James Mahlon White
Well, The Donald is planning to “Shake things up” on the White House grounds. He’s installing twin flagpoles, one on each side of the house. The one flying from the roof isn’t cutting the mustard. He’s also re-doing Mrs. Kennedy’s rose garden. President Trump says he’ll pay for this out of his own pocket. Hey, why not have Mexico pay for it? Now that an idea! Here’s a better one. How about focusing on the price of groceries, no tax on tips, no tax on social security benefits, healthcare and ending the war in Ukraine. Bet landscaping issues at the White House aren’t what most of us want covered right now. Better leave it there, before Mike Murray gets too excited over these comments, but that’s how I see it.
*****
LONE STAR NEWS! There’s a big debacle down in Texas over the state lottery and the director just resigned amid multiple investigations into prior jackpots. They total $200 million. Seems courier companies were used to pick up tickets at stores around the state, using every possible number combination. Texas State Law says that lottery tickets must be purchased in person. I’ve always been suspicious of state lotteries and lotteries in general. Isn’t it odd that the Powerball Jackpot is always won by someone in California? Gambling run by anyone is going to be easily corrupted. Does anyone know how much they take in? Lotteries exist because they’re the easiest way for our government to get revenue instead of taxing us all 100%. It’s also the easiest way to get money from the poor. That’s wrong. Wasn’t our lottery here in Missouri supposed to improve education? How has that worked out? Where have all of those millions gone? Put Elon to work on this!
*****
This is the time of year when I’m reminded of Kitty Bunch. When Aunt Jane was a little girl and lived in the house attached to the old Enterprise Building, Kitty was a cook at the hotel across the street. Kitty would sing loudly as she cleaned fish on the hotel’s back porch and then stroll down to the wharf land with a bucket and big butcher knife to get greens for cooking. The wharf land is the land along the river below Warsaw. It was owned by the U.S. government and where steamboats tied up. In those days, wild purple violets dotted the terrain. The violets and the old wharf are long gone. Most everyone who was present during this time have gone somewhere too.
*****
Here we are in a brand new month. My Grandmother White used to call it, “The merry month of May.” Listen Old Buddy, may it be the best month you’ve had in 2025
*****
'Til Next Week:
J.M.W.
