War is terrible, I lived trough one myself, it went for 4 years, thus I know horrors fist hand.
What is happening in Ukraine is beyond tragic. But it is sadly reality around the globe, conflict have been raging for years now, Yemen, Tigray, Myanmar and many many other to many to count. Yemen is particularly hard, since it has been raging now for over 10 years, with plenty support from the west to god know which side at this point.
Please what I am about to write is not critique on Ukraine (they need help) but on US politics that have failed America.
But one thing that has been proven by this war, is how inapt US Congress is. Somehow, I find it astonishing, how fast was Congress able to pass bills to provide help to Ukraine with bipartisan support, debt was no issue, money was no issue noting was issue. If only Congress would finally start to do something for mounting issues at home. Opioid epidemic has up to now claimed 500.000 Americans, with no indication that it will stop. And congress doesn't lift a finger. Millions Americans are struggling with out healthcare, unsafe cites, senior poverty, looming student debt apocalypse but hay we have to look at deficit, we cant do anything. This has been going on for decades now, sad sad state. Somehow, US Congress is more interested in fixing all the worlds problems except those at home. There is always money for everyone else except of US tax payers wo pay the bills.
If the world is to be safe in the future, US needs to start to fix it self, because if USA continues on this way it is now, in decade or two there wont be US to help others.
If the US Congress were to disappear today would anyone miss that gang of idiots and trough feeders? Very few are there to serve the American people. I know, I know - "we" elect them. But given how much they are detested, do we really? Maybe only term limits and lobbying restrictions will solve the problem. But, clearly, what we're doing is not working.
I am for term limits in principal but the reality is term limits will increase the power of the unelected Deep State. There are always consequences to actions and many unintended consequences. Long, long ago I was a school board member in a distant land. I discovered fraud and corruption big and small. However, my term of office was limited and everyone in the school system knew it. When I requested records of finances they stalled and waited me out. It would be no different. We think the Deep State is bad now but if there was no reckoning and they could wait out the terms of a few brave politicians (someone like Rand Paul or Ron Johnson comes to mind) that would be all they would have to do.
Good point about unexpected consequences and externalities. And, sadly, the unelected judiciary keeps acquiescing in the power grabs of the unelected bureaucrats. Not least of which is the idiotic "Chevron Doctrine." Concentrating power in DC is another problem. The "Emerald City" hosts 7 or 8 of America's 10 richest suburbs despite producing nothing of value to our nation.
Washington DC sucks up our tax dollars and wastes them and skims them. Wall Street/NYC sucks up our savings giving us a pittance. Both places filled with arrogant assholes that belittle and mock us. Time for a change
I'd also be happy if courts would find a way to stop using stare decisis as a crutch. But like their co-inhabitants in DC - congressional representatives and their staff - they avoid, as much as possible, making any tough decisions.
The Chevron Doctrine and Wickard v Filburn are perhaps the two most important legal precedents that need to be eliminated.
If you eliminate those two things, you eliminate the justification of a HUGE portion of DC.
On a side note - I've only been to DC twice. Once to see a few museums and once for business. On my business trip I also received an after hours tour of the capital, walked around the area of some of the administrative buildings, and the like. I remember feeling like I had been slimed.
I don't recall the name of the building where many of the congressional offices are located, across from the capital. But I remember being told that they built a tunnel underneath the streets between the two buildings so that representatives and employees would not have to be exposed to inclement weather while traveling between the buildings. And I thought: "WTF? Umbrellas, raincoats, galoshes...you know...much cheaper..." But that is just one example of the sense of sick entitlement that permeates DC.
I guess you don’t know those two things come from lifetime taxation specifically for those two things. Now you know and can research it further. You’re welcome.
Ahh.. already there. Don't be so insulted. Those two federal (and I stress federal) programs were borrowed from European socialism (yikes!) from the 1930's and prior. Never mind unemployment insurance, which was considered an original sin by Republicans of that era.
It really doesn't matter; I just like to point out that so many Americans just love to cut gov't spending because of our capitalist mindset, yet don't mind paying into a system that gives us a lot more money than we put in (uh, oh, socialism!). Especially Medicare.
User01 I think your idea would also create unity across the country. When everyone making the decisions is concentrated in one place they don't take the needs and wishes of the 1000 of miles of the country into account. It seems they just want to collect taxes and otherwise forget the middle of the country exists.
