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A look at the dysfunction in Washington

Cory
March 18, 2017

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  • Segment 1: Dr. Cletus Bulach discusses both charter schools and public schools in the United States.
  • Segment 2: Jeff Deist discusses his commentary on RT TV where he discussed the status of the Democratic Party in the U.S.
  • Segment 3: We discuss the dysfunction going on in Washington D.C. with Glen Downs.
  • Segment 4: Dr. Jim Little with Cory Fleck discuss the recent Fed rate hike.

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Discussion
128 Comments
    CFS
    Mar 18, 2017 18:17 AM

    Why are we discussing “classics”?

    Thet breed people who tend to study humanities…….that leads to liberal cr*p. (Pardon my language)
    We have a discipline problem in schools, because of liberalism.

    STEM subjects are where we should be concentrating; the foundation of which is math.
    So lets look at where we stand in MATH in the World:

    TIMSS: International mathematics achievement

    (Sorry if the table does not duplicate directly…)
    Country Score (Age 9-10) Score (Age 13-14)
    Singapore
    618
    621
    Hong Kong SAR
    615
    594
    Korea
    608
    606
    Chinese Taipei
    597
    599
    Japan
    593
    586
    Nothern Ireland
    570

    Russian Federation
    564
    538
    Norway
    549
    512
    Ireland
    547
    523
    England
    546
    518
    Belgium-Flemish
    546

    Kazakhstan
    544
    528
    Portugal
    541

    United States
    539
    518
    Denmark
    539

    Lithuania
    535
    511
    Finland
    535

    Poland
    535

    Netherlands
    530

    Hungary
    529
    514
    Czech Republic
    528

    Bulgaria
    524

    Cyprus
    523

    Germany
    522

    Slovenia
    520
    516
    Sweden
    519
    501
    Serbia
    518

    Australia
    517
    505
    Canada
    511
    527
    Italy
    507
    494
    Spain
    505

    Croatia
    502

    Slovak Republic
    498

    New Zealand
    491
    493
    France
    488

    Turkey
    483
    458
    Georgia
    463
    453
    Chile
    459
    427
    United Arab Emirates
    452
    465
    Bahrain
    451
    454
    Qatar
    439
    437
    Iran
    431
    436
    Oman
    425
    403
    Indonesia
    397

    Jordan
    388
    386
    Saudia Arabia
    383
    368
    Morocco
    377
    384
    South Africa
    376
    372
    Kuwait
    353
    392
    Israel

    511
    Malta

    494
    Malaysia

    465
    Lebanon

    442
    Thailand

    431
    Egypt

    392
    Botswana

    391
    TIMSS

      Mar 18, 2017 18:15 AM

      nothing wrong with learning basic Greek and Latin…

        Mar 18, 2017 18:24 AM

        I agree with you on the MATH education…….

          Mar 18, 2017 18:46 AM

          For what it is worth Jerry, I got up to and not through Calculus. Does that make me stupid? Maybe in some eyes, but certainly not mine!

            CFS
            Mar 18, 2017 18:32 PM

            If I had not dropped out of high school early, I would have had three years of calculus in high school before graduation.
            How things have changed!
            Even though I was Science centered, I did take Latin and Greek, French and Russian.

            Mar 19, 2017 19:19 AM

            The fact that you studied those languages is a testament to your intelligence, Cfs.

            Mar 20, 2017 20:36 AM

            CFS…….I assumed you were a professor at some college in the MidWest…..

          Mar 19, 2017 19:35 PM

          I was not implying that everyone needs to major in math……….just for the record…

        Mar 18, 2017 18:45 AM

        Of couurse not, Jerry!

      GH
      Mar 18, 2017 18:41 AM

      A liberal education does not equal today’s liberal politics, CFS.

      Science and math are great, and were always my primary focus. But the value of understanding history and politics, the appreciation of literature, some understanding of human psychology, logic, rhetoric, and many other things are of great value.

      Many scientists and engineers of my acquaintance are utterly naive when it comes to things outside of their specialty. But because of their intelligence, they can’t conceive that there are many things about which they are clueless. Many put their talents to use serving agendas that they wouldn’t even support, but they can’t see the big picture.

      14 Principles of Elite, Private Schools – John Taylor Gatto

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgNOellI03w

        GH
        Mar 18, 2017 18:49 AM

        Sorry for the poor editing — too much science, not enough English in my curriculum I guess, lol.

        The best exploration of the US education system that I know of, and one of the most enlightening videos I’ve ever seen:

        The Ultimate History Lesson: A Weekend with John Taylor Gatto

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQiW_l848t8

        It’s a deep dive, being five hours long, but well worth it.

        Charlotte Iserbyt also has some very worthwhile videos on youtube on the topic of edcuation. She was high up in the Dept. of Education under Reagan.

        Between Gatto and Iserbyt they shed a lot of light on how collectivism has become so prominent in American life in spite of the fact that it is contrary to the Constitution and our cultural traditions.

