Birthday, Adam.

To quote my own words from my Roland's Ramblings blog entry of one year ago today:

"I have said it and written it before, as I do again now. and as I do each and everyday, I think of how much I love my son, Adam Roland Hansen, and of how proud I am of Adam who constantly, consistently, and continuously strives to be the grandest version of the greatest vision of his highest self."

You can look in at Adam over at ADAMHANSEN.NET, as well as over on Twitter and at Google+. You can also check out Adam Hasen on LinkedIn.

Once again, I say,
Happy Birthday, Adam.

What if there were a 3-way contest for President: A Non-Conversation.

A serious political discussion I attempted to initiate on March 27, 2016 (4 months ago) on SwampBubbles never really resulted in good healthy consideration and dialogue on the central topic that I put forth. Indeed, the message thread itself soured and went south, In other words, to use the good ol' American idiomatic phrase -- It bombed.

Take a look and hopefully you will be able to understand my frustration. Just go on over by opening the following embedded link to view and read the SwampBubbles message thread, WHAT IF THERE WERE A 3-WAY CONTEST FOR PRESIDENT?


Epilogue (an "as an aside" commentary on my part)

Incidentally, in that SwampBubbles message thread, the person who wrote "Roland -- Looked carefully for the 'name-calling' you accused me of doing to you. Can't find any." totally misconstrued the comment I made to him when I stated, "You have exhibited the very same type of behavior including your constant use of name-calling that caused me to stop contributing on SwampBubbles in the past."

I was referencing that individual's history on the entire SwampBubbles website of name-calling by giving people demeaning nick-names (e.g, Mr. Empty Glass. Chicken Little, Lyin' Don, the Michelin Man who never met a burger he didn't like) which is not unlike the style of speech used by Donald Trump. And, by the way, this was not the first, nor even the second time, that this person has misconstrued my comments.

I am not so sure that the incorrect interpretation of my comments (or the incorrect interpretation of comments made by others, for that matter) on that person's part was, or is, just a misunderstanding. I cannot help but wonder if it is actually an intentional, conscious "misinterpetation." In fact, I have seen many occasions in which that person has engaged in thread hijacking.

For the life of me, I do not understand why the person to whom I refer just doesn't start a blog of his own where he could put forth all his own ideas, thoughts, opinions, facts, or 'whatever' as much as he would want, rather than engage in arguments.

On the other hand, I guess I do understand -- after all, in the SwampBubbles message thread to which I have linked in this Roland Hansen Commentary, that person did state about himself,  "I do like to argue." 
[Note his use of the word 'argue' as opposed to the word 'discuss' or the word 'debate.' NOW, THAT IS SAD!]

3 Lies About Welfare

Each and every person is entitled to his or her own opinion. But, facts are facts and lies are lies. When someone wishes to express his or her opinion, then that person should not attempt to jusify that opinion with mistruths. 

As a retired career professional from the fields of public welfare and higher education, I am especially dismayed by the incorrect statements about welfare, aka public assistance. The meme I share points out only three of the common misconceptions (vis-a-vis the facts) that many people have about welfare in the United States of America.

The Hypocrisy of Internet Social Network. Facebook, et. al.

Same ol' story from me, different day, different title.
I have often written about social media diminishing real world interpersonal relationships. This blog entry is no exception.

I present you with the latest example from my Facebook page, on which I wrote the opening statement:

In response to the question posed in the status update field of my Facebook page, "What is on your mind?":
If I have so many friends on Facebook, why do I feel so all alone?

To this opening statement, a person with whom I once had almost daily contact for many years because we both had worked for the same employer responded:

Facebook is not the same as having an interpersonal friendship with someone. Humans needs that face to face contact. To me someone who makes a post on their page, is no different than someone walking by on the street just saying hi, how ya doing. We need that one on one conversation time, where people sit and talk face to face to each other.

This person apparently did not grasp the full intended meanng of my statement, but, none-the-less actually made my point in a roundabout offhanded way. You see, not only do I know the person from our previous work life, but the person also has attended luncheon meetings of our mutual workpace retirees (a somewhat small group of actuall attendees) as have I - - - and the person does not acknowledge my presence at those luncheons. Additionally, there were other people from my Facebook "friends" list who agreed with the respondent's comment.

You may be wondering how did that comment with its supporters make my point.
I will tell you.
The number of my Facebook "friends" list totals 698. The vast majority of that number is composed of people with whom I have had many years of some form of interpersonal relatonship, i.e. employment associates, school classmates, or fellow members of a wide variety of (political, labor, professional, social, fraternal, charitable, civic, and community) organizations, as well as extended family. In other words, my Facebook "friends" purport to be my friends in the real world outside of Facebook. And of those 698, I have more fingers on one hand than the number who have any amount of personal face-to-face contact with me.