Great point. Not sure. Freeze hiring? Move many departments out of the Imperial city? Cut pay and benefits. Probably need a sustained multi-pronged attack. And will power
Pay and benefits can't be cut. Nix that. A freeze on hiring would work. You would lose the Clinton hires through attrition first. It would be better to cut whole agencies. The first that should go is the Education Dept. It provides about 6% of the education budget but uses that 6% to exert massive control over local education. Ever since the Education Dept. was started US education has been in a continuing downward spiral.
Yes to moving federal departments and functions out of DC. 2020-2021 proved that such office functions can all be done remotely. It spreads federal largess around the USA and gets real Americans involved in government functions.
Limit their powers. People with power will corrupt things....that...sadly....is a given. The founders knew this, that's why they tried to limit their powers at the Federal level.
This has to be done through the citizens. A limited list of things the Federal government can do. each state is up to it's own [as per the 10th Amendment].
Take away the power and term limits [I will include no pay....a per diem only]. Give the people their lives back!
Nothing crazy about it. President Trump uncovered the rocks and the vermin were exposed and crawled out. There is a Deep State. It's no longer a conspiracy theory. We saw them in real time in plain view. Term limits would not get rid of the Deep State although we would not have the Maxine Waters and Nancy Pelosi's. We would also lose the Don Young's and the Chuck Grassley's. However the bad ones do so much damage and that sacrificing the few good would be worth it.
I will stick with crazy, but more importantly why do you and others hijack this article for other purposes? I read “Love in the time of war” or something like that🤷♂️
I'm exercising my free speech rights to go off an tangents? Why do you wish to curtail my ability to express my thoughts? If my thoughts bother you you can skip them on the thread.
Dougxn...welp, after, love, war, love ,war, you might turn a rock or more, just to figure and then you have some thoughts going on, which just might lead to more love and less war or more war and less love, whichever? Hope that helps. If we just go off simple like, we as a society, go zip-flop with out pop.
For example, without all the sensuous conversation covering fossil fuel, over the last 50 years, where would we be as "a world", since we have gone from a 40 year life span to about 80 years on average, over the span of fossils.
It is about "learning" and "the truth". While we keep turning over the rocks. thanks for asking.
Good idea. I'm all for it. And while we're at it - no President over 70 either. That might take care of your animus (or some of it) against Biden, and mine against Trump.
You must have been eavesdropping this morning on my conversation with my 40 year old daughter. I asked her what the hell her generation was thinking of not insisting on presidents who were vital and in their 50s or perhaps early 60s. I also said that if people got serious about facts we could probably all agree on 95% of policies to address those facts.
Term limits require a constitutional amendment. The only way to do that is a convention of states, as members of Congress certainly will never restrict themselves.
Thanks Raziel, you are right, it is like the issues we have are not real and the issues others elsewhere have are hyper-real. The person who wrote this article is described there as an "expert on disinformation"; what does that even mean? What bearing does it have on the article? The world we see through our devices gives us a critical distance I suppose and so all our reactions can be distorted. I really resonate with your take on our political reality right now; the politicians are very tight fisted when it comes to helping real people and they just can't find the way to fund things like that, but billions for a foreign war are apparently just lying around ready to go. Sad all the way around.
Disinformation, propaganda and the outright lie have become such a part of American daily life my first reaction to the article was to automatically question its veracity. The fact that the author is one side or the other of that industry doesn't lessen my skepticism. (I know the Ukraine horror is in full swing and of course, I'm putting my trust in Ms. Weiss.) The disconnect from and distrust of political reality plagues us all.
Not arguing with you, Raziel, but we should consider what the U.S. government has done since Jan 20, 2021: spend/print upwards of $10,000,000,000,000 to what end? Have any of our or the worlds problems been 'helped'? No. Who got that money?
You are right, the rot starts here but it is endemic to all world governments who took our money.
Given the rampant theft of hundreds of millions, if not billions of the Covid funds they rushed to dispense, we know that they don't have a clue what they're doing and could care less about what happens to the hard earned money they take from us.
Oh, not just world governments. When spending bills are that large it is virtually impossible to track the money. My guess is a whole lot of it gets syphoned off into many pockets.
Honestly, how do so many become multi-millionaires on a salary of just about $175K? It certainly isn't based on their financial acumen or canny investing abilities......
First, I would never interrupt someone's meal, family time or use obscenities. There's nothing productive about that kind of behavior. However, I have written to my representatives and expressed my concern regarding matters such as the no cash bail laws and other issues that are compromising the health and welfare of their constituents. These folks are public servants; that is not an invitation for abuse but they do have to address key points affecting tax payers.
