Social media is still in its early stages and it is going through a period where it has provided many outliers to get access they wouldn't have before it existed.
The issues it is exposing aren't new ones, they are just getting exposure where before they were relegated to certain extremist venues.
So the racism, misogyny, hate etc are out in the open for all to see and for maybe more than I would have thought to agree with.
Of course the fact that it appeals to some many is really the question, it wouldn't matter if everyone rejected it.
It exposes a problem in the heartland of America and some other countries where progress was much more confined to the big cities than we might have thought.
The pictures presented to us showed increasing diversity and acceptance, at least on our major media but the reality didn't match in many places.
Watching certain shows and seeing this inclusiveness was not in tune with the reality they lived, lost jobs, less opportunity and a belief that "other" people were getting all the help.
It was worse when they were told they had "white privilege", it didn't seem that way to them.
Of course the changes were because of economics and robotics more than any liberal plot to diversify the country
We are transitioning to a new economic system, not built on the labor intensive factories or workplaces of the past. It requires different skill sets and flexibility that doesn't fit well into these traditional towns and homes.
The have to work twice as hard to do half as well while, in their minds, "others" have everything handed to them on a silver platter.
Its not reality, but its how they see it and when they see people on social media who share this worldview they feel confirmed.
Not everyone is sharing in the gains and that may be the biggest problem, the increasing income inequality as people are replace with machines and income is centralized.
Its not the immigrants.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Market Thoughts
It seems that in honor of Halloween we see the stock market get scary.
The economy is doing fairly well but there are what is often called headwinds which might easily impact the future and the market is forward looking not concerned about the past.
We have the rising interest rates which will increase the cost of capital and the cost of carrying our national debt. To some extent it also simply provides a safer place to put money with a better return for nervous investors.
You have the trade issues which are increasing the cost of goods and services and likely decreasing actual sales based on supply and demand.
If you add the prevailing idea that we are overdue for a correction or a recession, you have a pretty nervous market, in fact it always is to some extent.
Market movements gain momentum as the people who don't sell or buy at first look for ways to join in
Did something particularly bad happen to the economy?
Not really but we haven't had a recession in quite a while and with mid-terms about to happen we may simply be due.
Probably a good time to avoid risk until this comes to an end.
It might go on quite a while.
The economy is doing fairly well but there are what is often called headwinds which might easily impact the future and the market is forward looking not concerned about the past.
We have the rising interest rates which will increase the cost of capital and the cost of carrying our national debt. To some extent it also simply provides a safer place to put money with a better return for nervous investors.
You have the trade issues which are increasing the cost of goods and services and likely decreasing actual sales based on supply and demand.
If you add the prevailing idea that we are overdue for a correction or a recession, you have a pretty nervous market, in fact it always is to some extent.
Market movements gain momentum as the people who don't sell or buy at first look for ways to join in
Did something particularly bad happen to the economy?
Not really but we haven't had a recession in quite a while and with mid-terms about to happen we may simply be due.
Probably a good time to avoid risk until this comes to an end.
It might go on quite a while.
Monday, October 29, 2018
Senseless
Every time there's a shooting we have people saying its time to do something real instead of simply lamenting the horror and mourning the dead.
Each time nothing happens.
The gun lobby has decided that even conceding an inch is a slippery slope to gun control.
I do agree with them to some degree that the problem isn't the guns, its the people who use them to kill, but they couldn't do it without the guns.
Identifying and restricting their access t guns is opposed because it concedes something on that slippery slope.
There were a lot of groups this weekend in support of the innocent lives lost in Pittsburgh. I don't think the speeches and the symbolism will solve anything, it isn't reaching the right people.
Its an odd thing the way hate groups act.
They engage in these terrorist activities, although we often don't refer to them that way, without a clear objective or message, except I guess hate.
Islamic terrorists generally want Israel and Western support for Israel to be eliminated.
Not an acceptable goal but one I understand.
There doesn't seem to be a reason for these attacks except just hate.
Guess that's all they need.
Each time nothing happens.
The gun lobby has decided that even conceding an inch is a slippery slope to gun control.
I do agree with them to some degree that the problem isn't the guns, its the people who use them to kill, but they couldn't do it without the guns.
Identifying and restricting their access t guns is opposed because it concedes something on that slippery slope.
There were a lot of groups this weekend in support of the innocent lives lost in Pittsburgh. I don't think the speeches and the symbolism will solve anything, it isn't reaching the right people.
Its an odd thing the way hate groups act.
They engage in these terrorist activities, although we often don't refer to them that way, without a clear objective or message, except I guess hate.
Islamic terrorists generally want Israel and Western support for Israel to be eliminated.
Not an acceptable goal but one I understand.
There doesn't seem to be a reason for these attacks except just hate.
Guess that's all they need.
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Campaigning on Hate
Lets be clear, the great, great majority of Americans do not commit hate crimes.
Having said that we do of course have that small group that does.
The rest of us condemn them but one of the problems we have today is that we are trying to find some underlying national motive for the acts of certain individuals.
Now we do have leadership that is fanning the flames for these people by increasing the overall animosity. I saw an ad yesterday put out by some republican congressional organization that simply portrayed democrats as a liberal mob out to destroy American values and I think desecrate the flag.
The whole message should be offensive to anyone who sees it, but if you buy into that message at all, you probably should be sending bombs to the leaders of such a movement.
The are after all ready to take away your guns, desecrate the flag, control your heath insurance, increase the deficit, and generally do other bad things.
It ignores the current deficit increase under republican leadership and ignores that the last two times we had deficit reduction it was under democrats.
The message though doesn't try to do anything but frighten people into getting out to vote against this wave of socialist madness.
Someone must think it works, I understand it is part of a national campaign.
It is clearly aimed to portray certain people as, well enemies, to "us".
"Us" in this case being real Americans.
I would like to think that attacks like this don't work and don't influence people, but I'm afraid they do.
Having said that we do of course have that small group that does.
The rest of us condemn them but one of the problems we have today is that we are trying to find some underlying national motive for the acts of certain individuals.
Now we do have leadership that is fanning the flames for these people by increasing the overall animosity. I saw an ad yesterday put out by some republican congressional organization that simply portrayed democrats as a liberal mob out to destroy American values and I think desecrate the flag.
The whole message should be offensive to anyone who sees it, but if you buy into that message at all, you probably should be sending bombs to the leaders of such a movement.
The are after all ready to take away your guns, desecrate the flag, control your heath insurance, increase the deficit, and generally do other bad things.
It ignores the current deficit increase under republican leadership and ignores that the last two times we had deficit reduction it was under democrats.
The message though doesn't try to do anything but frighten people into getting out to vote against this wave of socialist madness.
Someone must think it works, I understand it is part of a national campaign.
It is clearly aimed to portray certain people as, well enemies, to "us".
"Us" in this case being real Americans.
I would like to think that attacks like this don't work and don't influence people, but I'm afraid they do.
Saturday, October 27, 2018
White Angst
We just had another example of terrorist activity by a majority race male who believes that somehow he is oppressed.
Of course the suspect needs to be interrogated and maybe he has some other motivations, but there is a problem in this country with privileged people thinking they are not privileged enough.
In every population group there are winners and losers and not everyone has equal opportunity.
Clearly wealthy children have the best access to schools and opportunities.
After that despite a persistent belief, white children have less obstacles than non-white children.
However, having that opportunity doesn't change the fact that some or many of them will not do well.
In their case it is generally a matter of ability and effort, not discrimination, although they use reverse discrimination as an excuse to explain their failures.
Of course every situation has some variation and to some extent some may have actually lost out on an opportunity because of affirmative action and they don't care that the majority of people like them are generally favored.
Chipping away are "white privilege" means some will get disadvantaged.
However, they simply need to work a little harder or go to school a bit longer, not join a terrorist group and make bombs.
Work smarter and harder and overcome any obstacles, its what we have asked of minorities for many years and you have a lot less to overcome.
Of course the suspect needs to be interrogated and maybe he has some other motivations, but there is a problem in this country with privileged people thinking they are not privileged enough.
