Author: Rik Goodman

G7 – 1 = G6

Our “brilliant” president has come up with a new way to resolve the trade deficit dilemma. We all would love to have balanced trade with every partner from every corner of the world. That would be great! But Mr. Trump has a better idea.

STOP TRADING!

This way we would have balanced trade. Nothing in and nothing out. Of course our economy would nosedive into a recession unlike anything we have ever seen before. It would be the GREATEST recession of all time. YOU’LL LOVE IT, IT WILL WORK OUT GREAT, TRUST ME. Think about it. No more worrying about going to work, how to pay the bills, feed ourselves or our children. We wouldn’t have to worry about pets either (think that one over). Yep, this will make American great again. A great wasteland of human possibilities.

On Being Pop

If you know anything about me you know I am a grandfather now. If you don’t know anything about me, well now you do! I went through all the usual machinations about “what do I want to be called”. Can I be Grandpa when the other grandpa is Grandpa. Why not? I had a Grandpa Nat and a Grandpa Howard. I always knew who I was talking about. Didn’t know Grandpa Howard for long. He passed away when I was 3 or 4. Grandpa Nat was actually my step-grandpa on my dad’s side but he was the only grandfather that was really part of my life.

At one point I was going with Grumpa, because, as you know, I can be a bit grumpy. But that would sound like the kid had a speech impediment. So then why not just Grandpa Rik? I don’t know, just didn’t happen. I became Pop. Mostly because I can use a sound as my name. I’ll teach the little tyke to make a (you guessed it) popping sound instead of saying my name.

I had a Pop, not the bubbly kind but the grandfather kind. I didn’t know him. I may have met him at some point but I have no recollection. I have seen a picture or two during my lifetime. That isn’t why I decided to be Pop (that’s explained above). But there is another reason. I was listening to an audio book and the main character was Pop to his grandkids. I liked the way the narrator (who happened to be the author and main character) used the word. It sounded loving and wholesome and cool. And since I admire this character and really wished he had run for president I am taking his lead.

So there you have it. A short history on me being Pop. So to paraphrase “put you lips together and pop”!

I Have A Dream

I have a dream. The famous words recited by Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. are ringing in my ears. Because today I have a dream. I can’t be as eloquent and I can’t empower thousands, nay millions as Rev. King could do. But hear my dream because we may be seeing a turning point in America. Several years ago we watched the Arab Spring rise up and change the lives and mindset of millions. We may be seeing the start of the American Youth Spring (not quite as catchy, but you never know).

As the fallout from the Parkland High School shooting continues we are witnessing an influx of non-voting age activists dominating the headlines. Children, that’s right, children are having to grow up too fast and change the world in ways adults have not been able (or willing) to do!

“My main concerns are funerals, gun control and whether or not I’m going to be shot wherever I go,” Tarr said. “My innocence ― our innocence ― has been taken from us. I’m 17, but in a matter of days have aged decades.”

Delaney Tarr and Emma Gonzales among others are becoming the voice of this movement. They are taking on the NRA and the politicians that take money from them. One student asked Marco Rubio if he would commit to refusing contributions from the NRA. He stumbled through an answer that we can only take as a refusal to commit.

With rallying cries of “WE CALL BS” and “WE ARE KIDS” the students are turning a nation towards a discussion it has never been willing to have…gun control laws that need to be changed. By organizing rallies and protests, walkouts and sit downs, our nation is now listening. The politicians know these KIDS will be voting soon and many in this year’s elections. Could this be the time?

We are hearing about national corporations distancing themselves from the NRA. MetLife, Hertz, United, Delta, Symantec, First Bank of Omaha and others have severed ties (or will not be renewing contracts). But the NRA is fighting back releasing a statement that condemns the corporations for their actions as:

“an effort to punish our members who are doctors, farmers, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, nurses, shop owners and school teachers that live in every American community,”

Our president has stated that teachers should be trained and armed so this doesn’t happen again. Once again showing he has no idea what comes out of his mouth. Samuel L. Jackson responded by tweeting:

“Can someone that’s been in a Gunfight tell that Muthafukka that’s Never been in a Gunfight, the flaws of his Arm The Teachers plan??!!”

Educators, parents and students have lashed out at the president for this idea. There has been some turnaround in the GOP. Rick Scott, Governor of Florida, has proposed raising the age of gun purchasing to 21 (from 18). Al Hoffman, Jr. announced he will not donate to candidates that don’t support banning of AR15s. These are two hard-line Republicans and it is a start.

And now we have the March For Our Lives on March 24th. Student activists have planned this march and demonstration to happen across the country. The right wing has denounced this as a ploy by the left wing and the entertainment industry, saying they are kidnapping the student’s emotions for their own agenda. The students/activists are not so easily swayed. They have their agenda and there doesn’t seem to be any stopping them now!

So yes, I have a dream. A dream that this is the beginning, a turning point when democracy rears it’s head and storms back into American society. That is all that we can ask for. We may not like the outcomes and we may disagree with the results, but if it is a democratic, true democratic process then our country will be “great again”. Let’s all have a dream. A dream that our country will be the one the world respects. And a country we can respect!

Note: My apologies to the family of Rev. King for bastardizing his famous words. I use them with great admiration and respect.