Current Day Publius

The clowns running our country have given we citizens and our adversaries all the reason in the world to look elsewhere for leadership. They are delusional about the impacts of their foreign and domestic policies. They think that adding more entitlements on top of the ones that are already unsustainable will help them get and retain power. They think that words and euphemisms hold sway when the force of guns is what is ruling both tumultuous foreign lands and our inner cities.

To these idiots, a growing number of people now steeped in the “glories of socialism” want to hand over their lives. From raising their children to dictating their health care, they see salvation. Never having been taught the pure evil of totalitarian governments, they see the current regime as a benevolent one. How wrong they are. The entrenched bureaucracy groomed over decades and filled with elitists from our “esteemed” universities, along with career politicians from both parties, have only one thing as their goal; control over you and the riches that come from it. Don’t believe this and you too are delusional.

In yet another twist in the perversion of societal norms, criminals are now being paid to not be criminals. Here is a short list of how this works.

Hackers – After getting caught hacking and causing all kinds of harm and stealing property, hang your legal shingle out and hack for the man.

Gangbanger – Once you have established your street cred, (jail/prison time, tats, etc.), you can become a “community organizer” funded by the very people who incarcerated you previously.

Drug Dealer – This is the newest transition. Now that marijuana is becoming legal just about everywhere, former corner drug dealers (and equity) demand they be given franchises. Presumably the Small Business Administration will assist them in setting up their shops.

Ministry – This is the oldest path of converting (pun intended) your criminality into “God’s work”. Go on-line and fill out a form to get your “Doctor of Divinity” diploma. Open up a store front where you don’t have to pay property taxes and put in your bid for any number of grants given to non-governmental agencies such as your now bonafide “church”. Heck, do it well enough and you might find some situation on which you can grandstand in front of a camera and you may even find yourself on national TV with your own show!

Politician – This is a reverse situation. You may have started out as a clean-cut American hell bent on making a positive difference but once you get in, you see how easy it is to feather your nest and those around you. While your salary is average, the perks are fantastic and the book deals pay big money. Better yet is the post official office holder remuneration from the lobbying and pay back for all that you did for…your supporters.

A bill titled “Civics Secures Democracy Act” has been introduced by two Senators, one form each party. The $1,000,000,000 act is intended to provide funding for an improved education of our future voters and leaders. Aside from the incursion of the federal government into what has been local control, the idea of bolstering civics education is a good one. The rub comes from what exactly constitutes “civics education”. Here’s one take.

No education can begin on supposition and opinion. Our founding is thoroughly documented. It includes the Federalist Papers, and recorded recounting of the many arguments, pro and con on how the USA came to be. The issues included (but not limited to) a central versus federal form of government, the powers of the executive, taxes, role of religion, and yes, slavery. While it is in vogue by many on the left to ignore and even erase history, it is all there for our students to see, discuss and debate. The issues remain and the arguments nearly identical. Good points can be made on every angle of these topics. Please have at it!

Why did we choose to have states? What is the role of the federal government versus those of the states? Why was slavery allowed to continue for a period even though it was seen as an anathema to our principles? How did we come to codify those principles in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution? What were the pros and cons of these two earth shattering documents and why were they so profound not just for America, but for the rest of the world? Are these documents to be interpreted as is or in the context of today’s mores? And on and on and on…. How rich a course is that?

These and so many other relevant topics are not only a way to teach our history but also, current news. They can be used to teach how to research facts and discern between them and analysis/opinion. They can be used to learn how to think critically for yourself and develop and defend your own opinion. Teaching these would serve to underscore the very principles spelled out so eloquently in the two of the most important documents ever written. It would help elucidate for the students why so many people continue to flock to our shores despite the current rhetoric being spewed that we are a failed nation. It may actually make citizens of our children.

There are 98 Congress persons (“men” and “women” labels may upset them) and right now they are my favorite politicians. Why? They contend that the ill-named infrastructure bill ($1,900,000,000,000) will not go forward unless the $3,500,000,000,000 “turn the country into Venezuela” bill also goes forward. THANK YOU!!!!

Please do not pass either of these bills containing enormous wasted spending of limited resource dollars. You are the only thing standing in the way of sending our country into permanent debtor nation status and relegating us to just another country whose citizens couldn’t keep their freedom. Their “all or nothing” approach helps our country more now than any effort to “compromise”.

Compromise led us to think infrastructure includes money for salmon recovery, requirements that states enforce open container laws and a provision allowing states to use some of their funding for recreational trails. There is also money for research on “wildlife crossing safety” and money for a “healthy streets” program to expand tree cover to mitigate urban heat. There is even a line in the bill encouraging more food and beverage services on Amtrak routes, even if revenue does not break even. Break-even is not even in the government’s vocabulary.