In every population group there are winners and losers and not everyone has equal opportunity.
Clearly wealthy children have the best access to schools and opportunities.
After that despite a persistent belief, white children have less obstacles than non-white children.
However, having that opportunity doesn't change the fact that some or many of them will not do well.
In their case it is generally a matter of ability and effort, not discrimination, although they use reverse discrimination as an excuse to explain their failures.
Of course every situation has some variation and to some extent some may have actually lost out on an opportunity because of affirmative action and they don't care that the majority of people like them are generally favored.
Chipping away are "white privilege" means some will get disadvantaged.
However, they simply need to work a little harder or go to school a bit longer, not join a terrorist group and make bombs.
Work smarter and harder and overcome any obstacles, its what we have asked of minorities for many years and you have a lot less to overcome.
Friday, October 26, 2018
Inciting Bad Behavior
The problem with angry rhetoric is that when it works it leads to angry actions.
When you use it as a campaign scare tactic you have to accept that your words are somewhat responsible when people do things like send bombs to the people you have identified as the enemy.
Even if you are clueless enough to think otherwise, it doesn't really matter.
Calls for unity ring hollow when the only unity you envision is everyone agreeing and swearing loyalty to you.
Everyone in office takes an oath to defend the Constitution, not an individual.
No one is above the law.
Now certain people have authorities as defined in the Constitution, but only those authorities.
Disagreement on policies is not a crime, at least not in this country and disagreeing on things like the best way to deal with immigration does not make anyone an enemy of the people.
Attempting to corrupt our institutions does make someone an enemy of the people who are the authority for all of us via the laws of the land.
Going around lying about factual events is only perjury under oath, but it is always morally and ethically wrong.
When it incites behavior, even if not specifically called for it borders on abetting crimes.
History teaches us that violent behavior eventually leads to violent responses and then societies descend into anarchy or oligarchy.
Stop lying would be a first step towards a unified country.
Its also pretty easy.
When you use it as a campaign scare tactic you have to accept that your words are somewhat responsible when people do things like send bombs to the people you have identified as the enemy.
Even if you are clueless enough to think otherwise, it doesn't really matter.
Calls for unity ring hollow when the only unity you envision is everyone agreeing and swearing loyalty to you.
Everyone in office takes an oath to defend the Constitution, not an individual.
No one is above the law.
Now certain people have authorities as defined in the Constitution, but only those authorities.
Disagreement on policies is not a crime, at least not in this country and disagreeing on things like the best way to deal with immigration does not make anyone an enemy of the people.
Attempting to corrupt our institutions does make someone an enemy of the people who are the authority for all of us via the laws of the land.
Going around lying about factual events is only perjury under oath, but it is always morally and ethically wrong.
When it incites behavior, even if not specifically called for it borders on abetting crimes.
History teaches us that violent behavior eventually leads to violent responses and then societies descend into anarchy or oligarchy.
Stop lying would be a first step towards a unified country.
Its also pretty easy.
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Radical America
American politics are defined by the two party system. This isn't the case in most other democracies where they have a parliamentary system which allows smaller parties to be represented.
Couple that with our primary system where the party candidates are often nominated by the most active segment of the party we see how their positions have become more and more entrenched.
Studies show that the voting population falls into certain behavioral categories, some always vote as a civic responsibility, some never vote because they are apolitical or apathetic and then you have the sometimes voters.
The best way to get sometimes voters to vote is to make them angry, it is the best motivator.
Most angry voters are not generally voting for moderates. It is one of the factors that has led to the radicalization of both parties and the reason we don't see much in the way of bi-partisan legislation.
The clear majority of Americans are in fact more moderate than the two parties are, although of course its most pronounced in those who register as independents. Not all of these are really independent but about 30% of the electorate is not registered with either party.
This of course means that those who do register with a party are pretty likely to be at least somewhat committed to its fundamentals, although some register based on region or family influence.
So we have a system where each party nominates a candidate which effectively restricts the voters choices. Those candidates are often picked in primaries by the groups most angry and generally more radicalized than the general electorate. This leads to elections where many feel the choices are both bad.
The 2016 election shows what happens when an old school candidate faces off against a more radical opponent. Hillary Clinton of course had baggage but was clearly well qualified. However being too establishment and not "progressive" enough left her vulnerable to apathy among voters she needed. Her lose was really based on a very small number of voters in key states which is most likely due to a lack of enthusiasm among some of her base.
The mid-terms may be characterized by a whole different dynamic, it remains to be seen, but the radicalization of America is going to continue. Its sort of built in.
Couple that with our primary system where the party candidates are often nominated by the most active segment of the party we see how their positions have become more and more entrenched.
Studies show that the voting population falls into certain behavioral categories, some always vote as a civic responsibility, some never vote because they are apolitical or apathetic and then you have the sometimes voters.
The best way to get sometimes voters to vote is to make them angry, it is the best motivator.
Most angry voters are not generally voting for moderates. It is one of the factors that has led to the radicalization of both parties and the reason we don't see much in the way of bi-partisan legislation.
The clear majority of Americans are in fact more moderate than the two parties are, although of course its most pronounced in those who register as independents. Not all of these are really independent but about 30% of the electorate is not registered with either party.
This of course means that those who do register with a party are pretty likely to be at least somewhat committed to its fundamentals, although some register based on region or family influence.
So we have a system where each party nominates a candidate which effectively restricts the voters choices. Those candidates are often picked in primaries by the groups most angry and generally more radicalized than the general electorate. This leads to elections where many feel the choices are both bad.
The 2016 election shows what happens when an old school candidate faces off against a more radical opponent. Hillary Clinton of course had baggage but was clearly well qualified. However being too establishment and not "progressive" enough left her vulnerable to apathy among voters she needed. Her lose was really based on a very small number of voters in key states which is most likely due to a lack of enthusiasm among some of her base.
The mid-terms may be characterized by a whole different dynamic, it remains to be seen, but the radicalization of America is going to continue. Its sort of built in.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Lies and Respect
Its becoming harder and harder to keep up with the lies being crated at recent campaign rallies.
He has no restraint and is willing to completely fabricate things such as a mythical tax cut proposal, Democrats funding the refugee caravan, riots in California, Puerto Rico using disaster relief to pay national debts, etc. etc. etc.
I don't know if anyone believes any of this, I guess some will, but it has to be a pretty small group by now.
Some of his behavior comes across as somewhat desperate attempts to retain majorities in the House and Senate and based on the current state of things, he might actually be successful.
Public figures in this country have generally lost the respect of the public and with a clown president is it any wonder.
This is in fact the result of negative campaigning which seems to be the only actual campaigning that works.
Gallup finds 21% of U.S. adults approving and 73% disapproving of the way Congress is handling its job. The current president has never been over 50% approval.
In recent Gallup polls the number one issue identified by Americans is Government and Leadership.
None of the leaders of either party garners much respect. The attacks have reached new lows in many cases and aren't likely to abate.
This lack of trust in our Government and leadership is problematic.
It makes it hard to form any sort of national consensus and while certainly open debate of issues is desirable this constant attack of individuals is unprecedented.
It will require a significant change in behavior by our politicians before it improves.
Not sure that is going to happen any time soon.
He has no restraint and is willing to completely fabricate things such as a mythical tax cut proposal, Democrats funding the refugee caravan, riots in California, Puerto Rico using disaster relief to pay national debts, etc. etc. etc.
I don't know if anyone believes any of this, I guess some will, but it has to be a pretty small group by now.
Some of his behavior comes across as somewhat desperate attempts to retain majorities in the House and Senate and based on the current state of things, he might actually be successful.
Public figures in this country have generally lost the respect of the public and with a clown president is it any wonder.
This is in fact the result of negative campaigning which seems to be the only actual campaigning that works.
Gallup finds 21% of U.S. adults approving and 73% disapproving of the way Congress is handling its job. The current president has never been over 50% approval.
In recent Gallup polls the number one issue identified by Americans is Government and Leadership.
None of the leaders of either party garners much respect. The attacks have reached new lows in many cases and aren't likely to abate.
This lack of trust in our Government and leadership is problematic.
