The Native Iowan

John Lee Hooker plays “this is hip”. The winds blows brisk. The sun is hot, shows an intense glare. This is Hip lil baby…

I sit on in the ridges of Guadalcanal. I look out over Iron Bottom Sound. The day is hazy. I can convince myself I can see a faint outline of San Jorge.

San Jorge Island is the second largest island in the Isabel Province, Solomon Islands. The island lies at the southern end of Santa Isabel Island and borders Thousand Ships Bay. San Jorge has an area of 184 km² (71 sq mi) and has less than 1000 inhabitants living in four villages.

The first recorded sighting by Europeans was by the Spanish expedition of Álvaro de Mendaña on 21 April 1568. More precisely the sighting was due to a local voyage done by a small boat, in the accounts the brigantine Santiago, commanded by Maestre de Campo Pedro Ortega Valencia and having Hernán Gallego as pilot. They were who charted it with its present-day name, San Jorge, and also who named the narrow channel separating San Jorge from Santa Isabel Island as the Ortega channel after the commander of the expedition.

On a clear day you can see San Jorge pretty well. I’m guessing it to be maybe 60 miles from Honiara… I’ll check… not far wrong.

My hounds all hide from the sun. They seek the deep shadows where the breeze blows well. They are good dogs.

I have a few days of work to do here in Honiara, then I fly back down south. I don’t spend much time in Honiara unless I have to. Its a city. I don’t do cities very well. Never did. I find them difficult at best. Great to visit for a reason. not a place I am happy living in.

It’s be a bit redundant but I’ll publish a number of picts from my recent time out West. I know. Lots of pictures of the water and the islands… buts thats what we got here… lots of islands and lots of water…

And Life Is Good…

running home a bit late… Always enjoy night runs…

San Bis resort… well worth a visit if you ever get to Gizo…

San Bis as the sun sets…

As usual, an eclectic group of wayfarers and wastrels were hanging around for a fun night filled with conversation and lies…

Son Don, married ikiribati… 2 yr old Dawn thinks she is competent. Give her a couple years and she will be… Gilbert women are always impressive…

Don’s lady, Joanna, with baby vera…

Pretty good seas for our playing and games… 

Leaving Liapari, Gizo in the distance…

gotta be impressed… what a magnificent planet we do dwell upon…

I sit on my most recent lunacy, D.D.ICE. 

Have owned ICE over a year and have not utilised it at all. It has been a cumbersome project. A hard project to get a handle on.

I admit that I am prone to lunacies… I have a “thing” for bikes and cars and boats. I have a “thing” for off-grid adventures. I have a “thing” for risk taking. And ICE is sure a off grid, risky lunacy, thats for sure.

So I sit in the wheel house. A nice breeze filters in through the opened door. We rock gently. It’s about time I get up and “do something”…

I have SIBC (Solomon Islands Broad Casting) on the computer. I like the daily programming. “Money Matters” is on now. I really like the news in Pijin. You can stream it all via… http://mixlr.com/sibconline/.

It has been raining. Gizo harbour is pigmented with the red clay that has been flowing down Gizo hill. The skies are overcast, grey/ blue. The harbour has a brisk chop. The kids commenting to school via dug-out do so slowly, careful not to get too wet. 

I sip black coffee, eat a sweet biscuit, and think about shifting to Babanga Island… I want to get off the wharf. Go drop the anchor. Spend some time on the deck pulling lines, raising sails, testing all the running gear. I am sure some of the blocks are seized. I’ll put Abraham up the mast(s) in a bosun’s chair. Have a bit of nautical fun.

If all goes well we should aim to do a run up to Choiseul. Run the engines for 40hours nonstop. Stand watches, go somewhere, see something. I am ready to be untethered from the wharf.

Got a couple nice views of a rainbow over Kolombangara yesterday… Something magical, provocative with rainbows…

Today is my Mother’s 90th birthday. She still lives in Independence, Iowa. I wish her a very, very happy birthday and hope she gets another 90, she deserves it… 

And life is good. Very good.

More later

So it is April. First quarter of the year gone.

The world is still on fire, from within and without. But then the world has always been on fire, somewhere, somehow, all the time, the world is on fire.

