Call for Help

Big Dem Donors

We know who you are, and we need more than a whisper in Joe Biden’s ear. He has to go. For the nation’s well-being, Democrats need a new leader and a fresh ticket comprising the best.

There is no need to belabor Joe’s accomplishments and good intentions. All that is fine. We need the next generation to appeal to a broader base of loyalists. Corporate American and large donors can seize the leadership’s attention.

Get it done. Move Joe and Kamala out, now.

https://www.opensecrets.org/elections-overview/biggest-donors

Immigration Policy

 Immigration Policy

Capacity for Ensuring a Good Life

My book, Regenerating America with Sustainable Economics, addresses this issue in the context of the nation’s capacity for ensuring a good life for all, and I add, for citizens and immigrants. 

Before embarking on “immigration,” one must ask, is the US Government doing enough to eliminate poverty and to ensure all citizens an equal opportunity? 

As of this moment, the US Census Bureau reports, “the official poverty rate in 2022 was 11.5 percent, with 37.9 million people in poverty.” 

Using the 2021 poverty data from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an example, the official poverty measure, a family of four would be considered in poverty if their annual household income was $26,500 or less before taxes.

“More than a quarter of the people living in poverty in the United States receive no help from food stamps and other nutrition programs, subsidized housing, welfare, and other cash benefits, or child-care assistance, according to a new Urban Institute analysis examining the reach of the social safety net.

The analysis found that 13 million people living below the poverty line — a household income of less than $25,100 a year for a family of four — were disconnected from federal programs for the neediest Americans."

13 million people in poverty are disconnected from the social safety net. Most of them are white.

By Tracy Jan, February 4, 2019 at 11:42 a.m. EST

The Washington Post

The first question is, are we Americans and our government obliged to take responsibility for ensuring that all citizens and persons living in America have the means to live above the poverty line?  This means ensuring children have proper housing, clothing, food, and shelter. It means ensuring that adults with children have work and work opportunities commensurate with their responsibilities. 

The answer should be yes; however, this affirmation is essential on an annual basis as a reminder and reinforcement to citizens about our obligation to humanity.

The obligation to humanity begins at a higher level than the US government alone. It begins with The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which our nation is a signatory. 

If persons such as Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the indicted former President Trump are obliged to know, actions against the free movement of people are a violation of human rights. That also extends to Israel and Palestinians, and to Ukraine. People are protected from tyranny, such as from Russian President Putin and many members of the Republican Party.

“Immigrants in the United States make up approximately 1-in-7 residents and 1-in-6 workers, creating about 1-in-4 new businesses.1 Immigrants are diverse in many ways: country of origin, race and ethnicity, education, and occupation.2 Nearly half of all immigrants are naturalized citizens (20.7 million), 27 percent are lawful permanent residents (12.3 million), and 5 percent are temporary residents with legal status (2.2 million).3 Less than one-fourth of the foreign-born population (10.5 million) are undocumented.4 Immigrants are more likely to be of prime working age (between 25 and 54 years old), balancing out the relatively older native-born population.)” Joint Economic Committee 

“Immigrant labor sustains the U.S. food supply. Foreign-born workers account for more than 1-in-5 of all workers spread across the U.S. food supply chain — growing crops, harvesting fruits and vegetables, processing meat, transporting products and materials, and engaging in wholesale and retail sales. 8 Immigrants comprise more than 30 percent of many of the most physical of these jobs: farm laborers, graders and sorters, crop production, meat processing and commercial bakeries.9 In some states, the majority of workers in these jobs are immigrants. Foreign-born workers make up: 69 percent of the agricultural workers in California, 70 percent of the seafood processing workers in Alaska and 66 percent of the meat processing workers in Nebraska.” JEC

This essay is the start of a discussion to answer the question about our capacity to manage immigration. Moreover, the discussion needs to expand to consider our policy toward nations on our southern border who are the source of many immigrants.

Addressing NPR’s Ten Questions

 James George

How To Select An American President

19 December 2023

Addressing NPR’s Ten Questions

"Subtitle: Every presidential year is a consequential one. 2024 is no different, as the competing visions for the country couldn’t be more disparate. In my last campaign newsletter of the year, here are 10 questions for the year ahead in politics. (Domenico Montanaro, NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent)