        I’ve made posts on these videos before, but I repeat myself because of how important I think it is that more people understand what they reveal.

        CFS
        Mar 18, 2017 18:11 AM

        GH. Have you actually looked at current school curricula?

        We don’t teach much history, anymore.

          GH
          Mar 19, 2017 19:46 PM

          And what history they do teach is poorly done.

          My intention wasn’t to defend current curricula, but rather the classic concept of a liberal education.

        Mar 18, 2017 18:54 AM

        Note my comment on liberal educations in our family, GH!

      Mar 18, 2017 18:45 AM

      I disagree that it is soley a political problem because of the liberals. One could argue of the political correctness aspect of some of the educational issues. And, that was what I brought out when I mentioned “teaching in all classes to the lowest common denometer. That does no one any good whatsoever.

      II will say that in my case my most valuable degree, and I have three of them, happens to be in Russian Literature. I say this for a variety of reasons: Much of the novels are conservative in nature for one; Many are not necessarily easy ready and they taught me how to think.

      It is not just the liberals CFS, it is the fault of all of us.

        Mar 18, 2017 18:53 AM

        CFS, for what it is worth.

        We put two daughters through university One was going to take over my consulting business and to that she was a member of The National Honor Society in Economics and she ended up getting an degree in fine arts because that was her passion. Todah she is the mother of twins; an executive in a major culanary chain; and, married to an executive at Microsoft.

        Our youngest graduated with a degree in history. In my personal opinion her most valuable course were in Budist theory and history. She is today an extremely squared away person who lives in Canada and loves every minute of it.

        Couple of liberal educations which rsulted in two very decent and productive members of society.

    CFS
    Mar 18, 2017 18:20 AM

    Oops “Thet breed” should be “That breeds”

    CFS
    Mar 18, 2017 18:42 AM

    The problem is not the “debt ceiling”; that is a symptom.
    The problem is the DEBT.

    How does the US Government expect to continually overspend and borrow?

    Have you not noticed that China is SELLING its US debt holdings?

    If you think we have dysfunction and chaos now, just wait until no one will loan the US anything!
    Imagine the US raising rates in an attempt to persuade countries to loan money, with a debt of $20 Trillion and an unfunded liability of over $ 200 Trillion. If you think this is chaos now, just wait a few years.

      b
      Mar 18, 2017 18:34 AM

      I guess there are ramifications of nations not lending, but the west could use anything as currency.
      Whats to stop them from printing a new one?
      Whats it matter if no one else accepts it?
      People will adjust by not traveling, manufactureing in the west etc

      I understand this debt is huge, but maybe there are plans to deal with it.
      Enslaving everyone might work.

        CFS
        Mar 18, 2017 18:39 AM

        b, We already have a soft enslavement. Not many notice it.

        They realize they have to pay taxes, etc. They just do not realize the extent of taxation.

        Take FICA program,for example. People believe that is the Government saving for their retirement. But in reality you pay 6.2 % of your income (and your employer pays another 6. %) And that money goes into general government spending. Oh sure, there’s an accounting gimic in which the government writes in a computer to give you a reckoning, which may entitle you to some payments at a later time, but that money is not put into a trust fund or really invested in anything for “you”, just in the government.
        That is why we have much of the $ 200 Trillion in “entitlements”, none of which is funded; none of it is anything other than a future promise, backed, if you really think about it by nothing other than the government’s ability to borrow in the future.
        Good luck with that in a few years time!
        Why the h*ll do you think Government employees are not included in the FICA program?
        (pardon my language)

          Mar 18, 2017 18:02 PM

          Let’s just all agree, CFS, that our financial system is not going to do much of anything other than eventually impllode.

          Unless something on the order of a Jubilee occurs it is enevitable. You and I will probably never see it happen. Will We?

            Mar 20, 2017 20:12 AM

            Yes……a jubilee…………every 50 yrs it is allowed. or is going to happen anyway…..because nothing else works..when you break the laws of justice and fair weights and measure.

          b
          Mar 18, 2017 18:17 PM

          I listened to “talk radio” a while back, topic was pensions,how we were told “just contribute and you will have whats needed for retirement”.
          The time comes and it barely covers a minimum of requirements.

          People asked “where did the money go?”
          I answered “Its all there,just like they said it would be, its just been devalued.”
          Which nobody really understood.

        CFS
        Mar 18, 2017 18:46 PM

        Zimbabwe tried printing, b.

      Mar 18, 2017 18:57 AM

      Pretty hard to disagree with your comment on debt and the debt ceiling, CFS!

    Mar 18, 2017 18:06 AM

    If you want a clearer understanding of the problem you should go to Dennis Wise’s website and look for the series of videos titled NWO- Communism by the backdoor.
    Communism By The Backdoor
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJfoo3hQEPCdTgnaVmpaYRg

      b
      Mar 18, 2017 18:18 AM

      I watched the first couple.
      I think it interesting when these things tell of Hitler being opposition to these nwo guys.
      Greatest story never told touches on it
      I just find it interesting Hitler is the most evil in all history and the one world government people we cant criticize.