I think of my youthful combustion and zeal. Fuelled by poets and prisoners. Incited by longhaired radicals, raggedy believers. Ignited by bodies in the mud, crimes, and lies. And presidential disgrace. We felt as if we had “won” something.

Just read an article about the YOUTH OF RUSSIA and their zeal… https://www.stratfor.com/geopolitical-diary/brave-new-world-kremlin?id=be1ddd5371&uuid=d1a71237-e91e-4299-b288-d2f95b0dc2ef

I listen to, read, digest the news daily. Had a real fun one yesterday…  The boat grounded after it “shit a submerged lateral marker”… made me laugh. Luv solid, honest reporting!

Speaking of which… BREAKING NEWZ… I note that the US just dropped bombs in Syria. Hmmm… interesting times. An act of aggression, overt aggression by the US of A. Against Syria… Hmmm… I am not very hawkish but I might be convinced to agree that it is about time Syria got reprimanded for killing it’s own people with GAS.

Did the Assad regime Gas it’s people. Most decidedly yes. Was this last “gassing” an Assad attack? Some say yes, some say no.

But argument over yea or nay is a planned diversion.

I do believe that the past administration was too verbal and too inactive when it came to Syria/ Assad. Too many damn lines drawn in the sand, for my liking. Bluff talk only works when it is periodically backed up.

Going to have to read up on this to decide what I think. But the fact that Assad had “destroyed” all his nerve gas stock piles may now well be proven to be a bold face lie.

And I have  a habit of not trusting proven liars.

But… BUTTT!!!!… We be talking international war. We have been here before. Are we repeating history, again, and again, and again…

Where are we? What are we doing here? Who out there does not understand that we are living in an era of conflict?

My neighbourhood is pretty cruisie.  I can leave my doors unlocked. I ma lucky.

But I know neighbourhoods that are not. Check this out for a bit of a look at our world in conflict… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:21st-century_conflicts

We have no scope, no concept of the unspeakable horrors so, so many innocents endure.

One quick modern example: The Kobanê Massacre was a combination of suicide missions and attacks on Kurdish civilians by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on the Kurdish-held city of Kobanî, beginning on Thursday, 25 June, and culminating on Friday, 26 June 2015.^[6][7][8] The attacks continued into 28 June, with the last remaining ISIL militant being killed on the following day. The attacks resulted in 223–233 civilians dead, as well as 35–37 Kurdish militiamen^[4] and at least 79 ISIL assailants.^[5] It was the second-largest massacre committed by ISIL since it declared a caliphate in June 2014.^{[9]      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koban%C3%AE_massacre}

We (I) sit and watch the various news services.

I am a centrist. I do not support a political team. I do not/ can not encourage the actions of either the LEFT or the RIGHT. I hear rhetoric. I hear Rhetoric. I hear RHETORIC. I hear little else.

The President of the US of A ordered missile strikes on airfields in Syria.

I know from intimate experience that throwing a punch, “Throwing A Punch”, is not something one does lightly.

Is your punch is thrown inappropriately? Even wrongly?

I know that you can, I can appropriately throw a punch. There are situations that warrant and even demand an appropriately thrown punch.

But I have, I confess, throw inappropriate punches. I have had my arse kicked in the streets more than once. I have a dead nerve through my face from one such testosterone poisoned party. My story (and I am am sticking to it) is there we at least eight big RenBel boys packing into a little car. I remember one guy came out swinging a heavy-footed microphone stand.

Its all started because of an inappropriate punch. Well, there was a girl involved too.

So we balme it on testosterone poisoning.

What do we blame this recent Aggressive Action on?

Assad being a murdering sumabitch? Trump being trigger happy? Obama being a pussy.

Before the NEWZ came in I was going to right about happy things…

This picture is giving the scale of the space I have to squeeze into in order to fight the leak coming into ICE through the rudder shaft. To th right of my foot, and under the hydraulic ram operating the rudder is a tiny, cramped place where I need to use tools and make things happen. I have found the appropriate “bilge-yoga” poster that allows me to actually sit down and take a reasonable amount of time to do the job. 

