The Return of Colonial Empire

It is indisputable at this point that we are losing our democracy.  That includes whatever you want to qualify it with - constitutional republic, representative democracy, or just plain old reliance on a system of checks and balances.

Much of it has disappeared.  What is left is quickly receding.

Many of us have used different terms to describe what is replacing it - authoritarianism, fascism, oligarchy, dictatorship. All are about the same thing - the consolidation of power into one person, and the wealthy, entrenched interests behind him.

What we may be less familiar with is how they're ushering in a new era of Colonial Empire. 

It's very accurate to say that developed nations have always sought to exploit the resources of the less developed world.  It often involves corporate interest, both American and multinational conglomerates.

But what is now happening is taking it to a new level. A raw, ugly level that barely hides its true purpose.  The lust to control other nations' resources is no longer disguised.  There is little pretense that is for the purpose of freedom or democracy.  It is for acquiring resources.  And it is not for the benefit of mankind, or even a nation.  It is to enrich the greed and control of a small number of super-wealthy individuals.

The idea that we want to go into Venezuela to end drug trafficking or free the populace would be laughable if it weren't so deadly and dangerous.

Trump and friends want to control Venezuelan oil, the largest reserve on the planet.  They also want more of their rare-earth minerals and elements that tech bros lust after. They don't care whether the daily lives of Venezuelans are improved - they would just as soon they were left impoverished and controllable. Because, yes, my friends, there is more to exploit than the earth's resources.  They are also people, people who can do the dirty work necessary at as little as you can get away with paying them.

In the US, under the pretense of cracking down on undocumented workers, the idea is to actually imprison them (and others) and then reintroduce them into society as prison labor. They know Americans aren't doing fieldwork or other menial, physically intense labor, especially at the pay rates the wealthy want to pay them.  

Another part of the New Colonial Empire is the perversion of the Monroe Doctrine - the US has the right to control and dominate the Western Hemisphere.  That's what all the imperial mutterings mean about South America, Central America, Mexico, Canada, and Greenland mean.  For many rational and decent Americans, these rantings seem insane.  But we dismiss them at our peril.

We are no longer on the side of good and democracy.  We are on the side of authoritarian control and exploitation.

America's Rorshach Test

What do you see in the Los Angeles protests?

For the first time, I regretted not having a 24-hour cable news network, having eliminated our access in a reorganization of our streaming services. I missed Ali Velshi in particular. 

My son, Greg, who lives in Irvine near Los Angeles, was messaging me about the protests. I wanted to see what was going on. The only live feeds that I could find were on TikTok.

This was not a big help. Most feeds were static (one place or camera shot), and the commentary running through them was quite partisan. One-half commented about how terrible and dangerous it was, and welcomed the National Guard and the military. Kill 'em all!

The other half urged to keep the protests peaceful and dreaded the intrusion of the National Guard and the military. Be careful! They want to kill us all!

So, who was right? Those who wanted to arrest, hurt, or kill? Or those who were concerned that they would be arrested, hurt, or killed? What a dilemma!

It's hard to cut through. Nevertheless, it looks like the protests are overwhelmingly peaceful (with a few property damage exceptions), and, most importantly, THEY ARE WELL WARRANTED.

Ice agents, masked and dressed as civilians, are kidnapping people from their workplaces, their schools, even from just outside courtrooms. They are arresting young and old, pregnant women and children. If you are swept up, it doesn't matter whether you are a citizen or not. You will be disappeared and traumatized.

This is not an action of a democratic country. This is not representative of a constitutional republic. They are the actions of authoritarian fascism.

In two terms, Obama deported over 3 million people. In his first term, Trump deported 1.5 million people. In one term, Biden deported 4.4 million people. Not what Fox News was telling you, was it?

A comprehensive, bipartisan immigration plan was proposed in 2023. In my opinion, it bent way too far to please the Republicans, but nonetheless, it would have moved the ball forward in improving the system.  

It didn't happen. It didn't pass. Why? Because Trump came out against it. Not for any great purity reason, but because it threatened to go a long way in resolving the issue he wanted to make the centerpiece of his campaign. He didn't care what was in the best interest of the American people. He only cared about himself.

ICE HAS TO BE PROTESTED. What it's doing is wrong and inhumane. It makes us appear monstrous in the eyes of the world. And it is also highly ineffective. You can deport a lot of people, if that is your goal, without acting like the Gestapo.*

The goal here is to provoke and create unrest. If they can create enough chaos, then they can have an excuse for their true objective: declare martial law and take complete dictatorial control of the country. You can disregard Congress, the courts, and the Constitution. You can arrest whoever you want and hold them for as long as you want.  

These are some tough, scary times. Protesting, even the most peaceful kind, is a risk. But it may be the only way to show them we will not be cowed.

There are many NO KINGS protests scheduled for June 14th. There is likely one in your area. They are being held on the same day as Kim Don TACO's massive military parade.  

Attend one, if you can. It's time for the American people to roar, in numbers too big to ignore.

Until next time,

T. M. Strsit

AOC '28

*if you really want to reduce the undocumented population, a more effective way would be to go after the businesses and individuals who HIRE THEM.  Put a few business owners in jail, and this will reverse this much more quickly than random busts at Home Depot.

Wall Street is Not Your Moral Compass

 Wall Street is not your moral compass.

You cannot judge how well the moral soul of the nation is doing based on how the stock market reacts.

I despise Trump and MAGA with every fiber of my being.

I don't think that when the stock market is doing well, that means Trump is doing the right and decent thing. I don't think that when the stock market is down, that is a clear sign that everything Trump is doing is wrong.

Blanket tariffs are a bad thing. They will hurt us all. We will have to pay more for almost everything. Inflation will rise again. We will experience shortages again. Domestic production is not likely to return to the United States. If any of it does, it will likely cost more unless the USA returns to super-low wages, and the cost of construction is passed on to taxpayers. If it creates jobs, many of them will be positions that Americans would rather not have.  It will mostly create opportunities for robots and AI. The manufacturing sector has changed, and it is not always stocked full of the high-wage jobs you think it is.

But the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) doesn't care about any of that. They only react to stockholder value. Will whatever the government does increase or decrease that shareholder value?

When Trump announces blanket tariffs (without regard for reality or economic impact), the stock market plunges. When Trump says, "Psych! Just kidding about some of those!", the stock market may rise.

Meanwhile, those with advanced knowledge of Trump's moods can "play the market" by buying low and selling high.

Because the other aspect of the market is that much of it is legalized gambling. Short sales, buybacks, all sorts of weird stuff that are beyond the scope of my everyday knowledge, happen all the time. The 2008 crash had a lot to do with gambling games that stockbrokers and bankers were playing with, involving mortgages.