1. Do perceptions of the economy improve? It’s the top issue for voters, and they are in a bad mood about it, despite receding inflation.
2. Does abortion retain its salience? This is the first presidential election since the Dobbs decision.
3. How do the situations in Ukraine and Israel change? Perceptions of how Biden is handling foreign policy have hurt his presidency.
4. Do younger voters rally to Biden’s side despite their misgivings — or not? Israel’s war with Hamas, voting rights and student loans have all been areas of frustration for younger voters.
5. Can Haley or DeSantis actually give Trump a run — or does Trump wrap up the primary quickly? They’ve been decided underdogs. It’s time to see whether one of them actually has the goods when voters vote. 
6. Do Trump’s trials wind up mattering — if not for Republican primary voters, for persuadable ones in a general election? Most Republicans may think he’s being persecuted, but Independents and Democrats think he did something wrong. 
7. Do third-party candidates gain real traction and become the 2024 wildcard? Trump did not get above 47% of the popular vote in either 2016 or 2020. A third-party that pulls votes from Biden could help clear a path back to the White House for Trump.
8. How will attrition among election officials affect vote counting in states? A lot of institutional knowledge in election administration has been lost because of threats from the right after Trump’s 2020 election lies. 
9. Do democratic institutions hold again? The reason Trump's attempts to stay in power did not work is because institutions  —  like election officials across the country, Congress and the courts —  did their jobs. But they’ve been targeted in a three-year campaign by Trump and allies. 
10. Which ends up mattering more — frustrations with how Biden is doing his job (and his age), or negative views of Trump? This may be the most critical question of this presidential election. Most voters say Biden is too old, and they give him low approval ratings, but they also really don’t like Trump. Democrats will spend millions of dollars to wipe away voters’ “brain fog” and remind them of Trump’s actions and views, many of which have become increasingly anti-democratic on the campaign trail. Which will win out in the end?

Jim George’s Answers

1. Economy

The chances are Americans will experience positive economic returns in 2024.

“Ten business trends for 2024

1 Central banks including America’s Federal Reserve start to reduce interest rates as price rises slow. With global inflation still at 5%, however, consumers remain thrifty.

2 Amid efforts to slow climate change, renewable-energy consumption climbs by 11% to a new high. But fossil fuels still meet over four-fifths of energy demand.

3 IT spending picks up, rising by about 9%. Artificial intelligence generates remarkable hype but produces precious little revenue and plenty of scrutiny.

4 The gap between the infrastructure the world needs and what it gets amounts to $3trn. To plug its infrastructure hole, Asia’s gross fixed investment expands by 4%.

5 Revenue in the advertising industry increases by 5%, thanks to America’s presidential election and big sporting events such as the Paris Olympics.

6 International tourism rises above geopolitical and economic uncertainty to create record revenue of $1.5trn, fuelled by high prices and post-pandemic wanderlust.

7 A greying world spends vigorously on health. With about one in ten people aged 65 or older, health care makes up one-tenth of global gdp.

8 America shells out $886bn on defence, supporting Ukraine and countering China—whose neighbours, including Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines, also bolster their defences.

9 Electric vehicles speed forth, driven by strong government support. One in four new cars is a plug-in, with more than half of these sold in China.

10 With 60% of America’s firms allowing working from home, a fifth of American offices lie empty. The eu’s less relaxed employers will keep its vacancy rate at just 8%.

From The Economist, Nov 13, 2023

Federal borrowing and debt

“The deficit is projected to grow to $1,846 billion in 2024, and debt held by the public is projected to grow to $27,783 billion, or 102.0 percent of GDP. As a percent of GDP, the deficit is projected to fall in 2025 and 2026 and then remain fairly stable at roughly 5 percent of GDP.”

2. Abortion

Women will vote in high numbers, driven by the desire to protect their rights.

“Nearly two dozen Republican-controlled states have taken advantage of the ruling to impose new restrictions on abortion, curtailing access to the procedure for tens of millions of women.

But the ruling has also turned the issue into a political liability for Republicans. Voter backlash was widely credited with limiting Republican gains in the 2022 congressional midterm elections, as well as propelling Democrats to victories last month in Virginia and Kentucky.

Every statewide ballot question about reproductive rights since 2022 - seven in all - has yielded victory for abortion rights advocates, including in conservative states such as Ohio, Kansas and Kentucky.

Republican presidential candidates, including frontrunner Donald Trump, have struggled to articulate a position on abortion that would satisfy both the evangelical Christians who comprise a critical Republican voting bloc as well as the swing voters who prefer abortion remain accessible.”

Reuters

3. Ukraine and Israel change

Both allies with get their money, Compromise on immigration reform will cost both parties — no one wins.

4. Younger Voters

Democrats will appeal to younger voters as their democracy is at stake. Biden’s policies toward Palestinians will ultimately yield to humanity. 

5. Trump Alternatives

Trump will fail in the court and in public opinion giving way to Republican alternatives. You can’t count Liz Cheney out, as she may steal votes.  Biden may well face pressure to appoint a more favorable VP. Deal making.

6. Trump Trials Matter

It will get ugly.

7. Third-party Candidates

Historically, they fail.

