It's Going To Be A Heated 2024! - Buckle up in 2024.

INTRODUCTION:

Here we are, only two weeks into 2024, and the heat continues to rise. No, not the temperature of the air we breathe, but the heat that comes with social and political unrest. I won't bore you with why; we all know why. Socially, people are changing, and it's an election year.

A great deal can happen in a year, a month, a day, or a minute. Our lives and the world are in a constant state of flux. Both personally, and by the decisions the government makes that affect each of us. Let's take a closer look.

FAIR PLAY AND FOUL PLAY:

It is said that all is fair in love, war, and politics. Do you believe that? I do not. There are fundamental values that people have always lived by. Do they still exist? Forget your political affiliation for a moment and think of what is right and wrong. Right and wrong are fundamental concepts based on the law, justice, and morality. Doing the wrong thing is an act that is not in accordance with morality and the law. These concepts are open to individual interpretation since people can view what is right and wrong differently. Now, we have injected opinion into the formula. This makes the plot thicken.

This breaks down into more detailed areas:

The concepts of right and wrong are fundamental to ethics and morality, and they often vary across cultures, religions, and philosophical perspectives. Different ethical theories offer distinct explanations for determining what is right and what is wrong. Here are some major ethical frameworks:

1. Deontological Ethics:

• Explanation: Deontological ethics, associated with philosophers like Immanuel Kant, asserts that some actions are inherently right or wrong, regardless of their consequences.

• Example: Kant's categorical imperative suggests that an action is morally right if it can be universally applied without contradiction.

1. Consequentialism:

• Explanation: Consequentialist ethics, represented by utilitarianism, focuses on the outcomes or consequences of actions. An action is considered right if it leads to the greatest overall happiness or pleasure.

• Example: Utilitarianism might argue that lying is wrong because it could lead to negative consequences for individuals or society.

1. Virtue Ethics:

• Explanation: Virtue ethics, associated with Aristotle, emphasizes the development of good character traits. An action is considered right if it reflects virtues such as honesty, courage, and compassion.

• Example: Acting with honesty in a difficult situation is considered virtuous and, therefore, morally right.

1. Religious Ethics:

• Explanation: Many religious systems provide moral guidelines based on divine commandments. Actions in accordance with religious teachings are considered right, while those contrary to them are wrong.

• Example: The Ten Commandments in Judeo-Christian traditions provide a set of moral rules, such as "Thou shalt not steal" or "Thou shalt not kill."

1. Cultural Relativism:

• Explanation: Cultural relativism suggests that what is considered right or wrong can vary from culture to culture. Morality is viewed as culturally determined.

• Example: Practices such as polygamy might be accepted in some cultures but considered wrong in others.

1. Social Contract Theory:

• Explanation: Social contract theorists like John Locke or Jean-Jacques Rousseau propose that individuals come together to form a society and agree on a set of rules for mutual benefit.

• Example: Following the laws of a society is considered right because it is part of the social contract that maintains order and security.

It's important to note that individuals and societies often draw from a combination of these ethical frameworks. Additionally, discussions on right and wrong can be complex and nuanced, involving considerations of intention, context, and the potential consequences of actions. Ethics is a dynamic field where perspectives evolve over time, influenced by cultural, social, and philosophical developments.

Without realizing it, we all utilize some or all of the above concepts in our decision-making process based on what we have learned or experienced throughout life.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

In the end, it all comes down to what you want or what you believe. We are fortunate to live in a country where certain rights are guaranteed to us by our constitution. We often take these rights for granted because many of us have never lived in a country where these rights do not exist. Therefore, we don't know any better. But let's put the shoe on the other foot for a moment.

We are living during a time when people protest about everything. Sadly, a small percentage of those who protest believe in the cause. The remainder are curiosity seekers who often get caught up in the moment. They are often leading to destruction or injury.

Therefore, is even one death that came as a result of this attack, or any one of the atrocities committed by Hamas against one of your family members, and if it happened on our soil, how would you feel? By the way, these are facts that cannot be disputed. Do you think that those who feel Israel does not have the right to defend itself would still feel the same, and would they still be protesting?

If another country was trying to take over our country, as in the case of Russia and Ukraine, should we lay down our arms and give up? Or fight for our rights, freedom, and way of life?

Regardless of your political affiliations, is it fair for a former President to be constantly attacked by the opposing side and have some states try to take away the rights of voters by removing someone from their ballots without legal cause or justification? Is all of this fair play or foul play? We must often understand that whether we like someone or not, it comes down to what is right from wrong. Even if we do not want candidates, we should never mistreat them. Don't vote for them. This is why we have elections. When one side or the other goes to these extremes, it tells me they fear their chances of winning an election are threatened. Whether you win or lose, it must be a fair and equal process.

