Contrary to the paranoia (and actions) of my friends on the Left, I don’t worry about President Trump (if he wins) using the power of his office to punish and seek revenge on his political opponents.  Why don’t I worry?  One big reason is that he did not seek retribution against Hillary Clinton who not only worked with Russians to create a false flag operation but she also committed numerous possible felonies while in office.  Additionally, I believe that he would rather win through being successful than by using the power of the State to go after those who for years have attempted (unsuccessfully) to bring him down.

With that in mind, the Left fails as usual to take a negative and turn it into a positive.  Instead, as usual, they take a positive and attempt to turn it into a negative in their quest for a cheap political gain.  Of course, I am referring to the recent Supreme Courts decision regarding Presidential immunity. The article linked below explains how the Court decision clearly lays out the limits of Presidential immunity.  This is extremely important as it has never been done before, but like President Washington being conscious that his every action created precedents for future Presidents, this decision provides a guiderail for future Presidents and others.  The decision stops Trump, Congress or local politicians from going after former Presidents for purely personal or political differences.

The nation now has a template which will prevent the lawfare which has become the tool of politicians of all stripes.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-donald-trump-presidency-immunity-administrative-state-joe-biden-3b7a0559?page=1

Israel today faces what is beyond a doubt, the most dangerous time since its founding. It faces escalating wars on several fronts and its closest ally, the United States is “slow walking” munitions and support that is desperately needed by the IDF. Additionally, reports state that Iran who as sworn to destroy Israel is only weeks away from creating a nuclear weapon, while Israel is viewed as a “one-bomb” state (meaning that a single nuclear weapon that hits Israel can in effect destroy the state of Israel). Given the very real threats to the nation and unless the current U.S. administration changes course and expedites munitions deliveries to Israel (ala the 1973 Nixon airlift which all but saved Israel), Israel will be forced to examine all military options. Can that include a nuclear first strike?

The linked article outlines options that Israel must review as it faces a time of “total war.”  With the scanty militaries of Western Europe looking at the threat from Russia, the U.S. must move quickly to support Israel. Unfortunately, the current U.S. administration has shown by its actions in Ukraine that it does not understand that a policy of slow support only increases the cost of war.

A Call for Emergency Mobilization in Israel (jihadwatch.org)

Charles De Gaulle once said that treaties are like young girls and roses; they last while they last. Is the special relationship between Israel and the United States as fragile as that and why for the first time since the founding of Israel is that relationship a topic for discussion in a U.S. presidential debate? Finally, how can Israel, outnumbered and besieged by a regional power who is willing to sacrifice anything to erase Israel from the face of the earth, continue to exist?

The linked article by Christopher Caldwell discusses these questions and other issues that Israel faces each day. It also provides an excellent history regarding the formation of the Israeli state and the internal stresses which must be carefully balanced for the state to continue to exist. One misstep on the part of the Israeli political or military leaders can cause terrible harm to the state of Israel and its citizens. The proof of this are the actions of previous leaders of Israel such as Golda Meir prior to the war of 1973 and Benjamin Netanyahu and the IDF prior to the attack on October 7.

With the very real possibility of a new front on the north, will the state of Israel be able to exist given the questionable support of the current U.S. administration? One gets the feeling that we were so close to achieving a real break through with the Abraham Accords but that even if the war ended today, the survival of Israel has taken a serious step in the wrong direction.

https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/is-israel-defensible

The recent conviction of former President Trump will be used during this election cycle to discredit him. Do you really want a convicted felon to be the President of the United States? Yet was the trial fair? To answer that question, ask if you would want to be a defendant in a trial and be treated in the same manner. If you say you do not know enough about the trial, please follow the link below for an analysis of the trial and the numerous grounds for a successful appeal.

Sadly, we have seen a major political polarization of our national governmental institutions under the Obama and Biden administrations. When President Obama promised to “fundamentally change” the United States, it should have been a warning to all of us. Unfortunately, few imagined that the fundamental change would be a political infection of the IRS, FBI, DOJ, and national intelligence agencies. We live in dangerous times, and we need to remember the wise words of President Reagan when he said: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”

Reversible Errors – The American Mind

If you are concerned about the value of your US citizenship,or if you are concerned about your son or daughters knowledge of the history of the US, please read the attached press release. This series based on a book by the noted historian, Victor Davis Hanson will educate and enthuse anyone who spends the time to listen. There is no charge and it makes an excellent companion if you are out walking, bicycling, etc.

