Stand with the Forefathers

Can we just stand with the Constitution,
Instead of standing against it just to be standing with Donald Trump?
Stand with the venerable document, the glory of our land—
And just give Trump the bump.

Stand with 1776 and our forefathers of old.
Don't be so enamored by 2024 and the new president.
Stick with George Washington and James Madison—
Not the current White House resident.

There's always a way, always a hope,
Always a will to win.
And to fight for Trump is to fight against the forefathers—
So please don't do that, my friend.

 

Tyranny's Flag

Justice flies a flag.

Freedom does the same.

But when tyranny flies a flag,

It's just a game.

Follow the Trump flag, if you will—

Follow it, if you're a fool.

That banner of tyranny will have your allegiance

If your eyes are covered with wool.

Couch Wins

Couch wins—
Always does.
Pizza and Doritos,
And Heineken for a buzz.

Our man sits there on the couch,
Watching a sex-dripping show.
Where do you think his life's going—
Where do you think it will go?

He sits there in the night,
Crumbs and spilled beer staining the cushions of the couch.
And he becomes the definition
Of a person who's a slouch.

Only For Those Born Upon Our Sands

Are America's freedoms only for Americans—
Those born upon our sands?
When others come begging,
Do we slap them away with our backhands?

The freedoms of our nation—
Not for one and all?
Not for those from foreign countries—
Not for them at all?

“You have no right to freedom
When you reach our shores.
You're only free to go back home—
We'll deport you by the scores.”

Freedom, freedom, freedom...
Isn't for those coming from abroad.
Freedom is only for us—
We won't give you that nod.

The Rights of the Rich

The rights of the rich,

The rights of billionaire barons,

Are nothing about giving,

And nothing about sharing.

The rights of the rich

Are to keep all the money.

They earned it—they keep it,

They keep all the sweet honey.

Don’t tax them. Don’t charge them.

Don’t lean on their wealth.

The only welfare they’re concerned with

Is their own jolly good health.

American Cattle

Cattle drive—
Keep all the cattle in line.
Don't let any get away.
Get them all to the slaughterhouse—
Don't let any of them stray.

These are American cows;
They are all me and you.
And we're headed for the slaughterhouse
Before the day is through.

 They, the Builders of Our Nation

They, the builders of our nation—
What nation will they build?
Will it be as good as promised?
Will it be as good as billed?

There are those of us who doubt.
There are those of us who fear.
We look at the current builders of our nation
And know they will not take us there.

To Make It a Beacon City, Do the Things That Will Make It a Beacon City

    I wrote and posted this six years ago:

  Do we look at scripture and suggest that Utah might become a place where all nations will come? I wonder, if we were to want to help bring this to pass, what would we do to bring the world to the Salt Lake Valley?
  That passage in Isaiah, where it says that in the last days, "the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains," does it not end with, "and all nations shall flow unto it"?
  I don't know that it is doctrine -- this belief that Isaiah 2:2-3 is speaking of the Salt Lake Valley -- but, it is certainly a common belief among the people, whether official doctrine or not.
  In our modern world, much of the travel -- when you are going from one nation to another -- is by airplane. So, if you are to have all nations flowing unto you, many of them are likely to be arriving by plane.
  If you were to want all nations to flow unto you, then build the things that bring the air passengers, do the things that will cause all the world to fly into Salt Lake City International Airport.
  Maybe they will come naturally. Maybe they will come simply because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is here, simply coming to see it, to learn its ways.
  But, I see no wrong with planning. I see no wrong in laying plans to make this valley the world's beacon city. Planning is a plus. Sometimes, goals aren't achieved unless you make the plans that get you there and do the leg work that allows your goals to be achieved.
    So, the world's visitors largely travel by airplane in these latter days? And, surrounding our airport we have a vast stretch of undeveloped land? In all the time since Brigham Young arrived here, the land to the west has gone undeveloped. Such a happenstance; Such a fortune. Has ever a city thought to place the things that bring visitors right next its airport? Convenience, they call it. Location, location, location.
   Decide who you want to attract, and built the things they will come for. Tourism? Surely, surely so. All of the world's visitors are tourists, of sorts. But, sort them out. Just as Las Vegas attracts one set of tourists and Branson a little different set, set your sights on who you want.
  Maybe you just want to attract them, and then let them hear your message once they arrive. If so, make the Salt Lake Valley the home of sporting tournaments, hobby festivals, and conventions. Have the facilities necessary, and go after the gatherings of bird-watchers, chess players, fiddle players and all else. Invite associations to have their conventions here, and create your own events. No reason Salt Lake City needs to wait for the United State Chess Federation to bring a tournament here. It can set up its own chess tournaments.
   And, quilting gatherings, and horseshoe tournaments and model train confabs.
   The scripture says the latter-day location will be "exalted above the hills." Why not seek to make this area a place the world comes for commerce, and government, and education?
   One possible idea is to make this a place where issues are discussed. Bring in authorities and experts and politicians and scientists to discuss the world's issues and needs. Bring in, as well, the common people for similar discussions and studies. Make it so convenient to come and participate that all the world comes. Have it so convenient that they can fly in one day, and take a walk or a shuttle to a symposium just to the west of the airport -- and then fly out that very same day. No taxi or hotel required. The price of your airfare is the price of your visit.
   Say a news story breaks -- as it did this past week -- suggesting that one of the most effective ways of fighting greenhouse carbons is to plant trees in every spot worldwide that you can. Bring in the experts who are suggesting this. Invite a few Congress members. Invite other experts. Invite in those who do not believe in climate change. Have them all sit down and discuss the proposal. Have a large auditorium (separated from the stage by bullet-proof glass to protect the participants) where public from around the world can come in and listen and perhaps even offer input.
   Utah can become a place where governing matters are weighed. It can become a beacon city in so many ways. But, becoming a city such as I've described is not likely to happen unless you plan it to happen.

In Utah, There Is This Controversy Over Water

In Utah, there is controversy. It's dry. Little moisture is being released from the sky above. The governor seeing the problem, has asked the people to fast and pray for rain. 

And in that setting, there comes an editorial from the Salt Lake Tribune. Seventy-five percent of the water is swallowed up by agriculture concerns. Seventy-five percent! 

"We could let every lawn turn brown, every golf course and park dry to a crisp, drink imported beer instead of water and wash our clothes in turpentine and we would have only a tiny impact on our water situation," says the editorial

I am not among those who think it wrong to fast and pray. Appealing to God is a worthy thing. I try to remember the outcome the last time Gov. Cox asked us to pray. If memory serves, it seems we did get the moisture we petitioned the Lord for. 

