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Hey,
Jude.
Don't make it
bad
Take
a
sad
song --
and make it better....Remember --
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And now, in appreciation of the past year
and
anticipation of the next:
Type in
Hey Jude
..."Hey Jude YouTube" will appear underneath -- click on that and join a Beatles live performance...
-30-
"The economy is like a car. Government spending is the accelerator. Taxes are the brakes. To keep going or speed up, press the accelerator. To slow down, ease off the accelerator or press the brakes. Driving too fast could lead to hyper-inflation, but that never happened here because the country always slowed down in time."
[excerpt from website: Naked Capitalism]
date of post: Feb. 4, 2016
author of the post: Yves Smith
post title: "Explaining Why Federal Deficits Are Needed"
___________________________________
Thinking about trying to learn a little about economics, I searched for something I could understand and found the above paragraph.
Comments begin, after the post: typers supporting, adding-to, and/or bitching-about what was written....
One said, "...but this article ignores many relevant issues, and dumbs down the entire scenario."
"Dumbs-down" - ?! (Zat-why I could understand it...?)
-30-
"The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope."
~~ John Buchan
"Every man at the bottom of his heart believes that he is a born detective."
~~ John Buchan
____________________
One of President John F. Kennedy's favorite books was a memoir written by John Buchan.
Buchan (1875 - 1940) was a Scottish novelist, historian, and Unionist politician.
The memoir JFK loved (he gave copies to his friends and loved ones, including Jacqueline Bouvier when they were dating) was originally published as Memory Hold-the-door; it was published in the United States with the title, Pilgrim's Way.
[excerpt 1] ------------- This book is a journal of certain experiences, not written in the experiencing moment, but rebuilt out of memory. As we age, the mystery of Time more and more dominates the mind.
We live less in the present, which no longer has the solidity that it had in youth; less in the future, for the future every day narrows its span.
The abiding things lie in the past, and the mind busies itself with what Henry James has called "the irresistible reconstruction, to the all too baffled vision, of irrevocable presences and aspects, the conscious, shining, mocking void, sad somehow with excess of serenity."
Such a research is not a mere catalogue of memories. I have no new theory of Time to propound, but I would declare my belief that it preserves and quickens rather than destroys. An experience, especially in youth, is quickly overlaid by others, and is not at the moment fully comprehended.
But it is overlaid, not lost. Time hurries it from us, but also keeps it in store, and it can later be recaptured and amplified by memory, so that at leisure we can interpret its meaning and enjoy its savour.
These chapters are so brazenly egotistic that my first intention was to have them privately printed. But I reflected that a diary of a pilgrimage, a record of the effect upon one mind of the mutations of life, might interest others who travel a like road.
It is not a book of reminiscences in the ordinary sense, for my purpose has been to record only a few selected experiences....
[excerpt 2] -------------- CHAPTER I -- WOOD, WATER AND HILL
...Under their tuition I learned to carve ship models for myself, and became learned in the matter of sails and rigging and types of vessels. But my interest was less in seamanship than in the unknown lands which could be reached by ships.
I became aware of the largeness of the globe.
At the time I collected foreign stamps, and to this day the smell of gum, with which I plastered them in an album, brings back to me that spacious awakening.
The woods were, on the whole, a solemn place, canopied by Calvinistic heavens. Their world was an arena of pilgrimage, romantic, exciting, mysterious, but governed by an inexorable law.
The sea also invited to pilgrimage, but how different! It offered a world sunlit and infinitely varied. All the things which fascinated me in books -- tropic islands, forests of strange fruits, snow mountains, ports thronged with queer shipping and foreign faces -- lay somewhere beyond the waters in which I swam with indifferent skill.
I never attempted to harmonise the two worlds -- I never wanted to. But that summer shore was a wholesome emancipation. It seemed to slacken the bonds of destiny and enlarge the horizon.
-30-
As the U.S. Congress has been putting together (throwing together?) a tax bill -- Republicans for it; Democrats against -- it's a little hard to see clearly if, overall, the bill is good or bad.
A Republican person (a former state legislator) told me the companies that took jobs out of the U.S. and put them in other countries, are now going to bring those jobs back here and hire Americans.
That sounds like pie-in-the-sky. But I don't know. Maybe not so much "pie," as "armchair-speculation."
Armchair speculation from non-Republicans airs the theory that repubs are cutting taxes so that government will have less income, then they can say, "hey the government's broke now, so we gotta -- shall we say -- 'liberate' the Social Security money you have been paying into since you started working the summer after sophomore year of high school.
