How Could this Happen?

 

As the situation in the US worsens and becomes increasingly scary, I was thinking about a dinner of family and friends shortly after the presidential election.  The group was mostly working class democrats.  Teachers, a nurse, an engineer, a social worker, etc.  As far as a I know, none voted for Trump. The general conversation was "How could this happen?"   How could Trump possibly be re-elected?

I asked a few questions.     

• Do you support DEI and affirmative action?  The collective response was that it has been taken too far.  Biden seemed to have a DEI quota even for appointing his cabinet.  The group was opposed.

• Should there be control of immigration and closed borders?  There was a consensus - the open borders that flooded Texas and larger US cities with illegal immigrants was wrong.  The wide open border created  social services crises in Texas and many US cities.  People should be vetted before they are allowed entry.  We don't want MS13 and other criminals.

• Student loan forgiveness?  A resounding no here.  Where's my $10,000?  How can the government just give $10,000 to certain people?  It's not fair.  

• Trans rights? - Everyone agreed that people have the right to change their gender and should not be discriminated against.  Everyone also agreed that allowing a MTF to play on a female sports team is unfair.  One person said they don't want their daughter or wife to be in a locker room with a person who has male genitalia.

• Pronouns? - General consensus is that it's confusing and unnecessary.  There are two genders.  Especially the singular of they.

• Size and efficiency of government?  General consensus that government is bloated and inefficient, government workers don't work very hard and there is a lot of waste.  One family friend worked at the State Dept for thirty years and would tell us shocking stories of government waste.

• Crime?  It's bad and often the punishments are often a joke.  Defunding the police is just ludicrous.

• Abortion?  About half supported women's rights to have choice.  Some Catholics at the table. No one agreed with total ban and the prosecution of doctors who provide abortions.  There are circumstances when it should be allowed.  

• Biden?  Looks senile and never should have run again. 

IMHO, this is how it happened.  This is why Trump won.  So many people I've talked to have told me that they think Trump is a bad person, but they voted for him anyway because of their mostly ideological agreement.  I've been shocked at some of the people (who I thought were smart) and have told me they voted for Trump.

I think Trump is a horrible human being to the core.  

Here's a reality:  The US is fundamentally conservative.  If a Biden or Harris clone arrives to run for President in 2028, they will likely lose.  They are too far left.  If a Republican or Democrat shows up who is a little right of center, they have a shot a winning.  Otherwise people will hold their nose and vote Republican.  We might have JD or Marco as our next President  (unless Trump destroys them first). 

Asia Trip

 

 

I've always thought about doing longer trips, like more than two months.  Now I am seriously planning for January.  The trip is going to be Asia with primary base in Da Nang.  I've heard it called the "Miami of Asia".  Right on the ocean and inexpensive.  I'll visit some other cities too, but right now the plan is for Da Nang to be the primary base.  I'm thinking Jan 15th to early April.

Da Nang seems to fit the bill.  Staying at the beach.  Warm weather.  Inexpensive massage everyday.  Different foods.  Now I need to find the best location and also would like to find a place in a hi-rise.

I usually recon one or two other places I might want to go.  A friend told me about Hua Hin in Thailand as another option.   I also want to check out Bali and surrounding areas.  I've heard mixed reviews of Bali, but the north side of the island might be better.  Also, there are some islands to the east.  I doubt I'll return to Phuket.

I love planning these trips.  How to get the best deals and organize the trip most efficiently. 

Morning Walk

 

The morning weather is so beautiful right now.  It's 65F  (18 C).  I went for a walk at 6 :15 this morning.  It was cool, but perfect for just shorts and a t-shirt.  Only a few other people walking and running.  After seven many more will come out.   There is a sidewalk farmer's market nearby and some of the vendors were just getting set up.  I'm so grateful for this morning walk.

It is now the end of the third week of my eight week stint at home.  I'm a bit frustrated that I'm stuck at 75kg despite lots of lifting, cardio, intermittent fasting and a calorie deficit.  I started running again last week.  I feel like there is also a mental health benefit from running.  Let's see if that helps. 

Five more weeks until my trip to NYC.  That won't help my diet, but NYC is my favorite city.  I am picking the restaurants I want to try.  Expensive restaurants are one of the most overrated things in NYC, and I want to carefully choose so as to avoid disappointment and too expensive.. 

