On the removal trial of President Trump and reflections on MLK Day

Okay, President Trump is impeached and nothing is going to change from that. Now, we have the trial in the Senate. No matter what cases are brought against him, the Senate will vote to acquit President Donald J. Trump even if the cases are strong against over the Bidens and Ukraine, for example. I just don't see him getting removed from office and then sent to prison. Majority Leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell, will not have it no matter what is being brought up. I just don't see it. If this happens, then I am a NBA basketball player. I hope that justice prevails and that there is no constitutional crisis. I wish I had more to say right now about it. I am waiting to see how it goes. It was a good day yesterday marching down Garrison Avenue in Fort Smith for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. parade. I marched with the County Democrats. Another group who marched were the local Citizens' Climate Lobby. But, the highlight of this march like it is every year are the bands of both Northside and Southside High Schools in Fort Smith together playing "We Shall Overcome." Also, in the parade are KISR 93.7 and its sister radio stations and various churches and different businesses who also marched as well as the Fort Smith Public Schools and Future School. also, the Fort 94.5 and so many participants. This is done every third Monday of January each year and as long as I am working for the public schools, I will have that opportunity to help out and march. I may land a job where I may not be able to do that because it is federal holiday. That's all for now.

What's in the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (H.R. 763)

Folks, I am not exactly on board on this, because I do not trust the government to send citizens a rebate or a check mailed back to them at all from the U. S. Treasury. Here is how this works if the bill was passed by the House and then, by the Senate, and then signed by (laughter) President Trump. This is information provided by the Citizens' Climate Lobby. "Question: What's in the bill? "Answer: The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, the first bipartisan climate legislation in a decade, has been reintroduced as H.R. 763. (1) It's based on a CCL framework to account for the hidden costs of burning fossil fuels. If enacted into law, this policy will drive down greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by stimulating American innovation and ingenuity. Scientists and economists alike (2.3) say it's the best first step to reduce the impact of global warming. "Here's how it works: "A carbon fee is placed on coal, oil, or natural gas as it enters the U.S. economy. "The fee starts at $15 per metric ton of CO2 and increases by $10 - adjusted for inflation - every year until GHG emissions are reduced by 90 percent. "All of the money is recycled to American residents in equal monthly carbon dividends helping consumers adapt while businesses compete to reduce their carbon footprints. "If emission cuts don't meet mandatory targets, the annual increase can be raised to $15. "A carbon border fee adjustment is placed on emissions-intensive goods that are imported or exported. This discourages businesses from relocating to where they can pollute more, and also encourages other nations to price carbon. "This policy would supersede a narrow subset of GHG regulations (4) for 10 years, but if GHG emissions haven't been cut 30 percent by then, the EPA would be obligated to issue new rules to put us back to back on track. All other Clean Air Act regulations remain in full force. "Because the steady increase in fossil energy prices is predictable, it will stimulate invention and investment to cut carbon in myriad ways. Consumers will know they can count on increasing dividends to help them through the transition to a world of clean, energy-efficient goods and services." Maybe this bill has a chance to be passed when we have a new Congress and a new presidential administration who care more about than going to war. Now, no chance. But, the CCL and the Citizens' Climate League both are persistent. Members of calling their congresspeople constantly every month to get this bill debated on the floor.

Tulsi Gabbard says no War with Iran

Recently, I said that Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is way too peaceful. But, I believe I am on board with her. She does not want war and neither do I. Her hot topic has been U.S. Foreign Policy and she is correct over everything over this quagmire over Iran and the killing of Suliemani, the Iranian general. I are tired of other Democrats attacking her who are too cowardly to stand up to Republicans and I am tired of Republicans who back President Trump no matter the cost of military lives and who won't stand up to him. Americans are weary of war and we are still in a war in Afghanistan and Iraq. What does victory even look like? And what does victory look like in a war with Iran? The Iraqi Parliament voted to remove American troops from Iraq and since they did, isn't it time to bring the troops out of Iraq and bring them home? They clearly don't want us there and that is the objective Iran has. It is for Americans to leave Iraq. Well, instead, 3,000 more troops are being deployed to Iraq which only escalates more tension for war. It is time to step back from war. The Iraqi people do not want more war. This is the first post for 2020 and I hope to write more later. Please, go to Twitter and look up Tulsi Gabbard. She is the real deal in the Democratic Party. It's too bad the party doesn't love her.

I have not posted a whole lot this decade. I have posted more on Facebook and Twitter, and I certainly did not sign up for other social media sites. I do a lot of substitute teaching now and I do other jobs. This was the decade when Fort Smith lost Whirlpool and sensible people out there can understand how big of a loss it was for the town and the surrounding communities. The only people who don't seem to are what I call the "elite", members of the Fort Smith Leadership group. Nothing had really replaced all of those jobs that were lost. Not with Sykes or with other companies. Glatfelter only hired 87 people, a company that started its operation back in 2017. Razorback football absolutely stunk during this decade. Razorback basketball is improving, recently beating the Hoosiers! Razorback baseball has been wonderful. I hope for a better decade where I continue to get old, which I am not too crazy about. "You only as old as you feel." Cable TV is on its way out. Who needs it. Wireless television through the Internet is the way to go. A satellite dish on your roof? Why? I look forward to a happy 2020.

