The good, the bad and the ugly of April 1st

"Now it is April 2nd - Liberation Day. What does that mean? Democrats hate the fact Trump is going to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries who tariff us. Is there outrage for the countries who tariff us? Heck no! But when we do it? Oh, how the Democrats would love to impeach Trump for the third time!"

Yesterday was a big day for politics. Why? Was it a general election? Nope. An off-year election? Nope. But for some reason, April Fool's Day was picked to be the day of a special election. As people are struggling with getting their taxes done, living through the odd season of "sprinter" (spring and winter combined), and trying to enjoy the opening of the MLB season - some were also asked to vote for some very important people and/or issues. How did that turn out?

THE GOOD - Two seats in Florida were up for a special election yesterday. The money came (once again) pouring into Florida. Florida may be a safe "red" state under Governor DeSantis, but the Democrats did not care. They wanted to put a couple of arrows in the heart of the Republican Party. To pick up these two seats, could have really changed the equation in Washington. Pulled the tracks up from the Trump Train. But alas and alack for the Democrats - all that money was not enough. The Republicans took both seats by big margins. Now Speaker Johnson can breathe a bit easier.

One of the votes in Wisconsin was to enshrine Voter ID into the state constitution. That was a huge win for fair elections. Even though Democrats hate Voter ID (please don't ask me why), this was a huge victory for the people who love fair elections.

THE BAD - Wisconsin also had a vote for a state supreme court justice yesterday. At one time, justices and judges were supposed to be non-political. That ship has left our shores years ago. Today, we don't ever pretend that judges and justices are neutral. The person who the Democrats backed for this position is a hard-core leftist. The person the Republican backed was not. The leftie won by a large margin, and there goes a neutral court for the Badgers. Too bad, so sad.

THE UGLY - Now that Wisconsin has a Democrat style Supreme Court, what does that mean? It means if the Democrats want to redistrict the state and thereby "tilt the board" in their favor, there are no roadblocks stopping them. Even though everybody knew that before the vote, everybody knew that when Soros corrupt money came flooding into Wisconsin - the minions did not care. Not a bit. Why? Many in that state still think they are "Prairie Populists". In reality however, many in Wisconsin are like the voters in Minnesota. They vote like idiots.

There was April Fool's Day at a glance. Sorry, no jokes here - all is true. Now it is April 2nd - Liberation Day. What does that mean? Democrats hate the fact Trump is going to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries who tariff us. Is there outrage for the countries who tariff us? Heck no! But when we do it? Oh, how the Democrats would love to impeach Trump for the third time! Why? To repeat - those who vote for Democrats vote like idiots. 

    

The real St. Paul exposed

"What is the real St. Paul like these days? Kind of like what the real Minneapolis is like today. As bad as these cities are, the disillusioned minions who live there, keep voting Democrat, hoping things will get better. But they never do. Democrats have ruined both cities by trying to make them into a faux utopia. What they really ended up with is a dystopia." 

My last trip around the block (last employer) was the Ecolab company when it was located in St. Paul. It was a great job, and I enjoyed it. But getting there and back was rough. Many days, it took me almost two hours to get there and two hours home. Four hours out of a day is a lot to ask, just in commute time. But that being put aside, it was a great job.

My job was close to the Aliance Bank building. I would walk over there and have lunch in the cafeteria. It was always busy and lots of hustle and bustle around the noontime. But that was just over 15 years ago. Last night on the news, was an article about the Aliance Bank building getting ready to shut down. What? Why? Seems most of their tenants are leaving. Is there a structural problem with the building? Nope. There is a structural problem with the crime in St. Paul.

Both of the Twin Cities have the same problem right now. Neither city offers a good environment to work in. Some may blame the aftereffects of Covid, and that is fine. But the real problem is crime. The aftermath of the Floyd riots. The neutering of the city police by liberal and clueless Mayors and City Councils. What is left of both Minneapolis and St. Paul? Cities which are becoming more and more "hollowed out". Did I mention that both city governments are almost 100% Democrat?

If you are one of the remaining folks who work in downtown, just finding a place to go for lunch is getting to be more of a challenge. Finding good and safe mass transit getting to and from is also becoming harder. The excitement, the pizzaz of working in a large metropolitan area - those days might be over. Now it is like a war zone. A poverty zone. Not a safe zone. I have not talked to anybody for a long, long time who likes going into St. Paul or Minneapolis. For anything.

