Tag: politics

KATHY HOCHUL HAS LOST HER MIND

As always, the content of this blog is a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.

In my opinion, current empirical evidence indicates that NYS Governor Kathy Hochul has lost her mind. Recently she gave a speech in which she urged wealthy individuals who previously had relocated from NYS to other locales to return. In what universe does she think there is even a remote chance that will happen? If she honestly believes that, she is delusional. Did she forget that just a few years ago she gave a speech in which she basically told wealthy people and others who objected to her left-leaning policies and her cozying up to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani that if they didn’t like it, they should “get out.” (Like the words from that old-time song, “Get on the bus, Gus.”)

That is just what many of them have done. Recently, NY State Senator Steve Rhoades disclosed the brutal statistic that “one [NY resident] leaves [the state] every 2 minutes and 23 seconds.” Think about that. Repub gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman sarcastically declared that “Hochul has finally discovered what New Yorkers already know. When you raise taxes, drive up the cost of living make it harder to do business, and try to destroy families’ savings people leave.” Moreover, he characterized Hochul’s pleas to the rich to return “the most honest moment of her administration.” In my view, if it’s not number one, it’s certainly in the top three.

Rich people are very astute. That’s how they became rich in the first place. They left primarily because of her governance. They were tired of the deteriorating quality of life, particularly in NYC. They were tired of the outrageously high cost of living, including rent, taxes, food and other necessities. They know that Hochul’s reputation is that she says one thing and then does the opposite, case in point, her congestion policy. Now they can see the handwriting on the wall. Despite her assertions to the contrary at some point, probably after the 2026 election she will give in to the lefties and raise taxes, and not just on the “wealthy.”

The lefties are becoming increasingly creative in ways to confiscate your money. For example, there has been talk of levying a “death tax” on a decedent’s wealth. By the way, in NYC how much annual income defines one as “wealthy?” Is it $100,000, $200,000, more? That sounds like a lot, but any NYC resident will tell you money doesn’t go very far when one factors in the high cost of living and punitive tax base. Now, having experienced the low or no-state taxes of Florida, Texas, Tennessee and other “red states” the rich have no intention of returning.

Furthermore, Hochul and Mamdani have formed a political partnership despite their ideological differences. As you may recall Hochul, in an attempt to unite the moderate and left-wing portions of the Dem Party in NYS, endorsed the socialist/communist/antisemitic Mamdani in his successful 2025 mayoral campaign. She was hopeful that he would support her in her re-election bid. He did, but he can always withdraw it or threaten to do so, and she knows it.

Hochul’s call for the rich former residents to return comes as she attempts to expand the state’s tax base in order to satisfy one of Mamdani’s primary demands that she raise tax rates. Blakeman derisively stated “Kathy Hochul finally discovered what New Yorkers already know. When you raise taxes, drive up the cost of living, make it harder to do business, and try to destroy families’ savings, people leave.” Barstool Sports Founder Dave Portnoy was not constrained by political niceties. He called it “unbelievable arrogance and hypocrisy” to ask wealthy New Yorkers to return home.

Mamdani has already become the dominant partner in the aforementioned alignment. It’s very unusual, if not unique, for a mayor to hold sway over a governor, but that’s how I see it. The left wing is very aggressive. Hochul is desperate to secure its support in her re-election campaign. She won a tight race in 2022, and she needs a united party behind her to win in 2026. As I indicated above already, she has been facing immense political pressure from the socialist wing to raise income and corporate taxes in order to pay for its planned extravagant spending programs, such as subsidizing bus rides and universal free childcare and healthcare. So far, she has resisted, but I expect her to cave eventually.

Conclusion

For New Yorkers the hits just keep on coming. It’s hard for me to feel sorry for them since they elected him. What did they expect would happen? They asked for it (socialism/communism), and they’re getting it.

Mamdani and his crew don’t have the foggiest notion of how to govern. I wouldn’t select them to run a lemonade stand much a large, complex city like NYC. Unless the adults manage to retake control, I fear that NYC, which has always been the crown jewel of the US, will inevitably deteriorate into a communist/socialist hellhole, i.e. an extremely unpleasant, filthy, squalid, miserable, chaotic, nightmarish place in which to live, work or even visit. If you think that is an extreme statement, just wait.

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VOTER ID

As always, the contents of this blog are a compendium of various media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where noted.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act is a proposed US federal law that aims to restrict voting in federal elections to citizens. Voters would be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate in order to register to vote. Furthermore, it would necessitate anyone voting in person to produce a photo ID, such as a driver’s license, strengthen procedures for on-line voting, and mandate stricter voter roll maintenance by the states to prevent unauthorized persons from voting. President Trump has characterized the Bill as his “number one [legislative] priority.”

The SAVE Act was narrowly approved by the House earlier this year, however, it faces strong opposition in the Senate. The Repubs hold a 53-47 margin in the Senate, but the cloture rules require 60 “yea” votes to pass the bill. The Senate voted 51-48 to commence debate on the bill, but the Repubs acknowledge that at the present time they “don’t have the votes” to pass the bill. Already Repub Senators Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis have expressed “concerns” indicating they may not support it. The debate is expected to be lengthy and contentious. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has signaled that he will endeavor to keep it on the floor at least into next week to provide opportunity for a “full and robust debate.”

As I said above the bill is very controversial among the individual congresspersons. I discussed the pros and cons at length in a previous blog, and I don’t see a need to repeat them now. Briefly, the Republicans claim it will (1) eliminate voting irregularities including outright fraud of which there have been many examples in our history, and (2) provide for free and fair elections, which is the cornerstone of our Republic.

In my opinion these are logical and necessary goals. Who would oppose them? Why? Of course, the Congressional Dems. They claim it would disenfranchise minority voters disproportionally. As I explained in my previous in my view this is a load of malarkey. Not only is it fictitious, but also every poll shows that even minorities don’t agree. In fact, many of them take umbrage and deride that argument as racist.

We all know the real reason. Dems want as many noncitizens as possible to be able to vote, because they feel most of them will vote Dem. That is a major reason why they opened our borders for four years. Moreover, loose voter rolls and voting requirements favor them as well. The bottom line is that in the current political climate the only way the Dems can win a national election is by cheating.

Probably, the bill will fail to pass, but at least the Dems will have been forced to disclose their opinions regarding this issue on the record. Some Dems, particularly those who represent districts that Trump won in 2024 or those who are running for re-election in 2026 will have to choose between the lesser of two evils. On one hand, party leadership is pressuring them to vote “no,” but on the other hand doing so will likely hurt their prospects for re-election.

