John Kline Not Running

Those silly MP moderators.  MP Kline Won't Seek Re-election  The Liberal commenters are saying all kinds of nasty things about John Kline. Then Pavel says he wishes Betty McCollum would retire also, to which Jason says at least she gets things done...

Now "I know nothing" about either of these folks.  However I simply try to post GovTrack John Kline and GovTrack Betty McCollum, and they never show up. I would love to no their top secret moderation criteria.  And of course Jason did not see John getting anything done, since one likes more government control and one wants less government control.

For a related post. MP True Swing District.  I just don't see it happening, however I have been wrong before. Thoughts?

Ben Carson: Rent-A-Black

 I know you are going to find this amazing... The MinnPost Moderators are blocking one of my responses again.  And have tried to soften it every way I can...  So here we go again.

"I find this obsession by the Left regarding race interesting. Personally I think this is all about Capitalism versus Socialism and where the USA should operate in between the 2 extremes. And about law and order. I don't think many people care about race at all.

One group believes strongly in personal property rights. The other believes government should control a large part of "Americas" wealth. One group thinks people need to live with the consequences of their choices, one groups thinks people deserve good food, clothing, healthcare, housing, etc just because they are standing on American soil. And both groups want to care for the truly needy, they just disagree with what that means.

As to the law and order. One group wants to enforce our borders so we know who is living amongst us and to ensure people are not rewarded for budging in line in front of legal process following immigrants. The other group wants to keep the borders soft and reward people who are brave enough to violate them with citizenship.

I think both side will happily accept support from people of every sex, race, nationality, etc. This is a philosophy fight, not a race war. Though the Liberals keep stirring the race pot in hopes to maintain support for their cause." G2A

"Gosh, I can't imagine which side you intend to take. Could it be the one that "believes strongly in personal property rights," that "thinks people need to live with the consequences of their choices," and that "wants to enforce our borders so we know who is living amongst us and to ensure people are not rewarded for budging in line in front of legal process following immigrants?" 

It surely could not be the scoundrels who believe "government should control a large part of 'Americas [sic]' wealth," who think that "people deserve good food, clothing, healthcare, housing, etc just because they are standing on American soil," and who want "to keep the borders soft and reward people who are brave enough to violate them with citizenship." No, no judgment or dramatic oversimplification there." RB Holbrook

"I think my simplistic summary makes more sense than Edsall's and the folks who are obsessed with Racism's simplistic summary.

Oh those terrible racist GOP folks... Gimme a break... A Black man is number 2 in the polls. And a guy from Cuba is one of the GOP's top movers and shakers." G2A
 

"Dr. Carson is a very successful man, and is the exception used to "prove" that racism is dead. He pronounces the correct Republican shibboleths and doesn't bring up race. Therefore, no one accuses him of being a secret Muslim, no one questions his birth, and in what I presume is deference to his very impressive record, no one is demanding to see his college transcripts. He is useful to refute charges of racism (in South Africa, they call it the "Rent-a-Black" phenomenon).

His standing in the Republican polls does not erase the Republican Party's retreat from its historic commitment to racial justice. Let's blow racial dog whistles all over the country--as long as we don't say the "N" word, we're cool. The Voting Rights Act? We don't need that--look at the successful doctor! Racism is dead, and we support this guy to prove it!

"And a guy from Cuba is one of the GOP's top movers and shakers." Do you mean Marco Rubio? He's from Florida, and he is hardly what one would call a "mover and shaker." His movement of late has been kind of shaky, but I don't think that's what you meant.

By the way, you talked about the fellow who is second in the polls. Who is running first in the Republican polls? What is his--or her--stand on racial issues? I have no doubt it's quite enlightened." RB Holbrook

Obama Inherited and Reduced Deficit

So Jerry is trying to convince Sean and I "that the deficit was on its way to zero under Bush, then suddenly became trillion-dollar deficits "as far as the eye can see" under Obama."  Now I provided 2 sources that clearly explain why Bush owns the 2009 deficit, and some other interesting links. Yet Jerry seems unconvinced. 

