Year: 2017

The Facebook page my wife and I jointly keep is a place for us to share with family – and advance our political views in an engaging, non-confrontational manner.

However, a few days ago a pro Trump activist seems to have run across some of our postings and he has unleashed a rage of vile hate that is truly outlandish. (I have no idea how he stumbled onto our page.)

While it was tempting to immediately delete his posting and ban him from our page, I noticed that many of our friends were responding to his hate with smart, non-threatening comments. (One friend, however, did take him on and challenged him into the gutter.)

What amazed me is that this individual so blatantly and brashly spews his hate without any consideration, empathy, or concerns. I am sharing some of his comments in this post so we will not forget how militant and dangerous these individuals can get. I remain hopeful – and pray – that one day he will amend.

I am also sharing his comments because – unless someone corrects me – I have never seen an anti-Trump individual be so openly insulting to a specific Trump supporter on Facebook. Maybe that exists; I’ve never seen it. (I am not talking about a token comment that is insulting and degrading in general. I am talking about following another individual and posting endless comments with violent memes and degrading language.)

While this one person is not representative of Trump supporters, it is alarming that he is enabled and complicitly encouraged to do this by Trump and some of his supporters.

Regardless, it is up to us to confront them with love, empathy, and ready to forgive. A beautiful video that captures how to try to do this is Richard Rohr’s conversation on the topic: https://youtu.be/aNYJHucX-aY

Having said that, THIS is what Trump has unleashed. #RESIST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If anyone knows this individual (Thomas Oconnor), please get him help. His last comment referencing his “LICENCED (sic) 9MM SAYS SO” takes this to a different level… He may need to be reported…

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I write this hours before Trump announces what it is he will be doing when going to Texas tomorrow – right in the middle of this devastating catastrophe resulting from the Harvey hurricane floods.

Trump, stay away from Texas! Why not stay in Washington, D.C. instead? Why disrupt emergency operations? When was the last time you contributed to healing and comforting the Nation anyway? You simply don’t have the gravitas to do that, sir.

Why not stay in Washington, D.C., and announce an emergency funding for FEMA, including mental health support for the victims?…

Or better yet, why not announce three simple immediate major shifts in your policies that would truly make a difference?

[1] Announce that undocumented immigrants will be welcome to help cleaning the toilets in the Dallas
Convention Center, and later rebuilding Houston? (After all, that’s what will happen anyway!)

[2] Announce that you will not terminate TPS (Temporary Protective Status) for the hundreds of thousands of Central Americans that have been living in this Country and now you are scaring them with the bogus threat of terminating that successful program? (After all, they too will be critical to the emergency and rebuilding!)

[3] Announce that you are asking Congress to redirect the money being set aside to build your stupid wall to pay for an immediate and effective cleaning up and rebuilding the area ravaged by the floods? (After all, you do need a way out of that stupid commitment!)

Harsh words for the President? Not the moment to bring this up, you say?

Well, sorry.

This man Trump has shown no empathy whatsoever for any group of people other than White Supremacists – and Russians… So, why should we believe him now?!?

Any words of comfort or consolations read from a tele-prompter in Texas will be nothing more than blah blah blah b.s. Simply NOT credible. Any visit to a shelter to meet the real victims of this catastrophe will be unauthentic and grossly staged – worse than an Apprentice t.v. show. Any solace he can bring will be predicated on glorifying himself.

Already the Texans are coming together with amazing spirit of volunteerism and willingness to help each other. Already national relief organizations like the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities are mobilized and doing what they do best. Already local and State elected officials are aggressively addressing the situation.

They don’t need Trump coming in and shifting the attention – as he always does – to himself.

Trump, stay away from Texas! #RESIST

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No, right? No way. Not here!

We have way too many safety guards against the establishment of a dictatorship in America. We are too savvy; too knowledgeable; too smart. Yep. Think do?

Since WWII, most dictatorships have come to power with the tacit approval – if not outright support – of a sizable chunk if the population. Some have come to power via the ballot box. And most have had the solid support of the military establishment.

