Bits and Pieces

Taxes – Federal and Others: Government services and benefits are everywhere. Social Security is one. So are disability benefits funded through Social Security. Medicare and Medicaid are other examples of tax dollars at work. So too, are sidewalks, streets, highways, bridges, dams, stormwater sewers. Of course public water and sewer systems, public schools, libraries, parks and a host of other amenities we likely take for granted. Police and fire protection are a huge presence in our lives and they are funded by tax collections. A property owner pays property taxes. A renter pays rent to a landlord who is a property owner and property tax payer; the rent collected goes in part to those tax payments. Sales taxes, excise taxes on goods and services, and other government fees are all forms of taxes. Car registration fees, gasoline taxes and a host of other user taxes all go to pay for government supplied goods and services. We all pay them. Some of us pay more than others, but then they enjoy a much higher standard of living than the rest of us do. They have received more benefit than the rest of us, thus they pay more and we pay less.

Hardly anyone has a free ride in our society. We all pay if we breathe air. Taxes are built into our economic model and the wealthy know this. Complaining about high taxes is a common game played by the favored few. But it remains only a game. Do not fall for their whines. Of course Congress knows they can gain campaign dollars from these folks for doing their bidding. That is another game common to our form of government. Pity that; shameful, too.

Racism-White Privilege: When I was growing up, I felt at ease in most neighborhoods and surroundings. I did not know what it was like to be singled out and questioned by others. I belonged where I was and had freedom of movement. Later, I made friends with a lot of schoolmates and their diversity taught me a few lessons. One was that a black kid was not free to move in just any neighborhood. He was clearly in view if he was in a white neighborhood. He stood out. Just like I would have stood out if I walked through a black neighborhood. But there were none anywhere I lived. Our town was mostly white.

Arrive now in today’s world, a black driver is in clear view of a policeman and quite likely to be stopped for small driving infractions. From there the situation can escalate rapidly out of control. Switch the circumstance of a white driver and note the lack of worry or concern for being stopped. Most likely none. That difference is white privilege. We whites do not experience it, so it is not on our radar screen.

That difference is racism. Whether it is mine or yours, a white person simply does not experience life the same way a black person does. For whites it is very subtle and goes unnoticed. To claim we are not racist is a falsehood, one many don't realize they are making. But....

Manchin of West Virginia: He claims not to be a blockade to President Biden’s agenda. But he is. He takes his agenda points directly from Republicans because he is one of those oddities in the southland – he is a democrat on the national public stage from a conservative republican district. He is a renegade that sassies up to his constituents so he has the votes to remain in office. What he accomplishes is another story.

Joe Manchin knows what he is doing. He gets power and funding for his district just by being ornery. To earn his vote in a very divided chamber, Joe normally gets what he wants. Once again, this is an example of the squeaky wheel getting the attention, and the money and power. Shameful but effective. Yes, Manchin is a blockade to Biden. And he knows it.

April 30, 2021

 

Border State Politics

Several years ago, my mother, a resident of Arizona, wrote about the problems of immigrants roaming across the Arizona boarder from Mexico. She was deeply worried that this traffic of illegal aliens was the primary source of burglaries, robberies, physical attacks on unsuspecting pedestrians, and car thefts. Home invasions, too; oh yes, she worried they would come in the middle of the night and do whatever to her!

I asked mom why she thought Arizona was plagued with this problem. And were these problems documented with frequency and numeric data? She did not know about the data part, but she claimed that this was a unique Arizona problem because of its border with Mexico. I asked if California, New Mexico, and Texas might suffer the same problem? She thought that might be true, but the immigrants stayed mainly in her state and created a mess of unemployment, crime and what not.

I continued to question her about the semi-trucks found loaded with illegal immigrants being transported from Mexico and through Arizona to other, northern states like Nebraska, Iowa, the Dakotas, and Illinois. She did not know anything about that, oddly. It did not seem to matter to her that many if not most immigrants entering Arizona illegally were merely passing through. I informed her the immigrant issue was shared by most states, not just the border ones.

I also suggested that most immigrants did not cause unemployment among existing state populations but did work our own citizens simply did not want to do. And in fact, if they were working, why would they be robbing others? They had their own money.

