Coronavirus Causes More Aid For Farmers and Tariffs Still Stand

Photo: Getty

The farmers continue to get smashed during the Trump administration's rule of our country.  Yes, I used the word 'rule' since that is precisely what the administration believes their duty is across the tremendous democratic land of the United States.  Farmers want to trade instead of aid, and the Trump administration refuses to ease tariffs.  This is even though, as I have previously written about, the cost of tariffs is directly passed on from China to the American consumer.  How much more can this administration bleed the pocketbooks of Americans while standing up in front of a camera (i.e., media) and profess to be working for the average American?



I say this because recent reporting from Politico Agriculture has shed light on these issues directly.  Shown below are two excerpts which highlight the introduction above:



Excerpt 1

'UNPRECEDENTED': SIZING UP THE FEDERAL FARM RESCUE: Trump on Friday signed the $2 trillion stimulus package, including some $23 billion in extra aid for agriculture. Now it's the Agriculture Department's turn to figure out how to distribute those emergency dollars to farmers and ranchers dealing with falling commodity prices.

There are few strings attached to the farm provisions, even though Democrats were wary of setting up another "slush fund" for USDA to disperse funds across the industry as officials saw fit, Pro Ag's Catherine Boudreau writes this a.m.

That mistrust stemmed in part from how the administration designed its more than $23 billion trade bailout program, which critics said unfairly benefited Southern states, wealthy farmers and even foreign meatpackers.

"We'll be monitoring implementation to hold USDA accountable to distributing aid fairly and encourage USDA to follow the bipartisan payment limits set by the farm bill," said a spokesperson for Senate Ag ranking member Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who has criticized the department for alleged inequities in its trade relief programs.

Joseph Glauber, former USDA chief economist, said the stimulus funds, trade aid and traditional farm subsidies could total around $50 billion in fiscal 2020 alone. "Unprecedented to say the least," said Glauber, now a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute.

Implementing the farm stimulus plan could prove even trickier than the trade bailout, which was based on the tariff damage to specific commodities and counties. "I am not sure how you would separate out price impacts from COVID-19 versus other market factors," Glauber said in an email. "My guess is that the distribution and amounts will look a lot like 2019."

Funds for farmers markets: The stimulus is the first disaster relief package to explicitly include local and regional food markets, according to Ferd Hoefner, senior strategic advisor at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

By the numbers: The group pointed to research estimating that those markets could lose $1.3 billion between March and May. The overwhelming majority of farms supplying those markets are small, and about a quarter are new farmers, per USDA data.

Excerpt 2

TRUMP SHOOTS DOWN TALK OF TARIFF CUTS: The president rejected a Wall Street Journal report that the administration might stop collecting duties for three months to help hard-hit companies weather the economic storm. At a White House briefing on Friday, Trump said the report was "just more fake news," our Pro Trade friends tell MA.

"Everybody keeps saying, 'Oh, are you going to suspend the tariffs?'" Trump said at the briefing. "Well, the answer is no."

Reminder: Trump has left trade war duties in place on more than $350 billion in Chinese goods, in addition to steel and aluminum tariffs on China, the EU and many other nations. The U.S. collected nearly $72 billion in tariffs in fiscal 2019, up from $41.6 billion the prior year.

Given the two excerpts above, coupled with the reporting out of the White House, one has to wonder why Americans continue to get stuck financially?  Especially when the Trump administration is telling the American people that everyone is doing wonderfully.


Are you or your family suffering economically during these times?


Think about what the supposed aid has done for the American people over the last few years.  Stay informed and up to date.  I am amazed at the judgment of colleagues who say that the leadership coming out of the White House is stellar.  Regardless of your political disposition, it is hard to deny that the economic policy has not hurt the American people.  Farmers need real help, not lip service, as does the rest of the nation.



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Philanthropist Bill Gates Warned The U.S. About a Coronavirus Threat 5 years Ago?

Photo: Yahoo Finance

The State of California has been on 'lock-down' along with other states around the United States to combat the rapidly spreading across the world.  While people have time off of work (i.e., mandatory time - quarantined), an opportunity is available to consider where we have been as a nation along with where we are headed.  We live in a democracy.  That means elected officials from different parts of the government -- vote on our behalf for laws and regulations. Rules and regulations by which we, as a nation, believe the country should be run by.



Why am I running off on this tangent?



Five years ago, Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates gave a TED Talk titled "The Next Outbreak? We're Not Ready" during which he warned the audience along with the greater audience (i.e., the world) about a looming threat.  The looming danger he warned us about would be in the form of a virus.  The video is shown below and is around 9 minutes in length (definitely worth watching).

One could ask appropriately at this time: What has been done since the TED Talk?


Was the world not concerned?  Or listening?


What have our elected officials in the Chambers of Congress been consumed with to avoid protecting us as a nation from the threat?



The answer is being played out in the current media setting.  Our nation is in disarray.  From the top-down, our government refuses to enact the Defense Production Act of 1950, which would set in motion production not seen since World War II.  That would be one avenue to pursue, which would jump-start a real workable solution.