To varying degree, dictatorship have these five elements in common. They begin with:

[1] Suppressing the press and gaining control of mass media;

[2] Discrediting the establishment and bureaucracy;

[3] Gaining control of the judiciary system;

[4] Keeping the military complex happy; and,

[5] Having an eccentric, self absorbed leader.

Could not happen here, right?

The establishment of a dictatorship does not require the blind following of the masses. A third of the population will do.

Another third usually see the establishmenf of a dictatorship as a means to achieve certain political goals. This one third will tolerate and forgive the fanatics as long as their agenda is met.

A dictatorship can easily exist with a third (and more!) of the masses solidly against them. Once in power, dictatorships can flourish with as little as 25% of the masses behind them – whether philosophically, by fright, or misinformation – as long as the military is happy.

Not here, right? No way!

Trump has:

> 1/3 of Americans solidly – and blindly – behind him. Another third is lulled into believing Trump is their useful idiot, setting in place policies in their favor until they choose to dispose of him (not realizing the longer they wait the more difficult it becomes.)

> His intent with the press is well documented. Is there any doubt he is trying to suppress the press and gain control of the popular media? Is there any doubt he is telling his supporters that any source but his preferred source of information is suspect?

> His lack of respect for the existing bureaucracy and establishment in general is well documented as well. Mistrust of the status quo and institutional structures by his followers is a must before he starts dismantling them – and recreating them in his image.

> Trump’s distaste for an independent judiciary is clear. While swiftly reversing this bedrock of American democracy may seem impossible, the president has substantial power to shape this third branch of government. Add to the already existing power the power of innuendos and intimidation and you begin to see the ugly possibilities.

> Keeping the military happy may seem to be an innocent enough path. But when Trump guarantees the enhancement of the military complex at the expense of all else, and begins militarizing the White House power structure, watch out! (And, how can we forget his love for policing emphasizing ‘law and order’ – i.e.: the militarization of local police departments?)

> And, last but certainly not least is the character of the man himself. Clearly egocentric and self absorbed.

The fact that this Country has survived nearly 250 years without a dictatorship does not make it immune to it; nor does it guarantee it will never happen.

All the ingredients are in place. The cook is in the kitchen.

The masses are content with entertainment, seduced by cheers of rah rah America, and totally convinced by the illusion of safety and security.

Nah. Not here, right?

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Donald Trump is yes, unfit to be President.

I am not talking here about his questionable policy objectives: build a wall, ban Muslims, befriend Russia, etc.

I am talking about the man.

He is an embarrassment. He is disgraceful. He is crass. He is classless… He makes the Presidency small.

His daily barrage of insults, demeaning comments, simplistic Tweets, bad manners, foul language, combative tone, self-righteousness, and right out lies is unbecoming of a President.

We have us a President that few in good conscience can say serves as a model to our youth, inspires the masses, unites us, or makes us proud to be Americans.

It is as if he is still campaigning, speaking only to his core supporters; not giving a damn about reaching out to those that did not vote for him. It is as if he is hell bent on creating a core cult following of 1/3 of the voters; and calculates another 1/3 will tolerate him and use him to achieve their policy objectives. (That is clearly the calculation that got him elected.)

Make no mistake about it. That 1/3 of voters that are his core cult followers are an economically – and educationally- diverse bunch. This is NOT only the downtrodden, low income, low skills whites. This 1/3 of American voters that are Trump’s cultish followers include a good number of highly educated, successful white folks.

What do they have in common?

• Trump’s cult followers all love the simplicity of his approach. They do not care for the complexities of reality. They want it all in black and white. And he is giving them that.
• Trump’s cult followers welcome his brash approach. “Tell it like it is!” Be politically incorrect! Yeah!
• Trump’s cult followers have all bought into the idea that all government is bloated, all bureaucracy is inefficient, and all regulations are bad. All. (Except, of course the ones that benefit them.)
• Trump’s cult followers feel right at home with his ballistic style. That’s who they are too. They relate to how he talks. They ‘understand’ his exaggerations. They applaud his bluntness, lack of diplomatic approach, lack of discipline. And they ‘get’ when he changes positions, deflects questions, creates new facts. It is all about keeping the enemy off balance.
• Trump’s cult followers are loyal if nothing else. They will stick with him. Cheer him on. It is as if every attack on Trump, every new revelation, makes their cult even stronger, ever more loyal to him.

