We have a President who is so afraid of vetted Muslim immigrants who are fleeing tyranny that he can see no recourse but to ban all of them. Never mind that incidents of terror by any of the immigrants who came here are very rare and the one that he cited was over 15 years ago and as horrific as it was predated current security measures.
So in addition to being a coward he has to lie and of course lying is second nature to him. Reading his executive order he doesn't cite any specific examples except the old one and refers to fictional terror attacks.
Now, it is certainly possible that an immigrant or refugee could end up committing a crime or an act of terror, but statistics and common sense show that they do not increase the likelihood of such acts by coming here.
It is our own citizens who are more likely to commit these acts. In fact the real danger is the radicalization of young impressionable minds that feel there heritage is being denigrated, which this feeds into.
So being so cowardly and creating hostility is much more likely to result in terrorism than being welcoming but careful.
The lying was bad enough and it is obviously not going to stop.
The cowardice goes back to his draft dodging days, and like many such cowards he talks like a bully but has no history of anything but being a coward protected by bodyguards.
He now exhibits both traits to the entire world.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Monday, January 30, 2017
Knowing Evil
Looking back at history certain figures as so obviously evil, such as Hitler that you wonder, how did he achieve power and keep it?
People generally don't support evil, they may be forced to accept it, but they don't normally promote it.
Generally even evil people might no be aware of how evil they are. Most people are of course the centers of their own universe. Ultimately what they think and believe drives how they perceive everything, including good and evil.
Most of us become at least intellectually aware that other people have as many rights as we do. A few however consider everyone else simply a tool or an obstacle that is to be handled in some way.
It is this group that has the potential to be evil, and I don't mean doing one evil thing but to act in a way that is clearly evil.
Even when they claim be part of a group, the group is simply a tool to help propel them to power. They don't really care about its members.
Hitler is of course a great example of true evil. There were original members of what became the NAZI party that promoted ideas that were actually worker friendly, and some of these policies continued. However, Hitler took over the party and used it for his own benefit and was willing to sacrifice some of his earliest supporters to seize power.
He also was willing to sacrifice millions and millions of German people right to the end considering their lives irrelevant in regards to his own.
Yet until the very end he had loyal followers who believed that he represented something good or at least destiny and that history would somehow reach out and save him.
He didn't and it didn't and the suffering, misery and consequences of his actions shaped much of the next 50 years.
However, as time has passed we start to see a rise of those same nationalistic views that propelled him to power, as groups who feel themselves disenfranchised or threatened decide that they need to recapture an imaginary golden period.
While the person promising to do this is using almost the same exact tactics that were used by the NAZIs, we have many people doing exactly what the German people did, excusing the extreme views because they like some of his other ideas and thinking that those extreme views are so bad that he can't really believe them.
Well he can and he does and the rise of evil is evident.
His willingness to insult and hurt harmless people is evil.
His deception of his followers making promises he can't keep is evil.
His willingness to take away health care from millions is evil.
His desire to steal another nations oil is evil.
His mockery of the disabled is evil.
His total disregard for human dignity is evil.
The list goes on, and to call these policy differences is simply wrong.
Ignoring evil is never the right thing to do. While I don't agree with the anti-abortioners on when human life begins, I respect that they believe they are standing up against and evil. So must we all.
People generally don't support evil, they may be forced to accept it, but they don't normally promote it.
Generally even evil people might no be aware of how evil they are. Most people are of course the centers of their own universe. Ultimately what they think and believe drives how they perceive everything, including good and evil.
Most of us become at least intellectually aware that other people have as many rights as we do. A few however consider everyone else simply a tool or an obstacle that is to be handled in some way.
It is this group that has the potential to be evil, and I don't mean doing one evil thing but to act in a way that is clearly evil.
Even when they claim be part of a group, the group is simply a tool to help propel them to power. They don't really care about its members.
Hitler is of course a great example of true evil. There were original members of what became the NAZI party that promoted ideas that were actually worker friendly, and some of these policies continued. However, Hitler took over the party and used it for his own benefit and was willing to sacrifice some of his earliest supporters to seize power.
He also was willing to sacrifice millions and millions of German people right to the end considering their lives irrelevant in regards to his own.
Yet until the very end he had loyal followers who believed that he represented something good or at least destiny and that history would somehow reach out and save him.
He didn't and it didn't and the suffering, misery and consequences of his actions shaped much of the next 50 years.
However, as time has passed we start to see a rise of those same nationalistic views that propelled him to power, as groups who feel themselves disenfranchised or threatened decide that they need to recapture an imaginary golden period.
While the person promising to do this is using almost the same exact tactics that were used by the NAZIs, we have many people doing exactly what the German people did, excusing the extreme views because they like some of his other ideas and thinking that those extreme views are so bad that he can't really believe them.
Well he can and he does and the rise of evil is evident.
His willingness to insult and hurt harmless people is evil.
His deception of his followers making promises he can't keep is evil.
His willingness to take away health care from millions is evil.
His desire to steal another nations oil is evil.
His mockery of the disabled is evil.
His total disregard for human dignity is evil.
The list goes on, and to call these policy differences is simply wrong.
Ignoring evil is never the right thing to do. While I don't agree with the anti-abortioners on when human life begins, I respect that they believe they are standing up against and evil. So must we all.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Nationalism
Nationalism serves the interests of the rich and powerful, not the people. There is no real difference between a person based on the location of their birth, the differences relate to wealth and power.
Human history is really rather brief. It wasn't all that long ago that the very idea of a nation simply didn't exist. Going back to pre-history is of course fairly speculative, but we have examples from the historic period that confirm that we originally coalesced our groups by clans or extended families.
This is fairly obvious since the essential thing almost all humans share is being part of a family. In fact in those times, not having a family to protect you most likely meant you died or ended up as a slave.
Of course over time the need to survive led to clans becoming tribes large enough to provide defense or in some cases expansion for their members.
Now tribes require leadership and a certain amount of loyalty. It was loyalty that required you to consider people not directly related to you in a manner similar to the way you viewed your kin. Of course one element that made that somewhat easier to do was that tribes tended to be self contained, where over time many members had connections through blood or marriage to most of the other members.
Now nationalism is generally viewed as an outgrowth of tribalism where the tribe becomes expanded and the loyalty for the tribe gets transferred.
Nationalism because of its scope encompasses quite disparate groups, all of whom end up being loyal to some central idea. At one time this was embodied in a king or prince who became the embodiment of the state. However, whatever the symbol it represents something greater. In fact its the very essence of this relationship that we acknowledge a greater good.
Now every member may have their own view of what the greater good is. Its the loyalty that matters not the object to which the loyalty is given. In fact nationalism prefers blind loyalty, my country right or wrong is preferred.
Maintaining such loyalty requires constant effort to convince the citizens that they are better off in this particular country. In many cases the lives of a citizen in country x and country z are indistinguishable, but they are frequently told how much better off they are to be where they are.
It is also important to define a common enemy against whom the tyrant can offer protection.
It is this us vs them that allows soldiers to sacrifice themselves for essentially strangers. They serve the greater good, or at least they are convinced they do.
The horrible wars of the last century were in general caused by extreme nationalism and millions upon millions sacrificed their lives. The actual differences between most of the countries at war were minor in that they shared common histories and religions as well as traditions. Yet they vilified each other.
We are seeing a rise of extreme nationalism as some people feel that they are losing their national identity and view that as a negative thing.
It isn't, the ideal state of the world would be where we treat each other as brothers and sisters working for the common good.
The idea that we are playing a zero sum game is what allows them to continue this illusion, "they" are after what you have. Yes, assuming you have more than them, they might want to have the same, but they want their own, not yours.
We ultimately need to be loyal to humanity and the earth as a whole, it is really a spaceship and we are all in it together.
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Our Legacy
America was founded by people escaping oppression or seeking opportunity. Some were escaping religious oppression, some political and some the oppression of poverty. Of course some were brought here against their will and were oppressed by those wanting to be free, but that's a different story.
From our earliest days when we considered the country wide open and we accepted if not actually welcomed immigrants.
As immigrants changed from Western European to Southern and Eastern European and Asian the earlier "true" American felt the country was be degraded.
If fact the Irish weren't exactly welcomed during the famine.
Yet immigrants and refugees kept coming and it was so much a part of our history that we have a statue commemorating it.
Recently we see a backlash against certain immigrant groups, our Mexican friends to the south and our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Now we have always had a certain issue with our Latino neighbors, (see Westside Story) and its based on a sense that we are somehow better than them.
Our issues with our Muslim brothers are a bit more entrenched. While much of their religion is similar to Christianity it isn't viewed that way.
Also due to political developments dating back centuries, we find ourselves in conflict as we defend the rights of Israel against its Arab neighbors. I should note that Judaism and Islam bear similar relationships to Christianity in that we all effectively worship the same single god.
There are other political issues related to oil, and oppression as well as a belief that Western Culture is corrupt by some, so the complexities go on and there are revolutionary and terrorist groups active in many of those countries.
The majority of the people simply try to live their lives and many have fled to escape the violence.
These refugees are looking for a better life and while of course they consist of all sorts of people, they are mostly people in trouble looking for some place to be safe.
There is no real evidence that the refugees have a link to terrorism. Turning our backs on people n need is a mean spirited in-American and in-Christian thing to do.
Sadly that's what we are doing.