Still, the Tribune is correct. We do live in a desert. Agriculture is necessary for the survival of the planet, but that doesn't mean every place on earth is suited for farming. We should be wise enough to realize Utah might not be such a place. Thanks to the Trib for the solid nudge that direction.

I appreciate the editorial pointing out the old adage: 

“Pray as though everything depended on God; act as though everything depended on you.”

All I have said leaves one important fact undiscussed: As LDS people, we have been taught that the desert will blossom as a rose. That is scripture (Isaiah 35:1). It is prophecy. Does it apply to Utah? I think it does. Does it mean we should go ahead and cultivate the land and trust the Lord to supply us with water? Perhaps, perhaps.

 In 24 Hours

In 24 hours ending on July 1,
Almost a thousand soldiers were killed.
These were Russian soldiers,
And that much of their blood was spilled.

Bless the human beings,
Those of every land.
We mourn and cry in anguish
When they're buried in the sand.

Nine hundred seventy lives were lost,
Nine hundred seventy laid in their graves.
War is diabolical,
And those who bring it on are knaves.

Russia has a president—
Vladimir Putin, you know.
He's responsible for all these deaths,
Responsible for every soul.

 The Gun Wears Its Own Badge

The gun wears its own badge
And that isn't the way it should be.
The gun thinks it's the sheriff,
And the bullet, its deputy.

The man with a gun administers justice,
Or the justice as he sees.
But he can't see what's right and wrong,
Because he can't see through the trees.

He pulls the trigger and calls it just—
He lays a person down.
He thinks just because he has a gun,
He's the sheriff in that town.

But trigger-happy sheriffs,
Who suppose the gun is a badge,
Often don't do what's right—
That never was their pledge.

So if a gunman comes a-calling,
And he thinks he is the law,
Tell him to get out of here.
Tell him to withdraw.

They March Them Home

They march them home—
The immigrants.
Turn them out,
Hiss at them and shout,
Scorn, condemn, and flout.

But there is another march
Awaiting the immigrants:
The march into Heaven.
Heaven’s gates will welcome them;
They are God’s diadem.

 

 The Buffalo Soldiers

The Buffalo Soldiers, they called them,
And Buffalo Soldiers they were—
Fighting for America,
They caused quite a stir.

Black soldiers, all,
Black soldiers, everyone—
They were the most noble soldiers
That you could find under the sun.

Back then, there was segregation
All across the land,
So Black soldiers couldn't be in the same unit
As White soldiers—understand?

So units were composed of Black men—
Black men, everyone—
And these honorable soldiers fought,
Fought, and never did run.

Bullets Take Out Heroes

Bullets take the brave.
They take out the heroes who dare to fight.
Bullets bear no mercy;
They turn courage into fright.

Bullets blister babies;
They spare not the child.
They ransom women
And set the criminal running wild.

Peace knows not the bullet.
Peace calls for the bullet to be put down.
Peace calls for reason
And tries to protect everyone around.

 Too Much Blood

Too much blood runs in the street.
Too many lives are lost.
Too many children cry—
War comes at great cost.

Too many wars,
Too many bombs,
Too many people
Buried in tombs.

Run from the battlefield,
Hide in the bushes.
Death awaits you—
It’s all war produces.

Subject Politicians to Truth-in-Advertising Laws

It would be a difficult law to implement properly, but we need a truth-in-advertising law. You know—a law that says you must be truthful and not misrepresent things.

And while you might be thinking we already have such a law—in fact, we have a host of them—I’m saying we don’t... at least not for politicians.

The idea first struck me while I was listening to a Karoline Leavitt press conference. Many of you might argue it’s not the Republicans, but the Democrats who are the lying, thieving scoundrels.

Regardless, neither side should be stretching the truth or spinning facts into something they’re not. The public is too easily persuaded—and too easily fooled.

The real problem? Who would determine what counts as an infraction? It seems like it should be just as easy to evaluate statements in the political realm as it is in the business world—but is it? My concern is that the Trump Administration is already muzzling the truth and could use such a law as a tool to silence Democrats.

That which can be used can also be misused. I don't know what to make a law like this work without the possibility it could be hijacked to do the exact opposite thing it was intended to do, but I feel truth is in such jeopardy these days that we should be looking at our options.

 If They Overrun the Land

The country of the immigrants—
If they overrun us,
What will we become?
A country of harder workers?
A country where everyone is welcome?

What will we become
If they "invade" our land?
A country where most people
Have a natural tan?

America is great,
But it could be greater still.
If we let the immigrants in,
We'll reach a higher hill.

The National Garden of American Heroes

Have you heard of this? Donald Trump is planning to build what he calls the National Garden of American Heroes in the Black Hills of South Dakota, just miles from Mount Rushmore.

No less than 250 life-size statues of historically significant Americans will adorn the garden. There aren't that many statues in one place anywhere in the world. The National Garden of American Heroes is expected to honor the likes of Amelia Earhart, Muhammad Ali, Steve Jobs, Sacagawea, and Christopher Columbus. 

The Lakota Tribe and other Indigenous groups oppose the project, arguing the land is sacred and should not be further developed. 

Look at All the Fighter Jets

Listen to the tanks and guns.
Listen to their fire.
Listen to the soldiers,
Caught in the barbed wire.

Look at the skies above.
Look at the bombers there.
Look at all the fighter jets,
Flying through the air.

Look at all the bodies,
Falling to the ground.
Look at all the bloodshed,
Everywhere around.

War is never friendly.
War is never kind.
War is death and hatred—
That's all you're going to find

Except to Sheep

They laugh and mock,
And mock and laugh—
But it's Donald Trump
That's full of graft.

Graft and greed,
And corruption deep—
It's plain as day,
Except to sheep.

They follow and worship,
They trust all he says,
While the rest of us are embarrassed
That he's our pres.

New Americans

New Americans can be the best Americans.
They're just Americans from other lands.
Let us love the new Americans—
Americans born on foreign sands.

Americans are Americans,
And they're Americans just like you and I.
I'm so grateful for such great Americans—
So grateful I could cry.

Constitution Says

War, then.
For it was an act of war,
And war should be called by Congress—
Congress, Congress, Congress.
Yes, Congress, no less.

But that would lose the element of surprise,
You argue, and you say:
"We can't just let our plans out,
Can't give our plans away."

Stop and think just a little,
If you think the situation was too brittle.
Hadn't the President warned them?
Hadn't he rattled the saber just a little?

That should have tipped them off—
Should've, should've, should've.
So you could have waited for Congress to act—
Could've, could've, could've.