What’s really interesting and informative are some of the comments Dems have made in the past on this issue. In the age of the internet, one can no longer dismiss past comments as “exaggerated” or “taken out of context.” For example, take (Up)Chuck Schumer, aka “dead man walking (politically).” I saw a video of a speech he gave in 1996 in which he advocated voter ID. He made the same arguments that Repubs do today. Once again, it illustrates he is an opportunist, a political chameleon, and not to be trusted.

Conclusion

The polls regarding this issue are as one-sided as any I have ever seen. They are all consistent – Pew, Gallup, Heritage, Rasmussen, Fox, even fake-news CNN. Some 71% of respondents are in favor of the bill, including 69% of independents and even half of Dems. 81% favor requiring voter ID, including 79% of independents and 70% of Democrats. 80% want states to purge non-citizens from voter rolls. 61% support sharing unredacted voter rolls with the Department of Homeland Security. 58% recognize at least some voter fraud exists in elections. The bill is widely viewed as a “common sense” way to combat fraud and protect the integrity of our elections.”

Once again, the Dem congresspersons find themselves on the wrong side of an 80-20 issue. Once again, they will be exposed as not caring about the well-being of their constituents but only about gaining and retaining power.

I urge you to remember this on Election Day.

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STATE OF THE UNION

The contents of this blog are a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.

In accordance with Article II, Section 3, Clause 1 of the US Constitution the President “shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” The Constitution does not offer any specifics, such as the date and manner of delivery.

President George Washington delivered the initial SOTU in person to a joint session of Congress on January 1, 1801. Thereafter, most presidents chose to deliver a written report. In 1913 President Woodrow Wilson broke with tradition and commenced the practice of delivering the SOTU in person. Later, with the advent of radio, then TV and later the internet, the SOTU began to be communicated live to a nationwide and worldwide audience. Traditionally, presidents have delivered the SOTU between January 1 and March 1.

Typically, presidents utilize the SOTU to present a positive account of their past accomplishments and prospective plans. Political sycophants in the audience frequently interrupt the speech to stand and applaud while political opponents often just sit stone-faced. Most viewers are aware that the SOTU is short on facts and long on politics, hyperbole and theatre. Fact checkers would have a field day. As the expression goes, “it is what it is.” It should be noted that the opposition party gets to offer a rebuttal.

Last night President Trump delivered the SOTU for 2026. Everyone will have his or her own opinion. Below please find my comments and takeaways:

  1. Trump’s speech was typical “Trump.” That is, he sprinkled the serious content with moments of humor and sarcasm. For example, on several occasions he chastised Dems in the audience for not standing up to acknowledge his special guests, and then when many of them (not Nancy Pelosi) did stand up to show support for the “Stop Insider Trading Act,” which aims to prohibit congressmen from profiting from trading on inside information, he feigned surprise. Undoubtedly, some of his detractors will criticize him for his style, but I loved it.
  2. Many Dems exhibited a considerable lack of class and professionalism. Approximately 70 of them boycotted the speech entirely; some texted; some interrupted by shouting slogans; one or two nodded off; once again Al Green had to be ceremoniously escorted out of the chamber; and most who did attend mostly sat on their hands even for poignant and patriotic moments.
  3. He admonished the Dems for their stance on various “80-20” issues, such as gender transition of minors without their parents’ consent or even knowledge, sanctuary policies, and opposing voter ID for elections. As I have blogged previously we all know that the only reason to oppose voter ID is to foster cheating.
  4. On several occasions he denoted that the Dems’ policies inexplicably favored illegal aliens over citizens, whereas the Repubs’ policies appropriately favor American citizens over illegals.
  5. He called out NYC mayor Mamdani for his hypocritical stance of requiring volunteer snow shovelers to present multiple forms of ID in stark contrast to his advocating no IDs to vote.
  6. He criticized Dems for causing multiple government shutdowns in order to defund ICE and to gain Medicare and other rights for illegals.
  7. He vowed to continue the fight to reduce healthcare costs.
  8. On the international front he mentioned the many peace deals he had brokered to settle longstanding conflicts and the ongoing negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas. He reiterated that Iran will “never” be allowed to possess nuclear capability. I believe Trump knows Iran is stalling (its version of a “rope a dope”), and he will attack sooner rather than later.
  9. My one criticism was he couldn’t resist admonishing the Supreme Court for its recent opinion, which struck down his “reciprocal tariff” policy. He characterized it as “a very unfortunate ruling.” He didn’t have to do that, particularly since his Administration is already pursuing alternate pathways to achieve his goal, and most of the other countries have indicated that they will honor their tariff agreements anyway. Moreover, he will need the court’s support on other crucial matters prospectively.
  10. He emphasized several of his major accomplishments, such as reducing inflation, improving the economy, passing the Big Beautiful Bill, closing the border, and drastically reducing the flow of fentanyl and other deadly drugs. Inflation, unemployment, food prices and gas at the pump are down. Oil production and the financial markets are up. (Remember, the financial markets are a leading indicator, so this bodes well for the economy prospectively.) The BBB will provide the most substantial income tax reduction for the middle and working classes in my lifetime, such as no tax on tips or overtime, reduced taxes on social security for most seniors and the advent of the “Trump Accounts” for children of American citizens.
  11. On several occasions he repeated the theme of patriotism. For example, he lauded the Olympic gold medal performance of the men’s hockey team. They had been his guests at the White House, and he introduced them to wild and sustained applause (even from some, but not all Dems in attendance). In addition, he presented the star goalie with the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. The women’s gold medal team was also invited. They could not attend due to a scheduling conflict, but it is expected that they will prospectively. He introduced a 100-yer-old veteran of the Korean War and a WWII veteran who will be celebrating his 100th birthday on July 4 and presented them both with the Congressional Medal of Honor.
  12. He touted America’s upcoming 250th Birthday Celebration on July 4 and its hosting of the 2026 World Cup this summer and the 2028 Republican Convention in 2028.

Conclusion

A sampling of post-speech polls was generally favorable. For instance, 54% believed that Trump was focusing on the right issues; a majority opined that his immigration and economic policies are “in line with the nation’s best interest;” 45% expressed full faith in his leadership; 43% support his using US military power “responsibly;” and a plurality of 38% felt that he would be able to deal with Iran “appropriately.” Respondents were evenly divided on his tariff policy. However, 45% felt he was paying insufficient attention to the cost of living, and 40% expressed “no confidence” that he could make things more affordable. These polls are merely a snapshot. They are informative but no means dispositive.

