July, 2019 - Bettina Network's Blog

Archive for July, 2019

The Scandal Plaguing Harvard Square

Monday, July 29th, 2019

by: Marceline Donaldson

My house in Harvard Square is for sale. As a result, as is my habit, I started researching – carefully – the past present and possible future of Harvard Square and all it contains. I wanted to know other peoples experience; historically what could I expect; everything connected with selling a house in a historical district in Harvard Square.

One experience I had of the past 37 years living in Harvard Square came from being African American and moving into an area where we seemed to be the “only ones” or – as my grandmother would say, this is a neighborhood where “we” are “as scarce as hens’ teeth” .

The house was on the historical register when we moved in. It shortly thereafter was dropped from the historical register and in spite of trying to discover why for several years, no answer was forthcoming. I was stalled, dissembled, confused, put off, etc. No racial problem there, just the normal way of treating those who ask seemingly simple questions to which there are no good answers.

In spite of that experience, I found many of my neighbors to be really great, accepting people who included us in their lives and sometimes their work and sometimes helped our work by doing business with Bettina Network, inc. and we sometimes helped them in their businesses.

So with that background and experience I went about this “project of discovery”.

When selling a house you do look closely at everything that could affect the sale and I have gone down several roads in this time of investigation and discovery.

One of the largest scandals in Harvard Square has to do with the purchase and sale of real estate, particularly of private homes.

This area does, after all, contain the “Gold Crown Historical District”. Basically, the goal of such a geographical designation is to keep houses within its carefully chosen area as true to their historical beginnings as possible. The architectural design of the home; the important details which were normal in the time frame of when the houses were built and so much more.

How has that been carried out!

To keep your suspense level as low as possible – it is not carried out. The farce which is the “Gold Crown Historical District” is a huge scandal.

Harvard Square is fast becoming the neighborhood of “Temples to Wealth and Money” – history is shunted off to the side and only appears if it is convenient or provides some kind of prestige to those with too much money, too little taste, and none to a very slight knowledge or interest in architectural history, who are buying homes in the Harvard Square area.

Don’t misunderstand me here – I love to see such “Temples to Wealth and Money”. However, I prefer seeing them in Wellesley, Dover, or other such places where there is much land and neither the houses nor the areas where they are located tout their great “historical” – architecturally historical – beginnings. Heck, I could even see such in Cambridge where there are areas where there is no historical designation applied. But in Harvard Square there are plaques on houses designating the “names”, who lived in the house, when it was built and more. Maintaining your history is as important as building your future.

In actual fact, step inside one of the homes recently sold and they all look alike with very few exceptions. They are a cross between North American and Scandinavian style and design (And not always the best of either of those design patterns.) Walk through the houses and you will see almost nothing that tells you of their architectural, design, history. Most look as though the same Contractor did them all from the same set of blueprints and bought 50 pairs of wall scones and chandeliers or other light fixtures at a bargain and then used them in several neighboring houses.

Very soon, living architectural history in the houses in Harvard Square will be non-existent. “Restoration” is a word used interchangeably with “Renovation” and that “Renovation” is always North American/Scandinavian style and that Restoration is usually a word which is interchangeable with renovation.

Once upon a time Cambridge bragged about having these historical districts, but “policing” only the outside, depending upon the home owners to maintain the historicity of their interiors. That started when money – too much money with too little taste – moved into Harvard Square and we don’t want to alienate those who can pay the property taxes with money to spare.

All the years I have lived in Harvard Square I did not hear about the ugly, petty internecine wars which are today beginning to take place. Those disputes and outright fights which are now common in the areas where the McMansions are becoming common place in Harvard Square.

Today, I have been the center of a few.

One recently relocated family moving into Harvard Square filed a police report against me claiming that my garden overgrew its boundaries on the Mount Auburn Street side and people could not walk on the sidewalk because of all the things growing across that sidewalk. When I went outside I didn’t see anything overgrowing its boundaries, but the policeman who takes care of such and delivers such complaints offered to come over to show me where I was failing. So what was that all about?

I put that aside and just went about my business – having called on several neighbors who did have lots of growth crawling onto the sidewalk to ask what they were going to do about the police notices they received! Turns out – they didn’t receive any. Who did? The African American family against whom one of the newest arrivals in that vaunted Harvard Square community complained because they were appalled that living in such a house was a family that would destroy the reason they moved to such a prestigious neighborhood.

My garden was hacked up pretty good over the winter – don’t know by who. But, to be perfectly immodest, thanks to my gardening skills I was able to pull it back together. I would have preferred to take this spring and summer as times to bring the garden to the next level, but I could not do both.

Looking out my window with my morning cup of coffee, I see the neighbors go by walking their dogs. They don’t take their dogs to the bathroom in front or in back of their own homes, a small number bring their dogs to crap in my garden.

This particular morning there was a new neighbor with his dog – a very beautiful toy dog with long black hair with white hair at the tips. I watched as he put his dog in my garden so the dog could have its morning bowel movement and he would not have to pick up the shit. A set-up for what? To complain about how foul the African American home smells? I couldn’t let that continue so I went outside to say you really can’t let your dog crap in other peoples gardens. According to my information that is called “Criminal Trespass” and also violates a City of Cambridge ordinance that says you must pick up your own dog’s shit and not leave it on the sidewalk or anyplace else, especially you cannot allow your dog to crap in a neighbor’s garden. The same dog when walked by a young woman seems to be trained to crap in my garden, as does a bull dog walked by a middle aged woman who will not make anyplace else. If I am outside the dog pulls back on his leash because he wants to crap where he always does, but he can’t with me glaring at both of them.

When I went outside to meet my new neighbor and ask that he not put his dog in my garden, it is not a dog toilet, he went off on an ugly tangent, demanding I clear the sidewalk of the horrible stuff overgrowing its boundaries and I realized during the exchange that this was the person who filed the police complaint against us. Imagine my surprise. Imagine also my shock when he lunged at me in a very physically threatening way and slammed his foot down on the sidewalk barely missing my delicate toes by less than an inch. I had to reflect a moment – am I still in Harvard Square or is this some other neighborhood I’ve wandered into. After 37 years as a part of this community this was a first.