If this man’s style ever moves beyond this intractable 1/3 and moves to be a majority, we will have descended into the gutter.

It is not one single incident. If it was we could argue, debate, agree/disagree on its significance.

It is the constant, non-stop, in-your-face every-day ludeness that is alarming.

His style is infecting America. People are becoming more rude. Lashing out is becoming the norm. Lying is ok. Disrespecting others is ok. Bashing your own is expected. On and on…

Four years of this? God help us.

In the meantime, there are some of us that refuse to buy into this craziness. There are some of us that believe civility will prevail. Americans will wake up. Rise up. #RESIST … and this cultist nightmare will come to an end.

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Why Russia Resonates: Its all about Steve Bannon

This whole Russia thing can feel so – excuse the pun – foreign.

Why should we care? How does it impact me personally? Does it really matter?

Is this just not a detraction – a last gasp attempt by Trump’s detractor – to keep the winning team from implementing their policies for which the electorate (College, that is) sent them to Washington to do?

Not exactly. (Though generally possibly more than a kernel of truth to that logic.)

Remember Trump’s unifying themes:

> Dismantling the gloated bureaucracy,  America First, and fighting for chrisitanity.

Those are powerful aims. These themes make for a powerful vision.

Actualizing that vision requires a relentless, laser sharp focus on not caring about what the established bureaucrats say, being a strongman, and shamelessly collaborating (colluding?) with others that would benefit in achieving this vision.

Russia is a natural, convenient, and practical partner in achieving this vision. Make no mistake about it:

[1] Russia will benefit greatly from a de-stabilized bureaucracy, a bureaucracy led by inexperienced, nationalist minded, friendly-to-Russia folks.

[2] Putin feels comfortable with a perceived strong man that is impressionable and immature in world politics.

[3] Russia has a historical, fundamentalist, extreme orthodox newfound christian faith that aligns perfectly with the dogmatic traditionalist catholics and fundamental evangelical movement in the U.S.

This third point needs much more exploring. We have yet to scratch the surfacing on this… And all roads will lead to Steve Bannon.

The lure of a dismantled bureaucracy, a gullible strong man at the helm that can be exploited for his inexperience in these deep matters, and a new world order based on fundamentalism and extreme orthodoxy is very appealing to many Americans across the faith spectrum. “Christians unite!” is a universal battle cry of all fundamentalists and extreme orthodoxy throughout the world… Indeed, it is no less than a ‘prophecy’!

The ‘price’ these folks are willing to pay to attain their ultimate goal of a fundamentalist and extremely orthodox christian U.S.A. is unthinkable to many other Americans. So what if it requires the destruction of social gains made since WWII; so what if it means accepting a President with dictatorial tendencies; so what if it means we embrace Russia… Nothing matter other than the end-point: A fundamentalist, extreme orthodox christian America.

Note I refuse to give these fundamentalist and extreme orthodox the honor of calling them Christians or Catholics with a capital “C”… Theirs is a small, perverse, incomplete, mean, and intolerant christianity and a very narrow representation of catholicism.

Theirs is a faith outlook so perversely fundamental and extremely orthodox that it looks exclusively to the Ten Commandments and conveniently forgets about the Sermon on the Mount.

It is a faith so perversely fundamental and extremely orthodox that it conveniently relies on the Old Testament’s approach to war, power, and authority rather than the New Testament’s emphasis on love, service and empathy.

It is a faith so perversely fundamental and extremely orthodox that it has room only for those that think – and look – like them; and have very little patience for disagreement, discourse, or dissent.