It makes it hard to form any sort of national consensus and while certainly open debate of issues is desirable this constant attack of individuals is unprecedented.
It will require a significant change in behavior by our politicians before it improves.
Not sure that is going to happen any time soon.
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Fiction and Reality
At this point in the election cycle we see fictional promises of tax cuts, accusations without merit and other outright lies in an attempt to sway voters or energize the Republican base.
Whether any of it will work remains to be seen, no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public, but some of the ranting fail any rational test.
The administration trumpeted about how it had reduced illegal immigration until it hadn't and then blamed the Democrats.
The great tax cut that did for little for the American public was a great success, until it wasn't and now they will pass a new one.
The deficit was going to be eliminated during his first term except it won't be and is in fact growing.
We are going to get respect from other nations, as soon as they stop laughing at us during a UN session
North Korea was going to eliminate its nuclear weapons, except it isn't.
He was going to fix health care, except it turned out to be complicated, at least for him.
In addition to being a sexual abuser himself, as caught on tape, he supports sexual abusers for significant appointments and makes fun of their victims.
He apparently thinks illegal aliens who get over the border are immediately allowed to vote.
He has disrupted the lives of the "Dreamers" who are in most cases as American as anyone and should be treated fairly.
He was going to expose the fraudulent voting, except he couldn't find any.
Its clear why his businesses have gone bankrupt multiple times, he doesn't understand the relationship between income and expenditures.
The fact that the economy is doing well, as it was when he entered office, is something, but it seems like he is trying to disrupt it and he hasn't fundamentally changed anything.
Well, he has added a lot of acrimony to the nation, its at an all time high.
Whether any of it will work remains to be seen, no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public, but some of the ranting fail any rational test.
The administration trumpeted about how it had reduced illegal immigration until it hadn't and then blamed the Democrats.
The great tax cut that did for little for the American public was a great success, until it wasn't and now they will pass a new one.
The deficit was going to be eliminated during his first term except it won't be and is in fact growing.
We are going to get respect from other nations, as soon as they stop laughing at us during a UN session
North Korea was going to eliminate its nuclear weapons, except it isn't.
He was going to fix health care, except it turned out to be complicated, at least for him.
In addition to being a sexual abuser himself, as caught on tape, he supports sexual abusers for significant appointments and makes fun of their victims.
He apparently thinks illegal aliens who get over the border are immediately allowed to vote.
He has disrupted the lives of the "Dreamers" who are in most cases as American as anyone and should be treated fairly.
He was going to expose the fraudulent voting, except he couldn't find any.
Its clear why his businesses have gone bankrupt multiple times, he doesn't understand the relationship between income and expenditures.
The fact that the economy is doing well, as it was when he entered office, is something, but it seems like he is trying to disrupt it and he hasn't fundamentally changed anything.
Well, he has added a lot of acrimony to the nation, its at an all time high.
Monday, October 22, 2018
Legal Discrimination?
Sometimes you see something that just makes you wonder.
There is apparently a proposal circulating in administration to define sex as what is on your original birth certificate.
This will essentially deny transgender and others who redefine their gender identities of certain rights and protections.
I gather this is to appease certain Evangelical sects that find this conflicts with the bible, which for them is fine, but we are not supposed to have a national religion.
I honestly will admit the current status of gender identity isn't something I really understand except to believe based on current knowledge that the individuals face significant challenges in their lives already.
However the idea of subjecting them to discrimination for political purposes is just unacceptable.
Those who argue that treating them as the gender they identify as conflicts with the "natural order of things" or subjects "normal" children and people to inappropriate situations.
That natural order of things has been used to justify so many practices, such as slavery, or sexual abuse that we now know are not the "natural order" of things. Other things like bisexuality are in fact part of the natural order of things, but not the only part.
I haven't seen any evidence that people with gender issues are causing problems for others. They are historically the ones who have been the victims because they are different.
To take a step back and subject them to legal issues related to their natural lifestyle is opening the door to other abuses by the Government.
Lets hope it doesn't happen.
There is apparently a proposal circulating in administration to define sex as what is on your original birth certificate.
This will essentially deny transgender and others who redefine their gender identities of certain rights and protections.
I gather this is to appease certain Evangelical sects that find this conflicts with the bible, which for them is fine, but we are not supposed to have a national religion.
I honestly will admit the current status of gender identity isn't something I really understand except to believe based on current knowledge that the individuals face significant challenges in their lives already.
However the idea of subjecting them to discrimination for political purposes is just unacceptable.
Those who argue that treating them as the gender they identify as conflicts with the "natural order of things" or subjects "normal" children and people to inappropriate situations.
That natural order of things has been used to justify so many practices, such as slavery, or sexual abuse that we now know are not the "natural order" of things. Other things like bisexuality are in fact part of the natural order of things, but not the only part.
I haven't seen any evidence that people with gender issues are causing problems for others. They are historically the ones who have been the victims because they are different.
To take a step back and subject them to legal issues related to their natural lifestyle is opening the door to other abuses by the Government.
Lets hope it doesn't happen.
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Election Tax Cut Promise?
So with the prospect of losing at least the house while running a massive deficit, we see an attempt to buy votes via the promise of a tax cut for middle earners.
Of course we can expect to hear rhetoric like if you want to see this tax cut, vote for us.
Sadly it might work to some extent with his base who ignore the fact that they want to gut the programs they rely on like Social Security, Medicare, and others.
In fact for much if not most of his base, what they pay in federal taxes is probably not very significant, although of course taxes are unpopular.
Its also almost certain that any such cuts enacted would disproportionately favor high earners and probably businesses.
It should be noted that this administration has managed to increase the deficit and the trade deficit while pretending to address them.
The trade deficit is impacted since its easier to buy certain agricultural products elsewhere than to switch supply chains.
The fiscal deficit is the result of the spending increases and the tax cuts enacted.
We are also seeing an increase in interest rates that is going to hurt.
Its been a theme that has sold well, except that most of us realize that taxes aren't the onerous problem the Republicans make them out to be.
Most people realize that you need at least some Government and that you have to pay for it.
Still taxes are and will always be unpopular, although many people look forward to their tax refunds as a little extra cash they can use. Of course it was always their money but having and extra couple of bucks each pa check is not as good as a few hundred once a year.
We aren't the best savers.
Of course we can expect to hear rhetoric like if you want to see this tax cut, vote for us.
Sadly it might work to some extent with his base who ignore the fact that they want to gut the programs they rely on like Social Security, Medicare, and others.
In fact for much if not most of his base, what they pay in federal taxes is probably not very significant, although of course taxes are unpopular.
Its also almost certain that any such cuts enacted would disproportionately favor high earners and probably businesses.
It should be noted that this administration has managed to increase the deficit and the trade deficit while pretending to address them.
The trade deficit is impacted since its easier to buy certain agricultural products elsewhere than to switch supply chains.
The fiscal deficit is the result of the spending increases and the tax cuts enacted.
We are also seeing an increase in interest rates that is going to hurt.
Its been a theme that has sold well, except that most of us realize that taxes aren't the onerous problem the Republicans make them out to be.
Most people realize that you need at least some Government and that you have to pay for it.
Still taxes are and will always be unpopular, although many people look forward to their tax refunds as a little extra cash they can use. Of course it was always their money but having and extra couple of bucks each pa check is not as good as a few hundred once a year.
We aren't the best savers.
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Eye of the Needle?
I'm not an expert on every religion but I believe most if not all have provisions about how to deal with people less fortunate than you, and in general you are supposed to help them as best you can.
Yet so many people who claim to be religious object to doing just that, at lest when the Government does it.
Some might argue that Government programs don't properly identify the needy or that they are inefficient, but it would seem wouldn't apply when talking about refugees from war zones or people suffering from identifiable diseases.
It of course starts to strike home when it involves things like cuts to Social Security or Medicare, which isn't perceived in the same way.
The objection seems to be to the payment of taxes the use to help others.
Our so called entitlement programs.
Now many of us don't think of Social Security as an entitlement program, but its not a savings plan.