She did not know of these matters. She only read what the newspapers reported about crime stories. Anecdotal items such as these did not provide the full picture. Only threats of upset and fear were the result of the stories. The fact that immigrants made it to population centers throughout the United States was interesting to her. And she did admit that her gardener was Mexican and was a swell guy. Had a family and all; the kids were doing well and going on to college and everything. I thought mom should have concluded that her gardener’s story was proof that her fears were unfounded, but no, that was not the case. He was the exception.

Media stories properly formed would state the immediate issue or subject of the item, then go on to explain how this fits into the rest of the reality of immigration and social issues particularly related to immigrants. Following the stories of the immigrants would be enlightening. Moving through the state to a future life in other parts of the nation. Work life and family life would be of interest, too. Putting a human face on these stories would help readers understand the full dimension of the involved issues. Were these issues problems? Or were they crises? Or opportunities? Or what?

Border stories do not belong only to the border states. They belong to all our states. Kindly turn your attention to coastal states and transportation methods of immigrants. Not all crawl from desert origins. Not all wash upon our shores in dinghies. Most fly in from distant lands. Legal or illegal, immigrants are everywhere.

Just like our own origin, we all come from immigrant stock. Whether in the last few months or 400 years ago, immigration is the only way our families came to this land. Oh, there is an exception: Native American Indians. Even those can be claimed as immigrants if we consider their Asian/Alaskan route of entry when once the land masses were bridged during the Ice Age.

I get the fear side of this story. Publishers sell their product with fear. Too bad they don’t tell the rest of the story. That’s the real moral of the tale. And it is our story. Our origin. That’s what makes us all American.

April 29, 2021

 

Blog draft April 29 21

Border State Politics

Several years ago, my mother wrote about the problems of immigrants roaming across the Arizona boarder from Mexico. She was deeply worried that this traffic of illegal aliens was the primary source of burglaries, robberies, physical attacks on unsuspecting pedestrians, and car thefts. Home invasions, too; oh yes, she worried they would come in the middle of the night and do whatever to her!

I asked mom why she thought Arizona (her state of residency) was plagued with this problem. And were these problems documented with frequency and numeric data? She did not know about the data part, but she claimed that this was a unique Arizona problem because of its border with Mexico. I asked if California, New Mexico, and Texas might suffer the same problem? She thought that might be true, but the immigrants stayed mainly in her state and created a mess of unemployment, crime and what not.

I continued to question her about the semi-trucks found loaded with illegal immigrants being transported from Mexico and through Arizona to other, northern states like Nebraska, Iowa, the Dakotas, and Illinois? She did not know anything about that, oddly. It did not seem to matter to her that many if not most immigrants entering Arizona illegally were merely passing through. I informed her the immigrant issue was shared by most states, not just the border ones.

I also suggested that most immigrants did not cause unemployment among existing state populations but did work others simply did not want to do. And in fact, if they were working, why would they be robbing others? They had their own money.

She did not know of these matters. She only read what the newspapers reported about crime stories. Anecdotal items such as these did not provide the full picture. Only threats of upset and fear were the result of the stories. The fact that immigrants made it to population centers throughout the United States was interesting to her. And she did admit that her gardener was Mexican and was a swell guy. Had a family and all; the kids were doing well and going on to college and everything. I thought mom should have concluded that her gardener’s story was proof that her fears were unfounded, but no, that was not the case.

Media stories properly formed would state the immediate issue or subject of the item, then go on to explain how this fits into the rest of the reality of immigration and social issues particularly related to immigrants. Following the stories of the immigrants would be enlightening. Moving through the state to a future life in other parts of the nation. Work life and family life would be of interest, too. Putting a human face on these stories would help readers understand the full dimension of the involved issues. Were these issues problems? Or were they crises? Or opportunities? Or what?

Border stories do not belong only to the border states. They belong to all our states. Kindly turn you attention to coastal states and transportation methods of immigrants. Not all crawl from desert origins. Not all wash upon our shores in dinghies. Most fly in from distant lands. Legal or illegal, immigrants are everywhere.

Just like our own origin, we all come from immigrant stock. Whether in the last few months or 400 years ago, immigration is the only way our families came to this land. Oh, there is an exception: Native American Indians. Even those can be claimed as immigrants if we consider their Asian/Alaskan route of entry when once the land masses were bridged during the Ice Age.

