We Are Where We Want To Be

This is worth a read... MinnPost Ex-GOP chair Michael Steele on the politics and power of Trump by Eric Black

This is worth a read and I agree with Michael Steele... “We are where we are because this is where we want to be.”  I mean Tribe Liberal and Tribe Conservative both went so far out that a void was created...  And nature hates a void...

Policy and Intentions

Jerry, Moose and I are arguing about Policies and Intentions back here. It all started with me stating one of my core beliefs after Moose accused Jerry of prioritizing corporate "profits over pretty much anything else"...

"Then maybe you should assume good intent more often...Usually I have found that folks want to do the right thing for our country and citizens..."

I am never sure why Tribe Liberal and Tribe Conservative folks feel the need to accuse the other side of intentionally trying harm their fellow citizens?  I just have not found that to be the case very often.  I mean sometimes people want to implement policies to:

• help themselves (ie tax cuts, program increases, etc)
• help others (ie abortion laws, affirmative action, etc)
• help the USA (ie border security, higher min wages, etc

However I can not think of many times when people said "let's pass this policy to punish that group of citizens"...  But maybe that is just my naïve friendly helpful optimistic nature showing. Thoughts?

Halloween Costume Etiquette

Sean and I are arguing about Black Face and Megyn Kelly elsewhere, so I thought this may be useful...


CNN Should I wear that costume for Halloween? Consult this flowchart

MN Political Ads

Only 8 more days until the political advertisements stop.  Thank God !!!


Her is an interesting MinnPost piece.

Fact Checks

AP FACT CHECK
NYT Debunking Viral Caravan Images
Politico Caravan
CNN Trump Misinformation


They have some interesting topics in those. Thoughts?

Facebook and Tribes

One of my Conservative Tribe FB Friends started to post things that made fun of the people in the immigrant caravan. Of course, me being me I have to question people who post very "Tribal" beliefs on FaceBook.  I do this to both Tribe Liberal and Tribe Conservative members.  Some of the past occurrences:

• Liberal who I know had some highly questionable events occurring in High School questioning regarding Kavanaugh. She took it with a grain of salt and asked that we "not go there"... :-)
• Conservative who I know posted regarding gun control, liberal conspiracies, etc. He and his friends have been patient with my questions and disagreements.
• Liberal who was a big supporter of Black Lives Matter and angry at police in general. She did not accept my questions and comments very well...  She then unfriended me.
• Conservative person I barely knew that posted so many pointless and somewhat hateful things that I finally unfriended him.
• Liberals who post regarding climate change, school systems, welfare, taxes, LGBT rights, religious rights, etc. They sometimes get frustrated with me, but usually they are good sports.

With this in mind, I was a little surprised recently to be unfriended by the older guy over the immigration topic. Here is some background:

• He posted this image of the caravan that says they should be marching on their government, not marching to the USA for free stuff.
• I commented that they would likely be killed or imprisoned, and that we in the USA are very lucky to be able to march our government.
• He and another of course got defensive, asked me why I was commenting there and changed the subject to how their ancestors had done it very differently.  Somehow "more legally" apparently.
• They shared stories of poor people risking their lives and sometimes dying on the ship to get here.  And how there was no welfare and freebies back then.
• At which time I felt compelled to remind them that many folks got really really cheap land when they came here... Many of our families still own that 160 acres and it is worth ~$600,000 now...
• Things went okay up to that point and we let the topic drop. Then the original poster who is usually a very nice guy took a parting shot at me. He posted a meme about people who support immigration should provide their names and addresses so they will have a place to live, and tagged it to me...
• Well my competitive nature took issue with that, so I asked how are these poor families who are different from our ancestors? Why should they not be allowed to come to the border and have their claims heard? If we should open fire on them or something? Should Americans ~150 years ago have shot at the ships carrying our great grand parents?
• Finally I did the judgmental moralistic thing... :-( I wrote that I was did not understand how good Christian country folk could dehumanize these potential refugees that they see them as a "problem / threat" instead of as people.
• And please remember that I am against sanctuary cities, harboring illegal workers, etc.  However I do believe these are people that deserve a chance to be heard. Not "problems". 

I'll finish this later... Now I am going to the Anoka Halloween parade. :-)  Well, that was fun.  :-)

To end the story... Of course he gave no answer as to why these folks should be treat less humanely than his grand parents...  He just unfriended me instead.  The good news is I will not be exposed to his tribal memes anymore. The bad news is that he will not have any feedback loop questioning the tribe's hateful dehumanizing rhetoric. :-(

MN Buffer Strips

Here is an interesting MinnPost piece regarding the future of Buffer Strips. Thoughts?