From our earliest days when we considered the country wide open and we accepted if not actually welcomed immigrants.
As immigrants changed from Western European to Southern and Eastern European and Asian the earlier "true" American felt the country was be degraded.
If fact the Irish weren't exactly welcomed during the famine.
Yet immigrants and refugees kept coming and it was so much a part of our history that we have a statue commemorating it.
Recently we see a backlash against certain immigrant groups, our Mexican friends to the south and our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Now we have always had a certain issue with our Latino neighbors, (see Westside Story) and its based on a sense that we are somehow better than them.
Our issues with our Muslim brothers are a bit more entrenched. While much of their religion is similar to Christianity it isn't viewed that way.
Also due to political developments dating back centuries, we find ourselves in conflict as we defend the rights of Israel against its Arab neighbors. I should note that Judaism and Islam bear similar relationships to Christianity in that we all effectively worship the same single god.
There are other political issues related to oil, and oppression as well as a belief that Western Culture is corrupt by some, so the complexities go on and there are revolutionary and terrorist groups active in many of those countries.
The majority of the people simply try to live their lives and many have fled to escape the violence.
These refugees are looking for a better life and while of course they consist of all sorts of people, they are mostly people in trouble looking for some place to be safe.
There is no real evidence that the refugees have a link to terrorism. Turning our backs on people n need is a mean spirited in-American and in-Christian thing to do.
Sadly that's what we are doing.
Friday, January 27, 2017
Who Gets Burned?
One of the problems with making promises without thinking them out is that when you have to keep them there is a real world to deal with.
Build a wall to keep out illegal immigrants had a nice ring to it. Making Mexico pay for it also sounds good. However what about when Mexico won't pay for it?
Well let's float a bunch of ideas and see if any actually work.
Of course, there is the problem that such a wall has to trample on certain property rights and wouldn't even work according to pretty much everybody who knows anything.
The only way it would work would be to have enough border patrol people around to monitor the entire border 24 - 7 and if you have them, why a wall?
Trump is taking an approach that has never worked since of course the people he's trying to keep out actually are pretty intelligent being people.
It not like they're going to see a wall and say "Well never mind, let's just go home."
They will go under, over or around it.
People are pretty smart and these types of things have a history of failure.
Now if of course you are trying to keep out the White Walkers on Game of Thrones, it might have a shot since that's an army, but I think when he watches the next season he might find out the wall didn't really work.
I don't know if that was his inspiration for the wall, I suspect he is so influenced by media that it might be but building an paying for that wall is silly and costly.
Mexico isn't going to pay so he thinks I'll tax their imports, but of course we pay the increased cost of that.
Of course he will think of something great, he always says he will, of course there isn't much evidence of that considering his multiple bankruptcies and other business ventures.
Of course he's so successful he can't share his tax returns which for someone as boastful as him seems really odd.
The answer of course to my question is we all get burned since f we build it we will have an ugly monument to human idiocy that we will have paid for.
Cheers!
Build a wall to keep out illegal immigrants had a nice ring to it. Making Mexico pay for it also sounds good. However what about when Mexico won't pay for it?
Well let's float a bunch of ideas and see if any actually work.
Of course, there is the problem that such a wall has to trample on certain property rights and wouldn't even work according to pretty much everybody who knows anything.
The only way it would work would be to have enough border patrol people around to monitor the entire border 24 - 7 and if you have them, why a wall?
Trump is taking an approach that has never worked since of course the people he's trying to keep out actually are pretty intelligent being people.
It not like they're going to see a wall and say "Well never mind, let's just go home."
They will go under, over or around it.
People are pretty smart and these types of things have a history of failure.
Now if of course you are trying to keep out the White Walkers on Game of Thrones, it might have a shot since that's an army, but I think when he watches the next season he might find out the wall didn't really work.
I don't know if that was his inspiration for the wall, I suspect he is so influenced by media that it might be but building an paying for that wall is silly and costly.
Mexico isn't going to pay so he thinks I'll tax their imports, but of course we pay the increased cost of that.
Of course he will think of something great, he always says he will, of course there isn't much evidence of that considering his multiple bankruptcies and other business ventures.
Of course he's so successful he can't share his tax returns which for someone as boastful as him seems really odd.
The answer of course to my question is we all get burned since f we build it we will have an ugly monument to human idiocy that we will have paid for.
Cheers!
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Buyers Remorse
Think we've all had it, buyer's remorse, where a product that we had high hopes for didn't quite perform to the degree expected.
Of course much of the time you can return the item but sometimes you can't and you are just stuck with it.
I think some people who voted for the current president might have some buyer's remorse right now.
Certainly not all of them and some are quite happy with what he's doing since they want the government shaken up and he seems to be shaking it.
Now there is a side of the president that might actually be good for business, at least in the short term, as regulations designed to protect us are removed allowing them to operate with less cost.
That might result is higher stock prices for a while and higher salaries for executives and even possibly a few jobs.
Its not going to bring back the factories of the past, they are obsolete and costly so most of the people who hoped those jobs were coming back will be disappointed.
Of course low paying jobs done by immigrants may be plentiful soon, but we already have enough low paying jobs.
Its some of the other things that is causing the remorse among at least some.
The health care issue is starting to hit home and as much as Obama care was hated, the Affordable Care Act wasn't, and people are finding out they are the same thing.
The clownish behavior and alternative facts promulgated by the administration is giving some pause.
He is going to trample over property rights to build a pipeline and to build a wall that might be problematic for some.
Bringing back torture isn't really an American value.
His own staff are using private e-mail servers.
Many women may be hurt by an attack on planned parenthood which never used federal funds for abortions.
And the list goes on.
Now, businessmen will prosper for at least a while and everyone else will probably be a bit worse off.
Especially if you like clean air and water and respect individual rights.
Of course much of the time you can return the item but sometimes you can't and you are just stuck with it.
I think some people who voted for the current president might have some buyer's remorse right now.
Certainly not all of them and some are quite happy with what he's doing since they want the government shaken up and he seems to be shaking it.
Now there is a side of the president that might actually be good for business, at least in the short term, as regulations designed to protect us are removed allowing them to operate with less cost.
That might result is higher stock prices for a while and higher salaries for executives and even possibly a few jobs.
Its not going to bring back the factories of the past, they are obsolete and costly so most of the people who hoped those jobs were coming back will be disappointed.
Of course low paying jobs done by immigrants may be plentiful soon, but we already have enough low paying jobs.
Its some of the other things that is causing the remorse among at least some.
The health care issue is starting to hit home and as much as Obama care was hated, the Affordable Care Act wasn't, and people are finding out they are the same thing.
The clownish behavior and alternative facts promulgated by the administration is giving some pause.
He is going to trample over property rights to build a pipeline and to build a wall that might be problematic for some.
Bringing back torture isn't really an American value.
His own staff are using private e-mail servers.
Many women may be hurt by an attack on planned parenthood which never used federal funds for abortions.
And the list goes on.
Now, businessmen will prosper for at least a while and everyone else will probably be a bit worse off.
Especially if you like clean air and water and respect individual rights.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Voter Fraud, a Distraction
There is no significant voter fraud.
By that I mean people who actually show up and vote using false credentials.
What does exist and what our not so bright president refers to is erroneous registrations.
When you register to vote, it stays until someone changes it.
So take people on the registration roles who die.
They didn't register when they were dead, but they stay registered.
However they don't vote, they are dead.
Take people who move to a new state and register to vote.
They may very well stay registered in their old state but most likely don't travel back and forth to vote in both places, just don't deregister.
People like to point to incorrect registrations as an example of voter fraud.
It isn't, its incorrect registrations.
Voter fraud requires people to actually try to vote.
Every study shows that it really isn't a significant problem if it is even a problem at all.
However is a continuing disinformation/propaganda campaign, its become a news item that will convince a certain number of people that it is a real problem.
It just isn't.
By that I mean people who actually show up and vote using false credentials.
What does exist and what our not so bright president refers to is erroneous registrations.
When you register to vote, it stays until someone changes it.
So take people on the registration roles who die.
They didn't register when they were dead, but they stay registered.
However they don't vote, they are dead.
Take people who move to a new state and register to vote.
They may very well stay registered in their old state but most likely don't travel back and forth to vote in both places, just don't deregister.
People like to point to incorrect registrations as an example of voter fraud.
It isn't, its incorrect registrations.
Voter fraud requires people to actually try to vote.
Every study shows that it really isn't a significant problem if it is even a problem at all.
However is a continuing disinformation/propaganda campaign, its become a news item that will convince a certain number of people that it is a real problem.
It just isn't.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Trade Deals
Trade deals are designed to increase trade. Increased trade generally has overall economic benefits although it also has winners and losers.
The general economic theory is that everyone benefits as the most economical methods of production are utilized.
So if you have a climate that isn't good for raising wheat but is good for mining certain minerals effectively allowing a cheap wheat producing country to send you wheat in exchange for those minerals is beneficial. Of course your wheat farmers get hurt as do the other countries miners, but, the rest of the population enjoys cheaper prices.
The United States had a situation where unskilled labor was more expensive than it was elsewhere in the world so we saw certain groups hurt by trade deals. However, they and everyone else benefited by cheaper imported goods and those with the right skills benefited from our increased sales overseas.
There are many charts showing that while labor intensive manufacturing went away the total dollar value of manufactured goods did not decline.