Its designed to give a proportionately higher benefit to lower income earners which makes it a calculated progressive benefit.
Everyone does contribute to it but if it was converted into something like a 401K program, poor workers would be harmed greatly while higher income earners would do better.
One of the reasons its popular with the Republicans.
People who claim to be religious folk mostly.
Other entitlement programs like food stamps, Medicaid, Affordable Health Insurance etc are also under attack by these folks who appear to worship the almighty dollar more than any religious principle such as feed the hungry, comfort the sick or help the poor.
They hear these things on Sunday but they just don't seem to be paying attention.
Yet so many people who claim to be religious object to doing just that, at lest when the Government does it.
Some might argue that Government programs don't properly identify the needy or that they are inefficient, but it would seem wouldn't apply when talking about refugees from war zones or people suffering from identifiable diseases.
It of course starts to strike home when it involves things like cuts to Social Security or Medicare, which isn't perceived in the same way.
The objection seems to be to the payment of taxes the use to help others.
Our so called entitlement programs.
Now many of us don't think of Social Security as an entitlement program, but its not a savings plan.
Its designed to give a proportionately higher benefit to lower income earners which makes it a calculated progressive benefit.
Everyone does contribute to it but if it was converted into something like a 401K program, poor workers would be harmed greatly while higher income earners would do better.
One of the reasons its popular with the Republicans.
People who claim to be religious folk mostly.
Other entitlement programs like food stamps, Medicaid, Affordable Health Insurance etc are also under attack by these folks who appear to worship the almighty dollar more than any religious principle such as feed the hungry, comfort the sick or help the poor.
They hear these things on Sunday but they just don't seem to be paying attention.
Friday, October 19, 2018
Simply Getting By
By many measure the economy is doing very well with profits up, unemployment low and interest rates and inflation manageable.
Of course some indicators such as the deficit and wage increase aren't as healthy as they should be in a booming economy.
Many Americans have almost no savings and are certainly unprepared for retirement. If fact for many, a comfortable retirement is an impossibility.
This is because economic inequality has grown as high paying low skill jobs have been replaced by technology and automation but skilled employees are in great demand.
The obvious answer it to provide the needed skills to those displaced and some program were created along those lines, but they are not nearly enough.
The reason is varied but the result is that people have taken lower paying service jobs, sometime more than one, to support their families and themselves or alternately have started abusing opiates.
It was this group that influence the last election in certain states because they have a built up anger about the changes impacting them.
America is a hard country to do poorly in, you tend to be surrounded by images of the prosperous world that many live in.
If you consider places like Flint Michigan or any of the old industrial powerhouses, they have never really recovered from the closing of those factories with their high paying jobs and benefits.
Minimum wage and Medicaid, if you qualify, are no real substitute.
These are the victims of our technology revolution and we haven't found a good way to help them transition.
They are simply getting by.
Of course some indicators such as the deficit and wage increase aren't as healthy as they should be in a booming economy.
Many Americans have almost no savings and are certainly unprepared for retirement. If fact for many, a comfortable retirement is an impossibility.
This is because economic inequality has grown as high paying low skill jobs have been replaced by technology and automation but skilled employees are in great demand.
The obvious answer it to provide the needed skills to those displaced and some program were created along those lines, but they are not nearly enough.
The reason is varied but the result is that people have taken lower paying service jobs, sometime more than one, to support their families and themselves or alternately have started abusing opiates.
It was this group that influence the last election in certain states because they have a built up anger about the changes impacting them.
America is a hard country to do poorly in, you tend to be surrounded by images of the prosperous world that many live in.
If you consider places like Flint Michigan or any of the old industrial powerhouses, they have never really recovered from the closing of those factories with their high paying jobs and benefits.
Minimum wage and Medicaid, if you qualify, are no real substitute.
These are the victims of our technology revolution and we haven't found a good way to help them transition.
They are simply getting by.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Legacy?
Most people want to see their children, grandchildren and further descendants thrive.
It is probably our strongest instinctual feeling, since not caring for your offspring means they are unlikely to survive in nature.
We tend to think of their success in material and family terms but what good does any of that do if they inhabit a world more and more uninhabitable?
Its odd as people look at the world they live in and generally all they see are man-made cities, man-designed farms, man-designed livestock and pets and still deny that mankind is having an impact on this world.
Consider the air pollution and smog that we have in certain areas, the water contamination, the extinct species that can be associated directly with our activities. Is it really hard to imagine that we are impacting the atmosphere as well, introducing or reintroducing carbon that wouldn't be there if not for us?
Climate change deniers are simply ignoring reality.
Yes the climate is also impacted by natural causes but those exist with or without us.
What we add is in addition to those causes and we have interrupted the natural order of events.
We are creating and have already created a new normal where the world is warmer and therefore has more energy.
Events that used to happen every 500 years are happening almost annually.
We have calculated the impact and our time is starting to run out, yet we do very little.
There is a saying that forewarned is forearmed.
In our case we are forewarned but foolishly doing almost nothing.
Unfortunately, the ones who will really suffer are future generations, our descendants.
What kind of legacy is that?
It is probably our strongest instinctual feeling, since not caring for your offspring means they are unlikely to survive in nature.
We tend to think of their success in material and family terms but what good does any of that do if they inhabit a world more and more uninhabitable?
Its odd as people look at the world they live in and generally all they see are man-made cities, man-designed farms, man-designed livestock and pets and still deny that mankind is having an impact on this world.
Consider the air pollution and smog that we have in certain areas, the water contamination, the extinct species that can be associated directly with our activities. Is it really hard to imagine that we are impacting the atmosphere as well, introducing or reintroducing carbon that wouldn't be there if not for us?
Climate change deniers are simply ignoring reality.
Yes the climate is also impacted by natural causes but those exist with or without us.
What we add is in addition to those causes and we have interrupted the natural order of events.
We are creating and have already created a new normal where the world is warmer and therefore has more energy.
Events that used to happen every 500 years are happening almost annually.
We have calculated the impact and our time is starting to run out, yet we do very little.
There is a saying that forewarned is forearmed.
In our case we are forewarned but foolishly doing almost nothing.
Unfortunately, the ones who will really suffer are future generations, our descendants.
What kind of legacy is that?
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Real Issues
Thee are real issues that need to be addressed in America and none of them are related to what percentage of Native American anyone is.
Improving health care and providing adequate affordable care to all is important.
Making sure our immigration policy is sound and effective is another, and the use of a wall is probably not the answer.
Having a sound foreign policy that supports our allies and promotes world peace is another.
Making sure everybody gets treated equally no matter what race, religion or nationality they are.
Find affordable education opportunities for all our young while assuring teachers get adequate pay.
Supporting and enhancing law enforcement while making sure they apply the law fairly to all.
Balancing our expenditures and income so we can have a sound financial future gong forward.
Finding ways to eliminate the horrible incidents of mass shootings while making sure our citizens are allowed to safely own guns.
Improving our economy and providing opportunities for all our residents to find gainful employment if they are able.
Moving toward sustainable energy to limit the impact of climate change and reducing pollution.
Repairing or replacing our infrastructure to help commerce and industry.
Improving trade which generally is best done without tariffs.
Improving health care and providing adequate affordable care to all is important.
Making sure our immigration policy is sound and effective is another, and the use of a wall is probably not the answer.
Having a sound foreign policy that supports our allies and promotes world peace is another.
Making sure everybody gets treated equally no matter what race, religion or nationality they are.
Find affordable education opportunities for all our young while assuring teachers get adequate pay.
Supporting and enhancing law enforcement while making sure they apply the law fairly to all.
Balancing our expenditures and income so we can have a sound financial future gong forward.
Finding ways to eliminate the horrible incidents of mass shootings while making sure our citizens are allowed to safely own guns.
Improving our economy and providing opportunities for all our residents to find gainful employment if they are able.
Moving toward sustainable energy to limit the impact of climate change and reducing pollution.
Repairing or replacing our infrastructure to help commerce and industry.
Improving trade which generally is best done without tariffs.
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Immigrants Made America Great
There is a narrative about how immigrants and refugees to this country come here to get generous handouts and benefits.
