{"id":914,"date":"2025-02-24T20:33:22","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T20:33:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelingboy.com\/adventure\/?p=914"},"modified":"2025-02-24T20:36:54","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T20:36:54","slug":"used-to-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelingboy.com\/adventure\/used-to-be\/","title":{"rendered":"Used To Be"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Raoul’s Two Cents: February 21, 2025<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

How Deep Is Deep?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

WARNING: Political topic. Move on to the jokes below if you’re not into this.<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s fascinating to watch the Trump administration clean the \u201cswamp\u201d (My definition of swamp — The sea of corruption where the seemingly untouchable and unreachable political monsters lurk at the bottom). Guilty politicians and shady government employees are understandably up in arms because their illegal activities are being exposed. Surprisingly, not one of the protestors are questioning the veracity of the corruption claims and neither are they happy to save trillions of dollars of our tax money. They are hoping their loud voices will muffle their crimes to America. And equally fascinating are the die-hards who are more loyal to their party than to their country. It’s easy for them to point out the problems and offer no solutions — no sense trying to reason with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So my question is how deep should DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) go? Should they stop at kickbacks of one million dollars? Five hundred dollars? A dollar? And what about those who blindly followed orders \u2026 orders they knew were questionable?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to be self-righteous when the big fish are targeted but what about the little goldfish? I know some people who work for these institutions and I can’t help but be concerned about their livelihood. How are they going to survive? I guess they deserve it, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aren\u2019t we all guilty in some way or another? Haven’t we all tried to circumvent the system by paying as little taxes as possible? I know we\u2019ve justified our actions knowing that our tax dollars were being wasted anyway — but It was still wrong, wasn’t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where do we draw the line for compassion to step in? How will the economy function if tens of millions are out of a job? What if DOGE goes after you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, I don’t have an answer for this one. I just thought I’d ask. What do you think? Below are some quotes that may help you wrestle with an answer to this quandry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TGIF people!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven time.’ <\/em>— Matthew 18: 21-22<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”<\/em> — Bruce Lee<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn’t work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.” <\/em>— Emo Philips<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” <\/em>— 2 Corinthians 5:10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“For me, forgiveness and compassion are always linked: how do we hold people accountable for wrongdoing and yet at the same time remain in touch with their humanity enough to believe in their capacity to be transformed?”<\/em> — Bell Hooks<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JOKE OF THE WEEK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Original art by Raoul Pascual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parting Shots<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Colleen of Washington State<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Joanne of Hacienda Heights, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Drew of Anaheim, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Larry of La Habra, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I found these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SUBSCRIBE<\/a><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

So my question is how deep should DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) go? Should they stop at kickbacks of one million dollars? Five hundred dollars? A dollar? 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