The drawback of this route for the current administration is that the pressure would be solely on the government (i.e., President Trump and his administration).  Rightfully so given that he, along with his administration, run the country.  He should set aside partisan politics and enact the Defense Production Act of 1950 immediately.  The coronavirus does not care about
politics; that is, the coronavirus does not distinguish between 'Red' or 'Blue.'


Currently, the action which is shown on the national stage is the same as 4 years ago.  Philanthropist Bill Gates is now advocating a solution to the current coronavirus crisis.  Naturally, the answer is in agreement with medical professionals and scientists from around the world.  Additionally, his advice runs counter to what President Trump would like to see (i.e., is advocating for). In a recent interview on CNN with Aderson Cooper, Bill Gates discusses why a 'state by state' solution will not work:

Gates cites statistics that were gathered by various organizations.  Organizations that provide data for the public too.  Organizations that have data that the Gates Foundation uses to fund disease vaccination solutions.  Bill Gates has pursued cures for diseases such as polio and malaria over the past few years.  Therefore, he has street credentials in fighting diseases across the world.



Last but not least, in an interview with Yahoo Finance, Bill Gates states the solution of isolation for a short time:

“It’s very irresponsible for somebody to suggest we can have the best of both worlds,” the Microsoft co-founder said in an interview with TED on Tuesday. “What we need is an extreme shutdown so that in six to 10 weeks, if things go well, then you can start opening back up.”

Gates noted that while isolation in populated areas — along with widespread testing — is difficult and “disastrous” for the economy, “the sooner you do it in a tough way, the sooner you can undo it.”

To which President Trump replied:

“The expression ‘We can do two things at one time,’ ... and that includes not just economics, that also includes life and death,” Trump said. “We have to keep it that way.”

The U.S. stock market and economy have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. And the financial situation is becoming increasingly problematic for millions of Americans as unemployment claims rose to an historic 3.2 million for the week that ended March 21.

Trump asserted that the U.S. “wasn’t built to be shut down. This is not a country that was built for this,” adding: “America will again and soon be open for business. Very soon. A lot sooner than three or four months that somebody was suggesting.”

A quote from Bill Gates is a proper way to end this blog post and discussion:

 “There really is no middle ground, and it’s very tough to say to people: ‘Hey, keep going to restaurants, go buy new houses, ignore that pile of bodies over in the corner. We want you to keep spending because there’s maybe a politician who thinks GDP growth is all that counts,’” Gates said. “It’s very hard to tell people when there’s an epidemic spreading… that they should go about things, knowing that their activity is spreading this disease.”

Stay safe and stay informed.  Listen to health professionals who are on the front line.  As noted in both the video, along with the articles cited, the federal government is out to lunch.  The government does not have your best interest in mind.  Confusion, misinformation, and chaos is here and spreading rapidly.  Stay tuned.



Have a great weekend!



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Plastic Bag Manufacturers Seek to Increase Use of Single-Use Plastic Bag During Coronavirus Pandemic

Photo: Chatelaine

The controversy surrounding single-use plastic bag bans continue.  Plastic bag manufacturers are using the pandemic surrounding the coronavirus as an opportunity to promote single-use plastic bags.  In the current situation, one has to rethink the use of single-use plastic bags.  Does the safety (hygienic) to the consumer outweigh the adverse impact on the environment?  Serious thought must be given to the question with the increasing rates of coronavirus spreading throughout the world.



Reporting from Politico Energy gives us some insight into the issue:

PLASTICS GO AFTER BAG BANS: Plastic bag proponents see an opportunity in the coronavirus pandemic to push single-use plastics, POLITICO's Samantha Maldonado and Marie J. French report. In a letter obtained by POLITICO and sent to the Department of Health and Human Services last week, the Plastics Industry Association requests a public statement from the department endorsing the idea that single-use plastics are the safest choice amid the pandemic. In New York, New Jersey and other states, the plastics industry and some GOP lawmakers are calling for rollbacks or easing of prohibitions on single-use plastic bags, arguing that often-unwashed reusable bags are hotbeds for the coronavirus.

The letter mentioned in the above paragraph is shown in full below:

March 18, 2020  

The Honorable Alex Azar US Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20201  

Dear Secretary Azar:  

Our country is at a critical point in our fight against the novel coronavirus and I am proud to say that the plastics industry is working overtime to produce products and supplies to help in that effort. We stand united with you and all of our nation’s leaders to do what we can to help us get through this period of time and come out as a stronger nation together.  

In recent years, there has been a push to eliminate single-use products at the local, state, and now even the federal level. During that time, the plastics industry has been working to educate the general public and elected officials that single-use plastic products are the most sanitary choice when it comes to many applications, especially the consumption and transport of food, whether purchased at a restaurant or at a grocery store. Now more than ever, we are seeing the impacts of those local and state laws restricting the use of single-use products. For instance, local and state plastic bag bans are tying the hands of shoppers and retailers alike. Study after study after study have shown that reusable bags can carry viruses and bacteria, spread them throughout a grocery store, and live on surfaces for up to three days. Additionally, we are attaching a recent affidavit by a leading expert in community hygiene, Ryan Sinclair, PhD, MPH, speaking to the concerns with the cleanliness of reusable grocery bags.    