I get the fear side of this story. Publishers sell their product with fear. Too bad they don’t tell the rest of the story. That’s the real moral of the tale. And it is our story. Our origin. That’s what makes us all American.

April 29, 2021

 

Biased News Outlets

More often than not biased news outlets spew their misinformation, primarily via headlines that grab attention. Reading the accompanying articles broadens the details but does not change the trajectory of the piece. It intends to mislead and continues to do the job. Which print news outlets might these be? Here’s a short list. Some might surprise you.

·        Wall Street Journal: a Rupert Murdoch publication. Enough said. The WSJ has mostly been a conservative news source because of its homage to economic power on Wall Street. That power is not always in the best interest of the American people. Under Murdoch the power is manipulated.

·        Washington Examiner: the leftover news organization begun by the Rev. Moon of cult fame back in the 80’s and 90’s. Today the Examiner is a conservative, far-right rag that makes news rather than reporting it.

·        Newsweek: this used to be a highly trusted news magazine that fairly competed with Time Magazine. Newsweek, however, could be trusted to take the conservative line on any issue most of the time. Today that is still true. Headlines do not make the story, but they use headlines to steer emotional response to their bias.

·        Fox News: Rupert Murdoch owned and controlled. Their public record is clear. Enough said. Totally biased.

·        Chicago Tribune: has a long history of conservative/Republican bias. Normally more sedate and genteel so headlines are not incendiary. However, the long term bias is not just legendary. It is current as well. Not a reliable news source on national or international news. It has earned this reputation doggedly. It even toys with local Chicago news along the same lines.

·        Los Angeles Times: better than the Chicago Tribune, the LA Times is more balanced but still skewed toward republican politics and conservative views. The DNA explains it: it has long been a member of the Chicago Tribune publishing family.

This is a short list. A longer list would find national television networks shading themselves. NBC News is one. In their attempt to appear balanced they often do not tell the whole story, just the bits that make it interesting and attract viewers. The full story must be carefully told if the American people are to understand the what, who, why of any story. CBS does its homework but that is best explained by their star news program – 60 Minutes. A news magazine at its base, 60 Minutes does a good job explaining what has occurred, who is involved, and why it matters. That should be the hallmark of every news item.

Past American journalism tried to be fair all the time. sometimes their excitement over breaking news skewed their data checking, but in the main they tried to do the right job. With cable news competition coupled with the free-wheeling internet and social media commentaries, network news has less time to get the story right the first time. They also have fewer and fewer news staffers to do the research and double checking to keep the details straight. This is a lesson where more really does mean less.

If I were king of the universe, I think I would establish hard and fast rules on journalism and fund it heavily so it has the resources and time to do the job right. Like the role of a public university, expanding the boundaries of the known world and its facts is a sacred duty to remain faithful to facts and data. The what and who is mostly correct. It is the why that is in default these days.

The why. So many want you to see the why their way, their biased way.

How can we correctly fix this without becoming biased ourselves?

April 28, 2021

 

 

Wasting More Time

Republicans are at it again. Biden asks for an infrastructure plan worth $1.9 trillion and they counter propose with a $600 billion plan. Never mind the definition of ‘infrastructure’ is so scaled back as to question the entire proposal.

Do these same people not understand that infrastructure is not manufactured by the government anywhere? It is bought from private firms who do that work. The money used comes from tax collections or revenue bonds, or other financial instruments. Backed by the good faith of the US Taxpayers, of course, but the work of all of us is accomplished with all of our resources. Owners and corporations still make the money from this work.

So, what is the reasoning behind the republican strategy? Simple, they don’t want Biden or Democrats getting credit for accomplishing something good for the nation. Politics as usual. Ugly and selfish as usual.

Republicans should remember their basic economics: investment in self and means of production yield returns far more than the original investment. Economics 101.

Can inflation come from over investing by the government? Yes. How? If the investment is not needed and is a whimsical play for public support. That is wasteful spending. The $1.9 trillion plan is none of that; it aims to replace aging and dangerous infrastructure which has outlived its useful life; it aims to create infrastructure needed in new locations that follow the pattern of growth of the population and movement of the economy in new directions.

