Sometimes it is just difficult

I wanted to write about the state of the Mavs. Unfortunately, they suck, I still love them, but they suck. They have good players, they have really good players, yet they are missing a real center and another 3 and D to rotate in heavy minutes. They have a future, but until they fill the needs they will struggle.

Add in way too many defeats in close games and now they are out of sync, have no momentum, no energy, and frustrating themselves by letting games get out of hand then making some last ditch effort that falls short. Not a great recipe for anything, much less success.

Hopefully they find their way out of their funk, get some kind of rhythm to end the season, and then draft or find some players this offseason so they can regroup and get going. I will continue to support them, but sometimes it is just too difficult to get excited about it all right now.

Cheers

The mid-term problem for the Democrats

I always rant and rave the Democrats are clueless. Well why you ask?

Basically, most people vote their pocket book. It will always be that way.

The Democrats have not addressed the high possibility that this is the year that has a good chance for the middle class to feel better about their finances.

The lower withholding might show some increase in take home pay. The labor market is tightening and it is starting to catch up to corporations. They may start paying more due to market conditions. The current announcements of one time bonuses sounds good, yet the real trigger will be if wages increase. And can they keep up the little bit more going into paychecks before November. The answer is probably. In fact, they may get two to three years increase for the middle and working class. And their 401ks could continue to go up during this time. The lowered tax rates for corporations will help profits which will continue the Trump tax reform increase in the market which is possibly becoming a bubble.

If this keeps up till November, the corporations will push hard to make sure the economy looks good and give the credit to Trump so they can keep the Republican majority. Which is more probable than the Democrats realize.  

And if the Democrats push the Trump is bad, we are good campaign it won’t turn out well for them. They desperately need to be able to address an improving economy with a hard message that shows the faults in the results, what can happen and most important how to make the economy work better.

If you read my earlier post on a tax reform plan, you know I proposed a rise in corporate taxes with the idea the corporations can actually lower their taxes by benefitting their workers.  And now with  tightening labor markets the corporations could have gotten a double benefit by not looking like the bad guys if they play by the new rules raising wages and being able to honestly make people think they are contributing because their standard tax rate was higher. It was meant to be a win win so real wages would rise significantly. If wages rise, then people will feel better about spending and hopefully saving some too. This increases the chances for whomever implements this policy to get re elected because… ta da, pocket book issues are positively impacted while not overly benefiting corporations over workers.

Under the current plan, the Republicans could look good in November. Unfortunately, the average voter has a short memory so all the October talking points will favor the Republicans.

Long term though the middle class is shot. If true business results do not pick up and the only increased profits corporations show one to two years from now is based on the lower rate, then Wall Street will want more, the market will correct, and the people buying into the current bubble will get clobbered. And those people buying in now are the middle class. The investor class has the money to play the market both ways and they will be more attuned to true business fundamentals than the average Joe trying to maximize his 401k.

So wages hit a ceiling again, the market corrects creating more wealth gap, along side of increased inflation and rising interest rates means the middle class is squeezed again. It will be how much, not whether it will happen. By this time it is 2019 or 2020. If the donor and investor class can keep the economy afloat till November 2020, Trump gets re elected and then the house of cards completely falls again and this time Trump is in charge so all the help goes to the top 1% which even those people will feel some consolidation and only a few will be wealthy and we have a country that is both first world, yet primarily second world and decreasing.

And if you think this is a doomsday scenario, well you aren’t looking at the big picture. For Trump’s tax plan to really work, the middle class has to have enough sustained wage and wealth growth for years to come. His plan doesn’t have that built into it. The more realistic scenario is business growth doesn’t materialize and corporations cut back again slowing wage and savings growth. And these magical market numbers become realistic real fast.

And so the Democrats need to realize this scenario is probable to highly probable and they need to create ideas and policies that show they can move over the money back to the middle class in the long run, explain to them in simple quick terms the problems of the Republican plan and be ready to get into a dog fight.

Have you seen the Democrats preparing to take this approach? I haven’t, so there fore I think they are clueless. Or any approach? They have serious problems and Nationally they don’t even know it.

Obviously predicting the economy for a year or two out has some flaws, yet hopefully you can see some of this coming for yourself.

Thoughts?

And on the inflation theme, it has started to rise. One area is health care. My premiums went up enough this year that may latest paycheck was less than the last one of 2017.  Now I do not think the lowered withholding has impacted my check. I think I read it starts in February, but not sure. If true, then I may get back the difference. Unfortunately, though this means I do not have extra spending money if the lowered withholding doesn’t account for the premium increase. Can the Democrats play into this? I do not know. Yet again, are you seeing them try?

And finally I haven’t seen any themes from the Democrats. The Republicans will have one big “improving economy” theme that will destroy the Democrats.  Again… clueless

Immigration is not going to beat the Republicans and the Republicans will continue the destruction of the middle class. Think not? Please think.

A New Year, a few new random comments

And I internet searched these comments because they sounded familiar. I got some hits

My thought: Generalizations are dangerous. I know because I use them often, yet it is coming to the point where anything corporations lobby for must be fought against all odds. Just cannot trust them at all.

I searched for “generalizations are dangerous: and got a few hits. The most prominent was a full on discussion on a blog titled Philosiblog. I did not research the blog. My point is lobbyists are out of control.

My thought: Weak leaders make war.

and

Peace is hard to keep.  or  Peace is hard to maintain.

For my search the most prominent reference was: “ War is easy, Peace is hard” There were a couple of publications that used that article or referenced the same information.

My point is that autocrats, dictators, plutocrats etc use war as a way to maintain their power instead of being real leaders.