My new neighbor, so riled up about my garden overstepping its boundaries is apparently the owner of one of the “Temples of Wealth and Money” recently created out of a very lovely historical home built in Harvard Square many decades ago and presently looking as though it ran away from Wellesley because it wanted the prestige of settling into Harvard Square. Anything historical about the architecture having been completely wiped out and replaced with that NorthAmerican/Scandinavian cultural style. It is complete with outsized outdoor grill and all the accoutrements that accompany such a house. The garden, which took the last owner decades to develop was wiped out by a bull dozer, as I watched and cringed, as was a beautiful, very old tree which was a part of the “Sacred Indian Circle” of trees in this area. (Isn’t that a no-no in Cambridge?) Can one cross the palms of someone in government and then take an ax to the beautiful old trees?

Since my neighbor clearly wanted me gone I am sure he cared even less for that Sacred Indian Circle of trees which pre-existed everything in this Harvard Square area.

What doesn’t fit in such a neighborhood? An African American family – especially one not a part of the “more money than sense with no respect for history” group.

I walked all around my neighborhood and saw a lot of construction activity going on and when I looked closely there were bulldozers inside a couple of houses knocking down everything – (yes, inside the houses). These were apparently being rebuilt “better than” with modern materials which didn’t exist back when the houses were built. This happened to the house I am now selling just before we bought it all those many years ago. A small part of the house was “renovated” and during the time we have lived in the house, I had no trouble with the structure of the restored parts of the house, but I have been pulling my hair out about that renovated part because it broke down fast – took about 9 years – looks awful and you can see how inferior the products are which were used in the renovation. Good recurring income for the developer, builder, contractor, architect though.

As I talked to a few of the workers and those apparently in charge of a couple of the houses being “restored” I discovered they had very little to no knowledge of what they were ripping apart; why it didn’t need to be ripped apart; the gloriousness of what they were destroying and the very limited time frame their new renovations would last. They didn’t have a clue how to restore the homes they were sending through daily shock waves. It was depressing.

I also discovered a new industry – a new financial center.

Realtors and Contractors, Architects, etc. have come together so when you put your house on the market for sale – before you take that step they want you to strip your house of all that makes it beautiful and they will upfront the money to the Contractor, Architect, etc. to totally renovate your house so it will sell “fast”. Once sold you will get the balance of the sale price minus what the realtor or contractor has upfronted for the project. As I checked out some of the houses being so treated, it is a scandal and a scam.

Everyone I talked to thought that was fantastic and a wonderful new development in the field. I was appalled. My house will pass to its next owner in the shape it is in currently and that new owner can decide what they want to do. I have a list of suggestions from life within the walls of the house for so many years, but the final decision is theirs.

Giving that new owner the power to make those decisions means if the work done is not up to snuff, they have the guarantees from the builders, renovators, restorers to be able to have them come back and do it again or make the upgrade that didn’t happen, or etc. It also gives the new homeowner knowledge and wisdom about maintaining their home.

That didn’t happen when I moved into my home. I have spent the last 37 years trying to restore the mess that was made and the Contractor person who made the mess totally abdicated responsibility. His allegiance was to the person who hired him – who owned the house before I purchased it – and he and his company totally absolved themselves of having to correct the quick, short cut methods they used under the circumstances which caused us lots of grief. Years of grief and lots of money to make the needed restoration back to where the house was before it was sold.

One serious weakness of our society and probably of others also is the greed wrapped into its institutions. This area of “house flipping”, house renovation before being sold using the realtors money, and more is so riddled with greed it is destroying the housing stock – particularly in Harvard Square, but probably also in other areas where the same thing is happening.

It is time for the Cambridge City Government to get its spine strengthened and add to the outside requirements of homes in historical districts the requirements that the insides also be treated in the same way. Instead, they seem to be losing spine strength and allowing even the outside to be seriously altered and “renovated”, “modernized” and more. After all, that is the reason for the existence of Historical areas. They are not areas set up to show off those Temples of Wealth and Money. Those temples can be built and renovated and rebuilt in other places where they are a better “fit”.. Those historical designations have meaning and a reason for being and it is time we respect that.

The “too much money” people love the idea, the prestige, the loveliness of living in a historical district. They need to make sure that they abide by the spirit and the letter of why the districts were so designated and stop living as though such things are put in place for the “hoi poloi” and not them.\

We need stiff ordinances and/or laws which come down hard on those who burn down their houses to build others because they couldn’t get through the historical commission. I could list many such habits, but you all know them before I even try to enumerate them.

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IT COSTS MONEY TO PRODUCE THIS BLOG. WE HOPE YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE SO WE CAN EXPAND AND CONTINUE THE RESEARCH AND WRITINGS WHICH KEEP YOU KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT MANY THINGS THAT WOULD NOT REACH YOU OTHERWISE ALONG WITH THE OPINIONS AND WORK OF THOSE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF BETTINA NETWORK’s LIFESTYLE COMMUNITY.

What follows are some of the ways you can support our work:

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

[give_form id=”3763″]

Project 1 – Estate Sales after the Sale*

*This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

Project 2 – #WellsFargoBoycott*

This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc. which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

Project 3 – Growing Bettina Network’s Blog

into a major media outlet bringing to the public news, recipes, thoughts, reviews of businesses, etc. from the perspective of those who belong to Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community.

Project 4 – Boycott the Twenty Dollar ($20) bill

You can send a check to Bettina Network, inc. P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 to support this blog! Please make your check out to “Bettina Network, inc.” since the blog income is not the foundation income.

If you prefer your gift go to the Foundation, make your check payable to Bettina Network Foundation, inc. The money we receive for the Foundation currently is going to support the Wells Fargo Boycott.

_________________________________________________________

Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

BN Members Respond

Friday, July 26th, 2019

Thank you for the article on Nancy Pelosi. I agree 100%. It is time people started speaking out and telling the truth instead of the heroine worship which started to perform around her.

I have searched for reasons as to why she has taken such a hardline on this no impeachment of Trump stance. It made no sense, especially when she has more than enough to impeach and substantial stuff. Whenever I hear her talk about it all I can see and hear is B___ S____. I was also amazed to hear Trump lambast the four women. Nothing about that little interlude made sense until I read your article on your “Conspiracy Theory”. I think it is more than a Conspiracy Theory because Trump has been very careful with Pelosi and always had her back. Not good for the Democratic Party until you take a look to see if this is a small group of those who were in control for decades, have very old thoughts about how to do things – much outdated – and intend to keep power in cahoots with the likes of Trump.