Wi-fi for everyone connects everyone and equalizes the playing field for people of all means and household incomes. It also makes the population accessible to businesses and public agencies needing to connect with the people who need it. Opportunity comes in the form of new and better educational methods, acquisition of better understanding and gaining new job skills, employers find more willing and prepared potential employees, and the list goes on.

We The People benefit from improved and expanded infrastructure. We should pay for this. We all benefit from it.

Increasing taxes on the super wealthy? Oh please! They got fabulously rich from special treatment from the government for decades, and especially by trump. The 1% is over the top in wealth, so much so they have few outlets to use it except to gain even more power and wealth. That is not healthy for the nation.

So, use the new taxes (not confiscatory ones) to pay for infrastructure, cheaper access to higher education, expanded health services to the masses and all the other no-no’s of the past. This is a positive investment in We The People. It is not socialism or communism.

And shame on all those who claim it is socialism or communism. Those folks only show their ignorance on the issues. They are protecting their own. They are shielding their minority status with majority power. Shameful.

What a waste of time to enjoin this meaningless struggle. Propaganda in its purest form.

April 27, 2021

Bits and Pieces

Drop in Vaccinations: The mad dash to distribute the COVID 19 vaccine to everyone has done well. Over 200 million vaccinations in the arm. If everyone in America gets vaccinated with a two-shot serum, the shots in the arm would be 640 million. We are only one third the way. Still, vaccine supplies are good and still growing. World supply is being addressed as well. Soon nations will share their oversupply with nations in need, until manufacturing catches up equally around the globe. It is not likely to happen that way, but we can hope it does.

Meanwhile, naysayers continue to spout their opinions. Just yesterday someone told me if I believe in the vaccine and I’m vaccinated, why should I care if he doesn’t get the shot? My reply: because COVID continues to mutate and my vaccination won’t last forever because of that reality. Second, because your vulnerability makes us all vulnerable, especially those not vaccinated like young children and others still not eligible to receive the vaccine. The shot does not hurt and it is free. It is also widely available for adults. So why not do your community duty and be a part of the solution rather than the problem? He had no answer.

Planet Protection: Like a vaccine against a pandemic, reducing the stress on our plant is good to do. Reducing green house gasses helps. Recycling helps. Reducing wasteful consumption helps. All such actions help with the problem while scientists and entrepreneurs figure out how to solve the problem on a larger scale. We each have a role to play. The question is, are we all doing it? If not, why not? Don’t believe in global warming? You don’t have to. Just lessen your pollution footprint to help everyone else, including your kids, grandkids, etc.

Cost of Cars: Product pricing bubbles happen in short terms. Cars seem to be the focus of such a bubble at this time. Seems silly to me. The pandemic taught us driving less was not a hardship but a natural result of finding other means of shopping, delivery of goods and increasing productivity by communicating remotely via electronic pathways. That means our cars have been used less. That means they will last longer. That means the buying demand is less not more. New cars are not needed as much; yet manufacturing blockages exist (electronic chip shortages) reducing the supply of new cars. Hmmm. But the demand for new cars is lower now, too. So why are car prices rising?

Seems illogical to me. I’ll just hold onto my car longer. One day I won’t need it anyway. Same with everyone. Think about it.

Policing: The Chauvin verdict has sounded the alarm that police personnel will be held to a higher standard of performance. Conforming to that will require teamwork and team training. And team supervision. Rooting out bad apples from the team is the team's duty, not the public's. Nor should it be the job of prosecutors and judges. By then tragedy has struck.

Law and order begins in legislatures. It ends in the streets with commonsense and justice meted out by wise police personnel. A hard job it is but rewarding if done well and fairly. Risky yes; but more risky if done poorly.

Re-imagine community policing to gain high performance policing.

April 26, 2021

 

 

Shootings

We live in dangerous times. Fear. Insecurity from disease, economic failure, failed relationships, faltering careers, aging, the unknown. Fear. The unknown. The abyss of…….?

Add to that frustration. Then anger. What to do with the fear? What to do about the frustration? And, Oh God! What do we do with the anger?