Assault Rifles. The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Atomic Bombs.

It seems to me that anyone who subscribes to the Constitutionally based belief that individuals have the right to own assault rifles would also subscribe to the Constitutionally based belief that individuals have the right to own atomic bombs.

Follow my reasoning on that statement.

Using deductive reasoning in the meaning and application of the Second Amendment, an individual has the right to own an atomic bomb.

Deductive reasoning is a basic form of valid reasoning. Deductive reasoning, or deduction, starts out with a general statement, or hypothesis, and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion.

The scientific method uses deduction to test hypotheses and theories.

In deductive reasoning, if something is true of a class of things in general, it is also true for all members of that class.

Oxford dictionaries definition of arms: Weapons and ammunition; armaments.

Oxford dictionaries definition of armaments: Military weapons and equipment: 'chemical weapons and other unconventional armaments'

Assault rifles would be included in the definition of arms. Atomic bombs would be included in the definition of arms.

In deductive reasoning, if something is true of a class of things in general, it is also true for all members of that class.

Accordingly then: Assault rifles are arms. Atomic bombs are arms. The Second Amendment states, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

If individuals have the right to own assault rifles under the Second Amendment, then indiviuals also have the right to own atomic bombs under the Second Amendment.

For deductive reasoning to be sound, the hypothesis must be correct. It is assumed that the premises, 1) the right for an individual to bear arms, 2) assault rifles are arms, and 3) atomic bombs are arms, are true. Therefore, the conclusion that individuals have the right to own atomic bombs is logical and true.

To those persons who support individual ownership of an assault rifle under the protected rights of the Second Amendment but do not support individual ownership of an atomic bomb under the protected rights of the Second Amendment, I respectfully request that you please explain your reason(s) for such.

The State of Friendship in Modern Society.

I spent half of a century in my life working in public service both as a professional and as a volunteer. For decades, I was actively engaged in civic, community, charitable, labor, political, and professional organizations and activities. Many people referred to me as "friend" until, that is, I was no longer in a position to help them.

Nowadays, it seems that everyone leads such a busy life that they have little or no time to have real life, up front and personal visits with "friends" all the while they seemingly have hours on end each and every day to spend on their electronic devices connected to the internet and a wide variety of electronic social media sites. That is the reality of "The State of Friendship in Modern Society" or so it would seem.

How many people can relate to this photo meme statement about when one person really matters to another person?

Here is a quote to consider - and you may use it with others, if you so choose:
“Friends always have time for friends. Busy friends make time for friends. Regardless of how busy a person may be, a true friend is never too busy for another friend.” – Roland Louis Hansen

If you are of a mind to, you may open the following embedded link to read more of my thoughts on the topic of Real Friends.

American Taxes, Billionaires, Bernie Sanders, Free Stuff.

Roland Louis Hansen: Blatant Self-Promotion!

Roland Louis Hansen (that's me)
Blatant (adjective) - done openly and unashamedly.
Self-Promotion (noun) - the action of promoting or publicizing oneself or one's activities.

Is your nonprofit organization seeking a new CEO or other people to fill positions in the supervisory/management/administrative team? If so, you need to take the necessary time needed to hire the very best possible candidate. Meanwhile, as the recruitment process is underway, the organization needs to have a caretaker who continues to make sure the mission of the NPO is being accomplished on a daily basis. That is where I come in.

Take a look at the article I wrote:
In Need Of A NonProfit Managerial/Administrative Stop Gap Measure?

Okay, so now take a look at:
Roland Hansen, MPA (on LinkedIn)

Steve Tobak (Author and Managing Partner, Invisor Consulting) wrote the article:
Why Self-Promotion Is a Terrible Idea
BUT, I don't see Mr. Tobak (not to be confused with Tuvok) doing much in the way of "politics; current events; community involvement; citizen participation; consumer advocacy; and governmental responsibility, responsiveness, and accountability"as I have done -- So, what does he know?!!
Harumph!

That all being put out there for all to see, who wants to retain my services?

"The King is dead, long live The King!" Prince is dead, long live Prince. "Who will cry for me?"

"The King is dead, long live The King!"

Prince is dead, long live Prince.

I see all the people crying over the death of Prince. I fully understand that. It is not much different than when any celebrity has died. Nor, is it unusual for people to express their grief when anyone close to them passes away.

I have often spoken and have often written on my Roland's Ramblings blog as well as elsewhere on the internet in regards to the topic of the responses to the death of someone close to us and of the importance of maintaining contact with family and friends.

How many times do people think or actually say “I’ll call 'so and so' tomorrow” or “I’ll see 'so and so' tomorrow” or “We’ll get together soon” or any other number of things like that? And then, nothing more happens. Then, all of a sudden, 'so and so' dies.