Certainly refugees get some help considering the fact that they are fleeing dangerous situations but immigrants , not so much.
Immigrants by and large are hard working, if struggling people who are trying to make a better life for their families.
If they come here illegally they generally get few , if any, benefits although their children are allowed to go to school generally. Of course they are required to stay undetected.
If you look at the numbers they generally pay various taxes, sales taxes, social security taxes and income taxes without receiving the benefits associated with them. Yes I suppose they benefit in the same way any other resident does from things like police protection, trash collection, etc. but not anything special and certainly not free Government programs.
legal residents on the other hand generally are eligible for most of the benefits a citizen is, except of course the right to vote.
Because they often end up in low paying jobs they o qualify in many cases for Medicaid and Food Stamps, but that is certainly not a luxurious suite of benefits.
Most civilized countries provide health care to all their people and Medicaid is in general not anything special.
Food stamps are probably the benefit they qualify for the most, but it isn't much of a handout or incentive to come here.
What they do get is the opportunity to build a future by working hard and giving their families some security often not available in their native countries.
This is the same as previous immigrants and what has made us the country we are today.
Certainly refugees get some help considering the fact that they are fleeing dangerous situations but immigrants , not so much.
Immigrants by and large are hard working, if struggling people who are trying to make a better life for their families.
If they come here illegally they generally get few , if any, benefits although their children are allowed to go to school generally. Of course they are required to stay undetected.
If you look at the numbers they generally pay various taxes, sales taxes, social security taxes and income taxes without receiving the benefits associated with them. Yes I suppose they benefit in the same way any other resident does from things like police protection, trash collection, etc. but not anything special and certainly not free Government programs.
legal residents on the other hand generally are eligible for most of the benefits a citizen is, except of course the right to vote.
Because they often end up in low paying jobs they o qualify in many cases for Medicaid and Food Stamps, but that is certainly not a luxurious suite of benefits.
Most civilized countries provide health care to all their people and Medicaid is in general not anything special.
Food stamps are probably the benefit they qualify for the most, but it isn't much of a handout or incentive to come here.
What they do get is the opportunity to build a future by working hard and giving their families some security often not available in their native countries.
This is the same as previous immigrants and what has made us the country we are today.
Monday, October 15, 2018
Climate
Once again the dontard has gone on National TV and acted like all the scientists in the world are conspiring together about climate change.
The idea that the data itself is making them all draw the same conclusions apparently didn't occur to him.
He appears to be one of the remaining few who hold to that opinion and his belief seems to be that it is some sort of attempt to get us to lose some competitive advantage.
The biggest competitive advantage would be to shift as much energy into renewable since it would require absolutely no imports.
We are going to need to continue to harness some fossil fuels and logically they should be the cleanest ones possible which in never coal.
It is possible to use coal if we scrub the emissions or capture the carbon, but to continue to burn it recklessly is to invite large scale glacier melting and rising sea levels.
Its a mystery to the dontard and he thinks it might just reverse itself.
The part that is due to natural causes does vary, but our emissions of carbon into the atmosphere is a one way street.
It also looks like we may be seeing an uptick in volcanic activity which is natures way of releasing carbon.
Fake news, fake science are not problems.
Fake politicians are.
The idea that the data itself is making them all draw the same conclusions apparently didn't occur to him.
He appears to be one of the remaining few who hold to that opinion and his belief seems to be that it is some sort of attempt to get us to lose some competitive advantage.
The biggest competitive advantage would be to shift as much energy into renewable since it would require absolutely no imports.
We are going to need to continue to harness some fossil fuels and logically they should be the cleanest ones possible which in never coal.
It is possible to use coal if we scrub the emissions or capture the carbon, but to continue to burn it recklessly is to invite large scale glacier melting and rising sea levels.
Its a mystery to the dontard and he thinks it might just reverse itself.
The part that is due to natural causes does vary, but our emissions of carbon into the atmosphere is a one way street.
It also looks like we may be seeing an uptick in volcanic activity which is natures way of releasing carbon.
Fake news, fake science are not problems.
Fake politicians are.
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Right To Vote
The one fundamental thing that defines a democracy is the right to vote.
This means everybody and while of course it means you don't always get the result you want the result you do get is democracy.
When you see one of the parties doing every thing it can to restrict voting by certain demographics to try to assure they can retain control it is not democracy it is dirty tricks.
The problem facing Republicans is that they are the party of certain demographics, rich white people and moderately educated white people.
The appeal to the first group is that they will protect their assets and increase them.
The appeal to the second group varies, it is based on some social issues and fear of change.
This demographic has been the one most hurt in many ways by the change in our economy as jobs they could perform were often eliminated for robots or cheap foreign labor.
Their are jobs for them but they just don't pay as well. In addition, for many reasons, while they constituted the majority of voters in this country for much of its history, they are seeing new people, often non-white, replace them via immigration and birth rates.
Of course this is the same dynamic that has happened as different wave of immigration have come to this country throughout our history with similar reactions.
The Republicans are trying to restrict new voters, young or minority or even native Americans, who they feel will vote against them. Its a long term losing battle but it can help in the short term. To the extent they suppressed even a small percentage of voters in the last election, it may have swung the election.
All Americans should defend the right to vote, it is our primary role in Democracy and if they restrict anyone they in some sense restrict us all. Even those we don't agree with are entitled to vote. Many have sacrificed too much defending it to lose it.
This means everybody and while of course it means you don't always get the result you want the result you do get is democracy.
When you see one of the parties doing every thing it can to restrict voting by certain demographics to try to assure they can retain control it is not democracy it is dirty tricks.
The problem facing Republicans is that they are the party of certain demographics, rich white people and moderately educated white people.
The appeal to the first group is that they will protect their assets and increase them.
The appeal to the second group varies, it is based on some social issues and fear of change.
This demographic has been the one most hurt in many ways by the change in our economy as jobs they could perform were often eliminated for robots or cheap foreign labor.
Their are jobs for them but they just don't pay as well. In addition, for many reasons, while they constituted the majority of voters in this country for much of its history, they are seeing new people, often non-white, replace them via immigration and birth rates.
Of course this is the same dynamic that has happened as different wave of immigration have come to this country throughout our history with similar reactions.
The Republicans are trying to restrict new voters, young or minority or even native Americans, who they feel will vote against them. Its a long term losing battle but it can help in the short term. To the extent they suppressed even a small percentage of voters in the last election, it may have swung the election.
All Americans should defend the right to vote, it is our primary role in Democracy and if they restrict anyone they in some sense restrict us all. Even those we don't agree with are entitled to vote. Many have sacrificed too much defending it to lose it.
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Health Care
Health care as an issue has become form the polls something that benefits the Democrats.
The Republicans are trying to paint the proposals by Bernie Sanders about universal Medicare as a expensive socialist Democratic proposal but it remains to be seen how successful that is.
What voters discovered after the Republicans tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act is that they like an awful lot of it.
This just shows how poorly it was explained to them when it was first passed.
Many Americans were sold on it being a Government takeover of health care with 'death panel", loss of choice, terrible coverage and restrictions on treatment when it was none of those things.
The benefits it provided have become clear to the public over time and the disasters predicted never happened.
This isn't going to stop the lies and propaganda from the republicans and the faux fox network but the public has seen it in action and likes what they see, in general.
The party of the few is forced to use lies and deception to convince the many that it cares about them.
It simply doesn't, except for their votes.
.
The Republicans are trying to paint the proposals by Bernie Sanders about universal Medicare as a expensive socialist Democratic proposal but it remains to be seen how successful that is.
What voters discovered after the Republicans tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act is that they like an awful lot of it.
This just shows how poorly it was explained to them when it was first passed.
Many Americans were sold on it being a Government takeover of health care with 'death panel", loss of choice, terrible coverage and restrictions on treatment when it was none of those things.
The benefits it provided have become clear to the public over time and the disasters predicted never happened.
This isn't going to stop the lies and propaganda from the republicans and the faux fox network but the public has seen it in action and likes what they see, in general.
The party of the few is forced to use lies and deception to convince the many that it cares about them.