The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing many Americans, businesses and government officials to realize that single-use plastics are often the safest choice. Some are starting to take corrective action. For example, Bexley, Ohio, has lifted its plastic bag ban due to the novel coronavirus. The mayor of Waterville, Maine, is calling on the city council to suspend the city’s plastic bag ban and, instead, ban reusable bags until the threat of the coronavirus as passed. The New York state senate minority leader is calling on the Department of Environmental Conversation to suspend the statewide plastic bag ban. Chains such as Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts are suspending the use of reusable cups and “for-here” ware (such as plates and mugs) to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Countless restaurants and cafes around the country are switching to a “to-go” and/or delivery model, which will require single-use plastic bags, containers, and cups to transport food and drink to people’s homes. But in many places across the United States, citizens and businesses do not have the choice of using a product that is best for themselves or their customers.  

We are asking that the Department of Health and Human Services investigate this issue and make a public statement on the health and safety benefits seen in single-use plastics. We ask that the department speak out against bans on these products as a public safety risk and help stop the rush to ban these products by environmentalists and elected officials that puts consumers and workers at risk.   

Sincerely,  

Tony Radoszewski, CAE President and CEO Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) 

Single-use plastic products are accessible during a pandemic to help avoid the spread of the virus throughout local and state regions.   There is no denying the usefulness of the products during a crisis.  The disease spread through the use of reusable cloth bags has been an ongoing issue without a pandemic is plaguing our society.



The usefulness of a single-use plastic bag highlights the issue facing all residents in various nations dealing with the spread of the coronavirus.   People inherently are not educated on the proper way to exist with sickness in a given region. Notably, in the event of the illness rapidly spreading throughout a geographic area as fast as coronavirus has the potential to spread without precaution.



Therefore, the use of single-use plastic is appropriate, given the situation.  The potential adverse impact on the environment is outweighed by the benefit to humanity.  That is until the spread can be contained.  Environmentalists who seek to eliminate all uses of single-use plastic bags should take a pause during this time.  Or at least, try to minimize the use of single-use plastic products when most useful.



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Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries Suffer Largely Due to Coronavirus Pandemic

Photo: Post Gazette

The coronavirus has taken hold of the United States and is starting to exert pressures on those most in need.  If you have stockpiled toilet paper along with other food, count your blessings.  If you have a roof over your head, count your blessings.  If you have food in your refrigerator, count your blessings.



For those who rely on fantastic relief organizations such as food kitchens and food pantries, the coronavirus has had an indirect strong negative impact as reported by Politico Agriculture:

The coronavirus pandemic is squeezing food pantries and soup kitchens in New York City. Volunteers are staying home and dozens of facilities have shuttered even as the number of homebound people in need of meal deliveries has skyrocketed. POLITICO New York's Sally Goldenberg has the story.

The reference to the original story is accessed by clicking here.



During this time of containment, please stay inside your home unless supplies are urgently needed.  Instead of sitting around thinking about the restrictions which have been replaced on you, play a game of gratitude.  What are you grateful for?  Take the time to learn what your children have been learning in school?  Educate and yourself about history.  How?



Use the opportunity to look back at other times in history where pandemics have hit our nation and others.  How does this pandemic compare in tragedies?  How many people were impacted overall?  Compare those numbers to the relative population (i.e., the population at the time).  You may be surprised at the news media statistics which are being reported.  Not to minimize the reports.


Most of all, stay safe and grateful for life.

Ralph Nader: Trump Minimizing and Sugarcoating Coronavirus Perils

Photo: Politico

The pandemic surrounding the Coronavirus circulating around the world is serious.  Cities (i.e., Los Angeles) have moved to shut down unnecessary travel or business.  Residents have started to raid supermarkets for vital resources (toilet paper, dry goods, eggs, water, etc.).  In reality, the pandemic is a serious flu that is circulating.  And we are observing the inability of humans to properly take care of themselves.  What do I mean by this?



If an employee is sick, then the employee should stay home to rest.  A large percentage of Americans use their 'sick leave' for vacation.  When in fact, the intended use is to let the body (i.e., the human body) rest and repair itself. This is for the normal flu.  Now, take a strain of disease for which there is no vaccination available to help people combat it.  The present situation is an example of such a case.



Humans are notoriously terrible about taking care of themselves.  Add into the mix, a flu-like disease which if not watched properly can result in death.  What is not questionable is the ability to search for vaccinations and the source of such a new threat.  That is exactly what has been diminished by the Trump administration while defunding agencies like USAID - which serves to find sources of such threats and treatments too.