I told my Republican adviser, I just don't want America to become like a third world country where people are starving to death in the streets.
He said, "Oh, that won't happen."
I was thinking today, that's the same kind of answer my father would have given, to a question like that. But do they give that answer because they've seriously analyzed the issues and the politics from all angles, considering a multitude of influences and agendas? Or do they give the "Oh that won't happen" answer because --
a) They cannot imagine a horrific future in America because it didn't materialize during their lifetime,
b) Because they want their answer to be true, or
c) Because they don't want me to be fearful, or to "fret," as my dad would say....
Earlier this week I was thinking, re --
~~ Getting nuked by North Korea, and
~~ Commentators who say the wealthiest people want to take all the money,
to the detriment of working people
...it's like a cloud Of Existential Dread hovering nearby.
If it was hovering over me, that would be worse; it's nearby, so I don't walk by it; I cross the street and walk over there instead....
____________________________
Two things I've been taught by this recent tax-cut-bill-commentary:
1) I can really see why so many Americans will say, if politics or even current events, is mentioned, "I have nothing to do with politics, I don't pay any attention to those guys...." I can totally see it. Or -- maybe not totally -- but I can see it much more clearly than I used to be able to see it.
(I can see clearly now, the rain is gone...I can see all obstacles in my way...gone are the dark clouds...)
[If only those dark clouds that are "gone" would have taken their friend, the Cloud-Of-Existential-Dread, with them....]
And, 2) I am beyond done listening to any politician, or any partisan commentator, whining/ranting,
"The government's broke!"
Obviously, that phrase is just attention-getting drama; our government can forego more than One Trillion dollars of the income it receives from taxes -- clearly, we are not "broke."
___________________________
CNN - Money put up a thing on the Internet, headlined,
"34 things you need to know about the incoming tax law"
by Julia Horowitz.
It seems to have some useful information. The 34 items are brief, and to the point: understandable and clear.
-30-
According to what I've read, the tax reform bill currently in progress in the U.S. Congress gives tax "breaks" (lower taxes) to middle class workers, but then these breaks go away in a few years. The tax-lowering on 1% wealthiest and on corporations are "permanent."
...Which is a problem many observers have with this bill. (One thing, I always think is: nothing is "permanent" -- a future Congress can change whatever this one did. I think they "bandy-about" the word permanent. That is how it looks, to me -- maybe I'm wrong....)
NYT Reader Comments:
RobEnders
Greater Boston
How sad that such an important piece of legislation should be written in the dark with only lobbyists and one Party having any input.
From what we hear about its scribbled contents, its permanent effects will be to add more costs and risks to the middle class -- with the ultimate goal of undermining Medicare and Social Security (because after the tax bill's give-aways, those social programs will be deemed "unaffordable").
I fervently hope there are a few decent Republicans left who will shoot this abomination down.
Port Jefferson, NY
...We should be raising the income tax rates on the highest incomes and most prosperous corporations.
If corporations claim they can't be competitive at the current rates, then how are they managing to make so much money?
Why not have a progressive corporate rate to help smaller businesses, or bigger ones that aren't currently making much money? The proposed tax plan seems to do almost everything the exact opposite of what is logical.
Philip S. Wenz
Corvallis, Oregon
How is a college tuition break "income," and therefore taxable, but an inheritance not income, and therefore not taxable?
[Blog addition: That does seem upside-down....)
Marie
Boston
Two great American dreams - a better education and home ownership - are directly targeted by the Republicans. Why?
What happened to the American goal of home ownership as a conservative value?
...The Republicans have sold out a large swath of their own supporters and most of the workers of the country.
-30-
"This tax bill amounts to backing the car over the already wounded middle class you just spent 35 years running down. It is stealing from future generations to give trillions to the already advantaged. Kill it, and bury the remains on unconsecrated ground."
Reader Comment from Duncan in Los Angeles.
NYT story headlined 'Republican Tax Bill in Final Sprint Across Finish Line.'
-----------------------
-30-
If Americans -- and perhaps humans in general -- must have a "common enemy" to work against, since we no longer have the Soviet Union
or, let's face it, China, then let our Common Enemy be -- The Big Four:
Meanness
Lack of substantial information
Pollution
Natural disasters
How about that? I think that could work.
________________________________
Current weird sex-harassment Peppering-Of-News-Stories:
Garrison Keillor??
