What can ordinary Americans do to resist what’s happening in D.C.? Here are some suggestions
Image by Ted Eytan.
The United States appears to be teetering on the brink of a coup, with Elon Musk, an unelected advisor to Trump, now having access to the U.S. Treasury’s payment system. Federal officials, watchdogs and gatekeepers are being replaced en masse… READ MORE
Mr. D was a decent human being and a good publisher
Image by Del Stone Jr.
We had a memorial service for Marvin DeBolt on Saturday. Maybe you remember him. He was the publisher of the Playground Daily News, then the Northwest Florida Daily News, from 1980 to 2004. Mr. D was known for many things… READ MORE
My Kiwi friend shows us how we could be living
I have a friend who lives in New Zealand.
Not long ago I asked him what he thought about America. He sent a lengthy reply. He prefaced it with a description of how people in New Zealand live.
As I said, this is long, but I think it's worth every minute of your time because it will show you once and for all how the people of enlightened democracies live, and how WE could be living were it not for our selfishness and stupidity.
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My impression of the American government and its system. This is from someone looking from the outside in and may not be correct but before I start with that this is what it is like in New Zealand. Here in New Zealand, we base our lives on caring and helping others that may need a helping hand. Our health system is geared up where most of the cost is covered by the government. There are waiting times for surgery, but you can go private and it will be done straight away. There is social housing for those who need it both at the government level and at the local council level. It is not all rosie, as you do find people on the streets and there are beggars. You just need to be careful as it is a living for some and at the end of the day they go home to their own houses. Our lives are not ruled and controlled by the need to work as we put a lot into a well-balanced work and social life.
We have 4 weeks paid holiday where you are encouraged to take two weeks off in one go to spend with the family. The other two weeks are used how and when you like. There is two weeks sick leave, and you are encouraged to take time off if you have a cold as going to work will spread it and more people will be off. You can have 3 days off without a doctor’s certificate but after that you need to get one to cover more time off. You can take up to one week’s bereavement leave for each death in the family. Companies are very supportive and will often send flowers as a show of respect. Sick leave is accumulated and so when (my wife) went through her breast cancer a couple of years back, I was off work for six weeks supporting her during that time as I had accumulated so much leave over the years.
Pensions are paid by the government every two weeks to everyone over 65yrs no matter how much money they have and it is not means tested. When I work, the job is considered my first income and is subjected to a tax scale while my pension is considered secondary income and taxed at a higher rate. During the three winter months I receive extra payment to cover heating costs. We get a “Gold Card” that allows me to travel on the public transport system at reduced cost and in some cases no cost. The card allows me to get cheaper petrol at one set of stations and is a guaranteed 15 cents off per litre. The card can also be used on a Tuesday to gain 5% off your grocery bill at one company stores.
There is maternity leave for the woman as well as the father that is government paid for up to six months. There is no cost associated with having a child and there is subsidized childcare for the young and free schooling. The first year at university is free then you apply for an interest free loan from the government. Once you finish university, the loan must be paid back over a period of time at an amount you can afford, however if you leave the country then you start to pay interest on the loan. There is free dental care and doctor’s visits for children up to the age of 18 and reduced doctor fees for the over 65’s.
People work a 40hr week normally consisting of 5x8hr days. If you are required to work outside of these hours, then your pay rate becomes 1.5 normal rate for the first 3hrs and then 2.0 normal rate after that. You can also add in meal allowances and other extras. I once had a job where I was paid dirt money, height money and wet money for working outside in the rain. We have a minimum pay rate of about $24/hr so there is no need to pay tips. You can if you want but it is not necessary. We do our best to look after people in need.
Our government is elected every 4yrs. One leading party is into social justice and green issues. The other side supports farming, business and infrastructure. Under that government I have always done well and was always a high-income earner never needing government support in any way. When it is time to vote the parties tell you what they want to do and you vote on those principles. There is no bribery of officials to try and get things done and no underhanded things happening. Everything is above board.
Getting back to your question. (In America) I see two parties with people wanting to feather their own nests even taking money to help get things passed into legislation. The GOP seem to be the worse and are only there for get the most for themselves and their friends. I see the government running out of money to pay their employees at times because it is being held to ransom by the other party.
The court system seems to be a mess where judges are appointed for life by a president who will protect him with outlandish rulings in his favour, I refer to Judge Cannon. How can a convicted felon be able to gain office is beyond belief.