So, my feelings about Trump and MAGA are not based on these short-term fluctuations in the markets. It is not my moral compass that should be used to judge whether what the fascists are doing is good or bad.

Virtually all of what Trump is doing is bad, and it may not be reflected in the markets.

The market does not just react to tariff news. The stock market may rise when unemployment increases, because increased labor competition could lead to lower wage increases. It might celebrate legislation that makes it harder to unionize. It might reward Amazon for understaffing and abusing labor, and punish Costco for paying its workers too much. It might be disturbed if polluting companies have to pay to clean up the damage they do.  

It doesn't care. Shareholder value, and the fact that it will rise forever, is capitalism without ends or limits.

The flip side of this is that I know that if Progressive values ever take hold, as promoted by people like Bernie Sanders and AOC, may cause a flip-out of the market. They would throw a hissy fit if they thought things like universal healthcare and free college were coming. Much of what our capitalism thrives on is the exploitation of the working class, not just in wages but also in keeping them in debt. They love things like student loans, payday loans, buying furniture on rent-to-own terms, high home and car prices, and medical debt - these are all money-making opportunities for the capitalist class.

So, when the stock market throws a hissy fit over Progressive changes, I am not going to dwell on it. I am not going to let that convince me that we cannot change. That our moral compass cannot be fixed, and that we forever have to give in to the wealthy and oligarchic power.

Wall Street is not my moral compass.  

Tom Strait

AOC '28

Getting Off At All the Wrong Places Part 1

Imagine you are on an island, surrounded by a river on all sides. Now, think of that river as time.

We are used to thinking of time as a linear river. But that's not what happens. There is a constant chance of us getting off at the wrong place and winding up worse off than before.

We tend to think otherwise. As the quote perfected by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. says,  "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." 

I pray that is true. In the long run, there may be great truth to it. But sometimes, it is hard to see in the abstract of our own lives.

I can imagine how those born at the turn of the 20th century must have felt. Great inventions that seemed to improve everyday lives arrived almost daily—planes, automobiles, radio, movies, and labor-saving household appliances. Politics was turning more progressive—antitrust legislation, labor laws, and regulations protecting our food and drug supply. Women gained the right to vote. The lives of people of color were not great, but there was at least the hint that things might turn around.

And then came the Great Depression, and the hopes and dreams of many Americans were destroyed - all but the very wealthy were affected. Then, the war started, and hopes for a peaceful world vanished. The fight against fascism was not how this generation thought would be what dominated their lives, but it was. 

My generation, the Boomer generation, saw a significant increase in civil and social rights in the 60s. We had finally turned the corner on civil rights with several important pieces of legislation that promised improvement in the lives of people of color, particularly African Americans. The Vietnam War was a great scar on our time, but it did not go unchallenged, generating significant civil protests which seemed to finally turn the tide on American interventionism.

We benefited from infrastructure improvements, like the Interstate Freeways. Wages rose, and the wealthy were taxed at a top rate ranging from 70% to 90%. College was very inexpensive. Housing was affordable. The family across the street from us lived in a nice home and lived comfortably, with Dad working as a department manager at Sears and Mom staying at home. Could you imagine that happening today?

But there is also a dark side to the Boomer Generation. The counterculture was not all positive. In addition to getting back to nature and making love, not war, there was a lot of ME quality to it. If it makes you feel good, do it! Take drugs, drop out, and do the things that make you happy.

The Boomers got more from their parents than most generations, and when they became adults, this sense of personal aggrandizement continued. They led the way to Reagan, and greed is good. They wanted the resources for themselves and resented the government taking any. They brought about the backlash that led to such figures as Rush Limbaugh and Pat Buchanan. They were especially angry over immigrants because they didn't want to SHARE. They were angry about advances made by people of color because they didn't want to SHARE.

Boomers had the opportunity to move forward in the river of time, but instead, they prioritized themselves, and got off in a place that slid us backward.

It took a long time for future generations to slowly straighten this out. Each successive generation has been a little bit more progressive than the last.

THIS IS PART 1. STAY TUNED TO THIS BLOG FOR MORE PARTS!

Special note:  Not all generations are monoliths. I'm a Boomer but don't comfortably fit the Boomer stereotype. Although I have been more conservative than I am now, I've always been on the side of social justice and democracy. And since the 90s, my major issue has been moving us to a single-payer, universal healthcare system. 

Welcome to the Musk-O-Verse!

 

Welcome to the Musk-O-verse!

To the tune of some 42 billion (rounded - what's a few hundred million among friends?) Elon Musk has purchased Twitter. I'm not sure why.  He's exercised about free speech - which basically means - welcome back, Trumpleskin! 

Why are you upset about this one, Tom?  Why weren't you upset about Jeff Bezos buying The Washington Post?  Or Laurene Powell Jobs owning The Atlantic?  How about  Zuckerberg with Facebook or Bill Gates and Microsoft's control?

The answer is yes.  Yes, I am upset by them ALL!  The consolidation of the media and the world's wealth in general, in fewer and fewer hands, is very disturbing.

I vote for Democrats over Republicans. That's a no-brainer.  But neither party has done much to reverse the tide of consolidated wealth.  And it is perilous when we allow this concentrated wealth to control our media.

I don't know a whole lot about Mr. Musk.  He likes space.  I like space.  The rest seems like usual billionaire narcissism and God Complex.  I don't know his politics in detail - he appears to be some sort of weird-ass Libertarian. This is not too surprising to me.  Many of these billionaires think they're the Fountainhead incarnate.

I doubt that even Elon Musk has a spare 42 Bill lying around.  That means "the Deal" is some sort of convoluted mess.  Delayed payments, things other than money, weird stuff that only the super-rich and Trump think about.

I have a Twitter account, and I use it primarily as a source to post my blog articles.  I've never received many reactions from being on there.  Most of the time, I get no likes or comments.  Once in a while, I hit the big ONE like.

So, yeah, I doubt if I'll get in trouble if I say anything about Twitter's new ruler. No one will really notice.

Besides...

Free Speech...right, Musky?

Barnaby Gets a Loan! Saturday Political Soap Box 277

 

Imagine, if you will, our distinguished entrepreneur.  We'll call him Barnaby Collins, proud maker of Toilet Flow, a liquid additive guaranteed to keep your toilet running smooth.

Barnaby is fortunate enough to get a TWENTY MILLION DOLLAR loan.

What should he do with his loan?

Scenario #1

Barnaby buys him and his family members (all who "work" for the Bizness) brand-new HUMVEES!  He renovates the front office with fancy walnut desks and state-of-the-art computers. Next, he takes out some of the money for a personal loan that, yeah, sure, he'll pay back to the company...someday.  He wines and dines his favorite clients - ones who are already his buddies and already committed to doing business with him. Finally, he takes some of the money and invests it overseas, and places some in offshore accounts.

