Mark Alexander
You're a bad man. You're a very bad man!
Irreverent, independent, and often snarky partnered married gay boomer and doggie dad who is tired of moral pontification by hypocritical conservative assholes and hate filled religious bigots.
Based on some recent incidents, let me reiterate: If you are the owner of a photo that appears on this site and wish it removed, you don't need to get all legal and send threatening letters and takedown notices; just email me with the photo's URL or leave a comment on the offending post and I will gladly remove it.
In other words…
Retirement
(That's actual number of calendar days. It's a whole lot less if you remove weekends and holidays. And even less than that if you calculate the actual number of days I have to go into the office!)
By observation, most of the problems which are now prevalent in the USA are the result of things which should have been acted upon several decades ago. Climate change is ONE of them. Back then, I was a bit skeptical of these things, when the ozone hole was discovered and watched, resulting in the removal of CFCs and such from our lives. Not a lot of pain or misery. But when the year happened with several super-whamy hurricanes on two coasts, THAT should have been a big red flag, but many Republicans dismissed it as "normal". The same Republicans who desired to dismantle FEMA as "not needed, we can help our neighboring states if needed". Which sounded very good until TWO neighboring states were hit by one storm a month or so later. NY could not help NJ as they had to take care of NY first. As both states' issues stretched FEMA a bit thin, after the earlier Gulf Coast issues. THEN, FEMA became a "good thing" to have.
"Conservatives" don't like to spend money, by observation. They'll go to long lengths to justify that, too! They act like THEY are the only ones who know how to spend money, not realizing that decreasing taxes (as Trump did) is the same as effectively spending MORE money. I'd like to see Conservative legislators handle their private finances in the same way! But get a Democrat President in office, and suddenly they do everything they can to block funding for social programs which will be long-term investments in USA society and citizenry.
There are some things the Federal government needs to operate. Some things the states need to operate. Some things the local municipalities need to operate. IF federal monies do not filter down to the state and local level, THEN the difference to be made-up between intake and spending falls into the local taxpayer's lap. NO rocket science, but some seem to miss this key fact! That local legislator might not run as a member of a particular political party, but that does not keep them from following their individual/collective political orientations in what and how they do things! Which means, that Republicans on local boards are raising YOUR taxes. That Republicans on corporate boards are sending jobs overseas and raising prices (that supply and demand thing) as their corporations record massive profits and they award themselves massive contractural bonuses as the USA economy starts to "tank". As those same people already have millions of dollars, the concept of "personal sacrifice" is not on their radar screen, but it IS for their customers as that is called "financial survival" to them.
In recent years, the concept of "public-private ventures" has gained traction. Let a private non-profit help a municipality do something that needs to be done. In many cases, they seem to work nicely. But if taxes were really where they needed to be, AND spent effectively, those things might not be that necessary.
I believe that most if not all of the "Ills" our our current society started a few decades ago. They were not perceived to be as serious as they have become, back then. As the various safety nets have evaporated. Some consider them for "losers who have brought their conditions upon themselves", as a reason to not help to get these same people back into a productive status. As many now work to keep military veterans off of the homeless lists! Where were the jobs they could have had? They were shipped overseas.
I suspect that IF Mexico would raise their minimum wage to USA standards, in the factories owned by USA companies/subsidiaries, it could well end (or greatly decrease) the real need of people to come to the USA for good jobs. With the increased amount of taxes they'd pay (sales taxes) could fund an expanded law enforcement function to make Mexico a safer place to live.
I feel the USA is on a path toward FASCISM, something the USA fought world wars to stop in Europe. But that little fact might not be taught in schools, especially the private schools, anymore or seems relevant. Which could well be the reason that many citizens can't see or understand how it happens. By observation, Trump put us MANY steps closer to that happening. It SHOULD have been a very big, beautiful red flag when he wanted to be Putin's friend and buddy. But it was not even worried about, as Putin used the opportunities to "play" Trump for Putin's benefit. That is NOT "fake news", but reality.