When the shock of the death of 'so and so' sets in, many people (if not most people) will think about all this, reflect upon it, and pledge to change their daily perspective of putting family and friends off to another day – That will last for about 5 minutes and then most of those people will return to their same old ways. Unfortunate, but true. How sad, how very sad indeed!

Like many people in the final years of life, I often think about the fact that contact and visits with family and friends is not as frequent as I would wish. Over my lifetime, I honestly believe that I have initiated contact with family and friends more than they have with me; and, I believe that I have been the one who has attempted to renew close contacts with family and friends, but, more often than not, nothing much has resulted from my attempts. I try to remind myself that everyone has busy lives with many things to do and that they have better things to do than to coddle an old man like me. I do believe that we 'old folks' get depressed easily, often, and at the drop of a hat.

So, here I am now, thinking over all this stuff because Prince has died and I see many people reacting to his death and commemorating his life. Of those doing so, I see quite a few people who are my family and my friends, many of whom rarely, if ever, take the time to visit me, let alone speak with me on the telephone, or send me an e-mail, or letter, or even a simple greeting card.

Well, while this latest tremendous outpouring of public grief and crying over the death of Prince is playing out, I cannot help but wear my heart on my sleeve and cry myself when I wonder: Who will cry for me when I die?

The American Tax System Is Taxing My Patience!

I have been preparing my own tax returns for or over 50 years. I have found that filing both Federal and State of Ohio tax returns has been made more and more difficult each and every year. Not only are the regulations becoming more complex, but the ease in which to obtain hard copies of the necessary forms and booklets in order to file non-electronically on your own has all but been eliminated.

This year is the latest in the tax season that I have ever filed. All because neither the national nor the state government routinely mail out the needed materials as they once did, nor do those governmental entities, i.e. the IRS and the Ohio Department of Taxation, make printed copies of the required and needed materials readily available for personal pick up at government offices.

I find the lack of taxpayer service by the taxing authorities to be totally unacceptable. There is no excuse for the national and state governments to put the onus on the taxpayer for obtaining the required and needed materials in order to be in compliance of submitting tax returns. I should not have to run in circles to get the materials I need. Nor, should I have to pay out of my pocket (in addition to the taxes I have already paid) to have those materials printed.

The IRS and the Ohio Department of Taxation are taxing my patience!

Unlike most people I know, I really do not mind paying taxes, I really don't. HOWEVER, it is way past time for a new simplified tax system to be adopted and implemented.

ADDENDUM

"Tax preparation is BIG business – there were 300k people employed at 109k firms in 2012 - generating $9 billion in revenue in 2012. The industry grew over 2% from 2010-2015, and is expected to speed up the pace of growth. Revenues of $11 billion are forecast for 2018. Tax preparation is unusual in that it provides a service to assist with a process that legally every American is required to do: submit an income tax return."

ref: Tax Preparation Industry Analysis 2016 - Cost & Trends

"Intuit is the maker of the top-selling tax preparation program, TurboTax, which retails for as much as $100. H&R Block distributes the second-ranking program under its own name. Both have spent millions of dollars lobbying Congress on goals that include quashing initiatives to promote nearly effortless tax filing."

ref: The tax-prep industry lobbies hard to keep Tax Day a torture for you

"... there is growing bipartisan agreement that the tax code is too complicated, burdensome, and uncompetitive, and is undermining our economic potential.
The goal of tax reform is not just to design a simpler tax code but a code that promotes economic growth and ultimately raises the standard of living for every American. However, for many in Washington, tax reform is a mechanical process, not an aspirational one. To the lawyers on the tax writing committees, tax reform is about rearranging subsections of the Internal Revenue Code. To the scorekeepers at Congress’s Joint Committee on Taxation, it’s about seeing if the numbers add up. To Members of Congress, it’s about balancing the needs of some interest groups over others. Instead, it should be about helping the American people grow the economy.
What is missing from the process is a real sense of who the people behind the tax returns really are. ..."

ref: Putting a Face on America’s Tax Returns: A CHART BOOK, Second Edition

Jewish History. Syrian Refugees. Muslims. Donald Trump.

The following excerpts from several articles provide only a very small part of a much, much bigger picture of Jewish history. Open the embedded links for the cited articles to read them in their entirety.

In the year 1741 BCE, Abraham began his long journey from Haran to Canaan - a journey which would change the history of the world and have a profound effect on the development of most major religions.

ref: The History of the Jewish People 

(This website provides Year by Year History of the Jewish people 

with many embedded page links to read more information and 

also includes links to indices of names, entries, and places.)

