QAnon Conspiracy Theory has a Life of its Own

 

Photo: NBC News 

Conspiracy theorists have existed since the beginning of time. Human beings are creative creatures that can spin up a theory without evidence in a heartbeat.  Ask the same human being to provide evidence...well that is another story to unpack.  Evidence is scarce to back up theories posited by these fringe groups like QAnon.  

Anderson Cooper of CNN recently was targeted by a person propagating QAnon conspiracy theories.   In the interview below, the theorist has no evidence, just pure speculation as to the harm posed to Mr. Cooper:

Wow!  My big takeaway message from the video above is that the person who threatened Anderson Cooper did not have any evidence.  He decided to threaten a journalist with no evidence.  That is insanity.  Insanity is all around us.  Public sentiment might help squash the insanity that exists around us.  

The next time you hear an absurd theory from a person in your surroundings, ask them for evidence.  Take note of how many have actual evidence of their conspiracies.  Evidence should be present.  Otherwise, the persons' conspiracy theory is just an opinion.

President Biden's Stimulus Bill vs. President Trump's Tax Cuts - Direct Comparison

 

Photo: WCNC

Tax cuts favor the rich.  No doubt about that.  Although, my family member is hell-bent on pushing the narrative that tax cuts promote employment.  If only that were true.  A large portion of tax cuts for businesses ends up in shareholders' pockets.  I am open to a discussion regarding this - leave a comment in the section below.

With that as a backdrop, Senate Republicans are up in arms about the cost of President Biden's COVID-19 relief bill (stimulus package).  Every politician should express opinions (even skepticism) when the government purse is open.  Although, in the event of a pandemic, the conditions change when the fate of society is at cost.  There is no reason to save if there is no society in which to benefit from savings.

In the video below, an interview by Morning Joe's Joe Scarborough with Steve Rattner gives the public further analysis of the direct comparison of President Biden's stimulus bill and President Trump's tax cuts:

I am not suggesting a spending frenzy without limits.  But I am suggesting that the amount in question be considered against the backdrop of President Trump's 36% increase in the Federal Deficit over 4 years.  

Yes -- folks.  A whopping $8 Trillion was added by President Trump (36% increase) to the Federal Deficit - allowed by the Republicans in both chambers of Congress.  OH, how they were quiet when those tax cuts were being delved out.  Now they howl at spending which could save people from suffering large economic consequences from unmanageable debt.

There are two slides that need to be showcased below and discussed further:

Looking at the first graph, notice the dashed line decreasing by around 30%.  That decrease is in the percent of poverty associated with the American Rescue Plan - i.e., Biden Covid-19 Relief Plan.  Notice that prior to the decrease, there is an initial increase in poverty.  That increase in poverty was associated with Trump's tax cuts.

President Trump's tax cuts amounted to an increase in poverty among Americans while President Biden's plan lowers poverty in America.  What plan has support from Americans?

CNN News Anchor Don Lemon Gives an Opinion on Royal Family Interview with Oprah Winfrey

 

Photo: Wall Street Journal

Anyone who listened to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's interview would be hard-pressed not to think of Princess Diane.  The history of the Royal Palace occupants and outsiders has been rocky at best.  Accepting 'those' who don't fit in is out of the question.  Just get to the point.  

Is anyone surprised at the revelation in the interview?

Questions surrounding the skin color of the baby born to Prince Harry are an outdated moment in time.  That might be relevant a hundred years ago.  But today, interracial families are abundant across the world.  Not to say that their acceptance is not without issue.  But as a world, we need to move onto more pressing issues that confront society.

Don Lemon of CNN gives an opinion on the interview from the perspective of being in an interracial gay marriage:

Mr. Lemon is well spoken and states the obvious regarding the interview that took the eyes of so many people worldwide off of their weekend duties last Sunday.  Let's move on to more pressing issues that confront society.

Vice President Breaks Tie in House, but Republicans Setup Obstacles in Senate for COVID-19 Relief Bill...Why?

 

Photo:  ABC News

Today, Americans face economic devastation.  A COVID-19 relief bill is long overdue.  Republicans did not want to pass a bill before the 2020 presidential elections.  Americans suffered through the holidays.  President Biden won the office along with the Democrats taking control of both chambers of Congress.  Now, action, economic action needs to be taken to help suffering Americans - NOW.

Why have Republicans been so obstructive to any type of spending?

Let's look at some recent history.  President Trump has taken the Republican party hostage over the last 5 years.  So much so that the Republican party allowed (while in control of both chambers of Congress) to increase the federal deficit by 36% -- OMG.  Yes, you read correctly.

The federal deficit was around $19 Trillion when President Trump received a government credit card with no limit.  President Trump managed to spend around $8 Trillion.  A whopping $8 trillion without limit from the Republican party.  That is on top of a gigantic tax cut for the rich - which amounted to more money being paid by the poor and middle class.

Thank you, Senator Mitch McConnell, for the bill.  Enriching your wife's family shipping business.  Allowing President Trump to start a Trade War put out farmers - generation farmers who have lost their farms.  Wow-what a great politician Senator Mitch McConnell is.  He looks out for his people.

Not to get off on a tangent.  

When I read an article last night discussing Senator Ron Johnson's action in the Senate, I could not help but think of the devastation caused by the hypocrites in the Republican party.  The clerks in the Senate have to read out loud a bill over 700 pages.  All of this delay a vote to approve COVID-19 relief funds.  

Where have we come as a society?

Who are we looking out for?

Who are we leaving behind?

What about student loan forgiveness?

What about child care relief?

What about infrastructure development?

