An interesting take on Elon’s business acumen from someone who worked for him…

Also interesting, this was posted four months ago and really gives some insights…

In the end, I think both Elon and Trump are pretty easily misled. That seems crazy, but is it? Both have attachments to conspiracy theories that are definitely not true.

I’ve waited awhile before commenting on JD’s European speech. I have a friend who thought he did really well. I am less enthusiastic. But he did highlight what I believe are two misconceptions, one held by liberals, and one held by conservatives. In the end, his speech was shocking, and partially, in my opinion, true.

He started by saying that Europe’s greatest threat is internal. Attempts by European governments to restrict speech that may offend others are silly and counter productive. This is a good point. I have always felt that liberals need to understand that especially in the United States, there is no such thing as the right to not be offended. Instead, there is indeed a right to offend. Comedians like Lenny Bruce, George Carlin and Richard Pryor established that a long time ago and I stand by it. Okay, that part is true, but is it really Europe’s BIGGEST threat? Continue reading →

With friends like us, who needs enemies?

US refuses to blame Russia for Ukraine war, splitting with European allies in UN votes

Russia invaded Ukraine. It was not provoked. We are now lairs on the world stage. This is not the U.S.A. I was raised in. Not the one I thought I knew. Shame to everyone who enabled this.

I have been able to retire because I worked in two separate jobs with a union. My dad’s union job helped him retire when his body gave out, and many of my older friends got to go to college because their dad was paid fairly because he was in a union. Reagan started the movement against unions and interestingly enough worker pay in the U.S. stagnated after that. In 1982, after just five years on the job (part time), I had medical benefits, dental, eye and even legal coverage. I had two weeks of paid vacation per year and was halfway to being vested in a pension plan. I was also making over $10.00 per hour (in 1982!). Not bad for a college job. The same job today has nowhere near those benefits even though it is still a union job. It also pays only about 50% more than it did then, over 40 years later!

“Right to Work” is a lie. Republicans are now trying to crush public unions. This will not help the average worker.

Unions brace for fight as Ohio GOP moves ‘Right to Work,’ strike bans

Too bad Trump voting seniors…

Trump official calls Social Security ‘wrong’ as administration lays groundwork for massive cuts

Bernie lays it out.

First, I am amazed there was even any type of “background check” on Musk and his toadies like “Big Balls”. So why does it surprise anyone he wouldn’t want you to know what they found.

‘Good luck with that.’ Trump administration terminates privacy officials at agency overseeing government hiring and firing

So let’s make sure we understand. The first priority to cut “waste and fraud” was to get rid of all the watchdogs on waste and fraud and now make sure we don’t know who’s doing what. Sure sounds legit to me! What could go wrong?

By the way, in case you were wondering who “Big Balls” is…

Who is ‘Big Balls’? Teen DOGE Engineer Edward Coristine

Our new Attorney General and head of the Justice Department is Pam Bondi. She was a lobbyist for the company that lobbies on behalf of Trump and his companies, but before that she was Attorney General for Florida. She was investigating Trump for fraud until this happened…

Florida AG Drops Trump U lawsuit After Trump Gives Her $25,000

Folks who think Trump’s fraud trial in New York was a witch hunt forget New York could have prosecuted him twice before for fraud but let him go because he is rich and powerful. I think even if you’re rich, two get out of jail cards seems like plenty. So what’s Pam up to in her new role as U.S. Attorney General?

Fox analyst Andy McCarthy blasts Trump DOJ for ‘weaponization’ in column

Draining that swamp.

Call me a cynic, but I am skeptical that an non-elected government contractor with no previous knowledge of government, and no security clearance, could eliminate waste in the government. So far, at least from my perspective, his work mostly seems to be eliminating important programs and breaking things. Recently he went on a Twitter-rage about testimony from the head of a respected independent government watchdog group called the Project on Government Oversight which has been around since 1981. I am linking to the entire 10 page testimony .pdf format (with footnotes) so no one has to rely on a summary in the news. It an interesting read…

Testimony of Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, Director of Government Affairs Project On Government Oversight Before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency On “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud”

Project on Government Oversight (Wikipedia)

It should also be noted that at least five of the inspectors general that Trump fired had open investigations into Musk’s contracts. He has contracts with at least 17 government agencies or departments. Whoa, I bet firing those independent watchdogs is sure cutting waste. No doubt they where “DEI hires”.