Ralph Nader recently wrote a newsletter regarding President Trump's ability to minimize a situation which is now spinning out of control:

Trump Minimizing and Sugarcoating Coronavirus Perils

Donald Trump can’t fake his way through the coronavirus. It’s spreading and doesn’t respond to his delusions. Donald is flailing, failing, fibbing, stumbling, and scapegoating. With the stock market collapsing and the economy shaking, Donald fears defeat in November. Trump is a daily clear and present danger and he is the worst person to handle the COVID-19 crisis.

Last weekend, Trump and Mike Pence met with Brazilian officials at Mar-a-Lago, after which Brazilian President Bolsonaro’s press secretary tested positive for COVID-19. Despite his potential exposure, Trump refuses to take the test for coronavirus. He should take paid sick leave and let competent, experienced people take the reins to combat the virus.

“Be calm,” he says, “it will go away.” “This is like the flu.” On February 26, he falsely said the number of U.S. COVID-19 cases “within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero.” The dangerous falsehoods continue to pour from his fevered mind.

Trump knows that during his tenure, he took innumerable actions that have made the United States more defenseless against this pandemic and other threats. He and the evil John Bolton, aggressively moved to disable pandemic prevention forces in the U.S. government, boosted by supine, maniacal right wing talk radio show hosts (Rush Limbaugh said the virus is “just a cold”). In 2018, the head of the pandemic response team, Rear Admiral Timothy Ziemer, left the National Security Council amid Bolton’s restructuring. Once Ziemer was gone, Bolton dismantled the entire pandemic response team. Trump also pushed to slash the budgets of the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health. Congress stopped the cuts but couldn’t repeal the destructive policies of Trump and his henchmen.

Trump insanely decided to cut USAID’s Predict program, a critical federal program that tracked infectious diseases.  At the same time, he poured hundreds of billions of dollars into the bloated military empire budget with congressional complicity. According to Public Citizen, Trump wanted to cut the CDC’s 2021 budget by $1.3 billion, down 19% from the previous year. The proposed CDC budget cuts included cutting $25 million in funding for the “preparedness and response programs.”

This is sheer madness: Trump has chosen death over life. Draft-dodger Trump is stockpiling mass destruction weapons that can blow up the world many times over. But the determined golfer, right in the midst of this COVID-19 surge, did not stockpile ventilators, face masks, testing kits and other critical equipment and materials. Hospital capacity is perilously low and the number of reserve medical and nursing personnel is too small. What about readiness here at home?

Failing to head off a pandemic is what can be expected from a regime that sugarcoats and covers up its criminal negligence by not protecting the American people. Trump blathered about China since day one, but he allowed the U.S. drug companies to continue to outsource production of most drugs to China and India. We’re utterly dependent on that fragile supply chain because Big Pharma wanted to make even bigger profits—despite the handouts they already get in the form of big tax credits and free research and development of drugs by the National Institutes of Health. The U.S. government doesn’t even have price ceilings on drugs, allowing pharmaceutical companies to gouge Americans. There’s a real possibility of drug shortages soon.

Trump is trying to buy himself out of trouble through red ink deficit spending in the tens of billions to cushion businesses. At the same time he balks at eliminating the huge tax cut he gave to big business and the wealthy to provide paid sick leave, paid medical care for the uninsured, and other assistance people will need. Poor people will especially need broader medical coverage, protections from evictions, and food assistance during the predicted crisis. Unemployment compensation funds need to be expanded during this coming recession.

New York Times columnist Farhad Manjoo wrote that “We’re all socialists in a pandemic.” That brings us to the daily vindication of the Bernie Sanders campaign. Suddenly, everyone – the banks, Wall Street, the airlines, the hospitality and tourist business, beleaguered small business, and others are expecting government agencies to help in all kinds of ways. The same CEO fat cats who, in the past decade, dumped seven trillion dollars of profits into unproductive, stock buybacks for their compensation metrics are looking to the government to stabilize their debt-ridden companies.

When I was campaigning for president in 2008 during the stock market crash, we hoisted a large banner at an anti-Wall Street rally that read, “Socialism bails out Capitalism.” Bernie recognizes our mixed private/public economy. He wants a better balance so that the few/powerful, in their greed do not disproportionately benefit while the many powerless suffer. Bernie wants what western European democracies have long provided for all their people: Universal health care, tuition-free education (like we have for public high schools), living wages, stronger labor unions and cooperatives, and other social safety net benefits long overdue in the world’s biggest economy.

So long deprived of what they’ve earned, from frozen wages to looted pensions and consumer gouging, the people should shout out “what’s the big deal, we are long overdue.”

Bernie needs to continue his campaign to the Party’s convention. Just like Jesse Jackson did in 1984 and Ronald Reagan did in 1976. To drop out is to calamitously let down his supporters, including voters yet to vote. He would forfeit going after Trump, with media coverage, in ways faltering and gaffe-prone Joe Biden can’t or won’t. He would lose his leverage, backed by legions of small donors, to get concessions from Biden and his entrenched Democrats. Besides, Biden could stumble before the convention.

