So slaves in chains at the bottom of a cargo ship are immigrants looking for a better life? This is a black person who went to medical school and has a cabinet post saying this?
Its just one of the crazy things going around now and there is so much of it its starting to seem normal.
Like being in a bizarro presidency where accusations can be made with no proof while real issues seem ignored.
Today the GOP unveiled a so-called health care bill which is really going to end up killing people.
Its going to knock people off insurance and make really sick people decide they are better off dead.
Now it is unlikely to actually save any money, since it will shift costs to hospital emergency rooms which is of course the most expensive way to get care, but it will provide tax breaks to people who don't really need them, but still want them.
Cost more, kill more is what it looks like, but I'd like to see the CBO estimates.
I'm not sure that this will actually pass, since it manages to have things to upset almost everyone, but with the craziness in Washington it might.
After all, we elected a crazy as president.
Position after position we see people picked who want to achieve the opposite of what the agency they lead is designed to do.
Pollute more, educate less, house less, feed less, cover less and let the chips fall where they may.
Meanwhile increase the deficit, increase the number of people who hate us and attack the media for doing their job.
Crazy indeed.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Monday, March 6, 2017
Media Sheep
Our media has become the enemy of the American people in the way they operate.
One of the problems is that many Americans tend to be either lazy or stupid, it doesn't matter which, and seldom get past the headlines.
So the media wants headlines that grab their attention and print some pretty outrageous sounding things in them.
Now take the latest delusional episode in our dumbed down America.
Stories about the Trump campaign interactions with the Russians during the actual campaign have been pushed off the front pages by completely unfounded allegations about wiretapping of Trump tower. Now no reasonable person thinks that happened, including the traitor in charge of the FBI, but now that its in the headlines it is circulating as a thing.
Similar to the long campaign against Hillary Clinton, the allegations don't have to be true, they just have to be out there to permeate the public.
Now of course the purpose here is to deflect the attention from where it should be to something else, not win an election, and it is working.
We see the intelligence committee saying they will include this as part of their investigation, which is of course silly since not a shred of evidence exists about it.
However, bringing people in and asking them about it will give it additional credibility.
Meanwhile the focus on the actual wrongdoings gets buried.
The improper interactions with the Russians.
The media has become sheep, easily led because they don't know what the alternative is.
They need to become wolves.
One of the problems is that many Americans tend to be either lazy or stupid, it doesn't matter which, and seldom get past the headlines.
So the media wants headlines that grab their attention and print some pretty outrageous sounding things in them.
Now take the latest delusional episode in our dumbed down America.
Stories about the Trump campaign interactions with the Russians during the actual campaign have been pushed off the front pages by completely unfounded allegations about wiretapping of Trump tower. Now no reasonable person thinks that happened, including the traitor in charge of the FBI, but now that its in the headlines it is circulating as a thing.
Similar to the long campaign against Hillary Clinton, the allegations don't have to be true, they just have to be out there to permeate the public.
Now of course the purpose here is to deflect the attention from where it should be to something else, not win an election, and it is working.
We see the intelligence committee saying they will include this as part of their investigation, which is of course silly since not a shred of evidence exists about it.
However, bringing people in and asking them about it will give it additional credibility.
Meanwhile the focus on the actual wrongdoings gets buried.
The improper interactions with the Russians.
The media has become sheep, easily led because they don't know what the alternative is.
They need to become wolves.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Delusion in the White House
When you can simply believe totally unsubstantiated stories that are actually pretty ludicrous its hard to know how to react.
Our President like to say he is the one being persecuted when in fact he is simply a paranoid delusional person.
Yes, many people think he's a complete idiot, with a lot of justification, but the fact that he is now President means his actions have repercussions.
Back when he was a B List Celebrity he could engage in things like birther conspiracies and get away with it, but he is starting to expose himself to the ridicule he deserves.
He has supporters who believe these rantings, but those who were giving him the benefit of the doubt, have to rethink that.
Of course some of his supporters believe that there was a sex ring under a pizzeria in the District, so they believe all this crap.
However, if you have even half a brain, you should be able to see what he is.
He is delusional, and thinks the late night Internet stuff is the real news while all the well established reputable news outlets are fake news.
This is a sick man and where it can end up is anybody's guess,
America should be concerned, and maybe afraid. What late night news story could lead to a war?
I don't care what your politics are, this is a delusional person.
Our President like to say he is the one being persecuted when in fact he is simply a paranoid delusional person.
Yes, many people think he's a complete idiot, with a lot of justification, but the fact that he is now President means his actions have repercussions.
Back when he was a B List Celebrity he could engage in things like birther conspiracies and get away with it, but he is starting to expose himself to the ridicule he deserves.
He has supporters who believe these rantings, but those who were giving him the benefit of the doubt, have to rethink that.
Of course some of his supporters believe that there was a sex ring under a pizzeria in the District, so they believe all this crap.
