The Reckoning: Taking Back the American Dream

The Greek philosopher, Plato, said in his two famous political works, "The Republic" and "Laws", that unchecked economic inequality was a principal reason for the fall of democracies and the rise of demagogues.

But as History has repeatedly shown it's not only democracies, but nearly every form of government which will eventually collapse under the weight of economic inequality, which typically brings about political failure, from the ancient empires of Sumer and Babylon to Pharaonic Egypt, Rome, and up to modern times.   

Today, economists and political scientists are looking at the strain that climate change, rising prices and taxes, population migration, aging populations, crumbling infrastructures, rising public and private debt, public apathy, and failing school systems as symptoms of an increasingly unstable United States and Western Europe. Even China, India, and other nations along the Pacific Rim are seeing cracks in their economies as monies are diverted more and more to critical services.

The gap in quality of life between the top 20% and the remaining 80% has grown along every measurable statistic for the last 30 years. The cost of an average house has risen approximately 817% between 1970 and 2024, which is higher than the average rate of inflation (4.19% for housing compared to an overall inflation rate of 3.94%), All items, excluding food, rose 627% between 1967 and 2024. 

Using data from the Center For Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), between February 2020 and November 2023, average wages rose 19.4%. For individuals in production and non-supervisory roles, 21.9%, while for high demand non-technical positions such as hotel and restaurant workers, their wage shot up 31.6% (note that these jobs represent 80% of the job market). While an average increase in wages of 19.4% is pretty good, the Consumer Price Index, which measures the overall change of prices, went up 18.8% for the same period. 

Starting with the COVID pandemic in 2020 and continuing through November of the following year, the price of food jumped 24.7%, exceeding the average growth of wages by 5.3%.  So, if you're seeing the content of your grocery cart getting smaller while the amount at the checkout counter getting higher, it's not your imagination or because you're unnecessarily splurging. For instance, the price of a loaf of bread has increased 28.8% since the pandemic while the cost of eggs have jumped 24.7%. 

While the consumption of red meat has been steadily declining, it still remains a staple for many U.S. households. Since COVID-19, the price of beef went up 30.3%, with the highest jump in price occurring in 2020 during the peak of the lockdown. Interestingly, the cost for chicken rose by the same percentage (driven up, in part, by the arrival of the "Bird Flu"). Milk, another staple found in most homes, saw a 20.4% increase per gallon. The good news (if there is any), is that the prices of milk and milk related products (such as cottage cheese, sour cream, and butter) are showing signs of stabilizing and in some instances, even dropping.   

As an aside, most Americans tend to struggle with their weight. Americans are notoriously overweight according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which say that one in three Americans are over their optimal weight. Just over one in three men (or about 34.1%) are considered obese while about one in four women (27.5%) are "chubby" while 42.4% of both genders are considered seriously overweight. This, of course, is part of the reason for the explosion in diabetes and heart disease. 

While some individuals are overweight due to genetic or other medical conditions, most are tubby due to their lifestyle. One common recommendation from physicians to deal with our weight problem is a combination of regular exercise and adopting a healthy diet. However, the NIH reports that the cost of many diet suggested foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and oils, have risen in price by an average of 17.9% since the pandemic. Ironically, Unhealthy foods have seen an increase in price of just 9%!  The single exception was the price of fast food, which rose 14.7% between 2019 - 2022.  It should be mentioned too that since 2000, the cost of medical care, including prescriptions, increased by 121.3%. 

Based on data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the price of fruits increased 9.5% between 2021 and 2022 while the cost of fresh veggies rose by 7.9% over the same period. Even the cost of eating out has jumped in price. On average, restaurant food prices have risen 7.1%. Of course getting to and from the grocery store, local eatery, work or just about anywhere else requires a vehicle of some sort. So, what about the cost of gas?

Under President Donald Trump, the average price of gasoline ranged from a high of $2.81 a gallon in 2018 to a low of 2.26 in 2020 (equaling President Obama's low in 2016). Under President Joe Biden, gas was $3.10 a gallon for regular in 2021 and rose to a high of $4.06 for a gallon in 2022. This is higher than the three previous presidents, Trump, Obama, and George W. Bush. However, in looking at the broader picture, from 2020 through the end of 2023, gas prices have risen by a astonishing 30.4%, thus outpacing wage growth for all but a few.

Despite the increase the cost of living for practically everything, not everyone is feeling the pinch. According to a recent study, conducted on behalf of Bank of America in 2024, roughly 30% of American households are living paycheck to paycheck (a similar study reported by CNN put that percentage at 35%). Another 20% or so percent can't afford to miss anymore than one paycheck before their financial house of cards begin to fold.  

What's meant by the expression "living paycheck to paycheck"? According to the Bank of America study, living "paycheck to paycheck" means spending 90% or more of your income strictly on necessities such as rent/house payments, food, utilities, or medical bills. 27% of all Americans have no money in savings. 27% of those over 50 years of age are in the same boat. On top of that, 40% of Americans have less than $1000 set aside for emergencies according to the American Bankers Association. Of that, 49% have $500 or less available while 36% said they have just $100 for emergencies (and yet, we can afford to send $64.1 billion dollars to prop up the Zelensky regime in Ukraine to fight a war that we encouraged). 

So, while the average American struggles to keep a food on the table and roof over their head (13.7% of Americans are food insecure while 14% of Americans have experienced homelessness at some point), the federal government lets approximately $92 billion dollars in corporate welfare annually slid by. Corporate welfare includes tax credits, give backs, preferable regulatory treatment, no bid contracts and automatic contract renewals, debt write-offs, deep discounts, bailouts, low or no interest loans, public grants, public-private partnerships (public money financed ventures), subsidies, and more.   

 From 1980 through 2021, the level of income for the Top 1% rose by 574%. For the Bottom 20%, it was just a paltry 31%. For the Top 0.01%, their wealth grew 832%. The Top 1%---about 12,000 households--- are 139 times richer the Bottom 20%. According to the Organization of Economic Co-Operative Development (OECD), a international economic and social policy forum, the United States has one of worse levels of income inequality among its 100 nation members. 

In 1971, 61% of American families made up the Middle Class. Today, that percentage ranges from 46% to 55% and declining. 50 million Americans now fall below the poverty threshold, and yet the federal government is doing little to stop the millions of illegal immigrants, the majority of whom falling into the poverty category, into the United States. Of course, we can't forget that women, on average, still earn just 82% of what men earn despite being mandated by federal legislation. 

