Sometimes I rant.  I try not to.  I try to remember that civil discourse is the best way, that Theodore Roosevelt’s advice to “walk softly, but carry a big stick” is sound advice, and most days I succeed to a greater or lesser degree.  But sometimes the absolute idiocy of our world today, specifically of our government in this, the reign of terror Trump, gets to me and if I don’t blow off a little steam, I will have night terrors all night, yell at Miss Goose, and break another toe, all of which have happened in the past week!  So, brace yourself for Filosofa’s Headline Rants, based only on the headlines that made me say a bad word, even if under my breath.  Oh, and thank you, Roger, for giving me some new words to use, such as fornacazoni!

From the Associated Press …

The White House said Thursday that Democratic efforts to obtain President Donald Trump’s tax records are “political games.”

Now, first off, I have never heard of a building speaking.  The White House said nothing, unless it groaned under the weight of the obese ‘man’ walking its hallowed halls.  Second, NO, whomever was speaking on behalf of the building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, it is not a “political game”.  Let me make this perfectly clear:  WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEMAND TO SEE THE TAX RETURNS OF THE ‘MAN’ WHO IS MAKING THE DECISIONS THAT ARE RUINING OUR LIVES!!!

Yes, Ms. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and yes, Donald Trump, and yes, Mick Mulvaney … I am angry … no, scratch that … I am furious!  As the saying goes, ‘there’s something rotten in Denmark’, we know there is something rotten in the White House, and we’re pretty sure we know just exactly what it is.  I really want to know how much Donald Trump pays in taxes on average each year.  I will tell you that if it’s less than ten percent of his AGI (Adjusted Gross Income), then he paid less taxes than my daughter did, dollar per dollar.  I want to see for myself.

Every president since Richard Nixon has provided at least a few years’ worth of tax returns in the interest of transparency, in the interest of ethics.  Since Trump has far more questionable ethics than any other president in history, it is only right and just that Congress and the taxpaying public be given access to his tax returns.  Get over it, ‘White House’!

From The Guardian …

San Francisco: residents of wealthy area shout down mayor over homeless shelter

Turns out the Mayor of San Francisco, London Breed, was attending a meeting to discuss a proposed homeless shelter in San Francisco to house at least some of its 7,500 homeless residents.  But the rich snobs in the area actually launched a GoFundMe to raise $100,000 for legal fees to block the shelter!  As of Thursday, they had actually raised $92,000!  Damn, but there are a lot of snobs in this world!

But … there is some good news.  A group called Coalition on Homelessness started their own fundraising page to benefit a local advocacy organization, and they have raised $164,000 from more than 1,700 people, including big names such as the Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, the Twilio CEO Jeff Lawson and the GoFundMe organization itself.

The shelter is to be built on land owned by the city, but apparently the rich snobs are taking the “not in my backyard” tact.  You know … I’m pretty darn sick of rich people who think this country should be run to their benefit, and to hell with the rest of us.  And I propose that every person with a net worth of more than $1 million should be forced to spend one week living on the streets, just so they can get a feel for how the other end of the spectrum lives.  Ever been homeless?  I have.  It’s scary.

From The Root …

Louisiana Town Swears in Police Chief Who Really Likes Racism

The town is Estherwood, Louisiana, and the new Police Chief is named Wayne Welsh.  Back in 2017, when Welsh was the Assistant Chief of Police in Estherwood, he posted this meme to Facebook …After the resulting uproar when the post went viral on Twitter, Welsh took the post down, announced that he would tender his resignation and everyone was satisfied.  Only one little problem … Wayne Welsh did NOT tender his resignation because … his boss, Police Chief Ernest Villejoin, did not request it!  Although Villejoin had publicly said he “would not tolerate” this sort of behaviour, apparently after giving it some thought, he decided it was just fine and dandy after all, and Mr. Welsh continued in his position.

Then last year, Welsh was briefly named interim police chief until he ran unopposed for the seat in November.  Donald Popp, the new mayor of Estherwood, says he “doesn’t foresee any problems”, and that he “was hoping this would have been taken care of”.   He doesn’t foresee any problems???  I “foresee” plenty of problems!

Welsh sent a statement to CNN, saying …

“What happen [sic] two years ago is behind me and my punishment was done to me. And now I’m moving forward with my life and as the new chief of police.”

To me, it says as much about the townspeople who voted him in as it says about Welsh himself.  He’s proven he’s a racist bastard, but now the people of the town have proven themselves as well.  The town, by the way, is less than 3% African-American.

And this, my friends, is the wave that Donald Trump rode into the White House.  Racism.  Call it whatever you like, but it is intolerance and hatred of any who are not WASPs, pure and simple.  Racism is built on ignorance and we seem to have an awful lot of ignorance in this country today.

Okay, folks … I could go on, but it’s Saturday and I have other things to do, as do you.  Thanks for letting me vent a bit!  Have a happy Saturday!