The fact that they have a moral imperative to impeach the man for reasons that are criminal actions, treason and more. I know treason isn’t the correct term, but it gets the concept I am reaching for across.

Keep up the good work. You do seem to be quietly and invisibly within the circles. I will continue to send the information I gain to you. Use it as you see fit.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I read your articles on Nancy Pelosi “A Conspiracy Theory” and I think you are onto something and not a conspiracy.

As I watched the Congressional Hearing with Mueller III, it was quite something. I was so sad to see my friend showing his age – although with what he has accomplished in his life, “well done, my good and faithful servant”.

Those hearings, hauling out Mueller when he was clear he did not want to testify and said the Mueller Report was his testimony, seemed to be geared to an audience of one. That one being Nancy Pelosi. Are her friends and co-workers to the point of having to use such tactics to get her to see the wrong she is doing? At best she is making a political decision and where she needs to be making a moral, ethical decision in line with the Constitution. Why have impeachment as a tool to maintain and continue this Republic if you are going to use instead a political decision making process which is clearly leading to the possible radical change of this Republic into a Fascist Government. It seems Ms. Pelosi’s decision was one to maintain her power instead of maintaining this United States Government in the way it should go and using the tools those who put them in place for just such a moment-in-time set up to maintain democracy.

I wish others had the guts you folks at Bettina’s seem to have. I now know where to go with all the bits and pieces of information I have and want to see shared. I had a friend who sent me your “blog” and suggested I call you with what I have to share, but I ridiculed her. I take back the ridicule.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thank goodness for “The Squad”. I don’t agree with all of their politics, but I certainly appreciate their clarity and the way they are willing to walk out in their truth. It is like a breath of fresh air blowing through some really stale smoke filled rooms full of the traditional politicians who we could do without. Maybe they could be re-trained to do something useful – like street cleaning. Also, maybe, it is time for Nancy Pelosi to resign. If you can’t handle the heat you need to get out of the kitchen. Risk is what life is about – she seems to have left that part of life and is looking for something that does not exist – surety. Perhaps Trump’s theme, which he stole from Reagan is one that fits her present space – ‘Make America Great Again”. Some people age wonderfully well, some just don’t move beyond what they feel was their high point in life and would keep the rest of the world in that space so they can maintain those feelings. Or, at the very least – she is taking the road which she sees as having the smallest risk, (from her perspective), and the greatest power reward. I was a supporter of Ms. Pelosi. No more.

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Ed Note: There were many more comments, but the above encapsulates all of the expressions we received. The most common – much to our amazement – was the one which said the Mueller Hearings seemed to be broadcast for “an audience of one – Nancy Pelosi.”

___________________________________________________

IT COSTS MONEY TO PRODUCE THIS BLOG. WE HOPE YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE SO WE CAN EXPAND AND CONTINUE THE RESEARCH AND WRITINGS WHICH KEEP YOU KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT MANY THINGS THAT WOULD NOT REACH YOU OTHERWISE ALONG WITH THE OPINIONS AND WORK OF THOSE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF BETTINA NETWORK’s LIFESTYLE COMMUNITY.

What follows are some of the ways you can support our work:

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

[give_form id=”3763″]

Project 1 – Estate Sales after the Sale*

*This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

Project 2 – #WellsFargoBoycott*

This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc. which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

Project 3 – Growing Bettina Network’s Blog

into a major media outlet bringing to the public news, recipes, thoughts, reviews of businesses, etc. from the perspective of those who belong to Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community.

Project 4 – Boycott the Twenty Dollar ($20) bill

You can send a check to Bettina Network, inc. P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 to support this blog! Please make your check out to “Bettina Network, inc.” since the blog income is not the foundation income.

If you prefer your gift go to the Foundation, make your check payable to Bettina Network Foundation, inc. The money we receive for the Foundation currently is going to support the Wells Fargo Boycott.

_________________________________________________________

Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

#NANCY PELOSI – A Conspiracy Theory

Thursday, July 25th, 2019

It is so sad that Ms. Pelosi has put political power ahead of ethics, morality, good judgment. If the Democrats win the 2020 Presidential election she will be all powerful. If they lose to Trump, however…………………. It is time for all those kind of considerations to take a back seat to the morality of where we are today with a president who should have been impeached months ago.

IT IS TIME TO IMPEACH TRUMP. It is actually way past the time, but Nancy Pelosi has another agenda and it is not in the best interest of the United States of America.

This is what we see – admitting that we are looking from afar – however, the look is not great.

We saw the small, brief exchange between Pelosi and Trump during their time in the Oval Office just before Trump shut down the government.

Trump – Have you changed your mind about impeachment?

Pelosi – No I haven’t

Why would such an exchange have taken place? It was totally out of earshot of Schumer and totally besides the point of the meeting.

The conversation followed the press conference with Trump, Pelosi, Schumer about shutting down the government. During the meeting it did sound as though Pelosi was thinking of impeaching Trump – she assured him she would not.

Check out the video footage. That exchange was not picked up by talking heads, nor was it mentioned after it happened by anyone.

We went back to take a look and found history supports Trump supporting Pelosi in quiet ways and Pelosi supporting Trump.

Most recently – when the four minority Congresswomen – “The Squad” – were rumored to be at odds with Pelosi, Trump jumped in and removed what looked like the Squad attacking Pelosi and then they were working together with Pelosi still the “powerful person in charge.”

Trump continued his attack on the squad – way beyond its usefulness to him, but his attacks did cement Pelosi’s leadership over the Squad.

Then came the meetings with Pelosi and others to agree upon raising the debt limit. A meeting for which Pelosi received much credit a bit too easily and why was that put into the works when it happened? Did that strengthen Pelosi’s hand politically so her calling the shots would be questioned less? Or…………

Go back and take a look at the back and forth between Pelosi and Trump over time. You will draw some interesting conclusions.

We are raising the issue of Pelosi somehow being beholden to trump? Or having a quiet behind the scenes relationship? etc.