One other factor to look at is the wage inequality between CEOs and their employees. In 1965, the average CEO made roughly 21 times that of their employees, which sounds reasonable. As of 2023, that percentage is 290 times more than their employees (there are 58 companies where that ratio is 1000 to one).. To put it another way, between 1978 and 2023, the pay of the average worker (wage and benefits) rose by 24%. Over that same time period, pay and benefits for CEOs and senior officers went up 1085%. The median pay for a CEO in 2023 was $16.3 million dollars according to a report published by the Associated Press (the data was comprised by Equilar). 

Can the United States continue with this level of income inequality? Ever since the decline of organized labor in the late 1950's, the income ratio between the working class and corporate leadership has been expanding, in part because the composition of their compensation package has changed to include more stock options and performance incentives. 

Meanwhile, similar types of incentives for employees have been reduced or cut, not to mention wage and/or benefits through so-called "voluntary give backs" out of fear that their jobs would be eliminated or the facility closed and sent overseas. Is this cost cutting measures to protect the business's profitability or merely a form of extortion? 

Since 1967, the Middle Class has been on a downward spiral, nearly matching the decline in public union membership. This decline of the union rank and file has meant a decline of union and non-union bargaining power and political clout which by extension, has directly affected the Middle Class. A strong working class, union or not, tends to mean a vibrant and financially healthy Middle Class. 

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, economic instability, coupled with public apathy, demagoguery and a well educated citizenry are a greater factor in the fall of democracies as well as empires, second only to severe and sustained climate events, than all other reasons. We have those in spades. 

Right now, we're facing not only extreme income inequality, but a strain on the economic elasticity of our social safety net, made all the worse by an defacto invasion, albeit non-military (at least at this point) of hoards of poor, largely poorly educated people who are interestedly solely in economic opportunities with no desire to contribute to their new homeland .

A people seeking to migrate or seek refuge will adopt to their new homeland's values and traditions. They will adapt to the laws and find ways to contribute. They will pay for public services through taxes. They will learn their adopted country's language.

 An invading army will do none of these things. Their objective is to supplant everything they can by any means available. They'll establish exclusive enclaves, turning them into semi-automatous zones of occupation, daring their hosts to enter. They will pervert the laws of their hosts. They will plead for tolerance when their numbers are small but offer none when there number have grown. 

Distrust in the government and media are at all time highs and have been that way for decades. Mediocrity at all levels of society, especially politics, are accepted as the norm. Excellence is often mocked if not actively discouraged. Herd mentality is the rule. 

The good news to all this is that there's a growing resistance to the ruling Status Quo. People are walking away from the Corporate imposed partisanship.  People are not just questioning so-called "authority", they're challenging it. The scripted narrative is no longer accepted. 69% of the public has little or no trust in the corporate media.

Increasingly, we're waking up to being played by the ruling class. The approval rating of Congress is laughable 17% We're refusing to accept the artificial divisions they want us to play. It's time we stop playing by their rules and start working to build a society which can benefit everyone. Not by mandating equal outcomes, but by ensuring equal opportunities. We need a society that our Founding Fathers would be proud of.   

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Average Gas Prices Under The Past Four Presidents

Wages and Prices: Who Is Keeping Up with What? 

Healthy Food Prices Increased More Than The Prices of Unhealthy Options during the Covid-19 Pandemic...

Nearly Half Have less than $500 in Savings

Survey: One in Four Americans Have Less than $1000 in Savings

The typical CEO makes nearly 200 times more than their workers

   

Socialism or Neo-Fascism? Which Way Is America Going?

 

It seems that the Right is perpetually speaking about Democrats leading us down the road to socialism's perdition. When Donald Trump was in office, the Democrats and those on the Left kept comparing "The Donald"  with Hitler and Republicans with the Nazis. It seems that neither side is familiar with history.

 First off, there's no way those in power on the Left or Right would allow this country to become "socialist", Communist or anything else that requires them to surrender their wealth or power to the State. Secondly, the two party system is a farce. Wall Street owns both parties. 

The only real difference between the two parties is the two competing corporate cliques. Citizens United has ensured corporate control of the political system. It has put political reform all but out of reach of the average American. Corporate lobbyists write the laws, leaving voters with the illusion of choice. 

National Socialism (or "Nazism") was a fascist partnership of sorts between the government and Big Business with the latter assuming a junior role,  and we all know Wall Street would never go for that today.   By the way, the "socialism" part of National Socialism didn't mean what most people today assumes it meant.  For the Nazis, it meant a community of like-minded people or "Volk".

Actual  socialism, which remains an abstract idea, means that the people essentially  own everything.  Power and the control of wealth is in their hands. Businesses and corporations would be typically employee owned and run while others, particularly essential businesses, would be run by the State.

Nevertheless,  I don't see Wall Street or their K Street lobbyists allowing anything like that to happen do you?  Certainly not after  the "Citizens United" or "McCutcheon's" decisions by the Supreme Court gave them carte blanche to the halls of power and the public trough.

What passes for "socialism" today is an admixture of capitalism, democracy, and a welfare state comprised of social programs  under the heading of "Democratic Socialism", which is common in Scandinavia and places like Germany and Netherlands. Think of it as "capitalism with a friendly face".  

 Nevertheless, despite high taxes (especially on the wealthy and corporations), the democratic socialist form of government have proven to be quite popular with the masses, with practically everything being subsidized. However, it requires everyone to pitch in and contribute back into the system. But when you have a mass of people who draw on the system without contributing to it, it fails, which is what seems to be happening in Scandinavia and other parts of Europe.   

Under Communism, which is often---though incorrectly--- used interchangeably with socialism, there are again no privately own properties, especially corporations. The State owns everything. Everyone works for the State. The State is everything. Do you see corporations and the rich---people like Zuckerman, Musk, Bezos, or Buffett  surrendering their power and wealth to Washington? So, what is America is morphing into? The answer is a Corporatocracy, which is a de facto form of neo-fascism.

Fascism is, as its founder Benito Mussolini said, was more accurately described as "corporatism". Specifically, Mussolini said this "Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power". Novelist Upton Sinclair called fascism "capitalism plus murder" while Vladimir Lenin referred to fascism as "capitalism in decay".

Politically, it borrows some of its goals and techniques from the Left and some from the conservative Right, including militarism. It grafts various national traditions and values to its cause as needed and jettisons what is no longer of use.  Corporatism is, if nothing else, adaptable. It's objective, however, is always corporate control plain and simple. The role of government is to serve as the lesser partner and "middleman" between the "elites" and masses. It's objective is to serve the rich. 

