Falling Off the Wagon Again

It took me years to quit smoking.  I can't tell you how many times I fell off the wagon.  But that struggle was nothing compared to my recent effort to refrain from Trump-bashing and pursue a more productive path. 

Mr. Trump likes to talk about how great the economy is.  He likes also to tout using tariffs as a cudgel in foreign policy.  Take Mexico, for instance.  Mr. Trump has studiously denied that tariffs against our neighbor to the South will cause any economic hardship to Americans.  Here's the reality.  Should Mexico agree to anything like the tariffs the Administration suggests, the costs to us as consumers of any and all the goods imported from Mexico will go up steadily.  The only thing that remains in question is, by how much?

Couple that fact with another - that new jobs, and increases in pay rates for all jobs, were far lower in May than had been predicted.  Conclusion?  Not only will folks have trouble making more $$, they won't be able to afford things that, till now, they took for granted.

So, in keeping with my struggle as outlined in the first paragraph, let's do something more than curse.  .  Email your Representative, your Senator, and even the White House.  Tell them how strongly you object to using American consumers as pawns in a benighted foreign policy.

Spike Lee Would Approve

The Fort Worth, Texas school board has emulated some of  Lee's film Do the Right Thing, .

A teacher who engaged in a Twitter rant to the Trump Administration, in hopes of seeing undocumented students deported, was fired.

Like I said a couple of days ago, if not us, who?

If Not Us, Who?

There is no demographic, economic, ethical, political, religious, social, or spiritual paradigm that can shield a society from the actions or inactions of its component individuals.  Each of us is part of the world, and has an effect on it, every bit as much as it has one on us.

If not us, who?  If not now, when?  Join me in a pledge to take positive, progressive actions.  Trashing and trolling are easy, but utterly unproductive.

Bud'te Spokoini

One of my bubbas would tell me that, when she wanted me to be quiet and to think about what Id just said.  Would that Donald Trump could be given similar advice, and accept it.

I'm not reneging on my promise - to offer positive alternatives rather than to take the (very easy) path of bashing this administration.  But the man is out-and-out dangerous.  In preparation for his upcoming trip to the United Kingdom (where he's not exactly at the top of the popularity polls), Mr. Trump has breached just about every point of diplomatic etiquette there is.

Not exactly a way to win friends and influence people, especially people whom one might want to keep as allies and partners.