One of my former co-workers called me out of the blue yesterday.  I worked with him twenty years ago and he's kept in touch.  He had some personal finance questions he wanted to run by me.  He sent me a message:  "You had better not still be working!"  

The immediate future doesn't look good for the U.S.  With all the stupid things Trump has done in the last fifteen months, he has averted disaster.  It's not looking that way this time.  The "unconditional surrender" didn't happen.  His "address to the nation" was clear as mud.  Higher oil prices could create an economic disaster.  Two of the band of idiots have been exited.  Hopefully the "secretary of war" is next.   He seems gleeful with this war.  I suppose the replacements could be worse.   Looking forward with trepidation.

 

Happier?

We are one quarter through 2026 already. 

I'm just thinking about what would make me happier.  Spending more time with my bf would make me happier....that's what I think.  In six weeks we have a trip.  Then he will stay at my place for a while. Then I will stay at his place for a while.  By that time it will be July.  I'll think about going back to his place in July since it's cooler there.

Today I was reading about the loneliness epidemic among men, particularly middle aged and older men.  I There is a dearth of friends, especially close ones, for this group.  It's harder to make friends as you age.  Surveys find that many men have few friends and feel lonely.

I don't feel lonely.  Maybe I'm anti-social, but I do not want to be at a bar with the guys.  Or barbecuing in someone's  backyard.  Or whatever.   I can stand being with one or two people, maybe three, and that's it.  My bf is the same way.   He has many opportunities to socialize with this gay group, and he refuses to do it.  I just feel uncomfortable and awkward, like I don't fit in.  I view this as a good thing.....it simplifies my life and that's good.  

No big plans whe0n my bf is here.  We like to watch movies in the evening.  This time we will master making baguettes.  There were a few failed attempts last time.  Sometimes I make dinner.   Sometimes he does.  It will be a quiet, simple time.

But getting back to friends.  I do have friends in other cities and I enjoy spending time with them.  I like to have a few other friends for deep conversation and dinner.   

We all have different social needs.  Probably it's abnormal to have zero social contacts, but there's a range of normality above that.  

People I Meet

I need to put more effort into starting small talk.

In Mexico I was talking to the guy who was cleaning the Airbnb I stayed at.  Jorge was his name.  It was in a mix of English and Spanish.  Turns out he is from Cuba.  His English was fairly good, and I asked him where he learned it.  "I lived in the U.S. for a while -- until I was deported," he told me with a laugh.  I think this was pre-Trump, fortunately for him lest he end up at Cecot.  We briefly talked about whether Cuba might become the 51st state.  "I knew you would ask me that," he told me, laughing again.  Interesting to hear his perspective although I didn't completely understand him.

My bf and I rented a car and drove around the Yucatan.  It was easier than I thought it would be.  We drove through many small villages.  Dogs sleeping in the middle of the road -- and they didn't move for us.   I had to go around them.  A completely different world.  My reaction was I can't believe people actually live here.  But that's my perspective as an American that I need to put in check.  The fact is that they do, and are probably happier than many Americans.  Driving outside the city wasn't bad.   There is no way I would drive in Mexico City.  I was explaining to my bf how expensive it is if you get into an accident with a rental car.  I prevailed and we got the insurance. 

I have plans now into July.  I'm at home for an eight week stretch now and fighting boredom.  Thinking about the fall.....what should I do?  Maybe Spain and Morocco.  

 

And for the Next Act....

 

Depends how long it takes to wrap up this Iran thing....but probably by the end of the summer we will have invaded Cuba.  I wonder if the Cuban people will be thankful?   I'm guessing they will be.

Different Perspective

 

I was at a seminar a few days ago.  One guy at my table introduced himself, telling us he was from Iran.  He's 29 years old and had won the green card lottery.  The conversation turned to how does he feel about the new war.  He told us Trump has done everyone in the Iran a huge favor.  This is what most people in Iran wanted, and Trump is the only one with enough courage to do it.  He was explaining that while he is religious, he doesn't support the religious extremism that the regime forces on everyone.  The economy is devastated.  He would never be able to get a job there.  He's very happy for the war.  It's fine with him if Reza Pahlavi, the Crown Prince, returns as the country leader.   He said he would like a shirt with a huge picture of Trump on it.

Wow.  What a different perspective.