It is time for Pelosi to crawl out of the swamp and stand in the sun with her co-workers and start this impeachment. Impeachment does not happen because the Senate approves and will move it through – impeachment is about the citizens of the United States. Pelosi could be involved with impeaching Bill Clinton for a consensual affair, but renege on impeaching Trump for his criminality, treason and more.

At this rate – Pelosi will protect Trump from impeachment until she gets him to the finish line and he quite possibly wins the election because close to the finish line Putin takes over from Pelosi and makes sure Trump wins.

Just saying!

_________________________________________________


IT COSTS MONEY TO PRODUCE THIS BLOG. WE HOPE YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE SO WE CAN EXPAND AND CONTINUE THE RESEARCH AND WRITINGS WHICH KEEP YOU KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT MANY THINGS THAT WOULD NOT REACH YOU OTHERWISE ALONG WITH THE OPINIONS AND WORK OF THOSE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF BETTINA NETWORK’s LIFESTYLE COMMUNITY.

What follows are some of the ways you can support our work:

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

[give_form id=”3763″]

Project 1 – Estate Sales after the Sale*

*This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

Project 2 – #WellsFargoBoycott*

This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc. which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

Project 3 – Growing Bettina Network’s Blog

into a major media outlet bringing to the public news, recipes, thoughts, reviews of businesses, etc. from the perspective of those who belong to Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community.

Project 4 – Boycott the Twenty Dollar ($20) bill

You can send a check to Bettina Network, inc. P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 to support this blog! Please make your check out to “Bettina Network, inc.” since the blog income is not the foundation income.

If you prefer your gift go to the Foundation, make your check payable to Bettina Network Foundation, inc. The money we receive for the Foundation currently is going to support the Wells Fargo Boycott.

_________________________________________________________

Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.co

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Trump bringing McCarthyism back to U. S.

Wednesday, July 17th, 2019

by: Marceline Donaldson

I am on a roll -maybe its age, but ‘deja vu’. It is like watching history repeat itself. What is that old adage – either you learn from history or you are doomed to repeat it. And we clearly are being doomed to repeat the worst of our history – for which we sent out a dog whistle when Trump became the Republican running for President and then the fog horn blowing out of control when he was elected.

I was once a Republican. For most of my adult life starting with the first time I voted – I registered as a Republican. Being from the deep south it was the Republicans who were there to make sure you could vote without being strung up to a tree or worse. My cousin, an African American, had been head of the Republican Party in Louisiana. And then things began to change.

Having a huge ego, I was sure I could fight this and keep my Republican Party moving in the right direction. Well, that didn’t happen. I knew it was all over when Trump won the Republican primary. That was the day I changed my party designation from Republican to Independent.

When I looked around. Most of the people I knew as Republicans were now in my category – Independents all.

My rude awakening came in Minnesota when I was precinct chair in Wayzata. I was also suing Pillsbury for race and sex discrimination and George Pillsbury was in my precinct with me having to help him with his re-election to the Minnesota Senate. That wasn’t so bad. I sat next to George and Sally Pillsbury in Church on Sundays and we smiled and talked after church so how could that be different? Or difficult?

Difficult happened, in my capacity as precinct chair in the Republican Party, when Reagan ran for president. His first run was astounding. The scales began to drop from my eyes as I saw just how dirty was politics.

At the first precinct meeting of the season, the room was filled with people I didn’t know. Given the informality of how politics worked in the Republican Party at that time – you talked to people, got a consensus of what they wanted and that is what you did at the meeting. This time was different. First, most of the new people who showed up had southern, Texas accents – in Minnesota? Second, they were appalled that I was precinct chair. Not because they knew me, but because I was an African American woman. Well, they took care of that promptly and after a very ugly meeting I was no longer precinct chair, but I had gathered a lot of information. They were all sent to Minnesota specifically to get Reagan through the primary process and then elected president. Some had jobs, some were living on other folks money. It was a baptism by fire. I knew about Louisiana politics and its fringy sides, but that didn’t hold a candle to what these folks were about. It was like having experience in the minors and then all of a sudden being thrown into the big leagues.

From that and my experiences after that in the Republican Party I can guess what happened to get Trump elected and Russia would have been only a small part. After Trump’s election folks couldn’t wash the dirt off their ethics, their values, their lives, no matter how hard they tried.

Now that he is here – just look at the mess. He has called on all of his past experiences and they were putrid. Today he is calling on and acting out of his experiences having had Joseph McCarthy as one of his mentors when he was a very young man and having seen first hand how McCarthyism developed, what it could do and the power it wielded over this society. Trump had a seat at the table or rather at the feet of McCarthy and Roy Cohn. Cohn sat right next to McCarthy as his right hand man and Trump was in the mix learning and doing and he is now in the process of bringing all of his experience and learnings back into the United States government as he uses “the Squad” as his first intended victims to bring in McCarthyism to attempt to win the 2020 election.

Instead of having Jews in his sightline as he aims, he has people of color hurling them at Jews leading to the destruction and maiming of Muslims. Notice how he has singled out the Muslim woman in “the Squad” as he and his cooperators attempt to use her to destroy both Jews and Muslims.

At first the call was to hold up Democrats as being Socialists. Now all pretense has been dropped and “Communist” has come to the forefront and will be the clarion call from here on in. This time, Trump will make McCarthyism look like kindergarten because he now has his masters degree in destruction, carnage, filth, lies, and all the rest.

He will make “the Squad” the first of those against whom he will fling Trump-style McCarthyism and then many more will follow until the primary and then the election when he sees this becoming a huge movement which sweeps him into office in such a way that he has total sway over this government and all of its people. He looks to the entire country to treat him the way his Republican followers treat him – scared to do anything except respond and act out – Yes sir, President Trump.

Think this is just a conjecture? – look at Lindsey Graham and all the others who are now in the position of doing little else except “yes sir, President Trump.” Remember when they regarded him as not much better than scum? Whatever happened to those opinions they expressed before he become president and before they realized and were faced with his expert ability at blackmail. At some point in life one has to stand up and be counted, no matter the cost. There is life after the attempt on your life of an expert, experienced, blackmailer who can do so without actually putting himself in any legal jeopardy.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said – (paraphrased because I don’t remember the exact quote) – there comes a time in ones life when you must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but your conscience tells you this is right. The ultimate measure of a human being is not where you stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where you stand during times of challenge and controversy. – and the ultimate one – if you have nothing for which you will die, you have nothing for which to live.