Theirs is a ‘religious correctness’ where only they are the ultimate faith arbitrators; only they know what is right and wrong; only they have access to (their) truth and can dictate human behavior for their (not God’s) greater glory.

Now, beware: These two amigos are not a natural alliance. Indeed, this strange and (un?)holy alliance of old school extreme orthodox catholics and die hard fundamentalist evangelicals is not only unnatural, but also unsustainable.

They may agree on their anti abortion rhetoric, gay bashing, and might through military power. But, they distrust each other vehemently.

To the fundamentalist evangelicals Catholics are not to be trusted; they are not even Christians, they would say… To the extreme orthodox catholics the fundamental evangelicals are at best a convenient partner, “useful idiots”, but they are not to be trusted until they declare adherence to the (a future – not this) Pope and the ‘magisterium and dogma’ of the Catholic Church – as they see it.

… All of this is orchestrated by the perversion of one man whose name we have not heard for a while in the news: Steve Bannon. Stay tuned.

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Happy Birthday USA:

May your childish tantrum soon be over.

May you grow up soon.

May you reclaim your sanity before it is too late.

May this man who is your President – at least for now – realize he is making America small. Making America small – for the first time. THAT is what Trump has accomplished in his first half year in office.

America has always been an aspirational nation. Through all its dysfunctions and incomplete and imperfect history, America has always counted on robust – if oftentimes ruckus – leadership.

Even in our darkest hours top leaders in the USofA have always conveyed a sense of optimism and a better future – unless they were deranged and on their way out of office (i.e.: Nixon.)

I will certainly celebrate this 4th. But, it will be a celebration as if your child was in the hospital in “stable, but serious” condition. Looking forward to tomorrow when things get better, but certainly not enjoying the moment.

Worse yet, it a self inflicted condition. Something that could have been avoided… Oh but some were so gullible! So easily swayed by visions of sugarplum sugarcoated with overly simplistic view of a very complicated world, and promises of a past greatness that never existed but for a select few.

The disarray, disrespect, distractions, and distrust that Donald Trump has managed to instill in our nation’s psyche is truly awful – and dangerous.

This man is simply a disgrace. An embarrassment. A lousy excuse for a president.

His complete and total lack of demeanor, of seriousness, of intellect is numbing – and dumbing America in the process.

He is giving real estate developers a bad name. Heck, he is giving game show hosts a bad name!

He might have made billions by dealing and negotiating in the world of business. But, he has proven without a shadow of a doubt that those skills are simply not transferrable to the world of governance, diplomacy, and foreign policy.

His epic Tweeter wars with the media is nothing short of sick – and dangerous to the core.

Trump has managed to make not only the US, but also the Office of the Presidency small.

Even in the rare moments I agree with him, his sneer comes across as disingenuous, dishonest, and disinterested.

DO YOU KNOW OF A SINGLE PERSON THAT ENTHUSIASTICALLY AND AUTHENTICALLY WOULD SAY “PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS THE MAKING OF A GREAT PRESIDENT. HE IS A WONDERFUL ROLE MODEL FOR OUR YOUTH”?!?

Would you not – minimally! – want to say that about our President this 4th of July? I certainly can’t… And that is too bad. Too sad.

Sure, 1/4 of America may be lulled by his dynamic lies and showman antics… And 1/4 of America may see him as a “useful idiot” to achieve their well intentioned policy objectives… So that leaves about 1/2 of America committed to #RESIST… And resist we will.

Happy Birthday America.

This too shall pass.

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Forget the character. Forget the lies. Forget the allegations of obstruction of justice.

Forget the tweets. Forget the insults. Forget the craziness.

Let’s focus on policy.

The Trump administration is swiftly enacting policies that many Americans – dare I say the majority of Americans? – oppose.

Most of these policies are intended to thank a particular segment of his political ‘base’… And, that is understandable. That is how traditional politics plays out.

Most of these policies seem to be about ‘shock and awe’:  Intentional ‘disruption’ to the way things were going so as to leave no doubt that he intends to take the country in a different direction.