It simply doesn't, except for their votes.
.
Friday, October 12, 2018
Columbus Day
I realize we celebrate or don't celebrate the accomplishments of Columbus on a different day and I also realize that because we switched calendars since 1492 the day is somewhat deceptive it is still the calendar day that the original landings were made using the calendar of the time.
While once a celebrated event there is a lot of revisionist history indicating how this discovery led to the reduction of the native populations and the exploitation of the Americas by Europeans.
Of course the idea of the voyage was to find a way to exploit the lucrative spice trade with the East not to subjugate the inhabitants, and from that respect it was a tremendous failure, although it changed the world dramatically.
His belief that the world was round and that the east could be reached by sailing west was correct except for the barrier in the way.
It also was farther than he thought it was.
Was he a hero?
In some regards depending on how you define a hero. He was interested in exploiting a new way to make money in the spice trade so he is probably best considered an entrepreneur and opportunist.
Was he a villain?
Probably no more than other Europeans at the time.
Yes his actions led to the brutal death and enslavement of millions of native Americans but certainly that was never his intent. Much like Pandora, once the box was open the consequences were likely inevitable considering the attitudes and differences in technology of the time.
He was at the very least brave enough to lead the expedition and lead it successfully despite the uncertainty of the result.
The world would likely be a very different place without him, although you would think the discovery of the Americas would have happened at some point anyways.
While once a celebrated event there is a lot of revisionist history indicating how this discovery led to the reduction of the native populations and the exploitation of the Americas by Europeans.
Of course the idea of the voyage was to find a way to exploit the lucrative spice trade with the East not to subjugate the inhabitants, and from that respect it was a tremendous failure, although it changed the world dramatically.
His belief that the world was round and that the east could be reached by sailing west was correct except for the barrier in the way.
It also was farther than he thought it was.
Was he a hero?
In some regards depending on how you define a hero. He was interested in exploiting a new way to make money in the spice trade so he is probably best considered an entrepreneur and opportunist.
Was he a villain?
Probably no more than other Europeans at the time.
Yes his actions led to the brutal death and enslavement of millions of native Americans but certainly that was never his intent. Much like Pandora, once the box was open the consequences were likely inevitable considering the attitudes and differences in technology of the time.
He was at the very least brave enough to lead the expedition and lead it successfully despite the uncertainty of the result.
The world would likely be a very different place without him, although you would think the discovery of the Americas would have happened at some point anyways.
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Government Role
In many ways the economy is doing well, but in some other ways not so much.
It was always clear from the demographics that we would have a bit of a labor shortage after the baby boomers started to retire and to some extent that is driving the low unemployment.
However, many of them are not prepared for retirement so I guess they are either staying in their current jobs or finding new ones.
We have seen a transition from a manual labor manufacturing model to a more robotic, technical one and that has disrupted a lot of rust belt jobs. Those jobs aren't coming back even as we add some manufacturing jobs to our lowered base. Unskilled labor is simply not going to command the wages it once did. This is in many ways a positive trend for the economy and growth although not for those specific workers.
The issue there is that the profits are being unequally distributed with the displaced workers getting very little transition assistance as we reduce the Government programs that could have helped them.
This uneven distribution of wealth is probably the greatest threat to our country as it attacks the very foundation of our middle class society.
The best way to fix it is via Government programs as in Europe where certain expenses such as health care and pensions are centralized allowing people to have less expenses.
Of course those type of programs are an attack on wealthy people who would be subsidizing the poor.
Should the Government serve as the provider of certain services or not?
We are somewhere in the middle and right now we are saying no, in general.
However, the level of income inequality shows how our current approach is failing, so the times they may be a changing.
It was always clear from the demographics that we would have a bit of a labor shortage after the baby boomers started to retire and to some extent that is driving the low unemployment.
However, many of them are not prepared for retirement so I guess they are either staying in their current jobs or finding new ones.
We have seen a transition from a manual labor manufacturing model to a more robotic, technical one and that has disrupted a lot of rust belt jobs. Those jobs aren't coming back even as we add some manufacturing jobs to our lowered base. Unskilled labor is simply not going to command the wages it once did. This is in many ways a positive trend for the economy and growth although not for those specific workers.
The issue there is that the profits are being unequally distributed with the displaced workers getting very little transition assistance as we reduce the Government programs that could have helped them.
This uneven distribution of wealth is probably the greatest threat to our country as it attacks the very foundation of our middle class society.
The best way to fix it is via Government programs as in Europe where certain expenses such as health care and pensions are centralized allowing people to have less expenses.
Of course those type of programs are an attack on wealthy people who would be subsidizing the poor.
Should the Government serve as the provider of certain services or not?
We are somewhere in the middle and right now we are saying no, in general.
However, the level of income inequality shows how our current approach is failing, so the times they may be a changing.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Borrowing
Its not talked about much by fiscally conservative republicans, but thanks to the tax cuts and rise in interest rates we are headed towards record deficit levels for a non recession year.
The deficits and national debt are sort of like climate change and many other problems, in that they get harder and harder to fix over time.
In general under the approach adopted by this administration, the cuts and other policies are going to stir so much growth that the revenues from the reduced tax rates will actually exceed the prior revenues.
This is not happening at this time and the Congressional Budget Office or pretty much any other economist is not projecting it to happen.
Instead the deficits are projected to grow consistently over time.
One of the problems with them is that the more we owe the more we pay in interest on them.
Clearly most Americans would probably object to paying taxes to pay interest on prior debts.
However, we are.
Also, as interest rates rise, and the Fed is starting to tighten monetary policy, the cost will go up further increasing the deficit.
The latest projection for the interest was over $300 billion and its not decreasing.
Paying off the debt is not even being talked abut seriously and the only way to do it would be to run budget surpluses leading to decreased debt.
The cuts required to do that would have to include the biggest expenditures, and there is no clear intent to do that. In fact we see big increases in defense spending and changes in social security due to demographics.
The ultimate consequences of deficits like this will at some point mean fiscal austerity as programs are cut and spending is controlled, or alternately rampant inflation.
We are living on borrowed money and borrowed time.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
The Greater Good
The latest report concerning the impact of human activity on Climate Change warns us that time is running out to prevent fairly catastrophic and expensive changes.
They cite a goal of limiting warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius to avoid the worst impacts.
The issue is that we are already pretty far down the rabbit hole on this and the impact of the carbon in the air is already causing consequences.
You can read the press release they issued below.
Climate Change Press Release
The odds of the current administration taking any of this seriously is slim indeed and its easy to understand why. It gets a lot of its support from the energy businesses that are reluctant to do anything that might eat into current profitability for future benefit.
This attitude isn't limited to that sector of our economy, most American industry is married to relatively short term profitability goals, not the state of the planet 10 years from now.
That is why the Governments have to force their hand by creating a level regulatory playing field so that companies that invest in a cleaner climate don't lose business to those who don't.
We instead are eliminating clean air regulations and allowing them to make additional short term profits while risking the future of all of us and our children.
It is true that these regulations cost money which makes the use of these fuels less profitable as they have to compete against renewable sources of energy.
It also lets us breathe better and keeps the water out of our basements.
Government should serve the needs of the many, not the few, even if the few has the most money for campaign donations.
They cite a goal of limiting warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius to avoid the worst impacts.
The issue is that we are already pretty far down the rabbit hole on this and the impact of the carbon in the air is already causing consequences.
You can read the press release they issued below.
Climate Change Press Release
The odds of the current administration taking any of this seriously is slim indeed and its easy to understand why. It gets a lot of its support from the energy businesses that are reluctant to do anything that might eat into current profitability for future benefit.
This attitude isn't limited to that sector of our economy, most American industry is married to relatively short term profitability goals, not the state of the planet 10 years from now.
That is why the Governments have to force their hand by creating a level regulatory playing field so that companies that invest in a cleaner climate don't lose business to those who don't.
We instead are eliminating clean air regulations and allowing them to make additional short term profits while risking the future of all of us and our children.
It is true that these regulations cost money which makes the use of these fuels less profitable as they have to compete against renewable sources of energy.
