The leaders and fundraisers of both parties define themselves and each other in ideological terms, liberal or conservative. To play their game, you have to align yourself with either group and give money and time to the one you select. Then you are bombarded with endless requests for money to avoid the terrible results of the other party winning power. Arguing over which ideology will save the nation leads nowhere. Most Americans aren’t comfortable debating ideological issues.

We are a pragmatic people who are much more comfortable discussing issues. The media, big tech, labor unions, universities, and the American political elite love their world of endless ideological discussions. Why? Because they know shifting the discussions to issues makes it nearly impossible for them to control the outcome. But issues are what governments should be focused on.

You don’t have to be a member of either party to be interested in the price of gasoline at the pump, increases in property taxes, the rate of inflation, the cost of money, law and order on our streets, jobs for our youth, the cost of medical care, the protection of our borders, or the well-being of our national defense forces. We can all talk about those issues and dozens of others without being a Republican or a Democrat.

We are good people who can discuss issues without invoking the “ideological political speak” of political parties who are dividing our nation by promoting discussion of ideologic political points rather than day-to-day issues that can be discussed with friends and neighbors as we go about taking care of each other.

Some years ago, I stopped blogging to take care of my wife, who was in a struggle with Alzheimer’s. She died last year at home surrounded by people who loved her. I am now 91 and believe I still have a few things to say about current politics.

First, a short look at my qualifications before I tell you what I think is important politically in our great nation.

I have two political science degrees, one from Pitt and a master’s from Duke. I am a Korean War veteran and later spent two years in Vietnam with the CIA. I have lived in a monarchy, a military dictatorship, a socialist government, and Russia’s version of a social democracy. My work led to extensive travel throughout the world.

I retired from the CIA after 21 years of service. Then I worked several years in the private sector and spent two years as a Special Assistant to President Reagan with staff responsibilities for terrorism, covert action, counter-intelligence, narcotics, and intelligence collection.

I have written a few hundred blogs on the Obama and Trump years, as well as five action novels and two political books. These can all be found on my website and on my pages in Amazon.

My new and yet to be written blogs will present a different approach to political activities in America. Thanks for reading.