      We better have a “second coming”, people wont figure it out for themselves.

        Mar 18, 2017 18:05 PM

        What an interesting comment on “one world government people”!

          b
          Mar 18, 2017 18:22 PM

          Its a great series as it turns out.
          Thanks for the link Steven.

          Im amazed yet again how christians are so devoted to Israel.
          Yet they complain so much about whats happening.
          Go figure.

            Mar 18, 2017 18:29 PM

            I have tried to figure it out. The answer I get from many of my “born again” friends is that The Old Testament proves they are God’s chosen people. That is an interesting comment as I believe that we are all God’s chosen people. I realize that in The Old Testament describes many instances where God “slayed” the enemies of Israel. I also am very aware of “The Proclamation of the Kingdom” according to my savior.

            CFS
            Mar 18, 2017 18:41 PM

            Big Al, if they are God’s chosen people, they got a real poor deal with the promised land…..a bunch of rocks and desert.

            Mar 19, 2017 19:41 AM

            And look what they have done with it, CFS. By the way, I do not believe that they are the chosen people. Consider Jesus’ Proclamation of the Kingdom!

            b
            Mar 18, 2017 18:09 PM

            The Jews are the chosen people, from Judea.
            Everyone else is to serve them.
            Christians are not intended to serve god/jesus but Jews.

            The Moslems moving to white countries is part of the plan.
            Europe will be moslem in about 20 years. (less actually)
            Thru the birth rate, not war.

            Israel is doing this, christians support Israel, christians support the destruction of their own religion.(even when they are flat out told by Jews their god jesus is idolty and they are ment only to serve jews)

            Hitler wanted lots and lots of little white christian babies.
            Now white people are told otherwise.
            Dont have too many kids, overpopulation and all.

            Trump loves Israel.

            Russia builds the biggest christian monument on earth….but theyre the bad guys.
            Assad defended the site Paul baptized Jesus, and he is a bad guy too.

            Vladivostok ‘to get tallest statue of Jesus Christ in the world’
            siberiantimes.com/…/f0142-vladivostok-to-get-tallest-statue-of-jesus-christ-in-the-wor…
            Aug 17, 2015 – Towering 80 metre monument to ‘Christ the Teacher’ by Zurab Tsereteli to find home in Russia’s Pacific capital.

            Mar 19, 2017 19:35 AM

            I did not know about that statue, thank you b. The Communists tried to wipe out Christianity and that didn’t seem to work did it?

            I have read much of the Old Testament and I agree that much of it, at least until Psalms, does center and the fact that God suplported the Jews big time. It is also possible to interpret much of that as “He supported many of the opressed much of the time. That is why, to me, interpretation is so important. To me, it all boils down to the simple question, “does God have the best intentions for all of mankind?” Much of the Bible tells me that He does.

            Mar 20, 2017 20:46 AM

            b.
            Paul did not baptize Jesus……..JOHN the Baptize , baptize Jesus..see..Matthew 3

            Malachi….which is the last book of the old test….Chapter 1 The Love of God for Israel 1-5 this is under the Old Testament. At this point most christians get lost in the scriptures.
            If, they (the christians) would Read Acts in the NEW TESTamet… the christians would get a handle on Jesus for the gentiles is in this time period……and not the Jews. NEW Testament….MEANS NEW….the jew have been set aside at this time period , for awhile.

            Mar 20, 2017 20:40 PM

            Interestingly enough OOTB, Kathy and I were discussing that very issue on the way home from Seattle yesterday.

            Mar 20, 2017 20:51 AM

            b. Paul was a jew, which Jesus used to bring the NEW message to the gentiles….see Acts 9:15

            Mar 20, 2017 20:39 PM

            So true, OOTB

            b
            Mar 20, 2017 20:23 PM

            Your right Jerry, my mistake.

            The point tho is Assad defends the place from isis and the western christians figure he is a bad guy.

            Saying Paul instead of John was just a slip.

            Mar 21, 2017 21:33 AM

            Good Morning b……
            thanks for the reply.
            Your point is well taken,…
            My point was just to add correctness…..but, heck even most christians do not even know the importance of Paul. Plus, you gave me an opportunity to share……thank J.

      Mar 18, 2017 18:03 PM

      Thanks for the link, Steven.

        CFS
        Mar 18, 2017 18:49 PM

        Old testament, graven images. Need I say more.

          Mar 19, 2017 19:23 AM

          Do you happen to believe those “graven images”? I personally do.

        Mar 20, 2017 20:20 AM

        You are welcome Al. Some of your readers might reflect on some things though.
        The official breaking of the Jews relationship with God during the trial of Jesus in Pilates court. Secondly who Israel was and who inherited the national name and birthright blessings. (It wasn’t the descendants of Judah) Judah or the Jews just got the political and spiritual blessings which were contingent on compliance with the terms of the covenant. Like any contract there are conditions to be met or there are penalties imposed for non performance. Except for the rare individuals who became christian world Jewry is out of covenant with God. They may as well be gentiles or worse. The change in their status occurred at the time of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus the son of God. They really had a choice. Follow God through Jesus the Christ or follow their preferred god father Satan the devil. See John 8:44
        History since the crucifixion is indeed a reflection of their choice in Pilates court.

