Labor Day is traditionally considered the end of summer as in most places school resumes around then and the weather starts to get cooler.
It used to signal the start of the election season but nowadays that never really ends.
Of course it wasn't really significant for working men and women for most of history, except of course the seasons used to signal the nature of their work, planting, harvesting etc.
As industrialization took over it didn't make much difference since the work stayed basically the same no matter what the season.
However, realizing the country owes its very existence to the workers who built it we dedicated an end of summer holiday to celebrate their accomplishments.
Labor, at least the type of labor we honor this weekend, isn't what it used to be.
Unions have lost much of their influence and while we see low unemployment numbers, the great factories that employed so many are really a thing of the past for most.
Unskilled heavy labor is now done by robots, which is a boon to humanity but most of the financial benefit is for the capitalist and financiers of the world.
It seems ironic that the reduction of work that was in fact back breaking and health threatening is lamented by many.
Skills were always important but now they are essential although laborers are still need for certain things.
We should honor the working men and women who built this country but also understand that the future is different than the past and we need to adjust to it.
Its not gong to return to the past, and the past was not that great, although the hard work and sacrifice of so many gave us the great country we enjoy today.
Friday, August 31, 2018
Thursday, August 30, 2018
American Values
We are seeing an erosion of civil liberties for people in this country because of their country of origin or because of their race.
This isn't accidental, it is an attempt to deny them an equal say about our countries policies and elected officials.
One of the methods widely used is to manipulate voting districts to minimize the impact of voters you don't like. If you simply put them into a single district, you can reduce their representation greatly despite the fact that they comprise a higher percentage of the population.
To do this based on race has been illegal for some time, so they tried to justify it based on party affiliation, which effectively was the same thing in practice and the courts struck it down.
One person one vote, its not a complex concept but it becomes meaningless if you make the vote count less.
We actually see this on the national level as well because of the electoral college and the equal number of senators per state. If you live in one of our mountain states in the West your vote counts a lot more than if you live in a major metropolitan area.
Geography doesn't have political opinions.
We also see a crackdown on Americans of Mexican descent who are in many cases being asked to provide excessive proof of who they are.
People born along the border are being accused of having false birth certificates, without much proof and being denied passports and re-entry into the country.
These are people who were born here, educated here, served in the armed forces, worked here and now many years later have their credential being challenged.
Even if, at the time of their birth, a midwife changed the location on the birth certificate, after all these years they are as American as anyone.
Its part of a crackdown on people of Mexican descent orchestrated by politicians who want to suppress their votes.
They are being accused of a crime on speculation and being asked to prove their innocence as opposed to the Government having to prove their guilt.
That's not the America I grew up in.
This isn't accidental, it is an attempt to deny them an equal say about our countries policies and elected officials.
One of the methods widely used is to manipulate voting districts to minimize the impact of voters you don't like. If you simply put them into a single district, you can reduce their representation greatly despite the fact that they comprise a higher percentage of the population.
To do this based on race has been illegal for some time, so they tried to justify it based on party affiliation, which effectively was the same thing in practice and the courts struck it down.
One person one vote, its not a complex concept but it becomes meaningless if you make the vote count less.
We actually see this on the national level as well because of the electoral college and the equal number of senators per state. If you live in one of our mountain states in the West your vote counts a lot more than if you live in a major metropolitan area.
Geography doesn't have political opinions.
We also see a crackdown on Americans of Mexican descent who are in many cases being asked to provide excessive proof of who they are.
People born along the border are being accused of having false birth certificates, without much proof and being denied passports and re-entry into the country.
These are people who were born here, educated here, served in the armed forces, worked here and now many years later have their credential being challenged.
Even if, at the time of their birth, a midwife changed the location on the birth certificate, after all these years they are as American as anyone.
Its part of a crackdown on people of Mexican descent orchestrated by politicians who want to suppress their votes.
They are being accused of a crime on speculation and being asked to prove their innocence as opposed to the Government having to prove their guilt.
That's not the America I grew up in.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
All Fluff
I guess one of the things we now have is the early morning inane tweets that the dontard issues.
I think he actually believes the stuff he sends out, but then again maybe he doesn't.
Today he seems to have decided arbitrarily to blame China for hacking e-mails, which were never actually hacked as far as anyone can tell.
Of course to think he would keep track of details is a little like believing he knows what he's doing.
Take North Korea where he was clearly used to score some PR for that dictator when they never intended to do anything but parade the orange haired buffoon on their propaganda.
If you simply give his ego a little stroking he is happy to let you use him to prop up your regime.
He isn't quite so amenable to working with allies who tried the wrong approach, treating him as a partner who you didn't have to coddle.
He wants coddling.
He probably needs it.
Most of his business ventures ended up fading and while he did make some money from his TV show, the rest of his ventures have mixed results.
More flash than cash.