Republicans are known to pick bad VP picks

Republicans are known to pick bad VP picks and then manage to win the election.
This was done when George H. W. Bush picked an unknown Indiana senator, Dan Quayle,
as his running mate. Lloyd Bentsen, Dukakis' running mate, managed to whip him in the
VP debate with those famous words,"Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy." But, look who
won the race, George H.W. Bush. This is a caveat for the Obama-Biden team. Most people
do not know who Sarah Palin and Republicans all over the country are kissing her ass, convincing
us floor people who are working hard for much less that she is an asset, a wise pick for John McCain. Other than this fight she had with Sen. Ted Stevens over the bridge to nowhere, she is not suited for the job. It proves to me that McCain wants to continue the failed Bush legacy.
Just put people with little to no experience in the executive branch just like George W. did

A long while...

Okay, it has been a long while since I posted anything on blogger. We are ending a decade and starting a new decade. Things seem to get worse and worse. We have a president who is now impeached, the most unhinged president I have ever seen in my lifetime. We are laughed at by many in the world. And I don't see anything coming from this. He may be end up being the first impeached president to be re-elected by the electoral college, since he was never popularly elected. No, not yet. Well, I hope this Christmas in 2019 will bring out the best for you this season. What do supporters reason with this? Well, the stock market's up. Low unemployment, but that counts only those who are presently unemployed. Many people have left the job market altogether either through retirement or just gave up looking for work. Gig jobs and temp work seem to be the way to go. Trump is pulling troops out. I read a marquee from a Tribune-owned TV station that he was pulling out 4,000 troops from Afghanistan. We know he pulled troops from Syria, hence, losing friendship with the Kurds. I don't know how often I am going to write in this blog. I just recently gained back my old Google account. I plan on this blog to be pretty much a miscellaneous blog on many things and I won't try to be as political. Psyche! I can't guarantee that. And as we speak, Tulsi Gabbard's candidacy for president is on its way out. She votes "present" on impeachment on both counts. And I find she is way too chummy with India's Modi and Syria's Assad. She is the peace candidate, but way too pacifist for me. Conservative supporters question her anti-Israel stance enough that they will not get on board. Democrats do not need to worry about her. Get her on these issues. She is way too peaceful. So much so, she gives authoritarians the green light! Again, Merry Christmas!

Myths and Lies about Single Payer

1. Single payer is socialized medicine. WRONG. That would be the Veterans Administration. Or the British health care system. Where the government pays for the doctors and hospitals. Under single payer, you get a health care card and you can go to any doctor or hospital in the United States. Doctors are not employees of the government. Hospitals remain in private hands. You get free choice of doctor and hospital. 2. Single payer will lead to rationing, like in Canada. WRONG. Right now in these United States, the private health insurance companies ration care. If you don't have health insurance, you don't get health insurance. 50.7 million Americans currently lack health insurance. That's why 120 Americans die every day from lack of health care. There are some problems in the Canadian system, but most of what you hear about long lives is health insurance industry propaganda. Zero people die every day in Canada due to lack of health insurance. 3. Costs will skyrocket under single payer. WRONG. Single payer is the only health care reform that will save enough money to insure everyone. By eliminating the health insurance industry, we save $350 billion a year in administrative costs and profits. We then use that money to insure those who lack insurance and fully cover those who are under-insured. Yes, more people will be seeking health care because they will now have insurance. But they will be taking care of medical problems only, thus preventing more costly treatment later. 4. Drugs will be more difficult to get under single payer. WRONG. The drug industry would have you believe that there will be less research and development under a single payer system. In fact, much medical research is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health. Under single payer, this would grow. Also, drugs will be cheaper under single payer. When all patients are under one system, the payer wields a lot of clout. For example, the Veterans Administration gets a 40% discount on drugs because of its buying power. Now you know why the drug industry is so opposed to single payer. 5. Single payer will cover less than the insurance I have now. WRONG. For the majority of Americans, single payer will be a vast improvement. All medically necessary care would be funded through the single payer, including doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, mental services, nursing home care, rehab, home care, eye care, and dental care. An enlightened single payer will also result in a sharp increase in public health funding to prevent disease. No more bills. No more deductibles. No more co-pays. 6. Single payer will cost me more than I'm paying now for private health insurance. WRONG. The vast majority of Americans will pay about the same or less than they are paying now. Instead of paying premiums to a private health insurance company, most of us will pay a similar or smaller amount in taxes. So, right now, if you are paying $8,000 in premiums for a family of 4 with a $4,000 deductible, your yearly liability is at least $12,000. You will probably pay less than that in taxes to fund a universal single payer. There will be no deductible. And you can go to see any doctor or check in to any hospital in the United States. Public Citizen 1600 20th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20009