We are living in a world where the “good and right” thing to do, the ethical thing to do is what the institution in which you function tells you is the good and right thing to do. To stand beyond that and to live, work, love, play in a universe which has ethical standards which you follow beyond those of a particular institution is a totally foreign concept to those in control, in charge in todays’ world. We honor Mueller because of his refusal to do anything outside of the structure in which he functions as “Special Counsel” or in whichever role he has functioned. Keep to the four corners. We need to live in a world in which we have ethics and take stands beyond that. If the institution is constricting our sense of right and wrong and allowing evil to thrive we need to stand up, break those chains of that institution and do and say what brings all of us back to a sense of what is just, what is righteous, what is merciful.

Nancy Pelosi needs to pay attention to what is happening and let go of the four corners of her box.

Donald Trump comes from a several generation racist, sexist, extremely bigoted family. He has chosen to be mentored by the most extremely evil people who have shown themselves to be so full of greed and lust and evil that they upheaveled this country for a time.

We need to see that and learn from the lessons of the past. We don’t need to return to McCarthyism; we don’t need to bring back the KKK or the White Nationalists nor the Nazis. That is Trump’s world and to allow him to replace what is with what he knows and sees where-in he can thrive at the expense of whoever is to engage in his evil and to become a part of his evil dream for this world while he is an inhabitant here and beyond when he is forced to leave this world leaving behind his evil being inflicted on the rest of us the way he is being inflicted upon us by Roy Cohn, Joseph McCarthy and others who he holds up as his examples for life.

Joseph McCarthy was an extreme alcoholic who wrecked havoc in this country as Senator in a political way using the forum of the U. S. Senate to destroy lives and institutions in an institutional way we now call McCarthyism. – what Donald Trump is very fast bringing back to these United States.

Trump’s father was a part of the KuKlux Klan and marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in a parade of some 10,000 plus people in white sheets and pointy hats.

We give Emmanuel Macron credit for being the genesis of Trump’s idea and fixation on this grand military parade. Was he really? Or did Trump’s own father put these ideas in his head by exposing him to what could have been for both of them. Ideas Trump has worked hard to bring into existence. We are all partially captive to our upbringing. Turn around and take a look at Donald Trump’s upbringing and several generation family.

We look at Trump’s criminality and we ignore his family connections. We ignore the rumor that his father’s business partner was a large part of the Italian mafia. Trump has graduated from that group to one a lot more horrific.

His grandfather, who came to this country from Germany bringing some ugly connections, wound up with a hotel for prostitution, which he obtained on the backs of women. And his grandson comes along with direct connections to that lifestyle with some 19 plus accusations against him of assaulting, abusing, raping women. That kind of disrespect is profound when it comes down the family and comes from that everyday family influence. Did you ever ask how a man with so many claims of abuse of women against him became president of these United States? We have an ever growing group of men somehow closely connected who has horribly abused women and moved into substantial, strong, positions in this society – besides Epstein – across the street in another town house we had Bill Cosby – and connected to both men we have Donald Trump.

Do I need to go on?

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IT COSTS MONEY TO PRODUCE THIS BLOG. WE HOPE YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE SO WE CAN EXPAND AND CONTINUE THE RESEARCH AND WRITINGS WHICH KEEP YOU KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT MANY THINGS THAT WOULD NOT REACH YOU OTHERWISE ALONG WITH THE OPINIONS AND WORK OF THOSE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF BETTINA NETWORK’s LIFESTYLE COMMUNITY.

What follows are some of the ways you can support our work:

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

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Project 1 – Estate Sales after the Sale*

*This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

Project 2 – #WellsFargoBoycott*

This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc. which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

Project 3 – Growing Bettina Network’s Blog

into a major media outlet bringing to the public news, recipes, thoughts, reviews of businesses, etc. from the perspective of those who belong to Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community.

Project 4 – Boycott the Twenty Dollar ($20) bill

You can send a check to Bettina Network, inc. P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 to support this blog! Please make your check out to “Bettina Network, inc.” since the blog income is not the foundation income.

If you prefer your gift go to the Foundation, make your check payable to Bettina Network Foundation, inc. The money we receive for the Foundation currently is going to support the Wells Fargo Boycott.

_________________________________________________________

Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.co

WOW! What a day! Epstein, Trump, Pedophiles, Racists, Sexists – look at the company bigotry keeps!

Tuesday, July 16th, 2019

by: Marceline Donaldson

We keep trying to write about other things. What comes in to us in all of this however, is Trump, Trump all the time. When you think the man has reached bottom a trap door opens and he drops further down.

We have a few astrophysicist friends who helped develop a theology because they said astrophysics has gotten rid of the traditional theological concepts of heaven and hell for many religions and so they developed a theology to replace them. I do disagree. They may have developed a concept of heaven, but they have to consult with Donald Trump about hell – he has the monopoly on hell.

When I heard Trump’s racist comments about “the Squad” I have to admit I was a bit excited. I ran to the DVR to set it before I forgot. All of the Comedy Central Channels – Trevor Noah, Steven Colbert, Saturday Night Live, as many as I could think about. I didn’t want to miss a moment. Sure enough, while I haven’t seen all the recordings, Trevor Noah did not disappoint.

Something horrible must be coming down the pike against Trump. He has done an incredible job of distracting. It is hard to tell from what.

Epstein? Is someone coming out with a “made for television” interview of some of the women at the party whose guests included 26 women interested in being a part of a calendar ad/party plus Trump and Epstein.

Did the prosecutors in New York find a video in Epstein’s home of Trump raping a 13 year old? From the description in the Court Filings several years ago it was allegedly brutal.