The circumstances that have led him to occupy the presidency are certainly unique and maybe its more than a one time oddity.
I hope not, we need to pick leaders with some substance.
At least I think we do.
I think he actually believes the stuff he sends out, but then again maybe he doesn't.
Today he seems to have decided arbitrarily to blame China for hacking e-mails, which were never actually hacked as far as anyone can tell.
Of course to think he would keep track of details is a little like believing he knows what he's doing.
Take North Korea where he was clearly used to score some PR for that dictator when they never intended to do anything but parade the orange haired buffoon on their propaganda.
If you simply give his ego a little stroking he is happy to let you use him to prop up your regime.
He isn't quite so amenable to working with allies who tried the wrong approach, treating him as a partner who you didn't have to coddle.
He wants coddling.
He probably needs it.
Most of his business ventures ended up fading and while he did make some money from his TV show, the rest of his ventures have mixed results.
More flash than cash.
The circumstances that have led him to occupy the presidency are certainly unique and maybe its more than a one time oddity.
I hope not, we need to pick leaders with some substance.
At least I think we do.
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Trade and Economics
I was reading an article about the changes in NAFTA we have almost agreed to with Mexico and have to say it was pretty unimpressive.
The changes are mostly superficial although I'm sure they will be heralded as a big change.
NAFTA was always more of a Republican initiative than a Democratic one, although it was signed agreed to during the Clinton administration.
It was always clear that it would be good for certain border regions, and it has, while not as good for our manufacturing union people.
It did bring down overall costs and create lower paying jobs, exactly as predicted.
So if it did what it was expected to do, I suppose it was a success of sorts and from an economics point of view we seem to have more benefits than losses.
Trade simply allows more efficient use of resources and an equalization of living standards over time.
After World War 2 the United States had a period when many of its people enjoyed income and living standards that greatly exceeded the rest of the world.
That wasn't something that could last since it made us a high cost producer.
It lasted as long as it did because our industrial rivals were faced with massive rebuilding which finally allowed them to fully compete with us over time.
Of course we also were faced with "third world' countries which were primarily exporters of agricultural goods and buyers of manufactured ones.
As they developed they have grown into competitive rivals such as China and India but there is good in that since they have greatly increased buying power to go with their new jobs
Trade facilitates this growth and equalization but it happens one way or the other since the economics are clear.
The one thing that is certain is that you have to be in the competition to have any chance at success
Tariffs take you right out of it.
The changes are mostly superficial although I'm sure they will be heralded as a big change.
NAFTA was always more of a Republican initiative than a Democratic one, although it was signed agreed to during the Clinton administration.
It was always clear that it would be good for certain border regions, and it has, while not as good for our manufacturing union people.
It did bring down overall costs and create lower paying jobs, exactly as predicted.
So if it did what it was expected to do, I suppose it was a success of sorts and from an economics point of view we seem to have more benefits than losses.
Trade simply allows more efficient use of resources and an equalization of living standards over time.
After World War 2 the United States had a period when many of its people enjoyed income and living standards that greatly exceeded the rest of the world.
That wasn't something that could last since it made us a high cost producer.
It lasted as long as it did because our industrial rivals were faced with massive rebuilding which finally allowed them to fully compete with us over time.
Of course we also were faced with "third world' countries which were primarily exporters of agricultural goods and buyers of manufactured ones.
As they developed they have grown into competitive rivals such as China and India but there is good in that since they have greatly increased buying power to go with their new jobs
Trade facilitates this growth and equalization but it happens one way or the other since the economics are clear.
The one thing that is certain is that you have to be in the competition to have any chance at success
Tariffs take you right out of it.
Monday, August 27, 2018
Scary
We are seeing how policies without strategy fall short.
The dontard adopted a lot of policies from the talking heads on a particular network, assuming they had some idea of what they were talking about.
The really were more interested in being controversial and getting ratings.
Some of the experts they had on might have had some clue but the network pursues a particular approach designed to attract audience.
They aren't going for the best and the brightest either.
Now this is demagoguery and it strikes a populist tone regardless of the actual facts of the situation.
They cater to people who want strict enforcement of immigration laws ignoring the fact that the situation required certain laborers access to provide cheap labor.
The push for tough foreign policy without considering the fact that the rest of the world has its own opinion and as rich and strong as we are, history proves it won't last if we overextend ourselves.
They promote all sorts of conspiracy theories without much actual proof, fabricating for controversy and a bigger audience.
They are an entertainment network, about on the same level as say the cartoon network.
They just have real life cartoons.
They are certainly entitled to be what they are, it is a free country, but they really can't be taken very seriously most of the time.
They now have found their ideal toddler, who watches and believes.
Scary.
The dontard adopted a lot of policies from the talking heads on a particular network, assuming they had some idea of what they were talking about.
The really were more interested in being controversial and getting ratings.