He does not buy equipment.  He does not improve pay and conditions for the people who work for him.  He does not improve his supply chain.  He does not advertise his product.  He does not do research to make his product and keep up with a competitive market.

When the loan payments come due, he has not improved his bottom line. Instead, he hasn't earned the additional money to cover the loan cost.

Barnaby is screwed.

Scenario #2

Barnaby does not spend on himself. Instead, he spends to make his product better, buying state of the art equipment.  He assures himself of a better, more motivated workforce by increasing their pay and benefits.  He does wise, targeted advertising.  He improves his supply chain.

The loan payments come due.  But this time, Barnaby has increased his bottom line, sufficient to cover the loan costs and have PLENTY of cash left over!

Which scenario do you think Barnaby should follow?

This is not theoretical.  As a CPA, I have seen these scenarios play out.  And trust me, there is a difference between INVESTMENT and WILD SPENDING.

The physical infrastructure bill, the one even many Republicans like, and the human infrastructure bill, Build Back Better, are vital investments that will pay back in the future growth and stability of this country. We should not be afraid of these bills because the return on investment will be immense.  It will return its investment, as businesses have the physical and human infrastructure improvements to make their jobs easier and more lucrative. 

Imagine being able to move your goods on state-of-the-art transportation systems!  

Imagine a happier, more secure worker with money to buy the products you make!

Imagine not having to deal with the increasing costs of coping with climate change!

No, these bills are not sufficiently funded to solve all our problems (thank you, Manchin and Sinema).  But they will help.  They will put us in the right direction.

And if you're worried about the cost, you're worried about the wrong thing.  This is not Scenario #1.  This is not Barnaby out scooping up Humvees.

Oh, you deficit hawks!

Where were you when we cut taxes for the wealthy and large corporations, to the point that a secretary or factory worker paid a more significant percentage of their money in taxes than they did?  And what did they do?  They bought back their own stock, they leveraged, they hoarded, they took it overseas.  They did everything except make this country better.

Where were you when they kept increasing the military budget? So much of the money went to private contractors, building things that really don't enhance our security, even projects that the Pentagon didn't ask for or recommend.  For the most part, it goes to THINGS, and not soldiers.

Where you were when they kept extending corporate welfare?  Breaks upon breaks where wealthy corporations not only pay no tax, they get huge REFUNDS!  Corporate welfare dwarfs human welfare.  And yet, no one talks about it.

Where were you when the Fed pours trillions into the coffers of well-off corporations and banks, and none of the money counts as debt?

But when we try to improve the conditions for workers in this country, these very same people who put up with what I would call Scenario #1 spending, all of a sudden get their knickers in a wad and scream, "We can't spend money to help people?  We don't have that money!  Why, we're in DEBT!  Didn't you know that?"

Yeah, I know that. But, unfortunately, we're in debt because of Scenario #1 spending, which offers little or no return on investment.

In the end, I hope our INVESTMENT HAWKS win out over our SCENARIO #1 PRETEND DEFICIT HAWKS.

Which one are you?

BILLIONAIRES IN SPACE!

 

I make no apologies for it.

It's true.  I am an independent progressive.  I believe that we as a people, and our government as our agents (ideally, WE THE PEOPLE are the government), should be doing everything we can to alleviate poverty, end discrimination, and ensure equal opportunity.  I believe in Medicare For All, the Green New Deal, and a living minimum wage.

But I also believe, with all my heart and soul, in the importance of space exploration.  I want a station on the Moon.  I want us to go to Mars.  I want us to find out about Europa and Titan and any planet or moon where life may exist.  I love the space program.

So, when I hear my fellow liberals whine about how much the space program costs and how they think we should spend that money improving things here on Earth, it makes me a little verklempt. Of course, sometimes conservatives will make their own arguments against it, using the same logic, but maybe different programs should be supported (or just keep the money for themselves).

What a croc.

It's not either/or.  The space program has never been all that expensive, given the federal budget as a whole.  At its very height, during the space race of the 60s, NASA's budget was 4.41% of the Federal Budget.  More current numbers show it at 1/2 of 1%.*  If NASA's budget was zero, it wouldn't really solve a damn thing.  So, 1) it ain't enough to reallocate to make a dent, and 2) you really think Republicans and corporate Democrats are going to see it as a savings and spend it on helping people?  They are more likely to spend it on the Pentagon or reduce the federal budget.

Also, the benefits from the space program have been huge.  A simple google search displays articles that talk about dozens of inventions and technologies we have due to the space program.  Advances in computer technology alone justify its cost.  They even include things like memory foam, invisible braces for teeth, and tap water filters.  The list goes on and on.  Check these out for yourself.

I love the alternate history series, For All Mankind (color editing done by my son, Greg), and its depiction of a faster space race, spurred on by the Russians being first to land on the moon. Another fascinating variation on history is that the Russians were the first to have a woman walk on the Moon, spurring Americans to do the same, and the subsequent equality in the astronaut core accelerating greater equality in the US. It took us a little longer, but in the 80s and 90s, we broadened out to include the full range of Americans.

So, yeah, I am an unapologetic supporter of the space program.

That does not mean I am a supporter of Trump's idiotic Space Force,  which is just a ham-handed militarization of space, WHICH WE DO NOT NEED.

And that brings us to...

👉BILLIONAIRES IN SPACE!👈

I've read science fiction all my life (okay, from about 6 years old), and I am aware of the heavy influence that libertarian philosophy has on many major writers, particularly in the 40s and 50s. For example, there are many science fiction stories where the super-rich millionaire/billionaire would take the reins of the space program and do it themselves because...GOVERNMENT SUCKED.

What a croc.

How in the world can the space program be better if it is done for the betterment of one, instead of in the interests of all?  How is it better if the profit from all the innovations and advancements is concentrated in the hands of the mega-wealthy?

Yes.  I understand.  Many investments started out dominated by the wealthy.  Airplanes were toys of the rich until someone figured out how much money could be made with passenger travel.  Of course, any major innovation is often facilitated with government support and money.  No billionaire ever did it by himself.  Government builds them spaceports and other support.

And then there are the huge tax breaks billionaires receive for this and other reasons.

Do I want billionaires in space?  I would rather it be we the people.

There is a chance that space tourist travel will be popular and affordable, based on the groundwork being laid by Branson, Bezos, and Musk. However, it is even more possible that they will use this as a means to become wealthier - hell, maybe even trillionaires.

If they want to play at this, fine.  But first - 

PAY YOUR DAMN FAIR SHARE OF TAXES

PAY YOUR WORKERS A LIVING WAGE

STOP BEHAVING LIKE AYN RAND WANNABES

Most importantly, let's get our WE THE PEOPLE space program back on track.  Let's get a station on the moon.  Let's have manned missions to Mars.  Let's land something on Europa that can take pictures, sample soil, bring back information.  

