White Privilege and White Entitlement Under Trump

Donald Trump wants to give a $16 billion farm bailout to mostly white farmers, who are his biggest supporters. This is an egregious example of a politician buying votes. None of this would be necessary if it weren't for Trump's disastrous trade wars. But whites, being whites, feel entitled to get all kinds of special "help."

At the same time racist whites are outraged because Wrangler Jeans has entered into a partnership with hip-hop artist Lil Nas X. Racist whites have taken the election of Trump as a signal to bring back old fashioned bigotry.

Insanity and Evil

Another minor, a 16 year old Guatemalan boy, died in Border Patrol custody. The reality of Trump's border policy is destroying the goodwill of people around the world. Trump, and the idiots who voted for him, think that power is about throwing you weight around. Now Trump is talking about using the Insurrection Act--passed in 1956, another dubious piece of Cold War legislation--to send the military to stop immigration. That would be the worst abuse of power in American history.

Is Trump's immigration policy insane or evil? In the end, it might turn out to be both.

Don and Mike's Stupid Adventures

Since Donald Trump became president the price of gasoline per gallon has risen by more than 70 cents. Trump and Pompeo have provoked Venezuela and Iran with their threats. Recently Trump has sent a carrier group to the Persian gulf, probably to provoke Iran. Trump thinks that a foreign policy "win" will improve his electoral chances in 2020. In the end we will end up paying $10 for a gallon of gas and we'll know whom to blame.

No Really, Stay the Hell Out of Venezuela

The Trump administration continues to fail in removing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The attempt to stage a "popular uprising" fizzled. Now Juan Guaido, the supposed hero of democracy, is now calling on the US to "intervene" (actually invade and install him in power). The Trump administration, anxious for a foreign policy "win", might very take the bait. The results will be probably be devastating for both the US and Venezuela, over the longer term. But the long term is a non-issue in today's politics.

Last week the NY Times published an article "Juan Guaidó’s Uprising Failed. What’s Next for Venezuela?" by Michael Shifter and Bruno Binetti. It is basically an argument for an invasion, which calls into question whether the NY Times really is a liberal organ. Shifter and Binetti repeatedly refer to Maduro as a "dictator," even though Maduro was actually won an election which was more fair and democratic than America's last presidential election. The situation in Venezuela is not the "failure of socialism" but rather a testament to the American ability to wage economic warfare. Nobody questions the American power to destroy--Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Haiti--though we have lost the right to say that we represent democracy.

Will the NRA Implode?

Over the weekend NRA President Oliver North was ousted after losing a power struggle with CEO Wayne LaPierre. There are allegations of financial impropriety and the NRA is $43 million in debt. Strange considering that the NRA is supposed to be a non-profit organization. Recent reports indicate that the NRA is more of a cash cow that LaPierre and his cronies have been using to live the baby boomer dream. It's too early to tell if this will affect the NRA's power. The NRA, as an organization, doesn't need to exist.