J.D.Vance has told me, somehow, that I don’t care about the future of this country, that I have no vested interest in the future. So, I find myself asking questions…
Do you think Climate Change is an important issue for the future of this country?
Do you think the protection of our water ways is an important issue for the future of this country?
Do you think the well rounded education of all of our children, you know – not just the wealthy ones, is an important issue for the future of this country?
Do you think that the planned family, the desired and celebrated family, is an important issue for the future of this country?
Do you think that a healthy populace given access to quality healthcare without the risk of personal bankruptcy is an important issue for the future of this country?
What does this guy think indicates a value for the continuity of our country? An uber-wealthy oligarchy? A destroyed natural resources? Dying financially ruined for need of routine health care?
Scottie's Playtime 
This says more about Vance than he realizes. It also says a lot about the people he hopes to reach with this garbage.
His premise amounts to this: the only things people really care about is their own and their family’s survival and possibly. That might mean that they want their family to survive long enough and well enough to take care of them when they get older. He is, if he really believes this, one moral and ethical step above a complete psychopath. This idea of his puts him one step above due only to his concern about his genes surviving rather than just himself.
There are other theories I could lay out, but they amount to selfishness and playing to a selfish crowd.
This is Old Testament attitude. The story of Job has always bothered me, where god and the devil are playing craps with Job to see if they can get him to repudiate god, his owner. “Just don’t kill him” says god. And everyone around him dies. His livestock, his servants, his kids, his wife, and that’s all fine, especially when Job doesn’t turn on god. And then, when the bet is called done and paid, god fixes everything by giving Job a NEW wife, and NEW kids, servants, livestock. Such a deal. I guess nobody really counts except the property owning male. (race/color is an optional requirement)
Just no empathy at all. They don’t even pretend.
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Well said.
Well said, both of you!
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Thank you Ali. 🙂 It did seem a bit narrow minded of such a broad-assed man, didn’t it? lol hugs! Randy
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🤭😄🤭
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What I like about Job is in the end he rebukes them, tells them what horrible beings they are and how ashamed he is to have been created in their image. Harbinger … ?
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I need to re-read Job. It’s been a few decades now.
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Hi Ten Bears. I’m with MDavis on this one…. I’m definitely going to need to re-read Job. My pastor is going to be so proud of you! You got me to read the Bible! 😀
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You won’t find it in the King James version. I found it in one of Sitchin’s translations out of the original Armenian, Greek and Hebrew. Sitchin was a prolific proponent of the notion that at some point in the past half-million years extraterrestrials genetically interfered with the evolution of the half-apes they found roaming the savannas of Eastern Africa and rather humorously used biblical Job to illustrate the point there were more than one, that man was created in their image
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That’s the trouble with English Translations of the Old Testament, those who thump them out would have us believe the English (about fourth language version) Translation is the really deal. There’s a lot of contemporary context, poetry, allegory and lost in translation in there.
Taking the English translation literally as sold by the Fundamentalists is like fast driving in a fog without lights on.
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I’m not surprised that the context was lost. I don’t know what the context was supposed to be. And the version I read treated everyone in Job’s estate, except Job, as a minor character less important than Rosencrantz or Guildenstern.
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A bit like that isn’t it?
Every explanation I’ve read thus far on the topic ends up with me saying ‘ Nah….Don’t buy into some of those details’
There again nothing like a challenge or six in the belief system of your inclination. Makes you think.
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Makes ME think “burn down the patriarchy, and I can be a real person, too.
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Boy that was a bittersweet laugh I just had. -Randy
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Yes!! Thank You, Determineddespitewp. You have reminded me of a commentary I read on a fundamentalist’s rant put out by a Jewish Rabbi. To put things succinctly, he made it so clear that the fundamentalist completely missed the context, the environment and the poetry held within the small portion of the Torah so deftly mangled in his ignorance. Great point!! -Randy
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Thank you Randy.
Your words remind me of two interpretation of Abraham and the ‘near’ sacrifice of Isaac. Both are linked.
1. By a rabbi- That Abraham knew God would not allow this, and this was an opportunity for God to show Humanity that child sacrifice (Common in those days) would not be allowed.
2. By a Christian pastor that the account is in the form of an allegorical poem, in which the message is from God ‘You don’t need to do this. I will provide only by your faith’
I guess this is why:
(again)
1. A body of Christians get so twisted and ferociously intolerant by taking the accounts literally.
2. A larger body of Christians get a bit queasy and troubled, thinking ‘That massacre- That’s not right, surely,’
Some apparently have gone the whole way and claiming that since Christ’s arrival and sacrifice The Old Testament doesn’t count anymore, so don’t bother with it.
Small wonder you could fill a whole room with books on interpretations of The Old Testament.
