Just a Thought...

By Bud Koenemund

Here's a little lesson I taught at physical therapy yesterday. A few therapists and patients were discussing the woeful performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They lamented that the team never really gets better. Now, it's well known that the team owner doesn't spend a lot (in relative terms) of money on the team. So, I explained that if they really wanted the team to get better, they should stop watching them; stop buying their merchandise, and stop going to their games. The owner has shown that he will give you what you accept. If you accept a team that struggles -- year after year -- to remain in the middle of the standings, that's what the owner will give -- while still making money for himself.
I told them this also translates to shopping. Does it annoy you when you go to Walmart, and they only have one cashier on duty -- while having 10-20 "self-checkout" lanes open? You're in a hurry, so you ring up your items (sans any kind of employee discount for doing their job). All while being watched by one employee and multiple cameras to ensure you're not cheating them by not ringing up every item. Well, it's the same principle. If you show Walmart that you'll do their job for them, they'll give you what you'll accept. Why put more cashiers on duty if the people will do it themselves?
But, if -- and I know this would be an inconvenience for a day, or two -- if 27 shoppers lined up at the one manned cash register, and refused to use the self-checkout lane, it would force Walmart to open another lane. And, if it happened again the next day, Walmart might get the message.
Well, it's just a thought.

Accentuate the Positive

By Bud Koenemund

Last night, someone on Facebook claimed "you Liberals only want to talk about the negative things. You refuse to acknowledge all the positive things that are going on in the country."

You're right. We should talk about all the good things that have happened. Things that will impact this country long after Trump is out of office.

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Let's start with the $1.6 TRILLION (estimated) added to the national debt by the Republican Tax Scam...errr...Plan. And, let's remember that not only will that money have to be paid back some day, but the interest that accumulates on it will weigh us down that much more.

Let's say we're paying one percent interest on that debt - just one percent. In simple interest, that's an additional $16 BILLION a year, just on that piece of the debt.

And, of course, the interest isn't simple. It compounds. So, we'll owe interest on the interest on the interest on the interest...

Additionally, who is buying our debt? China and Saudi Arabia are two of the biggest. It's probably not a good idea for foreign powers to own our debt, and (potentially) wield great power over us because of it.

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Pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal.

Higher gas prices. (So much for that tax cut.)

Trust in the US diminished around the world.

Boeing losing orders for 110 aircraft.

Saudi Arabia pledging to build nuclear weapons if Iran restarts their program. (Because more nuclear weapons make us safer.)

Oh, and not to mention, Trump is already putting pressure on European countries (you know, our allies) to stop doing business with Iran...including buying oil. Hmmm, maybe they can replace those supplies by buying from Russia. And, take a wild guess who has his fingers in the largest oil company in Russia...Trump's Sugar Vladdy. A nice little side benefit.

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Rolling back environmental regulations.

Because, seriously, who needs clean air, water, and soil tomorrow when there are a few more pennies to be made today?

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And, while we're talking about tomorrow...

Looming cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Yes, Trump swore up and down he wouldn't cut those. Of course, he also swore Mexico would pay for his wall. But, once again, Paul Ryan is planning to cut "entitlements" - a wonderful Republican euphemism for "money taxpayers have paid in over their entire working lives." - in order to control the deficit. Uh, the deficit they skyrocketed with the tax plan.

Wanna bet Trump will go along with whatever Congress sends him? I mean, screw those lazy, old people! Sitting around, enjoying their golden years! Who needs them?!

The genius of the plan is that cuts to Medicare will mean more people die sooner, and thus be less of a burden on the Social Security system, right?

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ICE agents patrolling bus and train stations demanding ID from "people who don't look American."

"People who don't look American?!" Gestapo much? "Paper, please!"

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And, while we're talking about Nazis...

The Alt-Right, Neo-Nazi cockroaches crawling out into the daylight because "there are fine people on both sides."

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Cutting funding for the Affordable Care Act and CHIP.

Because the guy who reportedly asks to start meetings with a prayer (another lie), wants to do exactly what Jesus would do...strip away health care coverage from those least able to afford it on their own.

Hey, if those kids want health insurance, let 'em drop out of daycare and get a stinkin' job like the rest of us!

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A bright, shiny military parade in Washington, DC.

$30 million (in the latest plan) to roll tanks down the streets, damaging them - the streets, not the tanks - in the process, so Cadet Bone Spurs can wear his medals from military school, and strut like a tin-pot dictator playing with his toys.

By the way, (again, according to the latest estimate) the $30 million could house every homeless veteran in the US for six months. But, yeah; Trump cares about our veterans.

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Oh, and Trump's "trade war" with China.

The aforementioned US debt China holds? Eh, probably not important.

Instead of raising tariffs on US products (so far), China has already cut their purchases of soybeans. But, I'm sure that won't hurt US farmers; most of them in states that voted for Trump.

And all that inexpensive stuff you get at Walmart? Get ready for a surprise.

Man, higher prices on retail goods made in China, and higher gas prices? It's like the little guy just can't get ahead.

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And, I haven't even mentioned the first President to trend on Twitter alongside the hashtag #PeePeeTape. The first President to be sued by a porn star. Record setting turnover in the Cabinet and White House staff. Oh, and the 23 indictments (currently) and the guilty please related to the Russia investigation.

Yay Trump! Praise Trump!