This is a picture of David and Jackie Fegan. Having lunch on a Sunday in Honiara.My son, Don, with his pigs. Yes, Don went to school in Iowa and loves his livestock.

Don’s daughter, Dawn, and I…

looking toward Gizo town…

Pat Purcell on ICE…

Ice and Pursuit tied up at Gizo…

Best fish n chips in the world… Gizo, Solomon Islands…

Moving onto ICE. A lot of cleaning was done…

Full moon night, DD ICE @ Gizo, Solomon Islands…

Luv the Solos… Commuters @ Gizo Harbour…Gizo lagoon…

Sitting up on the hill, enjoying the placid blue of Iron Bottom Sound. About 1030am and maybe 24c/ 80f. Sunday morning coming down in the Big Mango.

Yesterday I had a relaxed morning with a meeting scheduled at a local cafe at 130pm. SO I puttered and read through the morning then went to the Mendana for lunch. After the past 10 days in Gizo I thought a fancy sit down club sandwich would do me. In Gizo I lived on the fish and chips. Each pub or eatery had their own version. Some was better but all were good. Fresh Kingfish or Tuna is grand. but my favourite is Hump-Head Maori Wrass… who out there has feasted upon this fin delicacy? A CETIS listed endangered species… The fish is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red list and in Appendix II of CITES.^[12] Species numbers for the humphead wrasse have been declining due to a number of threats, and very tasty indeed…

A dingy lil over-the-water affair in the old KHY waterfront, I think it’s called the Sea Front,  sells a massive feed of the best, THE BEST, fish n chips I can recall. Big fresh chunks of endangered species with a pile of honest kumara chips and a salad. All for about 10.00USD.

I rate this as one of the best meals I have had in ages and ages.

Any one near Gizo should make an effort and check it out. Mockson is the owner of the place. It is dingy and a bit unwelcoming. It is a waterside bar first and foremost. A desperate array of nefarious looking personages hangout there (most are my family), but there is an upstairs dining area away from the bar. Breezy and bright, I highly recommend it.

I depart from this trip with a sense of positivity, an optimism, if you will. For the first time in years and years… for the first time in a long time, I see a positive change here.

Most dramatically, the streets of Honiara are cleaner than I can recall. Gone are the piles of plastic and greasy papers that normally punctuate the urban landscape. No longer  are the old oil drum rubbish bins full to overflowing. The rubbish is being collected. By whom I am uncertain. It is the why that I tried to understand…

Why is the rubbish being picked up. Why are the streets reasonably tidy.

The answer appears to be rather simple… The Tourist Ships are back. The first weekend here I saw 2 vessels arrive and depart. While in Gizo I saw one ship arrive and depart.

Amazing what a change a bit of tourism can make.

My faithful hounds lie about in a confused array of postures…

We have 5 Rodeasian Ridgebacks here… Bean, Iowa, Lauru, Scarlet, and Rhett. They have a tough life, no doubt.

I have been 17 days in these islands. I had forgotten, over the past 16 months, how down right beautiful it is here.

Considering I spent 10 days on DD ICE (DD stands for “Diesel Duck”), working pretty much every day cleaning and fixing, I can say I feel better, happier and smarter than when I showed up. Maybe I was getting a bit too retired down in Aus, over these past many months. Maybe I need more to challenge and drive in me. Maybe, but I do know I enjoyed being on ICE and have throughly enjoyed my time here. I will be back soon.

ICEBound photos… 

The stern/ rudder-tube area where I spent much time doing Bilge Yoga and my office onboard – nice view, eh?

Pat Purcell hanging and the view from San Bis jetty…

Local commuters in Gizo harbour and The Fegan with Abraham after a long day of fun.

Life is good

Where are we? Somewhere in mid-February.

It is a quiet, warm night here in Qland. I sit out side by the pool… 

The critters of the night buzz, hum, and click. A constant cacophony of chaotic critter noises, eh?

I smile.

I recently was discussing the nasty topic of “politics” with a compadre. Now, my bud and I do not all the times see eye to eye. But we are buds. And as buds do you piss each other off. Sometimes we – either or- exaggerate for effect. Some times -either or- end up with sensibilities bruised.