Things are just beginning to heat up.

As with most situations, things get worse before they get better.

Times and ideologies constantly change over time. However, not all change is good. When I went to college, my Professors or the institution NEVER impressed or supported things such as antisemitism. Depending on the course curriculum for the course you were taking, that was the focus of the course. You paid for an education in your chosen choice of studies, and that is what you got.

When you see people boycotting products for how they chose a side in their advertising and major donors pulling their funding from our institutes of higher learning, this should tell you that the majority of people do NOT accept or support these practices. The ones who suffer are the students. Some major companies that employ many employees have stated they will not hire students who graduated from these institutions. In the end, who suffers?

In 2024, I fear these issues will continue to worsen. I also believe much of this results from a weak and divided administration. Our military bases overseas are attacked, our soldiers are needlessly injured, and our response, at best, is poor. These are problems we did not face in the past. When these issues occurred, the administration handled them swiftly and with resolve, whether our President was a Democrat or Republican. Problems are a snowball effect. Meaning that as the problems arise, they begin to affect other areas. It is like an infection that is spreading.

By no means does any of this mean we do not have the right to our opinions. We all do. It's how we handle those opinions that matter. That being said, our opinions should always be taken by doing what is fair and what is the right thing to do. We elect our officials because we believe these are the people that will do that.

In 2023 alone, over 1.8 million people have crossed our borders during 2023, and approximately 3.8 million in total since our southern border has been open. These are the numbers we know about. These are people from numerous countries around the world. A financial burden that our federal government or local governments cannot financially afford. Our dedicated sanctuary cities are now finding this out. How much of the financial burden can the taxpayers of our country take on? When is enough enough? When does it stop? Opening the border rather than fixing the process for people to enter our country is NOT the answer.

I am sure many of these people legitimately want to enter our country, but others may have other motives. We see this based on staggering rates of crimes, drug overdoses, and other illegal actions throughout our country. How many of you lived in a time when people could walk into a store, fill up a basket with goods, and walk out without paying for it and not be stopped? They just let them go. Most are never caught, and most that are are released and are not prosecuted and punished. Is this the new society we want?

IS THERE AN ANSWER?

History has taught us that when we take action, we get results. Results vary, and the time it takes to achieve our goal varies. For various reasons, our nation's current national debt is roughly 34 TRILLION dollars; personal credit card debt is over 1.08 TRILLION dollars—the highest in history.

The average household credit card debt is just under $7,000.00. What does that mean? If you only make the minimum monthly payments, depending on the APR, paying it off could take up to 18 years, provided you do not use the card. A bit scary, isn't it? All of the above makes survival even more challenging for the average household. People have always carried credit card debt. This isn't something new, and no one is reinventing the wheel. However, because of the present state of our nation's economy, people have to use their credit cards to buy food and even pay for their utilities.

Results take time and do not happen overnight. I do not claim to have the answers. I do know that proper fiscal management is a start, and reduced spending helps. The key is it has to start somewhere. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that that will happen anytime soon. Congress can only control so much, and a President can make emergency spending on some things through executive orders. Congress can offset that by decreasing funding in other areas. Therefore, it becomes a political game. Some may call it a nightmare. Every problem has a solution. The real problem is ignoring the solution and choosing not to take it.

IN CLOSING:

Problems? Yes, we have them. 2024 will be a heated year on many fronts. The struggle will continue. Our country has lost a great deal of energy independence, which also provided us a means of income. I believe this administration, although they will not admit it, is realizing they put the cart ahead of the horse. We have lost a great deal of global influence. You can choose why from various reasons, but the facts remain the same.

Like most, I am concerned about what type of world my children and grandchildren will have. So much is changing at an alarming rate—some for the good, and some not so good. Will they be able to live the American Dream, and how much has that dream changed? Our young people cannot afford a car, a house, or many other things. The struggle was different for my generation, but it was a struggle you could get past. In the present, the struggles keep piling up.

Regardless of how it is accomplished, we need change. Our country needs change to get our great nation back on the right path—the path to prosperity, equality, and growth. The hard truth about facts is that we don't have to like them, but they are reality. They are the truth, and the truth is not always easy to accept because not everyone's version of the truth is the same. I always say, go by the numbers. The numbers never lie. Are we better off then we were four years ago?

I hope you enjoyed the post. Please subscribe to my blog, YouTube, or Vimeo Channels. Thank you.

Please feel free to leave comments, or if you have a topic you would like me to discuss, you can email me at crondina@caesarrondinaauthor.com. Thank you.

Be safe, stay well, and focus on being happy. And remember to always:

Live with an open mind,

Live with an open heart,

Live your best life. 

Best Regards,

Caesar Rondina

Check out my new private investigator series coming soon.

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