The people of Israel (also called the "Jewish People") trace their origin to Abraham, who established the belief that there is only one God, the creator of the universe (see Torah). Abraham, his son Yitshak (Isaac), and grandson Jacob (Israel), are referred to as the patriarchs of the Israelites. All three patriarchs lived in the Land of Canaan, that later came to be known as the Land of Israel. They and their wives are buried in the Ma'arat HaMachpela, the Tomb of the Patriarchs, in Hebron (Genesis Chapter 23).

ref: Brief History of Israel and the Jewish People 

The concept of segregating Jews involuntarily behind walls was developed in ancient times, but it was not actually implemented as a policy until 1462 in Frankfurt, Germany......At one time or another, all Jews were expelled from England (1290), France (1306 and 1394), Austria (1420), and Spain (1492). There were local expulsions throughout Europe including those in Germany.

ref: Who are the Jews? 

The extremely long history of Jewish people (who have long been in the "minority" of peoples throughout the world) is one of many trials, tribulations, turbulence, perseverance, and survival against many obstacles that include prejudice, discrimination, xenophobia all hiding under the guise of protecting non-Jewish people from those "dirty Jews" as they have been called by the "majority" who profess they are only acting to protect themselves.

Oh, gentle reader, you are probably wondering where the Syrian Refugees, Muslims, and Donald Trump part of the title of this Roland Hansen Commentary comes in. It's really quite simple.

People have been fleeing Syria by the millions to escape the horrors of the violent Syrian civil war and from the terrorist organization called the Islamic State. In their life or death flight, these men, women, and children have sought refuge throughout Europe and North America, including the United States of America.

However, many countries have refused to accept the Syrian refugees, some countries have limited their numbers; some countries have required the refugees to reside within a certain specified geographical area; and many people are calling for the refugees to be clearly identified, cataloged, and tracked.

There is an unfathomable number of people who have a firmly held opinion that all Syrian refugees are Muslims and/or that there are many Muslim terrorists in disguise of refugees. These politically conservative people are of the opinion that the Syrian refugees should be treated as the Jewish people have been treated throughout much of history. -- Keep them isolated, keep them away; keep them out of the country --- all for "our" own protection (of course) because "they" are murderous heathens who only want to kill Christians and Jews and take over the world. Oh, the horror! (Oh, the shades of thoughts of the Crusades waged by Christians, the Inquisitions conducted by Christians, and the Holocaust executed by Nazi German Christians.)

Well, I got news for those Conservative-minded self-avowed saviors of Western society, aka Western culture, aka Western culture. Not all these refugees are Muslim, certainly many are Muslim but not all. More news: Just as there are many denominations of Christianity and just as there are many denominations of Judaism, there are various denominations of Islam, aka Muslims. Yes, there are many terrorists who are Muslim but when examined as a percentage of the millions of Muslims in the world the terrorists are in no way close to be a large percentage of the entire Muslim population. There are many terrorists who call themselves Christian, but there is no movement in the Western world to ban or limit Christians.

I could go on and on, but I also realize those persons who are anti-Syrian Refugee and/or anti-Muslim will just come up with their own arguments to point out what they perceive to be the fallacy of my perspective, just as I perceive the fallacy of their perspective.

Now, Donald Trump! Tell you what -- rather than me writing about him on this topic, I suggest you just read these articles to which I have placed an embedded link:

• 'They could be Isis.' Donald Trump warns against taking Syrian refugees
• Donald Trump: I would send Syrian refugees home
• Donald Trump says he ‘absolutely’ wants a database of Syrian refugees
• Trump Tells Rally Syria Refugees 'Probably' ISIS As Muslim Protester Removed
• Donald Trump's false claim that refugees, migrants are mostly 'strong, powerful men'
• Trump to Syrian refugee children: 'You can't come here'
• Donald Trump: I can tell refugees 'you can't come here'
• UN refugee chief attacks Donald Trump: People who reject Syria Muslims are 'best allies' of Isis

Adolf Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf, "By defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord."

Germany's Catholics were proud as peacocks to count their Fuerher as one of their own ... it was extremely important in a country where 98% of the population viewed themselves as Christian, that Hitler persuade the masses that he was one of them, i.e. Christian

ref: Was Adolf Hitler an atheist? or was he a believer?

The population of Germany in 1933 was around 60 million. Almost all Germans were Christian, belonging either to the Roman Catholic (ca. 20 million members) or the Protestant (ca. 40 million members) churches. The Jewish community in Germany in 1933 was less than 1% of the total population of the country.How did Christians and their churches in Germany respond to the Nazi regime and its laws, particularly to the persecution of the Jews? The racialized anti-Jewish Nazi ideology converged with antisemitism that was historically widespread throughout Europe at the time and had deep roots in Christian history. For all too many Christians, traditional interpretations of religious scriptures seemed to support these prejudices.

ref: THE GERMAN CHURCHES AND THE NAZI STATE

Is it any wonder that on January 21, 2016, I posted the Roland Hansen Commentary:
Is Donald Trump the reincarnation of Adolf Hitler?

