What Americans Want re: Healthcare
…. just like 32 of the world’s most productive nations.
Why is this so hard to fathom for the citizens of the wealthiest country on Earth?
News flash: We don’t want sick, ignorant people!
Tagged with: What Americans Want re: Healthcare
Trump Runs into Trouble with U.S. Farmers–But How MUCH Trouble?
This from the pro-democracy Lincoln Project, with a few comments below:
First, Trump screwed over American soybean farmers with his pointless trade war with China.
Now, Trump’s screwing over American ranchers by promising to import millions of dollars of Argentinian beef.
Trump hates America’s farmers.
Betrayal really is the right word.
Don’t forget, Trump won 93% of rural areas less than a year ago. Farmers voted for this guy because they thought he would have their back. But since coming into office, all Trump has done is screw them over. We’re not surprised.
But now’s not the time to say “ha, ha, I told you so!” – even though that’s kind of our jam.
Now, we need to reach out to the Americans Trump lied to. Show them they’re not better off. And show them the way forward is kicking this liar and his enablers out of office. Their costs are going up, too.
Trump’s bottom line is… well, the bottom’s falling out. If Trump wants his party to even have a prayer at keeping their majorities, he needs to carry the rural vote. And from what it looks like now, the rural vote is about ready to turn on the party they supported in the last cycle.
A few points.
1) Trump doesn’t “hate” farmers, any more than he hates real estate agents or pastry chefs. One thing we have learned about Trump over the years is that everything and everyone in his life is a transaction. If someone can do something good for him in terms of wealth and/or power, he’s a friend. For now.
The only people he “hates” are people who never, under any circumstances, are in a position to help him. That’s why he said the other day, “I hate Democrats,” meaning those people who support preserving democracy and rule of law, while repelling fascism.
2) I’m sure that farmers are keenly aware that Trump’s tariffs have hurt them; they don’t need to be told this. I know tons of these people, and they’re very good at basic math in terms of tons/acre, dollars/ton, etc.
3) Not only are farmers aware of the fact that Trump’s tariffs have begun to hurt them financially, but they are also upset. I use the word “begun” because the real economic damage that tariffs create emerges over a period of years, not weeks or months.
4) Let’s consider for a moment the mindset of the typical American farmer. Sure, financial success is important but so are (in most cases) extreme conservative values.
A few years ago, my brother told me, speaking about someone we both know well, “He’d vote for an orangutan before he’d vote for Hillary Clinton.”
In any case, good for the Lincoln Project for doing what they can to help the United States climb out of the pit into which it’s fallen.
Tagged with: Trump Runs into Trouble with U.S. Farmers
I Know a Threat When I See One
ICE agents have every reason to fear for their lives when protesters present this sort of nasty demeanor.
Tagged with: ICE agents
The East Wing
Here’s a beautiful piece of writing by political commentator Rick Wilson the demolition of the East Wing of the White House.
Perhaps this is stupid question, but I need to ask it nonetheless: Does the president of the U.S. have the right to do something like this? I presume he doesn’t have a deed to the White House. As such, can he sell it? Build a Pizza Hut on the property?
How is this situation different than my walking across the street to the park, where I commence cutting down trees because they block my view of the mountains in the distance?
I would expect to be in handcuffs within a few minutes. Why? It’s not my property.
Tagged with: The East Wing
What the Destruction of the White House East Wing Means
Here are a couple of remarks on Trump’s destroying the East Wing of the White House:
From Dan Rather
Witnessing any part of its demolition is a gut punch. Trump crossed an invisible line by destroying something that wasn’t his to destroy. You could say that about so much of what he has done, but the visual of seeing a bulldozer taking down part of this national treasure was a painful reminder of how he and his administration work every day at dismantling our democracy.
From the District of Columbia Preservation League
The demolition of the East Wing of the White House represents a collective loss—a serious affront to United States history and architectural heritage. While some may argue that modernization justifies this project, the country cannot overlook the profound cultural significance of the East Wing and its role within the White House complex. Its loss results in the irreplaceable erasure of a rich chapter in our national narrative.
Dating to the early 20th century, the East Wing has facilitated the initiatives of countless First Ladies, promoted public engagement, and welcomed millions of visitors, embodying the principle that government belongs to the people. Tearing down this vital space limits future opportunities for civic involvement and increases the risk of a lost connection between the presidency and the public.
Why Electricity Prices Will Soon Skyrocket
In this video, a gentleman explains why your monthly electric bill will, in a matter of a few years, exceed you mortgage payment.
He starts out by explaining that “Trump hates renewables” and provides a statement from the president: “There will be no more windmills built in the United States.” The rest of the presentation is essentially math: why the demand for natural gas, gas pipelines, and high-voltage transmission lines is about to drive prices through the roof.
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Why Are We Allowing Trump to Ruin Our Country?
This is a good question, but it has many solid answers.
Let’s be careful with our assumptions. Almost half of voters think Trump is doing a good job and actually needs more power in order to make America great again.
Tons of eligible Americans do not register and vote.
Since we live in a representative democracy, we’re depending on our Congress to exert its strength under the Constitution.
Democrats/progressives tend to be less forceful and difficult to manage than the right wing.
Tagged with: Why Are We Allowing Trump to Ruin Our Country?
You and I Are Preventing Walmart Employees from Eating Out of Dumpsters, Living on the Streets
The owners of these organizations are among the wealthiest people on Earth (Walton family: $432 billion, Bezos: $231 billion).
If that weren’t the case, the situation described at left might not be so disgusting.
More Crap re: Renewable Energy Breakthroughs
Obviously, this is pure crap.
1) Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are less efficient than their horizontal counterparts.
More importantly:
2) Wind turbines are not cited in areas with buildings that block wind currents.
3) Cities are not built in areas with huge wind currents because people generally find strong winds to be obnoxious.
Tagged with: More Crap re: Renewable Energy Breakthroughs
Run-of-River Hydro — Just When You Thought You’d Seen it All
For some reason, people post a great deal of pure bullshit on social media on the subject of renewable energy.
Some of it requires some level of knowledge of the subject to figure it out, but not the one at left, where the turbines are oriented at right angles to the flow of the river!
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