Ladies and Gentlemen and readers of Bettina Network’s Blog- what follows was filed in Court and we may be hearing about this again soon:

“10. Defendant Trump initiated sexual contact with Plaintiff at four different parties. On the fourth and final sexual encounter with Defendant Trump, Defendant Trump tied Plaintiff to a bed, exposed himself to Plaintiff, and then proceeded to forcibly rape Plaintiff. During the course of this savage sexual attack, Plaintiff loudly pleaded with Defendant Trump to stop but with no effect. Defendant Trump responded to Plaintiff’s pleas by violently striking Plaintiff in the face with his open hand and screaming that he would do whatever he wanted. Exhs. A and B.”

This reminds me of something else I’ve seen – oh yes, – in a Bettina Network Blog https://www.bettina-network.com/blog/archives/3540

A woman, handcuffed to the bed, nude except for the high heels, etc. Doesn’t seem to be resisting, however, but modeling – was that for the Trump agency? Or another Agency? Or part of her models portfolio of pictures used as a resume? OMG! The First Lady of the United States – FLOTUS! No wonder Trump has trouble seeing the Congresswomen as positive, contributing, United States citizens elected to help run the country – that isn’t a position in which he sees women when his eyes and mind are clouded with all of the above about women.

Trump wants the four Congresswomen to go back to the broken and crime infested place from which they have come. I understand his comments. When the above is your life and reference point the four Congresswomen do come from a broken and crime infested place which must be changed – Michigan, New York, California, etc. We are all living in a broken and crime infested place and hopefully, these four Congresswomen will work with others to rid this country of such a man with his friends and co-workers with their foul language, insults, destruction of our Republic. A man who hears the question of a white female reporter and tells her to be quiet while he turns to and answers the same question from a white male reporter.

We have a broken system, a crime infested country, a man who introduced and commonly uses foul language in his press conferences, informal conversation, on television with children watching giving them the example of the president of the United States cursing with almost every other word in many places with a staff and workers around him who could have served Hitler – putting up Facebook pages which would have warmed the Fuhrer’s heart.

AND, the question we have about Trump is the same one we have about Epstein – where does his money come from? How did he become the billionaire he claims to be when he lost all of the $400 million left to him by his father. With Epstein owning a home and private plane in Saudi Arabia with an expired passport in another name but with his picture – does Trump has the same thing? Are we coming to a denouement with Trump fleeing to Saudi Arabia and/or Russia to oversee the building of Trump Towers given to him by his backers and supporters as he shatters this country?

Before he leaves, one of his last actions is to continue to separate African Americans from Jews. This happened when the Civil Rights Movement under King was becoming way too strong for many of the people and their followers now loyal to Trump. First they helped move the Jews from being Black and from being called the “N” word to becoming second class Whites! That was supposed to cause much upheaval in the Civil Rights Community. In some ways it did, but mostly Jews continued working with Blacks to bring about equality.

Trump is now trying a second time – having learned from his mentors – to separate minority groups from one another and is having a go at again trying to further separate Jews from African Americans from Immigrants of color.

The “Squad” has a lot of work to do going forward repairing the damage done by Trump, his friends and supporters.

Trump’s workers in the White House and beyond need to get themselves together because their future, at the moment, is with the homeless. They have put themselves into a position where another job is going to be hard to get and their reputations without Trump will be toast – toast spit on my all and picked up from trash cans because they are hungry and that is all they could find to keep themselves together.

From Nixon, traveling to Mississippi to introduce his run for the Presidency of the United States to Donald Trump who probably first introduced his run in Russia with his Saudi friends cheering him on. The Republican Party has come to the fruition of its racist agenda which it set forth to the public in Mississippi as a dog whistle – then a fog horn – and now enormous political troubles which threaten to destroy the Republican Party forever.

Did someone say Putin was backing Trump? Or has he used Trump to destroy the Republican Party as repayment for what he perceives they did to the USSR?

It doesn’t matter – the results are all the same.

So onward into the future – hopefully, it will be better than the recent past. At least I have a few DVR’s to watch after Trump’s mess-up this week. If they are anything like Trevor’s show it is going to be a few hours of side splitting laughter as I look at the fun making of what happens when Greed underpins and is the rock bottom base of a culture.

__________________________________________________

IT COSTS MONEY TO PRODUCE THIS BLOG. WE HOPE YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE SO WE CAN EXPAND AND CONTINUE THE RESEARCH AND WRITINGS WHICH KEEP YOU KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT MANY THINGS THAT WOULD NOT REACH YOU OTHERWISE ALONG WITH THE OPINIONS AND WORK OF THOSE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF BETTINA NETWORK’s LIFESTYLE COMMUNITY.

What follows are some of the ways you can support our work:

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

[give_form id=”3763″]

Project 1 – Estate Sales after the Sale*

*This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

Project 2 – #WellsFargoBoycott*

This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc. which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

Project 3 – Growing Bettina Network’s Blog

into a major media outlet bringing to the public news, recipes, thoughts, reviews of businesses, etc. from the perspective of those who belong to Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community.

Project 4 – Boycott the Twenty Dollar ($20) bill

You can send a check to Bettina Network, inc. P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 to support this blog! Please make your check out to “Bettina Network, inc.” since the blog income is not the foundation income.

If you prefer your gift go to the Foundation, make your check payable to Bettina Network Foundation, inc. The money we receive for the Foundation currently is going to support the Wells Fargo Boycott.

_________________________________________________________

Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.co

Comments from Bettina Members

Monday, July 15th, 2019

TRUMP Death Camps

So far, the total number of children killed – about which we have been told – is 7. Who knows if that is accurate or not.

For adults, we understand one male from Honduras was killed a couple weeks ago and no other figures have been disclosed.

Some say they died. When you are not in control of your circumstances and you are put someplace where you are in harms way and the object of your being placed there is to remove you – killed is what has happened. Some would call it manslaughter, I would call it murder. Those who were there knew exactly what they were doing and what the result would be. A lot more will follow and the killings will begin to sharply escalate while we argue and talk about how awful Trump is, but we keep Trump in place until he has brought this society back to white supremacy.

We understand some of those working at the Trump Death Camps have started wearing face masks. Some say because of the horrible stench from the conditions in the Death Camps. Some say because disease is so rife and so many are ill this was necessary to keep the guards from getting sick and dying.