 

Grandest Moment

Was this his grandest moment?
History has yet to tell.
Bombing deep into the earth—
For Iran, things didn't go well.

Trump presided over the bombing;
Give credit where credit's due.
Hopefully, destroying nuclear capabilities
By the time the attack was through.

A Hard Worker, Our Farmhand

In the willows, in the moonlight,
In the willows, in the wind,
Lay the immigrant in hiding—
Guilty of being too brown-skinned.

The ICE agents combed the swampland,
Looking for the brown-skinned man.
He lay low, he lay quiet—
Our farm worker, our farmhand.

Come dawn, ICE gave up,
Unable to find the migrant man.
And he returned to work the fields—
A hard worker, our farmhand.

 Washington Was a Poet

Washington was a poet,
And better than I,
And I'd like to tell you his story—
For why shouldn't I?

Now, it wasn't during his lifetime
That his poems he did write;
It wasn't until after he died,
And was gone out of sight.

He'd lie in the grave,
He'd lie in his tomb,
Crafting poem after poem
In the dark and the gloom.

Decades passed,
Centuries too—
Washington was still pouring out poems,
Like he'd never be through.

Then one day,
In the dark of the night,
Gravediggers came calling,
Wondering if George was all right.

They dug ten feet down,
Then another twenty feet,
And they dug up his grave,
Thinking that was kind of neat.

And there lay Washington,
Alone in his tomb,
And beside him was a stack of poetry—
Enough to fill up a room.

The gravediggers became famous
When they published all his poetry,
And now everyone reads it
From sea to shining sea.

Will He Claim All the Credit?

Trump skips out of the Group of Seven summit early to try to go get credit for peace in the Middle East, supposing that happens. Things were going good for him at the G7, and they hadn't gone well for him at the military parade. 

Time for a restart?

Let's see how well he weasels himself into the credit line should Israel and Iran come to terms.

Time for the Bombs

Time for the bunker-busters,
Time to bust up the vaults.
No time to sit drinking sodas,
No time to drink malts.

Bust up the nuclear sites,
Bomb the heck out of Iran.
Destroy their nuking power—
As fast as you can.

They Should Have Wished Him Happy Birthday

It was his birthday, so it was an opportunity for the Western World to engage in diplomacy. Forget that Valdimir Putin had an hour-long talk with Donald Trump. It is the Western World that should have been lining up to get on Trump's good side. 

Trump has a strained relationship with the democracies of the Western World. If it were a marriage, you would say it is an estranged marriage.

So, this was an opportunity. Try to woo him back to the fold. I do not know how many European leaders reached out to him -- how many wished him happy birthday -- but it they didn't, they passed up a good opportunity.

The Age of Trump

The Age of Trump,
The Golden Age of Trump—
For these are the days of his glory.
King of all the land,
The nation ruled by his command.

We live in that age,
The time of Donald Trump,
The reign of Donald Trump,
The Age of Donald Trump.

 Let's Read You Your Rights

Now that we've arrested you
For being in our land,
Let us read you your rights
To make sure you understand.

You have the right to leave here,
The right to go back home.
You have the right to be buried
Beneath our ocean foam.

You have the right to an airplane ride,
Taking you far away.
We'll even buy you a ticket—
But you must be gone today.

You have the right to prison;
No ticket is required for that.
And we won't tell your family
Where that prison's at.

You have the right to no lawyer.
You have the right to cry.
You have the right to be torn from your wife—
You know we wouldn't lie.

Freedom Is Only

Freedom is only as free
As freedom of speech—
And freedom of religion
You also must reach.

And freedom is only as free
As freedom of the press,
And you can't say you're free
If you have anything less.

Freedom is only free
If you're not falsely sent to jail,
For when there's anything less,
It's a "freedom" that will fail.

Freedom isn't freedom,
And freedom isn't free,
If it doesn't give all its freedoms
To you and to me.

Won't You Shine My Boots?

Now, won't you shine my boots?
With them, I'll kick you out of here,
Because I do not like your roots.

Where did you say you're from?
We can't have someone from there.
Folks like you aren't welcome—
Now, get on out of here.

So the simple immigrant
Bowed and walked away.
Tears were falling from her cheek,
From being treated such a dreadful way.

The Rule of Don

The rule of Don,
The rule of one—
Not much democracy
In all the things he's done.

The reign of Don,
The rule of one—
Edicts from his lips
Cannot be undone.

No one can challenge
His rule and reign,
Though the rule of Don
Is quite insane.

Love the Immigrant

Just a Christian's Christian
Is the person who practices love.
"Love thy neighbor as thyself"—
Is the thought from God above.

Neighbors come from across the seas—
God loves them the same.
Some won't love a foreigner,
But God won't play that game.

Love the immigrant—
The migrant from a foreign land.
Love them, even if
They were born on foreign sand.

The Picture of Wickedness

The picture of wickedness—
They cried when they saw it.
Lookie at that Mexican flag—
You know he shouldn’t fly it.

Sitting on a motorcycle,
Riding around a burning car.
And then he rides off—
Perhaps heading to the bar.

Just another rebel,
Mocking our values here.
Thumbing his nose at us,
And all that we hold dear.

They rip them from their families,
They deprive them of their rights.
And if he should protest,
They slam him for his gripes.

The all-mighty government,
In the all-mighty land,
Squashes rebellion
With a heavy hand.

Dang Right, States’ Rights

Dang right, states’ rights—
And I’m the man who sustains them.
My name is Donald Trump,
And states’ rights are as good as rum.

As long as those rights support me—
As long as they do me some good.
But if those rights get in my way,
They’re nothing more than good firewood.

States’ rights, civil rights—
What about the rights of Donald Trump?
I demand all the rights,
And nobody else has the right to grump.

Raise Your Eyebrow

Raise your eyebrow—
Never let it close.
All the things he's doing
should scare you from head to toe.

Raise your eyebrow—
Let your eyes look back and forth.
Scan what's happening
from the south unto the north.

Raise your eyebrow—
Keep an eye on Donald Trump.
All his shenanigans
should really make you jump.

Hulbert Can Help

Hulbert can help,
And Roy's the place,
So vote for Janel—
To win this race.

And so begins
Another campaign...
American politics—
Are quite the game!

Across the land,
In every town,
They seek for leaders—
The best that can be found.

History Will Pause

History will pause, for you to catch up.
History will pause, for that.
Time to sit and sort it all out,
Study what's white and black.

It's all so simple, all so plain—
Plain as in black and white.
It's all so clear—you should see it right off,
It's right there, in plain sight.

So pause for a moment, sit back for a while,
Study this whole thing out.
History will pause, history will wait,
So you can study it, in and out.

