Day 94 of Nat'l Emergency: Uplifting Words, Some Not

I don’t normally read newspaper ads. I tape television shows for later viewing so I can fast forward through ads. It is a rather cavalier attitude considering my income for more than three decades was contingent on earnings my publication could squeeze from advertising revenue.

I’m not sure what drew me into reading a full page ad in Wednesday’s New York Times. No picture or illustration captured my attention. Perhaps it was the red ink lettering at the top and bottom of an otherwise black and white page of 38 quotes from famous Americans. Juxtaposed among uplifting statements from past presidents, government officials and luminaries were counterpoint messages from Donald Trump. 

Here are some samples: 

From President Herbert Hoover—“It is a paradox that every dictator has climbed to power on the ladder of free speech. Immediately on attaining power each dictator has suppressed all free speech except his own.”

Followed by Trump’s “Fake news is the true enemy of the people.” 

Albert Einstein was cited as saying, “Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.”

Under that quote is one from Trump: “More people attended my inauguration than any other President’s. Anyone who wants a test can get one.”

From Founding Father Benjamin Franklin came this aphorism: “He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.” 

Trump’s rejoinder: “I look forward to showing my financials because they are huge.”

In smaller letters at the bottom of the page is a note that the ad was “Paid for by the Author of the New York Times Bestselling Book, What Would Ben Say?”. 

Ben, as in Benjamin Franklin. 

That author happens to be Tom Blair, a successful businessman and author of several books, a person with some passionate interests. Blair, according to his Amazon books page, owns “the world’s largest personal collection of WWII British aircraft, many of which he flies.” His interest in World War II might well stem from the fact that “his father, an American serviceman married to a young British girl, was killed at Normandy in 1944.” He was born a few weeks later. 

Wednesday’s ad was not the first time Blair has purchased a full page in The Times. He did so back in 2016 in apparent disappointment at the choice of presidential candidates nominated by the Democratic and Republican parties. 

Running a full page ad does not come cheap. It can cost upwards of $150,000. Small change for Blair who, one of his biographical blurbs noted back in 2016, sold one of his companies for $4.6 billion. 

In case you’re not able to read the ad which I included with this post, here are more point/counterpoints followed by the quotes in red at the top and bottom of the page:

“People who boast about their I.Q. are losers.”—Stephen Hawking

“Sorry losers and haters, by my I.Q. is one of the highest. Please don’t feel stupid or insecure. It’s not your fault.”—President Donald J. Trump

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”—Mark Twain

“The people are the rightful masters of both congresses, and courts—not to overthrow the constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.”—Abraham Lincoln

The Future Hinges on Voters of Suspect Intellect

Less than two weeks until the fate of the country is decided. Not specifically on the ballot are the futures of Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Obamacare, civil rights, voting rights, gender rights, labor rights, nuclear arms control, environmental laws and a host of other issues that will directly affect the lives of most Americans, even if they don’t realize it (for example, those who complain about socialism overtaking our daily existence do not comprehend that Social Security and Medicaid are forms of socialism, as are public schools and public police forces and fire departments).

Let’s be honest. You’re probably as sick and tired of election coverage as I am. That goes doubly for having to see and listen to Donald Trump at rally after rally as he foments crowds into raw meat delirium. How hypocritical of him to blame the media for inciting incendiary behavior.

Now let’s be really honest. You’re probably melancholy, perhaps more than a bit disappointed, maybe even angry that Barack Obama didn’t fire up his faithful in 2010 and 2014 to defend his progressive platform, as the provocateur-in-chief is doing almost every day with his rabble of a following. Had he done so maybe we wouldn’t have so many Republicans currently in office on the national and state levels.  

For now, I am beyond soaking up all the minutia of 435 House races, 35 Senate square offs and countless state house and gubernatorial contests. I just want it to be over, like I wanted the Mega Millions lottery to finally find a winner (I am really disappointed my five tickets contained no more than one of the picked numbers; I didn’t fare any better with Wednesday’s Powerball drawing). I’m even too exhausted to watch Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers skewer Trump, or listen to Brian Lehrer on WNYC public radio impart more reasoned analysis of our disastrous political state. 

That could be the Trumpster’s plan all along. To rope-a-dope us all into submission. 

I wonder how many people under 45 would get that rope-a-dope reference. Muhammed Ali used that strategy on October 30, 1974, in the Rumble in the Jungle fight to tire out George Foreman. Ali allowed Foreman, the reigning heavyweight champion of the world, to barrage him with punches through seven rounds while he nestled on the ring’s ropes, a tactic that allowed Ali to dissipate much of the impact of each punch. His energy spent from swinging lefts and rights to little effect, Foreman succumbed to Ali’s assault before the bell rang to end round eight. 

Why did I pick 45 as the age factor? Because a recent national survey found that just 19% of those 45 and younger could pass a citizenship test if it were required of Americans born in the United States. 

“With voters heading to the polls next month, an informed and engaged citizenry is essential,” Arthur Levine, president of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, which conducted the study, said in a statement. 

“Unfortunately, this study found the average American to be woefully uninformed regarding America’s history and incapable of passing the U.S. Citizenship Test. It would be an error to view these findings as merely an embarrassment. Knowledge of the history of our country is fundamental to maintaining a democratic society, which is imperiled today.”

Citizens 65 and older fared much better, scoring passing grades 74% of the time, the highest mark for any age cohort. (An actual citizenship test is just 10 questions, six of which must be answered correctly. Take a longer—96 question—test by clicking on the “select all questions” button in the link: http://www.citizenshipstudyguide.com/member/citizenship-test-questions-quiz.php.)

According to the foundation’s press release, “The survey also found that:

• 72% of respondents either incorrectly identified or were unsure of which states were part of the 13 original states;
• Only 24% could correctly identify one thing Benjamin Franklin was famous for, with 37% believing he invented the lightbulb;
• Only 24% knew the correct answer as to why the colonists fought the British;
• 12% incorrectly thought WWII General Dwight Eisenhower led troops in the Civil War; 6% thought he was a Vietnam War general; and
• While most knew the cause of the Cold War, 2% said climate change.

Simply put, too many of our electorate are dumb. Without basic knowledge of our history, our founding principles and values, it is no wonder that a lying, uninformed autocratic bigot can manipulate the truth and lead a throng of morons to repudiate what this country has stood for domestically and internationally for more than eight decades.