Since he entered politics Trump has been heavily criticized for many things, but one cannot deny his patriotism. His deep love for America is epitomized by his twin slogans “MAGA” and “America First.” When all is said and done, I, for one, will rest easily as long as he is the President.

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VOTER ID LAWS

As always, the following is gleaned from a compendium of multiple media accounts supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.

Once again, the Dems are espousing the wrong side of an 80-20 issue. It should be surprising that they keep finding themselves in this position, but it seems to be their modus operandi. It seems that they can’t help themselves. Their TDS overrules all rationality. Anything President Trump is for they must be against regardless of the will of the people. The current issue is whether or not a person should be required to produce proper identification in order to vote.

Before 2006, no state required a person to present ID in order to vote. However, in 2006 Indiana became the first state to pass a law requiring voters to produce ID at the polls. Its legality was challenged, but eventually, the Supreme Court upheld this requirement as long as the laws were “neutral and did not significantly burden voters.” According to Wikipedia currently thirty-six states have implemented voter ID laws with varying degrees of stringency. The other 14 states plus Washington D.C. still allow voting without ID. Support for voter ID laws is often fueled by concerns over voter fraud. A 2013 poll disclosed that 43% of voters believed that voter fraud was “relatively common,” and a 2010 survey revealed that some 80% of respondents supported some form of ID requirement.  At the present time various polls have reported bilateral support. Some 80% of the public, including some 70% of Dems, support voter ID laws.

Critics of strict voter ID laws argue that they disproportionately affect minority, low-income, and elderly populations. Furthermore, they claim it is a “non-issue” as voter ID fraud is “exceedingly rare.” I don’t subscribe to these arguments. Our history is replete with instances of elections whose results were tainted by suspicions of voter irregularities, if not outright fraud. For example, for years there were suspicions that “machines” such as NYC’s Tammany Hall perpetrated such irregularities. In the 1960s it was suspected that Chicago Mayor Richard Daley padded Dem votes. The joke was that in Chicago even dead people voted. The 2000 presidential election results were tainted by irregularities such as the infamous “hanging chads” in Florida. Eventually the Supreme Court had to weigh in. To this day, many Gore supporters insist he was the real winner. Most recently many Trump supporters have questioned the validity of the 2020 presidential election.

The arguments against voter ID laws had some validity in the South during the “Jim Crow” period when voter suppression of Blacks was common. Nowadays, I don’t believe that is an issue. In fact, many minorities view the Dems’ opposition to voter ID as an insult and racist in and of itself. The implication is that Dem politicians such as Chuck Schumer, Kamala Harris and Jamie Raskin, to name a few, consider minorities and women to be incapable obtaining a valid ID via the DMV or the internet. Schumer has even characterized voter ID laws such as the Trump sponsored SAVE America Act as “Jim Crow 2.0.” Pollsters who have queried minorities regarding this matter have generally been met with puzzlement or indignation.

Let’s be honest. We all know the real reason for the Dems’ opposition. They want legions of non-citizens to be able to vote. They feel that most of them would vote Democrat in order to continue to get freebies from the government, and that would result in Dems having a better chance to win elections. I and many others firmly believe that that was one of the reasons why they pursued the open borders policy during the Biden Administration.

Conclusion

Voter ID requirements are necessary in order to engender confidence that elections are fair and equitable. Furthermore, one is required to produce ID for a myriad of routine activities in everyday life such as driving a car, flying on an airplane, gaining employment, applying for or receiving government benefits, getting a marriage license, and age-restricted purchases such as alcohol or cigarettes. Why not for voting, which in my view is the most important act for a citizen.

Fair and equitable elections are one of the cornerstones of our democracy. If the public does not have confidence in election results our entire system of government would dissipate.

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CLUELESS CELEBRITIES

The content of this blog is a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my own opinion, where indicated.

I don’t know about you, but I, for one, am sick and tired of clueless celebrities spouting their opinions on serious issues, offering unsolicited, often inane advice on how we should live our lives. You see them on tv or read about them virtually every day. They continually feel the need to opine on every “hot” issue, no doubt to feed their massive egos. Their latest target is ICE’s roundup of illegal immigrants, but there have been many others too numerous to mention them all as they flit from issue to issue.

They speak out authoritatively without the foggiest idea of what they are talking about. They don’t comprehend that no one values their opinion anymore. Many of them are “has beens” anyway looking to become relevant again, to resurrect their careers. They may be great at acting, singing, athletics or whatever, but when it comes to real life issues, they are clueless.

They advise the rest of us on how to live our lives. I don’t need to take advice on serious life issues from the likes of Jane Fonda (aka “Hanoi Jane”), Molly Ringwald (who hasn’t had a “hit” movie in forever), George Clooney, LeBron James, Bruce Springsteen, Chuck Schumer, or Lady Gaga, among many others. When do you suppose was the last time one of them shopped for food or gassed up their car? They have no conception of the cost of feeding or sheltering their family. They are insulated from crime behind their walled communities and personal security teams. I doubt any of them have ever met an immigrant, legal or illegal, unless he/she was a caregiver or gardener. I have two words of advice for them: “SHUT UP!”

Conclusion

I just had to get that off my chest. Thanks for listening. Do any of you feel the same way? I’d like to know.

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INSURRECTION IN MINNEAPOLIS

This blog is a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.

Where is that bold, aggressive, daring president we elected? One of the major reasons he was elected was to locate, collect and deport the millions of illegal aliens that had infested the US during the Biden Administration. These people broke federal laws just by sneaking into the country. Many of them have been living quietly under the radar, but too many of them have committed heinous crimes in the US, such as rape and murder, and against children no less. Some are repeated offenders. Others have been soaking up social services meant for Americans such as Medicaid and hospital services. Most of the country is fed up and wants action.

Yes, his administration has deployed ICE personnel to roust illegals in various venues with much success, however, he has been strangely reluctant to deal decisively with the blatant insurrection in Minneapolis. In my opinion, this is completely out of character. It’s as if he went to sleep as one night as Donald Trump and woke up the next morning as Joe Biden (reminiscent of the movie, Big in which a 10-year-old boy wakes up one morning as Tom Hanks).

In recent years the country has become increasingly divided over the issue of illegal immigration. In particular ICE’s activities have become a major flashpoint among some people and in some areas of the country. Some states and cities have offered sanctuary to these illegals. Law enforcement officials have not been turning them over to ICE as the law requires. Instead, when they are detained, they simply release them. In addition, they actually inhibit ICE’s efforts to find them. Make no mistake. Granting sanctuary to illegals is contrary to federal law, and, as we know federal law supersedes state and local law. Otherwise, we have anarchy.