Let's boldly go where no man has gone before!

* budget numbers are from federal budget numbers accumulated by Datablog.

Political Position Update: Saturday Political Soap Box 274

 

As we are now are over four months into the Biden administration, I thought I would briefly update some of my most important political positions and how Biden is doing concerning them.

Actually, I had another topic in mind, but when I woke up this morning, whatever I was thinking the previous day, has fleeted from my mind.

And, yes, I hope to do a more detailed review of one of the most politically significant books I have ever read, Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. However, I am still working on how best to distill it and emphasize its impact.

But I will say this because it influences so much of the rest of my political thinking -

The Republican Party has become exclusively the party of preserving the caste system.

It's why Trumpeteers can become so slippery about traditional Republican dogma.  It's why they don't give a rip about free trade, or how much the wealthy are taxed, or the Russians, or government deregulation, or eliminating the minimum wage.

It's why Trumpeteers so easily seem to vote against their self-interest.  It's why they'll risk access to heath-care, defunding their schools, crumbling infrastructure, low wages.

It's because their primary interest is to make sure the dominant caste stays in control.

More on this later.

Meanwhile, here are my most important issues:

Mitigating/reversing Global Warming

I understand that 'climate change" is the preferred term.  And it makes sense in a way because the extreme weather is not just heat, but increased storms, including snowfall, increasing in frequency and strength.  But all the effects stem back to the same thing - the globe's temperature is rising at a dangerous rate, one that will make life challenging, and eventually, unsustainable.

Biden's Grade: B+.  His heart is in the right place, and I think he understands the reality of it and what's at stake.  Does he go far enough?  No, but he goes farther than any other American leader we've had.  He has led with rhetoric and executive orders.  He has gushed over the Ford F150 Electric Lightning.  His proposed American Jobs Act (includes infrastructure) is very green and progressive.  As far as passing the legislation, he has the same two problems as everything else I might list - 1) Republican filibuster and 2) Joe Manchin.

Universal Health Care

This has been at the top of my list for decades.  As a Christian and as an accountant, Medicare For All or some similar version of true universal healthcare has to be done.  It is both the morally correct thing to do, it is also the most economically feasible system we could put in place.  It saves money, and it saves lives.

Biden's Grade: C-.  He has made noises about preserving Obamacare, maybe even improving it.  He wants to do more to control drug prices.  But there is little of substance happening here. My major complaint about Biden is his objection to true universal health care.

Economic Justice Issues

We need to have a $15 minimum wage, one that includes tipped workers.  We need to reform our tax system - in a way that increases its progressivity.  We need to have more and stronger worker's unions.  

Biden's Grade: B.  He tried to include moving towards a $15 minimum wage in the Covid legislation.  He wants to increase the ridiculously low corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%. Many of the things passed in the COVID legislation significantly reduced the tax burden on working-class incomes in ways that I don't think many who will benefit from fully understand yet. He sided with the Amazon workers in Alabama who wanted to form a union (unfortunately, not enough workers voted to side with themselves).  In accomplishing this and more, he has some of the same problems as he did with climate change - 1) Republican filibuster and 2) Joe Manchin, and also 3) the Senate Parliamentarian.

Racial Justice Issues

These include, just to name two, voting rights and criminal justice reform.

Biden's Grade: B+.  Again, his heart is in the right place.  And some version of police reform may pass, thanks in part due to the hard work of Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina.  He has two great voting rights bills pending in the Senate, but without filibuster reform, nothing will happen.  These are tough issues, and I appreciate that Biden is trying to deal with them.

I will also say that on Covid, I give Bident an A+.  He has steered us out of this even more quickly than I had hoped for, even in my prayers and dreams.  This alone will make him one of the greatest Presidents of modern times.

I have other issues that are important to me.  And for those and the ones mentioned here, I am grateful for a President that at least brings these items to the table.

But as long as we have 35 to 40% of Americans* who choose caste over country, we will suffer needlessly in America.  The only thing that will end this is for any and all Trumpian candidates to be crushed at the polls in 2022.

Sadly, I am not holding my breath.

*but Tom, you say, 35 to 40% is not a majority.  Why are you worried about them?  Because so many things put in place to defend the caste system works in their favor. The Electoral College.  The Senate, with states like Wyoming having the same number of Senators as California, and the filibuster giving power to McConnell.  The Supreme Court and judiciary, which have been packed with right-wing extremists for years now.  The gerrymandering of Congressional districts and state legislatures.  Lobbyists and donors that buy off politicians.  A heavily biased media towards the status quo or who are the outright leading soldiers voicing far-right causes.  So, yeah, I'm worried.

Have the Rules Changed?

 Have the rules changed?

I collected unemployment once.  Back in 1995.  

It was humiliating.  It was only a tiny fraction of my employed wages.  Even if you were to add $300 a week, it was quite pitiful.  

And you couldn't just sit and collect it.  You had to go to classes to teach you how to look for a job.  You had to report you were looking for jobs.  I don't think, without a very good reason, that you could turn down a job.

I was only on it for a few weeks.  Not because I found a real job, but because I went in with somebody on a bookstore.  I had a lot of comics and trading cards, and I added those to her existing bookstore.  I also did a card/comic show at a mall about twice a month.  These efforts netted me virtually nothing, a significant drop from the unemployment check.  Nevertheless, I so much did not want to be on unemployment that I willingly gave it up.

During the height of the pandemic, under Trump and a Republican Senate, unemployment was fattened up to $600 additional per week.  Why?  Well, there were a lot of places shut down or with business COVID restrictions, and that meant a lot of temporary closures.  And they did not want people to fall into poverty or for the American economy to completely collapse.

Even with that, many people went back to work at the first opportunity, even at the sacrifice of that supposed sweet $600 a week.  Because despite the overwhelming prejudice of many ultra-conservatives, most Americans WANT TO WORK.

Fast forward to the present.  People on unemployment are getting HALF the boost that they were, $300.  And yet, the howling has begun.  With that and the $1400 per person payment, people are just too flush and lazy to want to work.

Bullcrap,

Yes, with COVID on the downswing (not over by a longshot, but there is hope on the horizon), the US leading the world in vaccinations, and yes, people having a little cash in their pockets, the economy is coming back.  And businesses at the forefront of that recovery spending, like restaurants and retail establishments, find themselves in need of quickly staffing up.

If we had a true capitalist society, this would mean huge pressure to boost wages and improve working conditions.  There is no evidence that is happening, at least on any large scale. At least not yet.