8. Attrition

The loss of experienced election officials can make outcomes less clear.

9. Democratic Institutions

They will hold, but not without a fight.

10. Trump Negatives Bolster Biden

https://www.amazon.com/Select-American-President-James-George/dp/1480840882

Have We Lost It?

 Have We Lost It?

When I see the polls, the results say that more people prefer an authoritarian insurrectionist fraud over an elder patriotic statesman whose factual record far exceeds the impeached and indicted former president. Many Americans have lost their bearing or lack the intelligence to discern right from wrong.

I am losing it. 

Trumps Disturb Me to the Bone

I am an entrepreneur, now retired, who once founded a research and publishing company for which I was the CEO. I struggled with the start-up, where my research process and performance convinced clients from large corporations to retain my services. They didn't know I had difficulty paying the office rent to have a fine conference facility they used during engagements. They didn't know how I anguished over cash flow to pay my employees and contractors. 

I retained an accountant to help me with the books even though I graduated with a business degree and knew accounting practices. The reason I paid a significant fee for his services is that I performed some work for the U.S. Government and wanted to make sure everything was correct. 

I did my record keeping and gave them to my accountant each month. He was impressed by how impeccably I kept my books. He hinted that maybe I only needed him at tax time, though I wanted assurance that I made no mistakes.

For me, it was a matter of responsibility and hands-on integrity. As a CEO, I was responsible for everything.

When I see how cavalier the Trump executives appear about their business practices and how they use accounting and legal professionals as alibis for their errant performance and behavior, it stuns my conscience. How could they be so abusive to our system of laws, regulations, and accounting practices and seemingly ignorant? 

Ignorance of the law is no excuse, and the buck stops with them. I want them to be wholly accountable and to pay dearly for abusing our system.

Where Were You When the Lies Came Out?

I have a question for those present during various nefarious Trumpcapades: Where Were You When the Lies Came Out? If you don't admit you were there and we have the evidence you were, that is purgery. 

Admitting you were present, what was your role?

• Political Advisor
• Administrative Assistant
• Spokesperson
• Lawyer

Who else was present?

What did they do, and how did they react to Trump's instructions and tirades?

Factually, we know that: Republican members of the House of Representatives were running for cover when Trump incited and unleashed the mob on Capitol Hill. Some may have witnessed the Vice President scurrying for safety as the mob wanted to hang him with sentiment from Trump. 

Image: CNBC

Call for Legal Action Against the Republican Party

 My Understanding and Desire

Facts:

The Republican Party continues to support candidate Donald J. Trump.

The Republican Party elected an election denier as Speaker of the House.

"Johnson is a Trump ally. The speaker was a key congressional figure in the failed efforts to overturn the 2020 election for former President Donald Trump. He sent an email from a personal account in 2020 to every House Republican soliciting signatures for an amicus brief in the long-shot Texas lawsuit seeking to invalidate electoral college votes from multiple states."

 CNN

Postulate:

The Republican Party consistently and continually engaged in actions that undermined the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, including attempts to undermine the 2020 lawful election results.

The Republican Party consistently and continually supports candidate Trump and alleged co-conspirators who attempted an act of violence to overthrow our government.

These actions by Republican Party leaders and Members of the House of Representatives constitute an attack on the nation. They must be addressed by defrocking the Republican Party as a political entity and prosecuting all members who serve in government while violating their oaths of office.

To achieve justice, I am asking the American Civil Liberties Union to address my claims through professional and scholarly legal action through the court system. 

https://www.aclu.org/

A Better Way to Remove and Replace Hamas

The free world cannot tolerate terrorists anywhere, nor can we accept authoritarianism. 

The people living in Palestine need and deserve democratic self-governance and independence. Being a geographical enclave imposes constraints on sustainability because 1) the population is too large for the confined space, and 2) essential resources need to be larger in supply.

The solution to the Palestinian problem requires the following:

1. Arab-led international assistance, as Palestine, is a perpetual welfare entity.
2. Elimination of Hamas and any other like-kind terrorist group in Palestine.
3. Cooperation from Israel as a partner in the process.
4. Creation of Palestine as an independent self-governing entity.

Arab nations must engage Israel in this pursuit.

"Israel

 

As the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East deepens, the main UN agency working in Gaza said it will be forced to halt its operations later today due to a lack of fuel. Doctors in overwhelmed hospitals on the brink of shutting down have repeatedly warned that waves of new patients injured in the daily bombings and babies relying on oxygen supplies will die if fuel is not brought in. Just eight out of 20 aid trucks scheduled to cross into Gaza on Tuesday made the journey, UNRWA said. No specific reason was given as to why the other 12 trucks didn't make it. This comes as Israel's leadership said a ground offensive is still on track after they vowed to wipe out Hamas in response to its October 7 terror attacks and kidnapping rampage in which 1,400 people — mostly civilians — were killed and more than 200 taken hostage."