In Minneapolis the pro-illegal immigrant crowd has proceeded to a new level of resistance. They have gone way beyond mere peaceful demonstrations. They appear to be well-organized and well-funded. Many of them appear to be “professional agitators” who are paid to show up to protest any and all causes. Some may even be illegal aliens. Law enforcement officials need to follow the money and ascertain the identity of those who have been organizing and funding these protests.

They have taunted, physically attacked and doxed ICE personnel. They have destroyed federal property and even stolen sensitive federal documents and information. Yesterday, some even invaded at least one church and disrupted services. While doxing isn’t always a crime per se it becomes illegal when it becomes conjoined with criminal acts, such as stalking, harassment, threats, or incitement to violence, It is particularly insidious and dangerous in the current situation because the perpetrators have been employing it to disclose private information with “malicious intent to cause harm or fear” with respect to some ICE agents and their families.

Matters were exacerbated even further following the fatal shooting of a protester named Renee Good by an ICE official after she had hit him with her car. While no one wants to see a fatality, the empirical evidence indicates she was the instigator. Of course, each side has blamed the other.

Rather than trying to calm the situation MN Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, aided and abetted by much of the mainstream media, have, by their words and actions, openly incited more violence. They have caused local police to stand down and have left ICE personnel alone to deal with the protesters. They have stated repeatedly that they do not recognize ICE’s authority, and they want them expelled from their city and state. Clearly, their words and deeds are contraventions of federal law and are irresponsible and unconscionable. I see their actions as a direct challenge to federal authority not unlike the actions of the segregationist South before the Civil War and in the 1950s and 1960s.

This is classic insurrection. These people need to be put in their place NOW before other sanctuary areas become emboldened to follow suit.

The Insurrection Act dates back to 1807. It authorizes the president to deploy federal military troops inside the country to restore order and enforce the law if he determines that unrest or rebellion makes it impossible to enforce the law through the regular courts and police. According to most legal experts the Insurrection Act is only meant to be invoked in extreme situations, when normal law enforcement has broken down. In my view, the current situation in Minneapolis fits those parameters. The law does not clearly define what counts as an “insurrection” or “rebellion,” however, in 1827 the US Supreme Court opined that the president alone has the authority to decide when the law applies.

Trump haters may strenuously object to his use of the Act, but according to the Brennan Center for Justice it has been invoked 30 times in US history in response to various situations, including to enforce school desegregation in the 1950s and 1960s and during the 1992 Los Angeles riots following the acquittal of police officers who had severely beaten Rodney King.

Conclusion

These riots have obscured the other massive story emanating from Minnesota, the missing $19 billion Medicaid funds due to alleged fraud. It has been alleged that the perpetrators were mostly Somalis, both citizens and illegals. It is obvious that Governor Walz, US Representative Ilhan Omar and other officials either aided and abetted these crimes or ignored them for political reasons.

This is related to another disturbing story regarding Omar, namely how she went from being virtually broke one year ago to being worth an estimated $30 million presently. The financial dealings of both her and her husband are shrouded in mystery. The House Oversight Committee is investigating and has subpoenaed her spouse to testify. In the words of the late Desi Arnaz, “they have some ‘splaining to do.”

These are very serious allegations with potentially far-reaching consequences. I have blogged about this matter in more detail previously. We may be on the cusp of uncovering a new level of fraud, deceit and greed with respect to elected officials.

Once again, the Dems find themselves on the wrong side of an 80-20 issue. They are violating federal law by defending illegal aliens who have committed crimes against law-abiding Americans, in some cases children, rather than assisting federal officials who are performing their legal duties to protect us. You notice that these Dem politicians never mention the names of those citizens who have been victimized, but they are quick to defend the illegals. Good luck with that issue in the 2026 elections.

I hope that Trump makes the right decision and cleans up the mess in Minneapolis expeditiously.

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I HAVE A DREAM

Tomorrow, Monday, January 19, we will celebrate the birthday of, in my mind, the greatest civil rights leader in American history.  Of course, I am referring to Martin Luther King, Jr.  MLK Day is a national holiday, and as is the case with many of our holidays, we celebrate it on a Monday, in this instance the third one in January, rather than on the actual day of MLK’s birth (January 15). MLK Day has been recognized in all 50 states since the early 2000s, however, some states, such as Alabama and Mississippi, have combined it with “Robert E. Lee Day” to honor the birthday of the commanding general of the Confederacy who was born on January 19.

This year will mark the 58th anniversary of his untimely assassination on April 4, 1968.  Like the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the assassination of President JFK on November 22, 1963, and the terror attack on 9/11/2001 most of us will always remember where we were when we heard the horrible news.

For some people, the holiday holds no special meaning; it is just a day off from work, a day to spend with family or friends, part of a long three-day weekend.  For many of us, however, particularly those of us who were alive in the 1950s and 1960s, it is much, much more.

MLK was born on January 15, 1929.  MLK was more than just a pastor.  He believed that more advancement in civil rights could be achieved by civil disobedience and non-violence rather than by violence.  He preached peaceful disobedience such as sit-ins, marches and demonstrations, often in the face of wanton violence and cruelty by the police and others, rather than by rioting and violence.  In this regard, he was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.  In turn, he inspired many others such as Nelson Mandela and the Black Civil Rights movement in South Africa.

He also recognized the power of the press to bring attention to his cause and influence public opinion. For example, as many as 70 million people around the world witnessed the police brutality inflicted on the peaceful black and white marchers in Selma, Alabama, in March of 1965, including women and children as well as men.  Those images, broadcast live on TV and radio, appalled and disgusted many people and provided an immeasurable boost to the public awareness of the injustices being visited upon blacks in the South. These events were captured dramatically and realistically in the 2014 movie, “Selma,” which featured David Oyelowo as MLK.  If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it.

Unlike any other African American leaders before or since, he had the ability to unite, rather than divide.  Although he was criticized by some of the more militant civil rights leaders of the time, such as Stokely Carmichael, he commanded the support and respect of a large majority of blacks and many whites as well. In that regard, he was similar to Mandela.

After his death, despite the urgings of some civil rights leaders who wanted to continue MLK’s philosophy, more militant African American leaders, such as Mr. Carmichael, came into prominence. There was rioting in over 100 US cities, and a slew of violent incidents at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago in front of the national press and millions of Americans, which many believe swung the 1968 presidential election to Richard Nixon. 