I am already seeing a lot of volunteers handing out flyers and asking for petition signatures in order to get people on the ballot. I have recently started to politely as them about their candidates' stands on issues. It's important for all of us to be informed before we vote. Many of these politicians are just rubber stamping along party lines without really caring about the effects their legislation has on all of us, particularly seniors.
This administration wants the chaos so whatever they do will only add to the problems. We are going to need a new Republican administration to begin to stop the rot.
That is why General Michael Flynn and eventually Trump were taken out, they were onto the rot and were disrupting trillions of globalist earmarks. The Ukraine government is a part of this as well considering the billions laundered through there by US politicians and their families.
Yes, exactly. The phone call Trump had with Zelensky where Trump asked if he could investigate Burisma sent alarm bells through Democrat ranks and the spy agencies. All of them were involved one way or another. They had to take out Flynn and impeach Trump. I wonder how much information is going to be allowed out from Hunter's laptop? I see a slow motion movement to get rid of Biden. The Washington Post is now admitting there was something to see in the laptop and CNN and the other Democrat propaganda media are now reporting on it. Very telling.
I will read it. Thank you. My son sent me a link to The Grant Williams podcast. He is talking to Luke Gromen. I wish I had a better grounding in economics. That said, we are at a turning point in our economics. Biden's sanctions on Russia has convinced the rest of the world the necessity of getting off the dollar as the world's reserve currency. The podcast is by subscription. I'll put in the URL but not sure if you'll be able to hear it. It provides a good history of how the dollar came to be the world's reserve currency, the state of our energy reserves and the direction the world is moving to.
TYTY, M. Naomi. I'm afraid I don't have the patience for a podcast. I dunno when, but the dollar will either hafta share status of reserve currency or lose it outright. What that will do to interest rates beggars the imagination.
Naoml...ok, what you state is true, but i am thinking, with the present media, which sets the molds for people in congress, we will not have any change, term limits or not.
Unless "the people" change their gamut of viewing (the news) habits, change in congress will not change.
I think it's an unfortunate fact that a very small number of people are informed and can make an intelligent vote. Maybe this is not unusual. At the time of the American revolution only 30% or fewer supported the revolution. The citizenry at the time of the American revolution may have been the best informed of any people at any time because the arguments pro and con were made through pamphlets and were widely discussed and debated in town halls, barber shops and on street corners.
Thank you Raziel. I've said here before that I wish Americans would look at our problems through the prism of their own household / family. If your house has a severe foundation problem and you had the funds to repair it would you really leave it to sink while you donated it to a local church or park? The border - would you take down the fence around your yard and remove the locks on your door? Of course not because you want to KNOW who is entering and be on your terms. It is SO simple.
The US cannot help itself and thus cannot help the world, or the US was so focused on trying to help the world, it lost itself. In either case we are entering another period of dark violence in the world.
Neither. The Democrats are encouraging chaos in all areas to increase their ability to control. It's a massive power grab and could be in line with the WEF's plan. Trump was a brief interregnum in the advance to a new world order. Remember when people are frightened because of the chaos around them they will submit to restrictions and authoritarianism that in normal times would be anathema.
Thank you so much for sharing. What a wonderful couple and group of volunteers. I wish them long life, despite the odds, and much happiness. They truly deserve it xx
The personal tragedy in time of war is heartbreaking. It is also, at times, a celebration of life, even when surrounded by death and destruction. The author of the New Testament of Hebrews noted that until the very day of the flood, people celebrated weddings. That story of the flood itself offered the hope that disgusted as God can become at the folly of men, He yet makes provision for salvation. It's a good thing that He does, otherwise we would have become extinct long ago.
Maybe because the "leader of the free world" is a diaper wearing, senile imbecile who's more interested in protecting his corrupt enterprises than the interests of his nation?
Well with Joey depends and his maladministration in charge, we are not talking the brightest or the bravest. Plus, China owns Biden and others and China is backstopping Russia. Plus, the war engine fills a lot of military industrial coffers which fills a lot of campaign coffers through backhanders.
Good question think it suits the US at the moment the focus is off Brandon the Dems probably want it to go on for as long as possible - midterms coming up and the energy blackmail we all facing my thoughts are the Dems will sort it just before November give congress some new energy but I think they underestimated the American people we not stupid
I spent two years as a demolitionist on a Special Force A-Team Airborne. I am not exactly what you would call a wimp but this article and the pictures choked me up. The indominable spirit of the Ukrainian people overwhelms me.
