Why do Politicians hate America?

You say they don't hate America? then why do they want to change everything?
I have never lived in a country without Social Security, Medicare, The Department of Education, The Department of Energy, or the Department of Commerce!
So why do the Politicians advocate changing the government so radically that I would not even recognize the country in which I grew up?
I've had my social security number memorized for the better part of a half century now. And why would I suddenly want to loose all that money that I paid into that system.
My wife works for a federal education program, (Head Start). So, again, why do they want to eliminate her job? But not just her's, thousands of jobs like hers.
Costs? Please!
We're fighting 2 wars, at least 2 military actions, and we occupy dozens of countries around the world- All of which have had dubious results. We don't hear a mass call to do away with any of that crap. Weapons of mass destruction- GIVE ME A BREAK!
I've been to countries where you can look around and see Roman bridges and aqueducts, Roman sewers and roads- thousands of years after they were built, (by force)
We've dumped billions of dollars into Iraq and Afghanistan, and the only things you can look around and see is abandoned military and contractor equipment. 
 BILLIONS of dollars!
But god forbid we continue to fund the Social Security system that we pay for ,every month, in our paychecks!
AND, If we pay for it - then it's not a FREAKING Entitlement! SO QUIT CALLING IT THAT- WE PAY FOR IT!!!!!!
And the tens of thousands of jobs like my wife's, federally supported law enforcement programs, fire fighting programs.
Every dollar eliminated from those programs is directly eliminated from someones paycheck!
My only conclusion is that Politicians hate jobs, or,  is it just the jobs that THEY want eliminated!
Change America? How-bout we get rid of a few politicians instead. This country was never, EVER, designed to be run by "professional" politicians.
Lets quit paying those sons-of-Bit#%@hes and keep a couple teachers, how about that!
Oh, and by the way "TEA PARTY PEOPLE" our generation pays less percentage of our incomes in taxes than any generation of Americans before.
LOOK IT UP!

Old Friends

I've had many friends in my life that have stayed with me throughout. Some come and go, the natural ebb and flow of relationships throughout the decades, spouses and children thrown into the mix, but some of those friendships have endured my half century of meandering.
My wife for instance, I can not understand why she has traveled with me on this journey, It's been a rough road, and she could have, and probably should have left my side long ago, but she hasn't even wavered in her steadfast gaze not even in the total darkness of our worst hours.
The list of my constant companions has changed, but the list of my friends has only grown over the years. I have had only one true constant companion that hasn't changed in the last 32 years and that is my beautiful, smart and caring wife Peggy. Ever at my side through the sunshine and the darkness. And believe me when I say darkness, I mean total darkness. Death and loss of love-ones, the attacks from both within and from outside. The betrayal of family members. And of course the darkest moments on our little jaunts outside bounds of what society considers "acceptable" or "legal". And I'd rather have no one else at my side in a fight than her. And believe me, I have some fierce and steady companions whom I would trust with my life, but no one who has been tempered in the firestorm of turmoil and difficulty of this life, like my beloved wife.  
I do not, and probably can not, express how much she means to me.
I'm amazed at how many people truly believe that they have some of the friends that they think they have. In this age of social media, an acquaintance is considered a friend. But why? Just because someone is friendly towards you on Facebook, doesn't mean that they will psychically stand with you while you bury your love one, or literally stand with you while your are being arranged in a court room. Hold your hand or your head while your wounds are being sewn up. That's the measure of true friendships. Someone who will physically defend you in your greatest time of need. Those are true friends, not someone who "pokes" you on your "dashboard" or writes on your "wall". I'm talking about someone who will hold the flashlight in the rain while you bury an unfortunate mistake, and not judge the circumstances that led you there. I have those friends! Their reading this now, and I want to thank them, and I want them to know that I love them too.
What kind of friends do you have!
To my children I say, Go do something, Live Life, don't just sit around waiting for life to happen, Live it, embrace it, and you will meet those travelers on their life journeys, and maybe some will walk with you. And a few will stand with you in your time of tribulation, just as you will come to want to stand with them when that kind of darkness descends on them. And maybe you'll come to understand that, those are your friends. Not the casual tweet, or the daily text, not the person you rarely even see but for their "profile" pictures.   Make some true friends, and the only way to do that is to take that journey and embrace those who you find traveling with you.