The general thrust of that direction seems clear:

• An America that is more nationalistic than global;
• An America that cares more about the immediate future than the far away future;
• An America that emphasizes the needs of the traditional white ethnic majority and focuses less on the needs of the minorities – be them ethnic, sexual orientation, faith, or limited physical or mental ability. (Unless, of course, you are a minority group that supported him; i.e.: the decreasing number of old school Cubans in Miami.)

Regardless of whether you agree with these policy directions or not, they are – except the ones that are illegal – legitimate policy options for America. Some of us may think they are bad policies for America. But, they remain legitimate (except when they are illegal.)

Except when they are illegal, they are pragmatic, practical, and aim to capture the gut, if not the heart, of his core political base. These are the folks that feel that government has for too long focused on special needs populations. They feel government has relegated its responsibility and turned against the very people that founded this nation. These policies are aggressively defensive, and take a “circle the wagons” posture. These policies represent, in many ways, the last gasp of the shrinking demographic group that feels their country is being taken away from them… (Think White South Africa before the end of Apartheid…)

However. They are still in power. And they are playing for keeps. They will do what it takes to stay in power as long as they can… It is only natural… (Think the Chavistas in Venezuela…)

What are we who oppose this direction to do? #RESIST, or course!

One way to #resist is to throw the legal book at him. That’s our right. Fight him in the courts; investigate any allegations of wrong doing… All of that is fine… But, let’s be careful that while we are protesting, litigating, and investigating him, his team is not pulling fast ones by us, enacting new policies that advance his – and the Conservative Republicans – agenda… Let’s be careful lest we wake up one day and find that government sanctioned practices are in place which violate our core values and there’s little we can do about it but wait till the next election cycle…

There are 10 such bad policy shifts that come to mind… I know there are 100 others, but these are my top ten most dangerous policy shifts of the Trump Administration:

1. Immigration Raids: Our Latino community is scared. ICE raids are increasing. (Good people are being deported.)
2. The Wall: The Request for Proposal to build it is now let. An idea to fund it by placing solar panels on top of the wall is taking shape. Some version of this will happen. (The optics remain horrible.)
3. Healthcare Intent and Process: Watch out! The Republican Senate may be in the verge of passing a sweeping law without as much as a single hearing. (And millions of poor Americans will be left without insurance.)
4. Military Build Up in the Dark: Remember the days when we knew how any troops were being deployed? No more. Secrecy is the new game. (We will have to wait until we are counting caskets as they arrive back home before we know where we are fighting.)
5. Travel Ban: Religious discrimination. Luckily the courts are working on this one. (But, tourism to America has dipped over 10% just because of the confusion and threats.)
6. Pulling Out of the Paris Accord: This is the poster child of shortsighted policy. (Just ask folks in Miami Beach, New Orleans, or the Great Lakes area if climate change is real or not.)
7. Dodd Frank Reversal: Some may think this one is only for the policy wonks. It is not. Nothing short of a plot to help the rich. (When a new financial crisis erupts, we are going to wish this reversal had never happened.)
8. Misguided Abortion Limits – The Mexico Gag Rule: No funding for any institution or government that funds abortion in any way. On the surface a good thing. (In reality: Abortion will skyrocket as the poor will have no access to constructive family planning or prenatal and early childhood health care.)
9. Cuba Policy Reversal: This one is personal. Limiting people-to-people exchange is a counterproductive, old policy that will fail. (Trump is simply handing Cuba back to the Russians.)
10. Budget List of Agencies to be Cut: Budget is policy. The list of what Trump proposes be cut is truly the most telling piece of work that clearly demonstrates his intentions. (See the list here.)

These ten policies – and I know there are 100 more like them – do NOT make for a Great America… These policies makes for a meaner, leaner, smaller, shrinking, paranoid America.

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Just for the record. Just for history’s sake.

Budget is policy.

Beyond the rhetoric, beyond the outrageous lies, beyond the talking heads: Want to see (not hear!) where President Trump stands on social programs? Then, look at this proposed budget.