    Ron
    Mar 18, 2017 18:26 AM

    comment on Glen downs,
    Infrastructure spending is conspicuously absent from the Trump budget. This leaves two possibilities:
    1. Trump is the biggest most cunning and deceptive film-flam man in history.
    2. Trump is smart like a fox. Infrastructure spending does not belong on the federal budget any more than Tarp, Bailouts and QE to infinity belong on the federal budget. Tarp and bailouts totaled 23.7 trillion dollars. Imagine where we would be today, if this was on the federal Budget and we were now paying interest on 23.7 +17 trillion. A lot of this money went to bailout foreign banks and corporations. If we can bail out foreign banks why can’t we bail out Small Business and pay for infrastructure. All trump has to do is pick up the phone and call the FED to issue 0% 100 year bonds to the states for infrastructure spending. We need a lot more than 1 trillion more like 20 trillion.

      CFS
      Mar 18, 2017 18:55 AM

      I vote for Trump understanding more than many think. He has been infinitely involved with governments and the NY mafia for most of his life. Trump is very smart, but so was Julius Caesar, and he still got a knife in his back, that he did not see coming.

        Mar 18, 2017 18:10 PM

        Interesting comment, CFS

      Mar 18, 2017 18:10 PM

      Ron, I have to say that I am a bit concerned about the party that I voted for.

      Here is an interesting and true story.

      Kathy and I received an invitation, suitable for framing, to the Innauguration. The onlyl problem was that it arrived sixty days after the even occured. The part is sending out things like that in an effort to pursuade people, like me, to contribute more money to be on the Trump Team. We gave to his campaign and now continue to give on a monthly basis. I do not appreciated flim flam actions like that one as I think they are disengenuous.

        b
        Mar 18, 2017 18:31 PM

        Trump supporting Israel shows the U.S. has only one political party.
        Americans have no choice in the direction of their nation.
        Niether do american vassal states.
        Thanks alot eh. lol

          Mar 18, 2017 18:25 PM

          There is a bit of truth to your statement, b!

            b
            Mar 18, 2017 18:47 PM

            ‘…the two parties should be almost identical,
            so that the american people can “throw the rascals out” at any election without leading
            to any profound or extensive shifts in policy.”
            Carroll Quigley
            Tragedy and Hope 1966

            Mar 18, 2017 18:12 PM

            In a very basic sense b, I cannot disagree with you.

      Mar 20, 2017 20:36 AM

      It may be too early to tell one way or another. One might consider the gang he has to work with to get anything done. It matters not whether Trump is an honest man or not he is going to be obstructed by the oligarchy in whole or in part on a great many things.
      He is an outsider and an upstart. He is not a member of a satanic secret society.
      In the eyes of the ruling oligarchy Trump’s only claim to fame is his money and other assets. He will always be seen as an outsider and therefore expendable just like Lincoln, JFK and every other president who attempted to obey his oath of office.

    Mar 18, 2017 18:14 AM

    Trump has probably never heard of ‘meals on wheels’. Lots of the deliveries of a meal (many purchased for about $5) are provided by citizen volunteers who sometimes are reimbursed for mileage in my state. The people who use the service are mostly homebound elderly and the program is credited with helping keep these people out of nursing homes (more Medicaid) and with the added benefit of someone looking in on these people. If this is the only way we can acquire money for the stupid wall………..we’re so far gone nothing else really matters. No reasonable American citizen would ever propose this joke. I can’t believe Trump is beginning to act as stupid as he looks.

      Mar 18, 2017 18:13 PM

      The wall is clearly the most asinine thing that I have every heard of.

      Meals on Wheels is, from what I know, a very worthwhile organization.

        b
        Mar 18, 2017 18:37 PM

        Of course meals on wheels is worthy, and only a sociopath would stop it.
        The wall was planned decades ago tho.
        Its far from Trumps idea.

          Mar 18, 2017 18:24 PM

          The Wall is something that he wants to do and, for the life of me, I have no idea why. There are so many more efficient ways to stop illegal immegration.

            b
            Mar 18, 2017 18:26 PM

            Sry cant find it, if I run across it again I will post it.
            That wall was planned about 30-40 years ago (at least)
            People in the south are expected to move north due to starvation as the earth warms.

            I know people on this site figure climate change is bolagna, but we are in a mass extinction event now due to climate change directly caused by humans.