Under a Corporatocracy, there is little to no strong middle class; certainly not in the way we're used to. There's the insanely rich and then there's everybody else. Sound familiar? Can you see the one percenters giving up their money; their penthouses; their private planes and yachts?  Under socialism, they'd have to; the same under Communism.

Consider this too, while Unions exist in a Corporatocracy, they are weak and fairly ineffective. A far cry from the unions of old. Their prime purpose to keep the masses in their place---on the job and off the strike line---while generally backing the decisions of the corporate bosses.  They serve the interests of the corporation, even if it means cutting benefits, pensions,  and hours.  

Under Communism, the State serves as the union and if you work, you automatically belong to it. But again, no strikes and no complaining, and a set wage. Under socialism, there are wage differences based on the job, but no broad income disparity, at least not like we have today where the top 10% own 52% of all wealth.

So in reality, we are morphing into a neo-fascist corporate State.  Corporations, using the government, previously pushed us to the Right and now is pushing us toward the Left, but the ultimate goal is to diminish the power of the individual while increasing our dependence on the State, which in turn, is controlled by Wallstreet and the corporate elite.

 In short, we're to become economic serfs with the government serving as the overseer and corporations as the owners of us all. Of course, the "big prize" is the creation of a single interlocking global corporation. That means creating and using  global organizations to serve as the intermediaries on global projects and national one's on more regional projects.

Under corporatocracy we can expect national governments, like Washington, become ever more pervasive in the role of overseer while local and state governments become weaker and more dependent on the federal government.  This role also enables corporations an ever growing access to taxpayer money to acquire resources domestically and globally while at the same time shielding their intentions behind the illusion of a sovereign government.  

They can also use the national government take other actions on their behalf, like wars, trade agreements, or treaties, to enhance their wealth and power on the taxpayer's dollar.  In further defining corporatism, its founder, Benito Mussolini said, “Fascism, the more it considers and observes the future and the development of humanity, quite apart from political considerations of the moment, believes neither in the possibility nor the utility of perpetual peace.”. In short, war and the threat of war is good for business.

Il Duce is also talking about is the concept (novel for his time) of the implied foreign policy we're now experiencing, that of perpetual war---like the "war on terrorism"---to maintain control over the population and the exploitation of resources by corporations, be they natural resources or national resources for the sake of the bottom line. It artificially stimulates the economy, masks actual unemployment numbers, and allows for near unlimited deficit spending.  Sound familiar?

As an aside, what did Mussolini think of socialism? After all, his father, Alessandro,  was a prominent Italian socialist and Benito started off his political career as a socialist. This was his opinion, "Socialism is a fraud, a comedy, a phantom, a blackmail".

So, when someone starts complaining about America becoming "socialist" or "Communist", remember that famous line from movie "The Princess Bride" as utter by the swordsman Inigo Montoya (played brilliantly by Mandy Patinkin), "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means".  

 

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Whyinequality is growing in the US and around the world

Eight Billionaires Own asMuch as the Poorest Half of Global Population

 

The Rich 1% Own Almost Half the World's Wealth & 9 Other Mind Blowing Facts About Wealth Inequality

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/wealth-inequality-oxfam-billionaires-elon-musk/ 

A Nation Adrift

We've long known that America is adrift. I'm not sure about when it dawned on you or for that matter, most Americans, but for me the first indication that the proverbial "train was leaving the rails" was back in the mid 1970's and Jimmy Carter. Ole Jimmy was a likeable sort. He was elected as the "anti-candidate" or the "anti-insider" from Plains Georgia following a disastrous war in Vietnam, the Civil Rights Movement, the great betrayal that was Watergate, and the farce of Jerry Ford.

Of course, Carter was no better. In many ways he was worse. With Jimmy, we had a high inflation and unemployment, the OPEC oil embargo, gas shortages, high taxes, the Iranian hostage crisis and the grossly botched rescue attempt. America, it seemed, was trapped in kind of a malaise; a state of shock and exhaustion. Heck, we turned to disco and polyester suits for Pete's sakes. That's how bad it was!

We have witnessed our nation go from the heights of the "Greatest Generation" to the quagmire we see around us now, You can blame Trump, Biden, Obama, Hillary or fill in the blank. They aren't the cause. They are merely the misshapen symptoms of society.

We have transformed from a democratic or constitutional Republic into a Corporate Republic (better known as a neo-fascist Corporatocracy managed by an ultra rich oligarchy) which thrives on taxpayer money and tax exemptions.  Alternative solutions are routinely denounced, villainized, and ridiculed while "corporate socialism" is held up as the apex of capitalism.  

Laws are written by corporate lobbyists for the benefit of their corporate masters. The two political parties are literally bought and paid for by the same corporate paymasters. Thanks to Citizens United, they don't even pretend to hide it, except, perhaps, during election time, but even that's doubtful. It's all about lining pockets and giving voters the illusion of choice.

Partisan gerrymandering of districts all but assures indefinite partisan party control. Unlimited political terms play their part by ensuring special interests are not just protected,  but that the scam perpetuated on the public continues while both are rewarded at the public's expense. 

The media, which we could once count on for objectivity and honesty, is the defacto propaganda arm of the ruling political class. It manipulates our opinions, manufactures divisions and distractions to keep us from focusing on the real source of our troubles---the ruling elite.  It has been that way for decades now.

The internet was originally hailed as a way to bypass the myopic vision of a media controlled by the ruling elite by allowing a free flow exchange of information about what was really happening around the world, not just what the media wanted us to think was happening or why. It also held out the possibility that these ideas offered the prospect of new possibilities that would enable mankind to live better.

Such a promise as this frighten the ruling elites who saw this version of the internet as a threat to their vision of a benevolent authoritarianism they wanted us to accept as the only hope for Mankind.  The internet presented the possibility of making the global political class and emerging Corporatocracy obsolete.

At the very least, it made possible the exposure of their corruption, lies, greed, and opposition to democracy for all to see, and that must naturally not be allowed. Enter "community standards" and the "fact finder" who acts as gatekeeper and arbiter of what's acceptable and what's not.

Today, we joke about these arbiters of truth or being sent to a cyber "jail". We envision them as geeks out of "Revenge of the Nerds". Yet, is so far fetched as not to imagine something more sinister in the not too distant future should the neo-fascist Corporatocracy which has usurped our Republic continue to grow and tighten its grip unchecked? 

The internet is the greatest medium for the exchange of information the world has ever seen. It is said to contain the sum total of all human knowledge, and it's constantly ungraded every moment of every day. If there ever was the "Giant Brain" of science fiction lore, surely the internet is it. 

Thus, is any way the ruling elite would allow this to go unchecked given that they already control and manipulate nearly every aspect of our means of communication? Would they permit the unregulated exchange of ideas to freely take place without their direct control over the content?