So it’s not just about voting margins in primaries; it’s about policies for the present and future of America. Politics is about timing; now Bernie’s proposals will receive more attention from everybody affected.

And everybody is affected by the looming coronavirus pandemic.

Everyone has their own opinion about the severity of the present situation.  What is not in question is the fact that such a threat can spread easily through a population that typically does not take care along with hygienic care of its members.  Hygienic measures are now being elevated to the stage of seriousness as a result of the inability to contain the disease (i.e., flu).



In a larger picture though, funding appropriate agencies to explore solutions to such problems is critical to the survival of the population.  Why anyone would choose to take funding away at a time like this is unprecedented and completely illogical.  We should be going down two different avenues. First, stay at home and take care of yourself.  Secondly, on a national stage restore funding to agencies who are tasked with fighting the sources and spread of the disease.



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First Fish Farm Needs EPA Approval

Photo: Sino Feed Extruder

The news comes from Politico Agriculture regarding the first fish farm in the Gulf of Mexico:

FIRST FISH FARM IN THE GULF AWAITS EPA APPROVAL: Ocean Era wants to be the first to raise fish in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico, but the aquaculture company is facing resistance from local residents, commercial fisherman and environmental advocates who are worried about the project's potential impact on tourism, native fish species and pollution. Before Ocean Era can move forward with its plan to raise 20,000 alamo jack in chain-link, open water pens 45 miles southwest of Sarasota, Fla., it needs a final permit from the EPA under the Clean Water Act — a draft of which was initially issued in August.

It's unclear how long the EPA will take to make a final decision, said Neil Anthony Sims, founder and CEO of Ocean Era (formerly called Kampachi Farms). The company had to go through the EPA because the regulatory framework for aquaculture that NOAA finalized in 2016 was blocked by legal challenges. A district court ruled that legislation was needed to give new authority to NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service. Should the EPA grant Ocean Era a permit, litigation is likely to follow, as well.

Ocean Era's mission is to scale seafood production in an environmentally responsible way, Sims said. The U.S. imports nearly 90 percent of its seafood and public health experts recommend that Americans double their consumption. Sims said the proposed operation in the Gulf would have an immeasurable impact on water quality, based on aquaculture farms tested in Hawaii state waters.

"They are trying to say the pollution will be minimal, but some marine scientists have said studies that EPA relied on are outdated and inadequate," said Neal Schleifer, a longtime resident of Siesta Key, Fla., who is helping organize the opposition. He is particularly concerned that waste from the finfish farm will worsen algae blooms, known as ride tide. The Gulf is also prone to hurricanes, and if a pen breaks, fish could escape and threaten wild stocks.

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Ralph Nader: American Fuhrer—Corrupt Rampage Against Americans

Photo: Texas Tribune

There is no doubt that President Trump is not the average politician residing in the highest office of the land.  In fact, President Trump is severely below average in intelligence and actions needed to run the nation.  As a test, the nation has been running on all of the hard work previous politicians and policy-makers have dedicated toward making America great.  That is, prior to President Trump taking office.  That much is apparent and true on every level of the our government.  Since the impeachment trial, President Trump has now been empowered to be even more bold than usual (if that is now even possible).  His handling of the coronavirus is a perfect example of his ability to run our country.



Ralph Nader writes in a recent newsletter about the rampage that President Trump is currently engaged on:

American Fuhrer—Corrupt Rampage Against Americans

Delusionary, dictatorial Donald Trump is drunk on power. Trump’s monarchical and lawless actions are a clear and present subversion of our Republic and its Constitution. As soon as the impeachment trial ended and Trump was acquitted by the Senate’s supine Republican courtiers (except for Senator Mitt Romney), vengeance flooded Trump’s fevered mind.

Ignoring warnings from his advisors, Trump is lashing out in all directions, unleashing torrents of foul-mouthed tweets. Note with alarm how this American Fuhrer is consolidating control and using his presidential power to smash all opposition. Remember that last July Trump declared “I have an Article II, where I have the right to do whatever I want as President.” He wasn’t kidding, America.

Trump is shocking his current appointees—in addition to those who have quit or been fired in purges.  Without evidence, he is accusing the intelligence agencies and the FBI of conspiring against him! Trump has attacked both the Justice Department and Attorney General William Barr because of the sentencing recommendations by four DOJ prosecutors for convicted criminal and Trump advisor Roger Stone. Barr, a Trump toady, was shaken. Barr said it would be impossible for him to do his job if Trump kept interfering.

As Mark Green and I depicted in our new book, Fake President, loser Trump always retaliates against opponents by charging fraud, fakery, and crookery. Trump’s intimidation of others is amplified by the media that gives no right of reply to Trump’s targets.

What is most troubling are the silences of the countervailing forces that Americans have a right to rely on to fight Trump the tyrant.

