The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

Negative people, negative influences can seem like weeds at times, as just when you think you've gotten rid of them, they come back. Then there typically comes a time when you think, "How much harm are they really doing? If I just stop initiating anything, perhaps they'll eventually just go away." When that doesn't work and they continue to call or text (the people, not the weeds), you then try to just ignore them, thinking they'll eventually get the hint. Some may eventually give up, but there's always that one extremely persistent weed. No matter what you spray on it, no matter how deep the root is you pull out, it peeks its ugly face at you the next time you venture out to your garden. I've run into just this situation a number of times, especially of late it seems, and I have to admit, it's sometimes difficult to remain persistent in fighting against these negative influences. When they realize they're on the verge of losing what they tho...

We're four days removed from the election, so as is often the case for the losing party, many progressives and Democrats alike are playing the blame game and asking the what ifs. Some are blaming FBI director James Comey. Others are blaming Bernie Sanders. Many are blaming Sanders' die-hard supporters. I can understand the disappointment and frustration. Trust me, I feel similarly. But while it's perfectly understandable to try and find a scapegoat for the disappointing results, we have to acknowledge the fact that there's plenty of blame to go around. I, for one, voted for Bernie Sanders in the Ohio Democratic Primary. I feel the man is a progressive hero and was better suited electorally to win a third consecutive term for the Democrats in the White House. But Hillary Clinton won the party's nomination and I was forced to choose between her and Donald Trump for president (sorry, but I wasn't going to waste my vote on either Jill Stein or Gary Johnson). To me,...