Here is the list of agencies he is proposing to eliminate:

(The following list shows independent agencies first, then multi-agency cuts, and then is organized by department name alphabetically. Under each department name, the largest cuts in terms of funding are shown first. The savings figures show the administration’s estimates of how much would be saved in the coming fiscal year, unless otherwise noted.)

 Independent Agencies

• Corporation for National and Community Service — $958 million

• Corporation for Public Broadcasting — $454 million

• Legal Services Corporation — $351 million

• Institute of Museum and Library Services — $207 million

• Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation — $148 million

• Appalachian Regional Commission — $119 million

• National Endowment for the Arts — $119 million

• National Endowment for the Humanities — $106 million

• US Trade and Development Agency — $48 million

• African Development Foundation — $22 million

• Delta Regional Authority — $22 million

• Overseas Private Investment Corporation — $22 million

• Inter-American Foundation — $17 million

• US Institute of Peace — $16 million

• Denali Commission — $8 million

• Northern Border Regional Commission — $7 million

• Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars — $4 million

• Chemical Safety Board — $2 million

• Securities and Exchange Commission’s Reserve Fund — $200 million (over five years); $450 million (over 10 years)

 Multi-Agency

• Repeal and replace Obamacare — $15 billion (over five years); $250 billion (over 10 years)

• Allocations to the Housing Trust Fund and Capital Magnet Fund — $1.043 billion (over five years); $2.846 billion (over 10 years)

• Workers’ Compensation (WC) Reverse Offset — $39 million (over five years); $164 million (over 10 years)

 Agriculture

• Rural water and wastewater loan and grant program — $498 million

• McGovern-Dole International Food for Education program, which aims to reduce food insecurity — $201 million

• Rural Business and Cooperative Service programs — $95 million

• Rural single family housing direct loan program — $61 million

• Interest Payments to Electric and Telecommunications Utilities — $685 million (over five years); $1.377 billion (over 10 years)

• Rural Economic Development Program — $477 million (over 5 or 10 years)

• Eliminate Harvest Price Option for Crop Insurance — $5.102 billion (over five years); $11.923 billion (over 10 years)

• Eliminate Small Programs — $1.402 billion (over five years); $3.077 billion (over 10 years)

 Commerce

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grant and education programs, including Sea Grant, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, Coastal Zone Management Grants, the Office of Education, and the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund — $262 million

• Economic Development Administration, which provides small grants — $221 million

• Federal funding for Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which subsidizes state centers that provide consulting services to small- and medium-size manufacturers — $124 million

• Minority Business Development Agency, which promotes minority business entrepreneurship — $26 million

 Corps of Engineers

• Divest federal government of the Washington Aqueduct, which is the wholesale water supply system for Washington, D.C.; Arlington County, Virginia; and parts of Fairfax County, Virginia — $119 million (over five or 10 years)

 Education

• Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants program — $2.345 billion

• 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which supports before- and after-school programs as well as summer programs — $1.164 billion

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, which delivers need-based student financial aid — $732 million

• Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants — $277 million

• Comprehensive Literacy Development Grants — $190 million

• Strengthening Institutions — $86 million

• International Education and Foreign Language Studies Domestic and Overseas Programs, which are designed to strengthen the capability and performance of American education in foreign languages and international studies — $72 million

• Impact Aid Payments for Federal Property — $67 million

• Teacher Quality Partnership — $43 million

• Account Maintenance Fee Payments to Guaranty Agencies — $443 million (over 5 or 10 years)

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness — $10.213 billion (over 5 years); $27.471 billion (over 10 years)

• Subsidized Loans — $14.297 billion (over five years); $38.873 billion (over 10 years)

 Energy

• Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy — $316 million

• Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility — $61 million

• Title 17 Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program and Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program, which are involved in disruptive energy research and development and innovative technologies — $21 million

• Repeal Borrowing Authority for Western Area Power Administration — $3.99 billion (over five years); $4.425 billion (over 10 years)