Post acquittal, Trump has doubled down on his numerous impeachable offenses (see the Congressional Record from December 18, 2019, page H 12197). But Democrats, who control the House, are not doubling down on their impeachment investigations. Instead, they are following orders from Speaker Pelosi and standing down.

Trump regularly attacks the judges who rule against him or dare to challenge his illegal acts. Yet there is only silence by the many judge’s associations and the many bar associations. The American Bar Association, which has over 194,000 members, remains asleep. All of its members, so-called “officers of the court,” are attorneys and should understand their responsibilities to uphold the rule of law.

Trump’s Party has a long history of vicious voter suppression (chronicled in the new documentary, Suppressed: The Fight to Vote, by Robert Greenwald). These anti-democratic actions should be considered serious crimes. However, the members of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) are largely unprepared to protect voter rights and accurate counting of votes. Some Secretaries of State are aiding and abetting these electoral crimes. Current Georgia Governor Brian Kemp used his power as Georgia’s Secretary of State to suppress black voters, cheating his way to the Governor’s mansion in 2018.

Trump is now doing what all dictators do when they take power: he is purging the civil service of any critical voices of those who simply want to do their jobs. These civil servants made the “mistake” of enforcing health and safety laws that the supreme leader wanted to go unenforced to benefit the President’s big corporate buddies and donors. The government employee unions are not doing enough to fight back and explain what Trump the tyrant is doing to harm people—Trump voters and anti-Trump voters alike. Trump and his cronies are making America more dangerous again by scuttling protections that reduce deaths, injuries, and illnesses.

Whether it is the air you breathe, the water you drink, the vehicles you ride in, or the toxins in your workplace, Trump’s corporatist wrecking crew is running federal agencies into the ground. While corporate outlaws fill Trump’s coffers and hotels with riches, he gives them huge tax escapes and starves infrastructure. The word “corruption” cannot fully embrace how this insulting megalomaniac is tearing apart our country, our democratic practices, and our moral norms. Protections for children, the elderly, veterans and workers are all on Trump’s chopping block.

Who will stand up to this horrible bully who is intent on rolling back America’s gains and the anti-monarchy purpose of the American Revolution itself? Some in the media will sound the alarm. Sensing this threat, Trump interfered with government procurement to tilt a large contract away from Amazon because Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, which has run many articles about Trump’s rampage. Trump’s Republican campaign committee just filed a loser suit against The New York Times. Whether Trump wins or loses, the intimidation of the media is his goal.

These tactics are working on Chairman Jerome Powell and the Federal Reserve, according to former Fed insiders. As a result, the Federal Reserve has stayed committed to lowering interest rates to the detriment of savers. Intimidation is also working on the House of Representatives Democrats, who abhor the lives ruined by the savage sexual predator. Sadly, these lawmakers are not demanding a House Judiciary investigation of Trump’s treatment of women. Credible tort lawsuits are being delayed by Trump’s lawyers.

The cowardly silence of Barack Obama is the most stunning. In his extraordinary new book, The Triumph of Doubt, that names names, former head of Occupational Health and Safety Agency (OSHA), Dr. David Michaels, documents “President Trump’s desire to reverse anything the Obama administration did—if Obama supported it, Trump would do the opposite no matter what the consequences.”

The results are more mercury and diesel particulates in your lungs, more deadly methane accelerating climate disruption, and more coal ash for your children to breathe. Trump’s administration is even failing to adequately invest in medical science, which could save you. Until the coronavirus came along, Trump demanded serious funding cuts for the Centers for Disease Control; these funding cuts were thwarted by Congress. Even more damning, the Trump administration fired the U.S. pandemic response team to save money! The CDC’s annual budget is equal to a mere three days spending by the Pentagon, whose budget Trump bloats.

So where is Obama? Critiquing music, making movies, attending NBA all-star festivities, and readying for March Madness. Obama is thoroughly enjoying himself. What about also using his high political poll ratings and his massive Twitter following (which is far larger than Trump’s) to combat Trump’s actions? If not for the wellbeing of the American people, Obama should at least want to protect his legacy.

If Obama remains so carefree in the critical months before November, he will need a sign beside the exhibits to be displayed at his forthcoming presidential library: REPEALED BY TRUMP.

Action needs to be taken by both partisan sides to save the nation from the path of demise we are currently on.  Sit back and watch the unfolding of the Trump administration's ability to deal with the coronavirus as an example.  The defunding of federal agencies such as the CDC in a critical time as the spread of a potentially deadly virus is a perfect example.  Stay tuned while taking action to elect a suitable replacement.



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Trump Administration Kicks People Off of SNAP Funding And Offers No Work Assistance?

Photo: By United States Department of Agriculture

One of the significant changes that the Trump administration has aggressively pursued throughout the past few years is the reduction of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- SNAP.  The Trump administration believes that the program is being abused by the recipients and needs an overhaul.  Fine.  But kicking off several hundred thousand people is not alright.  Every program needs some type of financial oversight.  Additionally, each federal program (and state) could use adjustments through monitoring.  The Trump administration believes that there are 'abled-bodied' workers who need to work rather than sit back and get paid.