What is the real St. Paul like these days? Kind of like what the real Minneapolis is like today. As bad as these cities are, the disillusioned minions who live there, keep voting Democrat, hoping things will get better. But they never do. Democrats have ruined both cities by trying to make them into a faux utopia. What they really ended up with is a dystopia. 

The great tariff balancing act

"The bottom line with both Mexico and Canada is simply this. Life will go on, we will again be friends and neighbors, and nobody is going to be absorbed by anybody. We will however, live on a more level playground. 

I am going to go out on a limb and say something unkind about the Trump administration. And it has to do with tariffs. Tariffs are not new to us - we have seen them for years. But this new round of tariffs, starting on Wednesday, could shock our economic system - until they work. Are they going to be bad? Hopefully, not. But here is where I think the Trump team needs a "do better". Explaining more in detail "the why" we are doing this. 

Are we adjusting our tariffs on Canada and Mexico to get their attention on illegal immigration and the flow of fentanyl over our borders? I think yes - do a degree. But more than that, we have a huge imbalance of trade between our two neighbors - Mexico and Canada. Some of the tariffs that Canada has put on our dairy products has shut us out of the Canadian market. Is that fair? I thought Trump's solution had merit - reciprocal tariffs. Whatever we get charged, we also charge them. Period. If that is not fair, somebody smart needs to explain that to me.

If tariffs will lead to more onshoring of our products, I really understand that. Globalism has hurt us from a national security standpoint. We found that out in spades during the Covid shutdown. Trump found out also, that many of our meds are made offshore. Many by unfriendly countries. In addition, much of our manufacturing is done offshore. We have become assemblers, not manufacturers. The Trump team wants this fixed and fixed soon.

Here however, is the "bump" in the road. Some of our offshored manufactured items are made at slave labor wages - like $3/hour. When we bring them back onshore and build them with union labor, we might be paying $30/hour to build the same item. The plus up, is getting good paying labor jobs back in the USA. The downside will be paying more for some items which will be made here again. Trump wants anything made here to pay zero tariffs. Things which continue to be made overseas, will pay high tariffs. This - is the great tariff balancing act. 

In the meanwhile, we seem to be having a spat with Canada over how things are changing. The fact of the matter is, we have been playing "big brother" with Canada for some time now. Or as some call it, Canada's "Sugar Daddy". Why is that? Canada is inches away from pure socialism, and it is not working well for them. That is why Trump has teased them about becoming our 51st state. Life would be better for Canada as part of the USA. With Trump, that was tongue in cheek. With Canada, them were fighting words!

The bottom line with both Mexico and Canada is simply this. Life will go on, we will again be friends and neighbors, and nobody is going to be absorbed by anybody. We will however, live on a more level playground. Everybody is going to have to adjust to that. We are not out to screw anybody (especially our neighbors), nor do we want to be screwed. This is the new reality. We all need to get used to it.  

No going back now...

"By 2035, humanoid bots will be everywhere. In the factories, in the military, in education, in the fields, and in the homes. What does this mean? As one futurist put it, we are coming to end of the age of work as we know it. Will that be a good thing or a bad thing? Stay tuned. We are on this road, and there is no going back now."     

Just when you think you have had a chance to catch your breath, you hear about something else which could be changing sooner rather than later. I recently learned about a man who is helping to make AI humanoid bots for the military. Before you start having nightmares about Android soldiers carrying 50 caliber machine guns shooting the place up - relax. These bots are to take care of things that are done in a non-combat setting. At least, that is what the plan is for in the beginning.

This is progress. This is the road we are on. AI in everything. I ask my wife yesterday after a news story came on the radio about AI, if she was tired of hearing about AI. Immediately, she said "YES"! I then (gently) told her to get used to it, as we have really just started down this road. AI in everything will be as common as plastic in most things. AI is here, and there is no going back now.

AI is going to be part of our military just like MREs are today. And it is not just us who are looking to infuse AI in as many things as possible. Here is the part which is really insane about where AI is going. Now that quantum computing is off and running, AI and quantum computing will go together like peanut butter and jelly. Both right now are "tiger by the tail" technologies. What is meant by that? There are a whole lot of "ifs" and "maybes" as we continue to develop both of these new technologies. Danger? Maybe. Opportunities? Hope so.