You have an incoming President threatening to take over Greenland and the Panama Cannel. He has indicated that he will add 25% tariffs to Canada and Mexico. He does not seem to realize that it is the American people that will be paying the 25%, not the exporting country, all they will do is find another market for their goods when Americans stop buying them because of the high price.
Nepotism seems to be rife with the incoming President giving key positions to family. It reminds me of a third world democracy and is very dangerous to producing a dictator.
I have a Kiwi friend living in America for the last 25yrs, he does not like Trump but voted for him anyway. He could not give me an answer as to why he did it. The lies told during the campaign such as immigrants eating the cats and dogs of their neighbors is outrageous and yet people believed it.
You have a great country that would be one of the richest in the world but there does not seem to be any social and moral obligation to the poor and needy. Our police are not armed here in New Zealand where yours are, I get why they need to be, but when a child can take a gun to school and kill teachers and fellow students then there is something wrong with society.
Our ambassadors to other countries are career people and retired politicians. They are selected by the government to represent the people of New Zealand; they are not given the position due to how much money was donated to elect a president or because he is a friend.
About the author:
Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone's stories, poetry and scripts have appeared in publications such as Amazing Stories, Eldritch Tales, and Bantam-Spectra's Full Spectrum. His short fiction has been published in The Year's Best Horror Stories XXII; Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine; the Pocket Books anthology More Phobias; the Barnes & Noble anthologies 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories, Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, and 100 Astounding Little Alien Stories; the HWA anthology Psychos; and other short fiction venues, like Blood Muse, Live Without a Net, Zombiesque and Sex Macabre. Stone's comic book debut was in the Clive Barker series of books, Hellraiser, published by Marvel/Epic and reprinted in The Best of Hellraiser anthology. He has also published stories in Penthouse Comix, and worked with artist Dave Dorman on many projects, including the illustrated novella “Roadkill,” a short story for the Andrew Vachss anthology Underground from Dark Horse, an ashcan titled "December" for Hero Illustrated, and several of Dorman's Wasted Lands novellas and comics, such as Rail from Image and “The Uninvited.” Stone's novel, Dead Heat, won the 1996 International Horror Guild's award for best first novel and was a runner-up for the Bram Stoker Award. Stone has also been a finalist for the IHG award for short fiction, the British Fantasy Award for best novella, and a semifinalist for the Nebula and Writers of the Future awards. His stories have appeared in anthologies that have won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of his works were optioned for film, the novella “Black Tide” and short story “Crisis Line.”
Stone recently retired after a 41-year career in journalism. He won numerous awards for his work, and in 1986 was named Florida's best columnist in his circulation division by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. In 2001 he received an honorable mention from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his essay “When Freedom of Speech Ends” and in 2003 he was voted Best of the Best in the category of columnists by Emerald Coast Magazine. He participated in book signings and awareness campaigns, and was a guest on local television and radio programs.
As an addendum, Stone is single, kills tomatoes and morning glories with ruthless efficiency, once tied the stem of a cocktail cherry in a knot with his tongue, and carries a permanent scar on his chest after having been shot with a paintball gun. He’s in his 60s as of this writing but doesn't look a day over 94.
I have a friend who lives in New Zealand. Not long ago I asked him what he thought about America. He sent a lengthy reply. He prefaced it with a description of how people in New Zealand live. As I… READ MORE
On Jan. 21, 2025, Northwest Florida got a taste of climate change
Snow fell at a furious rate the afternoon of Jan. 21, 2025, during an unprecedented winter storm that blanketed the Southeast with snow and freezing temperatures. Image by Del Stone Jr.
Northwest Florida got a taste of climate change on Jan. 21, 2025, when an unprecedented snowstorm blanketed the area with up to 8 inches of snow. The jet stream, departing from its usual west-to-east track, brought arctic air deep into… READ MORE
A Stone family Christmas over the years
Mom and Pat share a laugh on Christmas morning, 1976, at our house on Pryor Road in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Image by Del Stone Sr.
I raided both my and my folks’ photos for images of holidays past for this Christmas Eve retrospective.
Del reviews ‘Carry-On’
Image by Netflix
“Carry-On” Starring Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, Sofia Carson. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. Rated PG-13. 1 hour, 59 minutes long. Del’s take “Carry-On,” the new thriller from Netflix, is “Die Hard” without the charismatic lead and relatable love interest. But its… READ MORE
If you voted to have your health insurance gutted, don’t freak out. There’s hope
This is just a random photo of me I took today while out in the freezing cold getting my 3 miles of walking in.