According to reporting from Politico Agriculture, SNAP recipients who are deemed 'working abled-bodied status' will not be assisted in finding work as promised:

USDA TIGHTENS JOB TRAINING FOR FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS: A proposed rule unveiled Thursday would require state agencies that oversee SNAP to consult workforce development boards to the design of their employment and training programs for food stamp recipients, writes Pro Ag's Liz Crampton.

The so-called E&T services are intended to help SNAP participants find a job and eventually stop receiving nutrition benefits. The actual proposed rule change is 120 pages long and covers numerous proposed changes. In the latest announcement, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue again reiterated that the booming economy should lead people to jobs and off welfare programs.

Perdue's deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services, Brandon Lipps, called on state commissioners to "leverage the opportunity afforded to us by the longest economic expansion in U.S. history to get to work on getting people to work."

Data-driven? It's not clear what data USDA relied on in making its proposed changes. As POLITICO has reported, the department has invested $200 million to launch 10 state pilots to test new approaches to SNAP E&T but results won't be available until 2021.

USDA also announced it would host the first SNAP E&T National Forum in St. Louis Oct. 13-14.

The Trump administration's SNAP crackdown has faced fierce blowback from Democrats and anti-hunger advocates. At a House Agriculture Committee hearing this week, Perdue and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) traded sharp words over a final rule set to take effect in April that would curb states' ability to waive work requirements for certain able-bodied adult recipients, booting an estimated 700,000 people from the program.

The current economy is an employer's economy.  Which is to say, employers have the upper hand with a considerable lot of potential employees to choose from.  Yes, the economy is strong with low unemployment -- meaning people are back to work.  Although, SNAP recipients who have not held a job might find navigating the new job landscape not just tricky but nearly impossible.



Which is why the USDA SNAP initially offered to help those who would lose the assistance (i.e., funding).  Now to yank the aid and help in finding a job away at the same time is a double punch.  Not to mention that 700,000 people will be out of assistance soon.  Stay tuned to more on the SNAP reorganization.



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Largest Energy Conference in the U.S. Cancelled First Time in 40 years due to Coronavirus Scare

Photo: CERA week

The energy industry is a global enterprise spread throughout the world.  Each year, representatives gather together in the United States to celebrate a conference aimed at the problems and challenges facing the energy industry.  The meeting is at the CERA conference.  Representatives from across the globe travel far and near to attend the world-class event.  An event where ideas can transform industries due to the scale and size of the actors involved in various discussions.  Needless to say, big business merges with Wall Street and global actors to decide where to place funding for the future of the energy landscape.  It's a big deal.



That is why the reporting by Politico Energy last week was so surprising.  Other news agencies ran with the story too.  Mainly, that the CERA 2020 conference would be canceled due to concerns with the rapidly spreading coronavirus across the globe.  Alright, the virus might not be spreading as quickly as the news stories surrounding the illness, but nonetheless, reporting is showing a devastating impact on the world economy.  Reporting earlier last week from Politico Energy brought surprising news of the most significant annual energy conference cancellation in 40 years:

HOUSTON ENERGY CONFERENCE CANCELED: CERAWeek organizers canceled the upcoming conference in Houston for the first time ever, citing concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, Pro's Ben Lefebvre reports. The spread of COVID-19 caused IHS Markit to cancel the conference — one of the biggest energy conferences in the world — for the first time in the event's nearly 40-year history, according to IHS spokesperson Jeff Marn. The gathering has regularly featured heads of the world's major oil and gas companies, international energy ministers and others and was set to begin March 9.

"Our number one concern is the health and safety of delegates and speakers, our partners, our colleagues and vendors," IHS Markit said in a statement Sunday. "We have spent the last several weeks focused on this question, established a medical partnership with Houston Methodist Hospital, have been in continuing dialogue with experts on infectious disease and established an extensive protocol. But the spread of COVID-19 is moving quickly around the world."

The coronavirus has without a doubt produced a large dent in the world economy.  As I wrote previously in blog posts (see below), the world economy took a stock market hit of nearly $6 Trillion dollars in a week.  $4 Trillion dollars to the U.S. markets alone.  That is staggering to say the least.



Worry about the spread of the potentially deadly virus is bringing business to a halt.  Which is worrisome.  On top of all of the negative news, our leadership (i.e., President Trump) has produced a scare among American citizens with his lack of knowledge -- not to mention -- a lack of preparedness.  Unfortunately, the markets do not take well to such advice.  Hopefully, the world economy can recover in due time to keep business running as usual.  Time will tell.



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California University Update On Coronavirus

Photo: The Olive Press

Los Angeles, the city where I live, has issued a declaration of emergency for the Coronavirus (Covid-19).  The declaration allows a joint task force to implement preventative procedures for a potential spread of the virus throughout one of the nation's largest city.  Further, the declaration will allow the retrieval of resources from the State to tackle all aspects of the virus.  The news is reassuring given the recent rapid spread of news around the globe about the potentially deadly virus.