But the biggest change that many of us will notice by 2030 is a four-letter word - work. How many jobs will be replaced by AI loaded bots who can do our jobs better and cheaper? More than you think. There will not be some people thrown out of government jobs like the DOGE committee is doing right now. Instead, there will be entire industries which will be automated from head to toe. And housework and yard work? Relax - there will be bots for that also. Then the question begs to be asked - what are we going to do? No working for a living, and less and less work to do around the home. And this will only be by 2030. Just imagine what life will be like in 2040. There is one thing about progress - there is no going back now.

It is estimated that by 2030, there will be over a quarter million humanoid bots in the country. Most will be used in manufacturing. That means, most will be replacing human type jobs. By 2035, humanoid bots will be everywhere. In the factories, in the military, in education, in the fields, and in the homes. What does this mean? As one futurist put it, we are coming to end of the age of work as we know it. Will that be a good thing or a bad thing? Stay tuned. We are on this road, and there is no going back now.     

 

A vastly unserious man

 

"Can this state survive back-to-back governors like Dayton and Walz? Probably will. And after Walz, who will the chattering class elect? Maybe Keith Ellison? But that is Minnesota for you. Land of 10,000 lakes and over 1,000,000 morons."    

One of my left leaning friends once accused me of not agreeing with Tim Walz on anything. Let me set that record straight. When Walz referred to himself as a "knucklehead" after the VP debate, I agreed with him. So there.

I also think that if anybody can turn this state red, it will be Tim Walz. Already, since he has taken his comedy act into other states, Minnesota has demonstrated we are a bunch of morons because we voted for this guy. Twice.

Just like Joe Biden knocked Jimmy Carter out of his position as worst president ever, Tim Walz has knocked Mark Dayton out of our worst governor ever. And we had these two guys, back-to-back! Why? The inner part of the Twin Cities. Especially the Cedar Riverside area. Once you go there, you understand. But this little part of Minnesota, seems to dictate how our statewide elections go. Every time. Every candidate. If they are a jackass, they get elected. MNGOP - not so much.

Tim Walz is a perfect example of the Peter Principal. If not for being a teacher or elected to the House and then Governor's chair, he might just be unemployable. Why? He is all hat and no cowboy. Or as President Trump would put it, a very low IQ person. But here he is - here he still is. How in the world could he get re-elected after watching part of Minneapolis burn down? Just ask the voters in Cedar Riverside. Out state, we know this guy is a moron and has wasted our tax money on pure crap. In the Twin Cities, this "knucklehead" is a rock star.

After Walz was cheering on the mutts who are burning Tesla's and torching Tesla dealerships, Elon Musk called Walz an "evil man". Maybe more stupid than evil, as the state has big investments in Tesla. So, to cheer against Tesla is really like cheering against your own state.

I also blame Walz for being asleep at the switch while Feeding our Future was robbing us blind. Some liberal white gal and a bunch of Somali cohorts robbed this state of millions upon millions of dollars. Even though some have already been found guilty in a court of law, where is the money? That is our money. Can we get it back? Probably not. This is all on you Timmy, you knucklehead! 

Can this state survive back-to-back governors like Dayton and Walz? Probably will. And after Walz, who will the chattering class elect? Maybe Keith Ellison? But that is Minnesota for you. Land of 10,000 lakes and over 1,000,000 morons.    

 

Want Elon to go away? Then quit giving him fodder

 

"For those who hate Trump, hate Musk, hate DOGE and most of all, hate the good things this team is doing for America, I feel for you. It is not easy living with all that hate. Here are the facts - even if Elon goes away, DOGE will not. Why? Our eyes have been opened on how much deep cleaning this country needs. What do I say to DOGE? You go boy!"

Elon and part of this DOGE team were on Fox with Bret Baier last night, discussing just exactly what they are doing. Guess what? It is not to rip off people's money nor private information. Actually, to find paydirt, they don't have to dig very deep at all. Most of what they have found so far has been "low fruit on the trees". In other words, because the cleaning team has not been present for decades within the federal government (forget about the GAO - they did not do much), all kinds of financial fodder is there for the discovery. 

I will now quote (paraphrase) that very flawed Jasmine what's her name out of Texas - "Our government is a hot a** mess". Please - no hate mail from the government lovers out there. I will put it in vernacular that we can all understand - Elon and the DOGE team are only doing surface cleaning right now. But on some very important areas, they are doing a deep clean. If - Elon and DOGE had the time and funding to do a deep clean on all parts of our federal government, the results would be stunning and jaw dropping. Our DOGE dividend checks would be rather large I would say.

