Though I hate to admit it, My father would have liked Donald Trump. Not for his politics – as my father’s view was that even an idiot can get things right occasionally just like a broken clock is correct twice a day. But Trump’s ability to tell a lie like he actually believes it AND even better tell a lie he knows is false would have appealed. Trump would have fit in with my father’s mantra “don’t let the truth stand in the way of a good story”. He would have agreed whole hartedly with the “shit hole countires” statement because Yes many countries ARE indeed “shit hole countries”.

Basically, my father was always fascinated by people with “no moral compass” as the latitude that gave to do what was necessary is a distinct advantage.  Remember, my father once complained that “the USA did not overthrow enough governments.” He was also of the view that one cant get angry when an animal, germ or whatever does what is in its nature to do. You cant get angry at a Tiger who attacks you and eats you. Its in it’s DNA and its not it’s fault any more than a Diphtheria germ that gets you sick. Don’t get angry – just figure a way to beat it or avoid it.

My father was was at first a big believer in FDR but over the years gravated to old school Republican ideals.  Strong defense, low taxes, etc. I don’t think he would have understood the Trump Putin connection nor the North Korea stunt – both pretty naive and stupid. He would also have been sick to see the evangelical religious types take over of the Republican party. How could a party of what he would call “common sense” go for shit like that? And Qanon?  well that would top it off.  The Republican party of today and what ever “Trumpism” is would have him thinking the monkeys have taken over the zoo.

Watching TV so much as many are doing these days – not just Trump – I realize that what I saw yesterday several times is the real issue of the election.  Forget the virus, foreign policy, health care, protests, China, jobs, and all the other talking points of either side. When Trump supporters say: ” if Trump wins then the election was fair. If he looses then it is was fraudulent.”  That means the real issue is democracy itself. When it is said by men armed with assault weapons it is downright scary. That is why so many say Trump is “dangerous”.  If for that reason only Trump has to go. 4 years from now will be too late. If the USA descends into “my way or the highway” then we are all fucked. Republican AND Democrat.

Politicians in favor of Universal Health Care have stated that if your taxes go up to pay for the health care are less than the cost one is paying for insurance (and one no longer needs to pay those high insurance rates) then the net effect is a decrease in an individual’s annual expenses. In other words: one hand gives – the other hand takes away. The question politically is: is there a difference in cost to the individual?

Trump has done the same thing regarding taxes.  He has lowered tax rates (though it is argued most of the benefits go to the rich) BUT at the same time he has levied tariffs on goods imported into the US.  Those tariffs are paid by the US consumer so in effect are a new tax.  Trump says over and over that those tariffs are paid by China or whoever but that is not what tariffs are.   The exporter does not pay, the importer (ie US companies and consumers) pay.  So tariffs are a tax in the US.

 As far as the government is concerned it does not matter if one lowers income tax and the reduction in revenue is offset by income from tariffs. The net effect is the same. Meanwhile, no matter who gets elected there will be no option but to raise taxes AND keep the tariffs. The government needs to find a way to recoup the huge payments re the virus which has ballooned the debt to levels never before imagined. There is also one other cost issue that is rarely mentioned.  Sure, eliminating and lowering regulation standards today will help make profits easier to make, and should result in more jobs today BUT might (and some say for sure) increase the costs of dealing with environmental impact in the future.  Fires, Hurricanes, Tornados, sea level rise all will cost huge amounts to deal with.  All are costs that are born by government so funding for the damage repair, prevention and the like has to come from somewhere. Clean air, water etc. are also issues that cost money to solve. So one hand decreasing todays costs will mean the other hand paying the costs in the future. The likelihood is that the future costs will dramatically outweigh the benefits of today.

For me, the biggest danger of the Donald Trump era is whatever benefit one can say we gain today; and there are some; seeds are planted that will lead to a world we don’t want to see tomorrow. Unfortunately Trump looks for “wins” today so he can look good TODAY. Tomorrow is not his problem. But it will be ours.

I was just listening to Samuel Rodriguez on the Amanpour & Co. TV program and once again the word “socialism” was used by a person who has no idea what the word means. To Mr. Rodriguez he imagines “Socialism” is what happens in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua which may be socialism in name but are better described as dictatorships or communist and no mention of Norway, Germany, Holland, France, or the so many advanced countries that apply the same “socialist” principles that some to the left of the Democratic Party espouse. He claims that because he is “Latino” he knows the meaning of socialism – which he does not.

The problem is, for those of us who are educated to the meaning of words, and political philosophies people like Samuel Rodriguez may mean well and really believe what they are saying but in reality what we see is a sign on their forehead that reads “I am an uneducated fool and don’t know what I am talking about”. The fact that this guy is in the position to influence others makes his lack of knowledge disturbing and in fact down right dangerous.