Facebook is a tool for venting. So are blogs. That is if you use them. Honestly use them. Ask for help in understanding the fear, frustration, and anger. Do not rail against these things with wide open mouths spitting venom and attack. Talk about your frustration. Talk about the pain. Let it seep out of your core. Let it lessen its hold on your emotions.

Blogs are good tools that seek understanding and logic. It displays your brain on full view. Making sense of the unknown and often the unknowable. This blog does that often. It is a mechanism that helps me cope. It serves as my circuit breaker box. The fuse.

Leaving fear, frustration and anger simmer is not good. It produces emotional distortions. It breaks down resistance to urges for revenge. To hurt others in payment for whatever they have done to me.

In America, guns are everywhere. At least one third of households do not own a gun. It might be two thirds. Whatever the portion, the remainder own several guns. 330 million guns for a national population of 320 million. That is horrifying if only a tiny fraction of those gun owners is over the top with anger and frustration.

The thin line of reason is not enough to hold back such people. They take the gun to the perceived enemy. A lover gone sour. A spouse as enemy. A bad boss or co-workers. A government agency deaf to personal need. Whatever. The anger. The gun. The mayhem.

Death. Death by gun. Death by a misunderstood constitutional freedom.

The right to bear arms was the means to gather a civilian militia when needed. Meanwhile, the individual could use the gun to protect themselves and family from wild animals, snakes, marauders, Indians and other perceived threats. They were rampant back then.

Today the threat is 330 million unregulated guns.

I doubt the authors of the constitution intended this. I think they intended a well-regulated militia.

It is time to bring commonsense back to our nation. Regulate gun ownership strictly. Meanwhile, control the sale of ammunition in whole or in part (homemade ammo makers). Remove all AR type weapons from private ownership; these should belong to the military or policing agencies and their personnel only.

In the longer term, conduct necessary discussions that lead to this outcome: zero mass shootings in our nation. Gun deaths reduced from 40,000 annually in the USA to a number of 1000 accidental gun deaths. Make those goals happen. Figure it out. No one wants to confiscate guns with the exception of AR’s.

That is it. Now do it. Include all who wish to be included in the discussion. Start with the NRA. And Congress, of course. And State legislatures. Remember the goals: no mass shootings, and 1000 accidental gun deaths annually.

Now, get to it.

April 23, 2021

 

Gay Bachelor

So, Colton Underwood, 29, of The Bachelor TV program has come out as gay. That is fine with me. He is handsome, cute, and very attractive to most people. Me included, but then I am gay, and don’t we all have some fantasies?

For discussion purposes I am aware that most people will agree that being gay in America is not easy. Not today or in the past. Especially in the past. When I was growing up the topic was not spoken of in the household. The word ‘gay’ was not in use to substitute for homosexual. That came later. Role models were not present. The only thing that meant gay then were private, mysterious stirrings in the body suggesting something was different with me. I did not see it in others. So, I kept it secret.

Keeping that secret defined my life for a long time. I protected myself from others finding out. I self-isolated to lessen the fear. My personality grew but at a different pace than other kids. My interests developed by way of other paths. My life was different. And all because I did not know what it was that made this so.

That was in the 1940’s and 50’s. By the 1960’s things had changed but remained secretive and violent. One did not let anyone else know they were gay. By the 1970’s society was making noises that they were more enlightened, but then the AIDS pandemic appeared, and religious zealots claimed this was God’s revenge on gay people. Too many believed that or at least remained silent about it. The damage to the gay community continued.

In 2021 we are much wiser. We are more experienced with the social phenomenon of gender orientation. More research done and followed. More teaching and understanding. Our society has accommodated this awakening to facts. Even their behaviors have changed toward gays.

But not for everyone. Gay bashing continues. Violence and death remain a reality for the gay community. Discrimination, shunning, and stigma still plague the community. Generations must learn this all over again while others who have not changed their mindset fuel an obstinate stigma against gay people.

Maybe Colton Underwood’s experience will help others understand. No one is asking another person to be gay. It does not work that way. Others are asked to accept the reality of gender orientation for what it is, an unchosen way of life that harms no one and is as natural as apple pie.

Recruitment is not a thing. Now fantasies are another thing. I have mine. And you? Let us have this little secret among ourselves, eh?

April 22, 2021