It's in front of your eyes—right in your face,
Right there, out in the open.
Surely, if we stop, you'll lasso the truth—
You don't even need to be good at ropin'.

My Flowers

I run a flower shop—
The biggest one in town.
Everyone buys from me;
They come from miles around.

But today, I won’t be selling them.
All my flowers are gone.
But I didn’t just give them out
To whoever came along.

I have some special friends—
Some friends I love a lot.
And I’m giving them all my flowers—
All the ones I’ve got.

My friends are called the media,
My friends are called the press.
I love them in great bunches;
I think they are the best.

But along comes Donald Trump,
Ready to shut them down.
So I’m feeling pretty sorry for them
And giving them every flower I have around

The Silent America

Introducing The Silent America—
The one you’ve been waiting for.
We will silence unwanted opinions;
Things will not be like before.

Let a hush fall over the nation,
Let dissidents be still.
Let the press be muzzled—
With them, we’ve had our fill.

We are the strong and strident,
We are the government.
And this administration
Allows no false comment.

Freedom of speech and the press
Only foment division.
We need a united nation,
So silencing them is our decision.

 America Went Broke That Year

America went broke that year,
no money to pay the bills.
It looked into its wallet—
it was so empty, it gave you chills.

It looked for someone to borrow from,
but this time, no one was there.
No one to bail out the foolish nation,
no one would even dare.

And the nation that thought itself invincible,
the nation no one thought could fall—
that nation went bankrupt,
that nation hit the wall.

Robin Hood Reversed

From the poor,
we give to the rich.
It should be the other way,
so this is a switch.

We love a great idea,
so we jump in headfirst.
Imagine all the benefits
of Robin Hood reversed.

Trump and all his friends—
let them have our money.
When it comes to taxes,
they are our honey.

Kiss the rich, suck up to them,
reward them for all that they've done.
When it comes to blessing the rich,
let us not be outdone.

Your Moment

Your moment—the moment of truth.
The hour of decision is now.
You can stay on the sidelines,
hang your head and bow.

Or you can stand as a warrior,
a warrior of truth,
of justice, and all that's good.
Yours is the choice,
and this is the moment.
Here’s hoping you do as you should.

 Enter the Fray

If you want to be fearful,
be fearful.
If you want to be scared,
be scared.

But do not freeze.
And if you drop to your knees,
make it to pray—
instead of obey.

Trump's banner now waves
where once the banner of freedom stood.
Freedoms are lost by the day.
Be fearful, indeed,
but know—you must enter the fray.

Fist Fights Become Street Fights

Fist fights become more deadly
when they no longer belong to kids.
Punches pack more power
when grown men blow their lids.

The playground gives way
to life on the streets—
hanging out in bars
and sitting on motorcycle seats.

The fights become more deadly,
the fists pack more power,
and there’s a trip to the hospital
when a friendship goes sour.

Fist fights become street fights,
and life becomes death.
And the hooligan is soon breathing
a criminal’s breath.

Graft and Corruption

Graft and corruption,
and corruption and graft—
it seems to not see it,
you'd have to be daft.

The man at the top,
the top of this land,
uses his office for riches,
and those riches are grand.

He frees the prisoners
and those who commit crime,
but locks up the immigrants
most every time.

He mocks the courts,
and courts those with funds—
if they'll do him some favor,
their crimes come undone.

The man at the top,
the top of our land,
deals in graft and corruption,
and things underhand.

The Democrat Lifer

Start your campaign early.
Don't start it too late.
Hit with a surprise blow,
As you come out of the gate.

Here's my call to Democrats,
Whether it be Harris
Or those wearing top hats.

Start with a bang,
Send a surprise—
Shockwaves and tremors
Of the highest size.

You, as a Democrat,
Are against abortion?
Come on, let's do it!
This is as big as the ocean.

You've got to do it early
And must be sincere.
Don't deal falsely,
Just to appear.

Then, give the voters
Time to adjust.
Give them time
To learn they can trust.

A Demo, a Demo
Is divided from many
Just by abortion.
For most people, that's plenty.

Just this one issue
Separates the Democrats.
Because of this issue,
People think they're dingbats.

So, raise me your hand
If you're the person we need.
We'll run you for president
If you're a lifer—a lifer indeed.

Suicide

Suicide– the suicide of our nation
Yes, it's no less– no less than that
We are the soldiers on the other side
In this great combat

We take a gun to our own head
We take a knife to our own heart
We murder the soul inside ourselves
We blow ourselves apart

Death delivered by the hands of those who die
Death from the hands of self
To think we would take our own life
We must be besides ourself

We are a strangled nation
And its our own hands upon our neck
Murder for hire, they call it
And it's we who sign that check

A death warrant
A death wish
It's we who sign that decree
If we want to know who's killing us
Well, it's you and me

A President for the People

A president for the people
This Donald, Donald Trump
And if you really believe that
Your thinking's in a slump

People, people, people:
Don't fall for Donald Trump
You'd be better off to climb a cliff
And then take a jump

 We Should Care

We should care—do we care?
For civilians who die in war?
We honor our own soldiers,
Who die on foreign shores.

We should care also for the civilians,
Though they be in foreign lands.
They are the victims,
Of war on those foreign sands.

Though they might not be our brother,
And don't even fly our flag,
We should love as brother, sister—
Anyone with a human tag.

We should care for everyone.
Their blood spilled is also our loss.
We should add them to our soldiers,
When we total up the cost.

 We Go to Sinaloa

We go to Sinaloa,
Down in Mexico,
Home to the hombre,
Home to the amigo.

We rest on its golden beaches—
Mazatlán is known for them.
We ride upon our surfboards;
On the waves, we skim.

We gasp at the Baluarte Bridge,
One of the highest on Earth,
And at the rock carvings—
They, of such worth.

We join in the festivals,
Dance with the people.
On Sunday, it's church,
And the beauty is the steeple.

We learn of the farmers
And how advanced they are.
Some of the world's best
Are in Sinaloa, by far.

But against everything great,
There is much that is not.
Drug cartels are entrenched,
And bloody battles are fought.

The people of Sinaloa
Also face the tariffs of Trump,
And that could put the farmers
Deep in a slump.

All the way down
To Sinaloa, we go.
We learn of their challenges
Along with things worthy of show.

Bless the Sinaloans
Bless the people of that land
Bless and protect them
Under God's hand

Musicians Coming, Going Are Facing New Music With Visas

Musicians—the heart and soul of American entertainment—are being forced to cancel concerts and are facing the threat of deportation.