Some "coast-y" commentator (west- or east-coast based) said getting fired by Minnesota Public Radio is like having your library card revoked....
Matt Lauer.
Very familiar name, to me, but I don't think I've ever seen his show.
Watched a video on You Tube of him walking -- I thought he was a shorter person; but then read that he is 5-foot 11. I guess when I watch someone on a stage, or in a video, I cannot tell how tall they are, for some reason.
Reader Comments, The Washington Post
~ I was feeling sympathetic for Mr Lauer, then I recalled the severely mean interview he gave Mrs Clinton while she was running and his very soft ball interview with Mr Trump. Corporate hack, that's what he was.
~ A very well compensated corporate hack.
(Many Commenters even more offended by Lauer's annual $25 million salary, for reading from a teleprompter and chit-chatting, than by the other stuff....)
M. Siegel
~ He should have been fired years ago for being terrible at his job.
~ The junk food news story of the day. Yes, I admit I like junk food like everyone else. Meanwhile back to the broccoli...I mean the massively unfair tax cut slithering its way through the senate.
Not him
~ It's been an open secret for years that Matt Lauer is a terrible person.
----------------------
Then there's the Commenter who tries to explain workplace harassment in terms some men can maybe more easily understand:
~ OK guys, indulge me here a moment:
Imagine your boss comes up to you with a smile and handshake that suddenly turns into a nasty look and a fist in your face.
He mutters so only you can hear that he hates you and is planning on beating the tar out of you.
You think it may have been a weird joke so you ignore it, even though it makes you feel very confused and disturbed.
But he continues to come up to you and "pats you on the back," AKA slaps you hard, and continues making threats under his breath. How would that make you feel? Could you get your work done? Would you want out of that situation? Would you tell anyone, or worry people would not believe you, or think you are exaggerating?
(the Phone Solution)
~ I'd laugh. Then I'd make it a point to keep my phone by me and every time he came around, I'd hit the record button.
pause2reflect
~ I'd put him on the floor, maybe bust his nose. But not mess with his career. At least, not unless that didn't resolve the matter once and for all. That's me, though. I have one of those awful Y chromosomes. Men and women are different.
~ Sure, what's a little felony assault between coworkers?
~ You'd be fired and arrested.
(back to Matt Lauer)
Oran Oran
~ Money doesn't buy class.
Chris K
~ He no look so good.
-30-
"Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."
~~ Martin Luther King Jr.
"I think it's important that we choose kindness and compassion."
~~ Melania Trump
____________________________
When I think about sexual harassment, I usually think of it as part of a broader spectrum of behaviors that can be stashed under one big umbrella labeled "Bullying."
Bullying is a big problem in America right now -- sex harassment is only one form of it -- there are many issues which need to be addressed.
It appears to me that the wave of bullying began in the early 1990s after the Soviet Union collapsed. The Soviet Union had been Americans' "common enemy" since 1945; with the loss of our common enemy, we started attacking each other, instead, and it has become worse every year since.
I don't make this statement because I "like" it -- I do not like it. I say it because that is what seems to be observable reality, not everywhere, fortunately, but in many places and situations.
No, greed is not "good."
No, being an asshole is not a compliment.
No, the purpose of going to work is not to attack people you work with.
-------------------------
Today's New York Times printed an Al Franken story; Reader Comments were energetic....
Urbana, Illinois
kagni
~ I think he should be allowed to defend himself in the Ethics Committee, not be judged by a mob.
Massachusetts
tellmewhenitsover
~ Democrats bring kale to a gun fight.
News next week: Roy Moore elected to Senate.
And this is what justice looks like? Not to me. Not only will Republicans get their bigoted senator from Alabama, but they got to take out one of their staunchest critics at the same time. Don't worry. Democrats, you can enjoy the view from the absolutist moral high ground and watch the world burn from there.
I hope idealism keeps us all warm in years to come when Social Security is gone and Medicaid a distant experiment of a bygone generation. Democrats need lions, not sacrificial lambs.
Charleston, West Virginia
Didier
~ Senator Franken is paying the moral debt of Roy Moore. One can only hope that the arc of history bends toward justice and Donald Trump and Roy Moore get what they so richly deserve.
NYC
Brad
~ Due process! Due process! Due process!
Chicago
Bruce
~ John Conyers resigned.
Al Franken resigned.
Roy Moore needs to resign.
Donald Trump needs to resign.