Anybody who reads this and sees the pictures and doesn't feel an emotional tug must be one of those idiots who thinks Russia was justified in invading Ukraine.
if the pictures of after Russian Army firing and killing dogs trapped in their kennel cages in an animal shelter is not enough to get the world to actually do something other than whine about sanctions, than nothing will. If only they taught us all to be like American Sniper instead of showing up trophies.....
Inspiring story. My in-laws were married in Budapest, in fatigues according to family legend, just after the 1956 Revolution failed. Then they fled the country because of their roles in the now failed revolution. May the Ukrainians prevail and may Ana and Anton live happily ever after.
Bari, I would like to thank you, and your contributors, for keeping on writing about the current events in Ukraine. I am appalled that after all promises of "never again" the world not only allows this horror to happen, but the "enlightened" western nations keep financially supporting the Russian military machine by buying their oil and gas. The current sanctions are half-hearted and don't make enough of a difference. That the West still did not start supplying Ukraine with heavy weapons that they need in order to take back their territory and free their people from this horror is something I can't wrap my head around. Every day that goes by means more killings, more rape, more torture, and more suffering. I know that it's too easy to shrug our shoulders and ignore this horrific tragedy. But we need to keep shouting from the rooftops about the atrocities that are being perpetrated at this very moment, and do everything each of us can to put a stop to them, as quickly as we can. I want to add that as someone whose native language is Russian and who grew up on Russian culture, I cannot wrap my head around the evil insanity that is currently gripping the Russian community. I can read their newspapers and opinions and watch their videos, and they make me sick to my stomach. I thought this mass insanity only happened to germans in WWII or in Orwell's books. How can people with whom I share my culture, and whom I thought I knew and understood well, behave in this way is something I can't grasp. For those who can read Russian or can get an English translation here is an example of a typical drivel (in a government newspaper): https://ria.ru/20220403/ukraina-1781469605.html
The condition of modern Russia, is I believe, the legacy of revolution and Bolshevism. Seventy-plus years of "scientific socialism" destroyed Russian civil society. Nothing was allowed to exist outside the party-state. Thus when the party-state fell there was nothing to replace it. That's why today Russia has Putinism, a kind of shambling, zombie-like shadow of Stalinism.
War is terrible, I lived trough one myself, it went for 4 years, thus I know horrors fist hand.
What is happening in Ukraine is beyond tragic. But it is sadly reality around the globe, conflict have been raging for years now, Yemen, Tigray, Myanmar and many many other to many to count. Yemen is particularly hard, since it has been raging now for over 10 years, with plenty support from the west to god know which side at this point.
Please what I am about to write is not critique on Ukraine (they need help) but on US politics that have failed America.
But one thing that has been proven by this war, is how inapt US Congress is. Somehow, I find it astonishing, how fast was Congress able to pass bills to provide help to Ukraine with bipartisan support, debt was no issue, money was no issue noting was issue. If only Congress would finally start to do something for mounting issues at home. Opioid epidemic has up to now claimed 500.000 Americans, with no indication that it will stop. And congress doesn't lift a finger. Millions Americans are struggling with out healthcare, unsafe cites, senior poverty, looming student debt apocalypse but hay we have to look at deficit, we cant do anything. This has been going on for decades now, sad sad state. Somehow, US Congress is more interested in fixing all the worlds problems except those at home. There is always money for everyone else except of US tax payers wo pay the bills.
If the world is to be safe in the future, US needs to start to fix it self, because if USA continues on this way it is now, in decade or two there wont be US to help others.
If the US Congress were to disappear today would anyone miss that gang of idiots and trough feeders? Very few are there to serve the American people. I know, I know - "we" elect them. But given how much they are detested, do we really? Maybe only term limits and lobbying restrictions will solve the problem. But, clearly, what we're doing is not working.
I am for term limits in principal but the reality is term limits will increase the power of the unelected Deep State. There are always consequences to actions and many unintended consequences. Long, long ago I was a school board member in a distant land. I discovered fraud and corruption big and small. However, my term of office was limited and everyone in the school system knew it. When I requested records of finances they stalled and waited me out. It would be no different. We think the Deep State is bad now but if there was no reckoning and they could wait out the terms of a few brave politicians (someone like Rand Paul or Ron Johnson comes to mind) that would be all they would have to do.