            One of the favorite goldbugs Chris Martinsen tells us about the bumble bee.
            Hawkins says we need a new planet but what does he know? lol

            At present, the rate of extinction of species is estimated at 100 to 1,000 times higher than the “base” or historically typical rate of extinction (in terms of the natural evolution of the planet) and also the current rate of extinction is, therefore, 10 to 100 times higher than any of the previous mass extinctions in …
            Holocene extinction – Wikipedia
            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinction

            Google “mass extinction” for more info. this is #6

            Mar 18, 2017 18:51 PM

            Al and crew. You guys don’t get it about the wall. It isn’t to keep Mexicans out. It’s to keep Americans in.

            Mar 18, 2017 18:11 PM

            I can’t agree with you on what your seem to be infering, Bob

            b
            Mar 18, 2017 18:09 PM

            thats the wall in china Bob

            Mar 19, 2017 19:15 AM

            Al:

            The government is making it harder and harder for Americans to leave. It’s already happened from a fiscal point of view and next we will be stopped physically.

            Mar 19, 2017 19:08 AM

            Give me a bit of rationale for your feelings, Bob as that is a pretty strong statement.

            GH
            Mar 19, 2017 19:47 AM

            As an ex-pat, I can attest to the truth of what Bob is saying here. The US treats its ex-pats terribly with regard to taxation and access to financial services.

            Mar 19, 2017 19:05 AM

            Thanks GH I have to admit, not being an ex-pat, I have never thought about that situation.

            Mar 19, 2017 19:09 AM

            A most dire dystopian forecast depicts an 80% decline in US population by the year 2025. I find these extreme forecasts interesting, but do not know their methodology and certainly don’t share this view. Still, maybe we’re going to need a bigger wall?

            “The key element to understand the process that the USA will enter in the upcoming decade is migration. In the past, specially in the 20th century, the key factor that allowed the USA to rise to its colossus status was immigration with the benefits of a demographic expansion supporting the credit expansion and the brain drain from the rest of the world benefiting the States.

            The collapse of the Western financial system will wipe out the standard of living of its population while ending ponzi schemes such as the stock exchange and the pension funds. The population will be hit so badly by a full array of bubbles and ponzi schemes that the migration engine will start to work in reverse accelerating itself due to ripple effects thus leading to the demise of the States….” More here:

            http://www.deagel.com/country/forecast.aspx

            Mar 19, 2017 19:56 AM

            Steele, an 80% decline in our population is a prediction that I find both interesting and very hard to believe. True, more and more young people are not having children, but an 80% drop?

            Regarding the collapse of the western financial system, I believe that it is inevitable as we live within a system that is based on pretty much no tangible value. Just how long can that reality last? Not long I would think. But then again, realistically is has been in existence since 1973. For the first 35 years nobody really cared and again people are aware but really don’t seem to care. We did dodge a bullet in 2008. Will we be able to continue to do that?

            b
            Mar 19, 2017 19:17 PM

            Doug Casey has said a time or two to leave the states while you can.
            Again, step by step.
            Stevens link puts together some points I have already seen.

            I think theyre right, we are on our way to one world government with the Rothchilds at the top.
            Unless, Russia and or China decide nuclear war is a better option than serving the Rothchilds.

            Its obvious the americans and vassal states already work for them.

            Steeles comment of an 80% reduction in american population can be achieved in 1 year with emp blasts.
            Last guestimate I read figured 98% of population dies within a year of no electricity.

            GH
            Mar 20, 2017 20:26 AM

            Let’s say you were to come to feel you could no longer in good conscience be a tax-paying citizen of a country that is constantly engaging in wars of aggression and destroying the lives of millions. So you want to get dual citizenship and then renounce your US citizenship. Look into how much that would cost you.

            You don’t know the dimensions of the cage until you try to get out.

            Mar 20, 2017 20:29 AM

            GH:

            You just said the most thoughtful comment on the issue I believe I have ever read. I think I will steal it.

            You don’t know the dimensions of the cage until you try to get out.

            Mar 20, 2017 20:41 PM

            Sounds like “Hotel California” Robert!

            Mar 20, 2017 20:11 AM

            GH, how THEY, not WE, spend the loot that is taken by force should not have an impact on your good conscience. THEY destroy millions of lives. Your conscience should be clear wherever you choose to live.

            Mar 20, 2017 20:39 PM

            No since we have no voice in that matter, you are certainly corect, Matthew!

            Mar 20, 2017 20:18 AM

            As for the wall, Ron Paul has shared the same sentiment as Robert, it just might be put up to keep Americans IN.

            I believe that it is just another way to shake down the people. The powers that be love to spend the biggest money on things that return no (or negative) economic value to society.

            In doing so, they achieve the ultimate wealth transfer.

            Mar 20, 2017 20:37 PM

            Matthew, anything can happen. (Do you happen to rememer that movie?)

            That is an interesting subject for discussion, by the way. I just don’t understand the rationale at this particular point in time!

            GH
            Mar 20, 2017 20:04 PM

            I agree with you Matthew, as long as we at least do what is reasonably within our power to stand for our principles.

            It was a hypothetical, to an extent. But it would feel nice not to be coerced into financing the bastards.

            Mar 20, 2017 20:31 PM

            Yes, it would be actually more than nice, GH!