Our more modern and more complex technological manufacturing has done quite well under those trade deals.
So could trade deals be better? I guess the answer is always yes since nothing is perfect, but a deal that benefits the US at the cost of others is unlikely.
We should of course negotiate well but we do want our economy to grow and continue to export to the world economy.
This leads to more jobs and better jobs in the long run and cheaper products for all.
This is basic economics but our citizens have to be prepared for the jobs of the future, not married to the jobs of the past.
Our withdrawal from TPP is likely to benefit China. Economics is not political, it churns away regardless.
The general economic theory is that everyone benefits as the most economical methods of production are utilized.
So if you have a climate that isn't good for raising wheat but is good for mining certain minerals effectively allowing a cheap wheat producing country to send you wheat in exchange for those minerals is beneficial. Of course your wheat farmers get hurt as do the other countries miners, but, the rest of the population enjoys cheaper prices.
The United States had a situation where unskilled labor was more expensive than it was elsewhere in the world so we saw certain groups hurt by trade deals. However, they and everyone else benefited by cheaper imported goods and those with the right skills benefited from our increased sales overseas.
There are many charts showing that while labor intensive manufacturing went away the total dollar value of manufactured goods did not decline.
Our more modern and more complex technological manufacturing has done quite well under those trade deals.
So could trade deals be better? I guess the answer is always yes since nothing is perfect, but a deal that benefits the US at the cost of others is unlikely.
We should of course negotiate well but we do want our economy to grow and continue to export to the world economy.
This leads to more jobs and better jobs in the long run and cheaper products for all.
This is basic economics but our citizens have to be prepared for the jobs of the future, not married to the jobs of the past.
Our withdrawal from TPP is likely to benefit China. Economics is not political, it churns away regardless.
Monday, January 23, 2017
Alternative Facts?
We now have a new term for lies, but I guess it isn't surprising since the whole campaign was based on it.
Its not the first time that we were told black is white or up is down. We just seem to believe it more.
The crowd size at the inauguration is a trivial matter but of course the despot has to be the best and biggest.
We see the same behavior in countries like North Korea and of course I read today that he will hand pick what press has access to his press conferences.
I would think the entire press should refuse to attend under such circumstances but well see if they have the courage of their convictions or not.
Trying to control the press is something all tyrants attempt.
Its interesting that he is so blatant about it, thinking he got elected with some sort of mandate because a few people in some rust belt states believed his lies.
The press let him get away with a lot of this by allowing the right, the Russians and the fake news organizations with some FBI assistance to force alternative facts to be promulgated about Hillary Clinton.
The things the press harped about were in fact nothing at all, emails, charitable foundations, and Benghazi. It was not fake news but the facts were pretty clear and the alternative reality presented by the press was ridiculous.
Of course they are now going to have to live with those transgressions. They treated these alternative facts as valid so they will get more and more of them.
When they reported alternative facts without pointing that out they were lies they gave them validity.
The press has demonstrated its lack of backbone and its lack of ethics.
They fall for staged media events and ignore the very real scandals in front of them.
They are easily manipulated, look how much attention they gave to the women Trump paraded from Bill Clinton's past, who certainly had nothing to do with Hillary's campaign and allowed the sexist statements by Trump to be well trumped.
Of course its a free press, who would pay for this crap?
Its not the first time that we were told black is white or up is down. We just seem to believe it more.
The crowd size at the inauguration is a trivial matter but of course the despot has to be the best and biggest.
We see the same behavior in countries like North Korea and of course I read today that he will hand pick what press has access to his press conferences.
I would think the entire press should refuse to attend under such circumstances but well see if they have the courage of their convictions or not.
Trying to control the press is something all tyrants attempt.
Its interesting that he is so blatant about it, thinking he got elected with some sort of mandate because a few people in some rust belt states believed his lies.
The press let him get away with a lot of this by allowing the right, the Russians and the fake news organizations with some FBI assistance to force alternative facts to be promulgated about Hillary Clinton.
The things the press harped about were in fact nothing at all, emails, charitable foundations, and Benghazi. It was not fake news but the facts were pretty clear and the alternative reality presented by the press was ridiculous.
Of course they are now going to have to live with those transgressions. They treated these alternative facts as valid so they will get more and more of them.
When they reported alternative facts without pointing that out they were lies they gave them validity.
The press has demonstrated its lack of backbone and its lack of ethics.
They fall for staged media events and ignore the very real scandals in front of them.
They are easily manipulated, look how much attention they gave to the women Trump paraded from Bill Clinton's past, who certainly had nothing to do with Hillary's campaign and allowed the sexist statements by Trump to be well trumped.
Of course its a free press, who would pay for this crap?
Sunday, January 22, 2017
What next?
The Marches were impressive but a one day demonstration doesn't solve much.
It may have at least sent a message, but in all honesty, he sees what he wants to see so small protests and gigantic crowds at his inauguration, distorted by the media.
We really are living in the world of the 30s where propaganda was king and lies were simply repeated over and over again. It is apparently persuasive to some.
There has to be a concerted effort at the grassroots level to undo the damage done by gerrymandering and to get rid of the electoral college. Of course, we have a lot of people believing the lies that the country is in trouble and "American" values have been lost.
Of course, if by American values we mean being a melting pot accepting all the people of the world, despite religion, politics or color, it is being threatened by the new administration.
That's not the values they are talking about, they want the Eisenhower years back, with a Chevrolet in every driveway and mothers staying at home raising the kids.
Its a vision of a mostly white America, full of church going Christians who reject perversion.
Keep all the hypocrisy and cheating out of sight and just well, leave it to Beaver.
Not a vision of the future, and not really a legitimate memory, it leaves out the cold war, poverty, Korea, Vietnam, drugs and racism among other things.
The hypocrisy though is alive. We have millions of people complaining about the Government helping the poor while they want the Government to create jobs for them. Those people who reject big government only want it big enough to give them what they want.
I see the main liar and his followers post what a resounding victory they had when most Americans voted for someone else. Guess math class wasn't a popular one.
The real work is just beginning and it isn't going to be easy.
The good news is that we have two days gone!
It may have at least sent a message, but in all honesty, he sees what he wants to see so small protests and gigantic crowds at his inauguration, distorted by the media.
We really are living in the world of the 30s where propaganda was king and lies were simply repeated over and over again. It is apparently persuasive to some.
There has to be a concerted effort at the grassroots level to undo the damage done by gerrymandering and to get rid of the electoral college. Of course, we have a lot of people believing the lies that the country is in trouble and "American" values have been lost.
Of course, if by American values we mean being a melting pot accepting all the people of the world, despite religion, politics or color, it is being threatened by the new administration.
That's not the values they are talking about, they want the Eisenhower years back, with a Chevrolet in every driveway and mothers staying at home raising the kids.
Its a vision of a mostly white America, full of church going Christians who reject perversion.
Keep all the hypocrisy and cheating out of sight and just well, leave it to Beaver.
Not a vision of the future, and not really a legitimate memory, it leaves out the cold war, poverty, Korea, Vietnam, drugs and racism among other things.
The hypocrisy though is alive. We have millions of people complaining about the Government helping the poor while they want the Government to create jobs for them. Those people who reject big government only want it big enough to give them what they want.
I see the main liar and his followers post what a resounding victory they had when most Americans voted for someone else. Guess math class wasn't a popular one.
The real work is just beginning and it isn't going to be easy.
The good news is that we have two days gone!
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Opposition
We have a draft dodger in the white house who claims he wants to build up the military as long as its other people's sons dying.
He wants to reduce taxes for his rich friends and a little bit for the suckers.
He is going to take away millions of people's health care and let them fend for themselves in high risk pools.
He is going to take away a woman's right to choose about what happens with her body and her future.
He is going to regress on the rights of millions of LGBT people.
He's already provided certain people a sense that they can harass others who look a bit different then they do.
He is going to break up hard working immigrant families who contribute to the growth of this country because of how they got here.
He is turning his back on some of our strongest alliances and our commitments to peace in the world.
He is trying to impede our efforts to slow down and halt climate change.
He is going to remove regulations designed to clean up our air and water inevitably leading to pain and misery for people subject to pollution.
He is going to cut funding to the arts.
He is going to reverse the effort to get a set of standards in education that assure all Americans have basic skills when they graduate.
He is going to reduce Social Security and Medicare benefits.
And so much more.
The man himself is despicable and has lived a life of privilege and debauchery and he is an unrepentant liar, despite clear evidence that proves him so.
For those of you who think this is OK because the liar said he was bringing jobs back, well good luck to you with that. The robots aren't going away any time soon.
However opposing these policies and this man is the most American thing I can do.
I want to make America greater than it ever was, not return to bigotry, racism, sexism and isolationism.
We need to protect the earth for our descendants.
He wants to reduce taxes for his rich friends and a little bit for the suckers.
He is going to take away millions of people's health care and let them fend for themselves in high risk pools.
He is going to take away a woman's right to choose about what happens with her body and her future.
He is going to regress on the rights of millions of LGBT people.
He's already provided certain people a sense that they can harass others who look a bit different then they do.
He is going to break up hard working immigrant families who contribute to the growth of this country because of how they got here.
He is turning his back on some of our strongest alliances and our commitments to peace in the world.
He is trying to impede our efforts to slow down and halt climate change.
