Looking down from 30,000 feet...

"What is my solution? More taxes, or more tariffs? We have tried the tax thing for decades and it sucks. It stunts growth. Maybe we should have Congress authorize tariffs for a period of ten years. If managed correctly, just imagine how much money we could have in our coffers. Just imagine how much of our debt could be paid off. Or - we could do nothing and await the level of $50T in our national debt. Knowing us - we will do the later."

Every now and again, it is very helpful to get in that imaginary airplane, fly very high, and take a 30,000-foot snapshot of our country. Things would probably look pretty good, until you looked into our underpinnings. Like - our debt. With everything else going on, looking at our debt has not been a hot topic for many of us. I know it has not for me. But holy cow! We are creeping up on $40T in national debt! If that does not give any citizen pause for concern, I don't know what would.

I remember not too long ago addressing our national debt when it reached an astounding $33T. I had no clue on how we would be able to service a debt that high. But now we are on the verge of having a debt which is $7T higher than that previous post. And many economists think we might be on the way towards a $50T debt. That could sink our ship.

I decided to do some deeper thinking on this issue. Like - why is it, no matter who is in office, the debt goes up. I did buy into the Trump tariff plan, where we could garner more funds from an external revenue service (tariffs), than internal revenue service (taxes). But, due to the bifurcation of financial viewpoints in our sharply divided Congress, Congress had SCOTUS remind POTUS that the issue of tariffs was up to Congress, and not the President. Then all those dollars raised in tariffs, some of which to be used in culling part of our national debt, went "poof" - gone. And then our national debt resumed its manic assent.

Here is my take on this very sore subject. Our biggest cause for our sky-high debt in this country is changing administrations. Look at the crap that Biden spent money on which no longer exists. Just like when Biden took over, he killed many of the things that Trump had been working on, when Trump once again took office, he killed just about everything that Biden had been working on.

And look at all the national defense items Biden DID NOT spend money on, which he should have. Like what? Look at our Navy. We are way, way under on many of our ship classes. China now has the largest navy. Thus, the Trump Administration needed to spend gobs of cash just to get us caught up. And raising taxes to pay for it, was a non-starter. It would crash the economy.

I remember when Reagan took office after Jimmy Carter. Same issue. Carter wanted to be a man of peace instead of war. Thus, he cut back on defense. When Reagan took office, our DOD was a mess. The Soviets had gone to town under Carter, and Reagan needed to jump start our military procurement. By the time Reagan's second term was done, so were the Soviets. But our debt was much higher. 

Every time this nation zigzags the economy due to a new administration, our debt goes up. Fact of life. When Trump is done, and if we get another Biden in office, it will happen all over again. Our nation jumps around way too much on priorities. And yet, we need to face the reality in the world in which we live. If America goes weak due to lack of defense spending, aggressive nations will try and fill that void. Just look back on history, how weak the US was before WWII. 

What is my solution? More taxes, or more tariffs? We have tried the tax thing for decades and it sucks. It stunts growth. Maybe we should have Congress authorize tariffs for a period of ten years. If managed correctly, just imagine how much money we could have in our coffers. Just imagine how much of our debt could be paid off. Or - we could do nothing and await the level of $50T in our national debt. Knowing us - we will do the later.     

   

It's over - now where do we go from here?

 

"It is nice to know that many of the guests who have come here from other countries to watch the World Cup have gone home with a large dose of 'American Nice'. No matter if their team had won or lost, many have been impressed with not only the greatness of this country, but also the welcoming nature of many of the Americans they have met while visiting here."

Even with the spotty weather, it was a grand and glorious 250th birthday party! Sunday was a recouperation day, and now that it is Monday, the question which should be asked is this - where do we go from here? How do we continue to make this land into a "more perfect union"? Or have we been at the apex, and the only direction left to go is down? Well - most of us don't think that will happen. And with the FIFA entertainment still going on, maybe we should defer some of the heavy thinking and introspection until that is over.

It would we be nice to get this mess in Iran taken care of, sooner rather than later. Now we are in another "pause" as the IRGC hold a weeklong funeral for the Mullah who was killed in the first moments of the war. How have things changed in Iran since we took him out? Not much. The IRGC still has the minions chanting "death to Israel" and "death to America" and "kill Trump and Netanyahu". It is still a boiling caldron over there, and we are far from over with them. This Middle East "forever war" that we tried to avoid, might have come home to roost after all.