MLK came into prominence in 1955 when he led a bus boycott, peacefully, in Montgomery, Alabama.  The boycott had been fueled by the famous Rosa Parks incident in which she had refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white person.  She was arrested on December 1. (Most people don’t know that earlier that year in March a similar incident had occurred, also in Montgomery, involving Claudette Colvin, a black girl who had also refused to give up her seat to a white man.  However, that case did not receive the same notoriety.  Civil rights lawyers declined to pursue it because Colvin was 15, unmarried and pregnant. They chose to wait for a case with a more favorable fact pattern, and they were proven to be right.)

Later, MLK became the leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and remained so until his death. He applied his non-violence philosophy to protests in Selma, Ala., St. Augustine, FL, and the March on Washington, D. C., among others. He made it a policy never to endorse a particular political party or candidate. He believed he could be more effective if he were neutral and not beholden to anyone.  Furthermore, in his view, neither party was all bad, and neither one was perfect.  In his words, “[t]hey both have weaknesses.”

Perhaps, MLK’s signature moment occurred during the famous March on Washington in August 1963.  Ironically, MLK was not the primary organizer of the March.  That was Bayard Rustin, a colleague.  The primary purpose of the March was to dramatize the plight of blacks in the South.  Civil rights leaders, including Roy Wilkins, NAACP, Whitney Young, National Urban League, A. Philip Randolph, Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, John Lewis, SNCC, James Farmer CORE, and MLK, wanted to bring awareness of these issues right to the seat of the Federal government.  More than 250,000 people of all ethnicities and colors attended.  MLK was one of several speakers, and he only spoke for 17 minutes.  But, his “I Have a Dream” speech became one of the most famous speeches ever.  The March, in general, and MLK’s speech, in particular, are credited with bringing civil rights to the political forefront and facilitating the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Some little-known facts about MLK:

1. His birth name was Michael King, Jr., after his father.  In 1931 his father changed his own name to Martin Luther King, after the German theologian, Martin Luther, whom he admired.  At the same time, he changed his son’s name.

2. In 1958 MLK was stabbed in the chest after a speech by a woman who had been stalking him, and he nearly died.

3. The FBI began tapping MLK’s telephone as early as 1963.  Robert Kennedy, who was Attorney General at the time and who is viewed as a staunch supporter of civil rights, in general, and MLK, in particular, authorized the tapping.

4. MLK won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at the age of 35, the youngest age ever at the time.

5. MLK won a Grammy Award in 1971, posthumously.  It should be noted that he won it, not because he displayed a great singing voice, but for a “Spoken Word Album,” “Why I Oppose the War in Vietnam.”  In addition, he won countless other awards and was awarded some 50 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities.

6. Even though MLK was one of the great public speakers of his time, inexplicably, he got a “C” in a public speaking course at the seminary.  (Kind of like a baseball scout saying Babe Ruth can hit “a little bit.”)

7. MLK is one of three individuals and the only native-born American to have a holiday named after him.  In case you’re wondering, the others are George Washington (born in the COLONY of Virginia), and Christopher Columbus.

Some MLK quotes to ponder:

1. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
2. “The time is always right to do what is right.”
3. “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
4. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
5. “Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.”
6. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

In recent years there has been much division among African Americans as well as their leaders.  Some are moderate and want to work within the system; others are more militant.  In my view, many of these militants are no more than “race hustlers,” have their own agendas and look for any excuse to foment distrust and discord.  They do more harm than good. If you doubt me, just randomly turn on CNN or MSNBC and listen to some of the news coverage. The coverage and commentary of some of the guest commentators (and a few of the news anchors as well) are ignorant, subjective and divisive.

Most often, crimes are viewed through the lens of race rather than the facts, and the media will very often jump to conclusions without regard of the facts. Later, when the facts become known if, as is often the case they are change the narrative, they are ignored or downplayed. “White on black” crimes get extensive coverage while “black on black” crimes, which are far more numerous, are largely ignored.

I firmly believe that MLK would have been appalled by the violent, arbitrary and senseless rioting and sharp uptick in crime of the past several years that have been instigated, financed, aided, and abetted by BLM, ANTIFA, professional agitators, many Dem political leaders and much of the media. Certain people of color (we all know who are) love to play the “race card” to justify their actions. (In my opinion this is a sure sign that they have no real argument.) Moreover, I find this to be senseless and ironic since most of the victims are themselves poor minorities. How is that helping the civil rights movement?  That is not what MLK stood for.  Furthermore, in my view, he would not have been an exponent of the extreme “cancel culture,” “critical race theory,” DEI, and “political correctness” movements of recent years that many see as divisive.

One can speculate whether and to what extent MLK’s assassination changed the course of history.  In my opinion, had MLK lived, the Civil Rights Movement would have been considerably different over the last 50 years, more peaceful and less divisive, with better results.  Furthermore, his assassination had a significant impact, not only on the history of the civil rights movement, but also on the overall history of the country, itself.  I hope and believe that eventually a moderate leader will emerge and bridge the gap as MLK did half a century ago.

CONCLUSION

In my opinion, we have made much progress in the area of civil rights.  For example, we have elected an African American president (twice) and vice president; African Americans have been elected to Congress and been appointed to the Supreme Court; and African Americans hold and have held positions of prominence in every field of endeavor, including business, entertainment, sports, and the military.  But it is still a work in progress.  We can do more.

So, as you enjoy the holiday in whatever manner you choose, I ask you to reflect for a moment on where we are as a nation regarding civil rights, where we want to go and how we get there.

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SOCIAL SERVICES GREED, FRAUD AND CORRUPTION IN MINNESOTA

The contents of this blog are a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where noted.

The capacity for greed and corruption of some people never ceases to amaze me. The greed, fraud and corruption recently uncovered in Minnesota is an illustrative example. As I write this, various federal agencies are investigating this colossal theft and misappropriation of public money. Moreover, there are indications that it may extend to other locales besides MN.

MN has the largest Somali population in the U.S. Estimates vary, but a 2023 Pew Research analysis put the number at around 130,000, most of whom live in the Twin Cities. Around 95% of Somalis in Minnesota are U.S. citizens. In my view most of them are law abiding citizens. Unfortunately, the misdeeds of a few will likely cast aspersions on all of them.

MN is virtually drowning in fraud. Federal prosecutors are investigating what they describe as “staggering, industrial-scale” fraud in the state’s social services programs involving numerous individuals and shell companies that allegedly stole and misappropriated federal and state funds intended for vulnerable persons, such as special needs children, disabled adults and the elderly, with potential losses that could exceed $9 billion.

