Some of you may recall the show “Truth or Consequences” a show created by a, then popular, creator named Ralph Edwards. The phrase refers to the idea that actions have consequences. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of honesty, integrity and accountability. To suggest today that everyone is trustworthy, dependable and loyal is to be out of touch with reality. I would dare say that no one can be classified that way. There may be some exceptions, but very few I would assume. The reality is that in order to convince folks of anything would suggest that some deviance from the truth has to be included. Think of the truth in advertising. (Under the law, claims in adverting cannot be deceptive or unfair and must be evidence based). Making a deceptive, unfounded, or misleading claim is not just unethical it is a crime. Some recent companies that have come under scrutiny are Burger King, Safeway, Albertsons, and Vons. In 2014 L’Oreal was accused of making false and unsubstantiated claims about two of its skincare products. Red Bull, Frito-Lay, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have all be accused of, at the least, misleading the public in their advertising. While many of these companies have been found guilty and fined in many cases the downside is that a large percentage of those people deceived have no idea that they were and continue to buy the “fake news” about the products advertised long after the truth was revealed.

The world is in crises and more importantly the United States is seriously divided. The division is rooted in the belief that those, of our neighbors, who we are against are uneducated and misinformed. As a result, there is no way we can associate with them. It gets dangerous, however, when I am told those who I contest are going to bring loss and suffering to me if I let them survive. I should try to defame them and turn others against them to save myself and my likeminded circle of friends and family.

The motive is to gain the majority of votes. Worst case we fight. If we look at just one issue which is interpreted 10 different ways you may get ten circles of disagreement. Multiply that by 100 issues and you begin to see the danger. In my mind if we compromise there is going to be lots of unhappy people. And who is to judge what one of us is willing to give up and another is not? It is called democracy. The majority rules. (I won’t get into a 50/50 split because that generally only happens in very small groups where there is no final authority. (i.e. husband and wife:)). But seriously, when the issue becomes real, and the loss and suffering get real then the compromise may not be acceptable and thus cults and splitter groups form that are willing to take up arms to maintain their stance. Well, we are here in 2024. We are here because there is no final authority for the truth. The first lair has no chance because it opens up the flood gates for untruths. Those who have been seated to be the final vote makers are themselves being lied to or more correctly bribed to vote one way. Honesty, integrity and accountability have been lost. Those who are uneducated and misinformed are easily swayed and naive enough to take up arms. Civil War is an ugly term and yet being tossed around frequently. In spite of the history that we have all been taught, the liars the cheaters the cowards would rather see us fight against each other just so they can sit back and gamble on who is going to win, never once putting themselves in danger. The end is not near, and we can sit around and wait for a savior. Until he/she does come the battle for survival is on us. We must rebel against the few powerful and wealthy enough to sit back and watch us fight each other while they gamble on who wins. Through our vote we must dethrone anyone who does not convince us they are for equality and survival of the majority. We are the 90% not the 10%. Amongst the 90% we must compromise in lieu of the unhappy results for most of us.

It has been my belief and my calling to try to do all I can do to help folks who are hurting through no fault of their own. It does not matter if those hurting believe what I believe or think the way I think. I want to help them live with their basic needs assured. Food, water, clothing, shelter, security and friendship. I need to find those who think like I do on this issue. To hell with all else. let’s work together to make this happen. “Give me your tired, your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door! The Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.” Ditto from HPLA Charities Association. http://www.hplacharities.org/donate -Robert Flores Chairman

💖 Love thy neighbor.