Good point about unexpected consequences and externalities. And, sadly, the unelected judiciary keeps acquiescing in the power grabs of the unelected bureaucrats. Not least of which is the idiotic "Chevron Doctrine." Concentrating power in DC is another problem. The "Emerald City" hosts 7 or 8 of America's 10 richest suburbs despite producing nothing of value to our nation.
Washington DC sucks up our tax dollars and wastes them and skims them. Wall Street/NYC sucks up our savings giving us a pittance. Both places filled with arrogant assholes that belittle and mock us. Time for a change
You all three make good points. Me? I would think term limits of 12 years may be a good balance. BWDIK (But What Do I Know)?
I'd also be happy if courts would find a way to stop using stare decisis as a crutch. But like their co-inhabitants in DC - congressional representatives and their staff - they avoid, as much as possible, making any tough decisions.
Sounds interesting!! Thanks
Power never gives up power voluntarily. That power also protects themselves and the economic inequality they have created.
I suspect that people would be ok with economic inequality in a "fair" system, but I'm not sure that is ever possible given human nature.
I know - this is a theoretical distinction without a real difference.
The Chevron Doctrine and Wickard v Filburn are perhaps the two most important legal precedents that need to be eliminated.
If you eliminate those two things, you eliminate the justification of a HUGE portion of DC.
On a side note - I've only been to DC twice. Once to see a few museums and once for business. On my business trip I also received an after hours tour of the capital, walked around the area of some of the administrative buildings, and the like. I remember feeling like I had been slimed.
I don't recall the name of the building where many of the congressional offices are located, across from the capital. But I remember being told that they built a tunnel underneath the streets between the two buildings so that representatives and employees would not have to be exposed to inclement weather while traveling between the buildings. And I thought: "WTF? Umbrellas, raincoats, galoshes...you know...much cheaper..." But that is just one example of the sense of sick entitlement that permeates DC.
Cut the size of government. We don’t need all the alphabet agencies. They just beget more spending and more government.
Just make sure they keep Social Security and Medicare. Right?
I guess you don’t know those two things come from lifetime taxation specifically for those two things. Now you know and can research it further. You’re welcome.
Ahh.. already there. Don't be so insulted. Those two federal (and I stress federal) programs were borrowed from European socialism (yikes!) from the 1930's and prior. Never mind unemployment insurance, which was considered an original sin by Republicans of that era.
It really doesn't matter; I just like to point out that so many Americans just love to cut gov't spending because of our capitalist mindset, yet don't mind paying into a system that gives us a lot more money than we put in (uh, oh, socialism!). Especially Medicare.
I did do my homework.
User01 I think your idea would also create unity across the country. When everyone making the decisions is concentrated in one place they don't take the needs and wishes of the 1000 of miles of the country into account. It seems they just want to collect taxes and otherwise forget the middle of the country exists.
The administrative/deep state must be severely curtailed
I agree. How? They are protected by civil service rules.
With a Republican congress and a Republican president, force through legislation eliminating civil service protection.
Yeah, like they'd have the guts to make that decision...
That's unlikely to happen.
Great point. Not sure. Freeze hiring? Move many departments out of the Imperial city? Cut pay and benefits. Probably need a sustained multi-pronged attack. And will power
Pay and benefits can't be cut. Nix that. A freeze on hiring would work. You would lose the Clinton hires through attrition first. It would be better to cut whole agencies. The first that should go is the Education Dept. It provides about 6% of the education budget but uses that 6% to exert massive control over local education. Ever since the Education Dept. was started US education has been in a continuing downward spiral.
Yes to moving federal departments and functions out of DC. 2020-2021 proved that such office functions can all be done remotely. It spreads federal largess around the USA and gets real Americans involved in government functions.
Limit their powers. People with power will corrupt things....that...sadly....is a given. The founders knew this, that's why they tried to limit their powers at the Federal level.
This has to be done through the citizens. A limited list of things the Federal government can do. each state is up to it's own [as per the 10th Amendment].
Take away the power and term limits [I will include no pay....a per diem only]. Give the people their lives back!
How quickly we go from an good ideas to crazy! Term limits to deep state- Ug!
Nothing crazy about it. President Trump uncovered the rocks and the vermin were exposed and crawled out. There is a Deep State. It's no longer a conspiracy theory. We saw them in real time in plain view. Term limits would not get rid of the Deep State although we would not have the Maxine Waters and Nancy Pelosi's. We would also lose the Don Young's and the Chuck Grassley's. However the bad ones do so much damage and that sacrificing the few good would be worth it.