If you are not a citizen of the U.S., I believe you will enjoy this free course and better understand my nation. I hope you will take the time to give it a try. Thank you.

https://www.hillsdale.edu/news-and-media/press-releases/hillsdale-college-to-launch-new-online-course-on-american-citizenship

Even though we are surrounded by scores of information sources, the sheer number is enough to make one go numb.  Factoids will be posted periodically to bring you bits of news which may or may not catch your fancy.  Most of the Factoids will be posted to bring you counter-intuitive information which may not be covered by traditional news sources; Question: why aren’t they covered?  Possibly they may go against the grain of political or cultural “acceptable” thought.  Or, perhaps because they cannot fit into the thirty-second sound bites without raising more questions than they answer.  Hopefully you will find some of them of interest!

HOW TO COMMIT SUICIDE:  Remember the $1Trillion to fund the wonderful Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)? Thanks to West Virginia Sen. Shelly Moore, we now know that the Environmental Protection Agency received $3 Billion for “environmental justice.  The Climate Justice Alliance, which is a network of nearly 90 affiliates received $50 million to support their work.  The problem is the goals of the Alliance.  Some of their goals include:

• Cutting military funding to Israel
• Shutting down Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
• The abolishment of all prisons
• Defunding the police

They will also work with a group called the NDN Collective which states in it’s manifesto that, “We shout not treat the struggles we face against Zionism, white supremacy and imperialism as separate from one another, because they act as one to oppress and eliminate us.”

Does anyone at the EPA actually like the United States or are they just too busy to check up who they give OUR money too? (WSJ, pp A14, 5/24/24)

NOT A WAY TO RUN A BUSINESS:  The EV business is not exactly a great way to build a business.  Ford has admitted that they lost $132,000 for every EV they sell.  The EPA (not them again) wants 70% of auto sales to be made up of EVs and plug-in hybrids by 2032.  Think Ford will still be around by then? (IBID)

Over the past forty years or so, the Frankfurt School has managed to infiltrate most of the key institutions of the west, specifically academia, the media (both news and entertainment), as well as many of the special interest groups (women’s, environmental, civil rights, etc.). Along the way it has managed to all but destroy any demand for self-discipline and responsibility and has offered in its place a mentality of victimhood and persecution. Who is to blame for the woes of the world? One group in particular, the white male.

The articles linked below begin to point out some of the fallacies of such thinking. They also point out the downside risk by looking at examples in the history of such a race-based ideology. In effect, such shallow thinking only leads to a never-ending cycle of new victims and new boogiemen.

Expropriation: The End Game of Anti-Whiteness – The American Mind

As Whites Go, So Goes the Nation – The American Mind

During the Covid pandemic, we often heard the chant, “follow the science!”  Unfortunately, there was very little real science to follow, and it was a time for political demagoguery, scientific intolerance and power abuse of our fundamental rights.  We all face another threat to our individual freedoms with the liberal legalization of marijuana by cities and states on a daily basis. Unfortunately, no one is chanting “follow the science” when actual science is available.

The article linked below provides information that has been known for years but which is being ignored by our elected officials and bad actors in their rush to legalize marijuana. Why is that?  Although the reasons are not spelled out, another chant comes to mind; “follow the money”.  It is no secret that governments in their never-ending quest for new sources of tax revenue have a vested interest in legalizing marijuana.  Indeed, politicians proudly forecast a wonderful new revenue stream coming from marijuana regardless of proven harm done to users, especially young users.