However, if you have even half a brain, you should be able to see what he is.
He is delusional, and thinks the late night Internet stuff is the real news while all the well established reputable news outlets are fake news.
This is a sick man and where it can end up is anybody's guess,
America should be concerned, and maybe afraid. What late night news story could lead to a war?
I don't care what your politics are, this is a delusional person.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Saturday Thoughts
Read an article today about how the republican leadership is afraid to let details out about their proposed health care bill. Guess the idea of having a chance to comment and improve on it is now back to back room politics and deals.
What is scary about what I see going on is how many of the American people believe complete lies.
Its an interesting study in the impact of propaganda and how a totalitarian state can arise.
Just convince enough people that fantasy is real and that everyone else is a liar and they will let you get away with anything.
In the musical Chicago, there is a song where it says if you don't have the facts, give them the old razzle dazzle.
We are getting plenty of razzle dazzle now.
Talk about obvious lies that get believed.
Muslim refugees are not vetted, they are.
Undocumented immigrants are dangerous, less so than the general public.
The borders are wide open, they aren't.
The trade deals are terrible, well not so much.
The Affordable Care Act is a disaster, it isn't.
Can improve air and water quality while removing restrictions on pollution.
Climate change is a hoax.
And many more.
Perhaps the biggest problem is that we have a President who believes these lies himself. Probably also bought all those products advertised on late night TV, could explain that hair.
What is scary about what I see going on is how many of the American people believe complete lies.
Its an interesting study in the impact of propaganda and how a totalitarian state can arise.
Just convince enough people that fantasy is real and that everyone else is a liar and they will let you get away with anything.
In the musical Chicago, there is a song where it says if you don't have the facts, give them the old razzle dazzle.
We are getting plenty of razzle dazzle now.
Talk about obvious lies that get believed.
Muslim refugees are not vetted, they are.
Undocumented immigrants are dangerous, less so than the general public.
The borders are wide open, they aren't.
The trade deals are terrible, well not so much.
The Affordable Care Act is a disaster, it isn't.
Can improve air and water quality while removing restrictions on pollution.
Climate change is a hoax.
And many more.
Perhaps the biggest problem is that we have a President who believes these lies himself. Probably also bought all those products advertised on late night TV, could explain that hair.
Friday, March 3, 2017
Health Care
Ultimately sick and injured people will get treated. The question becomes at what cost and do we want to invest in keeping those people healthy in the first place.
Now, it the world of many republican congressmen, certain constituents felt they had been inconvenienced by the Affordable Care Act. They liked the fact that their kids could stay on until age 26 and that preventative care was not subject to deductibles or co-pays, but they thought it might have made some premiums go up, and if they owned a business with more than 50 people they had to offer heath coverage.
Also, they felt the individual mandate was Government telling people what to do, although I doubt many of those people would go a day without coverage anyways.
It also occurred to them that they were probably paying something for it in their taxes and they didn't like that, although as I said before its a pay now or pay later situation.
These things do not qualify as a disaster and in fact the initial outrage that existed in anticipation of the law actually sort of died done. Repeal Obamacare became a thing you said, sort of like saying Amen at the end of a church service.
In fact many of the people calling for the repeal of Obamacare like the Affordable Care Act, they just didn't know it was the same thing.
Of course the term Obamacare was designed to stir up racism from the start and our media and many others played along because it was a catchy name. It caught on so well that most Americans didn't know the real name of the law or even what was in it.
Now like the dog that catches the car, the republicans have to come up with something. Providing multi state coverage, although think that is a state thing and savings accounts that are tax free help the people that don't have a problem now. Even then, they may lose the pre-existing condition and age 26 benefit they love.
Just letting the insurance market do what it wants will of course bring us back to where we were in 2008 and that is probably not an acceptable solution.
Complicate this with our semi simpleton president who now understands the issue is complex, surprisingly, and has made promises that the congress doesn't want to keep.
Fun and games, except people who lose needed coverage die, so maybe not as much fun as just political games.
Now, it the world of many republican congressmen, certain constituents felt they had been inconvenienced by the Affordable Care Act. They liked the fact that their kids could stay on until age 26 and that preventative care was not subject to deductibles or co-pays, but they thought it might have made some premiums go up, and if they owned a business with more than 50 people they had to offer heath coverage.
Also, they felt the individual mandate was Government telling people what to do, although I doubt many of those people would go a day without coverage anyways.
It also occurred to them that they were probably paying something for it in their taxes and they didn't like that, although as I said before its a pay now or pay later situation.
These things do not qualify as a disaster and in fact the initial outrage that existed in anticipation of the law actually sort of died done. Repeal Obamacare became a thing you said, sort of like saying Amen at the end of a church service.
In fact many of the people calling for the repeal of Obamacare like the Affordable Care Act, they just didn't know it was the same thing.
