Author Archives: Commentary about the Blue Marble

Sound Familiar

30 Monday May 2022

Posted by in President Trump

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            He started a cult which made him an idol. Violence was dividing the country’s people. The opposition was denigrated so he could gain power. The power brokers who put him in power found they had created a beast they couldn’t control. He was responsible for a failed uprising. Political enemies were too scared of his power to confront him. He met with his country’s enemies and called them his friends. His influence and power put his sycophants into positions of power to make sure his plans for total control was carried out. Those people were in law enforcement and judicial positions. He had ideas about eliminating the legislative body making him the total leader. He was a narcissist and demanded total loyalty to him over their country.

            If this sounds familiar, it should. He started World War II with his gigantic ego.

Problems in Democracies

22 Sunday May 2022

Posted by in Conspiracies, U.S. Constitution

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            How do we regain control of our country with all the rights given to Americans by the Bill of Rights? We have people who are putting absolute lies on broadcast, cable, and social media which is allowed by the First Amendment. We are awash with guns which are being used by gangs to kill each other and bystanders under the Second Amendment. Criminals and malcontents are using these two amendments to rip our country apart.

            The question is how do we stop it? How do we stop people from starting and spreading conspiracies and lies while allowing truthful opinions and information to be disseminated? We already have some laws prohibiting starting a riot or yelling “Fire” in a theater. Do we need more laws or just expanding their intent?

            Millions of guns are manufactured here by gun companies, imported from other countries, and made or revised at home. Hundreds of thousands of those guns are in the hands of criminals, militias, and crazy people. Some states allow easy access and sale of guns while others try to keep guns away from criminals, gangs, children and nut cases.

            Only Federal laws and additional amendments can solve these problems but with so much money and control of the opinions and fears of Americans nothing will be done. Other real democratic countries are now having the same problems. For people in those countries and ours to continue as civilized democratic countries, these two huge problems must be eliminated.

Not Me OR Witch Hunt

22 Sunday May 2022

Posted by in Voting

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            I have not have not heard so many denials by Republicans since Watergate. All interviews with the Republican Washington hierarchy and many others seem to have “not me”, “I didn’t do or say that” or “it’s a witch hunt”. Recently their denials have been shown to be lies by their own E-mails and/or voice recordings.

            When the House’s January sixth probe subpoenas them, they have three choices. One is to comply with answers and give massive amounts of information. Second is to bring nothing and take the Fifth Amendment. The third choice is to not comply and face a criminal trial when the Attorney General’s office goes forth with the indictment.

            They all took the oath of office but few are doing what they swore to do. Two Republicans that truly follow that oath are Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. Both are Republicans. I often don’t agree with their opinions and their vote on issues. I would vote for either because they may believe in honesty. Cheney will probably win her seat again thanks to her despised father. Kinzinger has chosen not to run again. Congress will miss him.

            Why is honesty at such a low level in legislations in Washington and most states? It is because we keep re-electing the liars and crooks since we are too lazy to check out their lies or too gullible and believe their outrageous un-American conspiracies. Do the research! Don’t vote for somebody who pushes the “Big Lie” or denies involvement in trying to overthrow our government!

Abortion Discussion

13 Friday May 2022

Posted by in Abortion

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            I don’t like abortions and I definitely do not like those which are done under less than safe conditions as they were before Roe vs. Wade. One of the tens of thousands who died from botched back alley abortions was my sister in 1960. I was in the eighth grade. She was a very intelligent woman managing a clothing store. It destroyed my family. I donate to Planned Parenthood because I don’t want other sisters and daughters to die from an abortion.

            Before Roe many religious leaders and churches knew medical and non-medical people they could recommend to a girl or woman needing an abortion. Maybe they thought that was far better than a self-manipulated clothes hanger.

            Some of those who want to abolish abortions also believe in executions which doesn’t make sense if life is so precious. Some of those believe life begins at conception as Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has stated on camera. Others say six weeks which is before most women know they are pregnant. Others say fifteen weeks which is more reasonable in my opinion. Some don’t allow an abortion under any circumstance. Those states do not allow one to save the life of the woman. A couple of southern states, where incest isn’t so rare, will not allow one for incest. Some are passing laws which will make RU487 and other day-after drugs unlawful.

            If the far right Supreme Court Justices overturn Roe then gay rights and many other decisions could be next. Could Brown (racial segregation) be overturned? The radical judges read the Constitution different than most people and believe a document written 240 years ago still applies. Thomas Jefferson thought it should be re-written every ten years.

Federal Reserve Making a Mistake

13 Friday May 2022

Posted by in Inflation

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            The Federal Reserve is mandated to control inflation and using a computer program that is hopelessly out of context with the current economic conditions, they raised their rate a half a percent.

            The program doesn’t account for the supply disruptions causing shortages. The disruptions are causing containers and their ships to triple their cost. The price of petroleum increased almost double in year-over-year due to increased demand and supply shortages caused by sanctions on Putin. Food price increases are caused by Putin’s war, climate and fuel costs, and increased driver wages.

            The shortages of computer chips means new cars – if chips are available – may cost more than manufacturers suggested price. Used cars cost more because of fewer trade-ins. Rental prices for shelter (Fed term) are higher because more people are needing a place to live and fewer houses and apartments are being built causing rent and house prices to increase.

            With the price of petroleum up, gasoline is much higher. Because we are sending natural gas made into LPG (frozen and compressed natural gas) to Europe, the price has almost tripled year-over-year. Since 40% of our electricity is generated by burning natural gas, electricity prices are increasing proportionally.