Putting the Middle East war in Iran aside, our biggest problem at home is the rise of the DSA - Democratic Socialists of America Party. Or as President Trump calls them - Communists. Somehow, as we continue to strive to make a more perfect union, the idea of taking this country down the ruinous path to socialism does not make any sense at all. Why? Socialism and Communism have been tried many times in many places and landed with a thud. Freedom and liberty, which we cherish in this land, have NO PLACE is lands which have devolved into the chains of Socialism or Communism.

Meanwhile, despite of a do nothing Congress, the wheels of progress continue to roll on in America. Good things are happening all over this land. Just the other night I saw a YouTube on how agriculture is changing due to AI and robotics. That with a dose of new chemical technology is making sure that America continues to not only feed its people, but also many other people worldwide. And that is just one of the many things which are changing for the better this decade.

It is nice to know that many of the guests who have come here from other countries to watch the World Cup have gone home with a large dose of "American Nice". No matter if their team had won or lost, many have been impressed with not only the greatness of this country, but also the welcoming nature of many of the Americans they have met while visiting here. My feelings on that point? Well done fellow citizens! That is just a small yet very important part of making us a more perfect union.

 

Everything but the weather...

"This was not the first 4th of July which was a bust due to the weather. Not just with us, but also with many other events nationwide. But good weather or bad weather, fireworks or no fireworks, the significance of the day still stood out bravely against the weather. 250 years young. We are a great nation with a great heritage. That is something to celebrate, rain or shine, light or dark."  

When our kids were small(er), and we were going to do some fun family outdoor event, my wife and I could make sure all the random variables were under control to ensure a smooth and fun time. That is - everything except the weather. Many times, I would have to tell both daughters that dad can control many things, but not the weather. Did that help mollify the masses? Not much.

The main event, the frosting on the cake (so to speak) for our 250th birthday, was the big show on the mall, a speech by POTUS, and then the final fireworks event. Months and months in the planning, many dollars spent, and then - nada. Why? There was an unwelcomed visitor who showed up at the event. Who? Mother Nature, bringing storms, winds, lightening, and so forth. The event was postponed and then cancelled. Why? Everything was controllable - except the weather.

As for my family, the air started going out of the holiday tire in the very early hours of the fourth. I had checked the radar before we retired the evening of the 3rd, and even with that, my wife was concerned. Why? Everything, and I mean just about everything we usually keep covered and tarped was left out, unprotected. It was such a drop-dead gorgeous evening, I thought - why not? We went to bed, and everything was fine. Then it happened. Out of a sound sleep, it sounded like somebody was spraying the trailer with machine gun fire. At 2am, for a bit over an hour, it rained so hard, all other noise was blotted out.

I was the first one up in the morning. I looked outside. Everything was soaked. The other guests were coming in at 10am, so I had my work cut out. I did have some dry chairs in the shed, but still - it was a mess. But the day happened, and we made the most out of it. The kids? They always have fun, so that part was fine. But then in late afternoon, the skies got dark again. We had a quick taco meal, and my daughter, husband, kids and dog were going to get while the getting was good. They left, and no more than five minutes later the skies once again opened up. All those parties and events scheduled for the evening of the Fourth? Kaput. Why? Everything is controllable, except the weather. 

We were going to stay the night on the Fourth and come home sometime during the next day. But the rain was pounding (again), and the radar was all lit up. We saw a small opening in the storms, decided to pack up and get out of Dodge (so to speak). We loaded a few essentials in the truck and hit the road. About ten minutes into our trip, the skies once again opened up. I was once again reminded of that old Bob Dylan hit; A hard rains a going to fall. And it did - all the way home.

This was not the first 4th of July which was a bust due to the weather. Not just with us, but also with many other events nationwide. But good weather or bad weather, fireworks or no fireworks, the significance of the day still stood out bravely against the weather. 250 years young. We are a great nation with a great heritage. That is something to celebrate, rain or shine, light or dark.  

A red, white and blue type of day, to celebrate a wonderful country!

 

"Tomorrow, our national party will be in full swing. East, west, north or south - that is where the celebrations will be. Those who do not care to indulge in our national celebration, because living here is no longer what they want - I have some excellent news for them. In this bastion of freedom and liberty, the door out is always open for those who want to leave."

Wow! At long last, tomorrow, it will finally be here. But from a historical point of view, this time 250 years ago, our Declaration of Independence (DOI) was all over but the signing. The votes were taken, and mutual oaths were pledged. In the next couple of days, on the fourth of July 1976, all of these agreements were to me memorialized into a formal document called the Declaration of Independence. For many who signed it, it could have been their death wish. For if the colonies quest for independence fell flat, many would have either hung as traitors - or been shot. 