He is going to remove regulations designed to clean up our air and water inevitably leading to pain and misery for people subject to pollution.
He is going to cut funding to the arts.
He is going to reverse the effort to get a set of standards in education that assure all Americans have basic skills when they graduate.
He is going to reduce Social Security and Medicare benefits.
And so much more.
The man himself is despicable and has lived a life of privilege and debauchery and he is an unrepentant liar, despite clear evidence that proves him so.
For those of you who think this is OK because the liar said he was bringing jobs back, well good luck to you with that. The robots aren't going away any time soon.
However opposing these policies and this man is the most American thing I can do.
I want to make America greater than it ever was, not return to bigotry, racism, sexism and isolationism.
We need to protect the earth for our descendants.
Friday, January 20, 2017
American Democracy in Action
Today we will see a peaceful transition of power as we have seen after all presidential changes.
No matter the characters involved or the issues, we maintain a tradition that is one of the ways we respect the rule of law.
The incoming president is not the determiner of this, it is the underlying belief in the American system that maintains the practice.
It needs to be protected and certainly has room for improvement in things like the electoral college which to some extent perverts the people's choice.
However, those are fights that need to take place and after today we will have a new, if not better president.
Of course some people think he will be better and we will certainly find out.
The prosperity and safety of the nation is the true measure and we see the scorecards when the terms end, not when they begin.
We know that eight years ago the nation was in dire financial straights and engaged in two wars.
We know that today the economy is doing pretty well and we have less Americans at risk.
Could the economy be better? I guess it always could be.
We also will see what happens to some of our rights and liberties under the new administration and whether we take backward steps in our progress towards full equality.
I certainly hope not and will certainly oppose any such moves.
If you are a conservative Christian that's fine, but you need to accept that not everyone is.
Everyone has the right to believe what they want.
That is the American dream really.
No matter the characters involved or the issues, we maintain a tradition that is one of the ways we respect the rule of law.
The incoming president is not the determiner of this, it is the underlying belief in the American system that maintains the practice.
It needs to be protected and certainly has room for improvement in things like the electoral college which to some extent perverts the people's choice.
However, those are fights that need to take place and after today we will have a new, if not better president.
Of course some people think he will be better and we will certainly find out.
The prosperity and safety of the nation is the true measure and we see the scorecards when the terms end, not when they begin.
We know that eight years ago the nation was in dire financial straights and engaged in two wars.
We know that today the economy is doing pretty well and we have less Americans at risk.
Could the economy be better? I guess it always could be.
We also will see what happens to some of our rights and liberties under the new administration and whether we take backward steps in our progress towards full equality.
I certainly hope not and will certainly oppose any such moves.
If you are a conservative Christian that's fine, but you need to accept that not everyone is.
Everyone has the right to believe what they want.
That is the American dream really.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Days of Future Past
Eight years ago amid one of the worst financial crises in our history, with bin Laden alive, mired in two expensive wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we started the Obama era.
Today is the last day of that era and we saw the economy recover, health care expanded, American troops disengaged, the military modernized and terrorism under reasonable control in this country.
Things could have been batter and the changes that could have happened were stopped by the failure of the Democrats to publicize their successes more and allowed Republicans the opportunity to frame the debate in terms that were favorable to them.
We are now possibly going to regress and reverse some of the progress achieved.
Its most likely that the current group in congress will be just as obstinate as they have been since the American public has elected people with no experience in government and because the primary system makes people very vulnerable to a rabid minority.
The general concept of America becoming a better country for all its citizens is one that is in jeopardy as some feel that equalizing things hurts them.
It doesn't.
Freedom like love is not diminished by sharing it.
Neither is respect or equality.
Economics and progress have made some people less able to get good paying jobs, but this is America, go out and get the skills you need instead of asking the Government to roll back the clock.
The world economy is going to move forward and America has to adapt or fall behind.
Greatness is in the future, not in the past.
Today is the last day of that era and we saw the economy recover, health care expanded, American troops disengaged, the military modernized and terrorism under reasonable control in this country.
Things could have been batter and the changes that could have happened were stopped by the failure of the Democrats to publicize their successes more and allowed Republicans the opportunity to frame the debate in terms that were favorable to them.
We are now possibly going to regress and reverse some of the progress achieved.
Its most likely that the current group in congress will be just as obstinate as they have been since the American public has elected people with no experience in government and because the primary system makes people very vulnerable to a rabid minority.
The general concept of America becoming a better country for all its citizens is one that is in jeopardy as some feel that equalizing things hurts them.
It doesn't.
Freedom like love is not diminished by sharing it.
Neither is respect or equality.
Economics and progress have made some people less able to get good paying jobs, but this is America, go out and get the skills you need instead of asking the Government to roll back the clock.
The world economy is going to move forward and America has to adapt or fall behind.
Greatness is in the future, not in the past.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Fact Checking Silliness
I was just reading an article by a silly site that claims to a fact checking group about Obama.
What is silly is that they really don't seem to understand a fact from a prediction and also ignore simple things like oratorical flourishes.
When someone says in a speech that it is easier for a teenager to get a gun on the street than a book, they take it as something that can be checked and say they simply need to go to a library.
Really?
Buying a gun on the street doesn't require a library card, so right there its a bit easier.
But in all honesty, it was about the wide availability of guns, not the lack of books.
Take maybe the most harped on thing that Obama was attacked for, when he said that under the ACA you could keep your insurance if you liked it.
This of course had to be understood in the context that the ACA did not mandate anyone change coverage.
However, it did have impacts that caused insurance companies to cancel policies that didn't meet its mandates, and obviously would make that coverage unavailable, so the statement wasn't true.
However, failing to see all the impacts on the insurance marketplace is not the same as telling a lie.
It would be nice if everyone had access to every bit of future information, but we don't.
The ACA had no requirement that anyone change insurance so from that point of view the statement was accurate, but it turned out to have other ramifications.
This is different than an outright lie.
If I'm fact checking I'm going to note that distinction and not equate the two.
Failure to do that is in itself a fact ignored.
What is silly is that they really don't seem to understand a fact from a prediction and also ignore simple things like oratorical flourishes.
When someone says in a speech that it is easier for a teenager to get a gun on the street than a book, they take it as something that can be checked and say they simply need to go to a library.
Really?
Buying a gun on the street doesn't require a library card, so right there its a bit easier.
But in all honesty, it was about the wide availability of guns, not the lack of books.
Take maybe the most harped on thing that Obama was attacked for, when he said that under the ACA you could keep your insurance if you liked it.
This of course had to be understood in the context that the ACA did not mandate anyone change coverage.
However, it did have impacts that caused insurance companies to cancel policies that didn't meet its mandates, and obviously would make that coverage unavailable, so the statement wasn't true.
However, failing to see all the impacts on the insurance marketplace is not the same as telling a lie.
It would be nice if everyone had access to every bit of future information, but we don't.
The ACA had no requirement that anyone change insurance so from that point of view the statement was accurate, but it turned out to have other ramifications.
This is different than an outright lie.
If I'm fact checking I'm going to note that distinction and not equate the two.
Failure to do that is in itself a fact ignored.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Slipping into Insanity
Starting on Friday we will see some real insanity take hold.
Interestingly it is going to be pretty much a free for all as I see it.
Trump is a real republican conservative, he went that way so he could run, but he's really a populist and a con man.
He also is living in what amounts to a fantasy world in many respects where he thinks everyone will just do what he wants.
He attacked Obama Care not really knowing much about it and how the republicans hated the very idea of it, but now says a replacement plan will provide health care for all.
His view on most social issues are movable, he is from a world of entertainment where all lifestyles were accepted.
He doesn't really understand immigration or terrorism and thinks that simple solutions will fix the problems, because everyone else was so stupid they didn't try them.
He wants to spend money on infrastructure but has to deal with the deficit hawks in congress.
He naively thinks foreign governments will simply bow to his wishes, since in his world view America is completely dominant.
He thinks high tariffs on imports will magically cause businesses to spend millions of dollars build factories.
He thinks congress will do what he wants.
He thinks everything he does will be great and make everyone happy.
He is only being attacked by his enemies which of course is anyone who attacks him.
How it will all shake out is hard to determine, it will be chaotic and insane.
Lets hope its not too damaging.
Interestingly it is going to be pretty much a free for all as I see it.
Trump is a real republican conservative, he went that way so he could run, but he's really a populist and a con man.
He also is living in what amounts to a fantasy world in many respects where he thinks everyone will just do what he wants.
He attacked Obama Care not really knowing much about it and how the republicans hated the very idea of it, but now says a replacement plan will provide health care for all.
His view on most social issues are movable, he is from a world of entertainment where all lifestyles were accepted.
He doesn't really understand immigration or terrorism and thinks that simple solutions will fix the problems, because everyone else was so stupid they didn't try them.
He wants to spend money on infrastructure but has to deal with the deficit hawks in congress.
He naively thinks foreign governments will simply bow to his wishes, since in his world view America is completely dominant.
He thinks high tariffs on imports will magically cause businesses to spend millions of dollars build factories.
He thinks congress will do what he wants.
He thinks everything he does will be great and make everyone happy.
He is only being attacked by his enemies which of course is anyone who attacks him.
How it will all shake out is hard to determine, it will be chaotic and insane.
Lets hope its not too damaging.