Is Trump's Behavior Driving Violence?

NPR: After Suspicious Packages, Trump Tones Down Partisan Rhetoric, Attacks Media


Personally I believe that Trump owns the responsibility for this incitement and escalation.  A leader can not go around praising violence and calling people enemies of the USA without expecting consequences.  He did it, he should own it...  Unfortunately this guy never takes responsibility when his actions or words lead to failures...  Only when he thinks he can spin something to the positive.

Yes281 Reminder

Folks in the Robbinsdale School District 281 who support funding our schools well to help our kids grow into the best citizens they can be.  Remember to vote YES !!!

Folks in the Robbinsdale School District 281 who are cheap and willing put our community and kids at higher risk.  Just stay home and forget to vote!!! 😁

 YES 281 Facebook Page
Sample Ballot
District 281 Robbinsdale Referendum Page

And even though my youngest graduates this Spring, I will be voting YES!!!  As I often rant...  If we the members of our communities are not willing to fight for, fund and sacrifice to keep our community strong vibrant and healthy, then we deserve for it to slip into decay with other not to be named communities.

So pry open that wallet and Vote YES !!!


And you stingy self centered folks, please feel free to stay home...😁

Scientists Apparently Know All

Houston Chronicle We're scientists. We know the climate's changing. And we know why.

One of my FB Friends who truly believes in man made climate change posted that link. And Jerry and I were still belaboring the balancing babies...  So I figured it was time for another endless comment string...


Here is their graph...  I just added the 2 lines to show at rate change...

Politics and Psychology

VOX 9 essential lessons from psychology to understand the Trump era Motivated reasoning, bias, fake news, conspiracy theories, and more, explained.


A very interesting piece that I will need to get back to when I get a chance.

The Hidden Tribes of America

 This is interesting.   Hidden Tribes Site

Hidden Tribes Report

 

"The segments have distinctive sets of characteristics; here listed in order from left to right on the ideological spectrum:

• Progressive Activists: younger, highly engaged, secular, cosmopolitan, angry.
• Traditional Liberals: older, retired, open to compromise, rational, cautious.
• Passive Liberals: unhappy, insecure, distrustful, disillusioned.
• Politically Disengaged: young, low income, distrustful, detached, patriotic, conspiratorial.
• Moderates: engaged, civic-minded, middle-of-the-road, pessimistic, Protestant.
• Traditional Conservatives: religious, middle class, patriotic, moralistic.
• Devoted Conservatives: white, retired, highly engaged, uncompromising, patriotic."

 

  

What to Do about Saudi Arabia?

Sean and I have been disagreeing here about what actions the USA should take with regard to Saudi Arabia and their actions / potential actions.  He wants immediate actions (freeze military contracts, other?) where as I am much more...  Whatever...

I have been pondering why I am so indifferent to this terrible execution...  Here are some of the things I have come up with:

• Too many spy movies where someone is brutalized and killed...  I mean 7 minutes from start to death...  He either talked too fast or they did not really want any answers.  I am still waiting for the Turks to release the tape if they really have one.
• This nothing compared to what women had to put up with in Afghanistan and many of the Liberals would not have lifted a finger to help them.
• This nothing compared to what 10's of thousands of Iraqi citizens had to put up with in Iraq and many of the Liberals would not have lifted a finger to help them.
• China controls and "re-educates" far more citizens and the American consumers (including peace loving Liberals) do not blink an eye at supporting them to save a few bucks.
• We know Saudi Arabia is a harsh controlling force in the Middle East, and after decades of Arab Spring chaos, torture and death... Maybe that is the kind of government they need to stay safe.
• Saudi Arabia is opposing force to Iran in the region...  And compared to Iran they are stable lovable rational teddy bears...
• Saudi Arabia will buy their weapons from somewhere, why should high paid American workers suffer to assuage our collective conscience. 

Now Sean called me on my G2A Principles...  The challenge is that those are MY guiding principles on how I should live my life. And since I am a tolerant accepting person who usual respects the beliefs and behaviors of others, I am not sure judging people from another country with problems I can only imagine fits into this.

Now what do I think does warrant a response by the USA:

• If our "partners" lie to us...
• So hopefully they finish their investigation, come clean about what happened and execute some people.

Thoughts?

What is McConnel Thinking?