Some of the experts they had on might have had some clue but the network pursues a particular approach designed to attract audience.
They aren't going for the best and the brightest either.
Now this is demagoguery and it strikes a populist tone regardless of the actual facts of the situation.
They cater to people who want strict enforcement of immigration laws ignoring the fact that the situation required certain laborers access to provide cheap labor.
The push for tough foreign policy without considering the fact that the rest of the world has its own opinion and as rich and strong as we are, history proves it won't last if we overextend ourselves.
They promote all sorts of conspiracy theories without much actual proof, fabricating for controversy and a bigger audience.
They are an entertainment network, about on the same level as say the cartoon network.
They just have real life cartoons.
They are certainly entitled to be what they are, it is a free country, but they really can't be taken very seriously most of the time.
They now have found their ideal toddler, who watches and believes.
Scary.
Sunday, August 26, 2018
A Hero Leaves Us
There was a tie in this country when we were taught to do what was best for the country, not what was best for yourself. Of course we still have many people in uniform who risk everything for the country but in many ways we see that self interest and selfishness have replaced visions of the common good.
John McCain exemplified the notion of service and lived it his entire life.
His loss makes the country a little worse than it was.
I didn't agree with many of his policies but I never doubted that he felt they were the right ones for the country or that he would let blind politics dictate how he acted.
He was a maverick when he got elected and kept his independent spirit alive until the end.
Its sad that he endured captivity and torture during the Vietnam war only to be insulted by a draft dodger who would prefer his heroes not to be captured.
Well you can avoid that risk by shirking service to your country, but having a plane shot down and being captured is in fact heroic and brave.
Honorable service, something that once was common in this country, and still is in our military.
Unfortunately it seems to be getting rare among our politicians.
We have lost one of the remaining few.
John McCain exemplified the notion of service and lived it his entire life.
His loss makes the country a little worse than it was.
I didn't agree with many of his policies but I never doubted that he felt they were the right ones for the country or that he would let blind politics dictate how he acted.
He was a maverick when he got elected and kept his independent spirit alive until the end.
Its sad that he endured captivity and torture during the Vietnam war only to be insulted by a draft dodger who would prefer his heroes not to be captured.
Well you can avoid that risk by shirking service to your country, but having a plane shot down and being captured is in fact heroic and brave.
Honorable service, something that once was common in this country, and still is in our military.
Unfortunately it seems to be getting rare among our politicians.
We have lost one of the remaining few.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Saturday Musings
All the ridiculous and never ending investigations and allegations against Hillary Clinton never came up with a single charge. Interesting.
Once a house of cards starts to crumble it crumbles pretty fast. Got the National Enquirer and the Doorman involved already.
If you see a lot of rats leaving the ship, it means their feet are getting wet.
The North Korea actions have led to a postponement of talks, sounds a lot like that Nobel Peace Prize is slipping away.
So foreign relations, the climate and trade are all quickly deteriorating. Need new players.
The Dontard in Ohio continues to blame the minority Democratic party for not supporting him? Guess he isn't up on the two party system we have.
He wants to stop prosecutors from flipping suspects to get to bigger fish. Guess he doesn't understand how our criminal justice system works. He should watch episodes of Law and Order.
I'm sorry to disappoint those who think he has some sort of master plan to accomplish whatever it is he is trying to accomplish. He doesn't and he just tries to take care of number one.
If you think he had a brilliant strategy to win the election remember he lost the popular vote and was helped by both the FBI and the Russians to win a few key states by the skin of his teeth. Hillary isn't the best campaigner when you look at it.
The damage he is causing to the environment is actually the worst thing about this period. The Supreme Court might be almost as bad.
The rest can be fixed pretty easily.
Once a house of cards starts to crumble it crumbles pretty fast. Got the National Enquirer and the Doorman involved already.
If you see a lot of rats leaving the ship, it means their feet are getting wet.
The North Korea actions have led to a postponement of talks, sounds a lot like that Nobel Peace Prize is slipping away.
So foreign relations, the climate and trade are all quickly deteriorating. Need new players.
The Dontard in Ohio continues to blame the minority Democratic party for not supporting him? Guess he isn't up on the two party system we have.
He wants to stop prosecutors from flipping suspects to get to bigger fish. Guess he doesn't understand how our criminal justice system works. He should watch episodes of Law and Order.
I'm sorry to disappoint those who think he has some sort of master plan to accomplish whatever it is he is trying to accomplish. He doesn't and he just tries to take care of number one.
If you think he had a brilliant strategy to win the election remember he lost the popular vote and was helped by both the FBI and the Russians to win a few key states by the skin of his teeth. Hillary isn't the best campaigner when you look at it.
The damage he is causing to the environment is actually the worst thing about this period. The Supreme Court might be almost as bad.
The rest can be fixed pretty easily.
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