According to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson that would amount to approximately one-half of the roughly $18 billion in federal funds that have supported various Minnesota-run programs since 2018. Fraud was found in programs earmarked for child nutrition, housing services and autism, among others. “I’m sure everyone is wondering how much of this $18 billion was fraud,” Thompson said. “That’s the $18 billion question.”

According to federal prosecutors members of the Somali diaspora, a group with growing political power, were largely responsible. More than 90 individuals, approximately 82 of which are Somali Americans have been charged so far, with over 60 convictions. They expect more charges in the ongoing investigations prospectively. MN Department of Human Services has identified 14 state-run programs as “high risk” for fraud because of program vulnerabilities, evidence of fraudulent activity and/or suspicious billing patterns. Thompson reported that they are seeing more red flags than legitimate claims, and many suspects created entities that billed multiple programs at once.

The New York Times was the first media outlet to disclose the shocking and disturbing details. The total [fraud] is more than Minnesota spends annually to run its Department of Corrections,” the Times reported. According to various law enforcement officials the fraud originated in “pockets of Minnesota’s Somali diaspora.” “Scores of these persons made small fortunes by setting up companies that billed state agencies for millions of dollars’ worth of social services that were never provided.

It appears that the genesis of these frauds was around 2002 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The perpetrators exploited MN’s sanctuary state laws and policies. Typically, they created shell companies that would then bill state agencies for services that were never provided. Instead, the money was used for luxury items such as purchasing real estate (namely properties in Kenya and Dubai), cars, and travel.

One major perpetrator was identified as Feeding Our Future, which is nothing more than a phony charity run by Somali nationals. It was given a $250 million grant under the Federal Child Nutrition Program. It was supposed to use this grant money to provide some 125 million meals to needy children. Federal counterterrorism sources have confirmed that millions of dollars were stolen and diverted to Somalia where it was used by various criminal enterprises including Somali terrorists such as Al-Shabaab. In the words of one confidential source “the largest funder of Al-Shabaab is the Minnesota taxpayer.”

Investigators claim there are many more examples not only of fraud perpetrated by those in the Somali community, but also of a concerted effort by government officials to cover it up. Last Thursday, Peter Schweizer, the President of the Government Accountability Institute, in an interview with The National News Desk characterized the evidence as “overwhelming.” He averred “the corruption went on and on and on for years because there was this climate of fear of wanting to raise these issues they’re concerned about, you know, maybe being called racist or bigoted.”

This week House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. sent written notice to Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison demanding information about why state regulators, especially those in the Democrat-led administration, were “reluctant” to take action in with respect to allegations involving the Somali community.” Some people, including me, suspect that they allowed it to continue so as not to offend the Somali population, which votes overwhelmingly Democrat. Comer has also requested documents and information related to accusations that the MN Department of Human Services “deleted data to cover up the rampant fraud.” In a related matter on Thursday, December 18, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota disclosed that Abdinajib Hassan Yussuf, the owner of Star Autism Center in St. Cloud, MN was charged with one count of wire fraud.

In addition:

  1. Dems are playing the racism card claiming that federal investigators are targeting Somalis unfairly. I stipulate that the overwhelming majority of Somalis are honest, hardworking people, but at the same time I would like to denote that most of the perpetrators are Somalis.
  2. Republicans have been criticizing Governor Tim Walz’s administration as well as other MN state officials for a lack of oversight and slow response.
  3. Far left Democrat House Representative Ilhan Omar, who represents the district in Congress and who derives much of her political support from the Somali community, was asked by CNN how the fraud got so out of control. She deflected responsibility claiming, “when you have these kind[s] of new programs that are designed to help people, you’re oftentimes relying on third parties to be able to facilitate.” Given her position and pro-Somali/anti-American history it strains credulity that she would not be cognizant of the scheme or perhaps approved it. I believe she was involved “up to her eyeballs.”
  4. Of course, most of the mainstream media has been downplaying the scandal.
  5. In response to the investigations, in October MN Governor Tim Walz ordered a third-party audit and paused payments to some 14 programs for 90 days. One program has since been shut down entirely.
  6. Walz says the state aggressively increased resources for fraud detection and prevention and recently appointed a statewide director of program integrity to oversee those efforts. This was a classic case of “locking the barn door after the horse has escaped.” Regarding the fraud, he maintained “I am the one that will fix it.” I doubt that.
  7. Republicans have blamed Walz’s administration, with Trump calling MN under the Democratic governor a “hub of fraudulent money laundering activity.”
  8. Stephen Miller, in his typical combative manner, opined, we shouldn’t be shocked by the MN fraud case considering Somalia’s primary occupation is ‘pirate.’
  9. According to Linda Miller, president and co-founder of the Program Integrity Alliance, a nonprofit focused on fraud prevention in the public sector and a former assistant director with the GAO, attempts to scam government programs have been rare but are likely becoming more common nationwide. Fraudsters have seen how easy it was during the pandemic “to just submit these fake invoices and get paid millions of dollars.” She added, the risk of fraud increases when programs expand quickly without sufficient staffing, modern technology or robust data verification systems. There are very likely people attempting to defraud these programs all over the country.” We should all take heed.

Conclusion

This scandal has become a major political and criminal issue. Under this administration it will not be swept under the rug. People are being prosecuted with more to come. MN state politicians and other officials responsible may very well see their careers ended. It is unconscionable that criminal elements were basically able to steal billions of dollars meant for Americans and funnel it to themselves and terrorist organizations.

Everyone is claiming they were unaware. I don’t know what’s worse, that or that they were complicit. I believe that the person in charge has the ultimate responsibility for any wrongdoing. As governor, Waltz, in the words of the late Desi Arnaz, has some ‘splaining’ to do. And to think, this buffoon was almost elected VP.

The blame game is already in full force, and it could get ugly when all is said and done particularly with the all-important midterm elections looming. In the meantime, politicians are doing what they do best, deflecting blame from themselves and onto others.

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WORLDWIDE TERRORISM ON THE ASCENSION

The following blog is based on information disseminated by multiple media sources supplemented by my personal opinion where noted.

We are at war! Not with Russia. Not with China. Not with Iran. Not with any of the other “bad actor” countries prominently in the news. Actually, not with any individual country at all.