My snarky comment is” Where there’s a will, there’s an attorney.

Internet searches found many articles on the importance of probating will. My point was you cannot even die without an attorney screwing up your life.

And finally I think Congressman Nunes attempts to protect or ingratiate himself to Trump is he is hoping to end game Paul Ryan and become speaker of the House with Trump’s help. Real second grade Machiavellian stuff if you ask me. Also completely selfish and the process will do much damage to democracy…. Just a thought you know

Beyond belief

Well the government is shutting down, some members of the Republican party are working hard to shut down our Republic and hand it over to Putin for who knows what reason, the Democrats sit idly by holding onto to winning one issue to look like they did something, the vast majority of us are shocked and are sitting idly by I guess not realizing the complete disaster our government has become.

And people wonder why I harp incessantly that we need new leadership and new parties.

Have a wonderful weekend

Something different, well at least for me

As you know I am a conservative, independent one, yet a conservative. I do not handle social change well. Sometimes though, things have to change and this is long overdue.

Time we legalized marijuana completely. And we give amnesty to people still in jail or prison for possession of marijuana only charges. We need Congress to pass a complete federal law overhaul and then let the States decide on sales and the amnesty. Both must happen and soon.

There are so many advantages to admitting we made a mistake. First, any tax revenue gained from sales can be used to deal with real drug problems like methane, cocaine, heroin, and prescription drug problems such as the opioid crisis. This also takes a bit of the money away from the cartels and other organized crime. The only way to combat the drug problem is to decide which is the problem and really fight. Marijuana is no worse than alcohol, less addicting, and easier to manage. We already have no smoking bans in most public places so you can still keep those and keep most marijuana use to the home. Yes, there will be some who cannot get over how “evil” is marijuana. The big picture though demands change.

The other part of the bill legalizing is to support more public transportation. We also need to improve the drunk driving problem. People already drink and smoke, so the best thing to do is fund better public transportation or make laws decreasing costs for taxis and ride sharing companies at certain hours of the day such as 6-8 pm (happy hour) and after midnight to 6am for when bars close. You can create your own ideas of course, yet we definitely need better public transportation to lower the drinking and driving problem. It is rough, yet better I think if we open up better transportation. We can have stiffer punishments for drunk driving. We need to put the programs in place first though or it is unfair to the average person on the street to punish without options.

Generally the populace is ready for legalization. There is no need to keep putting people in jail just because they were caught at the wrong time. I always talk about we need new leadership in our country. This is one issue to help spring forth that new leadership.

Cheers

Trying to remember, trying to make it better

As usual the title means little except for I had some examples in my head that showed how a representative Republic is suppose to work. You remember that New Year’s resolution I made to jot down my ideas so I wouldn’t forget. Well I didn’t write them down or make note and now I forgot. So, the only example I have is the tax reform which is the example showing our representative republic isn’t working.

Generally, the majority is suppose to rule with the minority’s rights protected or their livelihoods protected. This is one of the major premises behind our working form of government that our founding fathers gave us. The moneyed have certainly screwed that up, now haven’t they. If the majority still ruled and the government represented us, then the tax reform would have looked much different. Instead the 1%ers drank an inordinate amount of champagne this past New Year’s Eve and not the kind you buy at the grocery store.

And now the uber rich are making plans to spend money on the 2018 mid terms to make sure their little pets stay in office. And the Democrats are woefully absent when it comes to new policy, people who can excite you into voting for them. And to continue the broken record; WE NEED NEW PARTIES; NEW LEADERSHIP; NEW!

I had tried to have examples of how our representative republic is suppose to work so I could be positive going into this year.  I shake my head at myself.

And the other day in church of all places I started wondering does the universe revolve around a center? Our moon revolves around our planet, our planet revolves around its axis and the sun. The sun revolves around the center of the galaxy. Whose to say the universe as a whole isn’t revolving around something. Could it be its own center? Or are there many universes revolving around a center? The way I saw it in my head it was one universe rotating around a center. Possibly the center is the beginning of time or what is commonly referred to as the big bang. It was a very dynamic picture in my head.

Over the last couple of weeks I had other ideas. And nothing to write. I need to have someone slap me upside my head so I remember to write quick notes when I think of something. Instead I wonder through the day, thinking I’ll remember it later. And I know how well that has worked. And still???? Every once in a blue moon I will text myself, yet this whole year……..nothing. I am still shocked I remembered the universe picture.

And finally tonight I am sharing some info on an organization dedicated to getting independents elected: “The Centrist Project” is changing it’s name to Unite America.  Here is a bit of their post announcing the change:

Our new brand strongly reflects our core belief that it’s our unity, and the values we share in common, that has always been the source of our nation’s strength.

E pluribus unum. Out of many, one.

Unite America is the “why” of our movement. It’s a call to action that can galvanize our supporters and candidates alike: Unite.

It’s an identity that anyone who shares our vision can adopt, without having to abandon any other affiliations; all of us can be Uniters. And it’s a brand that will serve to link a growing network of local and state organizations: e.g. Unite Colorado.

At least someone is productive this year. Cheers

Oh Yeah, it is a new year

Before I forget I want to wish everyone a joyful, prosperous, and healthy new year.

I guess it is time for that resolution thing. I want to remember to write stuff down before I forget it. Maybe even text myself or something, getting old I guess because it seems I forget more great things to say than write trivial remnants of what I remember I wanted to say. (find that editor) And maybe loss a few pounds.

I don’t know, but if I were young and couldn’t drink I would sue for age discrimination or something.

Somewhere down the road I will pick up on my usual rants, well… because…you know… the world isn’t perfect, however for today: Cheers