Yes, as with much of what is going on, even when they are completely legal, the Trump administration is going after them. Shall we point out the situations we are aware of?

Let's start with Julion Alvarez, from Mexico, who had a large, sold-out concert in Arlington Stadium in Dallas (where the Cowboys play) set for May 24.  But no -- ICE would have none of it: Just the day before the concert was to take place, Alvarez was notified his work visa was being revoked. Since his work is singing, sans the visa, he would be working in violation of the law. 

Then, how about Yamil Said, drummer for the band Lord Buffalo? As the band went to board a flight to Europe, Said was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport for alleged violation of a restraining order. He continues to be held in jail in Tarrant County, Texas.

Next up, Bells Larsen. Though we might not agree with transgender identity, should that be used to discriminate against him?  When restrictions on gender markers were placed on applications to come to enter the U.S., the complications prompted Larsen to cancel his U.S. tour. New policies require gender markers to match the sex of the person at birth.

Trupa, Trupa, a Polish post-punk band, is reconsidering a U.S. tour due to processing delays, increased costs, and the risk of being detained while here.

Then, the case of Knitting, a Montreal-based band. Knitting faced obstacles in scheduling a U.S. tour. Processing times have increased, with some applications now taking up to eight months. And the cost? Visa fees for international musicians increased from $460 to $1,615 per application.

British singer FKA Twigs canceled a U.S. tour due to visa complications.

Shred Kelly, a Canadian band, canceled its U.S. tour due to rising costs and uncertainty. Reports of international travelers being detained despite have proper documentation dissuaded the group. Members of the band became fearful they could be separated or held up at the border, disrupting their tour schedule.

The Mexican band Los Alegres del Barranco had its visas revoked after performing music dedicated to a drug cartel leader. The U.S. State Department cited concerns over glorifying criminal figures. While it is disconcerting that the band glorified a cartel leader, one wonders if the American principle of free speech should not be upheld, allowing them to perform in the U.S. just the same.

Whether it is the threat of being deported, or just the obstacles now in place discouraging visiting musicians, Donald Trump's immigration policies are impacting musicians going out of the U.S. and coming into the country from performing.

Don't Take a Fist to the Poor

Don't take a fist to the poor.
Don't pound them into submission.
Don't gut the programs that help them.
Don't make that your mission.

The poor of the land—
the poverty-stricken—
don't scheme up all the ways
you can give them a lickin'.

Our nation is rich,
but it has its poor,
and let's hope the rich
don't show them the door.

Stop the War

Stop the war, stop the war.
Stop the violence now.
Stop the bloodshed, stop the hate—
Make peace your only vow.

Come together, talk and talk.
Talk until peace is reached.
Talk of hope, talk of peace—
Make those the things you preach.

Come together, stop the war.
Lay your weapons down.
Silence all the gunfire,
So only peace is found.

Aliens, Aliens

Aliens, aliens
They've always called them aliens.
So, tell me where they're from—
That isn't Cuba or Mexico.
I know that because I'm not dumb.

Aliens, aliens
That's all of those from Mars.
And some of them might be from beyond there—
Maybe even from the stars.

Now you know what we do with aliens.
Aliens can't stay here.
We'll be deporting them to Jupiter.
Don't you have no fear.

People Need People

People need people,
From all walks of life.
A society is not a society,
When it's just you and your wife.

Each one contributes,
And none are the same.
Together, we're better,
When we're all in the game.

Monopoly in the Sky

There's a monopoly in the sky
A monopoly up above
Elon Musk makes billions
Or something quite thereof

SpaceX, Starlink
His brand is in the sky
He gathers in the money
From the heavens passing by

Up above the earth
Way up in the sky
There's a monopoly
Where the angels fly

Out of Business

Out of business, out of business
Nothing more to fight for
Each and every one of them
Can give up being conquistador

Trump's elected—no more need
So, throw the militias out of town
Now their man is president
We don't need them hanging 'round

Go No Further than This for Your News

Go no further than this. Today I offer you a lightning synopsis of the day's most pressing news stories. Turn the TV off, skip the 9 o’clock news, and sit down with me as I share all the riveting developments.

1.) The Springsteen-Trump feud. After Bruce Springsteen opened a concert in England by calling Trump "corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous," Trump suggested that Springsteen had best keep his mouth shut until he was back in the U.S. Then, should the rocker say something like that, Trump said, "we'll see how it goes for him." Later in the day, Trump called for a "major investigation" into Springsteen, Beyoncé, and Bono for having performed at Kamala Harris rallies during the campaign. Trump alleged that they were paid for their appearances and that this constituted illegal endorsements, as candidates are not allowed to pay for endorsements.

2.) The Supreme Court's TPS decision. TPS stands for Temporary Protected Status, which allows immigrants already in the U.S. to stay if there is danger in their home country. It is separate from the standard refugee program. Anyway, the High Court ruled that the Trump administration can deport Venezuelans who are on the program — about 350,000 people — a sizable portion of whom live in Florida's Miami-Dade County, where they make up a reasonable share of the labor market in service industries (a rough estimate would be around 10 percent). How will this affect Miami-Dade's economy? How will it affect the Republican-Democratic balance? Miami-Dade County historically leaned Democratic but recently flipped to Republican control. Will businesses reliant on Venezuelan workers push the county back toward the Democratic Party?

3.) The "Big, Beautiful Bill" advances. A House committee approved the measure late Sunday, and there is hope it will finish winding its way through Congress before Memorial Day. Though too complex to fully unpack here, among other things, the bill provides tax cuts for wealthy Americans and others. It eliminates taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits. The bill also removes incentives for purchasing electric vehicles. The Big, Beautiful Bill will also open federal land in Utah and Nevada, allowing private developers to buy the land for housing and fossil fuel development.

4.) CBS News President and CEO Wendy McMahon resigned under pressure from Paramount Global, which in turn is being pressured by the Trump administration to soften coverage of Trump. McMahon's forced resignation comes weeks after the executive producer of the network's "60 Minutes" program resigned, citing concerns over editorial control being dictated from above.

5.) Peace talks reopening in the Russia-Ukraine war. Following a two-hour conversation with Putin, Trump announced that talks would begin immediately.

6.) Israel escalates operations in Gaza. The Israeli military launched "Operation Gideon's Chariots" and ordered the evacuation of Khan Younis, Gaza's second-largest city.

7.) The S&P 500 posted its sixth consecutive winning session as the stock market rally continues.

'Dried Out Prune' Refuses to Back Down to Trump

Donald Trump is coming after Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen called Trump "corrupt, incompetent and treasonous" as he took the stage to open his European tour May 14 in Manchester, England. 