So, I say, you go Progressive Caucus! Hold out for everything you want. It may take a while but perhaps by then more Americans will wake up to the concerted effort to change our country from a republic to a totalitarian state lead by a single power-hungry group.

Everyone should get vaccinated and wear masks. I’m vaccinated but I don’t know if you are and I’m just thinking about how I can still get sick. Then there’s the “I don’t know if I’m sick” and therefore can get others sick. That makes me complicit in killing others. Because of that, I’m going to follow the science and my leaders and stay out of crowded places, wear a mask both inside and outside and admonish others who don’t do the same.  

This sentiment is held by so many especially in my blue state and the even bluer town in which I reside. The very same people that are perfectly fine with the crush at our southern border. Their take is the border issue doesn’t affect them and after all, it’s a humanitarian thing. Think again!

This tony town is rife with manicured lawns, spotless pools, and clear indications of comfort. The median income is over $100,000. These fine cultured and sophisticated people don’t consider the guy cutting the lawn, cleaning their gutters and washing their cars. The limited contact they have with them doesn’t play into their narrative.

Guess what? Many of these “little people” you rely on for your comfort are the relatives and friends of those coming in droves. Guess where those illegal immigrants are being sent? They’re shipped to your hired helper’s homes. The hundreds of thousands that are crossing our border each month are being distributed throughout the country. They are being sent to homes where they say they have a relative or close friend. No questions are asked because, this administration just wants them out of the “cages” at the border (bad optics). So, while this administration considers unconstitutional actions on its very citizens, (mandated medical procedure), they ignore the law breaking and the invasion of untested and certainly some number of infected persons illegally crossing our border.

While you virtue signal about being cautionary, you may want to ask the question, “Why are we being told to be so safe while we allow illegal entrants, some of whom are carrying the Covid-19 virus, to run free?

So go ahead, wear your mask. I know you’ll feel better and after all, isn’t that what really matters!

You might be a Democrat….

• If you think the rioting and burning of police stations and federal buildings were peaceful
• If you think there are more than two sexes
• If you think disarming lawful owners of firearms will stop “gun violence”
• If you think those that disagree with you are (in order), racists, idiots, watchers of Tucker Carlson tonight
• If feelings are more important than facts
• If you think “white supremacy” is the greatest threat….no, January 6th…no, climate change…no, Russian interference,.no, voter suppression,….no, the Republican party,….no, Trump!!!! is the greatest threat to our democracy
• If the way to combat racism is to install new and more race-based programs
• If you think the southern border is closed
• If you believe what you read in social media and most “news” papers, or watch on major media television
• If you still hate Trump but can’t give one reason why you do except, “well, just listen to him!!!”
• If you think President Biden is actually running the country
• If you think the Constitution is some archaic document that must be interpreted based on how things are today

To be continued…..

Why are Democrats so hot to stuff Benjamins into empty buses? At least here in blue state Connecticut, full size buses rarely carry more than a handful of people. The lauded “busway” that was supposed to provide express transportation like a train from the suburbs to downtown, have buses that rarely contain more than a half dozen people. Mind you, some of these buses are double length articulating ones. Yes, the pandemic has lessened people commuting except I thought the people who ride the bus are those who hold jobs that cannot be performed at home.

Could it be that the companies building the large buses are union workers? Certainly, the transportation workers are unionized state employees. The “customer” base are their intended voters and even though that money could be spent on other things they like and need, public transportation seems to get the big dollars.

The current federal “infrastructure” bill is hung up on how much Democrats want to pour into the black hole of public transportation. Mind you, little of this money goes to rural America where taxes are paid just like in the cities. No, it’s the beholden blue run metropolitan areas that see the deluge of money that goes to shuffling dozens of people around each day. How about we just buy each of them a car? It may be cheaper.

Where is the opposition party? Without a real non-partisan media, we have no recourse as citizens to get fact-based information on how we are being governed. Where are the explanations of why letting millions of people cross our border and move into our cities and towns is bad? Why is spending trillions of dollars on who knows what is not a good idea? Where are the details of the election laws bills being pandered by the partisan press and Democrats? You know, the planks of the bills that refute everything they are saying about suppressing votes. Read the bill to us!

If its true that most Americans are in favor of voter identification and lower taxes and lower gas prices, where are the people touting the actions to make those happen? Having worked for years in Texas and with community groups (Acorn, La Raza), I can tell you that in general, Hispanics align more closely with conservative values. They are intensely familial. They believe in personal responsibility and take pride in fending for themselves. While they want to preserve their culture, it is in the context of America. They choose to be Americans and not Mexicans that live in the USA. So why aren’t Republicans out there talking up a storm about what being conservative means and why the Democrats policies are bad for them and all Americans? LAZY? SCARED?