It also lets us breathe better and keeps the water out of our basements.
Government should serve the needs of the many, not the few, even if the few has the most money for campaign donations.
Monday, October 8, 2018
Pursuit of Happiness
I grew up in an America where what people did in private or even in public was pretty much their own business unless of course it directly impacted others.
The city was filled with people and stores where customs and even the languages spoken were extremely diverse.
Depending on where you were you could hear Italian, Spanish, Yiddish, Chinese or any number of other languages being spoken.
Yes English was the common language that everybody used to communicate with "others" but either because it was more comfortable or more private they talked among themselves in their native languages often.
No one cared.
Well maybe some people did, but they would be few and far between.
Similarly, people practiced various religions, or no religion at all and while the ones who followed the wrong religion were possibly dooming their immortal souls, it wasn't much of a public issue.
There were of course certain things that weren't socially acceptable and generally homosexuality was kept pretty private in most areas.
That has changed over time.
I'm sure it was too long a time for those who were discriminated against.
This is a country where the promise is that every man and woman is entitle to pursue happiness, it is an inalienable right, granted by the creator and which Governments are created to protect.
We, the people need to defend that right, not attack it because it is different than how we pursue happiness.
If you are a real American.
The city was filled with people and stores where customs and even the languages spoken were extremely diverse.
Depending on where you were you could hear Italian, Spanish, Yiddish, Chinese or any number of other languages being spoken.
Yes English was the common language that everybody used to communicate with "others" but either because it was more comfortable or more private they talked among themselves in their native languages often.
No one cared.
Well maybe some people did, but they would be few and far between.
Similarly, people practiced various religions, or no religion at all and while the ones who followed the wrong religion were possibly dooming their immortal souls, it wasn't much of a public issue.
There were of course certain things that weren't socially acceptable and generally homosexuality was kept pretty private in most areas.
That has changed over time.
I'm sure it was too long a time for those who were discriminated against.
This is a country where the promise is that every man and woman is entitle to pursue happiness, it is an inalienable right, granted by the creator and which Governments are created to protect.
We, the people need to defend that right, not attack it because it is different than how we pursue happiness.
If you are a real American.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Real Americans
It remains to be seen how the public reacts to the recent controversy over the Supreme Court but it is clear that the Court is now fundamentally different than it has been in quite a while.
This is a reminder about how elections matter.
Obviously some are happy with the turn of events and they may remain happy for many years to come.
The real issue is whether America is in fact reverting to a conservative ethic or if we are seeing the results of a clever well financed plan to manipulate the political landscape.
The appeal is to older white American who have been convinced that the America they grew up in is being destroyed by progressives who want to make the country a haven for people who don't "deserve" it.
Its that word that tends to resonate and which of course is entirely subjective.
For those who were fortunate enough to be born into this country in a traditional type of family, somehow that makes you different than the newcomers or those who because of historical circumstances grew up in urban ghettos often in single parent homes.
There has been an initiative to overcome some of these historical forces and allow disadvantaged people to have similar opportunities to mainstream Americans but this is viewed as preferential treatment and they should have to earn their place in America.
How they are supposed to do this when blatant discrimination and bigotry has kept them in a cycle of poverty and crime from the day they were born is difficult to fathom.
Still they shouldn't be handed things on a platter when it comes at the expense of real Americans.
In addition we have all these people with perverted values about lifestyles and families who are demanding the right to live their lives freely without prejudice.
Fairness and equality for all, how un-American can you get?
This is a reminder about how elections matter.
Obviously some are happy with the turn of events and they may remain happy for many years to come.
The real issue is whether America is in fact reverting to a conservative ethic or if we are seeing the results of a clever well financed plan to manipulate the political landscape.
The appeal is to older white American who have been convinced that the America they grew up in is being destroyed by progressives who want to make the country a haven for people who don't "deserve" it.
Its that word that tends to resonate and which of course is entirely subjective.
For those who were fortunate enough to be born into this country in a traditional type of family, somehow that makes you different than the newcomers or those who because of historical circumstances grew up in urban ghettos often in single parent homes.
There has been an initiative to overcome some of these historical forces and allow disadvantaged people to have similar opportunities to mainstream Americans but this is viewed as preferential treatment and they should have to earn their place in America.
How they are supposed to do this when blatant discrimination and bigotry has kept them in a cycle of poverty and crime from the day they were born is difficult to fathom.
Still they shouldn't be handed things on a platter when it comes at the expense of real Americans.
In addition we have all these people with perverted values about lifestyles and families who are demanding the right to live their lives freely without prejudice.
Fairness and equality for all, how un-American can you get?
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Partisanship is Winning
Well sometime today it looks like someone who was a bit of a sexual predator and excess drinker in his younger days will be confirmed to the Supreme Court.
Maybe more disturbing than either of those things is the clear partisanship that he exhibits and has exhibited throughout his career.
Until fairly recently filibusters used to prevent nominees so obviously biased from being confirmed.
It wasn't a foolproof system but when you need 60 votes to move a nomination forward, you had to find someone who appealed at least a bit to the other party.
It was considered too important to let people like this get a lifetime appointment to the court that rules on issues that while clearly political in nature should be decided based on the Constitution and the law.
However the politicization of the Court has been going on for a while now and we see a lot of decisions come down to 5-4 votes, clearly indicating that the law is vague and the decision is driven by other considerations.
Its pretty clear that the constitution as written has a lot of areas that are challenged by modern life since it was originally written for a country that was primarily rural and developing.
Its held up pretty well but I'm pretty sure that the founders weren't thinking about assault rifles, abortion or gay rights when they wrote it.
Applying such a document to modern life shouldn't really be up to the courts, it should be done by the people or their representatives, but having an out of date document govern many decisions works to the advantage of some.
It has generally done a good job but it clearly could be improved in things like the electoral college among others. Of course I'm not sure we have agreement on how to fix it so we probably have to deal with a Supreme Court continuing to make policy because the Congress is unable to do so.
Maybe more disturbing than either of those things is the clear partisanship that he exhibits and has exhibited throughout his career.
Until fairly recently filibusters used to prevent nominees so obviously biased from being confirmed.
It wasn't a foolproof system but when you need 60 votes to move a nomination forward, you had to find someone who appealed at least a bit to the other party.
It was considered too important to let people like this get a lifetime appointment to the court that rules on issues that while clearly political in nature should be decided based on the Constitution and the law.
However the politicization of the Court has been going on for a while now and we see a lot of decisions come down to 5-4 votes, clearly indicating that the law is vague and the decision is driven by other considerations.
Its pretty clear that the constitution as written has a lot of areas that are challenged by modern life since it was originally written for a country that was primarily rural and developing.
Its held up pretty well but I'm pretty sure that the founders weren't thinking about assault rifles, abortion or gay rights when they wrote it.
Applying such a document to modern life shouldn't really be up to the courts, it should be done by the people or their representatives, but having an out of date document govern many decisions works to the advantage of some.
It has generally done a good job but it clearly could be improved in things like the electoral college among others. Of course I'm not sure we have agreement on how to fix it so we probably have to deal with a Supreme Court continuing to make policy because the Congress is unable to do so.
Friday, October 5, 2018
Being an American
I was just reading an article about a women in Florida who took offense at two women who were speaking Spanish to each other and accosted them.
Another women intervened and told her not to harass those women and the whole event escalated with the police eventually getting involved.
The original women who took offense got arrested apparently because she kept getting more and more outraged that the other "Americans" didn't agree with her.
Her position seemed to be that if you lived in this country you needed to learn English.
Or speak it, since it appears the women she accosted knew English but just felt more comfortable talking to each other in Spanish.
One of the things she was quoted as saying to the women who intervened was "You are going to lose this county"
This implies that some of us own this country and others are trying to take it away from us. that has happened before, ask native Americans, but this country has evolved through many waves of immigrants in the past and survived and will certainly survive our immigration from our neighbors to the South.
In fact, we may see a reverse immigration of sorts as many retirees seek sunny inexpensive places to live.
Imagine our outrage if they were accosted in a foreign country for speaking English?
