Can We Ever Trust Again (8/19/26)
They Knew...Pregnant Moms Could Lose Their Babies
Fauci, Pfizer and lord only knows who else knew that a second dose of the Covid vaccines was a very risky gamble for pregnant women. Especially in the first trimester. Recently released Fauci emails spell out "clear" recognition of this possibility.
Statics showed the miscarriage rate was very comparable to the abortion drug, RU 486. Like 80% plus.
Surely some people must pay, no? No stats yet on how many mothers lost their babies.
This is just another reason why trust in America's so-called experts, politicians and media is in the tank. How can it not be?
Iran Update: None
MOU deadline came and went with nary a whisper.
Seems more and more pundits, politicians and, most importantly, military professionals are saying...Trump "has 'em right where he wants them". The prevailing POV seems to be that continued economic strangulation combined with the odd military strike to further cripple launch sites and missile production makes downfall inevitable. Just be patient.
Of course, this patience comes at the price of higher oil and, quite possibly, the midterms. Nonetheless, it's a far better strategy than relieving sanctions and giving these nut jobs $ billions so they can reconstitute.
Frenchies Sinking under Debt Too.
Former French prime minister François Bayrou just issued a stark warning that his country is heading for an unprecedented crisis, a looming financial meltdown.
In an interview on August 12th, Bayrou said next year’s entire take from income tax would not even cover the interest payments on France’s debt. “Next year, the totality of income tax paid by the French will not suffice to pay the interest on the debt. Not the principal, simply the interest,” he said. He described a situation without parallel in living memory and one that leaves the nation vulnerable to external creditors.
Wink Wink
Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan "took down" more than 100 videos on his YouTube channel private right before and during his Senate campaign.
Some of the videos reportedly included:
A discussion proposing replacing the Second Amendment right to bear arms with a constitutional right to health care.
Videos criticizing Fourth of July fireworks, including one titled “fireworks suck.”
Comments questioning whether American football is ethical/safe and criticizing its association with “toxic masculinity.”
Other older political commentary, including positions on policing and immigration.
His campaign says these were "old" comments that don't necessarily reflect his current views. Wink Wink!
Making the Case Yet Again
We need a better path for immigrants to become productive members of American society. Especially the illegal ones who've shown they belong through years of hard work, adherence to our laws and pride in America.
There are a number of reasons.
We need the arms and legs.
Immigrants work harder than most "entitled" Americans.
Our birth rate is shrinking and we're getting old fast.
Many of the best ideas and innovations have come from immigrants.
It's a smart move politically.
It's the decent thing to do.
A new, fair, compassionate plan could help turn back the impending Blue Wave in November.
"Just" Inequalities
Income inequality...unaffordability...wealthy are evil
Yet again time to reiterate the classic words of the Declaration of Independence.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Nowhere in the founding documents or in the founder's intentions does it say we are all born with rights to same pay, affordable housing, a new car every third year, free college, free healthcare, subsidized groceries or free anything else...except, of course, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Given, however, the constitutionally-guaranteed right to freedom and protection under the law, each of us has the opportunity to build as good a life as our ability and hard work will allow. Which, when you think about it, is a helluva better deal than almost any other place on this earth.
Inequality starts with God given genes and progresses through dedication, discipline and, yes, hard hard work. As the esteemed African American Jurist Thurgood Marshall acknowledged during arguments about inequality..."so put the dumb colored kids with the dumb white kids and the smart colored kids with the smart white kids. - no problem"
Do we really think all jobs should pay the same? Or educational and career opportunities that weigh the difference between good students and bad should be tamped down or abolished altogether?
Not hardly. The focus should be on reducing "unjust" inequalities, not the "just" ones God created and man works day and night to perfect.
Should We Tax Machine Jobs?
The mechanization of humanity is in full swing. How we think, how we work. In addition to AI, robots are popping up everywhere. Don't believe it? Go find a video of an Amazon warehouse.
The advantages of robots are clear. No temper tantrums, coffee breaks, sick days, vacation days or off the ball days. No raises, promotions or firings to worry about. Just good ole consistent quality and output with a little maintenance and a few spare parts. All of which adds up to greater efficiency and lower cost.
Human labor is further disincentivized because we tax employers for it. Maybe we should tax robots. Nah...China will just get further ahead.
Another Few $ Billion Leaves the Wildfire State.