Our topic was the questioning – right or left – of the political persuasion of a person in your life. And the effects therein. Golly, these past few months of political overload have sure been divisive.

I think of a niece of mine. Educated, professional, smart- smart, best mom in the world kinda gal. With strong liberal leanings. When she posted one of those “made to insult” sorta’ ersatz news items stating that we could blame the “red necks” for DJT. I had to point out to her that the majority of her male-blood-relatives were then blameable. (and a few of her female-blood-relatives too)

We are all in the same small boat. Being rude don’t work a’tall.

I am from the flatlands. Iowa. It is a good place. A good place to call “home”. And I acknowledge that there are many, many places throughout the USofA, where honest folk work hard for an honest wage. I learned respect at a young age. I know what an insult is and I know being insulting is rude. I know that rudeness can lead to an arse kick’n. I know that rudeness can lead to tears. In the right neighbourhood, rudeness can lead to lead poisoning.

Is one president that much better than the other? I know a good administration can be more desirable than a bad administration. I know that bad leadership normally do not end well.

I think of being at sea. Or better… on the Starship Enterprise… Capt. Kirk do not put decisions up for a vote. He do not make a committee meeting out of it all. no, he asks his various advisors/ specialists/ Spocks/ Scottys for their relevant assessment. From the info supplied by his advisors he makes any and all decisions.

Speaking of being at sea… Packing to travel soon to board and enjoy ICE.

A chart I am getting ready… What is there about going to sea? preparing for the sea? Shaazaammm! Dunt know but there is something special in the air.

Maybe its my 52/52 Triton? 

Just pulling her out from a long hibernation…

6T 395480 – From everything I can glean this number is a fake…(Like much of the newz these days) Somewhere in this old gal’s past her engine numbers were filed off and new numbers given. Everything about her mechanically makes her a 52.

The frame numbers are difficult to read. The research I have done leads me to believe the frame is a 52 wide-line Norton featherbed.

What is a 52/52 Triton, I hear you ask? Oh, and what is a featherbed? And, oh, I say, who really gives a shit?

About politics or motorcycles…

I do. About bikes, anyhow… This is a really rare beast. You get a triton when you combine the fantastic frame, called the “featherbed” made by Norton Motorcycles, with the ever speedy 650cc Triumph engine. The 52/52 is of course a designation for its year of production. So both frame and engine appear to be 65 years old.

Tritons were not a factory build. Every Triton on the planet was built in a small garage by a group of guys who loved speed. Frames from one bike, engines from another. No two Tritons are the same.

The fact that the numbers here appear to be faux, kinda makes sense. In years gone by many an engine or frame were “found” in unlikely places by unlikely peoples. If an engine’s history was a bit suss, you could change it by giving it an new identity, a new serial number.

You built a Triton for one reason only… for SPEED.

I have had this machine on the back burner for some time. To get the right “tins” for her I had to stand in line and wait for a master tin maker to produce what I required.

And they are ready. I’ll have them soon. It’ll take some time to get them sent over from the States. So I prepare the 52/52 to head up to Genius Jim’s place. He is going to start making this ol britt babe all shiny and new.

I do look forward to it.

The night sky here is rather quiet. Gemini and Cancer in the sky. Mars and Pluto setting. The sky is inky dark.

The pool is warm.

Life is good.

Monday morn here in the land of Aus.We are watching the Packers v the Cowboys playoff game. So far it is quite entertaining.

I wish to report that I did my full day of 2wheeling Saturday. Left here about 8am, got home about 3pm. It was hot, hot, hot. I covered 600ks, stopped 3 times. Simply rode my bike.

I got home sweaty, dehydrated and sore. I weighed in 3kgs less than i left in the morn. 12 litres of beer and water remedied the weight loss. My leg muscles and gluten are very sore.

And life is good…

More vroom later

Mars, the star of the eve this eve, floats brilliant n bright to the west. He shall shine bright n long tonight. Neptune and Uranus accompany him into Aquarius.

The sky is rather quiet tonight.

It has been a long hot day.

Did I mention, Friday the 13th? Ring a Bell?