Today, they shadow block, censor, ridicule, demonetize, twist, and delete what they perceive as threats to their control. Perhaps in the not too distant future, these "fact checkers" will serve as something akin to the "Thought Police" in Orwell's prophetic book "1984" where we are literally sent to "reeducation classes" or "disappeared" into the void of some cyber gulag where all our electronic connections---personal, financial and professional---are suspended or even deleted.

Imagine no form of electronic communication based on your "wrong think". No internet. No telephone. No way for you to connect with or by anyone.  No bank access, including the debt card you use to buy gas, food, or pay bills. No medical treatment or prescriptions refilled. Electronic deposits would be suspended (understand now what they're pushing for a cashless society?). No access to work done online since your ID wouldn't be accepted, etc.  In a increasingly electronically connected world, that's as good as a brick and steel prison.

Poll after poll reconfirm that our confidence in not just the political system is gone, but so too is our trust of the very institutions which serve as the foundation of this nation, especially the media.

According to a June 2022 Gallup Poll, 53% of those who responded said they had little or no trust in television reporting at all. 35% had only "some" faith in television reporting. That's a combined 88% of individuals who have little or no confidence in the truthfulness on television based reporting!

When it came to newspapers and the print media (which are both a rapidly dying medium), 46% had little or no faith in what was being reported. Another 37% had only "some" truth in what they were reading. But, again, that's a whopping 83% who just don't trust the print media. 

When it comes to partisanship, the distrust was across the board. For TV news, only 8% of Republicans trusted what they saw and heard. It's 8% for Independents and only 20% for Democrats. When we look at the newspapers and the print media, it's not much better. 5% of Republicans believed what they read compared to 12% of Independents and 35% of Democrats. In short, regardless of political ideology, the overwhelming majority of us know we're being lied to, which is actually a good thing.

America is a country adrift. Repeated polls upon polls have shown that we have no confidence in the political system or our institutions. Many of us try hard not to scoff loudly at political commercials or so-called "non-partisan" media endorsements just as we try to suppress our outrage for patriotic sounding wars overseas when we know they're simply for the benefit of the elites. We're tired of bleeding and dying for greater market shares.

Multiculturalism was originally based on the belief that individuals of differing cultures and religions were welcome to come to America where their culture and traditions would be added to the "melting pot" that was America in order to recreate a stronger and more vibrant nation.

But now multiculturalism has been corrupted into creating defacto enclaves within the U.S. which include traditions not compatible with the freedoms we value or even the democracy this country was based on. In many cases, they are encouraged to retain their own customs and languages with native born Americans expected to adapt to them!

Some come here with the expectation that they would be welcomed with open arms and given free housing, free medical care, and other taxpayer based assistance. They are told they didn't have to abide by our immigration laws; that if they could cross the border they would enter a world virtually paved with gold (sadly, it's been certain religious groups do the encouraging and even helping to circumvent laws and evade law enforcement).

At the same time, our education system has failed miserably. Children and young adults are no longer taught to be critical thinkers or encouraged to be self-sufficient and responsible adults. They are taught to believe in a grossly distorted version of America.

President John Kennedy asked us, at the beginning of the 1960's, "not to ask what America can do for you, but what can you do for America". He asked us to become a nation of servant leaders; to bear responsibility for making this a better America and better world for everyone. Somewhere along the way, that vision became corrupted.

Nowadays the youth and young adults shirk responsibility and demand entitlement. They are "offended" if someone disagrees with them. They refuse to hear ideas which might cause them to rethink ideas or shout down anyone who challenges their "Weltanschauung" or worldview, even if that means censoring free speech or expression. Again, shades of the "Thought Police" and conformity.

America, as a nation, cannot continue down this road. Many, and especially our foes, see us as empire in decline, and perhaps we are. All empires fade in time. We are no different. We no longer can or are willing to talk with each other. Instead, we talk at each other if we "talk" at all. We've lost faith in our institutions, yet we have nothing to replace them.

Some think they're "entitled" to something as a result of what may or may not have happened to their ancestors without considering that it was not the result of a single "guilty" people at a singular point in time or that it was their own people who placed them in that situation to begin with.

They also ignore the fact that it was the "guilty" people who not just removed them from the bondage forced on them by their own people, but removed all from bondage just as they ignored the historical fact that this construct has existed since the beginning of civilization and has affected all people, not just theirs.

The "entitlement" they've been told they were entitled to by certain groups has already been given to them. It was paid for with the lives who fought and often died for it. It's right there in front of them. It's name is "freedom", but they refuse to take it, expecting handouts instead. Their anger has been manufactured and manipulated.

We are divided not just along political lines, but along ideological lines. We are just as divided across economic class, as well as racial, urban vs. rural, cultural, and increasingly religious lines too. We don't even speak the same language, in some cases, literally. We've become unmoored as a nation with nothing to cling to.

The last time we were this deeply divided as a nation was in the 1850's, the decade preceding the Civil War. However, we don't have the vision and leadership of a Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun or Daniel Webster (collectively known as "The Great Triumvirate") to come and save us this time.

We are witnessing the balkanization of America. We need to pray that we aren't witnessing its permanent breakup too.  If we're to be saved, it must be the people of this country to do it. Partisanship can't. Washington can't and neither can Wall Street. They are in fact the cause, not the solution.  We must put aside our imaginary differences and come together. We must acknowledge the real enemy and act. If we can do that, we cannot just save our nation, but make it truly great once again.  

 

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Americans' Confidence in Media Falls to Record Lows, Poll Finds

Media Confidence Ratings at Record Lows

 

 

 

 

  

A Message to America

 

***Due to Blogger's new format change, there are random changes font size and colors***

America has been engaged in so-called "nation building" since World War II ended in 1945. It all started with the Marshall Plan, named after its originator, former General George Marshall. The intent was simple enough; to keep Europe, which had been devastated by 12 years of war, from a total collapse. Not only was Germany a heap of ruble, but so was most of the rest of Europe, from France in the west to the Soviet Union in the east and from Sicily in the south to Norway in the north. 

As a result of mistrust and rapidly rising tensions between the former wartime allies, Stalin refused to allow the U.S. to deliver badly needed supplies, including drinking water, food, and medical supplies, to countries under its control. Part of the reason was enforce its dominance over these countries and in the case of West Berlin, to force the Allies out; this abandoning West Berlin to the Soviets.

