December 21, 2024

The air in Washington was thick with tension as the clock ticked down to the deadline for passing the continuing resolution (CR). Republicans, with their usual flair for drama, had managed to turn what should have been a straightforward process into a political soap opera of epic proportions. The stakes were high, the rhetoric even higher, and the outcome? Well, let’s just say it didn’t go quite as planned.

The Republican Party, ever the masters of brinkmanship, found themselves in a familiar position: holding the government hostage to their own demands. This time, however, they seemed to have forgotten one crucial detail, how to actually govern. The CR was supposed to keep the government funded and avoid a shutdown, but instead, it became a battlefield for infighting, grandstanding, and, ultimately, humiliation.

Leading the charge, or perhaps the retreat, was President-elect Elon Musk, who, despite not technically being in office yet, had somehow managed to insert himself into the process. Musk, ever the disruptor, had teamed up with his loyal assistant and hype man, Donald Trump, to push for a shutdown that they claimed would "cleanse the swamp" and...

December 6, 2024

If there’s one thing Americans can agree on, it’s that everyone loves money, especially other people’s money when it comes to solving societal woes. The United States, a nation born out of tax-related rebellion, now finds itself wrangling with a modern-day fiscal crisis. Balancing the federal budget and ensuring Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid’s solvency are challenges we must tackle. But what if the answer isn’t as complicated as we think? What if, instead of gutting programs or printing enough money to build a second moon, we simply look backward to President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s America, where the richest among us paid their fair share? Let’s explore how two straightforward policy changes, returning to Eisenhower-era tax rates for the wealthiest and removing the cap on Social Security contributions, could save the day.

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away (mid-20th century America), the United States had a federal income tax system that asked the richest Americans to fork over 91% of their income above a certain level. Now, before you clutch your privates and cry “socialism,” let’s remember that this was during the presidency of Eisenhower, a Republican and a decorated war hero, not exactly a Marxist revolutionary. The economy was booming, the middle class thrived, and the government could...

December 3, 2024

I was speaking with my sister the other day, over Thanksgiving dinner, and we were discussing the various things that may have contributed to Trump winning reelection. Of course, the fact that so many people are, at their core, racist and hateful played a big part, but she mentioned something else I really hadn’t given enough thought to. That is the Democrats having lost their way on messaging to working class Americans.

This is not Trump’s America. I know it might feel that way sometimes, especially when you see pickup trucks adorned with MAGA flags or hear yet another conspiracy theory about space lasers or secret pedophile cabals. But let’s be clear: Trump and his diehard followers don’t own this country. They’re loud, relentless, and have the marketing skills of a mid-level pyramid scheme, but they do not represent the majority. What they’ve managed to do is hijack the narrative, sow division, and make a lot of noise, all while failing to offer solutions for the real problems Americans face.

The real America is still out there, working hard, raising families, and wondering why healthcare is so expensive and why every pothole feels like a portal to the Earth’s core. The MAGA movement...

December 11, 2024

The news that the CEO of UnitedHealthcare was murdered has sparked a response that is, in many ways, just as troubling as the act itself. Across social media and in certain circles, there’s a tangible sense of celebration, as if this violent act is something to be cheered. It’s disheartening, to say the least, and not just because someone lost their life. What’s disturbing is what this reaction reveals about our relationship with violence and how it erodes the very humanity we claim to uphold.

The frustration people feel toward companies like UnitedHealthcare isn’t hard to understand. For many, these corporations represent the worst aspects of a broken healthcare system, one where access to life-saving treatments can be denied with the stroke of a pen and where financial decisions too often take precedence over human lives. Stories of denied claims, unaffordable coverage, and endless bureaucratic battles are all too common, and they spark legitimate anger. That anger is valid. It’s rooted in pain, grief, and a sense of helplessness that comes from feeling like the system is rigged against you.

But no matter how deep that anger runs, violence is not the answer. It’s never the answer. And the celebration of violence, whether it’s expressed in a viral meme, a flippant comment, or a triumphant post, only serves to poison our collective soul. Murder isn’t justice. It doesn’t fix what’s broken in the system...

November 27, 2024

Donald Trump’s 2024 cabinet selections are a testament to his governing style: loyalty over competence, ideology over expertise, and a flair for the dramatic that wouldn’t be out of place in a reality show. This roster of appointments isn’t so much a “Who’s Who” of governance as a “Who’s Willing” to follow Trump’s lead unconditionally. While there are capable individuals among the nominees, the overarching pattern of prioritizing allegiance over aptitude raises serious concerns about the future of the nation’s governance.

Take Marco Rubio, selected for Secretary of State, for instance. Once a bitter rival during the 2016 primaries, Rubio now finds himself in a position where diplomatic acumen is critical. His track record suggests a preference for hawkish policies over nuanced diplomacy, raising the specter of a foreign policy reliant on sanctions and brinkmanship rather than negotiation. With Rubio at the helm, the State Department could face strained alliances and heightened tensions with adversaries, a dangerous cocktail in an increasingly polarized global arena.

Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi is another name that highlights Trump’s loyalty-first philosophy. Bondi’s history of staunchly defending Trump, even...

November 23, 2024

Switching from X (formerly Twitter) to Bluesky is like swapping a chaotic fast-food joint for a chill café where the coffee isn’t just hot, it’s brewed with care. Whether you’re a seasoned tweeter, a digital nomad, or someone tired of Musk’s endless experimentations, here’s why Bluesky is the better option in 2024 and moving forward.