So, the politicians get their tax windfall and society gets increased schizophrenia, chronic psychosis, anti-social behavior, and other wonderful side effects. Do the politicians require today’s stronger marijuana to carry black-box warnings of the dangers involved by use? Of course, not as that just might impact sales and thus tax revenues. Gone are the idyllic days when we believed the government was there to protect us from the bad players of the world.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-you-arent-reading-about-marijuana-permanent-brain-damage-biden-schedule-iii-9660395e?page=1

Even though we are surrounded by scores of information sources, the sheer number is enough to make one go numb.  Factoids will be posted periodically to bring you bits of news which may or may not catch your fancy.  Most of the Factoids will be posted to bring you counter-intuitive information which may not be covered by traditional news sources; Question: why aren’t they covered?  Possibly they may go against the grain of political or cultural “acceptable” thought.  Or, perhaps because they cannot fit into the thirty-second sound bites without raising more questions than they answer.  Hopefully you will find some of them of interest!

1.  Definition: The trade-to-GDP ratio is an indicator of the relative importance of international trade in the economy of a country. It is calculated by dividing the aggregate value of imports and exports over a period by the gross domestic product for the same period. Although called a ratio, it is usually expressed as a percentage. Definition source: Wikipedia

The US’s trade-to-GPR is only 25%.  Other nations have a larger ratio, such as China, Russia and Japan which vary from 38 to 47%.  Western Europe is in worse condition with France and the U.K. at about 70% and Germany is at 100%. (FT, 2/17-18, pp18)

What does that mean?  The smaller the percentage, the less a nation is dependent on foreign trade; the old dream of national autarky (a policy of national self-sufficiency and non-reliance on imports or economic aid) could be realized. The downside of autarky is a smaller economy but a smaller percentage means that a nation has more leverage over trading partners, and they are less likely to give into a weaker nation demands. Since WWII, the U.S. has built numerous institutions (the U.N., NATO, the IMF, etc.) which has been more of a benefit to other nations than to the U.S.. Given the frictions in the world today, it is clear that our allies need the U.S. much more than we need them and that is a power that the U.S. will continue to wield as long as the U.S. is seen as a stable shelter for capital and investments.  Politicalization of national institutions, such as the FBI, CIA, DOJ is a threat to the perception of a stable national order.

• Government “Improper Payments”:  According to the GAO (3/26/2024), for FY 2023 the federal government made an estimated $236,000,000,000 (billion) in “improper payments”.  They roughly break out in the following manner:
  • 74% or $175 billion to deceased individuals or those who no longer qualify for government programs.
  • $11.5 billion were underpayments.
  • $44.6 billion were unknown payments, meaning the government has no idea is the payment was in error or not.
  • $4.6 billion where a recipient was entitled but the incorrect statute or regulation was used.

Do you want the good news or the bad news?

• The good news is that this figure is about $11 billion less than the prior year.
• The bad news is that over the past 20 years, the government has made about $2.7 trillion in such improper payments.

About 79% ($186 billion) was concentrated in five program areas: Medicare, Medicaid, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, the Earned Income Tax Credit and Paycheck Protection Program.  It is not clear how many billions went to federal prisoners, foreign individuals, foreign corporations, etc.

The federal government is seeking to hire tens of thousands of individuals for the IRS; perhaps we would all be better off of instead of focusing on U.S. taxpayers, those agents focus on the individuals/corporations/etc. who scammed us and on tightening up the sloppy bookkeeping and management at the various federal agencies.  When the employees are unionized, protected by civil service and contribute to the politicians who control the budgets of the agencies, don’t be surprised that this type of sloppy work is allowed to continue.

As Illinois Everett Dirksen of the U.S. Senate use to say: “A billion here, a billion there and soon you are talking about real money”.

Winston Churchill once said, “Never was so much owed by so many to so few.”  Those were dangerous times. Our times are also dangerous, so to paraphrase Churchill, perhaps we should say, “Never have so many had to accommodate so few.” 

The attached link will take you to an excellent article about, yes, J.K. Rowlings takedown of Scotland’s Hate Crime & Public Order Act, but will examine the shallow thinking behind the act, the sloppy lawmaking, and the driving forces behind a heinous law. If you have any interest in preserving our Constitutional right to free speech, read on and see how those who set themselves over the rest of society and the common values work to overturn your individual rights.

Queen of the Gender Crits (quillette.com)