Of course, around the clock airdrops by the Americans ensured that West Berliners were able to stave off Soviet imposed starvation. Meanwhile, American supplies flooded the rest of Europe, including England which had been brought to its knees by the war. Not only were food, fresh water, and medical supplies delivered, but so was everything imaginable to rebuild Europe, from concrete and construction equipment to manufacturing machinery to ordinary consumer goods.

Not only did the U.S. save Europe from economic and social collapse, it also did the same for Asia, including its former enemy, Japan. As a result, not only did America emerge from WWII as the most powerful military power in the world, but also as the most powerful economic nation on the planet. It was at this time that the U.S. began flexing its newfound global muscle.

At the same time, the Soviet Union, our former ally, was engaged in an all out attempt to compete with the U.S. by stripping the countries it occupied of everything of worth, from technology to scrap metal to scientists and engineers. The "Cold War" was on. From there on out the two countries would be engaged a war of wills which would involve trade wars, embargos, proxy wars, and competing propaganda. Each would do its upmost to infiltrate and undermine the other at every opportunity.

During this period, both nations focused on influence expansion by attracting allies. Part of this involved the concept of "nation building". Nation building was an attempt to help developing countries (often newly independent former colonies) create new governments complete with infrastructures and militaries. It was essential in keeping or pulling a country from the other's political orbit.

Like the U.S., the Soviet Union, sponsored campaigns and candidates in addition to aid. Once a friendly government was installed (some were elected as in the case of Chile or Argentina or the result of a guerilla insurgency as in Cuba or Angola). The war in Vietnam was more complicated. It was, in fact, a civil war as much as a ideological war. The Communist North was supplied, trained, and occasionally aided by "volunteers" from the USSR and China. The same for North Korea in that war.

As for America, we relied less on elections and more on backing military coups and juntas. If there was an election that we opposed, we did our best to disrupt it by discrediting the opposition, and if that didn't work, we would often support an overthrow of the government which often included assassinating it president and other key figures. This was what the world saw as our "spreading American democracy" which was often hidden from the America Public.

Meanwhile, powerful American corporations would step in to seize....I mean negotiate...control of natural resources or economic markets. Anyone who objected (and couldn't be bribed) were typically intimidated with threat of U.S. military might. They would usually be denounced in the media while trade would suddenly be reduced to a trickle or aid was cut off as a case was manufactured to depose them (usually involving alleged civil rights violations) as a precursor to a U.S. sponsored coup.

At this point, most leaders simply took the bribe and looked the other way.  As an aside, the truth about civil rights violations was usually true. However, as long as they cooperated, it was officially ignored. Case in point---Saddam Hussein, Augusto Pinochet or Jorge Videla. In time this corporate-government partnership became a merger of sorts into what we have today---a Corporatocracy comprised of interconnected plutocrats, or to put it much simpler, an Oligarchy.

As for our efforts at nation building, the U.S. Government spent billions if not trillions aiding countries into developing  capitalistic democracies.  Yet, despite all the money spent (that is, taxpayer money) how many countries do you think developed a government based on the U.S. model? Take a guess. We'll come back to it shortly.

Obviously for the Corporatocracy to succeed, it was necessary that both political parties be brought under its control. Controlling one party just so the other could undo everything or worse, rat them out wouldn't do. As a result, they slowly worked to oust anyone who wouldn't play ball. That included the majority of the moderates on both sides.

It also included anyone with pesky morals (some still exist, but they're a small minority and can do little). As former Speaker of the House, Sam Rayburn famously said, "To get along you have to go along".  Is it any wonder that the majority of Congress are multimillionaires? If they weren't went they first went in, they either soon became one by going along or they weren't reelected. How do you think that happens?

Now back to my question. How many countries adopted the U.S. model of government? The answer is zero. Nix. Nada. Goose egg. Instead, they adopted the English parliamentary or proportional representation form of government. It allows every party to have seat based on the percentage of seats it won in the election. Thus, everyone still has a say even if their party didn't win a majority of seats.

Under the U.S. model, it's a "winner take all" form of government. That means if your party won, you theoretically have a voice (in truth you have no voice). If not, then you're out of luck. You have no representation. Doesn't sound real democratic does it?  Some people will argue that the English system is chaotic, cumbersome, and causes deadlocks. To that, I point to Washington and Congress as prima-facie evidence when it comes to legislative logjams.  

While the U.S. has mostly gotten out of the assassination business, it's still involved in removing governments and individuals that impede corporate interests. We are still involved with acquiring natural resources, forcing open markets, and so forth, though we might say "please" first. It reminds me of a quote from Chicago mobster Al Capone. He once said "You can get further with a kind word and gun than just a kind word". That kind word is now America's economic and military might.

Meanwhile, America has moved closer to becoming a fascist police or security state. Anyone past the age of 50 cannot look back and say this is the same country they remembered when they were 20 or even 30. Our education system has been repeatedly dumbed down. We have less to say about government policies or  tax increases. They had ridiculed and demonized any and all political or social alternatives.

Our infrastructure is fracturing and collapsing.  Most cities are struggling to survive. Many are imploding due to mismanagement. A few have become nothing short of cesspools where people routinely urinate or defecate on sidewalks, live in parks, and scatter used drug needles everywhere.  Up is down. Right is wrong. Alice would feel right at home.

Politicians, once elected, are virtually impossible to remove no matter how poor their job performance thanks to partisan gerrymandering. Unrestricted campaign financing (thanks to Citizens United and wrongly labeled as "free speech") has all but removed ordinary citizens from the process.  That's why we need to eliminate Citizens United and the concept of corporations as having the same (or greater) rights as people. It's why we need to impose term limits on politicians. Ranked choice voting wouldn't hurt either. 

Corporate power within government is near absolute. It controls virtually everything, from legislation to regulation. It dictates both foreign and domestic policies.  Meanwhile, we continue to lose our freedoms precious piece by piece. We are monitored constantly. Our opinions are shaped and manipulated by a cooperative media. We "vote", but only from a small cadre of pre-vetted candidates. Don't believe me?

Ask yourself why, out of  323.2 million Americans, is it that Biden and Trump are the best each party can produce? Can't San Francisco/Oakland/Sausalito do any better than Nancy Pelosi, Diane Feinstein, or Kamala Harris?  Was Dick Chaney or George W Bush the best the GOP had? How did someone like Barack Obama, with little to no professional or political experience become president? I could go on and on regardless of political party. I bet you can too.

With Independents comprising the largest political bloc in this country, why are they and third parties blocked from getting on the ballot or participating in the debates by both parties. What are they afraid of?  Why do they have to jump over barriers the other two don't have? Not much of a free and open democracy is it?