I completed my Australian motorcycle licence saga today. I can now, after a few months of being unlicensed, ride my bikes.

It is a long story… I swapped over from my Solo licence to an Aussie licence and in between  ended up without a bike licence for about 3 months. Have not really been on a long ride for fucking ages!!! Damn I miss riding!

So I sit here, 730pm on Friday the 13, 2017. A new year rings in and our superstitions continue.

A resident kookaburra makes noise down in the drainage. Frogs, very small frogs, add a vibration to the air. Fruit bats do their commute inland.

I find frogs in my pool. About the size of my thumb nail, some bigger, I am certain many species are around. It is interesting that the pool kills the toads ( we all dislike toads) but not the frogs. I rescue and release the frogs.

So after a frustraing past few expereicnes, I am happy to report that I have proven that I am a good poodle. This recent saga of jumping through hoops and wagging my tail and being polite and smiley in order to be legally licensed to ride my bikes… All I can say is “woof”.

It all began in September when I finally got my full-time, ol fart, retirement visa for Australia.

Another long story, but I had been hassling over my status in Aus for 6 year or more.

So I get my ol fart visa and then go into the local transport office to swap my licence over. To become a proper card-carrying Queenslander, MATE!

It was not easy. I had to pay some money and pass a test before I could pay more to apply to take the next text which included a road test. So I paid and applied and tested and got a Qlander licence. But only for automatic cars.

Now for these past 6 years I have been stopped, and I have been allowed to drive on my Solo Licence. Both cars, trucks and bikes. My Solo licence has been well recognised to  allow me to drive, ride and operate.

Not now, not after I got my first, basic, learners licence as a Qlander.

As soon as I went on to Qlander plastic, all else was null n void.

So I took a test to be fully certified to drive a car. Then another test to drive a car with a manual transmission. Took 4 trips into the local Transport Office. But I got my “open” for cars.

That was the easy part.

The bike licence was a drama. Normally one must wait and progress over 2.5 years to go from learner to open for bikes. For me that was tragic news. BUt I was patient, and friendly and had enough info to allow the TRFolks to exempt me through the draconian time requirements as I did my dance for them…

That was where I learned I was an exceptional poodle.

Golly, how many times have I been in the Transport Offices looking forlorn and cooperative. I am good at wagging my tail.

And jumping through hoops. To get a bike licence was pretty intensive…

I paid a fee then did 2 days of training and got my Learners licence. Went to the TROffices and got the paper work done. I did another day of training, paid a fee and did my provisional licence. Went to the TROffices and got the paper work done. Today I did another day of training and was issued my “open” bike licence, after I went to the TROffices and got the paper work done. I did not pay a fee because the guy doing the training and I got friendly and he commiserated with my drama so today was free.

I bought him a good bottle of whiskey as a present.

And I am buggered. So I sit here in the cool Qland air. The wind chimes giggle. The wind rustles the foliage. The Wolf Moon was full last night. It shall be bright and clear here, soon. Moon rise is 935pm.

So the first full moon of 2017 behind us. My MOJO has been messed up these past few days. I think it is because I do not take instruction well.

but tomorrow I shall remedy mu MOJO by going riding ALLL DAYYY…

More later

I woke this morn to a breezy, overcast day. We need rain. We wish for rain. I am getting bored watering the grass and veggie patch and flowers… I never tire of watering my roses.

It’s still kinda early – for a Sunday_. I have put on the news and opened up my computer. Mr. Kuma reclines a few feet from me. Since I woke an hour ago he has not moved much. He rolled on his back and let me scratch his belly. Lifted his head when I walked into the kitchen. But he has not gotten up. Still too early for him.

After doing the obligatory checking of family communications … Grace is staying on ICE in Gizo. My elderly mother is doing very well, despite the snow and cold in Iowa… I clicked a link to something from an old friend and fine writer, Willis Eschenbach.

Willis recently launched his own blog , https://rosebyanyothernameblog.wordpress.com/, and has been posting furiously.

What I  read resonated with me, mainly due to the fact that I too have spent many noon day hours walking through, sitting in, enjoying “developing world villages”. https://rosebyanyothernameblog.wordpress.com/2016/12/16/going-out-in-the-noonday-sun/.