In spite of all the horribleness of those Trump Death Camps, they still exist and are growing exponentially larger. Does our history of slavery; internment of groups we make ‘less than’ as we did the Japanese; the torture and slaughter of African Americans in the village square and among the trees as ‘strange fruit’ for voting; the destruction of so many African American lives over the past generations since slavery and so much more – has that made us unable to do anything except talk about how awful Donald Trump is without moving to stop him claiming our talking about it is enough and we are doing what we can. Is the United States so structured that people like Trump and conditions such as we are experiencing today happen with a country structured so this cannot and will not be stopped, but be allowed to play out?

Now you know what happened in Nazi Germany under Hitler. Non-Jews were able to go on with their lives because the ugly was kept from them – for the most part. And when did this happen? When Jews were being destroyed in the Jewish Ghetto? No, when Jews were starting to break out of the Jewish Ghetto and were starting tp establish substantial lives accumulating wealth, art, businesses.

Although many really knew what was happening, they allowed it to continue because they enjoyed that feeling – thank god I am not a Jew. I am better than that.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Evangelical Christians as Trump supporters don’t understand his evil?

Really?

First off – Evangelicals are not Christian. They claim a form of Christianity, but it is with a small “c” – christians. They worship Baal, but call him god and try to give him the attributes of the Christian God with his son Jesus the Christ because that makes them look and feel better. They are a group which has elevated their culture to a place where they call it their religion and their faith and they structure this ‘religion’ so that it protects them and their culture and keeps them feeling and acting “better than” being allowed to destroy others.

The evangelical christians knew who they were supporting. They understood Trump better than most. They have walked in his shoes and lived parts of his life – especially if they have become extraordinarily wealthy. Take a look at the history and structure of this group.

First – remember when Jimmy Carter ran for president? One of the first blocks he ran into were the ones created by those who took a look at where and how he worshipped; those who questioned his Christianity because he was going to a Church which did not allow African Americans into the Church to worship on Sundays. If they did manage to get in they had to sit in the back of the Church. There were incidents after Carter announced his candidacy and in the end, he left that Church and worshipped where all were welcome. That is true of Jimmy Carter even today. When he recognized that the god being worshipped in the Church he attended had a small g – he removed himself because his worship was of God. That was a long time ago and evangelical christians showed their racism/bigotry back then assuming it was just fine and the way they chose to live in a manner ‘better than’ established by their ‘god’ for their superiority over others.

Second – the most segregated hour in these United States is Sunday morning at 11am – the time most Christians go to their worship services. Segregated into whites going to white churches with one or two blacks and blacks going to black churches with no whites. That has been the case for generations and continues to be the case even today. So – tell us again about evangelical christians and Donald Trump. They support him because they understand and agree with his morals, his character, his evil. They practice it themselves – remember Roy Moore? The man who as accused of sexual assault against young underage girls and was banned from the local shopping center because of it? A Trump supporter and back running for something with a lot of support from those who attend and belong to the gathering of people he joined and who he meets every sunday in a place called “church”.

Third – remember the history of many evangelical preachers/ministers? They tend to live “high on the hog”. Private planes – mansions – lots of money and display incredible wealth. They also have been the topic of news coverage with their sexual assault on young women and men; their adultery; their ripping off their membership, among others – and go ahead with the list of things for which Trump has been accused and you have the kind of person evangelical christians recognize in Trump as being like their leaders. A flock will recognize its own.

Now lets ask that question again? Why would a group of evangelical christians support Donald Trump and not be appalled by his values, his lifestyle, his hypocrisy, his racism – sexism -xenophobia, etc. All of the bigotry he preaches and practices? Because they have been doing such and supporting the likes of Donald Trump all of their lives. Because they have turned their “Church” into a cultural center – a place where the culture, not God is worshipped. Once that happens, whoever supports and promotes their culture is their god who they believe in and follow – especially if that culture is touted as being “better than” – and that for this generation of evangelical christians is Donald Trump.

I watched “Morning Joe’ on television this morning. It was all about excusing Trump and talking about and giving excuses as to why evangelical christians are not who they really are. Truth was missing.

Ed. Note: If you are a member of Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community you are welcome to send articles to be included in the blog – either independently in your own article – or your comments to be included with others. Email to bettina-network@comcast.net

Ed. Note: Don’t forget to boycott the $20 bill

____________________________________________________

IT COSTS MONEY TO PRODUCE THIS BLOG. WE HOPE YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE SO WE CAN EXPAND AND CONTINUE THE RESEARCH AND WRITINGS WHICH KEEP YOU KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT MANY THINGS THAT WOULD NOT REACH YOU OTHERWISE ALONG WITH THE OPINIONS AND WORK OF THOSE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF BETTINA NETWORK’s LIFESTYLE COMMUNITY.

What follows are some of the ways you can support our work:

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

[give_form id=”3763″]

Project 1 – Estate Sales after the Sale*

*This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

Project 2 – #WellsFargoBoycott*

This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc. which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

Project 3 – Growing Bettina Network’s Blog

into a major media outlet bringing to the public news, recipes, thoughts, reviews of businesses, etc. from the perspective of those who belong to Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community.

Project 4 – Boycott the Twenty Dollar ($20) bill

You can send a check to Bettina Network, inc. P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 to support this blog! Please make your check out to “Bettina Network, inc.” since the blog income is not the foundation income.

If you prefer your gift go to the Foundation, make your check payable to Bettina Network Foundation, inc. The money we receive for the Foundation currently is going to support the Wells Fargo Boycott.

_________________________________________________________

Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.co















Blackmail at High Levels

Tuesday, July 9th, 2019

by: Marceline Donaldson

It seems as though each day brings us closer to a breakout to get to know exactly what is happening in this government with Donald Trump claiming the spot as president, but it doesn’t quite happen.

How come?

Someone like William Barr comes to the rescue and is appointed Attorney General. Not the only one to appear at just the right time.

Are you being blackmailed Attorney General Barr? Is your family threatened with exposure? Are you protecting your father and his reputation, which in a white male upper class family would mean the entire family’s position and wealth are teetering on the brink.

And who else?

The Jeffrey Epstein scandal will probably unearth many and we only have to do a little following of the bread crumbs to put together the whole story.

How come?

Jeffrey Epstein claims to have patterned his modeling agency after the modeling agency of one Donald Trump!!!!!! What does that mean? Is that a harmless following the successful pattern of a friend engaged in a legitimate line of business or is he saying something else and did he follow the example of a business which had an above the table structure and a below the table structure. – rife with sex trafficking?