But we did win the war - our Revolutionary War. Instead of the signatories on the DOI being traitors, our first national heroes were made. But now that we won the war, and had this new country, how do we make it work? How do we keep from falling short and failing as a young nation? For the next eleven years, the young upstarts in this new country worked hard, negotiated with each other, and finally agreed with each other on a set of principles. Our Constitution was ratified in September of 1787. An agreement fitting of a more perfect union. 

During the past 250 years, this country has not had an easy ride. Thinking back, we have had many "but what if" type moments. I already mentioned what would have happened if we had not prevailed against the British in our Revolutionary War. What if we had lost the War of 1812? What if we had lost World War I? Or if we had lost World War II? How about our bloodiest war, our Civil War? What if we never really recovered from that war, and the entire nation devolved into something tribal? 

Our entire history is replete with ordinary men and women who did some extraordinary things at just the right time. Some died while serving this great nation, and others lived to go on to accomplish even greater things for the greater good. Is it over now? Can we sit back and relax? Like is the worst part over? Absolutely not! Our vigilance must be absolute, as threats to our freedom and liberty will never be over. 

We are always only one generation away from losing our Republic. And based on some of the new upstarts coming up today who eschew our way of life and want to change it to socialism - our battle for freedom and our way of life is not yet over. As Bono once said, if we lose America, there is no place left to go. In other words, this is it folks. Not just love it or leave it - but protect it or lose it.

Tomorrow, our national party will be in full swing. East, west, north or south - that is where the celebrations will be. Those who do not care to indulge in our national celebration, because living here is no longer what they want - I have some excellent news for them. In this bastion of freedom and liberty, the door out is always open for those who want to leave.

In other words, for reasons which I will never understand, some may hate it here. Good news for them - there is an old saying - "Don't let the door hit you where nature has split you". But don't worry - your place here will be taken by future lovers of liberty. And that is what makes this great nation - great.

   

Wait - what? A civil war in the Democrat Party?

 

"As the political system continues, and the Democrats duke it out with the DSA useful idiots, what should the Republicans do? Nothing. Zip. Nada. Find a comfortable chair, pop up some popcorn, and enjoy the show. The Democrat Party is going to rip itself to shreds and we had nothing to do with it." 

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Don't look now, but the worm is starting to turn. The long awaited (and sometimes feared) civil war in America might be happening right now. Only instead of red verses blue (or something like that), it is "traditional" Democrats against the new and upstart DSA (Democrat Socialist of America). And so far, this new DNC has been like a magnet, sucking up all the fruits and nuts who want to take a wrecking ball to America. I think these are the folks who Lenin referred to as "useful idiots".

Last night, I had a real juxtaposition experience. Having just watched the news earlier and seeing a couple more of these useful idiots who won primaries for a Democrat (now maybe a DSA) nomination, I watched some of the very patriotic folks at the soccer match. Trying to square that circle was very hard for me. On one hand, we have all kinds of America lovers watching the World Cup we are hosting, coupled with the wonderful 250th anniversary of our country. On the other hand, we have useful idiots bellyaching that our country is unfair and basically sucks. It is a head scratcher for sure.

But back to the brewing civil war in the Democrat party. Many of the long-term Democrats are not going to go quietly into the night. They may have swung a bit far to the left, but they are still coloring within the lines of traditional Democrats. But this new batch of "socialists" (or as the president often says - Communists), they color way outside the lines. What do they want? They want what you have. If they think you have too much, they are coming for you and your wealth. And for the recent (legal) immigrants who came here to escape socialist countries? Suprise! We now have part of the electorate who wants us to become socialists - or worse. 

How do the Republicans feel about this civil war on the other side of the fence? Many feel this may be the end of the Democrat Party and what is left on the floor will be unelectable. That would be good for our side. Here is the ray of hope for America to continue on for the normal folks. We are a nation of "mouse trap builders". Meaning, the American dream has always been to "build a better mousetrap". That is why Elon Musk, and others lead the world in innovation. And with risk, can come reward. Or failure, if you guess wrong or don't work hard enough. But our system of capitalism allows ALL the opportunity to take a risk to get a reward. The DSA offers none of that - only to confiscate what you have.