In Putin's alleged final days, he is still playing us. I fully suspect that his War on Ukraine was timed to help make Trump look like a genius, compared to others. To reinforce the fact that Trump should have not been beaten by Biden. Putin declares war, NATO nations sanction Russia by not buying their oil. Less oil on the world market means higher prices for consumers worldwide. Higher gasoline prices hit everybody. He knows all of this. As NATO nations against his war continue to hurt themselves in order to stop the money funding his war. ALL very predictable.
The American people sacrificed a LOT during World War II, to fight fascism in Europe, for the good of all the world. A democratic world. That same level of sacrifice is not in the DNA of modern citizens, it seems. THEY are still driving faster on the Interstates. They are complaining about higher prices, than considering other choices, as most retailers want you to believe THEY are still "the low price leader" . . . as they ease-up prices.
Property taxes? That's a multi-faceted situation. Everybody wants to live in a more expensive dwelling, so they can brag about it. Then they over-pay to live in desired areas, which then becomes a transaction price for tax purposes. They all want a high level of services, so that must be expanded, too. Can't forget about roads and schools! Then the tax bill arrives. Paying taxes on what they paid, rather than its normal value in normal times. Or they flee to the country, which used to be agricultural, but is becoming "gated communities", but they are now 30 minutes farther from work. $400K house, $300K or vehicles/toys in the driveway. And THEY are complaining about the price of gasoline, as they are now consuming more of it. I suspect that these citizens are too busy "living their dreams" to worry about a little thing like "fascism", as bad as it might be. But then they didn't really worry about that when they were in school, when they were supposed to be learning about it. When I was in thsoe classes, decades ago, WW II was still "recent". I didn't really pay attention to it, but I knew it was bad and we fought a war to end it. Now, that is more "ancient history", not unlike "The Fa;ll of Rome" was back then.
Republicans have done very little to make this a better country for all. Expecially Donald J Trump! They find lots of alleged problems, even creating some in the process, but FEW real solutions to those problems and keeping them from happening again in the future. Although THEY (or Republican candidates) claim THEY are easy to fix and THEY can do it. If their observed job performance was in the private sector, they would be looking for another job, by observation. But because they come around, smile, and shake hands, promising to "fix things" and "Fight Democrats", they get re-elected. With no viable solutions of "fixes" ever produced. Trump was good at that public relations activity, but failed to produce results to help the country as a whole. His charisma and word pattern choices led many people to trust him, as others saw through him but were powerless to counter it. Many felt that people were picking on Trump, so they felt that "Give him a chance" should have been done. Well, he had plenty of chances, far too many chances to screw things up for this country. Things which he did that we will be decades in un-doing.
WE can make this country a better place than Trump ever envisioned! But Republicans using speeches to build divisiveness and fear of "others" being in charge is not the way to do it. Neither is the road to fascism they have put us on! They have sought to normalize many bad things in our society. All in the stated orientation of making the USA better. Only thing is that that "better" times they seek to regain had HIGH TAXES, RACISM, FEW FEMALE RIGHTS AS PEOPLE, and a larger Government that spent money on many social programs. According to what I heard on NPR programs 20 years ago, our USA economy flourished when federal taxes were higher, than when they were not. Where did all of that money the feds sent to the states (for education, among other things) come from if not from federal taxes.
In more recent times, we have been failing in the big balancing act of keeping the USA as the great country it still is (especially compared to others). From my continued observations, over the decades, its downfall has been mostly at the hands of those associated with "Conservative Values". Even GWBush's "Compassionate Conservatism" was better than what we now have! Although GWBush's economy was tanking as Obama was elected to replace him. Obama brought this country from the brink of depression. His economic theories worked, as Republicans first said they would fail. But when they worked and worked better than they should have, Republicans said their orientations would have worked quicker, as they slunked into the corner.
IF Republicans are really as superior as they claim to be, where were their "better solutions to healthcare" to replace the ACA? 50+ legislative proposals that they knew had no chance of going anywhere! Wasted taxpayer money! Yet they claimed to be fighting a losing fight, the way they were doing it. That was all their constituents really needed to hear to get them re-elected. Yet, in the private sector, such poor job performance would get them fired quickly.
I'm just very tired of the current politics of things! Democrats need to win, period! Legally! As Democrats offer viable and better candidates, who can be team players when need be, to help get the USA into a better place for the total good of our democracy. VOTE BLUE!