Is Donald Trump an Advocate of Violence and Lawlessness?

Here are some excerpts from an article I read online:

"It is a sad, sad commentary on the state of political affairs that, after Donald Trump's answer to questions about violence at his campaign events, reasonable people in both parties had reason to be afraid."

"This was the actual employment of language and logic used to justify cross-burnings, lynchings and all manner of illegal, extra-judicial and inhumane behavior in U.S. history. This is what has been said to support attempted genocides, ethnic expulsions and some of the most shameful political acts around the globe. This is the actual route by which bigotry has, in the course of human history, become accepted practice and policy. This is the way that entire groups have been terrorized, demonized and oppressed."

"Trump's racially charged, primitively coded answers to Tapper's questions amount to a strong Exhibit A. The unmistakable frequency with which black and Latino protesters at Trump events are singled out for violent or at least certainly hands-on attacks and rally removals are Exhibits B-Z. Consider the evidence with care."

"Trump said more than once during the debate that his voters are driven by love."

Over the years that I have been blogging, I have learned that it is not uncommon for some web sites or some web pages to which I have linked to have been removed by the originating source or for the link itself to no longer work. Indeed, many news sources seem to remove their stories after some time has passed. That being stated, I wish to direct you to the following embedded link to read the entire story from which I copied and pasted the above excerpts, Incidentally, the article also contains some very good video. I hope this article and my link to it continue to function long after I publish this Roland Hansen Commentary. Okay, here is the story (embedded within its title) from The Washington Post you really should read:

Donald Trump’s baffling explanation for violence at his campaign rallies, By Janell Ross, March 11 [2016] at 8:21 AM

I like Bernie Sanders.

PREFACE: More often than not, I try to give a bit of thought to the wording I use in my entries to Roland Hansen Commentary. This one is one of the exceptions in which I have just written what came to mind as I placed fingers to the keyboard.

I am tired of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. I am tired of big business thriving on the sweat of low paid workers. I am tired of supplementing private business enterprises with my tax dollars. I am tired of corporate welfare. I am tired of multi-millionaires paying zero income taxes.I am tired of the USA fighting wars on behalf of despots. I am tired of having to fight for adequate health care all the while the health care industry and the insurance industry are profiting by withholding needed medical care and exorbitant premiums, deductibles, and co pays. I am tired of prescription drugs in the USA being more expensive than those exact same meds in Canada. I am tired of breathing polluted air because big industry wants to take shortcuts in order to enhance their profit margin. I am tired of the military - industrial complex disregarding basic human rights. I am tired of the oligarchy that permeates our political and social structure. And, there is so much more.

All that brings me to making the statement:

I like Bernie Sanders. 

Now that I have expressed my initial thoughts, I continue on with a more thought out, not so spur of the moment writing.

For those who wonder what brought this about, I am sick and tired of the same ol' same ol' in American politics. The political games that have played out over the past four American Presidential terms have been disgusting. However, the debacle that has been occurring over the past several months in the American political scene as it relates to the various candidates seeking to become the next President of The United States of America are absolutely disgusting and deplorable.

FYI: Bernard "Bernie" Sanders is an American politician and the junior United States Senator from Vermont. He is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2016 election.

In my humble opinion, every candidate seeking to become the next President of the United States, except for, Bernie Sanders is of questionable character. Special interest groups representing narrow self-interests are pushing each of the contestants. Again, IMHO, only Bernie Sanders, who has been called The Populist Prophet, stands out as a champion for the average person.

If you have an inquisitive mind about how Bernie Sanders stands on issues, I suggest you read and explore the following:
2016 Presidential Candidates, Bernie Sanders On the issues

There are a couple Twiitter accounts for Bernie Sanders.

• One is: Bernie Sanders @SenSanders, Sen. Bernie Sanders is the longest serving independent in congressional history. Tweets ending in -B are from Bernie, and all others are from a staffer.
• And the other is: Bernie Sanders @BernieSanders, Join our campaign for president at http://berniesanders.com . Tweets by staff.

And, there is also a Bernie Sanders YouTube Channel.

So, now that I wrote all that, and included some very useful embedded links, I might add, --- Does anyone care to know how I truly feel?

I like Bernie Sanders.

What is a Jew? What does it mean for someone to be Jewish?

I find a phrase used in an article that I just read to be very confusing, perplexing, and disturbing!
And yet, I have come across many people during my 68 years that have often used the same type of phrase.
The phrase in the article that confuses me, that perplexes me, that disturbs me is:
"but he was more Jewish than Polish."

ref: Bernie's Religion Is the Revolution

Why do people say such a things? Why do people write such a thing?
I never hear anyone say or read anyone write:
"she is more Christian than Polish" or "he is more Lutheran than German" or "she is more Catholic than Italian"
Can anyone explain the use of this type of phraseology to me? Will anyone tell me why this is done?