Infuriated, Trump responded that Springsteen had best keep his mouth shut until he is back in the U.S. Then should the rocker say something like that, "we'll see how it goes for him."

Sounds like a threat.

“I see that Highly Overrated Bruce Springsteen goes to a Foreign Country to speak badly about the President of the United States," Trump posted.  "... This dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that’s just ‘standard fare. Then we’ll all see how it goes for him!”

Wonder what the president will do — throw him in jail, fine him — what?

Under Attack

Under attack from Donald Trump, America's premier TV news magazine is on the brink of fading into irrelevancy.

And with it goes one of the grandest, most noble chapters in American journalism history. With it goes a portion of the free press—you know, that institution so honored by our founding fathers that they warned that without it, all other freedoms could be lost.

As 60 Minutes aired the final episode of its 57th season tonight, it whimpered away a more obedient child to Donald Trump, its critical coverage of him having been silenced. For a dozen weeks after Trump's inauguration—every single week for a dozen weeks—60 Minutes held Trump's feet to the fire with stories critical of him and his policies.

Until April 20. Nothing that day. The episode failed to cover the president in that episode. After a string of 12 straight weeks, it went silent.

Two days later, the executive producer, Bill Owens resigned, suggesting his journalistic independence was being ripped away by the owner of CBS, Paramount Global. That's just two days later, and you have to believe the string of coverage of the president closed out because Owens was no longer allowed to speak freely, to report things critical of the state.

April 27 and May 4 witnessed a return to stories about Trump's policies, then silence again. Nothing on May 11, and nothing today, May 18.

Trump has long feuded with CBS. In 2024, he opened a lawsuit alleging that the network edited a Kamala Harris interview to purposely make her look better than she was. His language and demeanor toward the network exploded in April following embarrassing 60 Minutes stories on April 6 and 13. He lashed out, calling CBS "out of control," and guilty of "unlawful and illegal behavior." He warned that CBS should "pay a big price," and called for "maximum fines and punishment."

He turned to the Federal Communications Commision, urging it to revoke the network's broadcast license. Kick it off the air. Silence the scoundrels once and for all.

The FCC's chairman, Brendan Carr, says the matter is still under consideration, so the threat hangs over CBS's head. Carr, though, declines to call it a threat, suggesting it is just a legal penalty.

The FCC is also taking its time on a proposed merger involving CBS. Fodder to get CBS to be submissive and comply? Perhaps. It is wrong for government to wield its power this way. Its decision should not rest on whether the news coverage is favorable towards the government.

If the merger matter borders on blackmail, withholding the merger is a bit of a bribe.

You expect that of Donald Trump, and you get it. It's called corruption, and this administration is full of it.

The Heavy-Handed Political Machine in Utah

One of the most heavy-handed political machines in the nation is the Utah Republican Party. And as the party breaks from another state convention, we are reminded of this bleak reality.

It's an embarrassment to the state. 

Old-timers will remember the political machines of Chicago's Richard Daley and others. We can appreciate that perhaps as a rule, party organizations have become more people friendly.

It has been said that governance should flow from the people, as opposed to being imposed on them from above. Do we suddenly have a different belief when it comes to parties? Do we suppose it is good governance that they govern with a heavy hand?

It's time for change. And the first step is to recognize what grievances we are guilty of.  So, let's reflect on some of the things a party machine can do to intimidate and control the electorate -- things it can do to diminish the people's role. All of these might not be applicable to the Utah Republican Party, but a good number of them are:

1) Hierarchical structure. Party leadership remaining within an inner circle. The same people serving in the capacity of delegates year after year. The same people running the show. The same people in charge.

2) Strong central leadership to direct party activities. This can be reflected in a number of ways: A) Party planks generated by the leadership as opposed to coming from the rank-and-file voters. B) Selection of candidates or endorsement of favored candidates by party leadership (this can extend to helping line up convention delegates to vote for the chosen candidate).

3) Condemnation of those who don't square with party platforms -- such as requiring "purity tests," calling those who don't conform "Rinos," and censoring those who don't toe the party line.

4) Insistence that nominees come from the convention, as opposed to leaving those choices open to the electorate in the primaries. Getting on the ballot via the signature route is condemned. 

5) Party apparatus that rejects the will of the people. Examples of this would be when three-term U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett was eliminated from office in convention, and when Gov. Olene Walker, despite being popular in public polling, was rejected in convention.

Sit back and reflect: Do we want to be a state with autocratic control? It is not something we should want -- not in our state government and not at the party level.

It's an old phrase: That government that governs least, governs best. Somehow, the very people who cite it the most are the ones guilty of not applying it to the Utah Republican Party.

I Would. And I Am. And it Did.

Let's have more politics in the Federal Communications Commission. Right? Isn't that exactly what we need? I mean, before the FCC approves a license or a merger, it should make sure that company supports the politics of President Trump. Right?

So, if a company has DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies, the FCC should require it to abandon them. That company must be made to understand that Trump doesn't like DEI. That's the end of the question. This is Trump's world, and a company has no right to take its own political stance.

Well, what do you think? Would we be shocked if this actually happened?

I would. And I am. And it did.

The FCC approved Verizon's $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications on Friday (May 16)—but the approval came only after Verizon agreed to drop its DEI policies. I don't believe you could search the entire history of the FCC and find such a blatant injection of politics. I queried AI to find such a precedent and failed to find one.

The danger is free speech. The danger is the right to ascribe to the politics you choose. Freedom matters.

Freedom in America is rapidly eroding. ("Eroding" is a weak word. More correctly, it is collapsing.) Stories like this are becoming commonplace. They happen so often, we hardly notice.

The government should not be dictating what we believe. We should not be required to be submissive to Donald Trump's political agenda in order to get FCC approval. Can you not see how wrong this is—how dangerous, how at odds it is with everything America stands for?

Tesla, just Tesla

Tesla. Alone. Just Tesla — the only car maker exempted from tariffs. 

Let it not go unnoticed that Elon Musk headed DOGE, that he was given keys to chop and cut, chop and cut, while not chopping himself. A businessman doing business with the government who took a chainsaw to others and left his own government contracts unscathed.

But I speak not of that. I speak of car manufacturing. In America. And of tariffs. I speak of every car making facing some kind of tariff — except one.

You will argue that Trump simply rewarded those whose products were mostly made in America. As far as how much of the work is done in this country, Tesla is the most American of American cars. Right?

Look a little closer ...