I'm back

I caught a nasty virus that trashed my computer system. I was able to piece together a new system with the help of some friends and a little luck. I'm not 100% but I'm back at it again.

Meltdown

I've had a catastrophic computer failure, and won't be posting for a short time while I try and figure out how to replace my system.
Some as#$%*le planted a virus in a video that I downloaded and now I have to replace my equipment and upgrade my security to unbearable levels.
I'll start posting again as soon as i can.
Thank you S.M. Wolf

Notes from a "Coffee" stained notebook

I'm sitting in a very dark and cold house. The power was cut off after I couldn't pay the bill. I can still run the lights and refrigerator, and other essential functions of the house, with a generator. But then you have to feed the generator, so we only run it at night.
The generator won't run the water pump part of my water well, it requires too much power to operate. And the washing machine won't run on the generator supplied power so we've been using a laundromat in town.
We've been relying on rain water to run the toilets and for moping the floors. And we've been toting drinking water to the house in 6 gallon water containers usually used for camping. It's inconvenient but not unbearable.
I'm very nearly crippled by the Rheumatoid Arthritis, that's been plaguing me for the better part of a decade.  Most days I find it difficult to walk, If I can move at all. Allowed to move at my own pace, I can still manage to do most things, but if pressed I drop out rather quickly.
I spend most days here, in my wheelchair and  at my desk, writing and surfing the net.
I still farm, if that's what you want to call it. A couple dozen chickens, 8 goats, 5 turkeys, and the cats.
Four house cats,  four pixie bobcats, and a wildcat. and I know what your thinking, real bobcats and a real wildcat, yes, the bobcats are half breeds, and Munchkin is a real wildcat. F. Silverseteris, the very same breed written about by Shakespeare, and in the song "The Watchtower". "and the wildcat, he doth howl", except Munchkin doesn't howl, at least not in the last 4 years. Their all a bit of a handful but their good company.
I'm not waiting to die. I am however waiting for a break in my current circumstances. At this point, I can't really hold a job. Who's going to hire me?  A 50 year old ex jeweler/watchmaker who can't perform anymore. Crippled, walking with a cane or crutches, or sitting in a wheelchair on really bad days. I'm not really qualified to do anything, my education doesn't help much. Besides, I don't know what I can do, even if I went back to school. Everyone and his dog thinks their qualified to sit at a desk and do computer work, and my temperament isn't right for teaching.
I'm addicted to coffee and my computer. I don't really think I can turn those things into a new career. And I can't function without my medications, I tried a couple  months ago, I quit taking everything completely.  It lasted about 5 weeks before I threw in the towel. Easily the worst time I have had since my father died. Does that make me an addict?  I think it does.

Lowered Expectations

Life expectancy.  What are our expectations?
well lets see about mine.
I'm an average, white, lower middle class, male, in middle America, so what is my average life expectancy?  According to the insurance companies, it's about 77 years.
So how does that stack up against my experiences?
Well, it doesn't! Lets just look at my linage for a minute.
My father died at the the age of 62, an accident but we don't get to choose the circumstances.
My grandfather died at the age of 25. Again not his choice but rather the result of WWII.
His father, my great grandfather died at the age of 58. Congestive heart failure.
I can go on for a while, but the point is, that, no man with my last name, (in my direct linage) has lived past the age of 62 and a half, for quite some time now.
I'm 50 years old, with health issues. So what are my expectations?
Well, 77 seems a little out of reach.
My father lived to 62 - I can make 62 - health wise.
That's another 12 years. Barring accident or injury. 
Can I make 65, probably. I may be crippled and blind by then, but I think 65 is doable.
How about 70? That's 20 years from now. Doubtful, but there's an outside chance.
But, again, blind, cripple, and crazy, is a real possability, there's some debate about weither I there now.
That leaves me somewhere between 65 and 70, on an outside bet.
So there's better than a fair chance that I won't see a dime of the Social Security and medicare that I've paid into my whole life.
And that should make the Republicans real happy.

Mountin Goat

Blue is one of my goats, and he's quickly become the alpha of the herd.