Marj-at-Large: News &Views
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      • A New Day on the Way: Jan. 3, 2019
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    • State of the Union >
      • 12/5/18: The Best of Days, the Worst of Days
      • 7/17/18: Deals With Dictators, Episode 2
      • 5/17/18: Suffer the Children
      • 4/7/18: Never Let a Crisis Go To Waste
      • 12/6/17: The Centre Cannot Hold
    • Saving the Children and Other Living Things >
      • Saving the Elephants
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    • Presidential Malpractice >
      • 6/22/18: Gratuitous Brutality
    • The Political Parties >
      • 2/2/18: GOP: The Cabinet Chorus of Praise
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State of the Union
My Opinion

Once a year, the President delivers a "state of the union" address to Congress. Donald Trump will deliver his first on Jan. 30th, 2018. I could predict what he might say, but I won't. In general, I expect to hear that we've had the best year in history, full of great strides in the economy, amazing international relations (especially, perhaps, with Saudi Arabia which put on a blockbuster event full of pomp and circumstance signifying nothing), and heroic and tireless efforts to aid hurricane victims in our southern tier and islands in the Caribbean, especially Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, however, I find that events lurch along so chaotically that waiting to comment on a particular issue is counterproductive. By the time an issues's resolved or abandoned, whatever the case may be, the questions it might have raised  have faded from the scene and we've tumbled headlong into the next bit of bedlam. Hence this "State of the Union" page where I can muse about all manner of things at any given moment without having to categorize by topic.

You may notice the photos that appear at the top of these pages look decidedly unpolitical--landscapes, city scenes, people having fun, and whatever else strikes my fancy. All that's just to remind myself--and you--that real life is what it's all about, and when government and politics work the way they should, they should contribute to the well being in real time of all of us. A lofty goal. 

If anything on these pages triggers thoughts, conflicting opinions, supporting opinions, or just the urge to express yourself, please send submissions for the "Readers Write/Your Turn" page by using one of the contact forms on the "Your Turn" or "Issues" pages.



12/6/17
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it.

--Mark Twain

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