CNN

https://countercurrents.org/2017/08/70-years-on-palestinians-are-still-locked-in-the-same-position/

Red Rover

I tried to imagine a game metaphor to describe a possible strategy for Democrats to gain control of the House speakership. Red Rover is close, though not perfect.

To start, the Democrats must target who they want on their team. Candidates include all of the Biden-softened districts and some more mature Republicans, even those hand-picked by Biden and Harris as targets.

Red Rover begins with Democrats working privately to recruit candidates to join their cause to elect Hakeem Jeffries. There must be promises and horse-trading.

Next, let the game begin. Red Rover, Red Rover, let Republican X come over.

When the Democrats have six or seven committed votes, Jeffries and the nation win.

Can of Worms—Israel and Palestinians

The world is a can of worms, and it is always open to those who want to engage in problems in pursuit of solutions. Doing so is not for the faint of heart, nor is it for lazy people seeking silver bullets or for people who lack the intellect to do so competently.

 

I am not a genius and am about as average as anyone else. However, I make sense

of our planet's needs, beginning at home and then thrusting into the enormous

issues that jeopardize everyone's security. 

 

I discovered the can opener: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

 

"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris

on 10 December 1948 (General Assembly resolution 217 A) as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected

, and it has been translated into over 500 languages."

 

https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

 

The General Assembly Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a

the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that

every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration

constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect

for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and

International, to secure their universal and effective recognition and

observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the

peoples of territories under their jurisdiction. "

 

What belongs to us. http://whatbelongstous.ca/preamble

 

I will not repeat the document, though I encourage you to read it all

yourself. I am going to select a few significant points to ponder as we consider the

Israel and Palestinian questions and conflict. The conflict is narrower.

Moreover, it is the clash between people with different beliefs:

 

· Religions

· Government Models

· Economic Models

· Rules

 

By subscribing to the Universal Declaration as signatories, as is the United States, We the People, are sworn allegiance under the rule of law. The grave deficiency is that most Americans have failed to grasp the significance of their education. Throughout my life, I have witnessed grievous violations of the UDHR, and one problem is there is no objective universal arbitrator. The United Nations could be. However, many voting members are principal violators.

 

Humanity is stuck with an institution that undermines credibility by permitting members equal powers even when they don’t deserve it or have otherwise forfeited them due to violations.

 

For instance, any nation that embraces authoritarianism for leadership should be disqualified:

 

“Characteristics. Authoritarianism is characterized by highly concentrated and centralized government power maintained by political repression and the exclusion of potential or supposed challengers by armed force. It uses political parties and mass organizations to mobilize people around the goals of the regime.”

 

Authoritarianism – Wikipedia

Countries That Have Authoritarian Governments:

· Afghanistan

· Azerbaijan

· Burundi

· Central African Republic

· Chad

· DR Congo

· Equatorial Guinea

· Eritrea

· Guinea-Bissau

· Iran

· Libya

· Laos

· North Korea

· Russia

· Saudi Arabia

· Sudan

· Syria

· Tajikistan

· Turkmenistan

· United Arab Emirates

· Uzbekistan 

 

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/what-countries-have-authoritarian-government

 

Russia: “This is a sign of a society that is no longer authoritarian, but partly totalitarian, and accepts the state position as its own. Once spoken about hybrid authoritarianism, Russia later turned out to be a fully mature authoritarian regime.”

 

(Originally published in Russian in the New Times.)

What governments are ruled by religion?

Theocracy is defined as the "government of a state by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided" or "a state governed by a theocracy" (Merriam-Webster). Theocracy countries include: 

 

· Vatican City, 

· Yemen, 

· Saudi Arabia, 

· Sudan, 

· Iran, 

· Afghanistan

 

https://southern.libguides.com/governmentforms/theocracy#:~:text=Theocracy%20is%20defined%20as%20%22government,Sudan%2C%20Iran%2C%20and%20Afghanistan

 

Israel has no official religion. However, the definition of the state as Jewish creates a strong connection and a conflict between state law and religious law. Political interaction of different parties keeps the balance between state and religion largely as it existed during the British Mandate.

 

Consider the first ten “human rights:”

 

Article 1

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7

All are equal before the law and are entitled, without any discrimination, to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.

Article 10

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in determining his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

 

Skip ahead to 13 and 14:

 

Article 13

Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14

Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.

This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

 

For instance, Palestinians can move within and beyond their border. People fleeing harm in South America or Mexicans seeking to improve their lives can move to the USA under the rule of law.

 

Ponder these considerations.