As well, it raised to my forethought an idea I have been chewing on lately… the concept of WEALTH.

What is wealth? What makes one wealthy? How do we, or can we accumulate wealth?

As Willis walked through that dusty Sahal village, the villagers perhaps saw yet another wealthy white-dude. But, really, what is wealth? Two pairs of shoes? A change of clothes? More than one simple meal a day?

In his post, Willis goes on to explain his feelings in regards to the recent US Election, free trade, and discussions with friends. It is a worthy read.

But he got me pondering the topic of wealth, again…

As fate has it, I have recently written on this topic. In discussions with both D.B., and W.E. we did the polka on and around the topic for a couple of days. It all transpired from an article I picked up and shared because I could not understand it. It was maybe too smart for me. Maybe it was written above my head…

http://therules.org/the-real-story-of-wealth-creation/

But, when discussing “wealth” a bit of confusion is understandable. My final words in our exchange were…

=======

I think this may an important “thing”… 

It was there that Gracie’s father, Boaz, taught me about wealth.

Ok, I am done. Not going to ponder, reflect nor argue on the hows n why of where we be. I am done. PERIOD

I am though thinking about the many timely topics which have arisen from the very entertaining and highly debated past number of months. Soooo many  topics involved and sooo much peripheral discussion. Sooo few topics disected thoroughly. Sooo much bullshitttt….

Today I have been thinking about the topic of “The Southern Wall”, “Govt in business”, “Free Trade”and “Labour Immigration”.

Actually I have been discussing this all with a long-term debating partner… I like longevity… Bski n I have been debating since about 1985. I lose track of time, I am getting old.

1. On the topic of immigration, free trade and subsidies I wrote:
   You know I am a serial entrepreneur. Like you, Since I was 10 I mowed lawns, shovelled sidewalks, humped hay, delivered papers, etc, etc. I sold my services right left and centre for over 40 commercial years. I did not manufacture or extract but I DID, and have always made money DOING.
   My experiences have taught me that
   a) if it do not pay, it do not stay.
   b) subsidies simply do not work in the long-term. In my thoughts protecting an industry weakens it.
   c) regulations are required but habitually go TOO FAR. Like Unions, regulations have had a place and time but after a point they inhibit, not promote growth.
   d) I wrote on this topic as chair of the SI Camber of Commerce… I wrote that the government needed to provide the infrastructure required then get the hell outta the way.
   e) I am not a fan of free trade agreements. I know there are times where I am not 100% right with this thought pattern, that there are times where trade agreements can be beneficial to all parties, but such is rare.
   f) a catch 22 of sorts??? Lose the industry and end up with 1000 new homes on welfare assistance, or bail the company out … which costs more? Maybe let the natural transition occur?

2. WALLS NEVER FUCKING WORK. They cant. Especially when there is big money/ gain involved.

I am compelled to do a bit of writing on the topic of “The US of A political sit-rep”, and the political fallout experienced therein…

Because I chose not to vote many view me as either an uneducated red-neck, or an ignorant white male who has no soul or mind… Because I did not vote I have lost some good peoples respect. I have been cast into that basket of deplorables. My words, which for years were accepted and even respected, now are being tossed back at me. I am both evil and fascist and an aged hippy, and a know-nothing expat, and a closet republican, and a lying conservative, and a slum-lord industrialist… all at the same time.

Some folks are actually quite abusive in their verbiage… It has become quite personal, too personal for some folks.

Me? I carry no one’s baggage. Say what you want but be respectful. When you start ranting and become incoherent or abusive I go into Mantra-Mode.

Some think I must vote, and more to the point, I must vote a liberal ticket; and more to the point I must vote for Hillary Clinton. And because I a) did not vote, and b) did not vote a liberal/ Clinton ticket, well, hell, I am just an ass hole, a red neck, another uneducated ignorant white male.