CEO of Digital Brands says doing business in California "sucks". HQ is moving to Texas, Poof - another $2B in tax revenue out the door. Hear those U Hauls leaving?
Strike Three! McKinsey Missed by a Mile.
McKinsey & Co is one the largest and most influential consulting firms on the planet. Yet they blew it on DEI hiring.
They strongly advised clients, which included the largest corporations, universities, asset managers, banking institutions and government agencies, that race and gender-based hiring were the way to go.
"The business case for gender equality, diversity, and inclusion is strong and growing stronger." McKinsey's website insisted. The firm estimated that the national GDP would go up by $12 trillion if the workforce gender gap was narrowed by 2025. It further projected an additional $2 billion in revenue "if financial inclusion efforts broaden services for black Americans."
If what they really meant was that "an overarching commitment to DEI hiring" would keep the firm in bed with liberal democrats and bosom buddies with the Obama/Biden axis, they were spot on. On the other hand, if they meant DEI would lead to better employee selection, a stronger "bench" for the future and greater customer loyalty, they were stone cold wrong. A 2026 White House Economic Report said DEI initiatives cost the U.S. economy roughly $94 billion in 2023 alone.
But did McKinsey admit they were off by mile? Hell no. Right up to the 2024 election they were "standing by" their astronomically priced advice.
“You wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda got for $1.50 in late fees at the public library."
Matt Damon, Good Will Hunting 1997
By its nature, a nation based on Democracy and Freedom imposes certain responsibilities on every citizen. The success of a nation governed by consensus requires an electorate, a media and a government both honest and informed. They must "know stuff".
Things like:
Basic Human Nature - Instincts, Motivation, Behavior.
Basic Economics - Supply and Demand.
History - How the nation came to be and why.
Principles - Both beliefs and intentions. Upon what are they based? Why are they best for all?
The Institutions of Government - Purpose, responsibilities, authority and how each functions
Laws - How they are made, how they apply and how they are enforced.
Alternative Systems of Government and their history.
For some number of years I have cast aspersions about "liberal arts" education. I have considered it unproductive in the long run. After all, how many sociology, psychology, history and art majors do we need to advance mankind and stay ahead of our enemies?
I overlooked, however, something very important. Without a solid grounding in human behavior and motivation, fundamental economics, the history of this country and the alternative forms of government, one is ill-equipped when evaluate and make sound decisions about the future.
But, alas, our real problem today is not the lack of liberal arts universities, majors or courses, it is their quality and integrity.
The left has so twisted the content and distorted the context that students rarely learn the objective, factual history of democracy, socialism or communism. Of the Soviet Union, Communist China, Cuba, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, Western Europe, Israel or America. Today, most liberal arts universities and professors start with a common presumption. Western civilization and particularly the United States are deeply flawed. At the core, they are racist, dishonest, unjust. If not downright evil. Worse yet they are too far gone. Ergo - the only option is to destroy them.
Very few socialist/communist experiments have been governed by well meaning leaders. That is a fact. Stalin, Mao, Castro, Xi, Putin. Not..."good guys". But that is not the main reason why their forms of government failed. They failed and always will because they invalidate basic human nature. They destroy human motivation at its most elemental level.
Human nature flourishes when we are encouraged to use our basic capabilities to their fullest and are justly rewarded for what we accomplish. Conversely, we lose incentive and eventually hope when we are prevented from reaching our potential and especially when, having achieved success, we see the fruits of our labor usurped and handed out to undeserving others. That is socialism and that is communism - to draw an intellectual distinction is pointless. That is...from each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs. (Marx 1875)
Socialism Can't Fix What's Not Broken
Proponents offer it as the alternative to Capitalism. But capitalism isn't the problem. It's not what needs fixing.
What needs fixing are...
Educational systems that brainwash those to believe in wrong-headed ideas.
A bias, dishonest media empowered to spread propaganda, disinformation and lies for political gain.
A dysfunctional government locked in perpetual power grabs, while hurling epithets at one another and solving nothing.
These core deficiencies cannot be fixed by free college, free healthcare, elimination of borders or defunding law enforcement. Let alone taxing the bejesus out of the wealthy.
A big step in the right direction could be, if for just one week, the media and the politicians would tell the truth...fair and balanced.
Yet Another Place You Need ID
Joining Olive Garden where you need facial IDs to use your Never Ending Pasta Card and NYC's new government owned grocery stores, facials IDs were just required to get into opening day ceremonies at the Obama Presidential Center (aka the library).