Monday, January 16, 2017
MLK Day
In general this isn't the most celebrated holiday in this country. It doesn't have a lot of build up and there aren't a lot of sales associated with it.
In the stores, after Christmas they go right for Valentine's Day or even St Patrick's Day items.
This might be because its hard to figure out what would be an appropriate thing to sell for the day that wouldn't perpetuate a stereotype or be offensive.
Now I also think the day should be expanded to Civil Rights Day or something similar since, while MLK was a significant player in the movement he wasn't the only one.
The civil rights era wasn't that long ago and the struggle it encompassed isn't really over yet. One of the problems is that a certain number of black citizens have been trapped in a cycle of poverty and drug abuse.
Now of course there are other poor people but unfortunately black ghettos are uniquely identifiable. I like to think that progress is being made in reducing the problems but I'm not sure it is and there is a backlash concerning the programs they rely on.
Any program that can be devised to provide money or benefits is subject to a certain amount of abuse. This isn't something new and it's certainly not unique to poverty programs. However we like to highlight the abuses and condemn the entire program.
The level of oversight that would be need to eliminate abuse is simply impossibly high. In addition, for every measure the people involved find a way to counter it. However, certain politicians highlight these abuses to attack the entire programs.
We have a problem in this country related to blaming the victim. Now adult people should be held to a certain level of responsibility. However, if you are born into a cycle of poverty and drug abuse, where education is sub-par and drugs are easy to come by and the only careers seem to be selling either drugs or your body, you are more a victim than a criminal.
How do you change that? It's obviously not an easy answer and of course a certain number of young people find their way out of the cycle. However, we do live in a world where an average person born into a middle class household who maybe experiments with drugs and sex is likely to end up with a job and a future while the equivalent person born into poverty is likely to end up with an addiction and jail.
We might need to try something different, but I'm afraid that new administration is going to reverse any progress that might have been made.
In the stores, after Christmas they go right for Valentine's Day or even St Patrick's Day items.
This might be because its hard to figure out what would be an appropriate thing to sell for the day that wouldn't perpetuate a stereotype or be offensive.
Now I also think the day should be expanded to Civil Rights Day or something similar since, while MLK was a significant player in the movement he wasn't the only one.
The civil rights era wasn't that long ago and the struggle it encompassed isn't really over yet. One of the problems is that a certain number of black citizens have been trapped in a cycle of poverty and drug abuse.
Now of course there are other poor people but unfortunately black ghettos are uniquely identifiable. I like to think that progress is being made in reducing the problems but I'm not sure it is and there is a backlash concerning the programs they rely on.
Any program that can be devised to provide money or benefits is subject to a certain amount of abuse. This isn't something new and it's certainly not unique to poverty programs. However we like to highlight the abuses and condemn the entire program.
The level of oversight that would be need to eliminate abuse is simply impossibly high. In addition, for every measure the people involved find a way to counter it. However, certain politicians highlight these abuses to attack the entire programs.
We have a problem in this country related to blaming the victim. Now adult people should be held to a certain level of responsibility. However, if you are born into a cycle of poverty and drug abuse, where education is sub-par and drugs are easy to come by and the only careers seem to be selling either drugs or your body, you are more a victim than a criminal.
How do you change that? It's obviously not an easy answer and of course a certain number of young people find their way out of the cycle. However, we do live in a world where an average person born into a middle class household who maybe experiments with drugs and sex is likely to end up with a job and a future while the equivalent person born into poverty is likely to end up with an addiction and jail.
We might need to try something different, but I'm afraid that new administration is going to reverse any progress that might have been made.
Sunday, January 15, 2017
No Filter
We are seeing the results of having no filter, so what spews out is at best likely to include a lot of rubbish.
No filter and a thin skin result in things like attacking a respected veteran of the civil rights movement as being all talk.
Now we have burning inner cities, further proof that someone is stuck in the 70s.
I wonder when was the last time he even was near an inner city?
He really lives in a fantasy world populated by images he may or may not have seen over the years, as well as the fake news he reads.
He like Breitbart but thinks CNN is fake news.
Now this play well with a lot of his supporters who really don't like the America they live in.
Want to return to the Eisenhower era where minorities knew their place and real Americans lived in an apple pie scented heaven.
While I was only a child during those years, I know it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
We had refugees, cold war, polio, racism and immigration.
We also ended up in Vietnam, after we spent some time in Korea.
It wasn't all Father Knows Best or the Donna Reed Show.
Mayberry RFD was a fictional place with a pleasant town drunk.
Even Gunsmoke had a brothel in town.
We did have McCarthism, Fire Hoses turned on protesters and angry white crowds yelling at small black children going to school.
Well in almost every way things are better now, but some people just want to return to the black and white era cause they hate color so much.
No filter and a thin skin result in things like attacking a respected veteran of the civil rights movement as being all talk.
Now we have burning inner cities, further proof that someone is stuck in the 70s.
I wonder when was the last time he even was near an inner city?
He really lives in a fantasy world populated by images he may or may not have seen over the years, as well as the fake news he reads.
He like Breitbart but thinks CNN is fake news.
Now this play well with a lot of his supporters who really don't like the America they live in.
Want to return to the Eisenhower era where minorities knew their place and real Americans lived in an apple pie scented heaven.
While I was only a child during those years, I know it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
We had refugees, cold war, polio, racism and immigration.
We also ended up in Vietnam, after we spent some time in Korea.
It wasn't all Father Knows Best or the Donna Reed Show.
Mayberry RFD was a fictional place with a pleasant town drunk.
Even Gunsmoke had a brothel in town.
We did have McCarthism, Fire Hoses turned on protesters and angry white crowds yelling at small black children going to school.
Well in almost every way things are better now, but some people just want to return to the black and white era cause they hate color so much.
Saturday, January 14, 2017
More Saturday Ramblin
Republicans think it is unethical for the ethics official to comment on Trumps ethics issues.
They think its fine for the FBI director to comment on Hillary though.
Luckily they aren't playing politics, they are way past that.
It amazes me how people can so rationalize what they see on both sides.
Almost everyone wears ideological filters.
So everyone who doesn't agree with you is lying or a fool.
Responding to a black lives matter chant with blue lives matter is of course sort of besides the point.
The idea that asking for equality is "uppity" is so retro its apparently in fashion again.
There's really no real difference between people in inner cities looking for the government to help improve their lives than ex factory workers looking for the same thing.
People who want black people to stop bringing up slavery since it ended over a hundred years ago have no problem discussing their ancestral roots even if their family has been in this country longer than that.
So I watched Paul Ryan talk about how the Affordable Care Act made everybody share the cost of the high risk people and drive up premiums. Than I heard him say we should subsidize high risk pools with tax dollars to keep the cost affordable. When I do the math that comes up the same, except we know less people will sign up for the high risk pools and the tax dollars probably won't show up either.
The very idea of insurance is to share risk so we all can be protected against catastrophes. Why should health insurance be different?
We now know that heterosexual debauchery and racism are more acceptable to many Americans than gay marriage and gender identification bathrooms. They think the bible supports this.
There are certain people out there who milked the alt right because it was lucrative. However, those cows are coming home now.
They think its fine for the FBI director to comment on Hillary though.
Luckily they aren't playing politics, they are way past that.
It amazes me how people can so rationalize what they see on both sides.
Almost everyone wears ideological filters.
So everyone who doesn't agree with you is lying or a fool.
Responding to a black lives matter chant with blue lives matter is of course sort of besides the point.
The idea that asking for equality is "uppity" is so retro its apparently in fashion again.
There's really no real difference between people in inner cities looking for the government to help improve their lives than ex factory workers looking for the same thing.
People who want black people to stop bringing up slavery since it ended over a hundred years ago have no problem discussing their ancestral roots even if their family has been in this country longer than that.
So I watched Paul Ryan talk about how the Affordable Care Act made everybody share the cost of the high risk people and drive up premiums. Than I heard him say we should subsidize high risk pools with tax dollars to keep the cost affordable. When I do the math that comes up the same, except we know less people will sign up for the high risk pools and the tax dollars probably won't show up either.
The very idea of insurance is to share risk so we all can be protected against catastrophes. Why should health insurance be different?
We now know that heterosexual debauchery and racism are more acceptable to many Americans than gay marriage and gender identification bathrooms. They think the bible supports this.
There are certain people out there who milked the alt right because it was lucrative. However, those cows are coming home now.
Friday, January 13, 2017
Should we support the Clown President?
A certain number of people think we need to support the president no matter who it is because he represents the United States. Now I understand that view but the United States is made up of its people. Supporting the United States requires you to support what is best for those people, not an individual who was elected by less people than voted for his opponent because of a quirk from our constitution.
The interests of the people is paramount and to the extent whoever is president is working to improve the people's interests he deserves support. Now of course there can be disagreements about what is in the best interest of the people, but each of us has to decide what are the things we support and work to achieve them, whether the president is doing something else or not.
Now this particular president is an orange haired clown who conned a lot of Americans into thinking he could bring back jobs that robots are now doing. Unfortunately that is self defeating and to the extent he continues to run his con we should oppose him.
Certainly large infrastructure programs can be a good thing and they were promoted by the prior administration as well. Of course, each project has to serve a worthwhile purpose and if one of those projects is to build a giant wall, that should get about as much support as an effort to build a pyramid.