Regardless of the outcome of this election in November, very little of substance will actually change. The elites will get back to business as usual. Some of Trump's accomplishments will be overturn (unless it can be perverted to serve their interests somehow). Individuals like Hillary Clinton and Obama will be restored to their former pedestals while their past transgressions will be securely buried forever.

However, there are things we can do if we work together. As voters, we need to ensure that our voices are heard. We need citizen based ballot initiatives or referendums. We must have the final say on any tax or rate increases no matter how large or small. It's our money, not theirs. Same holds true for salary increases of elected officials.  We need to end partisan gerrymandering by establishing independent ad hoc boards to draw the districts based on the latest census records. We also need to impose term limits.

We must remove all barriers to Indies and third parties. What's good for the Democrats and Republicans is good for everyone seeking an office. They must also open all debates to every candidate. They should be given the same coverage by the media. In short, elections must be fair and open. We must end Citizens United. Corporations are not people. They don't deserve the same rights. We also need to end corporate funding of elections, be it direct or bundled. They should also not be allowed to "help" write legislation.

Political offices which are not engaged in legislation should be non-partisan. This includes offices like Secretary of State, Treasurer, County Clerk, Auditor, County Attorney, Attorney General, Circuit Court Clerk, Secretary of Agriculture, and County Sheriff.  Judicial offices are supposed to be non-partisan, but often they're not. Therefore, they should be required to declare their registration.

If we can do this, we can take a huge step forward into repairing our broken system, and that could help returning this nation to what it was intended to be---a Constitutional Republic.

 

 

The Vanishing Middle Class

We are told constantly that the U.S. economy is booming; that we are witnessing one of the most robust economies in recent memories. We're told that thousands of former U.S. jobs which had shipped overseas are finally coming back home. From the reports, Americans should be giddy from all the growth. But we're not. In fact, most Americans are barely making it.

As most of us know (or should know), the Middle Class, which has been the backbone of this country since its founding, has been under an incessant attack for almost four decades. According to a recent report from the U.S. Social Security Administration, nearly 50% of the Middle Class earns less than $33,000. That works out to be $2,750---before taxes.

To break it down further, 46% of Americans earn under $30,000. 58% make under $40,000, and 67% bring in less than $50,000. But the statistic of real importance is this--- 44% struggle to pay their bills. After taxes, many American routinely have to choose between which bill to pay now and being able to buy groceries or other essentials such as clothes, school supplies, car repairs, etc. As an aside, the poverty level for a family of four is $25,750. That means the half of America is living on the financial edge. Nearly a quarter of all Americans receive welfare benefits while 49% receive at least some form of regular monthly government assistance.

Meanwhile, senior corporate officers are seeing their salaries and benefit packages blossom. Their salaries have increased 937% since 1978, giving them an average salary of $15.6 million dollars; faster growth than the stock market according to the Economic Policy Institute. That's approximately 30 times the salary of an average employee (union or non-union). Meanwhile, adjusted for inflation, the average worker has seen their pay increase by only 11.2% over the same period. I know being a president or CEO isn't for the fainthearted, but that's outrageous.

There are those who say "get a better job" or "go back to school". Well, despite the growth in the number of jobs, the pay is often fairly low while benefits are no longer a given as they once were. As for going back to school, most individuals can't afford to either take the time off to beef up their academic credentials or afford the overinflated costs of higher education. We're heard countless stories of individuals graduating from college with a debt that will take decades to pay off. Of course, in all fairness, there are those who graduate with practically worthless degrees who may never be able to pay off the school debt.

I would be remiss not to point out that while the majority of new jobs are on the lower end of the pay scale, there is an abundance of vocational or trade vocations in desperate need of being filled. In addition, they pay very well (many over $50,000 annually) and often include those ever increasingly rare benefits. I'm talking about plumbers, electricians, carpenters, welders, HVAC mechanics, stone and brick masons, and so forth.

For some reason we've allowed ourselves to be convinced that every job should require a college degree. They don't. What they require is high school graduates being able to perform at a higher than eighth grade level; individuals who can read, write, do basic math and have critical thinking skills. Since the 1960's, we've seen the quality of public education repeatedly dumbed down so as not to "offend" anyone or make them feel "bad" about themselves. As a result, students across the board have been forced to suffer. But, nevertheless, it reinforces the point that not everyone is college material.

Meanwhile, we have created a society ever dependent on service oriented jobs, which are, again, typically low paying. Individuals in the fast food business have been clamoring for $15 an hour pay; claiming they can't support a family with their current wage. No doubt that's true, but then again, fast food jobs were intended to be "starter" jobs. Employment for those just getting starting in the job market like high school students. Aside from manager positions, they weren't intended to be jobs to supporting families.

In addition, automation has taken many of the typical production jobs which were once the domain of the well paid blue collar Middle Class. Add to this the high number of illegal immigrants who are employed in many entry level and service jobs. As a rule, these are generally low paying work with few or any benefits requiring very low skills (even fluent English isn't always a requirement). Again, that speaks to both what's available and the quality of applicants.

We also have to consider the government. We are constantly seeing politicians and bureaucrats pushing for higher taxes, not to mention more and higher fees and rates on everything from water and sewers to electricity to property tax. Of course, they rarely miss an opportunity to raise their own salaries, but that's for another time. Meanwhile, they are doing their best to regulate anything and everything for the obvious purpose of finding new income streams to sink their greedy little hands into.

Regulation has become so bad that the average "mom and pop" business, the traditional economic backbone of this country and its largest private employer, can't afford to stay in business. This is especially true when you consider that the large mega corporations are usually propped up with tax breaks and taxpayer backed incentives, plus they can afford the best accountants, lawyers, and politicians money can buy.

As readers of Another Opinion already know, America is an Oligarchy. These ultra rich corporations and individuals literally own both major political parties as well as their politicians and top level bureaucrats. They "help" write key pieces of legislation and then use their financial influence to see to it that it's passed. The average small business person can't afford to hire a lobbyist, leaving them with very little power over their own existence.

So what do we do? This is a problem which has as many potential answers as it does problems. First, we have to accept that America cannot survive with half of its population literally living from paycheck to paycheck year after year. Right now the average American family is carrying about $38,000 in personal debt (not including student loans). Millennials and Gen Z between 18 and 24 already have an average debt of $22,000. Older Millennials, those between 25 and 34, are in debt to the tune of $42,000 while Gen X and Babyboomers have a debt of between $36,000 and $39,000.