You judge if it is corruption, for you can surely tell. Trump set a cutoff mark. A threshold. He exempted vehicles with 85 percent or more domestic content. Keep saying that sounds fair, but you won't be able to justify that position when you learn that just below the line were a good number of other vehicles: the Kia EVG is 80 percent American-made, the Ford F-150 is 82 percent American, and the Chevrolet Silverado EV is 81 percent American.

Trump drew the line right where it needed to be to cut everyone out but his friend. You, the reader can decide if that is corruption.

I'd say if it isn't corruption, corruption doesn't exist.

Seething, I Am

Seething, then, if not angry.
Scorching mad, if not just mad.
I look at the corruption,
The graft and the greed,
And wonder but what anger
Is just what we need

These are tyrants we face.
These are the corrupt of mankind.
These are they who take innocents and children.
They who punish the falsely maligned.

Seething, I am.
Angry, I am.
Seething and angry, I am.
Seething with fury,
Angry with fire—
Taking my rage
Higher and higher.

 Really Need a Ballroom

What's a mansion without a ballroom?
Tell me, all you folks out there
I mean, we really need a ballroom
And I'm telling you, just to clear the air

Fancy banquets
Fancy-fancy shows
You know we need a ballroom
A place to wear our fancy clothes

Just one-hundred million bucks
Is all it's going to cost
But don't worry about the money
The Don will bear the cost

This'll be the first expansion
Since 1952
And it'll be a wonderful addition
When it all is through

Opulent and lavish
All the things a king could want
–Oh, excuse me
I didn't mean to taunt

I meant just a president
For there are no kings 'round here
At least there never were
But now there is, I fear

First, he wants a jumbo jet
A palace in the sky
And now he wants a ballroom
It's a pleasure we shan't deny

Build an Extravagant Ballroom

Did you know the White House is being expanded – marking the first time in almost 75 years? And this is no small addition we are speaking of: The total campus will be almost 30 percent larger. 

President Trump wants a ballroom, so he is creating one of the largest ballrooms in America, 20,000 square feet of lavishness that will fill about a half-acre. The price? Say, $100 million – but not to worry. He says he will pay for it.

Currently, the largest room in the White House accommodates about 300. The Trump ballroom, by contrast, will allow for about 1,500. 

Here's the trick: It won't be completed until late 2026 or early 2027. Trump's presidency will be half over by that time. Some of us are wondering, then, does he really plan on leaving in 2028? 

'Merica Isn't 'Merica

'Merica isn't 'Merica
Like 'Merica was before
Distant days and distant times
Remain our times no more

The 'Merican flag isn't the 'Merican flag
Like the flag it was before
The colors are fading
And the ol' flag is tore

Freedom isn't freedom
Not the same as then
And equality is outlawed
Sorry about that, my friend

Military parades
Honor the man at the top
And news on the radio
Praises him nonstop

Colored people out
White people in
That's the color of immigration
It's not what it used to have been

The president flies around
In a palace in the sky
Living in such opulence
Only money can buy

'Merica isn't 'Merica
Like 'Merica was before
The new leader in the White House
Quickly closed that door

 From Lions to Jewelry, Emoluments Are not New

The Constitution prohibits the president receiving the $400-million "flying palace" unless Congress approves of it. ... And we are hardly hearing of anyone in Congress (not even a Repub) venturing forward to sponsor a bill making it legal.

Still, there are citations to be found of presidents who have accepted "emoluments" (gifts) from foreign governments. Martin Van Buren was gifted a pair of lions by the Sultan of Oman, but Congress made him give them back. Abraham Lincoln received an elephant from the king of Siam. Barack Obama received $1.3 million in jewelry from Saudi Arabia ...
But it remains that the Constitution prohibits such gifts. That should be our concern regardless how many examples there are.

 The Battle of Delaney Hall

In the War Against Tyranny,
We have the Battle of Delaney Hall.
Immigrants accused of the highest crimes—
The State arrests them all.

They disappear from our streets.
No one hears of them again.
We don't even know who they are,
For no one is allowed to talk to them.

Their jailers ignore fire codes, safety codes,
And refuse to let inspectors in.
All of this is vile.
All of this is grim.

The mayor goes down to Delaney.
He wants to look about.
He brings three Congress members with him,
Hoping they have some clout.

The mayor gets arrested—
Trespassing, you know.
Even though he left the restricted area
When they told him to go.

But the three members of Congress
Could not be arrested.
Seems there's some silly law
Saying their oversight could not be contested.

Well, ICE wasn't through.
It threatened more arrests—
Assaulting officers
By laying hands on their chests.

One ICE officer was body-slammed,
At least, that's what they claim.
Well then, I guess ICE agents
Are not fair game.

It's a private prison.
Now, a little about that:
They've faced multiple lawsuits—
Treating prisoners wrong, with them is old hat.

Why the government allows such contractors,
We all would like to know.
But the government itself is just as bad,
And that, you need to know.

Money in, Money Out

Money in, money out—
Waste it while you can.
You'll only be president once,
So spend all the cash in hand.

Fly here and there—
It's only $200,000 per hour.
Come and go to Mar-a-Lago—
You've got that spending power.

Every trip to Florida
Alone is millions of bucks.
Go ahead and spend the dough,
Then just say, "Ah, shucks."

 Wonders

The future is always so inviting,
A realm filled with awe.
All the possibilities—
Just drop the jaw.

Wonders in the heavens,
Wonders in the sky.
We can only wonder
At all to mystify.

Wonders in technology,
Wonders in travel, too.
We can only wonder
At all the wonders new.

A Middle East Visit

Don't raise an eyebrow
Don't think a thing
Trump is off to the Middle East
Good fortune to bring

He seeks major investments
From the countries there
Business deals
Doesn't that sound fair?

But just a little nudge
To make you wonder some
There might be personal ventures
Yes, there might be some

Real estate mavens
Don't set aside their trade
And when they're in the White House
They think they've got it made

They leverage their office
For great personal gain
They profit from their office
They profit from their reign

Destruction

Wicked by nature
Criminal by choice
He chooses to do evil
And heeds the wrong voice

Such is the Donald
The Donald, by name
And the destruction of America
We lay at his shame

The Unbelievable Text Message

I stared at the text message: "News is also breaking that Trump is 'looking into suspending habeas corpus (our right to challenge detention by government), meaning that if you are arrested, you could be imprisoned indefinitely without trial. The Trump administration is moving fast. We are witnessing the opening stages of a fascist coup.'"

It was a surreal moment, and I sat there staring at the text in disbelief and horror. Is it to be that this is happening in America? Then, I grew angry—not at Trump, but at my Democrat messenger for feeding me a lie just to loosen money from my pocket.