People want to work.  There are some, like me, that are paranoid and take what we can get.  Others want to make wages that make sense in supporting themselves and their families, and are as safe as possible.

Somebody who has recently been on unemployment, please let me know.  Have the rules changed?  Don't you have to demonstrate that you're actively looking?  Don't you have to take reasonable job offers?

Stop blaming a temporary boost in unemployment compensation for all the troubles of the American economy.  Stop blaming the working poor for an economic system designed to exploit them and keep them impoverished.

Let's redesign the system so that the boat is bigger and the middle class is stronger.

 

President Joe Manchin! Saturday Political Soap Box 269

All hail the new President of the United States!

Given the fragile 50 seats plus tie-breaker Vice President Harris Senate majority, the Democratic Party is only as strong as its most conservative Democrat.

And the winner of that contest, hands down, is Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

Sure, there are other grumblers and mutterers.  Senator Kyrsten Sinema can be an extra special treat, defiantly giving a big thumbs down to signify her vote against the $15 minimum wage.

But, in the end, it's all about the Joe.  And not the Joe we elected as President of the United States.

But, Tom, you say Joe Manchin may be a Democrat, but he comes from a very red state, voting both times overwhelmingly for Captain Bone Spurs.  Of course he behaves like a DINO.  He needs to represent the interests of his state.

Really?  You think that's what's going on? I daresay that if the $15 minimum wage was put on the ballot in West Virginia, it would pass with flying colors, as ballot measures increasing the minimum wage have been approved in red and blue states alike.  And the COVID-19 relief bill as a whole is extremely popular among all voting groups, including Republicans.

If this was about gun control or climate change efforts that moved us further away from coal, I would still disagree with Manchin, but at least it would make some sense based on his constituency.  This, however, makes no sense.

I can't fully explain everything Manchin does.  I don't know if he's a deficit hawk about everything or just when it comes to things that help the average working person.  I don't know why he seems to have a double standard for cabinet nominees, having voted for many of the nastier Trump nominees, and now becomes squeamish on strong Biden nominees, particularly, I'm afraid to say when it comes to women. I don't know enough about him to know if he just likes being the center of attention.

I have read that Chuch Schumer may not be tough enough on Joe Manchin, that perhaps Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota could corral him better. I don't know.  I'm not sure it would help.  It's just the way things are drawn right now.

Even if we didn't have the filibuster, we might not get the legislation we need if President Manchin "vetos" it.  Interesting, but we may never know.  Why?  Because the filibuster can't be eliminated without President Manchin's support.

From recent news reports:

 "Asked by the Hill’s Jordain Carney whether there is any scenario in which he might “change his mind” about the filibuster, Manchin replied, “Never! Jesus Christ! What don’t you understand about never?”"

President Joe Manchin.

This is why it's going to be so tough for us to have nice things.

Shocks to the System: Saturday Political Soap Box 247

So, some people ask me, "Hey, Tom!  What's the most influential book you've read about politics?"*

Thanks for asking.  Well, in recent years, the book that has impacted me the most has been The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein, a well-credentialed and award-winning journalist, columnist, and author.

The Shock Doctrine's premise is that many on the right, including politicians, the super-wealthy, and major corporations, use the cover of crisis to further their own agendas.

Katrina was used as an excuse to impose free-market solutions on New Orleans, privatizing public functions, such as schools and utilities.  The same thing happened at a larger scale in Iraq.

Disasters also make perfect opportunities for legislation to improve the lot of those already in charge.  You can see that in the legislation bailing out the banks and major corporations during the 2008 economic collapse.  Less successful were efforts to rein in the same players who caused the crisis.  What feeble attempts to check them has been whittled away and reduced to white noise by successive Republican Congresses and the current Republican White House.

Democrats are often participants in this power grab for concentrated wealth, either willingly or unwillingly.  Democrats have their donors that they have to keep happy, so many are nowhere near as progressive as they should be.  Democrats also believe that action is better than inaction, so they more quickly compromise for crumbs, just to get Republicans to do something.

You can see that in current legislation around the pandemic.  Republicans get 90% of what they want - a massive slush fund to major corporations - a $500 billion slush fund, complemented by up to $4.5 trillion in support by the Federal Reserve.  Meanwhile, the backbone of America, small businesses, have to scramble for PPP funds while competing against larger businesses, many of whom have the inside track on bank relationships and lawyers/accountants who can barrel through the paperwork.  Individuals are handled a mere pittance, a one time shot of funds barely able to cover food or rent for a month.  State governors play an end-around the slightly extra unemployment benefits by prematurely opening their states and eliminating unemployment for those unwilling to put themselves and their loved ones at risk. 

The working poor aren't warriors.  They're cannon fodder to protect the wealthy interests that exploit them and the stock market that doesn't benefit them.

The Democrats stand in line, let McConnell dictate things, thinking that NOW it is their turn, with the House coming up with a bill that does more to shore up individuals and local/state governments, and the Senate Republicans will refuse to even consider it.

The condition to even consider a bill?  McConnell wants employers protected from lawsuits by employees who get sick because the employer has not put in adequate protection measures.  It's Shock Doctrine essentials - improve the lot of the wealthy and powerful at the expense of everyone else.

There has been a lot of whining by Republicans that the House legislation is an excuse to put in Progressive wish list items that go beyond the current crisis.

You know what I say to that?

Well, no s---, Sherlock.  'Bout fricking time!

Pot. Kettle. Black.

Naomi Klein realizes this, and an excellent follow-up book of essays lays out the case for an aggressive Green New Deal.  It would transform this country  FOR THE BETTER.  Because we cannot continue to have authoritarian capitalism centered only around the interests of the exploiters at the top, and socialism only when it benefits the most advantaged.  Capitalize gains, socialize losses - this is a motto we can no longer afford.

I won't go into the Green New Deal here.  I don't want to write forever (people stop reading after a while - heck, probably only 10% of you got this far), and I hope to move on to another Story Time with Mr. Tom (shameless plug). Still, I do have other blog posts that discuss it, and I do highly recommend her book pictured above.  It is an important example of why Progressives need to start using the Shock doctrine themselves.

It's not enough to just check the Republicans.  It's not enough to take a few crumbs while they stomp off with the bulk of legislation.  It's time we stood up firmly for the radical change that is going to be necessary to truly save the country and the planet.



*no one asks me this.  No one really asks me anything, except maybe, "What's wrong with you?  Why aren't you smiling?"  Thank god we wear masks now.  Maybe I won't get asked that so much.

Looking For a Ray of Light: Saturday Political Soap Box 245

I know.

It seems very dark right now.

And many of the steps we are taking right now feels like plunges into utter madness.

Our narcissistic leader is more concerned about his tv ratings and poll numbers and pending re-election than he is about human lives.  We are short on essential supplies, and he is leading the cry to end social distancing. 

