Saturday, September 30, 2017

Pots and Kettles

What I find fascinating about this Tom Price story is that Trump's travel / security is so much more expensive...  And yet of course Trump does not seem to mind wasting that money.  But of course that make sense since it is spent on him and his family...

My guess is that Trump is just using it to get rid of another employee who fell out of favor with him.  I keep wondering who are these people who agree to work for Trump.

CNN Price Resigns
CNN Trump Travel Costs

Here is an interesting summary of Trump's week. Enjoy !!!
CNN A Week in the Life of Trump

Friday, September 29, 2017

The Dysfunctional Senate

Since we have discussed the increasing polarization of the citizens and our politicians, I thought you may find this article interesting.  VOX This is Not how the Senate is supposed Work


I have no idea how we resolve this since the people on the Left and Right both seem obsessed with listening to their own version of reality and insisting that "those other folks" are evil and trying to destroy America.

The Playboy's Legacy

So what do you think?  Is this a fair assessment or political correctness / feminism run amuck?
CNN Hugh's Legacy has a Dark Side

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

When Deficits are Good Again?

Since I love to play requests...

"But, whatever, now it's time to focus on the new, awful GOP tax plan. Which, as constituted today per their own document, would actually raise taxes on working-class families with children while massively cutting taxes for corporations and people like Donald Trump." Sean

"...and adding Trillions to the National Debt.  As we all know, adding to the National Debt is terrible, awful, and ruinous when the Democrats do it, so it will be nice to see the Republicans, in denouncing this plan, be consistent for once." Moose


CNN Tax Reform
FOX Trump Sells Tax Plan
VOX Tax Plan
NPR Tax Reform

MN Politicians Wasting Money in Court

Of course being a non-Democrat, I think Dayton is mostly to blame for this silly waste of our tax dollars... Thoughts? MP MN Gov / Leg Standoff Update
"How is this affecting state government?  Well, the whole affair is costing the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal bills, although the total price tag is not yet known. The Legislature’s fees won’t be known until the lawsuit concludes, but Dayton’s office has reported about $245,000 in legal fees through August. "

Monday, September 25, 2017

Conservatives Accuse Pope

I have to wonder if the Catholic Church is in for hard times in our modern world.  With all the sexual abuse cases, and now it appears the hard core fundamentalists are pushing back against the Pope's more liberal interpretations.  CNN Conservatives Accuse Pope  Hopefully the Pope can drag the church into this century, or there may be some really quiet churches out there as the old folks die off.


I recently attended an outside wedding in part because the Catholic church would not marry the couple who had been living together.  Go figure...


RNS Decline of Religion
BBC Church Stats

Sunday, September 24, 2017

The Guessing Game

Okay these 3 link were posted by FB friends.

  1. CBS Why St Paul Teacher Can Not Get a License
  2. SM Public Schools Aren't Failing Us
  3. MH White Privilege is a Myth
Since you all know me so well, which response goes with which link?

A. That is so true and terrible, we need to do something to improve it.
B. Why would anyone even bother to listen to such an off base hypocrite?
C. Those are some fascinating facts that should be discussed.

Thoughts?

To Stand or Not to Stand?

Well it seems that Trump is following his Standard Operating Procedure...  He is failing to accomplish anything of importance, so to rile up his base he makes up some"villain" to attack.

And of course this has triggered some interesting conversations and reactions.
CNN Sunday Protest Photos

Most interesting to me is watching how different people within one family are reacting on Facebook.  The younger Liberal "Racism is Systemic Folks" posting kneeling is good stuff and the older Liberal member posting kneeling is bad stuff.

As for myself, I think I am in the "kneeling is bad" group.  Though I respect the rights of people to speak freely on their own free time, these are employees who are hired to play a sport and behave in such a way to support the company that employees them.  Their decision to not stand and salute the flag with their other team mates should be a fire-able offense.

As for Trump using the topic as a topic to distract his true believers, I think he is showing just as much disrespect to the flag and the people in the armed services as the kneelers are.

Thoughts?

Sunday, September 17, 2017

What to Do about the Deficit / Debt

I am boarding a flight to China soon, so I will write when I can.  I will leave you some links that a couple of my liberal FB friends posted lately.


CC Debt Just Exceeded
FB The Other 98 Percent


Needless to say I raised some questions about how to best address the debt and they disagreed...  Thoughts?


20th_Century_Defense_Spending
Welfare Spending
State of Our Unions
Brookings Pie Chart
Spend vs Revenue

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Is GOP Its Own Worst Enemy?

I found this an interesting read...   VOX GOP Can Not Pass a Budget


For a different view... Politico GOP Leaders Unveil


BI Tax Reform after Trump Deal with Dems


It is kind of amazing the level of gridlock we are experiencing given that one party is supposedly in control.  The good news for me is that I like a slow moving government. :-)

Campus Sexual Assault

Here is an interesting opinion piece.  My thoughts / questions:
  • I always wonder why are the schools involved at all? 
  • Why are the city police not dealing with these issues? 
  • Why is the Federal government involved in this?
CNN DeVos is right about Campus Sexual Assault


And for a different view WAPO Why DeVos is Wrong


And one more Politico DeVos to Scrap


Thoughts?

Monday, September 11, 2017

Does US Have a 3 Party Government Now?

Sorry I have not been posting and commenting, however I am out West helping Mom and Dad with some family business activities.  Which of course usually means I am working to do as Father says without losing it...  Some times I succeed and sometimes me and the dog go for a long walk. :-)


So what do people think of Trump working with the Democrats?
CNN Trump Breaking 2 Party System?