I will stick with crazy, but more importantly why do you and others hijack this article for other purposes? I read “Love in the time of war” or something like that🤷♂️
I'm exercising my free speech rights to go off an tangents? Why do you wish to curtail my ability to express my thoughts? If my thoughts bother you you can skip them on the thread.
Doesn't that tell you something? We are reaching a "boiling point".
Dougxn...welp, after, love, war, love ,war, you might turn a rock or more, just to figure and then you have some thoughts going on, which just might lead to more love and less war or more war and less love, whichever? Hope that helps. If we just go off simple like, we as a society, go zip-flop with out pop.
For example, without all the sensuous conversation covering fossil fuel, over the last 50 years, where would we be as "a world", since we have gone from a 40 year life span to about 80 years on average, over the span of fossils.
It is about "learning" and "the truth". While we keep turning over the rocks. thanks for asking.
And what/why is this in the comments about this article - Ug!
Let's do a trade. I'll give you term limits on Congresspeople and (especially) Senators - and you give me term limits on Supreme Court justices.
How about a mandatory retirement age for justices of 65 or 70?
I knew we could agree somewhere on something..
Good idea. I'm all for it. And while we're at it - no President over 70 either. That might take care of your animus (or some of it) against Biden, and mine against Trump.
With you on that, too.
You must have been eavesdropping this morning on my conversation with my 40 year old daughter. I asked her what the hell her generation was thinking of not insisting on presidents who were vital and in their 50s or perhaps early 60s. I also said that if people got serious about facts we could probably all agree on 95% of policies to address those facts.
When you separate the wheat from the chaff, therein lie the facts.
Term limits require a constitutional amendment. The only way to do that is a convention of states, as members of Congress certainly will never restrict themselves.
Yup, looks pretty good on first glance: https://conventionofstates.com/files/model-convention-of-states-application
There's a Convention of States group, but I dunno they're talking term limits or not. I just gave money. Limp, but SOMEthing.
Thanks Raziel, you are right, it is like the issues we have are not real and the issues others elsewhere have are hyper-real. The person who wrote this article is described there as an "expert on disinformation"; what does that even mean? What bearing does it have on the article? The world we see through our devices gives us a critical distance I suppose and so all our reactions can be distorted. I really resonate with your take on our political reality right now; the politicians are very tight fisted when it comes to helping real people and they just can't find the way to fund things like that, but billions for a foreign war are apparently just lying around ready to go. Sad all the way around.
Disinformation, propaganda and the outright lie have become such a part of American daily life my first reaction to the article was to automatically question its veracity. The fact that the author is one side or the other of that industry doesn't lessen my skepticism. (I know the Ukraine horror is in full swing and of course, I'm putting my trust in Ms. Weiss.) The disconnect from and distrust of political reality plagues us all.
It’s easier to find the money for that and easier to keep skimming the middle and poor classes
Not arguing with you, Raziel, but we should consider what the U.S. government has done since Jan 20, 2021: spend/print upwards of $10,000,000,000,000 to what end? Have any of our or the worlds problems been 'helped'? No. Who got that money?
You are right, the rot starts here but it is endemic to all world governments who took our money.
Given the rampant theft of hundreds of millions, if not billions of the Covid funds they rushed to dispense, we know that they don't have a clue what they're doing and could care less about what happens to the hard earned money they take from us.
Oh, not just world governments. When spending bills are that large it is virtually impossible to track the money. My guess is a whole lot of it gets syphoned off into many pockets.
Honestly, how do so many become multi-millionaires on a salary of just about $175K? It certainly isn't based on their financial acumen or canny investing abilities......
Excellent point and one I've raised at "friendly" gatherings. How do these Bozos leave office millionaires? I guess we're the Bozos.
Golfer, they're all in DC. They aren't harassed. They're feted. Or maybe fetid would be more apt.
First, I would never interrupt someone's meal, family time or use obscenities. There's nothing productive about that kind of behavior. However, I have written to my representatives and expressed my concern regarding matters such as the no cash bail laws and other issues that are compromising the health and welfare of their constituents. These folks are public servants; that is not an invitation for abuse but they do have to address key points affecting tax payers.