Of course the term Obamacare was designed to stir up racism from the start and our media and many others played along because it was a catchy name. It caught on so well that most Americans didn't know the real name of the law or even what was in it.
Now like the dog that catches the car, the republicans have to come up with something. Providing multi state coverage, although think that is a state thing and savings accounts that are tax free help the people that don't have a problem now. Even then, they may lose the pre-existing condition and age 26 benefit they love.
Just letting the insurance market do what it wants will of course bring us back to where we were in 2008 and that is probably not an acceptable solution.
Complicate this with our semi simpleton president who now understands the issue is complex, surprisingly, and has made promises that the congress doesn't want to keep.
Fun and games, except people who lose needed coverage die, so maybe not as much fun as just political games.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Environmental Regulations
There is a strong antigovernment movement in the country today which is convinced that Government is the problem.
This exists because at times Government regulations create certain requirements that slow people down or even prevent them from doing what they want. Now, of course each person feels that whatever they want to do is good and anything in his way is bad, so after such an experience you are likely to feel there is too much Government.
Now take a regulation that prevents water pollution by restricting what you can dump into a stream on your property. Well the stream is on your property and now you have restrictions on what products you can use. How dare they! We were using these products for years and the stream is just fine!
Of course the stream might carry the contamination into a river and then into a lake where people go to fish and swim. Measurements downstream show increased levels of cancer causing or other dangerous pollutants, which are being passed on to sports fishermen or swimmers.
Now the regulation restricts a few people to benefit the many. However, the many frequently are not aware of what is being done, but the few certainly are.
Government reacts to noise, the squeaky wheel syndrome. So the few complain and the many stay quiet, at least until the lake is shut down because its contaminated.
Its clear, at least for now, that since the worst period of pollution we have cleaner air and water, although not perfect. Rivers that were actually dangerous are now full of fish and the reason for this is environmental protection.
It does at time inconvenience the few but we all have a better life because of it.
Going back to a more polluted past is not making anything great again.
This exists because at times Government regulations create certain requirements that slow people down or even prevent them from doing what they want. Now, of course each person feels that whatever they want to do is good and anything in his way is bad, so after such an experience you are likely to feel there is too much Government.
Now take a regulation that prevents water pollution by restricting what you can dump into a stream on your property. Well the stream is on your property and now you have restrictions on what products you can use. How dare they! We were using these products for years and the stream is just fine!
Of course the stream might carry the contamination into a river and then into a lake where people go to fish and swim. Measurements downstream show increased levels of cancer causing or other dangerous pollutants, which are being passed on to sports fishermen or swimmers.
Now the regulation restricts a few people to benefit the many. However, the many frequently are not aware of what is being done, but the few certainly are.
Government reacts to noise, the squeaky wheel syndrome. So the few complain and the many stay quiet, at least until the lake is shut down because its contaminated.
Its clear, at least for now, that since the worst period of pollution we have cleaner air and water, although not perfect. Rivers that were actually dangerous are now full of fish and the reason for this is environmental protection.
It does at time inconvenience the few but we all have a better life because of it.
Going back to a more polluted past is not making anything great again.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Actions speak louder than Words
Its interesting when many of the headlines about the speech Trump made last night highlight the fact that he didn't act the usual clown.
Of course he had a lot of time to prepare and was able to stick to the script pretty well and wore a more conciliatory tie.
The question that has to be answered is simply is it just words.
A lot of the rhetoric about bringing back industries, rebuilding infrastructure, keeping the best elements of health care were fine, but can he deliver anything?
He has to deal with his own republican congress and has to actually develop a plan with details for any thing to have a chance.
The one thing I'm pretty certain about is that he is easily swayed and as time passes will continue to be erratic.
To some extent he spent much of his life as a salesman for the projects he wanted to build, making promises to potential investors that didn't always work out.
Making these promises to the American people is a bit different.
Many of them actually think they are real.
Disappointment for his supporters is pretty inevitable, at least the ones who think we are returning to some manufacturing past.
The danger is in trying to do that we may be turning our backs on our real future opportunities.
Of course he had a lot of time to prepare and was able to stick to the script pretty well and wore a more conciliatory tie.
The question that has to be answered is simply is it just words.
A lot of the rhetoric about bringing back industries, rebuilding infrastructure, keeping the best elements of health care were fine, but can he deliver anything?
He has to deal with his own republican congress and has to actually develop a plan with details for any thing to have a chance.
The one thing I'm pretty certain about is that he is easily swayed and as time passes will continue to be erratic.
To some extent he spent much of his life as a salesman for the projects he wanted to build, making promises to potential investors that didn't always work out.
Making these promises to the American people is a bit different.
Many of them actually think they are real.
Disappointment for his supporters is pretty inevitable, at least the ones who think we are returning to some manufacturing past.
The danger is in trying to do that we may be turning our backs on our real future opportunities.
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