There are issues with undocumented immigrants but the idea that a stationary wall will stop them is the thinking of our clown president who doesn't understand that the people coming here are actually able to think. They can find other means of entry and I'm not sure how many stroll across the border even now. It might make it a bit harder but at the cost of untold billions of dollars for something that will almost certainly stand as a monument to futility long into the future.
I'm not even sure undocumented immigrants are much of a problem despite the fact they get a lot of press. The vast majority come here and take jobs that would otherwise be hard to fill and the economic benefit far outweighs the economic cost. However, if we want to stop them, there are modern ways to do it that are more effective than a wall.
The clown has a very distorted view of the world which he has acquired from old movies it seems. He has a rudimentary concept of military tactics, no real concept of health care issues, a distorted view of world affairs and accepts every bit of exaggerated right wing rhetoric he comes across.
If by some miracle he promotes a sane logical policy that is good for the American people, I will be in favor. I'm waiting to see that.
The interests of the people is paramount and to the extent whoever is president is working to improve the people's interests he deserves support. Now of course there can be disagreements about what is in the best interest of the people, but each of us has to decide what are the things we support and work to achieve them, whether the president is doing something else or not.
Now this particular president is an orange haired clown who conned a lot of Americans into thinking he could bring back jobs that robots are now doing. Unfortunately that is self defeating and to the extent he continues to run his con we should oppose him.
Certainly large infrastructure programs can be a good thing and they were promoted by the prior administration as well. Of course, each project has to serve a worthwhile purpose and if one of those projects is to build a giant wall, that should get about as much support as an effort to build a pyramid.
There are issues with undocumented immigrants but the idea that a stationary wall will stop them is the thinking of our clown president who doesn't understand that the people coming here are actually able to think. They can find other means of entry and I'm not sure how many stroll across the border even now. It might make it a bit harder but at the cost of untold billions of dollars for something that will almost certainly stand as a monument to futility long into the future.
I'm not even sure undocumented immigrants are much of a problem despite the fact they get a lot of press. The vast majority come here and take jobs that would otherwise be hard to fill and the economic benefit far outweighs the economic cost. However, if we want to stop them, there are modern ways to do it that are more effective than a wall.
The clown has a very distorted view of the world which he has acquired from old movies it seems. He has a rudimentary concept of military tactics, no real concept of health care issues, a distorted view of world affairs and accepts every bit of exaggerated right wing rhetoric he comes across.
If by some miracle he promotes a sane logical policy that is good for the American people, I will be in favor. I'm waiting to see that.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Fake News
One of the greatest beneficiaries of fake new last election was Donald Trump as the vast amount of the fake stuff was directed at the Clintons.
In fact he is a firm believer in some of the fake stuff and propagates it himself in tweets about celebrations that never happened, guilty rapists and other things.
Certainly some of the fake news was directed at him, my impression was to a much smaller extent than the other side, but I don't know if there is anyone actually measuring it.
Of course now he has become the biggest target and problematically is probably a riper target than the Clintons ever were.
Also problematically he has a very thin skin.
We are most likely going to see him actually encourage more fake news because he will react to it.
The people who publish this stuff have various motivations.
One is of course to get "clicks" which lead to revenue.
When the target of the fake news denounces you, people go to your site to see what was published.
So responding to this stuff is sort of self defeating.
Ignoring it has some risks also. The American public, or at least a significant portion of it, is incredibly gullible.
People say things to me that are demonstrably false and have been debunked many times, but they read it on the web and just believe it.
Of course Trump is actually one of those people. He sees the fake news published about him, but believes the worst stories about everyone else, or at least plays along.
Whether he is deceitful or gullible is the unanswered question, but I suspect a little of both.
It going to be a rocky ride followed by a crash and burn folks.
Fasten your seat belts.
In fact he is a firm believer in some of the fake stuff and propagates it himself in tweets about celebrations that never happened, guilty rapists and other things.
Certainly some of the fake news was directed at him, my impression was to a much smaller extent than the other side, but I don't know if there is anyone actually measuring it.
Of course now he has become the biggest target and problematically is probably a riper target than the Clintons ever were.
Also problematically he has a very thin skin.
We are most likely going to see him actually encourage more fake news because he will react to it.
The people who publish this stuff have various motivations.
One is of course to get "clicks" which lead to revenue.
When the target of the fake news denounces you, people go to your site to see what was published.
So responding to this stuff is sort of self defeating.
Ignoring it has some risks also. The American public, or at least a significant portion of it, is incredibly gullible.
People say things to me that are demonstrably false and have been debunked many times, but they read it on the web and just believe it.
Of course Trump is actually one of those people. He sees the fake news published about him, but believes the worst stories about everyone else, or at least plays along.
Whether he is deceitful or gullible is the unanswered question, but I suspect a little of both.
It going to be a rocky ride followed by a crash and burn folks.
Fasten your seat belts.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
It's their fault!
Generally while Americans have an enviable standard of living and a stable government and haven't had a foreign invader since 1815, we like to complain.
Now complaining is pretty much a universal thing and we certainly didn't invent it.
Nor did we invent who is at fault.
It is them.
Now who that is varies a lot based on who you are.
Its not your people at fault, it the others.
But one "them" we tend to agree on a lot is the Government.
Now, we get to elect the Government and the people who run it and polls consistently show that while we think the Government is too big, too lazy, too corrupt and too run by special interests, it isn't the person we elected, it those other guys.
Now that makes sense since no one would vote for someone, lazy, corrupt, in debt to special interests or would we?
Well if the Government representatives have those characteristics, someone had to.
Its the same scenario almost everywhere, our representative gets re-elected while we want everyone else to lose.
Now we seem t realize we have a problem since the other things a majority of Americans tend to support is term limits.
We need to be saved from ourselves, or maybe from our neighbors.
We after all are a big lazy country, that tends to vote for people that promise us things even if they can't deliver.
We have a Government that truly reflects us.
We need someone to save us from ourselves.
Now complaining is pretty much a universal thing and we certainly didn't invent it.
Nor did we invent who is at fault.
It is them.
Now who that is varies a lot based on who you are.
Its not your people at fault, it the others.
But one "them" we tend to agree on a lot is the Government.
Now, we get to elect the Government and the people who run it and polls consistently show that while we think the Government is too big, too lazy, too corrupt and too run by special interests, it isn't the person we elected, it those other guys.
Now that makes sense since no one would vote for someone, lazy, corrupt, in debt to special interests or would we?
Well if the Government representatives have those characteristics, someone had to.
Its the same scenario almost everywhere, our representative gets re-elected while we want everyone else to lose.
Now we seem t realize we have a problem since the other things a majority of Americans tend to support is term limits.
We need to be saved from ourselves, or maybe from our neighbors.
We after all are a big lazy country, that tends to vote for people that promise us things even if they can't deliver.
We have a Government that truly reflects us.
We need someone to save us from ourselves.
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
A Petty President
Well unless something causes a major change in personality we are soon going to have our most petty and paranoid President since Richard Nixon.
But because we have twitter, we have evidence of the pettiness instantaneously.
He is so thin skinned that it is actually a bit terrifying considering the possible damage he can do after the 20th.
Any criticism is met with an immediate unthinking response that oftentimes contradicts things he has previously said.
The most recent example, unless something just happened is the incident with Meryl Streep, an acknowledge actress with many credits and kudos who has a long and distinguished career.
She discussed the incident where the draft dodger elect mocked a disable reporter and also commented on the culture of hate he is sowing.
Now whether you agree or disagree with the comments, she has every right to make them and it was her time on that stage to say what she wanted.
If you disagree with her, fine, that is your right, but we expect our presidents to act with a certain decorum.
The draft dodgers reaction was however a rant about how she's a mediocre talent who shouldn't have use the award forum for a political statement.
Of course this being America that is not his decision and one would think that responding to comments such as this only give them greater circulation and credence.
Further, he always was a non-talented reality show host who had a few cameo appearances in bad movies that still revealed his utter lack of talent.
Probably a good thing that he will spend most of his time responding to stuff like this as opposed to ruining the country, but of course he will undoubtedly insult a lot of world leaders pretty soon.
Guess his master Putin is the only one exempt.
But because we have twitter, we have evidence of the pettiness instantaneously.
He is so thin skinned that it is actually a bit terrifying considering the possible damage he can do after the 20th.
Any criticism is met with an immediate unthinking response that oftentimes contradicts things he has previously said.
The most recent example, unless something just happened is the incident with Meryl Streep, an acknowledge actress with many credits and kudos who has a long and distinguished career.
She discussed the incident where the draft dodger elect mocked a disable reporter and also commented on the culture of hate he is sowing.
Now whether you agree or disagree with the comments, she has every right to make them and it was her time on that stage to say what she wanted.
If you disagree with her, fine, that is your right, but we expect our presidents to act with a certain decorum.
The draft dodgers reaction was however a rant about how she's a mediocre talent who shouldn't have use the award forum for a political statement.
Of course this being America that is not his decision and one would think that responding to comments such as this only give them greater circulation and credence.
Further, he always was a non-talented reality show host who had a few cameo appearances in bad movies that still revealed his utter lack of talent.
Probably a good thing that he will spend most of his time responding to stuff like this as opposed to ruining the country, but of course he will undoubtedly insult a lot of world leaders pretty soon.
Guess his master Putin is the only one exempt.
Monday, January 9, 2017
The Ugly Americans
Much of the world has an image of Americans as rude, crude and lewd. We have pretty much confirmed that view and many of us seem sort of proud of that.
