What is an Autocrat? Frank Austad Webster's dictionary defines an Autocrat as an “…absolute ruler, especially a monarch who holds and exercises the powers of government as by inherent right, not subject to restrictions.” You may find this last phrase troubling when viewed in the light of our former president and current political opponent to Kamala Harris. The term can be ascribed to Donald Trump, who likes to describe people who oppose him politically as “… the enemy within …” vowing to arrest and jail those who disagreed with him, to the extent of sending the U.S. military or the National Guard to disperse crowds of protesters. Donald Trump has often been labeled a potential autocrat due to several behaviors and actions that raise concerns about his commitment to democratic principles. These are some of the key factors that contribute to this perception: 1. Disregard for the Rule of Law Longtime Republican Politician and recent Harris–Walz supporter, Liz Cheney said

 Here we go. I do this kind of thing every time we have an election, even a midterm. The initial purpose of this project was to encourage people to simply get out and vote preferably before election day. For this particular article, I am including another phrase, suggesting who I would like America to vote for.in the highest office of the country. That said, here is the latest edition. English: Please register to vote and vote for Kamala Harris Japanese - 日本語 有権者登録をしてカマラ・ハリスに投票してください Spanish – Español Regístrese para votar y vote por Kamala Harris Portuguese – português Por favor, registre-se para votar e votar em Kamala Harris Russian - Русский Пожалуйста, зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы проголосовать и проголосовать за Камалу Харрис. Chinese 中国人 请登记投票并投票给卡马拉 · 哈里斯 Ukrainian – українська Будь ласка, зареєструйтеся для голосування та проголосуйте за Камалу Гарріс German – Deutsch Bitte registrieren Sie sich, um für Kamala Harris zu stimmen und zu stimmen Polish – Polski Zarejestruj się, aby g

  Much Ado About Mental Health A Conversation with an AI Program Frank Austad And Chat GPT Being aware of the dangers of online privacy, I find myself very carefully wading into the waters of self incrimination. Having mental health issues and admitting to them on a blog or online forum can be dicey business.  However as I am able to deal with this topic responsibly and the issues that I experience may be commonplace for others in my position, others may find the topic important to them.  First a few things: I am regulated on  a few important meds, but I lost my provider when she retired from the field and I changed my health insurance carrier a number of times.  That being said, what follows is a conversation with OpenAI's Chat GPT program: Prompt: I have not been able to see a behavior health specialist in a long time. Convince me to keep looking for a good head shrinker. I am a 65-year-old diabetic man on Medicare suffering from depression and ADHD. Can you tell me somet

 First, some background. The text below is from a recent post on the Frank - No Mustard YouTube channel (Hi!)! Hey, you. Yes, you! Right now, you have the power to shape the future of this country. In a few weeks, millions of us will be heading to the polls for one of the most important elections in our lifetime. And your voice? It can change everything. We’re living in a time when decisions made at the ballot box will directly affect us for years to come. The stakes? Higher than ever. Topic 1: Women’s Rights and Reproductive Healthcare First, let’s talk about women's rights. Access to reproductive healthcare is on the line. In many states, decisions about what women can or can’t do with their own bodies are being decided by lawmakers—people who may not understand or care about the realities women face. This election will determine whether we protect those rights or allow them to be stripped away. It’s about the right to choose. It’s about privacy. And it's about dign

  Here is something that may or may not factor in when predicting the outcome of the coming Presidential election that people seem to talk about coming into the ballot. It is what is termed an “October Surprise”. The term "October Surprise" refers to a political event or revelation that occurs in the final weeks of a U.S. presidential election, often designed to sway voters and impact the outcome. It is typically released in October, just before the November election, making it difficult for the opposing candidate to respond effectively. The most famous example occurred in 1972, when President Nixon's Secretary of State announced that peace was near in Vietnam, boosting Nixon's re-election bid. Other notable instances include the 2016 revelation of FBI Director James Comey's investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails and the 1980 speculation of secret negotiations to delay the release of American hostages in Iran. October surprises are often viewed as strat

  If you believe the polls, the Harris/Walz ticket is poised to take the White House this November 5. Here’s the thing: even that victory won’t be enough to make the changes this country desperately needs to have made. The United States is not a monarchy. We elect presidents, not kings or dictators.   Can a Harris presidency bring about real change with Congress in its current state? Maybe—but sweeping reforms won’t happen unless members of a cooperative Congress reach a majority of both the House and the Senate to weigh in on how the president runs the country. The point I’m trying to make is simple: Your vote for your Senate or House of Representatives seat is just as crucial as your vote for president.   Wondering what’s at stake? Let’s talk about judges.   According to uscourts.gov, “Article III of the Constitution governs the appointment, tenure, and payment of Supreme Court justices and federal circuit and district judges.” These “Article III judges” are nominated by th