More and more commentators are urging us to choose the economy instead of human lives.  And more and more of us, to humanity's utter shame, are listening.

Our behavior is guaranteeing a devastating second wave.  I don't see how that doesn't happen now.  I pray that I am wrong, but everything about the way we are behaving suggests that we will not make it out of this without greater than necessary casualties.

There never should have been a choice between capitalist greed and mitigating this terrible coronavirus.  We could have easily supported people instead of corporations.  We could not have put people at extreme economic risk, and instead offered more direct support - universal basic income or guaranteeing a significant portion of base salary.

The ray of light?

That this will be enough to finish off the age of greed in the United States.  That we finally recognize the need for a better social safety net, and for a restructuring of the flaws of capitalism.

That we recognize that healthcare is a basic human right and that we need to move away from an employer-based system and move towards a truly universal healthcare system.  The best and easiest to put in place is the single-payer system known as Medicare for All.  At the very least, I never, ever, want to hear another Democratic politician, like Mayor Pete or Senator Klobuchar or Vice President Biden, mutter some inanity about how Americans prefer their private plans.  Yes, their private plans that can VANISH in a heartbeat when employers whim it different or you are laid off or fired.  ENOUGH!

That we finally raise the minimum wage to be a LIVING WAGE.  We all know and respect and cherish the vital work that our medical staff has done.  But we cannot ignore all the working poor and middle class that we throw into the frontlines as well - grocery store clerks, restaurant staff, migrant farm labor, meatpackers, and many more.  If I ever hear someone use the term "burger flipper" again..well, I will mercilessly verbally assault you.  Maybe.  Any rate, I will be very upset, and I will make that clear to you.

That we finally address global warming in a significant way.  We have given the planet a major breather, and we need to figure out ways to NOT resume the horrors of fossil fuel consumption and all the myriad ways we pollute the planet and make it increasingly unlivable. 

That we learn that there is more to life than mindless productivity and unlimited consumption.  We need to reconfigure the economy around people and not things.  I don't want to return to an economy focused solely on making reams of useless and disposable trinkets.  Manufacturing jobs have been preferred jobs because they pay more than other jobs people with a basic education could get.  We need to give the same dignity and pay to service work.

This is the tip of the iceberg as to the rays of light that I hope will come out of the other end of this crisis.

Is it likely to happen?

You don't want me to answer that.

Let's just stick to the rays of light for this one, OK?

As the world around you disintegrates into madness, stay as safe as you can.

Love,

Tom

No More Billionaire Presidents: Saturday Political Soap Box 226

Now is the not time for another billionaire President.

I don't care if it's a Reich Wing lunatic like our racist President, Donald J Trump.  Of course, he may not be a real billionaire.  That may be part of the con.  But we can say at least - he plays one on TV, and he wants us to believe that he is.

I don't care whether it's a center-right figure like Micael Bloomberg.  He's worth probably the combined wealth of all the Presidents we've had combined.  He owns a huge media conglomeration and has the money and broadcast megaphone to drown out anyone else in the world.  Well, except maybe Jeff Bezos is worth about $150 billion.  And guess what?  Jeff Bezos encouraged Michael Bloomberg to run.  Think about that.

I don't even care if it's progressive Tom Steyer, who's politics are close to mine. He's still a billionaire.  He still sends the wrong message about what we can do to fix our system.

Why do you not want a billionaire President, Tom?  Isn't this a free country where anybody can run? Don't you want somebody who was able to succeed that much in our system run our system?

Well, no, I don't.

Here are some of the reasons why -


Being a Billionaire is not a matching skill set with running a government

There is nothing about being rich that translates into being a good President.  It is an entirely different skill set.  Billionaires are used to people following what they order.  Their command (presumably lawful commands, unless, of course, you're Trump or a coal baron), are followed without question.  That's not how government works.  It is an intricate dance of checks and balances that most billionaires do not have to consider.

Running a business does not translate into running a business.

We've had some very wealthy people run the government.  But they have come from people who have accumulated years of public service, such as Franklin Roosevelt and  John Kennedy.  John Kerry and Mitt Romney, major party nominees who did not win, also follow that pattern.

The only billionaire with government experience that would pass this first standard is Michael Bloomberg, who is Mayor of one of the largest cities in the world, New York City.

So, just from the first reason, we're down to one eligible billionaire.


Our campaign finance system is broken

Should anyone be able to run for President?  Sure.  Even billionaires should be, although I would urge every thinking person to not vote for them.

Our campaign finance system is broken in this country.  Money talks.  Way too loud.  And to have candidates who can drown others with their personal wealth seems very wrong.

Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have shown that it is possible to run a campaign on small-dollar donations. They do not accept corporate and PAC money.  But even they would be drowned out by the avalanche of money that Michael Bloomberg could spend just from his own personal wealth.  Not to mention owning one of the most gigantic media megaphones.  And by that, I mean Bloomberg News.  Sycophants like MSNBC's Joe Scarborough and Chuck Todd are just extra bonuses.

As long as the campaign finance system is broken, and politics are fueled by wealthy donors and large corporations, none of the basic problems are going to be solved in this country (climate change, universal health care, gun reform measures, tax code favoring the rich, etc.).

It is possible that some billionaire could defy their own personal interest and support changes that would fix the campaign finance system.  Tom Steyer might do that, so he could pass this test.

Michael Bloomberg, however, fails this test super big time.


Income Equality is one of the most significant issues of our lifetime

The gap between rich and poor in this country is growing wider and wider.  Electing a billionaire does not help solve this; it exacerbates this.

This increase has been happening under both Republican and Democratic Presidents.  We have systematic problems that need to be addressed.

This gap, which includes the diminution and insecurity of the middle class, has been suer-fueled by the Trump administration.  The income tax reform has led to many wealthy people and large corporations paying a lower percentage of tax than many in the middle class.  The rich get rich, the middle class treads water, and the poor get more isolated, vilified, and desperate.  One of the great crimes of our present times is those in the privileged class encouraging the working poor to target minorities, the poor, and immigrants for their declining economic status, rather than those who are really responsible.

In this regard, even the best-intended billionaire sends the wrong message.  Tom Steyer's heart may be in the right place, but there's nothing that he could do that Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders couldn't do better.

And we need to be clear as to why Michael Bloomberg is coming into the race. It's not because of gun control.  It's not to check climate change.  He's coming in because he fears that a Corporate/Centrist Democrat will not win the race.  He sees that Biden is not taking a commanding lead and that the combined Warren/Sanders vote is enough to overwhelm him.  And why does he fear the progressive wing of the Democratic Party so much?