• Divest transmission assets of the Power Marketing Administrations, which include Southwestern Power Administration, Western Area Power Administration, and Bonneville Power Administration — $3.583 billion (over five years); $5.512 billion (over 10 years)

 Environmental Protection Agency

• Geographic programs — $427 million

• Energy Star and voluntary climate programs — $66 million

 Health and Human Services

• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program — $3.384 billion

• Community Services Block Grant — $714 million

• Health professions and nursing training programs — $403 million

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality — $333 million

• Social Services Block Grant — $8.085 billion (over five years); $16.47 billion (over 10 years)

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Contingency Fund — $2.999 billion (over five years); $6.039 billion (over 10 years)

 Homeland Security

• Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program — $190 million

• Transportation Security Administration Law Enforcement Grants — $45 million

 Housing and Urban Development

• Community Development Block Grant program — $2.994 billion

• HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Choice Neighborhoods — $948 million

• Choice Neighborhoods program — $125 million

• Indian Community Development Block Grant — $60 million

• Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program — $56 million

 Interior

• Abandoned Mine Land Grants — $90 million

• Heritage Partnership Program — $19 million

• National Wildlife Refuge Fund — $13 million

• Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act unobligated balances — $230 million (over 5 or 10 years)

• Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act Repeal — $1.685 billion (over 5 years); $3.56 billion (over 10 years)

• Repeal Enhanced Geothermal Payments to Counties — $17 million (over five years); $37 million over 10 years)

 Justice Department

• State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which reimburses states for costs of incarcerating certain criminal undocumented immigrants — $210 million

Labor

• Senior Community Service Employment Program, which aims to transition low-income, unemployed seniors to unsubsidized jobs — $434 million

• Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Training — $82 million

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Susan Harwood training grants — $11 million

 NASA

• Five Earth Science Missions — $191 million

• Office of Education — $78 million

State Department, USAID, Treasury International Programs

• Development Assistance account — $2.509 billion

• P.L. 480 Title II Food Aid — $1.713 billion

• Global Climate Change Initiative and Green Climate Fund — $1.59 billion

• Earmarked appropriations for nonprofits: The Asia Foundation and East-West Center — $34 million

 Transportation

• National Infrastructure Investments, TIGER program, which awards funding for projects — $499 million

 Treasury

• Global Agriculture and Food Security Program — $43 million

• New grants to Community Development Financial Institutions — $210 million

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To see other aspects of Trump’s budget proposal, click here and here.

#RESIST we must.

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… the President’s proposed budget challenges us to revisit some very basic assumptions regarding the role of government…

At one end of the spectrum is the position that government exists to provide principally and primarily – if not exclusively – for our common defense and security. At the other end of spectrum is the position that government has a primal role in providing for our common good and a responsibility to take care of the poor.

Both of these positions are valid and merit thoughtful consideration.

However: Neither extreme seems to have workout too well in real life situations. The first has led to chaotic cultural disarray and rampant uncontrollable poverty – think the U.S. before the Great Depression. The other is infected with and leads to inefficiency and mismanagement of epic proportions – think any communist country before the fall of the Berlin Wall – or Cuba today. Both extreme lead to authoritarian systems.

They survive only when information is controlled and the few get richer at the expense of the masses. In rampant capitalism the masses are conned into the addiction of the opium of entertainment, materialism and extreme religion. In centralist communism the masses are forced fed the opium of false collectivism, acceptance of scarcity, and embracement of extreme ideology.

Beyond the philosophical debates, here we are in the good U.S. of A debating a proposed budget submitted by the President that would increase military defense at the expense of all else. Proposed cuts to social service program run deep. The examples are endless. Deep cuts to food stamps; deep cuts to government funded help for seniors and the disabled, on and on… All in the name of efficiency, streamlining a bloated federal bureaucracy, and resetting our priorities.

And, much of it explained away by alleging that there is waste in the existing system. (Some of us inside the system would argue that it is not so much waste as redundancy and inherent inefficiencies – if measured by private sector standards.)