            GH
            Mar 20, 2017 20:12 PM

            Another aspect of the wall on which I haven’t seen any commentary is its ecological impact. I don’t know the design, but I presume that at least for large mammals, perhaps for many other things, populations north and south of the wall will be split.

            I’m not knowledgeable enough of southwestern fauna to opine in detail on what species would be severely impacted, but at least for fringe populations like the jaguar, perhaps for other things like desert bighorn rams…I don’t know what else…this would likely be the death knell for the US population.

            Mar 20, 2017 20:30 PM

            Interesting point GH.

            My interesting point is that the idea is inefficient and thus stoopid.

            GH
            Mar 20, 2017 20:15 PM

            Maybe I’ll start a petition to the White House to put cat doors in the wall…. 😉

            Mar 20, 2017 20:28 PM

            Cat doors? Sorry I am feeling kind of dense today!

            GH
            Mar 20, 2017 20:50 PM

            It’s a reference to my previous comment about the ecological impact of a border wall, all, specifically jaguars.

            GH
            Mar 20, 2017 20:51 PM

            oops…”Al”, not “all”.

            And I agree with you, I have many other objections to the wall, aside from the ecological.

    Mar 18, 2017 18:55 AM

    We all know what happened in 1929, a similar effect will occur during The Trump administration and Trump will get his money for infrastructure building. America can not carry on without it, however it happens the money this time won’t all go to the banks as when Obama was first elected in 2008, been there done that will prevail.
    Consequently, I’m not worried about infrastructure spending in the budget, it will get allocated probably this year to boost the economy after a financial collapse. Just turn the page the signs are all there. He might even call it New Deal 11, to appease the left. Now wouldn’t that be apropos! DT

      Mar 18, 2017 18:10 AM

      Trump will carry out the rebuilding of a lot of America’s infrastructure. One of Newt Gingrich’s pet projects that he has been trying to get funding for is the protection of America’s power stations from the explosion of an EMP bomb or solar flare that will wipe out the electronic digital world. If your power stations are shielded the rest of the critical infrastructure can be replaced fairly quickly but without your main power source the result will be a disaster. DT

        Mar 18, 2017 18:16 PM

        Good point. Have you every read the book, “Thirty Seconds After”? It is an interesting and thought provoking read.

      Mar 18, 2017 18:15 PM

      Thanks Dick. I too believe and hope that this program will happen.

      Did you meet Cory in Toronto, by the way?

        Mar 18, 2017 18:17 PM

        My wife and I met Cory at a tavern called ‘The Loose Moose’, I got to drink my favorite draft. We both enjoyed his company and the conversation, hopefully we can get together next year when PDAC is on. DT

          Mar 19, 2017 19:43 AM

          Glad you had the chance to meet with him. He is a good guy Mr. Tracy. Hopefully at some point in the future we can also get together.

    CFS
    Mar 18, 2017 18:01 AM

    “Meals on Wheels” is a private company, not a government program. Is there a reason it should be funded directly (about 3% directly), as well as via grants to poor/elderly through government programs?

      Mar 18, 2017 18:19 PM

      CFS, I did not realize that it was a private dompany that was only 3% funded by the feds.

      Do you have any idea what the actual magnitudes are to the poor/eldery?

        CFS
        Mar 18, 2017 18:46 PM

        3% of its funding was by direct grant from the Feds. A separate part of HUD funds a much greater part through block grants. That part was not cut at all.

        CFS
        Mar 18, 2017 18:48 PM

        The community block grants are location dependent…..I will try to get some numbers.

          CFS
          Mar 18, 2017 18:21 PM

          The Mral on Wheels program was started in Australia as a charitable organization.
          It cam to the US in 1954.
          It appears that the US Government will fund about 31-32% of meals given by Meals on wheels; that 31-32% being given to poor/elderly. The numbers are fuzzy because “meals on wheels” also passes through money to soup kitchens and other organizations.
          MANY, many localities are differently 501c3 registered., so numbers are very messy.

          Here is the Umbrella organization data:

          https://www.charitywatch.org/ratings-and-metrics/meals-on-wheels-america-national-office/733

            Mar 19, 2017 19:38 AM

            Thanks for the information pertaining to Meals on Wheels, CFS.

    AJ
    Mar 18, 2017 18:33 AM

    Trump’s Cuts: The Good, the Bad and the Bizarre
    http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/03/donald-trump-budget-cuts-214926

      CFS
      Mar 18, 2017 18:27 AM

      Re
      ; Comments on Killing Big Bird.
      Sesame St. Workshop is also a private company.
      Last Year its revenues were $121.6 million in Revenues, of which only 4% were in Government grants.
      The CEO, Melvin Ming, of Sesame St. Workshop was paid in 2015 $672K in salary and bonuses. The average remuneration of the top 10 officials at Sesame St. Workshop was %381,000. (This greatly exceeds the average typical for “profit-making” corporations.)

