Sidebar:  This is a political post.  I am registered Republican, but what the heck does that have to do with anything nowadays?  I have never been too political with my posts, but now seems like the right time.  Politics is blowing up my Twitter feed.  I don’t have Snapchat.  I am 35.  If you are over 35 and have Snapchat, sorry I offended you.  Grow up.  This post will not start political, but it will end political.  If you want to know my thoughts about a few things, keep reading.  If you want to keep your views to yourself and not think outside the box, then stop reading now.

End Sidebar:

I read a blog by a gentleman name Seth Godin on a daily basis.  While always insightful, I found one of his posts especially interesting.  In his post he talks about “things that are done to us,” versus “things we do,” and how over the years we have had to withstand change in a variety of factors.  When thinking about change and what to do with it, Godin writes about changes we have to withstand vs. changes we can choose to make.

Changes we have had to withstand

Godin speaks about over the course of history there have been changes that people have had to deal with.  Rising taxes, the effects of world wars, the implementation of No Child Left Behind, state tests, and so on.  I would like to add that many times the government steps in and forces states and schools to adhere to federal law because states cannot, or will not, give the same rights to everyone.  For me, open-mindedness comes natural.  For others…not so much.   Godin goes on to say that for those of us that have lived through some of these changes, it is often uncomfortable and we have no choice but to accept change, alter our lifestyle, and move on to the next change that is forced upon us.

Changes we can choose to make

Godin goes on to make the point that over the course of history we have been met with changes we can choose to make or adopt.  You can choose to get an email account, you can choose what computer to buy, and you can choose to do online banking or not.  The point driven home is that over the past fifty years there are many opportunities to adopt and move on or to stay just the way you are.  Changes are available to us, not forced upon us.  To this end, you can drive your same old car and have your flip phone in your pocket.  Nobody is forcing you to change, except Apple and their new operating system.

Moving Forward

A few days ago there was a debate.  I finally had the chance to watch the debate and here are three thoughts I have about dealing with changes that we are going to have to withstand for the next four years.  I say four years in the firmest sense possible.

First Thought:  Hillary did well.  She was prepared and had zinger after zinger ready in reply to Donald Trump.

If you watch Fox News, you will think that Trump won.  If you watch CNN, you will think that Hillary won.  I watch Fox News 80% of the time, and I can honestly tell you that Hillary won, didn’t have a coughing fit, was polished, and spoke like a career politician.

If you like her tax plan, economic plan, foreign policy plan, red pantsuit, etc.  Vote for her.

Second Thought:  When Lester Holt asked about Trump paying taxes, I looked at the gentleman next to me and said, “Lester is going to have to ask one tough question about emails or the Clinton Foundation in order for the debate to look ‘fair’ in the eyes of people watching.”

Funny Side Story:  The people I was watching the debate with agreed that Hillary was doing better.  This was coming from men who do not like her.  I asked one gentleman if he was going to vote for her, and he replied, “I’m not voting for Donald, he is crazy.”  This reminded me of a 60 Minutes episode on Jack Barsky (former KGB spy).

The narrator asked Jack Barsky why they were afraid of the United States.

Jack Barsky  replied, “there’s three things I tell people that the Russians were afraid of: AIDS, Jewish people and Ronald Reagan.”

Question: “In that order?”

Reply: “I think Ronald Reagan took the top spot. They thought he would push the button.”

Hence, many people think Trump is crazy and will push the button as fast as he tweets out stupid things.

End of Story

Third Thought:  Donald didn’t have idea how to respond to some of the questions.

For example…

Lester:  Why not release your taxes?  Donald:  I sent them to Hillary via email.  She must have deleted them.

Lester:  You were for the war, weren’t you?  Donald:  Do you want to know about me as a private citizen, or about how Hillary voted when she was a senator?

Hillary:  I have traveled around the world for years, testified for eleven hours, and have the stamina to be president.  Donald:  Hmm…I think I remember your husband testifying before an independent council as the subject of a grand-jury investigation.  Must run in the family, you know, lying about things and having to testify.

Now obviously, many people sit on extreme sides of the poltical spectrum with these two wacko’s as our candidates.  I had a professor in college that always said, “where you stand depends on where you sit.”  Personally, I don’t care about tax returns, emails, the Iraq War, TPP, or a wall.  I care about common sense politics.  I want a president to be able to work with Congress and not against them.  I want someone who cares about the rights of all people, and not just the people that agree with them and their narrow point of view.  I want a president that gets the Olympics and World Cup to come to the United States EVERY four years!  Is that too much to ask?  America is a great place!  Especially Nebraska.

I haven’t decided who I am going to vote for, but I am beginning to think the right person for the job is my tremendous self.  What do you think?  I’m not trying to be braggadocious, just real.  I am 35 ya know.