photo #1541140

Every single one of us know/knew somebody who's been addicted to something. It could even be you or me. If it's a friend or family member, you and I both know there's only one way for that addiction to be broken. The addictee has to make a decision. Not a wish. Not a dream. A decision. Without that, it only becomes another round of disappointment for all concerned. In many cases, it turns out to be financially destructive, then becomes a self esteem issue, and eventually leads to death. Harsh? No, real. If you've never been exposed to someone on their personal road to destruction, I say thank your lucky stars. To those who've ridden that roller coaster, you know what I'm saying. It's a terrible journey for all involved. There, but for the grace of God go we who've avoided the deepest of addictions. After this pandemic, we can equate the use of Narcan to being put on a ventilator. With this pandemic, some are lucky to get off a ventilator, but those who need Narcan only seem to be one step closer to the time it's not available when needed. That's when friends and family finally understand how insidious this problem can be. Yet, as a nation, we're turning a blind eye to the effects on our society. We know where fentanyl comes from, yet we ignore that like we've ignored all the serious diseases that came from there, too. Seems it's not politically correct to tell another nation "You keep sending stuff over here that kills people, we'll annihilate you". It's bad enough we've got to depend on them for the steel in our military ships and the computer chips in our military electronics. We've seen the tens of thousands of new vehicles sitting for lack of computer chips. Meanwhile, we're buying PPE, virus testing kits, ad nauseum from them. Masks, etc. How much of that's already contaminated? Meanwhile, they continue to make most of our pharmaceuticals. Including fentanyl. And shipping it all here, in containers and smuggled through Mexico. Yet, we plod along ignoring the real problems while only dealing with the effects. It would appear we're addicted to China more than we are our own nation, which is a real conundrum. What's next? They making our vaccines for us? Have we reached the pinnacle like the Romans did, and luxuriate in our orgiastical pursuits? Our hedonistic beliefs? Really? When you know there's a problem, but turn a blind eye the first time, you become an enabler to that kind of acceptance. Our society has apparently condescended far too long. Now, we've gotten to the point we're comfortable with allowing political prisoners, including military heroes and fellow Americans protesting something. Even the ones who just travelled there. Guilt by presence, without a trial. Remember the very first Star Trek Next Generation episode where Jean Luc was held on trial by the entity Q in "Encounter at Far Point"? Man's inhumanity to man, as it were, complete with guards armed with automatic weapons sniffing their drugs? Yeah, it's exactly like that today. Instead of believing what history has taught, they've become addicted to the new "Utopia" they're being sold. That's why 96 current Representatives in our House identify as "Progressive" Democrats, led by "The Squad". Before that, it was the Tea Party led by Paul Ryan. Both sides just as guilty. Meanwhile, our CURRENT Nero fiddles as Rome burns. In front of the whole world. The question now becomes, will we just watch, or will we start practicing some tough love?