The Democrat playbook is there for all to read. Flood the country with people who will be totally dependent upon the growing largesse of the federal government. Put into place election laws that will enable them to vote illegally thus securing permanent control of the federal government. Its happening before our very eyes and yet, there is little coming from the people we depend on to lead our country. The 2020 election proved that Republicans can garner more of the minority vote. President Trump instituted policies that improved their lives more than any Democrat. Where is the follow up message, “If you liked getting a job that paid more and you liked living in a safer neighborhood and you want your kids to go to better schools” vote for Republicans?

Come on opposition party; get to work! Get on “Morning Joe” and let them fumble around your spewing fact after fact. Let Anderson interview you and when he asks the gotcha question, turn it around and hit him with one of his faux pas on Avenatti or the Russian hoax and then go on to tell OUR story. Uncomfortable? Probably but that is where truth must be told and you are our mouthpiece. It’s time to earn your keep or suffer the consequences….along with us little people.

Make no bones about it. There is a full court press on to get HR1/S1 made into law. The Democrats are all in on this as they know it may be their swan song if it doesn’t pass and in the next 14 months. They need to secure their hold on power through manipulation of elections. It is their only means of maintaining power as the majority of the country is aghast at most of their current policies despite what you may hear or read in the major media.

The strategy has been clear from the outset. In order to turn this country into a socialist one, elections must be controlled. The fate of the country cannot be left up to the electorate.  The Marxists running the Democrat party are unabashed in their quest for control and have been candid about the means. They have said they will blow up the filibuster to jam through legislation. The number one bill is HR1/S1 which, at its core, usurps states’ rights and mandates election rules that foster fraud. I’ve read it and this is no hyperbole (as Joe has said!). They are willing to pack the court with activist jurists so any attempt to kill their unconstitutional ideas can be met with false interpretations of the Constitution.

While they divert our attention with massive overspending bills, the real fight is over HR1/S1. All else can be had once it gets into law. The rhetoric continues on how states are undermining elections by insisting for ID’s and some attachment of a verifiable identifying number to mail-in ballots. Most legislation now before state houses actually expand opportunities for voting including longer hours at polling stations, increased and/or “no reason” absentee voting, better maintenance of registration rolls and increased security and oversight of ballots. The media won’t tell that story and voters don’t read bills leading to a drumbeat of “Jim Crow” that is patently false.

Even those on the left must be made aware of the potential for one party rule that will result from enacting HR1/S1. It is the most direct strike against our democracy in that it perverts our elections and more. We must not let HR1/S1 become law.

What do you get when you have those governed by rules making those rules? What you get is an organization that is totally out of touch with its original purpose and centered on its own survival and prosperity. That’s what you have with our Congress and if the Democrats have their way with HR1/S1, the entire federal government.

Its starts with how the parties carve up Congressional districts through gerrymandering. Both of them draw districts that assure their party prevails. This results in the one party’s ability to lock down that district against the other’s incursion, concentration of resources on other districts not yet secured, and ultimately, the grid lock in Congress as candidates who are beholden to the party for their very existence vote in lock step with their leadership. It also secures long tenures for the incumbents as once in, they are difficult to replace.

Incumbents don’t have to spend as much to campaign. They can build up a war chest that intimidates potential opponents and once ensconced, can be used to support other candidates in their quest for more influence and potential leadership positions in the party. Campaign finance rules, written by the incumbents, are always to their benefit. Asking current office holders to draw up rules for competing for their position is like asking a batter for the kind of pitch he wants to hit. All the talk about getting money out of politics is just that, talk. Franking privileges, “junkets” that get free airtime, large staffs that pump out website information and press releases are all paid for by we taxpayers.  Despite these advantages, they still want public financing of campaigns! Who would qualify for these funds? You guessed it.  The incumbent has a distinct advantage as many require measures of “legitimacy” to qualify like a number of signatures and/or small donors. With staffs and an organization already in place, who has the advantage? Anytime an incumbent says they want campaign finance reform, read the fine print!

The rules for how Congress operate are so arcane that there needs to be a referee (the Parliamentarian) to adjudicate issues. Rules that “get in the way” are dismissed and then when helpful, tossed in the opponent’s face. Reconciliation is the latest to get a public airing.  That one party with nary a majority, can ramrod anything they want through the legislative process is scary. Add to this the talk about changing the structure of our country (more states) and courts (packing the Supreme Court) and it should give rise to question how we got to this point.

My Solution Suggestions

1. Districts should be drawn by an algorithm that has as its output a geometric shape that is formed solely on the number of registered voters, not their party affiliation.
2. All the campaign funding for that election must come from those eligible to vote for that office. No campaign funding can be carried over to another campaign. (No war chests)
3. Eliminate franking privileges, reduce size of staffs and delineate specific duties for them that are focused on citizens and not re-election.