We are at war with radical Islamic terrorism, and we have been for some time. Many people trace the commencement of this war to the 9/11 attacks. I contend that the war goes back much further, all the way back to the Crusades in the 11th and 12th centuries. In any event, at the present time radical Islamic terrorism is omnipresent. Most of us are focused on the US, but as the recent attacks at Brown University and Bondi Beach in Australia illustrate the perpetrators can strike anybody, anywhere, at any time.

The definition of terrorism varies in different countries depending on their laws and legal systems. To me, however, terrorism involves violent acts or threats intended to create fear, intimidate civilians, or coerce governments for political or ideological goals.

The Global Terrorism Index, produced annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace, systematically ranks 163 countries based on the impact of terrorism, considering factors like the number of incidents, fatalities, injuries, and property damage. Based on the GTI for 2024, which utilizes data from 2023, Burkina Faso, which most people (including me) have never heard of, is the country most impacted by terrorism, accounting for a quarter of all terrorism-related deaths globally in 2023. Burkina Faso is a tiny landlocked country in West Africa, bordered by Mali to the northwest, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Ivory Coast to the southwest. It covers an area of 274,223 km. In 2024 the country had an estimated population of approximately 23 million.

The incidence and impact of terrorism have become increasingly concentrated. The epicenter of global terrorism has shifted from the Middle East to the Central Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa, which now accounts for over half of all global terrorism deaths. Most of the top ten affected by terrorism were located in that region. If you’re wondering, Israel was #2. The US did not make the top 10.

For the most part the sub-Saharin countries on that list live in a constant state of terrorism perpetrated by internal strife and even by the government against its own people. According to the GTI terrorism remains a serious worldwide threat. The data in the 2024 report denotes an overall increase in deaths from terrorism worldwide of 22% to a total of 8,352 in 2023, the most since 2017. Moreover, attacks are becoming more deadly. Over 90% of terrorist attacks and 98% of terrorism deaths in 2023 occurred in conflict zones, underscoring the strong link between conflict and terrorism.

For purposes of this blog, I will focus on terrorism as it relates to Western democracies. In 2023 the US accounted for 76% of terrorism-related deaths in Western democracies. By its very nature a terrorist act can occur anywhere, by any person at any time. As we have seen “soft” targets, such as a concert, a school, a place of worship, a mall, or a beach are inviting targets. Two recent attacks – at Brown University and Bondi Beach, Australia – illustrate this point. More on them below.

Most democracies, by their very nature, present a myriad of easy targets. We know that attacks are inevitable and predictable. We just don’t know where or when. For example:

  1. The US, Australia, UK, and France, among others, have sizeable Muslim populations that are disaffected, have failed to assimilate and are virulently antisemitic. The people are prone to recruitment by terrorist organizations. Many of them have carved out enclaves that are ruled by Sharia law, and even the police are loath to enter.
  2. Many countries have lax immigration policies and no or inadequate vetting. In Europe terrorists can move about easily from country to country. Thus, a terrorist entering a country with lax immigration policies can easily move to one with strict policies undetected and unimpeded.
  3. In the US due to the Biden Administration’s open border policy for the last four years as many as 18 million potential bad actors are believed to have gained entry undetected. We have no idea who they are, where they are, how many, or their intent.
  4. In many cases democratic countries’ civil rights laws and liberal politicians and policies have hampered law enforcement from acting until an attack is already in progress. Also, there is often limited funding and manpower.
  5. Many immigrants that have been vetted and approved for entry have become radicalized afterwards. Perhaps, a program of periodic vetting is needed. However, there would be restrictions emanating from a lack of sufficient funds and manpower.
  6. According to journalist Miranda Devine Australia’s lax immigration policies and strict gun laws have put them in the same boat as the US.
  7. Most governments have failed to curtail antisemitism, thus allowing it to fester. Often government officials and members of law enforcement, themselves, are antisemitic or at least indifferent. Thus, violent protesters are free to operate with impunity. The most common manifestation of this has been at various US colleges.
  8. Antisemitic-related attacks in the US, Australia and elsewhere have become common, particularly since 10/7/23. These include not just murders, rape and other violent crimes but also peaceful protests that often turn violent.
  9. Even locales that have strict gun laws are prone to violence because they hinder or prevent regular citizens from arming themselves, while perpetrators still manage to obtain weapons.
  10. In Australia politics has been a major factor. Government officials’ reluctance to identify certain people as potential terrorists for fear of being accused of bias is a problem. This was the problem regarding Bondi Beach.
  11. Like the Dem Party in Minnesota the Australian Labor Party panders to Muslims, perhaps due to the fact that they outnumber Jews 7:1 and constitute a strong and reliable voting bloc.
  12. Journalists who have dared to write about the terrorism problem have been denigrated as Islamophobic.
  13. In many cases potential terrorists are identified and placed on watch lists, because the country’s laws make it difficult to detain or deport them until they actually commit a crime. Often, persons on the Watch Lists are not monitored sufficiently due to incompetence or limited manpower.
  14. Just in the last week I became aware of four terrorist plots – (1) the shootings at Brown University, (2) the shootings at Bondi Beach, (3) a planned attack in LA that was thwarted by the FBI, and (4) Parisian officials canceling a planned NY Eve celebration due to fear of terrorist attacks by “rampaging migrant gangs.” French officials have been criticized for “giving in,” but one can argue that cancellation is better than suffering a tragic attack.
  15. The BB attack was a typical example of law enforcement incompetence. With Hanukkah approaching several Jewish leaders had warned officials that an attack of some kind was a strong possibility. In retrospect the Chanukkah by the Sea event was a tempting “soft” target and should have had better security. The perpetrators were a father and son who had suspected ties with a convicted ISIS terrorist. The Australia Daily Telegraph reported that both had traveled to an area of Southeast Asia that is a known ISIS training ground. Furthermore, supposedly the son was “known” to law enforcement and despite having “Islamic fundamentalist views” was disregarded as a “low level threat.” Somehow, between them, the pair owned six fully licensed weapons that were supposedly used for hunting. That dubious situation should have been a “red flag.” Why did they need six weapons to hunt? And did they actually hunt? Multiple witnesses and cellphone footage showed that when they commenced firing, inexplicably police in the area did not intercede for at least ten minutes while the perpetrators continued to mow down victims! That is inexplicable and unconscionable. It was only after an unarmed bystander interceded that they returned fire. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is known to be hostile to Israel and soft on antisemites. But, like a typical politician, in the wake of the BB attack, he tried to adjust his previous position by characterizing the massacre as “an act of evil, antisemitic terrorism… [adding] an attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.” Knowing his background, those comments rang hollow.
  16. To put it succinctly, the investigation of the Brown University shooting has been botched. As I write this it is nearly one week since the attack, and we have no more information than we did on Day 1. Usually by this time we know the identity of the shooter, what he looks like, his motive and his life history. Often, he would have been caught already. The press conferences have largely been attempts at “CYA” and a waste of time. The incompetence of the University and Town police has been astounding.