Because they might increase his taxation in some marginal way.  The wealth tax, that little 2% ta on wealth that Warren talks about, one that would barely put a slight dent in his holdings, has him and Bezos and Gates and Zuckerberg shaking in their boots.

He's not running to benefit this country.  He's running to preserve the wealth and privilege of his class.

Why the wealth tax is a good idea, and why it is vital to correct tax code inequities, is a discussion for another post.  I've addressed this before, but if people want, I can address it again.  But not here. These get too long, and people wander away.  Heck, I don't even know if very many of you made it this far.

There are other reasons as well why should not elect a billionaire President, but the ones mentioned here are the ones topmost in my mind.

Christian Reich extremist?  Go back Mike Pence or Mike Huckabee or someone similar.

Trumpeteer?  Got no real answer for you.  Ted Cruz or Lindsay Graham, maybe?  I don't know.  If you're still with Trump, I don't know what to say about you or how to help you?

Rock ribbed Republican?  Promote people like Mitt Romney and John Kasich.  I know.  Romney is rich, but he's had a lifetime of government service, and I'm not sure he's a billionaire.

Centrist/Corporate Democrat?  You got Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar, among others.

Progressives?  Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are right in your sweet spot.

Whatever you do, don't be swayed by the smell of money.

Pease.  I'm begging you.

No more billionaire Presidents.

Losing the Mooch: Saturday Political Soap Box 218

Anthony Scarmucci, White House Communications Director for just 11 stomach-churning days, was one of the few people that were able to outshine the President in ridiculous, insulting and controversial statements.

And yet, after his remarkable quick demise, back in 2017, he was still able to support the President and came to his defense many times on national television.  He remained a colorful figure, albeit with slightly more tamed language.

That all evaporated last week.  The Mooch (as he is affectionally called by friend and foe alike), appeared on Real time with Bill Maher.  He defended the President, but with not the same vigor he had in the past.  He admitted some things were troubling him, including the trade wars that seem to be contributing mightily to sinking the global economy.  He was less than thrilled with some of the recent racist remarks made by our racist President.

Well, that's all it took for racist Donald Trump to turn on him.  I'm amazed, even with all of the television our Racist-In-Chief watches, that he stumbled across Real Time with Bill Maher.  Perhaps Fox News had a segment about it.  He lashed out at Scaramucci, saying how he could not handle his tenure as Communications Director and how he barely knew.

Well, now the gloves were off.  The Mooch, not one to hold back when someone comes after him, has recently called our racist President a "jackass," "narcissistic," and "crazy."   When Trump verbally attacked a protester at one of his Nuremberg style rallies for being fat ( the person identified was actually one of his supporters trying to take the protesters out of the rally), the Mooch called Trump 'the fattest President", temporarily banning Scaramucci from Twitter.  He now thinks Racist Don needs a primary opponent and likened the attempt to replace to Arya Stark swooping in to get rid of the Night King, and that when the Night King is taken down, all his supporters will evaporate.  I wish.  I'm afraid we'll be dealing with America's ugly racist side even long after Trump. 

The Mooch may be the loudest, but I don't think he's the only one who will flee from Trump in the coming months.  The global economy is very shaky right now, in large part but not entirely because of racist Trump's trade wars.  His blind lashing out has destabilized everything.  Our racist President has been clinging to a so-called "strong economy" as the last bailiwick of support outside his base voters (the white supremacists and evangelicals that will stick with him no matter what).  If he loses the economy as an argument, he is a goner.

Democratic Presidential candidates who are basing their campaign solely on challenging the Narcissist King may be in for a surprise. If the economy sinks, and Trump is unable to successfully pin it on somebody else, the Republicans could replace him.  Or Trump could step aside, resign, and let Pence pardon him (not with precedent - Ford pardoned Nixon after Nixon resigned).  Then while old white men flail over whether the Democratic Party should be conservative and corporate, or Progressive and bold, the Republicans will nominate Nikki Haley as President or Vice President, putting them as the party to put a woman in the White House (or White House adjacent).

If only the Democrats had a woman who was bold and progressive, with detailed plans, an ability to work with both Progressive and moderate Democrats, an opposition to Trumpism that runs deeper than just racist Trump and attacks corruption more broadly, a straight shooter with positive appeal.  If only the Democrats had someone like that.

Oh, wait.  Maybe they do. 

Maybe we have more than one.

I'll let you suss that out.

I won't give you any clues.

Okay, maybe just one clue.

Huddled Masses: Saturday Political Soap Box 214

It's hard.

The political thoughts that most often swirl in my head center on -

Trumpeteers!

What the hell are you thinking?

But I can't always write about that, as much as it occupies my mind, as much sleep I lose over the fact that I have friends who just don't seem to WAKE UP!

Sigh.

So let me attempt to take a look at an issue that might be solved, or at least improved, by a different approach.  So let's take a closer look at whatever problems we imagine to have centered around immigration.

There must be some solution that is a middle ground between wild west open borders versus the concentration camp horrors we are witnessing.

There is not one solution.  This should allow for a comprehensive bill/compromise that would contain elements that both parties can agree on (or agree to live with).  But it probably won't happen with a President who thrives on stoking the fears and racism of his base.

But what if we could do what was needed?

The following is not a researched or scholarly position.  Sorry -  my blog is designed for discussion and ideas, not for conclusive research.  Ain't no one gonna pay me to put in that kind of time.  I do think, however, that they are worth discussing and considering.

In no particular order, any comprehensive immigration position should contain the following elements -

1) $15 Minimum Wage

You can't even begin to discuss things while so many Americans are living on the edge of poverty.  If you work a full-time job, you should be able to support yourself.  Period.

There should not be lower wages set for some jobs (waitressing, crop picking, etc.).  There should be no guest worker programs.  You work, you get paid a living wage. Period.

So, if Americans still refuse certain jobs, even with an adequate, competitive wage, then those jobs need to go to someone who will take them.  If that means immigrants, documented or otherwise, then so be it.

2) Prosecution of Businesses

Stop going after the employee.  Start going after the employer.  And go after them for wage theft, not employee status.  If they are paying less than minimum wage, or paying under the table, or some other clever subterfuge - PROSECUTE THEIR POSTERIOR!

Instead of breaking up families and going after the law-abiding (other than documentation status), maybe ICE should be focused on enforcing labor standards.

3) Border Security

The focus on border security should be on illegal contraband and criminal activity.  It should not be on harassing and demonizing asylum seekers.

Focusing on a useless wall is stupid, and a mammoth waste of money and resources.  We need focus via ports, through the coast guard and border patrol increased inspection and law enforcement.  Drugs and human trafficking should be targeted.

4) Speed up the Asylum Process

Build the facilities you need.  Take care out of private hands.  Be open to constant oversight and inspection.  Don't tell me we can't afford toothpaste, toilet paper, and basic supplies - don't go there.