As the political system continues, and the Democrats duke it out with the DSA useful idiots, what should the Republicans do? Nothing. Zip. Nada. Find a comfortable chair, pop up some popcorn, and enjoy the show. The Democrat Party is going to rip itself to shreds and we had nothing to do with it. 

Can the SAVE Act be saved?

"For is voters out here in the hinter lands - all we can do is look eastward in disgust and shake our heads. The clown car is alive and well in Washington DC. What can fix Washington? I don't know - maybe an asteroid?"

If the question were asked, "How well does Washington DC work these days?", the answer for most folks would be very simple - it does not. The most glaring example of this clown car in action, is the SAVE Act. A very simple piece of legislation which only does one thing - requires a valid ID (which shows proof of citizenship) prior to voting. Since it is illegal for people who are not citizens to vote in our national elections, this bill should be a real "duh!".

Some say this is an 80/20 issue. Others say it is much higher than that, maybe even a 90/10 issue. It cuts across both parties as well as many of the demographics. So, what then, is the problem? This should have been "falling off the log" easy. But it is not. It has become so hard to get one or maybe two Senate Democrats to vote for this simple bill, that Trump even threatened to hold up another simple bill (the easy of mortgage bill) until this one was signed. Even that did not work.

Is there fraud in our election system? I don't know - is there fraud in any government system? Trick question, as we ALL know the system is ripe with fraud. To give people confidence that our voting system is pure, it would not hurt to have some additional guard rails in it, such as the SAVE Act. Otherwise, the specter of possible cheating will be present every two years. The SAVE Act could diminish any unfounded charges of illegal voting. Not totally stop it but diminish those charges.

What I don't understand is the allegations that some on the left is using on why the SAVE Act is unfair. Things like - 30 million women, who are too clueless to get a valid ID, would be "disenfranchised". What - really? That is worse than a canard. Worse than gaslighting. It is a lie. Plus, it is insulting to American women. I have not heard one person of merit agree with that crap. They have said this argument is nothing but hogwash (or worse).

Rather than work on some tougher issues, Donald Trump has used a lot of time and energy to get this thing through the Senate. It has basically killed the career of Leader Thune. It has made the Senate look so inept, that the House Republicans are calling for the repeal of the 17th Amendment. 

For is voters out here in the hinter lands - all we can do is look eastward in disgust and shake our heads. The clown car is alive and well in Washington DC. What can fix Washington? I don't know - maybe an asteroid?

 

Somewhere, between night and day...

"Some think this might be Trump's Waterloo. The box canyon that he wanted to avoid. Whatever it is, it is not good. It is a place that most normal people hate to be at. That place between night and day. No winners here - just losers. And this Iran thing is looking more like a loser every day."

One might ask, are we ever going to "get there" in the Middle East? We have managed to take care of the bad man in Libia; we have managed to take care of the bad man in Iraq; we have even managed to take care of the bad man in Iran. But to what end? New bad men in Iran just keep popping up. Civilians keep getting murdered in Iran by their own government, and neighboring Arab states keep getting attacked. Short of launching a thirty-day blitzkrieg on Iran, and bombing everything that moves - to what end are we doing there?

And because Iran plays dirty, now they have threatened to take out neighboring countries desalination plants. Hint: when the water goes in those desert kingdoms - everything goes. Rather than act like good neighbors, fellow travelers in this thing called life, they only want to burn, destroy, kill and maim. How do you deal with people like that? How do you negotiate when they smile at you while trying to cut your throat at the same time?

Where are we right now? Is peace at hand? War yet to come? We are somewhere between night and day. We are nowhere good. Do I trust these guys? Not an inch. Do I believe them? Not for a minute. We all know what Trumps wants - he wants the deal of deals. He wants to reshape the Middle East and neuter Iran from any nuclear ambitions. But this might be a bridge too far. For even the best negotiation team on this beautiful blue planet, this might be beyond reach.

If we cut and run, this is not over. Not by a long shot. Iran will continue to use proxies to harass Israel and someday, the Iranian dream of having a nuke which could reach the US - would come true. Trump does not want that nightmare in our future. Then do we stay and fight it out? The American people have about had it with Middle Eastern wars. Enough already. Or do we continue on with this stork dance of tit for tat in negotiations. No movement, just infractions to what has already been agreed to.

Some think this might be Trump's Waterloo. The box canyon that he wanted to avoid. Whatever it is, it is not good. It is a place that most normal people hate to be at. That place between night and day. No winners here - just losers. And this Iran thing is looking more like a loser every day.