The quagmire over voting IDs has got to be, simultaneously, the most obvious and stupidest controversy in modern Senate history - maybe ever.
Why we don't force open televised debate and a filibuster on this issue is beyond me. Let's get Bernie, Pocahontas and Chuckie up on national TV to explain why they think anyone voting in American elections should allowed to break the law.
Affordability: Consider the Options
Hands down the number one issue. Many blame Trump policies. Particularly tariffs and now the war.
The biggest obstacle facing conservatives in dealing with liberals is there's rarely anything to contrast. Democrats (aka liberals becoming more socialist/left wing with every new election cycle) almost never have a concrete proposal on...well, anything. If they do it's far out with no pragmatic plan for implementation. Like replacing carbon fuels with green energy...overnight. How'd that go, Western Europe?
Productive debate and informed decisions require each side to put forth specific proposals. So what are the two sides proposing as best we can determine for the alleged affordability crisis?
Let's take a look. Then you decide which you like better...
Taxes: Republicans - lower; Democrats - raise on wealthy and corporations.
Housing: R - deregulation, cheaper financing, incentives to increase construction; D - subsidize first time and low income buyers.
Energy: R - reduce regulations, produce more; D - subsidize green energy and penalize carbon fuels.
Healthcare: R - increase competition, price transparency, innovation. D - subsize, nationalize.
Childcare: R - tax credits, tax breaks. D - subsidize, nationalize.
Wages: R - economic growth, lower taxes on wages & investment; D - increase minimum wage, protect Unions.
Immigration: R - secure the border, deport illegals especially criminals; D - Increase immigration, relax border security.
Tariffs: R - level the playing field, protect American industry, encourage domestic production; D - go back to pre-Trump tariffs and ignore trade imbalances, encourage free trade.
Government Spending: R - reduce regulation, reduce government, prosecute fraud, encourage growth; D - increase government spending and redistribute income through taxation of the wealthy. (NB: Neither proposes cutting runaway entitlements)
See any patterns? Hint... subsidize, tax, nationalize.
Only One Midterm Strategy Makes Sense
Assuming Roger Staubach cannot toss a Hail Mary or Franco Harris make another immaculate reception (like a new immigration policy, no income tax until you're 30 or some other wazoo), our only hope is two fold.
First, keep reminding Americans what it was like under Biden. Massive illegal immigration, energy dependence and green energy boondoggles that drove inflation through the roof, etc. Lies about Covid, Biden's cognition, etc. It's better to remind them how it was than keep bragging on how much better it is now when so many can't see it that way.
Second, emphasize the need to finish the job. Turning around a battleship hopelessly off course takes time. Much longer than steering it off course in the first place. The ship is turning, unfortunately not fast enough given the massive anti-Trump bias.
Contrary to What You See...
and hear every day to be a true intellectual or a top notch journalist you don't have to hate America.
Laughs
What is the most expensive video-streaming service of our time? College.
"Tell me son", asked the Cop who just pulled the car over, "how many drinks have you had". The young man, weaving, answered haltingly, "Five Guinness, 11 glasses of wine and 9 shots of tequila." The Cop says, "Sorry son. But that's no reason for your wife to be driving."
An old man was sitting on his porch staring out when a young boy no more than 6 or 7 walked by carrying a shiny object under his arm. The man called out, "Whatcha got under your arm?" The boy replied, "Chicken wire. I'm gonna catch me some chickens". The old fella laughed and said "You won't catch no chickens with that". Later that afternoon the boy came back by. He was dragging six chickens.
The next day the boy walked by again. The old man said, "What ya got today?" The boy answered. "Duct tape. I'm gonna catch me some ducks." The man laughed again and said, "You're crazy." A few hours the boy returned with a string of ducks.
The third day, the boy came by once again. This time carrying a branch. The old gent called out, "Well, whatcha got today?" The boy answered, "a pussy willow". The old-timer said, "Hold on. Let me get my hat."
An older man was walking in a supermarket when he bumped right into a young fellow. He apologized. "Sorry I was looking for my wife and didn't see you."
The young man replied, "No problem. I'm looking for mine too. Maybe we can help each other." The old fella said, "Fine. What does your wife look like?" The boy replied, "She has blue eyes and long blonde hair. She's 5'7" with long, tan legs. She's wearing a red halter top and white shorts."
"What does your wife look like?" the young man asked. The older gent replied, "Never mind. Let's go look for yours."
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