September 26, 2019

In his monumental biography, “Churchill,” Andrew Roberts quotes Winston Churchill in 1909 about his thoughts regarding universal healthcare, and the benefits to the population.

“Families can be secured against catastrophes which otherwise would split them up forever . . . when through the death, the illness, or the invalidity of the bread-winner, the frail boat in which the fortunes of the family are embarked founders, and the women and children are left to struggle helplessly in the dark waters of a friendless world.”

Here we are 110 years later having the same debate. Universal healthcare is not about giving free stuff to people who don’t deserve it. Universal healthcare is about making sure that your nanny, your lawn guy, your plumber, and others are there to take care of your needs. Without a healthy population, we are much less productive. Having a huge number of our fellow citizens bankrupt and/or debilitated is incredibly expensive. The question then becomes not can we afford universal healthcare, but, can we afford not to have it?

September 26, 2019

Donald Trump is attempting to add the Ukraine to the list of the greatest Republican smear jobs off all time. John Kerry got Swift-Boated. The Clintons had to deal with Vince Foster, Whitewater, e-mails, and Benghazi? Let’s not forget Barack Obama and the Birther controversy. And now we have Conspiracy Theorist in Chief creating a false narrative regarding Joe Biden and his son. I hope the Trump base is smart enough not to take the bait, but I am not optimistic. After all, these are the same people who still think that climate change is a hoax while they turn up their air conditioners, repair their roofs, and pump out their basements.

September 23, 2019

The Republican Party under Trump is having a vigorous debate about how to deal with the most important issues facing us today. On climate change, there are those who believe we need to reinvigorate the coal industry. On the other side, there are those who believe we need to keep supporting the oil and gas industry with financial incentives. The other climate debate among Conservatives involves which is dumber, solar or wind energy. Who’s to say? We’ll see what happens.

On the matter of guns, the debate revolves around what we need more, AR-15’s or AK-47’s. They are debating the best ways to teach our children how to hide under their desks when a mass shooting is taking place, and which lunch boxes provide the best protection from gunfire.

Regarding healthcare, the debate is between repeal and replace and just repeal. On abortion, the debate is between the time of conception and anytime before a woman could reasonably know she was pregnant.

On the matter of foreign interference in our elections, there is no debate.

September 17, 2019

I have heard some people refer to today’s stock market as Trump’s stock market, the inference being that this guy is doing a great job, just look at the stock market. The stock market has increased 35%, which is not Trump change, due mainly to the massive tax cut and the ensuing trillion dollar deficit. The market has been essentially flat for over the last year. However, Obama was up 42% in his first four years, and 113% for his total time in office. There are numerous reasons to explain these numbers, but I don’t remember Obama using the stock market as a gauge for how he was making America great again. Anyone who has worked on Wall St. knows that, if you hang your hat solely on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, you will eventually regret it. The President needs a Plan B, but he is out of ammunition. Rates cannot go much lower, and deficits cannot go much higher. If he were a religious man, I would say he needs a Hail Mary.

December 25, 2018

On November 18, 1978, 909 men women, and children committed a mass suicide at the behest of their leader, Jim Jones, by drinking Kool-Aid laced with cyanide. What amazed everyone at the time was the power that one man could exercise over the thoughts and actions of such a large number of people. Now we have a man in the White House exerting a similar influence, and the Republican Party is drinking the Kool-Aid with, I suspect, will be similar results.

The President refers to himself as the “King of Israel” and “The Chosen One.” “I have the best brain,” he says. “You have to vote for me, or the country will go to Hell.” What could go wrong there? Attorney General William Barr said the POTUS never obstructed justice. What flavor of Kool-Aid was he drinking? Trump followers walk behind him obediently with torches, swatikas, and AR-15’s, having already drunk the Kool-Aid. The military has been following questionable orders. The weather service is now a lackey. Moscow Mitch, or is that Machine Gun Mitch, hasn’t tried a flavor yet that he didn’t like. We are running out of flavors.

Ironically, Jonestown was modeled after Russian-style Communism, and North Korean-style education and brain-washing. Maybe that is why Trump likes Putin, Kim jong-Un, and Kool-Aid so much.

September 12, 2019

For the first time since 2005, the US Army missed its recruiting target for 2018, this according to the West Point website. It sites the low-employment economy as one of many reasons, but could it have something to do with the current Commander-in-Chief? Could it be a reaction to a POTUS, who openly denigrated a former, deceased war hero. Could it be because the POTUS has aggressively gone after transgender people in the military. Could it be because the POTUS has discussed disallowing citizenship status to children born into military families overseas. Could it be that this is a silent protest against a POTUS, who shamelessly uses the military to “protect” the southern border. Could it be that young people noticed that the POTUS did not honor WWII casualties while overseas because it was raining. Could it be that young people do not want to die defending despots and autocrats. Could it be that young people do not want to fight for a draft dodger? Could it be that the Secretary of Defense, a career military man, could not work with POTUS. Could it be that young people don’t like the idea of transferring funds from the military to build the wall? Could it be that young people do not think that it is right that the military is ordered to divert planes to Trump resorts. Could it be that we really do need immigrants in the military? Could it be that POTUS has made only one, hastily-arranged trip to a forward military base? I know that some of these incidents came after 2018, but I am just asking.

September 11, 2019

A recent letter to the editor in the Springfield (MA) Republican referred to Donald Trump as a savior. Maybe the writer thinks that he is The Savior? Trump has referred to himself as the King of Israel and The Chosen One. This would almost be funny if it wasn’t so ludicrous. How crazy have we become when we think that Donald Trump is doing the Lord’s work. Trump is closer to Judas than he is Jesus. He will sell you out for a few talents, and already has. The Christian Coalition has morphed into a nakedly political organization with few Christian values left. It uses religion as a cover.

Regardless of your politics, please stop with this religious reference nonsense. Trump is no more religious than I am. He is an opportunist, not a saint. He is a sinner, not a winner. Let’s return the conversation to politics and the real world, and leave the hereafter to those more qualified.