And while I am at it, why do people say "you don't look Jewish" or "that sounds like a Jewish name" or such things? Why do some people refer to Jewish people as a race or as a nationality or anything other than a religion? And why do some people have the idea that all people of the Jewish religion have the same religious beliefs and practices and fail to recognize there are a variety of Jewish denominations?

I have written other Roland Hansen Commentary entries concerning Jewish as a topic or theme.

I have written other blog entries concerning Jewish as a topic or theme in Roland's Ramblings.

There are many, many interesting articles to the question of What is a Jew? all over the internet.

USA Republican Senators Warrant An Ass Kicking. How about a Writ Of Mandamus?

I found a webpage entitled 10 THINGS THAT SHOULD WARRANT AN ASS KICKING. If you wish, you may read it by following the embedded link contained within its title.

Well, I think the Republicans in the United States Senate warrant a good ass kicking. I realize that my wording (i.e. ass kicking) is quite strong, and perhaps vulgar, and it is something I try to avoid in my writings; but, gosh darn it to heck, the Senate Republicans who seem to have lost their minds need to do their job, plain and simple.

I am specifically thinking of the fact that these malcontents, these obstructionists, on the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary boisterously avow they will not even hold hearings on any nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States that President Barack Obama may send to the Senate for consideration. After all, as the immediately preceding web page states, "Power to nominate the Justices is vested in the President of the United States and appointments are made with the advice and consent of the Senate."

I am not saying the Senate must approve any recommended nominee to the Supreme Court. I am just saying the Senate needs perform its Constitutional responsibilities and do its job. Hearings should be held; hearings must be held. A vote (up or down) on a nominee should be taken; a vote on a nominee must be taken.

The GOP is not the political party that it once was. And, GOP Obstructionism is not all that new or infrequent under President Barack Obama.

If it were not for the fact that the President, Congress, and Supreme Court are all equal in their respective governmental roles, I would suggest that the President request the Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus ordering the Senate to perform its Constitutional responsibility and duty. Unfortunately, it is doubtful that a mandamus would or could be issued to the Senate as an entity or to specific United States Senators.

My message to the U.S. Senate in regards to potential appointments of nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Barack Obama is plain and simple: Have the hearings and take a vote.

With more than 300 days left in President Obama's term, the Senate has no excuse to delay.

Help me to spread the word. Let us all do our part to make the Senate do its job.

Sign the petition—tell the Senate to do its job.

Congressional Term Limits

The Congress of the United States of America is a bicameral legislature. Congress consists of two (2) chambers, i.e. the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Article I of the Constitution of the United States Constitution establishes the legislative branch of the United States national government, referring to it as Congress. It sets out the composition, membership, duties, and powers (explicit, implied, and denied) of the legislative branch of American government at the national level; and, it also has a section (Article I, Section 10) of what powers are denied, or prohibited without the consent of Congress, to the individual States of the United States of America.

Article 1 also puts forth the qualification requirements of those who may become a Representative and of those who may become a Senator. It does so for Representatives in Section 2 and for Senators in Section 3. There are only three (3) Qualifications of Members of Congress and those requirements concern age, citizenship, and residency.

According to the United States Constitution:

"No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen."
and
"No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen."

That being stated, I am constantly amazed that there are people who wish to put forth their own personally held opinions about Congress and who desire to impose their will unto everyone else in our great nation.

There are some people who believe they know who is better to represent others in the Congress of the United States of America than the voting public who those in Congress actually represent. These people want to LIMIT how many times I can elect/re-elect MY CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE. They want to LIMIT how many times you can elect/re-elect YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE.

I cannot help but wonder why someone in South Carolina (for example) believes that he or she knows better who should represent me from Ohio in the United States Senate OR why someone in North Dakota (for example) or someone from Southeastern Ohio (for example) believes that he or she knows better who should represent me from Northwestern Ohio in the United States House of Representatives.

AND, who am I from Northwest Ohio to prevent someone in Kentucky (for example) from electing whoever they damn well please to represent them in either chamber of Congress OR to prevent someone in Northeast Ohio (for example) to represent them in the United States House of Representatives?

All that, then, leads me to the subject of Congressional Term Limits. I strongly assert that there are already term limits imposed on Members of Congress. Each and every member of the United States House of Representatives is limited to a two-year term; and, each and every member of the United States Senate is limited to a six-year term. The Ballot Box is the mechanism to impose term limits. If the majority of voting age residents in a congressional district so choose, they may change their Representative or Senator every election cycle OR they may choose to retain those elected officials. If I have an incumbent elected official who I believe is doing a good job for my geographical area, I want to keep that person. On the other hand, if I have an incumbent elected official who I believe is doing a bad job for my geographical area, I want to fire that person. The ballot box gives me the power and the authority to impose term limits, provided that I am in the voting majority. It is only those in THE VOTING MINORITY, THOSE who are NOT GETTING THEIR WAY, AND PEOPLE FROM OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL POLITICAL JURISDICTIONS who WANT to DENY me MY RIGHTS to choose my duly democratically elected United States Representative or Senator.