CATO Don't Blame Obama for Bush Deficit
Fact Check Spending Inferno

Forbes Spending
Forbes Are GOP Bigger Spenders
ZFacts National Debt
Wiki National Debt

Now the graphic below is from the CATO source and it clearly explains what most of us know. The economy started to tank in 2008, so Bush and Congress approved stimulus in late 2008 to offset the tanking of the Private sector and to help the unfortunate who were being crushed in the down turn. This money was then spent in 2009.





Then Obama and Congress approved additional stimulus spending in 2009 that would be spent in 2010. Now I may not approve terribly of Obama not cutting the spending back to it's pre-recession levels in say 2011, but to say he caused a tripling of the deficit is ludicrous. In fact the deficit has only decreased under Obama.

Unfortunately this downward trajectory is going to be short lived according to this link. And the CBO Report.  Thoughts?

Refugee Crisis: What to Do

Open Mic time.  What do you think we in America should do to help?

CNN Refugee Crisis
CNN Pope Calls for Mercy
CNN Photos

Trump Supporters Fear Shrinking White Majority

I kicked a hornet's nest...  This could get interesting.  Thoughts?

MinnPost Trump Supporters Fear Shrinking White Majority

"I find this obsession by the Left regarding race interesting. Personally I think this is all about Capitalism versus Socialism and where the USA should operate in between the 2 extremes. And about law and order. I don't think many people care about race at all. 

One group believes strongly in personal property rights. The other believes government should control a large part of "Americas" wealth. One group thinks people need to live with the consequences of their choices, one groups thinks people deserve good food, clothing, healthcare, housing, etc just because they are standing on American soil. 

And both groups want to care for the truly needy, they just disagree with what that means. 

As to the law and order. One group wants to enforce our borders so we know who is living amongst us and to ensure people are not rewarded for budging in line in front of legal process following immigrants. The other group wants to keep the borders soft and reward people who are brave enough to violate them with citizenship. 

I think both side will happily accept support from people of every sex, race, nationality, etc. This is a philosophy fight, not a race war. Though the Liberals keep stirring the race pot in hopes to maintain support for their cause." G2A


"Gosh, I can't imagine which side you intend to take. Could it be the one that "believes strongly in personal property rights," that "thinks people need to live with the consequences of their choices," and that "wants to enforce our borders so we know who is living amongst us and to ensure people are not rewarded for budging in line in front of legal process following immigrants?" 

It surely could not be the scoundrels who believe "government should control a large part of 'Americas [sic]' wealth," who think that "people deserve good food, clothing, healthcare, housing, etc just because they are standing on American soil," and who want "to keep the borders soft and reward people who are brave enough to violate them with citizenship." 

No, no judgment or dramatic oversimplification there." RB Holbrook

Who is a Moderate Politician?

I have posted this question to Jason and received no response, so let's try it here...

I had a related question for you from another post. What do you consider a "moderate"? See the Sponsorship Analysis graphs for a point of reference.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/erik_paulsen/412303

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/amy_klobuchar/412242

Democrat Candidates in the Twin Cities

No time, but these are interesting.  Thoughts?

MP DEMs 1
MP DEMs 2
MP DEMs 3

Three Parts of Tax and Spend

I posted this comment over at MP Paulsen.  Thoughts?

3 Topics Here

1. How much of our economy is collected and spent by the politicians? My preferred target is ~33% of GDP. That leaves 67% for citizens to use as they wish.
2. Who is taxed to pay that 33% or other? Currently successful people pay a lot more in taxes to support and care for the citizens who are not successful. Makes sense since they have the money and the poor do not. (ie no getting blood out of a turnip)
3. What the politicians choose to spend that 33% or other on? I am somewhat indifferent as long as they over time stay within their budget and keep America secure. (some deficits / some surpluses) Unfortunately even in these good times they are spending more than they take in and our kids will need to pay for it in one way or another. Keep praying that interest rates stay low. :-)

G2A Political Self Awareness
Total US Govt Spend History

What Will They Protest Next

Since MinnPost is moderating this one intensely, let's see what folks here have to say.  MinnPost Go Topless Day  This event apparently occurred on Sunday.  Here are my random thoughts:

• Aren't their much more important things to protest?
• If the freedom to show off their breasts is what they seek. Why is all the internet coverage so rated PG?  I am pretty sure they could flash them on some site.  Reference Rumor Willis' Stroll
• How exactly does anyone envision converting American males to being indifferent to the breasts of American females?
• If they succeed, what will all those poor big breasted strippers do for a living?
• If women have the freedom to show them, do men get the freedom to gawk or take photos?