Conclusion

As I said at the beginning we are in a war with radical Islamic terrorism. Their oft-stated goal goes beyond the destruction of Jews and the State of Israel. Their ultimate goal is the destruction of all “non-believers” and Western civilization, itself.

The perpetrators are well organized, well-financed, relentless, and ruthless. Currently, most governments and law enforcement agencies, hampered by liberal/woke/socialist laws, policies and attitudes are ill-equipped to thwart them. Furthermore, terrorists have to be successful only once; the burden is on law enforcement to be successful every time.

As I said above the attacks, though fewer in number, have been getting more deadly. New Years Eve is in two weeks. We’d better “step up our game” quickly.

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TRUMP SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND OTHER ECONOMIC MATTERS

President Trump has been responsible for a myriad of accomplishments in his short tenure, for example, closing the border, deporting illegal immigrants, reducing crime in cities that welcomed his assistance, passing the “Big Beautiful Bill (the effects of which will kick in commencing in 2026), reducing inflation, and eliminating Iran’s nuclear capabilities, among others.

To be sure, those accomplishments are laudable, however, a large portion of the electorate is still dissatisfied with the state of the economy, particularly the rate of inflation, the price of gas, the cost of healthcare and the unaffordability of buying a first home. Home ownership is and always has been an endemic part of the “American Dream.” Since Trump is the president, rightly or wrongly, most of them are blaming him.

According to the latest Economist/YouGov survey despite all of the above positives President Trump’s approval rating has been in a steady decline for the last seven weeks. His latest approval rating was 38%, and his disapproval rating was 57%. The latest Reuters/Ipsos survey yielded similar results. Even more ominous the same polls disclosed that 55% of the respondents were more likely to vote for the Democrat candidate in their district, compared to 41% who said they would vote for the Republican candidate. This does not augur well for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. If they lose control of the legislature Trump’s ambitious agenda is likely to be thwarted.

Also, history is not on his side. Normally, the party in power loses a goodly number of House and Senate seats in the off-year elections.

Of course, Trump is cognizant of all that. Consequently, he is beginning to focus more on the economy. Historically, absent a monumental catastrophe, such as a world war or a 9-11 style terror attack, the most important issue to voters is always the economy. Yes, people care about other issues such as crime, healthcare, security and immigration, but they care more about a good job, the cost of food, being able to afford a nice place to live, supporting their family, the cost of gas, the cost of healthcare, their retirement, and their children’s and grandchildren’s future. Hence, the well-worn expression: “It’s the economy, stupid!”

Below please find some of the recent Trump initiatives regarding the aforementioned, which are designed to lower the cost of living and enhance the quality of life for all Americans. Some of these are already in process; others are just proposals, some of which may require the approval of Congress.

  1. Ramping up drilling for oil and gas, which, due to the fundamental law of supply and demand, should lower the prices of fuel both in the home and at the pump. Lower energy prices lead to lower prices on all goods and services, most notably food. According to AAA the national average of a gallon of regular gas at the pump is $2.999.  Of course, this will vary from state to state depending on state and local taxes and other factors. By comparison, according to the US Energy Information Administration the cost in 2022 and 2023, the last two years of the Biden Administration, was $3.52 and $3.95, respectively. In my view, Biden’s woke, green energy policies drove prices up, whereas Trump’s “drill baby drill” policy is driving them down. Therefore, it is unfair to blame the current cost of energy on Trump.  According to the more recent data available (“blue woke”) California has the highest average gas price at around $4.65 per gallon for regular, while (“red”) Oklahoma has the lowest at approximately $2.53 per gallon.  Make of that what you will.
  2. For most social security recipients one of the provisions of the “Big Beautiful Bill” will enable them to offset their federal income tax liability with a special federal income tax deduction.
  3. The BBB also authorizes the creation of the so-called “Trump Accounts,” which essentially are a tax-deferred investment account for qualifying newborns into which the Treasury Department of the federal government will deposit $1,000. The account will grow tax-deferred until the newborn turns 18. Then, the account will function as a traditional IRA. Briefly, to qualify babies must have been born to American citizens from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028 and have a valid social security number. In addition, the Dell family has pledged to utilize the “Trump Accounts” infrastructure to give $250 to each qualified child under 11. These initiatives are designed to encourage American citizen families to have babies by easing the financial burden of raising a family and helping to provide for them as they grow into adulthood. (For various reasons many families are postponing having children or deciding not to at all.)
  4. The BBB extended the 2017 “Trump Tax Cuts,” which will provide massive federal tax cuts for most taxpayers.
  5.  The so-called “Trump Tariffs” have been very controversial. The question is are they currently and will they prospectively have a positive or negative effect on the economy? Recent studies indicate that generally the impact of tariffs is to raise prices and reduce available quantities of goods and services for US businesses and consumers in the short run. According to the Tax Foundation the Trump tariffs will equate to an average tax increase of $1,100 per US household in 2025. On the other hand, the Trump tariffs, both threatened and imposed, have forced other countries who had been taking advantage of us in international trade for many years to lower their own tariffs substantially. Furthermore, the tariffs have been raising tens of billions, some claim trillions, of dollars for the federal government. Perhaps, more significantly, many foreign companies have invested or pledged to invest trillions of dollars to build or expand their businesses and/or build new factories in the US in order to avoid these tariffs. This will translate into good, high-paying permanent jobs and reduce the unemployment rate, which is currently slightly up at 4.4%. In summary, are these tariffs good or bad? In my opinion, it is still too early to tell. It may take years to determine. At the of risk oversimplifying matters I believe the answer is probably predicated on whether one is pro-Trump or anti-Trump.

Conclusion

As I said above, Trump is cognizant of the voters’ concerns regarding the economy. Accordingly, he has and will continue to develop policies to improve it. Many, if not most, of the problems with respect to the economy are holdovers from the Biden Administration and his woke/green policies. Data shows the economy is improving. Inflation is down. Gas is down. The positive impact of the BBB should be effective starting in 2026. The question is will the voters give Trump’s policies time to work or not.

The cost of healthcare remains a thorny, complicated and highly politicized problem that Trump and the Congress will have to address together. One can only hope that they resolve it expeditiously.

White House: Trump




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