Hello all 😎
About a year ago I became aware of OPP and started following it on a daily basis. I had been reading Daily Kos for a while but wondered what the other side of the story was. I want to start by saying that I am not a Democrat nor a Republican, I am an American! I believe that the political divide in this country is counterproductive to our nation and the world and we must put aside derisive rhetoric and come together as the one people we truly are, Americans!
The issues that separate us are not nearly as important as the ones that bind us together and make us one people and nation

I was raised by loving parents on a small farm in S.W. Michigan and learned from my father and mother a work ethic that has served me well my entire life. I have tried to instill that same work ethic in my children to a lessor or greater degree. All you can do as they grow is try to teach by example and simply be there for them. I can truly say that I am proud of all of them! 👍. A blessing to be sure. 🙏

I worked as a salesman and sales manager for most of my life and enjoyed a decent income and life until an injury forced me to retire at the age of 50. I currently live in western New York State with my wife and her mother and our golden-doodle. (Who is the real boss of the family. Lol ). I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1976 for 4 years active and 2 years reserve. Took basic training at Great Mistakes Illinois in February of that year and have been cold ever since. Lol
Most of my time these days is spent on music and reading and the ever present honey- list. I look forward to having positive discourse with you all here on OPP as we come together as the true Americans that we are whether conservatives or liberal.

Thank you for your time.
Otis

If you think Farrakhan is some sort of power broker, or that he has support from more than a handful of Democrats you're living in a fantasy of your own creation. Wishful thinking (that Farrakhan represents mainstream Dems) is not a rational basis for analysis. It's the same wishful thinking that leads some to assert that Dems are extremists or c*******ts. It makes it impossible to talk rationally with the holders of that falsehood.
Which seems to be what you want....not to talk, but simply to accuse and assert those with whom you disagree are evil.

Have fun patting yourselves on the back for disengaging with half your fellow citizens. We'll still be here when you come back to reality.

I was born in 1950... And our parents never - not ever - laid a hand on us... Guns were not a part of our household... But respect for others was very important... My father said, "No one has to earn your respect. They have to earn your disrespect. And only when they earn your disrespect do they have to do things to regain your respect."

I have lived my entire life with my father's thoughts in mind... And everyone I've known, regardless of race, creed, color. and religion have found me to be a good, caring person... And they've told me so...

After watching all of the criminality that has been going with the DNC, Hillary Clinton and their foundation as well as some within the Republican Party it overwhelmingly my psition that what is being provided in this video is the t***h. Again, as I have said on a number of occassions here on OPP I am NOT a consperious theory type of person and take things with a HUGE GRAIN OF SALT. However, how can anyone here that is actually trying to be honest about (PROGRESSIVE THINKERS) on OPP not at least think privately that this is what the hell has been going on? There are many here that are much better educated than I am and thats perfectly ok. Im always in a learning curve. However, I have been around the block amny times in my life and common sense is one of my intillectual strengths. Please watch when you have the time and inclination and tell me where Im might be going wrong.
Semper Fi

https://youtu.be/yPiVLAQ-fUc

The word budget comes to mind. A business owner (small/medium size) operating on a 20-30% profit margin if he wants to stay in business, must manage inventory levels, scheduling employees to meet traffic patterns, product consistency, advertising, training, and a host of other balancing acts. Should the business owner run only a small 2-3% over in each area he closes the doors to the next business owner that can work within narrow margins.
In every aspect of government entities, take the VA for example, or even the EPA, with those managing from the top down ill fit to run a Mc Donald's. The VA unable to provide a service regardless how many budget increases they continued receiving as the answer to fix their incompetence. Yet a similar business model a privately owned hospital has far superior service on a fraction of the operating budget.
The EPA, every State, city, and most towns have regulations or requirements for (example) pulp mills to expel pollution within guidelines. Port Townsend a small 11,000 population town in Washington State every couple years would raise the bar on their pulp mill clean air and water requirements. The mill actually has water going out that has been cleaned and better than the water coming in. Yet the Federal EPA has to get their piece of the pie with less required purity still spends money to monitor the mill and issue license to operate. This model of the EPA duplicating what States and Cities across America are already doing. Another example would be the EPA overreach regulations that they themselves write (as laws) outside of their scope of legalities, outside of Congress, costing hundreds of millions to manage and when the EPA needs to expand their departments to keep up the ability to manage regulations they simply request more budget funds.

I believe most every department within the governments control can be operated as a business model and with duplication removed or closed down could save tax payers trillions if 10-15 year periods.