Okay, That is it! Now, if you want to know what set me off today (I have addressed the same topic for decades), just look at the reproduction below of something that occurred on Facebook:

Elaine Soukup shared Conservative Minds's photo.
Thursday, February 18 at 2:00am ·
YES! YES! YES!

Conservative Minds
February 17 at 10:07am · 
We poke fun at the "ignorance" of people in third world countries for allowing political dynasties to remain in power, thus allowing the unilateral corruption to keep them third world, but by not imposing term limits on our officials, we basically do the same thing. Agree or disagree? Let us know here at Conservative Minds

Roland Louis Hansen:
We already have term limits. It is called The Ballot Box.
Thursday, February 18 at 10:030pm

Douglas Pettigrew:
But the ballot box doesn't work very well when the same people control Congress for 40+years.
Friday, February 19 at 1:10am

Roland Louis Hansen:
I respectfully disagree with you, Douglas Pettigrew. The ballot box works exactly as it is supposed to work. Each individual elected to the House of Representatives is limited to two years; and, each individual elected to the Senate is limited to six years. After those periods of time, another election is held and new terms for those positions  are held, and so on and so forth. The ballot box reflects the will of the majority of voters in each district for the U.S. House of Representatives every two years and for each State for its U.S. Senators every six years. People who disagree that the ballot box serves as a mechanism for term limits are simply dissatisfied that their own viewpoint is not reflected by the majority of voters from the districts of which the elected persons have been duly elected.
Friday, February 19 at 8:29am

Toledo, Ohio: Washington Local Board of Education; Patrick Hickey, Superintendent; Washington Local School District. Embarrassment. Scandal. Shame.

Back on December 27, 2015, I published a Roland Hansen Commentary entitled Patrick Hickey. Toledo, Ohio: Washington Local School District. Superintendent. Saga, Legacy, Scandal, Shame? If you follow the embedded link contained within its title, you may read all kinds of interesting information contained within the blog entry's embedded links that are contained therein.

Yet again, here in Toledo, Ohio, the saga of embarrassment, scandal, and shame has raised its ugly head in the Washington Local School District. The Washington Local Board of Education that bought off its superintendent, Patrick Hickey, for an approximate quarter of a million dollars ("In December, Mr. Hickey accepted a separation agreement that will pay him more than $200,000 in exchange for leaving the district two years before his contract expires." Attribution cited in embedded links below) has now banned Mr. Hickey from all school property (ref: BOARD RESOLUTION – APPROVED 2/13/2016) including any school events in which his own children are participants.

Meanwhile, there are outdoor signs in the form of billboards that promote Patrick Hickey.

You may read more about the Toledo, Ohio Washington Local Schools community embarrassment, scandal and shame in the following embedded links:

• Patrick Hickey steps down as WLS superintendent, WNWO-TV Toledo, Ohio nbc24.com, December 11, 2015.
• Washington Local Schools superintendent Patrick Hickey resigns, The Blade, December 11, 2015.
• Washington Local interim superintendent to retire, The Blade, January 20, 2016.
• YESTERDAY'S ARTICLE ABOUT HICKEY, SwampBubbles message thread begun on December 31, 2015.
• Whitmer/Hickey Billboards, Toledo Talk message thread started o February 11, 2016.
• Former Washington Local superintendent Hickey banned from school property, The Blade, February 13, 2016.
• Former WLS superintendent Hickey banned from school events, WNWO-TV Toledo, Ohio nbc24.com, February 14, 2016.
• Washington Local school board upholds decision to ban former Supt. from property, WTVG-TV Toledo, Ohio 13abcnews.com, February 15, 2016.
• Washington Local Board upholds ban of Hickey, The Blade, February 15, 2016.
• WLS Board votes to ban former superintendent Hickey from school grounds, WNWO-TV Toledo, Ohio nbc24.com, February 15, 2016.

Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act

Over the past 50 years there has evolved a History of Federal Voting Rights Laws in the United States of America beginning with The Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Within that legislation of 1965 was a temporary five-year provision contained in Section 5. Rather than allowing that provision to expire after the initial five years, Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act was renewed for another five years in 1970. That section was renewed again in 1975, but this time it was renewed for seven years. And when those seven years were up in 1982, it was renewed by the United States Congress for 25 years.

Then in 2006, Congress extended the requirements of Section 5 for an additional 25 years.