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Hi MDavis. I had to laugh when I read your comment, for two reasons really: I recall my father using the saying ‘it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it’. I made the mistake of providing proof all too often, but age and experience often softens such sharp edges, like a stone bouncing down a creek bed caught in the current until finally finding a place to sit and watch it all go by.
The other reason; I grew up in church, went to a Christian college, and never had the courage to voice my opinion to my pastor or instructors that it seemed God had little regard for Job’s wife and kids. Thank you for your great comment!
-Randy
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Because the Republican Party is, way too, short-sighted, that’s why, the candidates, are all, misinformed of what’s happening in the world right now, and, they will be, leading the U.S. down that path of, NO return!
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Hi Taurusingemini. Thank you for that point. There have been many times I’ve listened to seemingly intelligent right-wing speakers and wondered what I was missing. Why were they sounding so profound to some but only mean spirited and closed minded to me?? I’m surely not smarter, and I am definitely not well traveled, so I must be missing it, right?
We as humans are constrained to our own experience. The wisest of us learn from others, but that is not always human nature. We seem set upon learning things the hard way. Maybe that was the whole “Social Darwinism” thing, and we’ve become too civilized now. Nonetheless, it seems as though the republican mantra is not in building the country but stripping whatever he/she is smart and powerful enough to strip from it, then pat themselves on their back for their ingenuity.
Thank you for your comment. -Randy
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Damn right Scottie! These folk would have the USA fall apart just so long as they can have their narrow little White Privilege ‘I’m-So-Straight and Go-To-Church-on-Sunday’ empires.
And Vance may know something insightful about his upbringing but as for the Big Wide World…he’s knows…’Jack’
(Sorry I’m done being eloquent for the moment- Old Cranky Guy mode is activated)
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Hi Roger. I love the sentiment, I love the cranky old guy in you. But … I did not write this. My grand and wonderful friend Randy did. Posted on by blundersonword
Roger if I may, will you give me a minute or four to talk about how great Randy is and has been to me. If you see each of us refer to each as brother it is because he is the sibling I never had and so wish I did. Randy is a great and wonderful story writer and if he had more time he could be a novelist. Randy works a really stressful job as a plant manager Where he works incredibly long hours. I love that he posts when he can now here.
Randy is a great writer and he wrote a story about an abused boy and the man who saved him. We were friends online and he sent it to me. It was so realistic it triggered me badly. When I told him that he was so grand and great, he hated having done that to me. My view was that if he could write that well he should get published. His view was he shouldn’t write at all if it would cause harm.
When I had my breakdown, this was before Randy became plant manager and was working 12 hour nighttime shifts. When I totally wanted to retreat from life and was self harming again, Randy would keep his phone on during the day in case I needed to call him. He called me ever few hours to make sure I was OK and not self harming. Even though I to this day do not talk on the phone because of beatings in my childhood for even touching the phone, I would talk to him for hours to keep the memories and feelings of my abuse at bay. He was the brother I never had. Day and night he was there for me even as he worked a hard job 12 hours night shift. I am not sure if I would have made it out of that time in my life without him. Yet he never mentions his efforts, never says how much he gave up during that time. He believes in your god, so I guess you could say he followed Jesus in giving and caring for others. We became great friends, and I adore him. We are brothers. If asked he will demur and say he did not do much, but every time I reached for the knives instead no matter the time I would also reach for my phone. He always managed to make me put the sharp instruments away. While he will say he really did not do much I say he saved my life a few times over. To this day even in meetings with clients or the millionaire plant owner he will take a call from me. Money can not buy a brother like that, but love can. Hugs. Scottie
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I am in admiration of Randy Scottie. That is a powerful account of love in its most pure form. This is living the message as taught by our Lord Jesus.
This is the way which enriches the world.
Definitely a hero.
Take care you guys.
The world needs you.
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Hi Scottie. Every moment was worth gold and gems, and you have been there for me, and others!!, every time I’ve needed you.
Everyone – if you need an example: Last week I pestered the snot out of Scottie because one of the machines at the shop, cutting edge technology in the late ’80’s I’m here to tell you!!, blew the computer monitor. Some time back I was able to find a replacement monitor that worked for about 5 months because it was a used 35-years old monitor! You just can’t buy CGA monitors anymore without spending thousands of dollars. The OEM would have cost us – this is no joke on my part – $40,000. So, as you can imagine, I pestered Scottie to help me find a solution that didn’t have me eating bologna for the next six months. I mean, I like bologna sandwiches, but…! Not only did he dig up numerous monitors for me, but by our conversations I actually found a work around so I could use a VGA modern monitor.
Scottie, that wasn’t the first time – and sorry, won’t be the last time either 😀 – you have been there for me with technical, professional and personal problem solving and a very needed shoulder to soak. I am VERY honored to be called “brother” by you. Hugs! Randy
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