I have written about my position per voting before… So shall not reiterate my stance… https://nativeiowan.wordpress.com/2016/07/23/2016-v7-1/

I want to share here two publicly published works discussing this topic of voting, the outcome we now must live with, and individual perceptions of what the outcome means…

1. http://crosscut.com/2016/11/fascism-nazis-alt-right-trump-white-supremacy

This piece is written by Knute Burger… I have just done a bit of research on Knute and find him tone a very thoughtful and eloquent Liberal sorta guy.

I need to think about this but in my checking up I find he has written about getting private industry to fund “Shanty Towns” for the homeless – as a solution to the homeless… http://crosscut.com/2016/10/bring-hooverville-back-a-solution-for-seattles-homeless/

I am going to have to think that over before comment but, hmmm, I kinda think that institutionalizing homelessness may not be an answer … I’ll ruminate and get back on that one… but…

In Knute’s piece he talks a lot about history, and draws direct correlations between then, and now. I fear/ feel that he is equating nationalism/ patriotism with fascism. I can see his links but the threads are thin.

I hear a recurring theme of a hopeful self fulling prophesy in Knute’s and other pieces I read. If Knute – and others – say the same thing often enough it has to be true, it has to come true.

So, I need to think this over… Is there a nationalistic/ patriotic surge in the USofA? And if there is, is it bad, even fascist?

I grew up in Iowa. Shows of nationalism/ patriotism are common… bumper stickers, flags on the front porch, hats and lapel pins proudly worn…

I visit the US frequently. I drive the highways and byways. Since I retired I have logged over 80,000 miles on 2 and 4 wheels. I stop in small towns, eat at mom-n-pop type places (when I can). I do not think I have seen more, obvious Nationalist or Patriotism now, than, say 10 years ago.

What is my measuring stick? It is basically the number of Stars-n-Stripes I see flying as I travel. I see the stars n stripes flying proudly everywhere I go. Not just in Iowa. Everywhere.

Now, I question if a protectionist attitude in business/ trade equals Nationalism/ Patriotism?

In may ways yes, in many ways no… The Shanty Towns Knute has written about, both historically and contemporary, are the direct result of an ailing economy. Knute points out that the Shanty Town dwellers are generally the uneducated, the unskilled. They have lost their jobs (or never had jobs) due to the decrease or shutdown of labour intensive industries such as logging, mining, etc.

Perhaps protectionism does, in many ways = nationalism/ patriotism. But I fail to be able to bring Fascism into this. Is it fascist to want your people, your citizens to be employed, self empowered and productive?

I am struggling here.

I think I see more of the wishful thinking, the hopeful self fulling prophesy syndrome here. Perhaps the newly elected administration will indeed be, or act in a fascist attitude, but thus far we have only words, rhetoric and bullshit.

Is it fascist to ask for an ID/ proof of citizenship when casting a democratic ballot?

I would only think it would be wise to ask for proof of eligibility and identity when entering a ballot booth.

Is it fascist to sentence a young man to 10 years in prison for a couple marijuana cigarettes? http://reasonabledoubt.org/criminallawblog/entry/december-13-1971-john-sinclair-freed-from-10-year-sentence-for-possessing-two-joints-today-in-crime-history 

I do think so. I know this is an old example but it is, I think, a clear example of fascism in action.

OK… I am trying to come up with a modern/ current example of active fascism in the USA… I can see examples of intolerance. I personally know some rather hard-core, exmilitary, biker types that would stomp on you if you burnt a flag in their presence. I saw the news reels of the dude being beat up in Chicago for being a Trump supporter. I know the narratives of Black Lives Matter, Hands up don’t shoot, and the neonazi types saluting and hailing Trump, and to me all are examples of intolerance not fascism.

The fact that so many people have been allowed to protest, fill and block the roadways,  burn flags, defy police who were protecting personal property, Well hell! The lack of strong-armed tactics tells me there is not much blatant fascism at all.

Speaking of Protectionism… 7 years ago I was the Chairman of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce. At that time the Aussie led free trade deal known as “PACER Plus” was being marketed. I was expected to tow a party line and support the motion.

I was a small time business man, from a back water country, who ended up in a position of minor prominence not because it was  agood idea, but rather because no one else wanted it.