It is as if Republicans want to shine a headlight on the bad apples (the few cases of voter fraud, the few folks taking advantage of the system), while Democrats want to discuss the plight of those relatively few disenfranchised at the fringes (the transgendered, the disabled.) The Republicans have little patience – and are simply do not care to pay the price – to accommodate the needs of these special populations. The Democrats have little patience for the idea that helping the rich will eventually help the poor.

The Republicans want the government out of the charity business. The Democrats want the government to steward the charity business.

> Can a robust charitable system replace government assistance? Can – in the USA – charities exist without being exempt from paying taxes, including the exemption from taxes of their vast physical plants and land?

> Why are we subsidizing the best off among us – homeowners – with the mortgage deduction?

> How come some believe that alleviating the tax burden of corporations will ‘lift all boats’, thinking that the private sector can invest funds in economic growth better than the government can distribute tax revenues through social programs?

Heavy questions… Unfortunately any attempt at a sensible debate in Congress on these philosophical / governance topics will be drowned by partisan memes, simplistic headlines, and the growing complete and total distrust of the capacity of our elected officials the govern, the growing complete and total distrust of the capacity of the press to report facts, and – most dangerous – the growing complete and total distrust of those other Americans that don’t think like us.

Ah, but do not despair! There remains a critical mass of folks – at all sides of the issues – that are willing to discern, debate, dialogue, and discuss… Most of these folks already agree on one thing: This President is not only a disruptor, but is also increasingly dysfunctional… His credibility is shot. His – and his team’s – capacity to lead is shattered.

We gotta work around him, not with him.

#RESIST

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Oh the irony and the hypocrisy of it all!

Rex Tillerson, Exxon’s ex CEO (and supposed ‘Secretary of State’ of the United States of America – yeah, right) just lectured Iran’s leaders about freedom of assembly and freedom of the press. He did this while standing next to Saudi Arabia’s leaders after signing a deal whereas the US sold them $110B worth of military equipment.

The USA just showed its true colors yet again. Values be dammed. Moral highroads just hit the gutter. A new low…

Does ANYBODY care that the first Country our illustrious President chooses to officially visit has a human rights record WORSE than Russia or Iran – or Cuba for that matter?

 “[Saudi Arabia] does not allow for the existence of political parties, trade unions, or independent human rights groups. One cannot worship any religion other than Islam in public. And public gatherings, even if they are peaceful, are prohibited.”… More…

But hey, we just sold them billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment – and they have lots of oil… (Please spare me any reference to how ‘Obama was their friend too.’ That does not make this visit any less hypocritical.)

Here we go again. Seen this movie before: Arm our (supposed) friends because we are fighting a common (supposed) enemy – an enemy we helped create – and then in the not too distant future those same arms are used against us… Hmmm…. Who wins with this approach? You guessed it! The arms makers and the arms dealers… Who suffers? Everyone else.

(Are you watching Exxon stock while all of this is going on? Did you know that Trump registered eight companies   in Saudi Arabia in 2016?)

In the good ol’ days most of America’s foreign policy was guided by some semblance (at least in appearance) of aspiration; of moral leadership; of values driven endeavors… Nah. No more… Let’s just make sure we keep access to that oil – and Trump Enterprises prosper while at it.

Now foreign policy becomes transactional. ‘You buy weapons, invest some of that money in U.S. corporate world, make a few rich friends richer, create international chaos so we can sell more weapons, and the cycle starts all over again.’

=> No thought to how different a world it would be if we invested in other countries’ hospitals and schools instead of bullets and bombs.

=> No recognition that by being the world’s weapon producer and dealer we can guarantee only the establishment of order by force rather than goodwill.

=> No attempt at conveying expectations of respect and honor for civil discourse and pluralism because we have shattered all expectations that we will do that in our own land.

America is fast becoming a laughingstock. The Ugly American is rearing its very ugly head.

America the beautiful; America the graceful; America the caring is harder and harder to find… And it’s only being a few months.

Welcome to TrumpWorld. #resist we must.

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