An interesting twist to Section 5 occurred as a result of a 2013 United States Supreme Court decision.

Here is an excerpt from The Voting Rights Act of 1965: Background and Overview, Kevin J. Coleman, Analyst in Elections, July 20, 2015 that effectively points out the twist:

The Voting Rights Act (VRA) was successfully challenged in a June 2013 case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder. The suit challenged the constitutionality of Sections 4 and 5 of the VRA, .... In its ruling, the Court struck down Section 4 as outdated and not “grounded in current conditions.” As a consequence, Section 5 is intact, but inoperable, unless or until Congress prescribes a new Section 4 formula.

If you click on the embedded link that follows, you may read the entire Background and Overview article.

What exactly is Section 5, you may ask. Well, to get the answer to that, I suggest you read ABOUT SECTION 5 OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT from the United States Department of Justice.

Given the plain, simple, truthful fact that the intention of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act is to assure that various jurisdictions within the United States of America do not attempt to infringe on the right to vote of any person or group of persons, I see no reason why its intended purpose should not be made a permanent provision of the Voting Rights Act.

For a quick and easy read, I highly suggest that you go over to read Voting Rights Act Fast Facts from CNN.

Voting rights for all Americans regardless of race or color or whatever should be and must be guaranteed.

As my son, Adam Hansen, has stated, "No one has to renew an act to allow me to vote. It should be that way for all men and women."

Run, Bernie, Run. Quilter and Sanders.

Next Tuesday (February 9, 2016), I will be attending a fundraiser in Lucas County, Ohio for Bernie.

Yes, I wrote Bernie. And yes, I wrote fundraiser in Lucas County.

Oh, and I wish the best to Bernie in New Hampshire next Tuesday.

Google+ Versus Other Internet Social Networking Sites.

There is a whole big list of social networking websites, most of which many people are unaware. In addition to the list embedded in the preceding sentence, I found a website that provides the top 15 most popular social networking sites ranked by a combination of continually updated traffic statistics.

Why is Facebook so popular? Or Twitter? Or any of those sites for that matter?

I have used LinkedIn specifically for professional purposes, not for trivia conversations. I have used Twitter to post on a wide variety of interests and for some dialogue exchange to a limited extent. I gave up on MySpace years ago and rarely use my Flickr account.

I have made extensive use of Facebook for myriad purposes. I have even created numerous lists of specific people based on commonality of specific interests to target the audience of who may see what. It doesn't stop there, though. I have also created and/or administer several special interest Facebook groups that include only those people I authorize to join; and I belong to several other groups that someone else administers.

None-the-less, I have found that many people on Facebook are what I call gawkers, using that term very loosely. These folks just kind of lurk in the shadows reading what others write but do not write anything themselves. Gawkers may do nothing at all other than read OR they may click on a like button OR share by re-posting what someone else has written or posted OR they may post internet meme after internet meme after internet meme. These gawkers, as I label them, do not really use Facebook as a means of social interaction.

Additionally, there is way too much drama and bickering on Facebook. People write mean, nasty, rude comments to others. It is unbelievable that there are so many people who write things to others on Facebook that they would never say to them in a personal face-to-face conversation. Those folks disgust me.

Because of my experiences with Facebook, I go through phases of using it and then not using for periods of times and then using it again and not using it. The primary reason I started a Facebook account is the same reason I continue to have a Facebook account. Simply put, I have used Facebook to reconnect with long lost friends and family; to that end, Facebook has been very helpful for me.

I much prefer Google+. However, even after several years of concerted effort, I have still been unable to interest most of the people I know to use Google+ rather than those other social networking sites. I do not understand why people do not switch over to Google+ from Facebook and/or other social networking websites, OR, at least start up a Google+ account in addition to their Facebook and/or other social networking websites. IMHO (In My Humble Opinion), Google+ is a much more useful and friendlier place.

Is Donald Trump the reincarnation of Adolf Hitler?

It seems some folks got irritated with me when over on Facebook I compared the style of political speech used by Donald Trump with the style of political speech used by Adolf Hitler. The message thread over there got to be very controversial. As a result of that, I composed and posted a Roland Hansen Commentary on Friday, October 2, 2015  entitled Donald Trump. Adolf Hitler. Similar Style of Political Speech.

Well, since that time, it appears that there have been other comparisons of Donald Trump with Adolf Hitler. Take a look at the embedded Google search results for Trump and Hitler compared.

(I hope you took the time to explore and read some of those search results. It saves me a whole bunch of writing if you have done so. And consequently, I may bring this specific blog entry to an end.)

Is it any wonder that I have entitled this blog entry Is Donald Trump the reincarnation of Adolf Hitler?

Postscript: You may now add this blog entry with all other Roland Hansen Commentary entries in which I have mentioned Donald Trump.