        Mar 18, 2017 18:21 PM

        That is very interesting. Having never watched Seasame Street, I never even realized that it was federallly funded to that extent.

          Mar 19, 2017 19:47 PM

          It’s not – only 4% was government grants. That’s the point, they are a very profitable enterprise with the management making very hefty annual salaries. The cut shouldn’t be killing Big Bird…. unless they are just trying to pull on the heart strings of parents & kids (it’s only 4% and if the executives are so worried they can cut their salaries down.

    CFS
    Mar 18, 2017 18:33 AM

    By the way, Sesame St. is no longer a PBS show……it is an HBO show.
    Only after being first on HBO will it be allowed to go on PBS.

    Mar 18, 2017 18:04 PM

    News outlet rising on the right for Russia coverage

    Circa News, a millennial-focused media outlet that launched only eight months ago, has been embraced by Republicans for aggressive reporting on Russian meddling in the 2016 election that runs counter to reporting in more mainstream outlets.

    For the past week, Circa has been dropping new exclusives on federal investigations into Russian influence on a near-daily basis. Their reporting has coursed through conservative media, where it has been held up as an example of fair and hard-hitting investigative reporting on an issue that has been a flashpoint of controversy between the White House, Congress and the press.

    Circa’s Chief Operating Officer John Solomon and national security reporter Sara Carter have appeared on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” almost every night for the past week, giving the outlet a valuable primetime perch on one of conservative media’s most-watched cable news shows.

    Sean Hannity — one of Trump’s biggest boosters in the media — has repeatedly lauded Circa as the gold standard, while blasting its counterparts in the mainstream media as “lazy,” “overpaid” and “dishonest.”

    http://thehill.com/homenews/324589-news-outlet-rising-on-the-right-for-russia-coverage

    Mar 18, 2017 18:22 PM

    Thanks for mentioning Circa News., Markedtofuture

      CFS
      Mar 18, 2017 18:09 PM

      Here are some more numbers:

      Military spending was 4.7% of GDP. in 2010.
      Under Obama it had dropped to just under 3%.

      Trump’s increase in Military spending represents a change in priorities in government spending such that 1.35% of the Federal Budget is being transferred from programs that Trump considers less important.

      According to the WSJ, rebuilding the military will not start until 2019.

        Mar 19, 2017 19:37 AM

        Thanks for bringing up your reference to the WSJ, CFS.

      Mar 18, 2017 18:46 PM

      Big Al, the majority of snowflakes are hot & bothered about Trump. If they only knew this little tidbit penned by Martin Armstrong.

      https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/history/americas-economic-history/clinton-made-student-loans-non-discharable/

        Mar 18, 2017 18:52 PM

        Trump Administration Rolls Back Obama Protections On Student Loans

        Just days after reports emerged that student loan defaults are soaring, the Trump administration has revoked rules put in place by Obama that barred student debt collectors from charging penalty fees on past-due loans…that should take care of that pesky ‘moral hazard’ problem…

        http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-03-18/student-loans

          Mar 19, 2017 19:18 AM

          And yet another example of the double standards found in the U.S,

        Mar 19, 2017 19:26 AM

        I have tried to contact Armstrong numerous times and he does not seem to want any communication with us.

    CFS
    Mar 18, 2017 18:05 PM

    The religion of tolerance and Peace…..

    ORLY, France (AP) — Yelling that he wanted to kill and die for Allah, a suspected Islamic extremist attacked a French soldier Saturday morning at Paris’ Orly Airport and wrested away her assault rifle, a French prosecutor said. Two colleagues on her patrol shot and killed the man before he could fire the military-grade weapon in the busy airport terminal.

    The attack forced the airport’s terminals to shut down and evacuate, sent passengers and workers fleeing in panic and trapped hundreds of others aboard flights that had just landed. It was the violent climax of what authorities described as a 90-minute spree of destructive criminality across the French capital by the suspect, identified as Ziyed Ben Belgacem.

      Mar 19, 2017 19:21 AM

      CFS:

      Do you think Muslims are tired of getting attacked by the West and maybe this is a little blowback?

      Mar 19, 2017 19:22 AM

      Wow! One can argue fairly convincingly that it is not truly a religion of peace.

    CFS
    Mar 18, 2017 18:10 PM

    Tthe religion of the left……

    RENO, Nev. (AP) — Sierra Club lawyers who’ve preached against the environmental evils of coal-burning power plants for decades are trying to force the closure of the last significant one in renewable energy-rich Nevada with arguments based on a different sort of green: money.

    Nevada air; well-known for it’s high level of pollution!