Speaking of blackmail – who was actually behind the invitation to Donald J. Trump to come to England and be so feted? Was it Theresa May? Or was it Prince Andrew? Or was it someone else altogether who has yet to surface? Or was it a group of people who needed to protect themselves and their families from the threat of, do this – or else?

Surprised at the camaraderie of Trump and Kim Jong Un?

Take a look at the Concentration Camps springing up all over the place housing thousands. Bettina Network Blog predicted this would happen when the first such Concentration Camp was built. Instead of stopping this evil we have taken to arguing about whether these should be called concentration Camps – even though they fit every description – and claiming they cannot be compared to Hitler’s Nazi Government – in spite of the fact that they are following that exact pattern. They have not reached the g”gas” stage, but they are taking other ways to kill, maim and destroy their target inhabitants.

Take a look at the separation of children from their parents at the border. Question why that happened at the direction of a man with so many sexual abuses, sexual assaults, rapes claimed against him and then take a look at his friends who are in the same space – especially the sex trafficking ones. These Trump created Concentration Camps are an incredible place from which to recruit young, desperate boys and girls.

However, on second thought, maybe not so much because the young people sex trafficked by these governing the United States today all tend to be white and young.

Is one of the advantages of being an immigrant of color the fact that you don’t have to fight off sex traffickers at the top of the government to which you have come for asylum, you get to fight them off on a much lower level.

Could that be the reason the Trumpian Concentration Camps are so horrid? Anything to escape? A set-up , a structure put in place to recruit the young and vulnerable? There are certainly reports that such is happening on the United States southern border. Think of the blackmail that can happen against those who are in charge of such a place! Or are many of those in charge a part of maintaining and worsening such a place because the power over other human beings, watching and pushing them ever lower and into increasingly more degradation addictive and creates the need for more of such power?

But, back to William Barr.

One of the things that you realize happens to you as you age – especially if you live a very long life – you live it through times which become history. You remember things not recorded as others write about the history they research and present to you. Did things happen in those historical times which were not considered nice? Clean them up so books will sell and be believable? Not up to the challenge of taking a detour into legal things as you are appalled at what you find in that history about which you write? Stiffle the need because you are, after all, a proper historian and would lose all believability if you actually documented ALL of what you found.

I remember what happened during my growing up, young adult and middle age years which has been skipped over quickly with no investigation and very little else except a very peripheral announcement of a couple events in the life and times of Donald Barr. Maybe innocent – maybe a lot more under the table. My remembering these bits and pieces and delving into them to find out if there is something missing and not spoken or written about probably comes from having been raised in a journalist family. That incurable curiosity and the research one does to satisfy that curiosity, sharing the research with as many others as possible so we can alll learn.

Could that be what is driving William Barr? Is anyone looking into the details of what those brief announcements held within them? Why appoint someone as attorney general who acts like a puppet with Donald Trump as the puppeteer and reputation for demanding “loyalty”. Maybe he contributes to those demands because he has found things on which to base many of his “loyalty” demands.

So spurious – in schools, even independent ones (private) which seem to have more than their share of scandal these days? Why then resign? Were the two connected – the appointment and the announcement to come shortly thereafter? Our upper classes are known for their discretion. Only the middle to lower classes get drug through the mud with no relief if they stray. Our upper classes are allowed to quietly and discreetly resign and continue their “activities” if they so desire. Not until these renegade progressives entered the picture have things been forced open – with sledge hammers and all the muck and pus and stuff allowed to spew out, get collected and spread over the media for all to read and learn about.

We elected a man who has a lot in common with Kim Jong Un and all the other fascists with whom he finds common ground. It takes quite a filthy character to create, grow and lie about what is happening on the southern border of the United States. Isn’t that how the Nazi Concentration Camps were created, grew and were lied about? The same character traits where he finds common ground with Kim Jong Un. The difference being in the fact that Kim inherited his and Trump has had to build his so he is a little behind. Given what he has accomplished in the filth, killing, immoral department, given a bit more time Trump has what it takes to make Kim look like a slow learner. What is horrendous for us, we have come to see and accept all of this Trumpian evil as “normal”. Given a bit more time we will find these United States to be just as horrible a killing field as in North Korea and all the other governments we once abhorred.

And as to the rest of the blackmail?

Doesn’t it seem strange to you – or am I the only one with these thoughts – that Republican Senators are a bit too compliant and followers of a pied piper than they should be – than they were elected not to be?

Strangest of all ? Test yourselves? Are you a Trump supporter? You would then fit right in with all that is going on. Take a cold, hard look at your life – you might not like what you see. When folks talk about their “wonderful president doing everything we wanted him to do”. Back away, those are not folks you want to get to know – without exception no matter whether they call themselves white, black, etc. etc..

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IT COSTS MONEY TO PRODUCE THIS BLOG. WE HOPE YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE SO WE CAN EXPAND AND CONTINUE THE RESEARCH AND WRITINGS WHICH KEEP YOU KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT MANY THINGS THAT WOULD NOT REACH YOU OTHERWISE ALONG WITH THE OPINIONS AND WORK OF THOSE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF BETTINA NETWORK’s LIFESTYLE COMMUNITY.

What follows are some of the ways you can support our work:

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

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Project 1 – Estate Sales after the Sale*

*This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

Project 2 – #WellsFargoBoycott*

This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc. which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

Project 3 – Growing Bettina Network’s Blog

into a major media outlet bringing to the public news, recipes, thoughts, reviews of businesses, etc. from the perspective of those who belong to Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community.

Project 4 – Boycott the Twenty Dollar ($20) bill

You can send a check to Bettina Network, inc. P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 to support this blog! Please make your check out to “Bettina Network, inc.” since the blog income is not the foundation income.

If you prefer your gift go to the Foundation, make your check payable to Bettina Network Foundation, inc. The money we receive for the Foundation currently is going to support the Wells Fargo Boycott.

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Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.co
















Bettina's Lifestyle Commnity!

Join us!

Bettina’s Lifestyle Community

Making a difference in this very difficult and changeable world.

Bettina's Lifestyle Commnity!

Join us!