Given the news from the city of Los Angeles, it is appropriate that large businesses should issue reports within their respective environments.  Yesterday morning upon opening my email 'inbox' I noticed that an update on the 'coronavirus' was waiting for me from the department chair:

Hi All,

There has been much talk around the university, by faculty, staff and students, about the impact of the current Covid-19 virus outbreak on the campus.  It has become especially important to clarify a few points now that the City of LA has declared a State of Emergency.

(1)  The city State of Emergency means nothing more than they can now access more funds and can open additional planning and communications channels.  It does not mean that we are in imminent danger or that the risk of contracting the disease has suddenly increased.

(2)  As always, CSUN encourages all to practice healthy habits on campus, including frequent hand washing and staying home if you feel sick, especially with flu-like symptoms.  If you or your students develop symptoms while on campus, please go to the Health Center (818-677-3666).  They are fully prepared to handle such cases.  Other information can be found at:

https://www.csun.edu/shc/news/novel-coronaviruscovid-19-what-you-need-know

(3)  CSUN is actively planning for short, medium or long term effects on campus which may include partial or full closure of classes.  We are not at that point and do not expect to be at that point in the near future.

(4)  Faculty, staff and students are already expressing nervousness about coming to campus.  The university is asking us to be flexible and understanding.  But they are not asking us to make any special accommodations to faculty, staff or students who are fearful to come to campus at this time.

(5)  Please reassure students wherever you can and provide hard facts where possible.  It is important to note that the risk of fatality associated with Covid-19 is not much higher than the flu for young and healthy people.

(6)  The latest information from the campus on the outbreak and our response is on the CSUN homepage (www.csun.edu).  CSUN Housing may have separate announcements and plans and they can be contacted at housing@csun.edu.

As ever, I will communicate whatever information I have about this fast-changing situation and of course, please get back to me if you have questions or concerns.

I am happy to see that our university is issuing information quickly on the virus.  The news agencies are running wild with various reports from around the world.  Which can make accurate assessments difficult to find among the noise.  Here is a short video (less than a minute in length) produced by The New York Times of what the effect of the coronavirus looks like from space:

Time will tell the total impact of this virus spreading across the globe.  Stay tuned!

Why Is Aid For Hurricane Michael (500 days Ago) Being Delayed To Farmers?

Photo: Forbes

Without a doubt, the farmers of America have absorbed the largest amount of pain from the Trump administration policies.  Whenever a disaster occurs, President Trump shows up and says that massive amounts of funding are on its way.  Looking back to the year 2018, Hurricane Michael ravaged thousands of square miles of land.  Especially, when looking at land in Georgia -- a land which farmers depend on for a living.  

With the above description in mind, why would recovery aid not have been dispersed immediately after?  Furthermore, why would funding take around 500 days (and counting)?  

The questions stem from recent news reports from Politico Agriculture regarding Hurricane Michael:

Emergency aid is on the way to Georgia farmers battered by Hurricane Michael more than 500 days ago. State officials on Wednesday announced a $347 million grant program for producers in southern Georgia who suffered damage to their crops, equipment and other property during the Category 5 storm in October 2018. More from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The reporting was taken from 'The Atlantic Journal-Constitution."



One has to wonder what has transpired between the devastating hurricane and the aftermath (present-day)?   What is life like in Georgia for farmers who have suffered from the storm?  FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency is supposed to disperse funds to repair damaged areas to the bare minimum.  After which Congress should appropriate funds to help residents (i.e., farmers) by sparking momentum (i.e., life) in the devastated area.



What appears to be the case is that Congress never came through.  Why not?  The current administration seems to be inexperienced in handling the recovery after a storm.  Furthermore, Congress is excellent at stalling funding.  Stalling due to reprioritizing funding to lobbyists who show up to representatives doors asking for favors with large donations.  What is wrong with Our Country?  Time will tell.


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Psychiatrist About President Trump's Handling Of The Coronavirus: "He Hears What's In His Head..."

Photo: CNBC

Last week was a historic week for the stock market.  As I wrote previously, the global markets lost nearly $6 Trillion dollars in market value.  Which created great uncertainty in the global supply chain.  In the end, the American consumer could see great changes in product availability at local shops and retail stores.  Not to mention the spreading of the coronavirus.  This is known.



What is a lesser-known and more mysterious aspect of the well-being in the United States is the thought processes of President Trump.  A few questions arise given the seriousness of the virus:



How can President Trump blatantly deny the seriousness of the coronavirus?


Why is the President more concerned about the stock market than the health of the American citizen?


How can President Trump not be concerned about the health of the American citizen?


Does President Trump think about anyone else but himself?



To give us an explanation into the inner workings of President Trump, Former Assistant Clinical Professor Dr. Lance Dodes of Harvard Medical School was interviewed by Lawrence O'Donnell on the Last Word regarding President Trump's handling of the coronavirus:

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