Newsweek Mitch McConnell Calls to Cut Social Security, Medicare

"After instituting a $1.5 trillion tax cut and signing off on a $675 billion budget for the Department of Defense, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that the only way to lower the record-high federal deficit would be to cut entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

"It’s disappointing but it’s not a Republican problem," McConnell said of the deficit, which grew 17 percent to $779 billion in fiscal year 2018. McConnell explained to Bloomberg that "it’s a bipartisan problem: Unwillingness to address the real drivers of the debt by doing anything to adjust those programs to the demographics of America in the future." The deficit has increased 77 percent since McConnell became majority leader in 2015.

New Treasury Department analysis on Monday revealed that corporate tax cuts had a significant impact on the deficit this year. Federal revenue rose by 0.04 percent in 2018, a nearly 100 percent decrease last year’s 1.5 percent. In fiscal year 2018, tax receipts on corporate income fell to $205 billion from $297 billion in 2017."

Maybe he has decided to start supporting the DEMs in this years election? I can already hear the attack ads...

"Don't vote for Senator ??? because he will support the Republican agenda of cutting your benefits and kicking you out of your home!!!"

Thoughts?

Trump On 60 Minutes

WAPO How Trump bobs and weaves to avoid the truth


I missed this weeks 60 Minutes, however it does not look like I missed much other than listening to Trump make stuff up.  Thoughts?

We Suck at Voting

Eric Black at MinnPost said it all...  We Suck at Voting

Economics of Childcare

MinnPost The vexing economics of child care in Minnesota, explained

"The issue has also been a thorny one for state legislators, who have passed reforms and cut regulations in response to scarcity of child care providers in Minnesota. (The number of in-home providers dropped nearly 30 percent between 2005 and 2014, according to a 2017legislative report.)"

You know that card game "Bull Shit"...  Well I call Bull Shit!!!

As many of you know I live in a home that is licensed for "In Home Daycare" and have since about 1992.   And over the last 8 years I have seen nothing but more filling out of forms, more repeated pointless training requirements, more check box exercises, more over the top safety requirements, etc.

I mean I am sure the intent is good (maybe), the liberal politicians and bureaucrats wanted to make all early child care facilities as safe, learning oriented, regimented and regulated as a public school.  Whereas many parent(s) just want a caring and safe place to put their kids while they are at work.

I mean just imagine this silliness...  If a Mom (or Dad) wants to stay home with his kid(s) and take in a couple of extra kids to help pay the bills...  Those couple of extra kids had better be siblings or they had better go through the full licensing process...  Yes people can only "baby sit" kids from 1 family in their home.  And we wonder why people are closing their homes to other kids and/or jacking up their prices...

I have the utmost respect for most old time In Home Daycare Providers, they were not necessarily perfect but they loved the kids they cared for, work absolutely crazy hours and overall did a good job.  And for that they made a pretty good living, and had very happy / loyal families coming to them.

Hopefully the government finds some more effective way to balance child safety and regulations...

The Challenges of Africa and AI

Here is an interesting discussion between Ezra Klein and Bill Gates.


And here is a link to the Goal Keeper's Report.


Thoughts?

Beware The Dark Side of the Force

From Laurie...

"So here is a link I found to explain to John a little more about what is wrong with conservatism these days and that the left and right are not equally dark or extreme: The dark side of American conservatism has taken over "

Small Changes and Climate Balance

Over here Jerry is making the same old argument...  The human impact on Earth is small compared to the total system size, therefore humans can not be driving the catastrophic climate changes we are seeing all around us. (ie floods, fires, heat waves, droughts, etc)


So I created a picture to help understand...

The reality is that the human use of carbon based fuels is pretty new to this incredibly balanced world environment we live in. For thousands of years the babies were just sitting there happy as could be.  I mean animals would come and go, the sun would get closer and further, etc.  Then along came humans who started giving the one baby toys...  So of course the balance will start to tip.


Now what I do not know is how Mother Nature will react in order to restore balance and how many of us silly short lived humans will survive it?  Will the babies keep smiling or will they both end up with the critters?

SCOTUS Is Too Powerful?

From Laurie:

"I have an off topic link I found interesting. I think both left and right could agree that the supreme court is too powerful.  Here’s What’s Really Wrong With the Supreme Court: It’s Too Damn Powerful "

One solution I heard discussed on MPR earlier today was the requirement of a super majority of Justices being needed to over rule a law that has been passed by the Legislative / Executive branches of government. Here is some history Wiki SCOTUS


One other thought I have been having...