If we add to that the fact that 40% of Americans can't come up with $400 to cover an emergency, we have a pretty bleak picture. Also bear in mind that the average American family has just under $5000 in their savings account; 58% have less than $1000, with a substantial number having no savings account at all. Sooner or later "something" is going to happen economically and "someone" is going to get the Old Maid. When that happens, the whole house of cards is coming down, and with it, the whole economy.

While many argue that we need to increase (almost perpetually) the minimum wage, the problem is that usually increases prices (after all, "someone" is going to have to absorb the increase and that "someone" is almost always the consumer). Perhaps it's time to abandon the concept of a minimum wage and let the marketplace decide. Those who won't pay a livable wage will be forced to adjust or go out of business.

Secondly, we need to cut regulations on small businesses and make it easier for them operate. The biggest stumbling block, aside from government regulation, has been in the area of benefits; especially insurance, which is why I like the idea of a single payer form of insurance where everyone is provided with a basic package and then given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance as their needs change (those making under a certain minimum income could receive either an income credit or discounted rate). It would at least be a starting point. We also need to encourage personal savings by eliminating taxes on accounts under $100,000.

We also need to stop underwriting mega corporations with taxpayer dollars. They are quite capable of taking care of themselves financially thank you. I suggest that a minimum income tax be imposed. The fact that Exxon, Chase, Apple and other global corporations pay zero income tax has to stop. Along those same lines, we must overturn the colossal "Citizens United" mistake by the Supreme Court.

This fiasco declared that corporations were "people" with the same rights as you and I, especially "free speech" which the court equated with money with the exception that corporations can give unlimited amounts while us mere mortals are still capped as to what we can donate. Corporations should be unable to donate money or provide support to any political party or candidate.

Equally, any contact between a government official and a corporate lobbyist should be public. No lobbyist should have input on any piece of legislation other than from an official request in the form of a public hearing open to all. Former public employees should also be required to wait seven years before accepting any position which brings them in contact with a government agency.

All tax, fee, and rate proposals must obtain public approval before being implemented. No more "nickel and dime" increases. This includes salaries for elected officials. Along with this is the need for term limits. This would go a long way to ending corruption and bringing fresh ideas to government. I propose a 12 year term---six 2 year terms for representatives, two 6 terms for senators, three 4 year terms for the executive branch as well as federal judges and the Supreme Court. We also must end partisan gerrymandering of districts. This does nothing more than keep incumbents in power. Districts must be balanced in order to reflect the residents, not the party.

Lastly, we must instill discipline back into the schools. School is about education, not babysitting and surely not tolerating violent students attacking or bullying other students or teachers. Expelling them only gives them what they want. Instead, they should be sent to "bootcamp" schools where discipline is enforced. Emphasis should remain focused on academics, not sports or other extracurricular activities.

Students must be taught history as well as civics. They need to know their collective roots and responsibilities as Americans. Students should be periodically tested to see where their interests and potential abilities might lead them, and then encouraged in that direction. Sex education should be focused on basic biology, not on being gay or transgendered or whatever.

America is more divided as a country right than at any time since the decade preceding the Civil War. Not only are politics more divisive than ever, but the divisiveness is even fanned by the corporate controlled media. The same goes with how we treat one another. We've become all about what we want when we want it without regard for others. A act of compassion or kindness is almost so rare as to make the news it seems. Where has our sense of respect and civility gone?

If we fail to save the Middle Class (or what's left of it), America will truly become a two tier society; a nation of haves and have not (we're pretty close to that already). There are parts of this nation which are now almost indistinguishable from third world countries. We fall in the lower half of most official rankings in health, happiness, freedom, education while ranking at or near the top in incarceration, crime, poverty, and violence.

We've already lost our Republic to the Oligarchy, leaving us with an illusion of control. We must retake our country, and in doing so restore not just our Middle Class. We must not ask for permission to reclaim our country and its way of life. We must demand it.



Goodbye Middle Class: 50% Of American Workers Make Less Than $33,000 A Year


CEOs make $15.6 million on average---here's how much their pay has increased compared to yours over the year

Good paying blue collar jobs go unfilled in tight labor market

Here's how much debt American have at every age

Playing the Trump Card

Donald Trump is an amazing presidential candidate. Besides being wealthy (at least on paper), he's brash, arrogant and vain. Normally not admirable qualities, especially when running for the nation's top elected office. But in "The Donald's" case, it may be exactly what he needs to stand out. Besides, few candidates for higher office lack these same qualities. Have you ever noticed that individuals running for office, especially the higher offices of Congress or the Presidency, seem to all dress alike? Dark blue suits. White or off white shirts. About the only individuality they show is in their ties, and they're pretty conservative as well. Even the women running for office don't show much color. Basically it's all pretty bland. Their comments are just as equally bland, or worse, they're "safe". No one running for office really says what they're thinking. No one says we should bomb the bejeezus out of so-and-so, or tar and feather the bankers (and actually mean it). When was the last time a politician actually spoke to Americans on their level---direct and honestly? For anyone under 30---heck, 40---I doubt they've ever heard one before. Even for those over 40, we'd probably have to go back years. Frankly, they're afraid to speak their minds or to "offend" some group. They stay well within the bounds of what their pollsters and media consultants say is acceptable.

The trouble is that the candidates are all alike, despite their polished and well-rehearsed "I'm one of the Common People" speeches and stops at some local eatery for photo-ops. They're not. They are cookie cutter candidates. They are polished to the point of looking phony if not downright comical (case in point, Mitt Romney or Al Gore). They talk about what they'll do if elected when we known darn good and well they can't do anything by themselves. They like to talk in terms of "us" versus the Beltway crowd when in fact, they are part of the Beltway crowd. They are on a first name, backslappin', palm greasing basis with them. Most in Congress, if not all, are millionaires several times over going in. If not, then they are within a few years of being elected. Frankly, public office, especially at the federal level, is a Millionaires Club, and the cost to play (that is, run for office) is way above the means of most ordinary Americans (where probably the best ideas and common sense solutions are to be found).

We all know America is no longer a democratic republic like what the Founding Fathers intended. We're an oligarchy, controlled by corporate interests and corporate money. The truth be known, most in Washington couldn't care less what you and I think, especially with the passage of Citizens United a few years ago by the Supreme Court. As you'll recall, Citizens United decided the money is in reality nothing more than free speech, and that corporations are actually "people" and therefore, entitled to the same rights as an individual. Well, sort of. You see, we're still capped at how much "free speech" we can donate to candidates, but these judicial Frankensteins can donate almost as much as they please. They already dominated the time of Congress and the President (as well as their staff and others in key positions). Now, they can compensate them with money so they don't have to face the unwashed masses.

