Ups and Downs

First of all, I didn't say that I believed that the country has been going downhill for decades, I said that the people who voted for Trump believed that. Actually, I do sometimes get that feeling myself, but I'm old now, and that's what old people do, complain about the present and yearn for those thrilling days of yesteryear. Looking back on it, though, this country has always had good times and bad times, often good times and bad times at the same time. Whether or not you are experiencing the good or the bad depends on your circumstances and your point of view.

Uncle Ken remembers the 50s fondly, me, not so much. All I remember was being an adult imprisoned in a child's body, trying to grow up as fast as possible so I could get out of that stinking city. I remember the 60s more fondly because that's when I finally grew up and got out. Although there was lots of trouble on the national and international scene, I wasn't bothered by it much, maybe because I didn't watch a lot of television  in those days. I thought the country started going downhill during the 70s, when many employers started downsizing. The 80s held the promise of a renaissance, but that was mostly illusionary. My personal situation improved, but many others found that their new jobs didn't pay as well as their old jobs. It caught up with me when the paper mill closed down in 1990.

I derived some comfort when the Soviet Union collapsed that same year. Looking back on it, they never were that much of a threat, but most of us believed that they were, which, of course, was exactly what they wanted us to believe. On September 11, 2001, the first thought that came to me upon hearing the news was that I preferred the Russians. They were evil, to be sure, but these Islamics were just nuts. How do you deal with an enemy like that? Now it seems that the Russians are trying to weasel their way back onto the enemy list, and I don't know why. They should be our allies against the Islamics like they were against the NAZIs. Maybe we could have another Cold War after we defeat our common enemy, just for old times sake.

I don't know what to think about Trump's international policies. I like how he got us out of that Paris deal, but I'm not crazy about the way he kissed up to the Saudis. Maybe he knows something that I don't, but all those Islamics look alike to me. I understand that he has cancelled Obama's agreement with Cuba, which may or may not be for the best. It's hard to justify being pissed at Cuba after all these years when we have been in bed with Red China for decades. Of course I don't approve of that either, but two wrongs don't make a right.