• Are Justices partisan or does their personal interpretation of law and constitution just resonate with people in a specific party?
• Let me use myself as an example... I personally do not care about what party or person I vote for.
• I just know what I believe is best for America, and using that perspective and information available I pick between the 2 candidates.
• Partisan: "a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person"
• So what if the Justices are just doing what they truly think is correct based on their interpretation of the law and constitution?
• It seems they are not partisan at all.
• I mean is Ginsberg partisan or does she just interpret the law differently.  And the DEMs picked her because they aligned with her beliefs, not the other way around?

Erik Paulsen's Ads Annoy Me

If I have to see Erik say "He Approves This Ad" in front of another one of his vile TV Ads, I think I will be voting for Phillips on principle.  How hopeless can Erik be if he can not promote his accomplishments and how he has helped the people of MN?

At least Phillips puts some humor into his ads.

Climate Change Update

Well the IPCC gave an update and it does not look good for us humans, especially those of us living in areas that are low and/or hot already.

IPCC Summary for Policy Makers
CNN IPCC Report
VOX IPCC Report

And if you are still denying that humans are accelerating Climate Change, who still believes that the severe floods, fires, drought, heat waves, etc that we have been experiencing more frequently are natural... Here is a link for you.

WUWT IPCC Denial

Here is a link to some of our past discussions of this topic.

And here is why I think humans are a primary driver...  Can anyone imagine such a huge change not having some consequence?  Please remember that though the atmosphere looks HUGE when one looks up.  It is only a thin layer of gas covering this big rock we live on. (~5 miles up)

The good news is that this big rock and it's atmosphere can adjust...  It is just that us humans may not like / survive that adjustment. :-)

Porn Star Teaches Consent

CNN Want to learn about consent? Ask a porn star

This interview was a little surreal, but very interesting given our current discussions.

Her there can be "no consensual sex" while drinking alcohol seems extreme...  Thoughts?

Justices and Tribal Divide

MinnPost's Eric Black: Kavanaugh is the new normal: Supreme Court nominations and confirmations are now party-line matters

This is a good piece and the comments are interesting.  Thoughts?

Is Kavanaugh Helping GOP?

538 Is Kavanaugh Helping Republicans’ Midterm Chances? Republicans have gained in our Senate forecast; elsewhere, it’s less clear.


VOX Impact?
CNN Impact?
FOX News Busn Impact?


Thoughts?

Kavanaugh Odds Looking Better

WAPO Increasing Odds


Thoughts?

Trump is Not a Self Made Man

WAPO N.Y. tax agency weighs probe after report that Trump family built wealth through tax-avoidance schemes and fraud


The Hill Trump blasts NYT tax story a 'hit piece'


Mediaite Art of the Deal Writer Tony Schwartz: Bombshell NYT Report Ends the Myth of Trump as a ‘Self-Made Man’

CNN Donald Trump: the creation myth of the billionaire businessman just imploded


And you know it is bad for when Trump, when even FOX joins in.


FOX Trump reaped millions in shady tax schemes from father's business, report says; NY Tax Department 'reviewing' allegations


Personally, this whole story seems like common sense to me.  Thoughts?

Reds and Blues Sit Down

So my concern or morbid curiosity had me googling Jerry's name again...


Whenever a consistent commenter stops commenting, I have a to wonder if they just lost interest or if they just dropped dead.  It is kind of like when I kept getting a LinkedIn "Congratulate Dale on his Work Anniversary" 5 years after I attended his funeral...


That said, here is one the articles that comes up when I do so...
Star Tribune 'Reds' and 'blues' sit down together to try to heal the political divide A group called Better Angels is organizing the gatherings of Republicans and Democrats to talk, listen and find what they have in common.


And maybe if he is still upright...  It will convince him to chime in...
And if he isn't God Rest his Soul, He will be missed. :-)

Self Checkout is Terrible?

As a change from the serious, here is someone who really dislikes self checkout kiosks.  Of course since I am a do it yourselfer, usually I like self service.


VOX Wouldn’t it be better if self-checkout just died? Yes! Because you won’t like what it spawns next.

NAFTA vs USMCA?

CNN US and Canada reach deal on NAFTA after talks go down to the wire

FOX Canada, US confirm new deal with Mexico updating NAFTA

VOX The US, Canada, and Mexico have a new NAFTA deal. It’s called USMCA.The US and Canada struck a last-minute deal to update the trilateral trade agreement.

I am sure Trump will brag about the huge gains after a year of expensive painful negotiations, however others seem less certain. On the other hand he did get the name changed. Though I thought FOX calling an updated NAFTA was humorous. :-)