I am already seeing a lot of volunteers handing out flyers and asking for petition signatures in order to get people on the ballot. I have recently started to politely as them about their candidates' stands on issues. It's important for all of us to be informed before we vote. Many of these politicians are just rubber stamping along party lines without really caring about the effects their legislation has on all of us, particularly seniors.
Pure corruption
No surprise there Golfer but do you really think that's how THEY did it?
Yep. Did we ever get an accounting for those “shovel ready” jobs Obama was trumpeting?
yes all the money was given to Jamie Dimon and his cronies because their shovels were ready right inside the Federal Reserve
Nope. The money disappeared down a black hole.
Lots of money to democrat interest groups
My favorite political philosopher is Mark Twain who said "Suppose I am a congressman. Suppose I am an idiot but then I repeat myself."
Mine too. I have his complete works. Saving them, in print, for my grands.
Plus ca change.................
Hadn't heard that one. Excellent
This administration wants the chaos so whatever they do will only add to the problems. We are going to need a new Republican administration to begin to stop the rot.
That is why General Michael Flynn and eventually Trump were taken out, they were onto the rot and were disrupting trillions of globalist earmarks. The Ukraine government is a part of this as well considering the billions laundered through there by US politicians and their families.
Yes, exactly. The phone call Trump had with Zelensky where Trump asked if he could investigate Burisma sent alarm bells through Democrat ranks and the spy agencies. All of them were involved one way or another. They had to take out Flynn and impeach Trump. I wonder how much information is going to be allowed out from Hunter's laptop? I see a slow motion movement to get rid of Biden. The Washington Post is now admitting there was something to see in the laptop and CNN and the other Democrat propaganda media are now reporting on it. Very telling.
If You have the attention span, this article spells out the details:
https://compactmag.com/article/the-great-reset-is-real
I will read it. Thank you. My son sent me a link to The Grant Williams podcast. He is talking to Luke Gromen. I wish I had a better grounding in economics. That said, we are at a turning point in our economics. Biden's sanctions on Russia has convinced the rest of the world the necessity of getting off the dollar as the world's reserve currency. The podcast is by subscription. I'll put in the URL but not sure if you'll be able to hear it. It provides a good history of how the dollar came to be the world's reserve currency, the state of our energy reserves and the direction the world is moving to.
https://www.grant-williams.com/podcast/0028-luke-gromen/
TYTY, M. Naomi. I'm afraid I don't have the patience for a podcast. I dunno when, but the dollar will either hafta share status of reserve currency or lose it outright. What that will do to interest rates beggars the imagination.
Naoml...ok, what you state is true, but i am thinking, with the present media, which sets the molds for people in congress, we will not have any change, term limits or not.
Unless "the people" change their gamut of viewing (the news) habits, change in congress will not change.
I think it's an unfortunate fact that a very small number of people are informed and can make an intelligent vote. Maybe this is not unusual. At the time of the American revolution only 30% or fewer supported the revolution. The citizenry at the time of the American revolution may have been the best informed of any people at any time because the arguments pro and con were made through pamphlets and were widely discussed and debated in town halls, barber shops and on street corners.
Marginally better. But better
Thank you Raziel. I've said here before that I wish Americans would look at our problems through the prism of their own household / family. If your house has a severe foundation problem and you had the funds to repair it would you really leave it to sink while you donated it to a local church or park? The border - would you take down the fence around your yard and remove the locks on your door? Of course not because you want to KNOW who is entering and be on your terms. It is SO simple.
The US cannot help itself and thus cannot help the world, or the US was so focused on trying to help the world, it lost itself. In either case we are entering another period of dark violence in the world.
Neither. The Democrats are encouraging chaos in all areas to increase their ability to control. It's a massive power grab and could be in line with the WEF's plan. Trump was a brief interregnum in the advance to a new world order. Remember when people are frightened because of the chaos around them they will submit to restrictions and authoritarianism that in normal times would be anathema.
Couldn’t agree more. Fix our problems
He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.
I should attribute this - Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning
Great book! Read it a couple months ago. But parts of it are very tough to read....
Yeah, one of my favorites for sure.
Or, variously,
Miracle Max (to Westley):
Hey! Hello in there. Hey! What's so important? What you got here that's worth living for?
(And he presses lightly on Westley's chest.)
Westley:
...tr...ooo...luv...
William Goldman, TPB
Lovely story. May they survive and prevail.
Lovely story-joy despite the darkness.