Of course, the people who feel that way consider themselves as rebels. They don't need the effete intellectual things like ballet and opera and a beer, a gun and some country music and dancing with their gal is enough.
Of course, they do need a job to afford those things, and they have been having trouble finding them because they don't have the skills needed.
This isn't their fault, its the establishment which has decided to give those jobs to immigrants, refugees and foreigners in general.
When all those jobs were here, they were living large.
Of course when I was young the word on the street was don't buy a car made on a Friday since half the workers were drunk.
These are the folk who used the Union to get benefits and wages but objected to having union dues.
They invented the phrase TGIF because they loved those jobs so much.
They drove companies to automate or outsource their jobs because they weren't really affordable or even good at them.
Japanese quality ate our lunch in the 70s.
Now obviously some of them were dedicated hard workers, but others who thought they were working hard were actually hardly working.
They never took responsibility for themselves and had to be over supervised to be productive.
The hard working dedicated folks, developed the new skills needed and are generally doing OK.
The others who think doing what the bosses or society want you to do is selling out or being a flunky, not so much.
Hey, crap low paying jobs are the price of being a rebel, don't do the crime if you can't do the time.
Of course, the people who feel that way consider themselves as rebels. They don't need the effete intellectual things like ballet and opera and a beer, a gun and some country music and dancing with their gal is enough.
Of course, they do need a job to afford those things, and they have been having trouble finding them because they don't have the skills needed.
This isn't their fault, its the establishment which has decided to give those jobs to immigrants, refugees and foreigners in general.
When all those jobs were here, they were living large.
Of course when I was young the word on the street was don't buy a car made on a Friday since half the workers were drunk.
These are the folk who used the Union to get benefits and wages but objected to having union dues.
They invented the phrase TGIF because they loved those jobs so much.
They drove companies to automate or outsource their jobs because they weren't really affordable or even good at them.
Japanese quality ate our lunch in the 70s.
Now obviously some of them were dedicated hard workers, but others who thought they were working hard were actually hardly working.
They never took responsibility for themselves and had to be over supervised to be productive.
The hard working dedicated folks, developed the new skills needed and are generally doing OK.
The others who think doing what the bosses or society want you to do is selling out or being a flunky, not so much.
Hey, crap low paying jobs are the price of being a rebel, don't do the crime if you can't do the time.
Sunday, January 8, 2017
Will Bullying Work?
In a little over a week we will have as president a bully.
It is his main characteristic and it has worked at times during his life as often the benefits of siding with him outweighed the general dislike of his tactics.
Now of course if you are on the bullies side things look a bit different, and in the world of New York construction you had to look tough in order not to be bullied yourself.
Now there have been bullies on the world stage before and they have had mixed results.
The most notable of course was Hitler who went a bit too far in his bullying leading of course to his ultimate destruction. However, had he not invaded Poland in 1939 what would history have to say about him.
Consider Stalin, another bully who sided with Hitler in that invasion only to have to deal with those consequences himself. He never lost power and while history considers him a ruthless dictator he died of natural causes.
Now generally most dictators are in fact bullies but we do have examples of bullies in democratic countries, although not fully in control. I would argue that to some extent, Winston Churchill had bullying characteristics which helped Britain win the war but led to his ultimate election defeat.
Bullies actually can serve a purpose at times of national crisis where everyone needs to get on board. Not actually being in such a crisis is what leads to potential issues where opposition is almost certain to arise.
I am not in favor of many of the things proposed by the incoming administration such as backtracking on health care, demonizing immigrants, reneging on international agreements and increasing the deficit to benefit the rich while reducing social security and Medicare.
The situation we have is potentially favorable to some or all of those policies getting through so we can only hope that certain members of the republican party see the dangers and respond. They will be bullied to conform.
Don't know if they are smart enough or brave enough to respond appropriately.
It is his main characteristic and it has worked at times during his life as often the benefits of siding with him outweighed the general dislike of his tactics.
Now of course if you are on the bullies side things look a bit different, and in the world of New York construction you had to look tough in order not to be bullied yourself.
Now there have been bullies on the world stage before and they have had mixed results.
The most notable of course was Hitler who went a bit too far in his bullying leading of course to his ultimate destruction. However, had he not invaded Poland in 1939 what would history have to say about him.
Consider Stalin, another bully who sided with Hitler in that invasion only to have to deal with those consequences himself. He never lost power and while history considers him a ruthless dictator he died of natural causes.
Now generally most dictators are in fact bullies but we do have examples of bullies in democratic countries, although not fully in control. I would argue that to some extent, Winston Churchill had bullying characteristics which helped Britain win the war but led to his ultimate election defeat.
Bullies actually can serve a purpose at times of national crisis where everyone needs to get on board. Not actually being in such a crisis is what leads to potential issues where opposition is almost certain to arise.
I am not in favor of many of the things proposed by the incoming administration such as backtracking on health care, demonizing immigrants, reneging on international agreements and increasing the deficit to benefit the rich while reducing social security and Medicare.
The situation we have is potentially favorable to some or all of those policies getting through so we can only hope that certain members of the republican party see the dangers and respond. They will be bullied to conform.
Don't know if they are smart enough or brave enough to respond appropriately.
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Countdown to ????
We are less than two weeks away from a new administration that despite receiving less than half the votes in the election has control of the Presidency, the Congress and the Senate. The fact that our system allows a minority group to gain control like this is related to some archaic systems and admittedly the fact that one party figured out how to play the game better than the other.
Its something that most people would probably agree should be fixed, but of course not those in actual power so the odds of that happening soon is slim at best.
What will actually happen after January 20th is still not certain as some of the promises and policies of the new President are likely to be opposed by members of his own party. How successful they may be will be interesting as we know the administration is not afraid to browbeat people into submission if they can.
Part of the uncertainty is the fact that the policies themselves are so vague in most cases that they will take years to sort, if at all.
Replacing the current health care law is one such issue. I don't believe there is any replacement that can pass the current congress and senate. Certainly, removing the individual mandate will make premiums unaffordable especially if the subsidies also go away. Promises are being made to the American people that don't seem likely to be kept, so it should be interesting.
Consider the plan to implement tax reform. More possible since the rudiments are pretty straightforward but some of the proposals have negative impacts on people who vote. Whether this spooks some congress people depends on the coverage.
Similarly with the trade agreements. Free trade has been a republican goal for as long as I can remember. Breaking NAFTA and going to a tariff system seems like something that may be very difficult.
There are other issues with the same sort of complexity and we should see how it all sorts out. Remember, the senate does not have a filibuster proof majority so there is some need for compromise right now.
I suspect based on past behavior we are going to see a lot of interesting in-fighting for the next couple of years.
I suspect based
Its something that most people would probably agree should be fixed, but of course not those in actual power so the odds of that happening soon is slim at best.
What will actually happen after January 20th is still not certain as some of the promises and policies of the new President are likely to be opposed by members of his own party. How successful they may be will be interesting as we know the administration is not afraid to browbeat people into submission if they can.
Part of the uncertainty is the fact that the policies themselves are so vague in most cases that they will take years to sort, if at all.
Replacing the current health care law is one such issue. I don't believe there is any replacement that can pass the current congress and senate. Certainly, removing the individual mandate will make premiums unaffordable especially if the subsidies also go away. Promises are being made to the American people that don't seem likely to be kept, so it should be interesting.
Consider the plan to implement tax reform. More possible since the rudiments are pretty straightforward but some of the proposals have negative impacts on people who vote. Whether this spooks some congress people depends on the coverage.
Similarly with the trade agreements. Free trade has been a republican goal for as long as I can remember. Breaking NAFTA and going to a tariff system seems like something that may be very difficult.
There are other issues with the same sort of complexity and we should see how it all sorts out. Remember, the senate does not have a filibuster proof majority so there is some need for compromise right now.
I suspect based on past behavior we are going to see a lot of interesting in-fighting for the next couple of years.
I suspect based
Friday, January 6, 2017
Professional Courtesy
Courtesy is something that makes the world a little bit better for everyone. Its taking into consideration the needs of someone else and doing things like holding the door for the next person, giving up a seat, or simply letting someone go first.
In business and politics it generally refers to allowing people to take their personnel situation into consideration. Of course it isn't something that is done when an outcome might be impacted, but it is certainly simple enough to allow an extra day because of a situation or work out a mutually agreeable transition date.
Now we ask ambassadors to serve in remote locations and at time put their lives at risk. They are political appointees and clearly they change with the new administration. However, new ambassadors have to be confirmed and old ambassadors often have children or family situations that make moving on January 20th problematic, so in past administrations they were provided the courtesy of being allowed to finish a school semester or clear up a family issue before having to transition.
The delay is relatively inconsequential and of course the ambassador left in his post for a few months has to follow any new direction by the administration while his successor is confirmed.
I read today that the new administration is demanding that all political ambassadors leave on January 20 no matter how disruptive it might be, when there are no confirmed replacements ready. I don't understand the reason for such a decision and find it both mean spirited and short sighted.
In business and politics it generally refers to allowing people to take their personnel situation into consideration. Of course it isn't something that is done when an outcome might be impacted, but it is certainly simple enough to allow an extra day because of a situation or work out a mutually agreeable transition date.