Most importantly, hire the lawyers and judges you need to accelerate the process so that the whole thing runs more quickly and smoothly.

And don't break up families.  I can't believe I even have to say this.

5) Start a Marshall Plan for Central America

The primary reason we did not have World War III was the incredible decision by the United States to refortify the economic stability of its World War II enemies, Germany and Japan.  It was named for Secretary of State George Marshall and was essential in building the world we know now, where, up until Trump, those two nations became two of our closest allies.

We need that level of support to restabilize Central America and take control from the tyrant and gangsters that now run roughshod over that region.  Unfortunately, the Trump administration has withdrawn rather than engage.  

This will have to be done to secure democracy and openness, and not just selling parts of the countries off to multinational corporations.  I know.  A lot to ask from America, but it has to happen if we ever want to stem the tide of Central American asylum seekers.

6) Stop pretending climate change doesn't exist and start doing something about it.

We've passed the time to do something about this problem.  We are now, tragically, in a mitigation stage, and not a complete reversal stage. Sad, but true.

What has this got to do with immigration?  Everything.

As the climate continues to destabilize, vast swaths of this planet will become unlivable.  If they want to survive, they will have to move.  And climate refugees will dwarf whatever problem we think we are faced with now.

--------------------

I realize, that for Trumpeteers, the major problem is not jobs (hard to argue that in the face of historically low unemployment rates).  It's culture.  It's the fear that their culture, whatever they think it is ('MURICA!!!), will be lost.

Sorry, dudes.  Can't stop that.  Culture changes and shifts all the time.  Many of them are nostalgic for a time that never really existed.

I can't help with that.  I don't know how to address that level of bigotry and hate.

So, are there solutions to the "immigration crisis"?

Yes.  Yes, there are.

Will we adopt them in the Age of Trump & Satan's Handmaiden Fox News?

No.  No, we won't.

Sorry.  It's a dark time.  Hard to stay optimistic.

Return to the Issues: Saturday Political Soap Box 211

Please forgive me.  It has been since April 27th that I have done a Saturday Political Soap Box, one of the longest gaps since I started doing these.  Saturdays have been very busy lately, what with one son marrying and another son graduating.  Less romantically, Saturday lawn work has come back too.

It may be just as well.  As usual for the last few years, most of it would have been about Trump and his massive dump on this country and its values.

Don't get me wrong.  He should be impeached, and his bad behavior needs to be continually called out.  But the noise around him is causing some real dangerous issues to be ignored.

Could we solve these issues if Trump wasn't President?  I don't know.  There's a lot of division and intolerance in play even without Trump.  But maybe they could get more attention beyond the bitter circus that Trump has created for himself.

Here are some issues that need to be focused on starting YESTERDAY:


1) Climate Change

Global warming is my preferred moniker.  Whatever you call it, the central concern is this - the Earth's average global temperature is rising.  Polar ice caps melt, sea levels rise, agriculture is jeopardized, swaths of the planet are becoming unlivable.

Of all the problems before us, this is the most crucial.  We have already waffled to the point that damage is going to occur, even in the unlikely event that we were finally able to step up and do the drastic measures necessary.  Now, every day we delay makes things worse and worse. 

We all need to think about what we need to do, conservative and liberal alike.  If we allow this to remain a partisan issue, there will be no hope for mankind.

The best blueprint to move forward is the Green New Deal.  The best way for conservatives to handle it is to participate in shaping it rather than fighting it.


2) Nuclear Proliferation

The excellent HBO mini-series, Chernobyl, recently drove home the dangers of nuclear materials, even those in power plants.  We came close to a world-changing event of destruction, and one that still left parts of the Ukraine uninhabitable.

We are dancing on the head of a very slippery pin with nuclear power and weapons, and we have a President who has asked the Pentagon questions about why we haven't used nuclear weapons and why couldn't we use them? 

More and more countries are developing these weapons, and we seem to do very little to stop their growth.  Trump's North Korean friend, the one he has professed being in love with, is playing Trump like a fiddle, barreling ahead towards a nuclear future.  And somehow, Trump has come to believe that an Iran unchecked by an international treaty, is somehow less likely to build nuclear weapons.

The major lesson of the US invasion of Iraq (and additionally the toppling of Libya's Quaddafi) has been that the only way to protect yourself from the United States is to actually have weapons.

We also tend to ignore that one of the most likely exchanges of nuclear weapons is between Pakistan and India.  Flashpoints that could alter the planet are everywhere.

There is no magic solution.  Global connectivity and diplomacy are a bigger help than nationalistic movements, like America First, or religious extremism.

3)  The International Rise of Fascism

It's not just Trump.  The growth of nationalism and me firstism is rising around the world.  Trump gleefully supports dictators from all over while bad-mouthing remaining democracies.

The fear of the other is gripping the planet, and it's scaring the hell out of me.  From the brutal dictators in countries ranging from the Philippines to China,  to the calls for Brexit and the angry intolerance of immigration in Europe and other places, we seem to be galloping backward rather than forwards.

4) The Concentration of Wealth

Money is concentrating in fewer and fewer hands, and more and more of us are slipping in living standards.  It's challenging to balance the needs of almost 8 billion people, but we don't need to be doing as badly at it as we are now.

We don't need to have a model where a handful hold most of the world's wealth while billion starve, living on the edge of survival.

We need to have a better tax model.  We need better food distribution.  We need anti-trust laws.  We need to update our economic model.  And yes, we need to lower the birth rate, through birth control and education.  The more educated and empowered women are, the more stable a country is.

5) In the USA, Universal Health Care is Way Past Due

The coupling of health care to your job needs to be done away with.  Private health insurance and it's resultant profiteering and overhead needs to go to the way of the dinosaurs.  Thousands die each year because of the lack of basic health care.  Hundreds of thousands go medically bankrupt.

6)  More Jobs Will be Lost to Automation than Immigration

Is this good or bad?  I don't know.  But it's going to happen, and many will be thrown out of the jobs they're familiar with.  We'll need to redefine what works is, and how people define their self-worth.  It's going to be a big change, but developing an economy around dead business models, like coal and other fossil fuels, is not the answer.

--------

There are many other issues of urgency, including environmental destruction and contamination(beyond global warming issues), women's health issues, our crumbling infrastructure, college debt, large corporations controlling our media and internet, and many more.

But hey, that's what future Saturday Political Soap Boxes are for!

Yes, there will still be plenty of Soap Boxes focused on Trump.  He's too great of an evil to ignore.  But I'll try to address issues more.  Yes, most of my discussion will center on progressive solutions.  But I welcome participation by my more conservative brethen, AS LONG AS they recognize that these issues are real and they need to be addressed.  No more ostriches, please.