Let’s face it: X feels like a sci-fi dystopia run by an eccentric billionaire with a penchant for chaos. Algorithm changes, paid verifications, and bizarre features make the platform unpredictable. Bluesky, by contrast, offers stability. It’s a space where you can scroll without worrying that your timeline will suddenly prioritize alien conspiracy theories because Musk tweeted “Mars” at 3 a.m.

And unlike its beta days, Bluesky is now open to everyone. No need to beg for an invite or scavenge Reddit threads for access codes. It’s a party anyone can join, and the vibe is refreshingly welcoming. Think of it as leaving the velvet rope nightclub for an open-air festival where everyone dances like no one’s watching.

November 13, 2024

Living through the sweeping changes in the world today, I often think how strange it feels to be relieved about the fact that I’m old, nearing the end of my years. It’s not because I’m tired of life; it’s because the America I see taking shape seems like a dark shadow of the country I grew up believing in. I spent a lifetime trusting in the ideals of democracy and the value of individual freedom, hoping to pass on those beliefs to the next generations. But now, I feel a grim relief that I may not have to live in a future where those values are all but erased, replaced by something dangerous and oppressive.

As someone who remembers watching civil rights marches on a black-and-white television, who listened to JFK’s and Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches about justice and equality, I believed America was far from perfect but was on a path that valued individual rights and democratic integrity. Today, I find myself wondering if all that progress meant anything, or if it was simply a mirage in the desert, fading away as we walked closer. It’s hard to ignore the signs now, signs that point to a government shifting away from the ideals of democracy and instead toward authoritarianism, all wrapped up in the brand of today’s GOP.

October 16, 2024

Voting Blue This November is More Important Than Finding Out Who’s Stealing Your Netflix Password.
Okay, folks. Gather 'round. Voting season is upon us again, and I get it—elections can feel like laundry day. Necessary, a bit annoying, and if you leave it too long, everything starts smelling funky. But this November, voting blue isn’t just a civic duty, it’s our shot at steering the ship away from the iceberg that somehow got labeled “progress.” Spoiler alert: Icebergs aren’t great for boats, or democracy.
So, let’s dig into why punching that blue ticket matters more than arguing about pineapple on pizza. (It doesn’t belong there, by the way, but we’ve got bigger problems to solve.)

# 1.  Climate Change:
Look, if you wouldn’t ignore a flashing check engine light on your car, you definitely shouldn’t ignore the planet’s screaming. The Blue Team wants to fix the environment the way your grandma fixes Sunday dinner, methodically and with care, because there’s no backup Earth in the freezer. Voting for those who actually believe climate change is real is like finally deciding to stop microwaving fish in the office kitchen, it’s about time, and everyone benefits...

October 12, 2024

Conspiracy theories can range from the mildly bizarre to the wildly absurd, but few have reached the dizzying heights of ridiculousness like the idea that Democrats control the weather—specifically hurricanes. Yes, there are people who believe that Democratic politicians have somehow developed the technology to whip up a category-five storm at will. You might be thinking, “That’s impossible!” But hold on—if you suspend disbelief for just a moment, you’ll realize the real magic isn’t in hurricane creation. It’s in the mental gymnastics it takes to believe such a theory. Let’s dive into the ignorance (and hilarity) of the idea that Democrats have become the Storm Lords of the Weather Underground.

Hurricanes as Political Tools: A Stormy Allegory

The notion that hurricanes can be conjured up by a political party to wreak havoc upon their enemies sounds like the plot of a rejected “Sharknado” sequel. But, apparently, some people believe that Democrats, instead of just passing laws and attending awkward press conferences, are secretly controlling the elements. Forget debates on healthcare and taxes—those are so 20th century. Why worry about boring old policies when you can just...

January 14, 2024

What is wrong with us as a nation? What is wrong with us as a people? The governor of Texas, Greg Abbot, directed his state’s National Guard to block U.S. Border Patrol Agents from rescuing a mother and two children who were in trouble crossing the Rio Grande River from Mexico into Texas. (Woman, 2 children die crossing Rio Grande as Border Patrol says it was prevented from intervening) The mother, and her two children, drowned. Greg Abbot is now officially a murderer. There is no other way to put it. His ordering his troops to prevent the Border Patrol from rescuing these people, to instead stand by and watch them drown, is murder.

Every citizen of the United States understands that there is a pressing need to come up with reasonable border control laws. We, like it or not, can certainly not allow unfettered and totally open access for anyone to cross over into the country. By the same token, we cannot rationally, or morally, completely close our border either. There must be some middle ground. Some compromise that allows people who are fleeing oppression and almost certain death or political imprisonment, to enter our country...

January 6, 2024

As you can easily see, it has been quite a while since I posted a blog entry. I am retired, so claiming not having time would be a stretch, but the truth of the matter is, life gets in the way. Dealing with health issues, and burn out, are part of the delay. The software I was using being a pain in the rear side is also no small part of the delay.

Well currently, health seems stabilized a bit. The new software is great and easy to use. So, the excuses are falling away.  Moving forward I am going to commit to writing more blog entries than in the past, at least one bi-weekly, and, with luck, more. It will certainly be easy doing more as I only did 3 in the last 2 years.

We are moving into a critical year for our Democracy. You may be like me, and have grown up thinking our Democracy was a rock and never in danger. I certainly thought that. Sure, we might ebb and flow on how we got things done, or on what direction we headed as a nation, but our Democracy itself was safe. That is no longer the truth...