Thank you so much for sharing. What a wonderful couple and group of volunteers. I wish them long life, despite the odds, and much happiness. They truly deserve it xx
I hope they survive and make Ukrainian babies. Survival, followed by renewal, is the ultimate insult to this wasteful and illegal war.
So inspiring- thank you and bless you
The personal tragedy in time of war is heartbreaking. It is also, at times, a celebration of life, even when surrounded by death and destruction. The author of the New Testament of Hebrews noted that until the very day of the flood, people celebrated weddings. That story of the flood itself offered the hope that disgusted as God can become at the folly of men, He yet makes provision for salvation. It's a good thing that He does, otherwise we would have become extinct long ago.
The indomitable human spirit! What a sweet story. It’s 06:30 where I live, and this has already made my day. Mazel tov!
I wish them and the Ukraine well. It is in Americas interest this war ends rapidly. I see Turkey and Israel pursuing peace but not the US. Why?
Maybe because the "leader of the free world" is a diaper wearing, senile imbecile who's more interested in protecting his corrupt enterprises than the interests of his nation?
Bring back the MAGA MAN!!
Well with Joey depends and his maladministration in charge, we are not talking the brightest or the bravest. Plus, China owns Biden and others and China is backstopping Russia. Plus, the war engine fills a lot of military industrial coffers which fills a lot of campaign coffers through backhanders.
Good question think it suits the US at the moment the focus is off Brandon the Dems probably want it to go on for as long as possible - midterms coming up and the energy blackmail we all facing my thoughts are the Dems will sort it just before November give congress some new energy but I think they underestimated the American people we not stupid
I spent two years as a demolitionist on a Special Force A-Team Airborne. I am not exactly what you would call a wimp but this article and the pictures choked me up. The indominable spirit of the Ukrainian people overwhelms me.
Anybody who reads this and sees the pictures and doesn't feel an emotional tug must be one of those idiots who thinks Russia was justified in invading Ukraine.
if the pictures of after Russian Army firing and killing dogs trapped in their kennel cages in an animal shelter is not enough to get the world to actually do something other than whine about sanctions, than nothing will. If only they taught us all to be like American Sniper instead of showing up trophies.....
I can relate to this story because the only way I’m ever getting married is if I’m surrounded by live fire.
KD...oh, that was why they were Kissing for soooo long.
Makes me think the Ukranians may just pull this off.
Inspiring story. My in-laws were married in Budapest, in fatigues according to family legend, just after the 1956 Revolution failed. Then they fled the country because of their roles in the now failed revolution. May the Ukrainians prevail and may Ana and Anton live happily ever after.
Bari, I would like to thank you, and your contributors, for keeping on writing about the current events in Ukraine. I am appalled that after all promises of "never again" the world not only allows this horror to happen, but the "enlightened" western nations keep financially supporting the Russian military machine by buying their oil and gas. The current sanctions are half-hearted and don't make enough of a difference. That the West still did not start supplying Ukraine with heavy weapons that they need in order to take back their territory and free their people from this horror is something I can't wrap my head around. Every day that goes by means more killings, more rape, more torture, and more suffering. I know that it's too easy to shrug our shoulders and ignore this horrific tragedy. But we need to keep shouting from the rooftops about the atrocities that are being perpetrated at this very moment, and do everything each of us can to put a stop to them, as quickly as we can. I want to add that as someone whose native language is Russian and who grew up on Russian culture, I cannot wrap my head around the evil insanity that is currently gripping the Russian community. I can read their newspapers and opinions and watch their videos, and they make me sick to my stomach. I thought this mass insanity only happened to germans in WWII or in Orwell's books. How can people with whom I share my culture, and whom I thought I knew and understood well, behave in this way is something I can't grasp. For those who can read Russian or can get an English translation here is an example of a typical drivel (in a government newspaper): https://ria.ru/20220403/ukraina-1781469605.html
The condition of modern Russia, is I believe, the legacy of revolution and Bolshevism. Seventy-plus years of "scientific socialism" destroyed Russian civil society. Nothing was allowed to exist outside the party-state. Thus when the party-state fell there was nothing to replace it. That's why today Russia has Putinism, a kind of shambling, zombie-like shadow of Stalinism.
Marxist 'woke' is the lipstick on a pig called Totalitarian Finance.
In news closer to home, "the Big Guy" says he's sure that Hunter didn't break the law.
Fact Checkers say he is 10% correct.
"10% correct, so.... a lie?"
"False. 10% correct equates to 'partly true'."
"The Big Guy" .... "10%" ....