The idea that anyone has a right to dictate another's legal behavior for any reason is about as un-American as it gets. The women who objected to the Spanish speakers has already lost her Americanism and is now simply a bigot trying to enforce absurd beliefs on others.
I doubt she will get it though.
Another women intervened and told her not to harass those women and the whole event escalated with the police eventually getting involved.
The original women who took offense got arrested apparently because she kept getting more and more outraged that the other "Americans" didn't agree with her.
Her position seemed to be that if you lived in this country you needed to learn English.
Or speak it, since it appears the women she accosted knew English but just felt more comfortable talking to each other in Spanish.
One of the things she was quoted as saying to the women who intervened was "You are going to lose this county"
This implies that some of us own this country and others are trying to take it away from us. that has happened before, ask native Americans, but this country has evolved through many waves of immigrants in the past and survived and will certainly survive our immigration from our neighbors to the South.
In fact, we may see a reverse immigration of sorts as many retirees seek sunny inexpensive places to live.
Imagine our outrage if they were accosted in a foreign country for speaking English?
The idea that anyone has a right to dictate another's legal behavior for any reason is about as un-American as it gets. The women who objected to the Spanish speakers has already lost her Americanism and is now simply a bigot trying to enforce absurd beliefs on others.
I doubt she will get it though.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Social Media
When you look at social media, or at least when I do, you see a lot of things posted multiple times by different people. This is because they shared the item.
A recent study showed that certain foreign entities to include Russia, created bogus web sites and targeted certain people who they knew would tend to share stories without verifying them.
In fact the more outrageous the story, the faster it tended to get shared.
These bogus sites would have very American sounding names and while it turns out the more successful ones tended to be far right ones, they also created far left ones.
This study showed that much of the acrimony we see on social media is in fact manufactured by these entities with the general objective of disrupting Americans.
The idea being, I gather, that the more we got entangled in domestic disputes the less likely we were to intervene in things like the Crimea invasion or China's activities in the South China Seas.
They would much prefer we get outraged over gun rights, or abortion, or immigration than over international items.
It was also aimed at discrediting certain politicians who were likely to oppose these actions in favor of ones who wouldn't.
In order words we were played and are still being played.
There was never a sex ring in a DC pizza parlor or never a plan to seize Americans guns. Our outrage over political correctness was manipulated and there wasn't a tremendous increase in disrespect for our flag.
There were and always will be some isolated events but the concept that there is a concerted conspiracy to erode our values is in fact a foreign agents attempt to do just that.
Don't just share things you see on the Internet, especially the ones that are most outrageous, unless you know they are true. Most aren't.
A recent study showed that certain foreign entities to include Russia, created bogus web sites and targeted certain people who they knew would tend to share stories without verifying them.
In fact the more outrageous the story, the faster it tended to get shared.
These bogus sites would have very American sounding names and while it turns out the more successful ones tended to be far right ones, they also created far left ones.
This study showed that much of the acrimony we see on social media is in fact manufactured by these entities with the general objective of disrupting Americans.
The idea being, I gather, that the more we got entangled in domestic disputes the less likely we were to intervene in things like the Crimea invasion or China's activities in the South China Seas.
They would much prefer we get outraged over gun rights, or abortion, or immigration than over international items.
It was also aimed at discrediting certain politicians who were likely to oppose these actions in favor of ones who wouldn't.
In order words we were played and are still being played.
There was never a sex ring in a DC pizza parlor or never a plan to seize Americans guns. Our outrage over political correctness was manipulated and there wasn't a tremendous increase in disrespect for our flag.
There were and always will be some isolated events but the concept that there is a concerted conspiracy to erode our values is in fact a foreign agents attempt to do just that.
Don't just share things you see on the Internet, especially the ones that are most outrageous, unless you know they are true. Most aren't.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Confirmation?
Its pretty easy to see the game plan of the people trying to get a our supreme court nominee confirmed.
At first they resisted investigating the claims, as credible as they were and when finally inn order to try to get the swing votes they agreed to an investigation, it was very limited in scope.
They have attacked the whole thing as a Democratic ploy to derail the nominee, which is interesting in that it doesn't address the issues of excessive drinking and sexual abuse that is in his background.
We now see the dontard out spreading this narrative while also claiming to be allowing the FBI the ability to do as much investigating as they want, in one week though.
Finally the hope is that an inconclusive FBI report will sway the moderate republicans to vote for the nominee after which any future revelations become irrelevant.
It may succeed but the real question is why, with the significant questions concerning his behavior and the fact that his resume isn't outstanding in any respect from many others are they going to the mat for him?
He is a reliable republican operative who can be counted on to support republican causes for decades.
His whole career has demonstrated this and it is the single most qualifying attribute he has.
The fact that he was able to attend prestigious schools is a reflection of his families money not his abilities.
Considering the amount of drinking and partying he obviously did he couldn't have been a great one.
It seems like he had influence via his father in all the right circles and was able to slide fairly effortlessly into the positions he held, where he demonstrated he held partisanship above truth and justice.
He is simply a terribly nominee and he demonstrates why the filibuster rule was there to guarantee that any nominee could muster at least some bipartisan support.
He may get confirmed or maybe some of the Senators will realize how toxic he actually is to our ideals of justice and morality.
Maybe.
At first they resisted investigating the claims, as credible as they were and when finally inn order to try to get the swing votes they agreed to an investigation, it was very limited in scope.
They have attacked the whole thing as a Democratic ploy to derail the nominee, which is interesting in that it doesn't address the issues of excessive drinking and sexual abuse that is in his background.
We now see the dontard out spreading this narrative while also claiming to be allowing the FBI the ability to do as much investigating as they want, in one week though.
Finally the hope is that an inconclusive FBI report will sway the moderate republicans to vote for the nominee after which any future revelations become irrelevant.
It may succeed but the real question is why, with the significant questions concerning his behavior and the fact that his resume isn't outstanding in any respect from many others are they going to the mat for him?
He is a reliable republican operative who can be counted on to support republican causes for decades.
His whole career has demonstrated this and it is the single most qualifying attribute he has.
The fact that he was able to attend prestigious schools is a reflection of his families money not his abilities.
Considering the amount of drinking and partying he obviously did he couldn't have been a great one.
It seems like he had influence via his father in all the right circles and was able to slide fairly effortlessly into the positions he held, where he demonstrated he held partisanship above truth and justice.
He is simply a terribly nominee and he demonstrates why the filibuster rule was there to guarantee that any nominee could muster at least some bipartisan support.
He may get confirmed or maybe some of the Senators will realize how toxic he actually is to our ideals of justice and morality.
Maybe.
Monday, October 1, 2018
NAFTA Replaced?
Looks like we are getting ready to sign a replacement trade agreement for NAFTA which despite some criticism was effective at increasing trade among the three countries.
These things should probably be revisited every few years to include things that weren't considered previously, like the tremendous growth in electronic components we have seen since the first NAFTA.
Might be some increased opportunities for our dairy farmers but mostly it seems like it was tweeks with the main provisions still intact.
Trade is an equalizer and that's one of the reasons for the trade deficits we see.
The United States started out quite a bit ahead of Mexico and somewhat ahead of Canada in wealth and spending power.
So we could buy more than they could.
Eventually the money we spent increases their buying power so they can buy more of our exports.
Its not mysterious or nefarious, its simply economics.
This is true of most of our trading partners.
Eventually it evens out but it takes some time for that to happen.
These things should probably be revisited every few years to include things that weren't considered previously, like the tremendous growth in electronic components we have seen since the first NAFTA.
Might be some increased opportunities for our dairy farmers but mostly it seems like it was tweeks with the main provisions still intact.
Trade is an equalizer and that's one of the reasons for the trade deficits we see.
The United States started out quite a bit ahead of Mexico and somewhat ahead of Canada in wealth and spending power.
So we could buy more than they could.
Eventually the money we spent increases their buying power so they can buy more of our exports.
Its not mysterious or nefarious, its simply economics.
This is true of most of our trading partners.
Eventually it evens out but it takes some time for that to happen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)