    CFS
    Mar 18, 2017 18:26 PM

    It would not be a weekend unless I made a comment about Iran….
    “Iran has established rocket factories in Lebanon that are under the full control of the Hezbollah terror group, a top Iranian general told a Kuwaiti newspaper. Citing one of the deputy heads of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the al-Jarida newspaper reported Monday that Iran in recent months has established factories for manufacturing both rockets and firearms in Lebanon. The newspaper did not say which of IRGC chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari’s deputies made the assertion. The report came just days after Iran’s Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan, a former brigadier general in the IRGC, said Hezbollah is now capable of producing rockets that can hit any part of Israel. Dehghan offered no details of the new capabilities. The new factories, said to be located underground, have reportedly been in operation for the past three months. Among their staff are advisers from the IRGC, as well as Lebanese experts trained at the Imam Hossein University in Tehran, a key training institution for IRGC personnel. Hundreds have reportedly been trained by the university in rocket manufacturing techniques.

    The nation of Peace.

      Mar 19, 2017 19:20 AM

      CFS:

      If Israel has a right of self-defense, should Palestine have the same right?

      Israel, the nation of Peace with only 34 individual war crimes committed when they attacked GAZA as admitted by a Zionist judge heading the committee.

        Mar 19, 2017 19:07 AM

        Simple common sense says that, of course, the others in reality need the same right.

        b
        Mar 19, 2017 19:35 PM

        No Bob, Palistine does not have the right to defend itself.
        Thats why the U.S. supports Israel.
        Everyones destiny is to serve Israel, serve or die.
        You already know this but this is just part of the goal.

        Greater Israel, From The Nile To The Tigris & Euphrates … – YouTube
        Video for israel tigris to the euphrates▶ 5:29
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ebvOYOzTkU

          Mar 19, 2017 19:58 PM

          B:

          The really funny thing is that they come right out and list their intentions but the FSM brainwashes American so totally that they see Israel as a victim. It’s the same blindness that leads CFS to conclude Muslims are the aggressors. What?

          The US has been been arming and supporting religious nutcase both Jewish and Muslim since at least the Carter administration. When Muslims respond, they become the bad people. I don’t approve of their tactics but how could you not understand them?

          If you want to understand Muslim terrorism and 911 watch Charlie Wilson’t War. We did it to them, they aren’t doing it to us.

            b
            Mar 19, 2017 19:33 PM

            You dont have to convince me Bob.
            I think the answer is how the brain works. Somebody sure understands it.
            I got a taste of it in a series “Theory of Everything” u tube.
            Its a real study tho and bit beyond me.

            Anyway, posted by steven
            Communism By The Backdoor
            https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJfoo3hQEPCdTgnaVmpaYRg

            if you havnt seen this you might be glad you took the time to watch it. 20 parts 15 mins per part.
            Alot of pcs are put in order.

            b
            Mar 19, 2017 19:36 PM

            oh, the U.S. has been supporting Jewish nutcases far longer than Carter.

            Watch the communism by the backdoor.

      Mar 19, 2017 19:17 AM

      Just out of curiosity CFS, do you believe that the end of the world as we know it will start in the Middle East? I personally have a lot of faith in the Bible and I do.

    CFS
    Mar 18, 2017 18:31 PM

    Meanwhile in the peaceful USA…..

    http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/17/mini-nukes-and-inspect-bot-weapons-being-primed-for-future-warfare.html

    And I thought drones with missiles were bad enough!

    CFS
    Mar 18, 2017 18:37 PM

    Approximately 30 countries are refusing to accept the deportations of illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes in the U.S., according to Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar.

    While these countries are refusing to accept the deportations of these criminals, the U.S. government is still issuing visas and student visas to citizens of those countries, according to the Texan congressman. There is already a law on the books which allows the U.S. to hold visas from a country that is not taking back its criminals, but according to Cuellar, the U.S. is not enforcing it.

    “We’re not enforcing it, which is amazing. So now my intent is to go back to our committee on appropriations and affect their funding until they do that,” Cuellar told Sharyl Attkisson, host of Full Measure, in an interview.

    Cuellar, a Democratic member of the House Committee on Appropriations, told Attkisson that the Supreme Court has ruled that illegal immigrants arrested for criminal activity can only be held for a certain period of time before they must be released.

    (I just thought of another use for drones…..)

      Mar 19, 2017 19:11 AM

      If true, CFS, that is amazing.

    Mar 19, 2017 19:10 PM

    I don’t know if this will happen but I think The US is going on a silver standard when they must back their currency whether old or new. I am the second silver bug, Jim Dines was the first. Psssssst! I think JP Morgan is behind this. DT

      Mar 19, 2017 19:17 PM

      The J in JP Morgan should stand for “JIMMY”, they have more than any bank been in control of US monetary policy, Goldman Sacks, are the pretenders.

      Mar 19, 2017 19:00 PM

      DT:

      The guy who made up the nonsense about JPM possessing 500 million ounces of silver has been wrong on every single prediction he has ever made. Dimond probably doesn’t know how much silver they have, some clown posting on the internet certainly doesn’t have a clue.

    Mar 19, 2017 19:13 PM

    When have government programs been reduced or eliminated in the last 70 years, now that Trump is paring back the over bloated US government expect the whiners to start complaining, but a bloated bureaucracy is the biggest sign of an economy or country in deep decline. Venezuela should be our guide. DT