I considered firing a missive back conveying my displeasure with their fundraising tactic. But first: Was it true? I asked AI if the report was true.

It was. The Reuters news story confirmed: "White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller said Friday that the Trump administration is 'actively looking at' suspending the writ of habeas corpus—the constitutional right to challenge in court the legality of a person’s detention by the government—for migrants."

Migrants first, then Pelosi and Hillary, and then perhaps me and others who voice opposition. It is wrong, in and of itself, to take away habeas corpus for migrants, but the slippery slope of tyranny will reach out and take the rest of us as well.

I burst from my room to discuss the news with a roommate, an avowed Trumpist—one of the millions of apologists for all things Trump. He explained that criminals know they are wrong. They milk the system, appealing their decisions and running up gargantuan bills when they know they are guilty. Such a waste of money; good governance should not tolerate such abuse.

What? Are we to be required to have "a million or two million or three million trials" in order to deport "very bad people—killers, murderers, drug dealers—real bad people"?

Trump's words. And people swallow them. "We are going to have a very dangerous country if we are not allowed to do what we are entitled to do," he says.

And so, turning to fear-mongering, the president weans us away from the very freedoms our nation was founded on.

Did America Come to This?

Did America come to this?
A land so fallen as this?
And I fear that we're still falling
If my fearing's not amiss

Once the greatest country
Once the greatest land
But it lost all its greatness
When Trump came to lead the band

Now a nation fallen
A nation drunk on its own power
Led by fools and clowns
It falls lower every hour

Bless the land, and help in back
Back to the America of old
Back to being itself
And not a land so cold

Bless us one, and bless us all
The people of this land
Help us return to how great we were
Before Trump took command

Wild West Justice

The return of the West
The Wild West
With all its Wild West justice
We're off to your prison
Off to jail
Just as quick as you bust us

Bust us for what?
For having tattoos?
For wearing no shirt
and having no shoes

Poor people, we are
From another land
And along comes the sheriff
With a gun in his hand

He ushers us aboard
A Wild West plane
And off we fly
To another domain

A hanging judge
This president of ours
He rules the West
With Wild West powers

No judge, no jury
No justice here
No love is lost
No, not a tear

Just hang us in the gallows
Hang us high
And make sure the rules of justice
Just don't apply

The One at the Top

The one at the top is corrupt
The president of all the land
The one at the top is corrupt
And yet, he is the one in demand

Corruption knows its cronies
And it also knows its fools
And the trusting public often
Becomes one of its tools

Not for Us to Condemn

Not for us to condemn
No, that's in the hands of the law
Courts were created for justice
Not rumors riddled with flaws

Prisons far away
Seek to escape the justice of our land
We seek out Gulag 13's
To run roughshod over the rights of man

We ship them to the land of a dictator
Crying how it's all just and fair
Justice is not something we're after
It's not something for which we care

If You Can March

If you must march,
March.
If you must play the drums,
Pound and play them well.
If you must sound the bell for freedom,
Ring—ring that freedom bell.

If freedom is your honor,
If you refuse to lay it aside,
If justice is your banner,
Then don't let it be denied.

If you must march,
March.
America needs your step.
It needs the drums you pound.
It needs the hope you've kept.

If you can march for America,
If you can march for the freedom of our land,
March, and march.
March in step.
Join in with the band.

Freedom Fades

Freedom fades
It is not lost
Quite yet
But it is fading fast

Night rests upon the city
The nation
The land
Is darkness capturing us at last?

Shadows gather
Ominous clouds
On the horizon
Appear

Freedom fades
Democracy
Fades
On this night that we must fear

Just One Side

There is but one side to freedom
One side to liberty
One side that stands against tyranny
For the other would let it be

One side protects the Constitution
One side stands with the courts
One side supports rule of law
And protects us from Trump's cohorts

Just one side is vigilant
And eternally so
For eternal vigilance means you hold on to America's principles
And never let them go

Warning Shots

Those were just warning shots
Bloody shots
Deadly shots
But warning shots the same
Four were killed
Nine wounded
Shot down just like wild game

The Kent State Massacre
They fell unarmed and without cause
Murdered on the campus
Now, this should give us pause

America is a nation
One we swear is freedom's own
Justice and honor
Are the only things we've ever known

Justice Would Be Better Served with Some Tweaks

Justice is best placed outside the reach of corruption. This being so, I would argue we need to tighten up our rules on grand juries. They exist not to determine guilt, but to gauge whether there is enough evidence to warrant a trial.

I turn to the Sixth Amendment, which says: "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury." Since it speaks of a "public trial," I wonder why grand juries are allowed to go behind closed doors.

Upon checking, I learn there are at least four reasons: 1) Witnesses could be subject to intimidation; 2)  The closed session encourages candid testimony; 3) The closed session shields the accused from harm if they are not charged; 4) The closed session helps prevent outside influences on the grand jurors.

Well, tell me how the reasons for keeping grand juries secret differs from what could be argued for the trial itself. Witnesses in the trial itself could be subject to intimidation or retaliation. Having the trial itself as a closed session could encourage candid testimony without fear of public scrutiny. Keeping the trial secret could prevent harm to the accused if they are tried but not convicted. A closed court trial could avoid outside influence on jurors, ensuring impartial decision-making. 

What's the difference? I'm not seeing it.

But, if it is too much of a step to throw open grand juries to the public, perhaps we could at least take these measures. A discussion with AI suggests:

1) Requiring public disclosure of evidence presented in cases where no indictment is issued, while protecting sensitive information and witnesses

2) Replacing grand juries with preliminary hearings, which are public and allow both sides to present evidence before a judge.

3) Creating oversight mechanisms, such as a neutral third party reviewing grand jury proceedings for fairness. 

Our criminal system -- our trial system -- must not itself evade justice. It is crucial that it have some openness. When things are done without checks and balances -- when there are no restraints -- corruption often raises an ugly head.

Police Entitlement

Police entitlement
That's when police become immune
From prosecution
When you cannot object to anything they do
For if you do
They'll punish you through and through

Police entitlement
Looks like this, my friend:
An executive order signed by Donald Trump
Making police agencies fatter and more plump

Police entitlement
And the coming of a police state?
Make the police all powerful
Make the police all great

All Electric. All Everything.

All Electric. All Everything.
That's the way they advertised this car
For it was the best vehicle of all
And by far -- yes, by far

It was the fastest car on the road
And the one with the most torque
It was the best car for play
And the best one for work

Zero to sixty the fastest
And the most stylish car on the lot
All Electric. All Everything.
The best car to be bought

All Electric. All Everything.
It lived up to its motto
No car was ever so cool
As was this model