Now we ask ambassadors to serve in remote locations and at time put their lives at risk. They are political appointees and clearly they change with the new administration. However, new ambassadors have to be confirmed and old ambassadors often have children or family situations that make moving on January 20th problematic, so in past administrations they were provided the courtesy of being allowed to finish a school semester or clear up a family issue before having to transition.
The delay is relatively inconsequential and of course the ambassador left in his post for a few months has to follow any new direction by the administration while his successor is confirmed.
I read today that the new administration is demanding that all political ambassadors leave on January 20 no matter how disruptive it might be, when there are no confirmed replacements ready. I don't understand the reason for such a decision and find it both mean spirited and short sighted.
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Everybody Hates Taxes
In general, the whole process of paying taxes is unpleasant. You have to keep records, fill out forms, maybe pay someone to do it and at the end of the day your reward is you get to pay taxes.
Now of course for many of us, we pay them all along and get something back at the end, making it a free loan to the Government.
Of course the fact that taxes are so hated almost universally makes them an easy target to attack as being too high.
Add to that exposes about Government waste and people who game the system and its a tough system to defend.
Of course we still pay them because the bottom line is that taxes pay for the Government we have.
Not all of it, we have to finance some of it, which will require future taxes to pay off.
One of the things talked about by the new administration is tax reform and how they are miraculously reduce taxes while building lots of infrastructure and increasing defense spending. There were also promises to not touch social security, Medicare and veterans benefits.
Of course this tax reduction would then have to gut most other federal programs, although there is some belief that increased economic activity will still lead to increase taxes overall despite the reductions.
This has been referred to as supply side economics or voodoo economics, whatever you prefer.
It can actually work in certain economic conditions, unfortunately the country is not experiencing the conditions it would need.
It would actually be nice if we could have some real tax reform where the system was non-complex and still funded the Government adequately.
It would also be nice if every day was sunny and it only rained late at night.
I can dream can't I?
Now of course for many of us, we pay them all along and get something back at the end, making it a free loan to the Government.
Of course the fact that taxes are so hated almost universally makes them an easy target to attack as being too high.
Add to that exposes about Government waste and people who game the system and its a tough system to defend.
Of course we still pay them because the bottom line is that taxes pay for the Government we have.
Not all of it, we have to finance some of it, which will require future taxes to pay off.
One of the things talked about by the new administration is tax reform and how they are miraculously reduce taxes while building lots of infrastructure and increasing defense spending. There were also promises to not touch social security, Medicare and veterans benefits.
Of course this tax reduction would then have to gut most other federal programs, although there is some belief that increased economic activity will still lead to increase taxes overall despite the reductions.
This has been referred to as supply side economics or voodoo economics, whatever you prefer.
It can actually work in certain economic conditions, unfortunately the country is not experiencing the conditions it would need.
It would actually be nice if we could have some real tax reform where the system was non-complex and still funded the Government adequately.
It would also be nice if every day was sunny and it only rained late at night.
I can dream can't I?
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
God is Good, Bad is Bad
There are policies that are good for America, policies which are bad for America and policies that we can't agree on.
For example, providing jobs to Americans is a good thing, no matter who does it.
Discriminating against minorities is a bad thing no matter who does it.
Some level of gun control is a debate issue.
Now feeling that the incoming administration promotes some things which are simply bad, like intolerance and voter suppression, doesn't mean that if they do pass an infrastructure bill, something that Obama tried to do, we shouldn't think it is a good thing.
Now whether they can deliver any of the things we all agree are good remains to be seen, but we shouldn't blindly oppose things that we actually support because of the other things.
Of course we should fight the bad and debatable things to the fullest extent possible, that is both our right and our obligation.
However, the last eight years saw the republican congress blindly oppose pretty much everything proposed by Obama, even when it actually was something they had previously advocated.
I tend to doubt the incoming administration has the ability to do much good.
However, strange things can happen.
For example, providing jobs to Americans is a good thing, no matter who does it.
Discriminating against minorities is a bad thing no matter who does it.
Some level of gun control is a debate issue.
Now feeling that the incoming administration promotes some things which are simply bad, like intolerance and voter suppression, doesn't mean that if they do pass an infrastructure bill, something that Obama tried to do, we shouldn't think it is a good thing.
Now whether they can deliver any of the things we all agree are good remains to be seen, but we shouldn't blindly oppose things that we actually support because of the other things.
Of course we should fight the bad and debatable things to the fullest extent possible, that is both our right and our obligation.
However, the last eight years saw the republican congress blindly oppose pretty much everything proposed by Obama, even when it actually was something they had previously advocated.
I tend to doubt the incoming administration has the ability to do much good.
However, strange things can happen.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Spoiler Alert!!!
If you don't want to know the truth about things, read no further.
OK, like children expecting Santa Claus to bring them lots of toys, Trump supporters expect all sorts of great things to happen after January 20th.
The list varies based on the supporter with some alt-right people expecting a return to the Jim Crow era and some Religious Fundamentalists expecting abortions to end and religion taught in school (just theirs of course) and some working people expect good paying manufacturing jobs to appear, and xenophobes expect all Mexicans and Muslims to disappear.
There are other lists for Santa/Trump and they were promised as they sat on his virtual lap at his rallies, and Santa/Trump dutifully nodded his head and said you'll get your wish fulfilled.
Of course he already disappointed the lock her up group but the rest are still faithful believers who will hang their stockings up on January 19th with visions of racism dancing in their heads and that old time religion music playing on the radio only in English.
Well, I hate to do this, but Santa isn't real and neither are Trump's promises.
I suspect that the America we will see on January 20 will b basically the same as the one on January 19th, if a little meaner and less compassionate and inclusive.
You still will have to push one for English, you still will have Spanish Language television and we'll still have separation of church and state.
It won't be Trump's fault, it will be the establishment Republicans and Democrats in the congress stopping him.
I'm sure that everything will still be coming, just not as fast as promised.
As a New Yorker from Queens he is very familiar with the Mets rallying cry of You Gotta Believe!
Just trust him, it will all be great!
OK, like children expecting Santa Claus to bring them lots of toys, Trump supporters expect all sorts of great things to happen after January 20th.
The list varies based on the supporter with some alt-right people expecting a return to the Jim Crow era and some Religious Fundamentalists expecting abortions to end and religion taught in school (just theirs of course) and some working people expect good paying manufacturing jobs to appear, and xenophobes expect all Mexicans and Muslims to disappear.
There are other lists for Santa/Trump and they were promised as they sat on his virtual lap at his rallies, and Santa/Trump dutifully nodded his head and said you'll get your wish fulfilled.
Of course he already disappointed the lock her up group but the rest are still faithful believers who will hang their stockings up on January 19th with visions of racism dancing in their heads and that old time religion music playing on the radio only in English.
Well, I hate to do this, but Santa isn't real and neither are Trump's promises.
I suspect that the America we will see on January 20 will b basically the same as the one on January 19th, if a little meaner and less compassionate and inclusive.
You still will have to push one for English, you still will have Spanish Language television and we'll still have separation of church and state.
It won't be Trump's fault, it will be the establishment Republicans and Democrats in the congress stopping him.
I'm sure that everything will still be coming, just not as fast as promised.
As a New Yorker from Queens he is very familiar with the Mets rallying cry of You Gotta Believe!
Just trust him, it will all be great!
Monday, January 2, 2017
Resolutions for the New Year
My individual resolutions for the New Year are neither important or any different than usual.
It would be nice if America could agree on some basic things but of course we don't get together and do that. I'd still like to propose a few.
Everyone should be treated with respect, without regard to religion, race or national origin. Think that's in our constitution.
While we have freedom of speech and the press, we need to use a bit more skeptical logic before we believe stories.
We need to make sure our elderly and infirm are taken care of and not forced to lose their dignity.
We need to take care of our veterans.
In some fashion people who need medical attention should get it.
Education should be effective and affordable for all.
All our constitutional rights should be honored, not just some.
Police are entitled to respect as long as they follow the law.
People should be allowed privacy and freedom to love whoever they want however they want as long as its consensual adults.
And finally, no matter how sure you are that you know what's good for someone else, let them make their own decisions.
It would be nice if America could agree on some basic things but of course we don't get together and do that. I'd still like to propose a few.
Everyone should be treated with respect, without regard to religion, race or national origin. Think that's in our constitution.
While we have freedom of speech and the press, we need to use a bit more skeptical logic before we believe stories.
We need to make sure our elderly and infirm are taken care of and not forced to lose their dignity.
We need to take care of our veterans.
In some fashion people who need medical attention should get it.
Education should be effective and affordable for all.
All our constitutional rights should be honored, not just some.
Police are entitled to respect as long as they follow the law.
People should be allowed privacy and freedom to love whoever they want however they want as long as its consensual adults.
And finally, no matter how sure you are that you know what's good for someone else, let them make their own decisions.
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Happy 2017
While each day is a new one even if it isn't marked on the calendar as anything significant, we do tend to treat certain days as milestones of a sort and January 1 is one of them.
Nothing is very different from yesterday, but hope is our best virtue and it springs eternal, so lets see what the New Year is going to bring. Whatever it is Humanity has always responded in the past and will again.
Happy New Year!
Nothing is very different from yesterday, but hope is our best virtue and it springs eternal, so lets see what the New Year is going to bring. Whatever it is Humanity has always responded in the past and will again.
Happy New Year!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)