Being an American Male who either naturally and/or was conditioned to appreciate female physical attributes, I sincerely wish them luck in being successful...  :-)  Thoughts?

Paulson, St Anthony, Sanders and Walker

This post is for my convevience. In case I want to get back to these posts.  Thoughts welcome though.
MP Rep Wonk Paulson
MP St Anthony Falls Turbines
MP Walker Healthcare Proposal
MP Sanders Won't Play Game
MP Walker Annoys Some Conservatives
MP Walker Tax and Spin

Clinton and Black Lives Matter

This is a somewhat amusing exchange.Clinton and BLM

I especially appreciate when the BLM speaker tells one of the most capable politicians in the world... 

Jones: "I say this as respectfully as I can, but you don't tell black people what we need to do. And we won't tell you all what you need to do."

I keep thinking that this is part of the problem some Black people in America have.  They are adamant that they should be able to be successful living and doing whatever they want to do.  I have found it much easier to conform with business dress codes, speaking proper American English, being successful academically, etc  I wish them luck fighting city hall.

Salon Version

Circular Reasoning

Here is a strange post...  MP Clinton Email  Drama and Circular Reasoning
Thoughts?

Bias and the News

This is an interesting article with more interesting comments.  Thoughts?
MP FOX News Challenge

What is Governments Role in Equal Opportunity

Sean left the following comment here.  G2A Liberals and Stereotyping  And I said I would try to get back to it.

"Let's boil this down even further. The sense is that society should function more-or-less as a meritocracy, right? Smart people who make good decisions should tend to find themselves at the top and less-educated people who make bad decision should tend to find themselves at the bottom. 

The question becomes -- which set of policies are more likely to make this actually happen? It's a fact that students in the top 25% of achievement but the lowest 25% of income graduate from college at the same rate as those in the top 25% of income but the lowest 25% of achievement. (Sean's post on the Topic) 

If you want the meritocracy to work, you've got to provide people equal opportunity (to the extent possible) to allow it to happen. We don't have anything remotely close to equal opportunity today, and one party is determined to keep it that way by denying that structural barriers still exist and not taking actions designed to put people on a more equal footing. 

Republicans want to gripe about taxes. For over 40 years following the end of WW2, the top marginal tax rate in this country was 50% or higher. Yet, somehow, wealthy people flourished -- and for the most part, so did the rest of society. Since we've slashed taxes on higher earners, we've only had one small period of sustained real wage growth for middle-class taxpayers (during the Clinton Administration). There's a reason that society is becoming more unequal, and it's not about the laziness or entitlement of the masses -- it's about the policy choices we have made as a country." Sean

Starting at the end first, I think Liberals are trying to compare apples and watermelons with the top marginal tax rate discussions.  These folks explain it in more detail, but in summary the USA was in great shape after WWII whereas most other countries were decimated.  Of course we thrived. Whereas today we can not even get our own citizen's to "Buy American", transport is cheap, communication is instantaneous, money flows easily between countries and those other countries are highly competitive / hungry.  Also, there is apparently some question how effective those rates were and the different gray areas.  My point is I don't think anyone knows what would happen if we jacked up the marginal rates.
AEI Were Taxes Higher
Tax History Project
Forbes Higher Rates

Regarding the main  point, "you've got to provide people equal opportunity".  My question is how far do we take the government interfering in the lives of normal citizens?

Currently we spend ~$1 Trillion per year at the local, state and fed levels to help even the playing field. (ie welfare, medicaid, etc) And this does not count the almost $1 Trillion we spend on Public Education.  So how much is enough?

And how do we get people / families who are trapped in generational cycle to break the bad habits of their parents, grand parents, neighbor kids, etc?

Liberals and Stereotyping

Paul and Jason are in fine form over at MinnPost Discourse Keeps Sinking Lower.  They are saying all kinds of nasty things about the GOP and its supporters.  I called them on excessive stereotyping and it is making for an interesting disagreement.

Now I agree that people on both the far Right and far Left seem to live to stereotype the people on the opposite pole.  The thing is that I thought the folks on the far Left were supposed to be above discrimination, prejudice, etc.  Yet Rush has nothing on these 2 when they get going. Thoughts?