Deficit discussions do not make any sense without economic growth to accompany the discussion.  Economic growth must occur to make sense of paying down a deficit.  Where is the economic growth?

Look around yourself?  Do you see economic growth occurring at a rapid pace, as Republicans are portraying?

We are in a sad state of affairs in the Senate.  The Republican party desperately tries to make up for the reckless spending that occurred on their watch in the Trump administration.  No wonder why the stock market grew at a rapid pace throughout the Trump administration.  Economic growth should have occurred as the country spent recklessly—all under the Republican-controlled Senate.  

And now the same Republican Senators are trying to save money?

What is happening here?

Don Lemon of CNN nailed it down with an update last week of the obstructive nature of the Republican party.  Check out the video by clicking here.

Stay tuned!

Should Minimum Wage Be Raised To $15 Across The U.S.?

 

Photo: NBC News

Should the minimum wage be raised to $15 per hour across the entire United States?  That is a looming question that has circulated Congress for years.  Now, with a Democratically run Congress, the question has more momentum to be seriously entertained.  How would different states handle such a raise in hourly wage?  Would small businesses suffer greatly?  Would large businesses suffer more?  Is $11 per hour more reasonable?

In an interview with MSNBC's Financial analyst Steve Rattner, Morning Joe's Joe Scarborough asks the above questions in a succinct but sobering poster.  Financial analyst Steve Ratner gives two great charts which are shown below before entertaining the questions above:

In short, the answer to the above questions is "yes" right off the start.  Although, after looking at the first chart, the need to raise the federal minimum wage above the 'poverty line' of $6.58 per hour is necessary.  

Secondly, the greatest planet on Earth should not have the near lowest minimum wage.  How does that look for capitalists?  Those greedy tricksters are profiting off the backs of Americans working barely to survive. 

Should America really be last in place in taking care of its citizens?  By wage, healthcare, and in general welfare?  Why are people so intent on leaving certain citizens out in the cold?  The minimum wage cannot stay low forever.  

As Steve Rattner points out with respect to a national minimum wage in the video above, the minimum wage needs to increase eventually.  We look pathetic in line compared to other nations.  Just look at the graphs above.  

What result do you draw from looking at the data above?  Do you think that the minimum wage is acceptable for those who receive it?  What should be done about it?  Nothing? Raise it? Leave it the same?  Or who cares?  At least think about it.  Stay tuned!

Republicans Want Health Care Too, Just Who Will Control It Is The Big Question?

 

Photo: Hacker Noon

Obamacare has withstood the test of time.  A Republican president took office over the last 4 years and with little (actually none) success was able to change Obamacare.  There is nothing more that boils the blood of Republicans than the thought of the government controlling healthcare.  On the flip side of that longstanding fear resides nothing.  No plan covers Americans with pre-existing conditions.  No suitable (and cost-effective) plan covers the vast number of Americans across the United States presently.  Why?  I don't know ask them.

In a recent article from Politico, the silence of Republicans regarding Obamacare and a suitable replacement is discussed.

In some ways, Nixon envisioned Obamacare Lite — or more accurately, Obamacare Very Very Lite. The ACA is a more robust, more expensive, and more heavily regulated framework, with states overseeing health insurance markets and the feds writing the rules and picking up much of the tab.

The Reagan wing, in contrast, didn’t see much of a federal role in protecting access to care or shielding people from health cost calamities. Reaganites, Blendon said, believed Nixon’s vision would be the first step on the slippery slope to single-payer.

Sometime between now and the 2022 elections, Republicans will have to move beyond that divide. Whatever they come up with, it will likely focus on giving states more leeway to regulate their health insurance markets. Even if Republicans are no longer threatening to upend the ACA, they still complain that its coverage is still too costly.

“Republicans want access to insurance,” Blendon said. “They just don’t want their health care controlled by federal government.” But how to guarantee that access — and who does the guaranteeing if not the federal government — remains the unanswered question.

The overarching question is: Who will guarantee/control healthcare for Americans? How is your healthcare?  Are you getting the coverage that you believe should be at cost?  The Republican party wants healthcare to be privatized to boost profits that are returned to shareholders.

Furthermore, Republicans do not want to pay for other Americans' care.  The party could care less if other Americans cannot afford healthcare.  Which is sad to say.  Why?  There should be no American walking in this great country that is without healthcare.

A more socialized healthcare system is on the horizon.  Why?  We just cannot leave Americans out in the cold without care.  What would you like to see in the healthcare system?  Leave comments in the chat below.  What we had prior to Obamacare was a mixture of both government-assisted and private healthcare competing for different groups of people.  Changes will continue to occur until we get it right.

Former CIA Director John Brennan on Congressional Hearing regarding Jan. 6th Attack on U.S. Capitol

 

Photo: Britannica

As the world starts to turn in a different direction, more commentary on national networks needs to be from trusted leaders.  Leaders who have the best interest of the United States in mind.  One such leader is the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Director John Brennan.  Especially, as the world takes in the terrible tragedy that occurred at the U.S. Capitol last month.  A point in history that will never be forgotten or diluted in importance.

The video below is an excerpt from an interview on MSNBC regarding testimony from Congressional Hearing on Jan. 6th rioting on the U.S. Capitol:

Director Brennan brings up appropriate security threats of conspiracy theorists in the video above.  Why are a few fringe Americans set on harming the U.S. Capitol?  Why are these extremists set on destroying government property or killing politicians?  What is wrong with these groups?

What is wrong with these politicians who are giving air time to these extremists views of destruction and death?  Where have we come as a nation to arrive here?  Time and history will tell.  Wake up America.  Re-establish order and bring safety back to America.