Manns Medium

It is not often that a single choice can allow a city to effect history.  It is not often that a city can fundamentally change the way all cities are funded.  It is not often that a simple slight change of course could not only alter the way government works but prove an old adage true.  That a rising tide raises all boats and Rockford, IL has an opportunity to make history and forever be remembered as the city that changes the course of human events. It should not come as any surprise to those who are truly paying attention, the  old way of funding government has ran its course.  It was first thought that an idea of funding from the top down was ideal but that soon failed because of the logistics and the true lack of willingness by those at the top.  Some refer to this method as “trickle-down” economics and even though there are still those who think that if we keep trying it, it will work.  There are many that know better. The other option w...

The world is going to hell in a hand basket  simply because of God’s children have grown far too big for their britches.  The arrogance of man has spread from father to son, mother to daughter for centuries, decades and eons.  It is passed down from generation to generation and diluted with a belief that to honor one you have to dishonor another.  The offspring’s fail to learn from the lessons of the parent. God is our one and only father, we were made in his image and thus are only a spirit.  The body our spirit occupies was made from dirt and clay so as the body decay, the spirit remains.  During our existence within this fragile shell, we can grow in spirit and become the child God knows us to be or we can choose to limit our expansion by following the selfish impulses of mortals. God’s one and only mistake was to attempt to govern the behavior of man with 10 rules.  He soon learned that his was not doable and rather than continue to risk t...

Since Donald J. Trump made the decision to run in the Republican primary, I have been struggling to understand why it is still difficult for me to totally accept this man as the 45 th president of the United States.  My better angels are telling me that one can only control that which one can and therefore must accept those things that they cannot but for the life of me, I cannot understand why being reasonable in this situation is harder for me than any other I have ever encountered.  That was until just a few minutes ago. It was after hearing those voices in Kentucky who benefited  from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare hearing Trump say that his main focus will be to repeal and replace it, would still vote for him.  It all became clear to me when I heard this one voice say that the only reason she voted for him is because she detested and did not like Obama.  So because you don’t like a person, you stand against all that they say or do even if ...

It doesn’t take a “rocket-scientist” to figure out that a major mistake has been made in the recent presidential election and that ow the fear of America being totally ignored and its reputation severely damaged by the choice of over 62 million people and over 500 on the Electoral College board.  The current rate of temperament being demonstrated by President-Elect Trump has begun to have a reverse effect even upon our market-driven system.  If this trend continues and Americans are spending more time making excuses for his lack of knowledge and protocol, soon world leaders will begin to over-look any statements, advise and even warnings coming from Washington or in this case New York.  The recent economic crash may prove far easier to recover from than the damages this may do to this country we all claim to love so much. Notwithstanding the other massive misfortunes  of the in-coming administration stands a very clear example of a world leader speaking before t...

To the die-hard Democrats and strong supporters of Hillary Clinton, it is very difficult to find any up-side to the stealing of an election by 15 people who makes the ultimate decision of who will lead this country and to the die-hard Conservatives and strong supporters of Donald Trump, it is a time to celebrate and speak the words that avoided them often which is “just give the man a chance”. Now many questions comes to mind none of which seems more relevant than the idea that a female is ill-equipped to lead a nation such as this one but there is one that seems to escape even the most intelligent of our species which is when has a nation built to serve people is better served if we run this country as a business rather than as a nation of people. So far, those being interviewed for key positions is more of a who’s who of those less concerned about unity and more concerned about their own specific ideology.  This strikes fear in many and elation in others all the while th...

Let’s not get it twisted and make no mistake, I have never been and will never be a Trump supporter but now that the choice has been made, it’s time to put away the pitchforks and torches and get down to the business of this country.  Regardless of how you feel either way, we still have a job to do as Americans and that is making sure that we minimize any and all damages by those we choose to lead us or those chosen to lead us by others. If you think that this election was stolen by the Electoral College, as I do, then the first thing we have to do is make a decision.  Do we remove those who made this choice or do we remove the power that they used to make it?  These are our only real choices because sitting around and complaining about the results will get us nowhere accept more frustrated, angry and exactly where those who have always believed that America was not the land of opportunity we claim all over the world.  If you think that those who voted for him w...

To a person, I am sure that you will hear that this nation was founded on the principal of inclusion.  Where people of many different cultures, races and religions could come and be welcomed.  It was founded on the idea that it didn’t matter where you came from or who your family was, the only thing that mattered is your willingness to work hard for what you receive and your acceptance of the rules and regulations set down by those elected to represent the nation’s people as a whole.  These ideas seem now to be lost after the Clinton versus Trump presidential election.  It appears that now it is time to revisit a subject that many feel has been resolved long ago but as history really does have a tendency to do, it has repeated itself yet again. The major thought of citizens having a voice in who they wish to lead them has always been a cornerstone of thought but given very little consideration until recent events has now placed this thought front and center....