During the run-up to the Nov. 5 election I heard of Trump supporters who said they wouldn’t mind seeing Obamacare repealed but they didn’t want the Affordable Care Act touched. The ACA was their health insurance provider and they liked… READ MORE
A little Thanksgiving surprise for me
As you can see, the very important part of the label, the one that reads "dog treats," is covered by the price tag. Thanks, guys! Image by Del Stone Jr.
They say you should never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach, but that’s what I did the other day – I was STARVING to death. I saw this bag of beef jerky and I thought, “Oh, that looks so… READ MORE
Today is my birthday. Here is a list of my demands
I don't know who took this picture. They should never be allowed to use a camera again.
Today is my birthday. Here is a list of my demands. I want a Gulfstream private jet. That way Taylor Swift and I can drop down to Key West for lunch, or make a day of shopping at those cute… READ MORE
We can’t afford to elect a man without a plan
Former president Donald Trump was recently interviewed by The Bulletin, a monthly publication of the American Association of Retired Persons.
In that interview he was asked questions about the economy – how he would bring down the high cost of food, fuel and rent; how he would save Social Security; and how he would push back the date at which Medicare becomes insolvent.
He answered that he’d do all those things by strengthening the economy. He argued the high cost of everything is due in large part to the cost of energy, and if he could make oil more available, prices would come down. He used the words, “Drill, baby, drill” – meaning he would ramp up the exploration and drilling for oil. More oil would mean lower energy prices, which lower the price of everything else.
It’s the old maxim that a rising tide floats all boats. Most of the time that’s true, but this time there’s a problem.
The tide is already high.
Go to your favorite search engine. Mine is Google, but there are others. Ask it, “Which country is the world’s leading oil producer?”
The answer will be the United States. The United States produces more oil than Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Russia, Iran, and all the traditional oil producers.
While you’re there, ask your favorite search engine, “Which country leads the world in oil exploration and drilling?’
Once again the answer will be the United States.
The United States is already doing what Donald Trump says he will do to fix the economy. That means, the cornerstone of Donald Trump’s economic plan is null and void.
He is literally a man without a plan.
If it isn’t too late, reconsider your vote for Donald Trump. We can’t afford to elect a man without a plan.
About the author:
Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone's stories, poetry and scripts have appeared in publications such as Amazing Stories, Eldritch Tales, and Bantam-Spectra's Full Spectrum. His short fiction has been published in The Year's Best Horror Stories XXII; Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine; the Pocket Books anthology More Phobias; the Barnes & Noble anthologies 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories, Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, and 100 Astounding Little Alien Stories; the HWA anthology Psychos; and other short fiction venues, like Blood Muse, Live Without a Net, Zombiesque and Sex Macabre. Stone's comic book debut was in the Clive Barker series of books, Hellraiser, published by Marvel/Epic and reprinted in The Best of Hellraiser anthology. He has also published stories in Penthouse Comix, and worked with artist Dave Dorman on many projects, including the illustrated novella “Roadkill,” a short story for the Andrew Vachss anthology Underground from Dark Horse, an ashcan titled "December" for Hero Illustrated, and several of Dorman's Wasted Lands novellas and comics, such as Rail from Image and “The Uninvited.” Stone's novel, Dead Heat, won the 1996 International Horror Guild's award for best first novel and was a runner-up for the Bram Stoker Award. Stone has also been a finalist for the IHG award for short fiction, the British Fantasy Award for best novella, and a semifinalist for the Nebula and Writers of the Future awards. His stories have appeared in anthologies that have won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of his works were optioned for film, the novella “Black Tide” and short story “Crisis Line.”
Stone recently retired after a 41-year career in journalism. He won numerous awards for his work, and in 1986 was named Florida's best columnist in his circulation division by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. In 2001 he received an honorable mention from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his essay “When Freedom of Speech Ends” and in 2003 he was voted Best of the Best in the category of columnists by Emerald Coast Magazine. He participated in book signings and awareness campaigns, and was a guest on local television and radio programs.
As an addendum, Stone is single, kills tomatoes and morning glories with ruthless efficiency, once tied the stem of a cocktail cherry in a knot with his tongue, and carries a permanent scar on his chest after having been shot with a paintball gun. He’s in his 60s as of this writing but doesn't look a day over 94.
Former president Donald Trump was recently interviewed by The Bulletin, a monthly publication of the American Association of Retired Persons. In that interview he was asked questions about the economy – how he would bring down the high cost of… READ MORE