Then there is "The Donald". True, he wears the usual imperious dark blue or grey suits and the prerequisite white shirts. He also almost always wear his signature crimson red tie which he's worn for decades (in fact, I think he may have pioneered the "power suit" image). My first encounter with Trump was watching Robin Leach's "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" back in the self styled "Go-Go" 80's in which Trump and his then wife, Ivanka, made frequent appearances. This was the era of corporate raiders like Carl Icahn and T. Boone Pickens, conspicuous consumption, big hair, boy bands, and glitz was king (or queen...or sometimes both. It was hard to tell). I had recently gotten out of the military and after a short stint as an assistance store manager, went on to college where I obtained a Masters degree in International Economics. As part of our coursework, we were required to read various articles from Forbes, Barron's, the Wallstreet Journal, and other financial media. In nearly everyone there was an article about Trump and a big ole color photo. I went on to purchase several books both by and about him. Trump has never been shy about successes, or his failures including some ill-conceived over reaches in Atlantic City, four bankruptcies, and a divorce. Let's face it, the guy knows how to get and manage publicity no matter the situation.

Trump's political journey has been as colorful as his financial one. He's supported candidates from both sides of the aisle. According to Trump, many were personal friends or individuals he's had successful business relationships with, so how could he not? He's been a independent, a Democrat, and now a Republican. Someone people try to make that an issue, but why? As long as you're not holding an elected office, you should feel free to change your political registration anytime and as often as you'd like. It's your right as an American Citizen. Issues and positions change as new information becomes available. Political parties even change. Some shift Left or Right and back again, which leaves people with solid core values in something of a lurch--- what to do when their political party or leaders leaves them? Perhaps that's one reason the majority of Americans today are registered as Independent.

Nevertheless, the political elite has a problem with Donald Trump, and that problem is Donald Trump himself. He isn't suppose to be there. Trump was at first considered comic relief; a "not ready for primetime" candidate. Pundits and assorted talking heads claimed he wasn't a "serious" candidate. Many called for him to drop out, yet his approval numbers began to climb, and along with it, the size of the crowds who came out to see him. This, of course, perplexed the status quo and so they began a subtle campaign to belittle, intimidate, and make fun of Donald Trump and his campaign, and each time, the approval numbers just kept getting higher and the crowds larger. "Why?" they must have wondered. He wasn't a Washington insider trying to pretend that's he's really a Washington outsider. He wasn't dependant on the corporate elites who finance campaigns and buy candidates the way some people buy washing machines. And his speeches! What's with that? Trump's are so...unscripted. He's actually telling people what he thinks; unfiltered and occasionally slightly off the wall (ok, maybe more than "occasionally"), but somehow, it's what the people want to hear, or at least it's what the people need to hear because they believe it themselves. He's not afraid to speak his mind or go toe-to-toe with anyone in the other party, his party, or even the media.

The US has lost a get deal of respect and prestige over the last, roughly, 7 years thanks to Obama. The US is seen as not as strong or reliable to enemies and friends alike. In fact, the US President is now ranked as the third most powerful office in the world, behind Russia's Putin and Germany's Merkel (for the previous two years, it ranked second behind Putin). Obama's professional and even personal relationships with key world leaders has been chilly at best. But what do some of these leaders think about "The Donald"? Actually, they respect him as a leader and man of his word. Some admit to genuinely liking him as a person, but, of course, they're careful to avoid being accused of "meddling" in US politics, particularly if it would damages Trump's chances of winning the Republican Primary.

Yet, throughout all this, the media, both on the Left and on the Right, have been doing everything they can to smear, bully, intimidate, and ridicule Trump's race. They've recruited various TV and sports personalities to come out against Trump (who they come out for appears to be less important right now). Some have encouraged the other candidates to engage in Trump-like rhetoric---pre-vetted of course---in the hopes of at least knocking Trump's approval ratings down a notch or two if nothing else. Some on the conservative right have been trying to sound the alarm that nominating, let alone electing, a candidate like Donald Trump would spell the end of the Republican Party. Even a few on the Left have been starting to echo that sentiment as well, lest some Leftwing version of Trump decides to challenge the status quo and run for office. They've climbed under every rock and sunk to every low in trying to find a way to force Trump out. Yet, despite everything they do, Trump's numbers keep rising and the crowds keep growing.

Now it appears the latest effort is to trot out the big bogeyman, who appears to a woman in the person of Hillary Clinton. Unless conservative voters come to their senses, Hillary Clinton will be the next US President. As proof, they display (edited) poll numbers as proof that this or that candidate is the only one capable of stopping the Clinton juggernaut (sorry Bernie, the Establishment Democrats have already thrown you to the Blue (wolf) Democrats). I have to confess, I never seen so many so scared of one candidate as they are of Donald Trump. Not even in Obama's second campaign for president was there so much fear and desperation envisioned as a Republican nominee named Donald Trump!

It has not been my intent to promote Donald Trump or Trump's campaign to become the Republican nominee. In fact, like the majority of Americans, I'm an Independent and thus can't vote in a partisan primary. However, I am no fan of Hillary Clinton. Her actions, especially regarding Benghazi and it's still unfolding aftermath, should earn her a trip to the "Big House" and not to the White House.

If nothing else, her actions and demeanor says a lot about her character, and that alone should disqualify her for the Office of President or any other political or politically related position. As for "The Donald", I don't know if he would make a good president or not. Much of what he says is simply impractical, even as a president. If elected, he will quickly discover that being president of a corporation where, with a snap of his fingers, he can get things done or fire them, is not the same as being President of the United States, where so much is outside of their control or ability to respond; where corporate special interests dictates much of what happens and what doesn't happen. Still, after eight years of George W Bush, where people said it couldn't get any worse, and nearly eight years where we found out just how wrong we could be, Donald Trump just may the relief we need.


Are Donald Trump's poll numbers understated?
http://www.businessinsider.com/are-donald-trump-poll-numbers-understated-2015-12


The mind blowing turnaround in Donald Trump's poll numbers
http://www.aol.com/article/2015/12/27/the-mind-blowing-turnaround-in-donald-trumps-poll-numbers-expla/21288578/?icid=maing-grid7%7Chtmlws-sb-bb%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D187125247


Donald Trump's six biggest gaffes of the presidential campaign...so far
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/donald-trumps-six-biggest-gaffes-of-the-presidential-campaignso-far-10401459.html


Fact-checking Donald Trump's presidential campaign kickoff
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/election-2016-fact-checking-donald-trumps-presidential-campaign-kickoff/


Donald Trump says the darndest things
http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/06/17/donald-trump-announce-president-candidate-elextion-2016-ar-origwx.cnn