            These items, along with a few others, are what the Fed uses in deciding what the inflation rate is and how to reduce it with interest rate increases. None of the above is something the Fed can control with any method so they are powerless to reduce the rate of inflation. They may interfere with the on-shoring manufacturing which in itself raises prices. Not doing so keeps us subservient to our enemies and prolongs supply disruptions.

The Media War

01 Sunday May 2022

Posted by in Journalism, Ukraine

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            The war in the Ukraine has caused billions of people to realize what a war actually look like in today’s pampered world. The Russians destroyed Chechnya and  Syrian cities but we didn’t pay attention because they are either far off in Central Asia or in the Middle East where we are okay with “them” destroying each other.

            Syrian and Chechnyan cities are no less destroyed than Mariupol or Kharkiv. Syria, being near several media branch offices, got more for a longer period. Much of it because so many American and European non-profits helping Syrians in Syria and abroad. The war in Ukraine is on television almost every minute. The Ukraine is awash with reporters from the world media and Russia supplies some videos of is troops and equipment.

            Europeans who lived through World War II and the rebuilding of bombed out cities are old or dead. More than half were born afterwards so what war looks like is basically unknown to them. The flood of people fleeing for their lives has scared other people into anger towards Russia not seen for decades.

            Few Americans have been able to visualize their cities, towns and homes destroyed as the places they see on their TVs and devices. Most Americans were not concerned when Trump met with Russian leaders in one-on-one secret meetings because Russia was no longer viewed as an enemy. This enabled Trump to try to constantly carry out his promise to leave NATO. Americans and Europeans are closer now and more supportive of NATO than since the 1970s. This huge change in opinion is due to in-depth media coverage.

Why Contribute

27 Wednesday Apr 2022

Posted by in Politics

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        The Illinois primary for Governor is approaching and it is already decided for the Democrats. Billionaire J.B. Pritzker will be running for re-election and can basically self-fund his campaign. Of course running for the Republican nominee, two don’t need the average donor to help with their campaigns.

            Richard Irwin has been flooding the media with ads promoting a selective history of his career. He is spending millions he doesn’t have but multi-billionaire, north of twenty-five, Ken Griffin will foot whatever it takes. Griffin has hated Pritzker for decades.

            Darin Bailey has his own golden eggs from billionaire Richard Uihlein. He has only contributed 3.5 million so far as known against Griffin’s 20 million to Irwin.

            We all know and understand those millions will make the eventual nominee a puppet of their sugar daddy and the rest of us will have no say. After Griffin put millions into convincing Illinoisans to vote against the graduated tax because he would be treated so unfairly, a few more would make sure it doesn’t come up again.

            If you want to contribute find some poor candidate who has morals and hasn’t had their strings connected yet. One thing about Pritzker is nobody owns him and he was willing to raise taxes on himself.

More Than Warm Bodies Needed

27 Wednesday Apr 2022

Posted by in Economy

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            An Amazon Warehouse in New York has voted to be in a union. Why when they aren’t asking for more money or many benefits would they rock the boat? The prime reason seemed to be the desire to be treated as a human and not some disposable piece of meat. A lot of this disregard seems to have occurred about the same time as personnel departments became human resources. We all know how Americans treat resources. We use them up and throw them away.

            Warehouse jobs are changing because they need thousands of people to do all the merchandize handling. Robotics can do some of the work but not as fast as humans so people are much needed. In today’s world many humans are still needed so a smart company should start thinking of their employees as an asset to be cared for and respected.

Teaching is Tough

19 Tuesday Apr 2022

Posted by in Education

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            The February issue of Scientific American magazine posed a very interesting question relating to teaching American youth. How does a teacher talk about history and sociology when their parents live in an alternate reality than the truth?

            Image trying to teach about the Holocaust when the parents keep saying it didn’t happen or civics when “The Big Lie” is a constant topic at the dinner table. How does a teacher discuss American History and avoid the subject of slavery or the treatment of the Indians and the Chinese? When parents say other people are sub-human? How does a student learn about what Hitler and the Nazis did during World War II when their parents are Neo-Nazis?

            For decades less than twenty Texans have decided what is put in school text books. Now right wing governors attempting to outdo each other are restricting what can be taught and what must be torn out of textbooks to comply with their political philosophy. Just as Hitler’s Brown Shirts burned books he didn’t like, some places have had book burnings.

            I talked with a newly hired high school science teacher who was anti-climate change because he had graduated from a right wing university. He planned to continue spreading that misinformation.

            Teaching used to be simple as long as you told the truth as it happened. Now it is subject to the demands of misguided parents and politicians demanding their current thoughts are taught in lieu of the truth.

Need A Place to Stand?

19 Tuesday Apr 2022

Posted by in Population, Uncategorized

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            What is the greatest threat to the World’s economic stability and to its human and animal populations? No, it’s not war although it might help or make the situation worse. The problem is the population is on a train with a rapidly increasing speed heading towards a mountain side.

            You see, a hundred year ago the population was growing with young people being more dominant than older people. We died shortly before or after retiring. That meant plenty of workers and few retirees for long.

            Today the birth rate for many countries is less than the stability rate meaning the population without immigration is decreasing. China just raised the limit to three kids when women weren’t having two. They need people working and in the military. Fewer workers to support the economy would be an economic collapse. Italy is the latest country to plead its women to have more kids.

            The train scenario is relevant because as we ageing and living longer so there are more people on the planet. Currently there are about 7.5 billion. Projections are 9 billion by 2050 and 12 by 2100. Although the pandemic killed more of the older population it didn’t rate a blip in the projections. We could have over a half billion in this country by 2100 without greater immigration. At our rate of aging and decreasing workforce, we will need more people crossing the border for work.

            Image the year 2200 with 35 billion thirsty starving people trying to find a place to stand.