NYC
Susan
~ If Sen. Franken resigns I will never vote for a Democrat again. These sanctimonious grand-standing politicians need to let the ethics committee do their job.
Wichita, Kansas
Edward
~ When Roy Moore and Donald Trump step down, there can be a discussion. Otherwise, as the Republicans say, "Let the voters decide."
Philadelphia
Jared
~ How about Franken steps down when Republicans make Roy Moore drop out of the senate race?
Florida
ECWB
~ This is a case of the perfect being the enemy of the good.
Pennsylvnaia
Ann
~ Democrats seriously need to stop throwing their own under the bus as the Republicans staunchly defend their most egregious predators. Franken should resign only if Donald J Trump is called upon by his party to resign and acts on that demand.
San Angeles
~ I fear we are making terrible mistakes in this process.
Seaside
Ricky
~ ...Franken on his worst day is 1,000 times better than any republicon.
New York
Talbot
~ I'll stay a liberal but I am no longer a Democrat.
I want no part of a group that would do something like this. They do not speak for me.
Germany
Antje
~ Senator Gillibrand has just lost my vote. I am so angry!
USA
UFCFAN
~ I don't get this. Sen. Franken was sent to Congress by his constituents and unless he committed a crime that prevents him from fulfilling his duties, it should be his constituents that decide whether or not to have him continue to represent them, not his peers in Congress.
Stevensville, Maryland
Forrest Chisman
~ This is a shameful moment for the Democratic Party. If any members of the lynch mob who drove out Franken ever run for President, they won't have my vote, and the DNC can stop sending me fundraising messages.
I've been a lifelong Democrat and Democratic activist, but I no longer want to be associated with Gillibrand and others who lack common sense and common decency.
Florida
Nomad
~ We can now expect a flood of republicans to call for Trump and Blake Farenthold to resign, yes?
NYC
Incredulosity
~ Congratulations, Democratic Party. You just got played by Roger Stone. Trump's not going to resign, why should Franken?
Virginia
AR
~ The United States Senate: Al Franken out this week, Roy Moore probably in next week. World's greatest deliberative body? Please. The U.S. is going down the tubes in an awful hurry....
Psst
overhere
~ I wish the Dems were as vocal on the allegations against trump, the Tax Fiasco, the Dream Act, dismantling of consumer protections, a lack of an infrastructure plan......
Charlotte
PaulB67
~ This is a one-sided witch hunt....The GOP is laughing.
Kansas City, Missouri
Bruce Rozenblit
~ I never was a big fan of Al Franken. However, he just showed ten times more class and integrity in his resignation speech than Trump ever has. I hope he runs for President against Trump. At least Franken feels bad about what he has done. Trump is proud of himself.
Redwood City
Sha
~ Such injustice, it's a sad day.
San Francisco, California
Petra Meyer
~ This is why Democrats lose so many elections that they should have won - Democratic politicians listen to the party elites and each other...
Europe
Stellan
~ I've read the accusations against Franken carefully and my conclusion is that to a lot of ambitious Democrats he was a little too popular and too effective a Senator.
I hope he runs for President regardless.
NYC
May MacGregor
~ I will never vote for Gillibrand and encourage people not to vote for this self righteous showboat!
Brooklyn
Stuart Freeman
~ Compare the way in which the Democrats have treated Franken's indiscretions with the manner in which Republicans have handled Roy Moore's (let alone Donald Trump's).
Those who continue to maintain that there's no meaningful difference between our two main political parties are obviously not paying attention.
Chicago
Anglican
~ Franken is now free to run for President. I'd vote for him.
Wyoming
Robert
~ So, in the Democratic view, all misdeeds should have the same consequences. Shop lifting and murder deserve the same punishment. Likewise juvenile pranks and child molestation.
What world do these people live in?
It seems to me that as long as they hold these views we are doomed to be governed by a party that will allow their representatives to do and say anything that will advance the agenda of the rich and ruthless.
Seattle
Mary
~ Something very disturbing about Senate Democrats rushing to turn on Senator Franken. I'm quite upset about this.
Minnesota
AW
~ I think Gillibrand is a shill for the Republican Party. She needs to resign or be voted out.
New York
Talbot
~ Where's the NYT critical analysis of all this? Due process, let the voters decide, a stupid picture is not assault, etc.?
Instead we get a couple of "you go girl!" articles, with Gillibrand posing with Clinton and speculations about her running for president.
Why are the readers more analytical and skeptical than the supposedly objective reporters and editors at the NYT?
-30-