So I was called in by the Aussies to give the key-note speech at a business-promotion type conference/ fair. All was sponsored by the Aussies. We had a couple of members to the Aus and SI parliament in attendance. The heads from the Central banks. The SI High Commissioner, and a full plane load of political functionaries and lackeys.

I dressed the part in those days. Grey pinstriped suit, black shirt with my fancy bola tie. My ink was minimal and easy to hide in those days. My long hair always got hidden behind my bald dome. I looked like a “member of the team”.

But my message was not what they expected. After doing a mountain of research, talking with people from many “arenas”, I came to the conclusion that Free Trade only assists those nations/ industries (global entities)  who do not need to protect their positions, rather, they need easy markets for the excess production, and to tap into pools of cheap labour.

https://nativeiowan.wordpress.com/2009/07/10/speech-for-australian-solomons-business-forum-10-july-09/

Also, I found that as industrial boarders were brought down, an elitist attitude creeps in where a “clean hands” business model is seen as efficient. By clean hands I mean that industry sees shipping the dirty jobs, the lower paying labour intensive grunt jobs  offshore as a positive. But, sadly, the main result is just what Knute is writing about… the Shanty Towns, the aimless labour force that is not required, but won’t just go away.

2. https://rosebyanyothernameblog.wordpress.com/2016/12/01/confessions-of-a-reluctant-trump-voter/

This piece is written by Willis Eschenbach. I have known Willis for over 30 years. I have always found him to be a thoughtful, respectful man.

In this he articulates why he chose to vote for Trump. He does a great job of giving a basic how n why he came to his decision.

Now some of my faithful readers know Willis for his years of Climate Change commentary… https://wattsupwiththat.com/author/weschenbach/

It is easy to see that Willis is not “main stream”. But also, once you start reading what he publishes, you find that he brings a clear minded and even scientific approach to his topical, common sense conversations.

Now I do not, cannot agree with everything Willis says. We have shared many long hours filled with passionate discussion. But his approach is inclusive, rather than exclusive.

An excerpt from his referenced post…

“...But we are giving away one of the three pillars of any nations wealth. Those three ways to create wealth are agriculture, extraction, and manufacturing, and we’re giving away one of the three, our manufacturing base!

Industrial-level stupidity …

Now, of the three candidates in this election, two of them wanted to repeal or renegotiate NAFTA and to reject the proposed free-trade Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The other candidate wanted to continue NAFTA, sign the TPP, and continue the disastrous free-trade policy. It was one of the few issues where Trump and Sanders agreed. …”

It may well be good, even great for Alcoa Steel, or Dupont Chemical, or Coca Cola, or Carrier air conditioning to close its US based manufacturing, build factories in countries where minimum wage is US 50 cents per hour, and rules and regulations are much less costly…

It is a good idea… Providing they are not taxed when importing their products into the USA. That, in a nut shell, is what Free Trade is about…. breaking down boarders , NOT  to make peoples lives better. NOT to make a single nation better… but, for the sole reason of raising the profitability of a THE Global Players.

Lastly…

I recently  was granted a Retirement Visa that allows me to live in Australia. I can work up to 20 hours a week. I receive NO social benefits. I MUST have approved (and expensive) health insurance at all times.

I have been working on this for 6 years. It has cost me in excess of USD$ 25,000.00 to get everything and all sorted, done and dusted.

And I am very pleased. Australia is a good place to be. It is safe, clean, comfortable, the climate is good, and it is very close to “home”, the Solomons.

Perhaps I should be indignant that it took so much time, so much effort, and so much money. Perhaps. But this is a great palace to be. I chose to do this. And I am happy it is done, and very much agree it should have not been easy.

Australia should, by all means, protect what they have. They SHOULD NOT make immigrating to this land easy. They should be selective.

Now, importantly, I am an active proponent of immigration. I am of immigrant stock, and now have personally immigrated twice in my life. Each process was not easy nor inexpensive. But in both scenarios, the process was well laid out, fair in its decision making and unrepentant in its intentional control.

So… if protecting your boarders, your industries, your wok force IS INDEED FASCIST, well, hell! This ol Hippy must be fascist in tie-died clothing.

I shall end with a mantra…

More tolerance, more tolerance…

say after me… More tolerance, more tolerance…

Smiles