Lastly, why does DOGE need access to your personal tax records to find “waste in government”?
‘Five alarm warning’: Possible DOGE access to private taxpayer data sparks outcry

If you were hoping that wiser heads in the Republican led budget committee would prevail, remember that the party ran all the wiser heads out of office.

House GOP panel passes budget blueprint with $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and steep spending reductions

It calls for $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, with an additional caveat: The House package has to include $2 trillion in cuts to the “mandatory” part of federal spending, which covers programs like Medicare, Medicaid and food benefits known as SNAP, or $4.5 trillion amount in tax breaks must be reduced by a commensurate amount.

“This budget resolution provides the fiscal framework for what will be one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in modern history and the principal legislative vehicle for delivering on President Trump’s America First agenda,” Budget Committee chair Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, said in a statement. “The era of wasteful, woke, and weaponized government is over.”

So Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP are “wasteful, woke and weaponized”. If you are a senior citizen, or poor, you’re about to get screwed. This is what the MAGA crowed really voted for. It isn’t like we didn’t warn you. It’s ALWAYS about money. Also in the news, we voted in an election denying fan of the Kremlin with no intelligence background and ties to a supposed “cult”, to head our intelligence community and a vaccine denying conspiracy theorist with no medical background to head up public health. Good luck with bird flu folks. Mitch McConnell was the only Republican who voted against both. Remember when he had clout?
Couldn’t we raise more revenue if Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and that weird Meta guy paid their fair share of taxes? Why do they need another tax cut? So they won’t need to rely on Social Security and Medicare when they retire?

It was never about the boarder, or “woke”. It was about this…

House Republicans unveil blueprint to extend $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and lift the debt ceiling

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has, in the last 12 years, returned $17.5 billion to consumers who were ripped off by various financial institutions. Like the recent ruling against Bank of America for double-dipping on non-sufficient fund fees, opening unauthorized consumer financial accounts, and making misleading statements regarding certain credit card rewards. In short, they are a tool to help the average consumer. As a result of that ruling, Bank of America will pay more than $100 million to harmed customers and $90 million to the CFPB’s victims relief fund. Obviously the rich and powerful have hated it since it was started. And so…

Trump administration orders consumer protection agency to stop work, closes building

Make no mistake, this one might stick. Banks and Insurance companies have bought a lot of congresscritters over the years, and only congress can do away with the CFPB permanently.

Yeah, I know, I’ve been hitting the politics a lot lately. Hard to not be sad about it all. Trying not to watch as the rich carve up the only defense we have against their tyranny. Word is, the new administration is going after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (N.O.A.A.) next. Easier to lie about climate change if we don’t keep data on it. Wonder who’s going to warn Florida about the next hurricane?

How did it become a political issue? Ambitious politicians never miss a chance to use a crisis as an opportunity. Especially, if you can change the narrative to benefit you. Salesmanship counts, especially among the uninformed and weak minded.

Gotta love private equity.

I remember a story from the 90’s. The government discovered that a certain form used an odd paper size and therefore cost a fortune to purchase. So, they changed the form to a more common size (legal 8.5″ x 14 inches I believe). Unfortunately, this meant all the previous forms had to be photocopied to the new size and the special filing cabinets they were stored in had to be replaced. In the end it cost more by far, than keeping the old form size would have cost. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Shattered ‘efficiency’ dreams: Musk could save $2 trillion just by undoing previous reforms

Don’t be surprised if the agenda you may have voted for is not the agenda that gets acted upon.

Opinion – Elon Musk wants to ‘delete’ many Americans’ financial lifeline

Don’t look for it to change anytime soon. We’ll see.

Remember, follow the money. It’s always about the money.