Who hates Elon and his team the most? Government loving democrats. They hate Elon so much, they are setting EVs on fire. Wait - what? Are we not building EVs to help with climate change? And is not Tesla the number one EV in America? And if we burn an EV, won't that put more unwanted carbon in the atmosphere? Yes, yes, yes - they know all that. But they don't care. What? Why not? Because the hatred of Donald Trump (and now Elon Musk to boot), and their love of this failed government system, is more important than results.

Did you know one of the unpaid people on the DOGE team is a multi-billionaire? The man who came up with Airbnb? He too, is not trying to steal anybody's money. What he has seen has shocked him. The backwardness of some of our government systems. He has volunteered to replace the handwritten system of the government retirement system and make it digital. Why? Two reasons: he hates inefficiency and also and more importantly, he is a good American. You see, many of the DOGE team are working for nothing when with their skills, they could be using this time to make oodles of cash on the outside. But they are patriots, and they care.

BTW - If you get a chance, every now and again check in on the Telsa YouTube site. It seems that when you stock up on good employees in your organization, and have them share your vision, you don't need to be onsite for good things to happen. Tesla is coming out with a Tesla cellphone and Tesla table. Both of which are cheaper than what is on the market right now, and much better. Tesla is also building humanoid AI robots like crazy. Most of what is being built this year will be used in Tesla's factories. Oh yes - Tesla keeps popping out EV cars like gangbusters. All this while Elon is working on DOGE.

For those who hate Trump, hate Musk, hate Tesla, hate DOGE, and most of all, hate the good things this team is doing for America, I feel for you. It is not easy living with all that hate. Here are the facts - even if Elon goes away, DOGE will not. Why? Our eyes have been opened on how much deep cleaning this country needs. What do I say to DOGE? You go boy!

  

Are the days of milk and honey on the horizon?

"What does this really mean? Think of Elon Musk. How many thinks he is going right now for the good of our country. For the good of the world. Trump is the same way. Think big, do big. Don't be afraid of the cliff; learn how to travel on it. The days of milk and honey are within our grasp. We just need the collective courage to get there."      

When the term the Great Reset was used during the Biden debacle, many thought it was the completion of what Obama had started. A reset of our economy from free traders to globalist slaves. From a republic (not democracy Democrats!) to a socialist gulag. But thanks to millions of citizens and patriots, that never happened. Came close but never happened. Why bring this up? Because I think the real Great Reset is happening right now.

Our new president, who has been in power now for just over two months, has a vision which is going to reshape America. How much so? These will not be changes which will tinker around the edges. These changes will change everything. Some will be easy changes; some will not be. Some changes will happen with not so much as a ripple, others will cause us to hold on tight. 

I don't want to dwell on this, but it needs to be said one more time. When Biden came into office, he stopped everything good that Donald Trump had started during his first term. Not because what Trump did was bad for America - it was only because of the visceral hatred this old man with a black heart had for his predecessor. But - when Trump came back into office and had to put out numerous fires, it was not due to hatred of Biden. It was due to the fact the nation (and world) was on fire. Many immediate changes were needed. The train was about ready to go off the tracks.

What is Trump's vision with many of his changes? Peace for starters. Right now, the world is tinkering with WW III. Trump wants us to back way, way away from that cliff. Trump also wants the suffering middle class to taste the same winning wealth the fat cats have tasted on Wall Street over the past few years. He wants America to be a fair trader on the world market - reciprocal tariffs are a good place to start. He wants to onshore what has been offshored over the past few decades. He wants more of an ERS and less of an IRS. In short, this Golden Age of America can also be called the coming land of milk and honey.

History is being written each and every day. Trump's vision is clear, and his goals are reachable. His team shares those goals. I think an easy way to describe this remaking of America through the eyes of Donald Trump is like this - for way too long, America has been a minimalist. Sure, great things have happened, but the great things could have been greater. During this term, Donald Trump wants America to think big and bigger yet. We should no longer be minimalists. We should embrace positive change.  

What does this really mean? Think of Elon Musk. How many thinks he is going right now for the good of our country. For the good of the world. Trump is the same way. Think big, do big. Don't be afraid of the cliff; learn how to travel on it. The days of milk and honey are within our grasp. We just need the collective courage to get there.