This country has been warped in favor of the wealthy - economically, politically, culturally, you name it. All affordability issues can be explained by the huge disparity in wealth. It is unconscionable. Until we clamp down on the many ways the wealthy get to keep all their money, despite the benefits this country has given them, we will never solve the affordability problem. I have yet to read any article that purports to address solutions to affordability that calls for an intentional leveling of the wealth disparity gap.
The dynamics are worth deep and thorough study. As always, motivation is a primary driving force. The Nash theorem likely only applies approximately because it isn't a closed system - there are source and sink functions and the flow of money crosses all boundaries. Systems dynamics theory would still apply if all the primary actors are identified and analyzed. I doubt there is a simple fix, but effective constraints can and should be considered.
Trump's tariff policies, particularly in 2025 and early 2026, have largely resulted in higher prices for U.S. consumers and businesses,, with over 90% of the cost burden falling on American importers. This has caused increased market volatility, reduced U.S. GDP by approximately 0.5%, and forced businesses to shift supply chains.
Key effects on U.S. markets include:
Increased Costs and Inflation: Tariffs have acted as a tax on American businesses and consumers, raising prices for goods like furniture, bedding, and food.
Supply Chain Disruption: Businesses have responded by accelerating, delaying, or cancelling purchases, or by shifting sourcing away from China, whose share of U.S. imports dropped significantly.
Impact on Earnings: U.S. companies affected by tariffs saw declines in labor productivity, employment, and profits, particularly in manufacturing.
Market Volatility: The threat and implementation of tariffs have increased market volatility and created headwinds that have weighed on growth.
Revenue Generation: Tariffs are estimated to have raised $132 billion in net tax revenue in 2025.
Currency Impact: The U.S. dollar experienced fluctuations in response to tariff announcements, which, at times, helped companies with significant international revenue.
Weaning an addict from his favorite drug is hard work. The US and much of Europe is addicted to Chinese manufacturing. Curing that addiction will bring significant pain and consequences.
you are right. the decline of America started when corporations went for cheap manufacture of goods for their profit. loss of jobs and decreased quality of life followed...for workers. It has gotten so bad that even health corporations have shareholders...ask rick scot of HCA, perp of biggest medicare fraud anyone has ever seen.
I am worried about the mid-terms. We all foresee a "blue tsunami" in November, but his lowness is already showing us that he intends to interfere with our ability to conduct free and fair elections. I am writing to my secretary of state today asking him to refuse to participate in Republican-led efforts to corrupt the outcome of voting, but I don't believe that will be enough to prevent the voter suppression efforts I expect to see. Armed men at voting precincts around the country WILL discourage people from casting ballots. Voter roll purges between now and election day will result in fewer eligible voters and thus fewer ballots cast. There is little we can do to prevent either of these actions, so we need to be thinking ahead about how we intend to counteract them.
Don't be a classic "bed-wetting Democrat". I'm optimistic that in spite of the GQP's best efforts to rig the system, the voters will not be fooled or intimidated.
I hope The Contrarian addresses this. The SAVE Act, increasing state level efforts to increase voter suppression, the raid in Georgia as a dress rehearsal for voter intimidation ... this is a five alarm fire for voting rights.
It doesn't help when the pathetic 'Democrat' John Fetterman says he will vote for the SAVE Act, one of the worst national level voter suppression bills we have seen in some time. It also doesn't help when snarky observers dismiss this all as 'bed-wetting'.
Currently volunteering as a D poll observer in an almost completely R county. My sense - and really not any more firm than that - from listening to voter chit chat is that the lie about voter fraud is deeply imbedded.
Also, among my D party friends, there is more talk like, well I'm going to the protest, hope I don't get killed. Everyone is on edge. Intimidated even though still standing strong.
I’m both concerned about voters being fooled (“Almost 6 in 10 respondents” think trump is doing a lousy job with the economy), the ability to cast a vote and/ or the counting of the vote and/or the refusal to accept the vote. Doesn’t mean I eon’t do everything I can to prevent my concerns from happening. Unfortunately there are plenty of people who never thought trump could win, never imagined the creation of Super Ice, never thought non-criminals or citizens would be in danger, couldn’t imagine the scope of the current grift and now can’t imagine that mid-term elections won’t be handled as per usual - and resort to insults if you see it differently.
Vote early and by mail, if that’s an option where you live. I haven’t missed voting in an election since the early 1970s, but haven’t set foot in a polling place since the pandemic.
“Now, nearly 6 in 10 respondents disapprove — the highest of either of his terms in office and a higher level of disapproval than his predecessor Joe Biden measured at any point during his presidency.”
How can 4 out of every 10 Americans say, “Yeah, I’ll put my hand back on that hot stove again!”? Simply incomprehensible that THAT many people….close to HALF of our electorate….can be THAT stupid! SO sad!
People addicted to hate and racism have a hard time breaking that addiction even though everything around them indicates that they should change for their own good.
Interesting concept, being addicted to hate and racism, Steve. I wonder whether it's more like being addicted to The Cult of Rump, however it may go. I don't think their thinking (if any) goes that specific. Besides, who would admit "I'm addicted to racism?"
Whether admitted or denied, the condition appears to exist, when all good sense would indicate that it shouldn't. As for hate, some people don't seem to be able to live without it.
Let me just throw this out which others have talked about with me on other comments sections. There are many well educated intelligent people who still vote Republican because they cannot conceive of ever voting for a democrat, no matter how it may be against their interest. I’m just hoping that those people don’t vote at all rather than vote Republican in spite of everything.
The problem is, Trump blurts out any lie and phony numbers to back it up he chooses. Fox News and others amplify them, and even the legacy media has let us down. They won't ask him where he gets his facts, probably because they're afraid the fool will have their credentials pulled. He's like a low-IQ mob boss that lies almost every time he opens his mouth. And these lies have helped him get elected twice. But there's good news. He can say whatever he wants, but the American people are feeling the strain of his failed "policies," which are really just fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants guessing, or stem from advice from his right wing psycho "advisors," who care about only the wealthiest. I was afraid we could never break out of this cycle, but on Nov. 4, when New York's new mayor, and the new governors in New Jersey and Virginia ran and won on a platform of affordability for the average person, I got a new spring in my step. And all three of them are getting stuff done quickly. All the Democrats running in the midterms have to do is point to NYC, New Jersey and Virginia. And a tape of Georgia senator's Jon Ossoff's recent speech should be circulated to everyone running for office. He blended a perfect concoction of affordability and ripping Trump and his autocratic ambitions.
Texas businesses do not share Trump’s pride in the economy. In the Rio Grande, the business community is reeling from “aggressive immigration enforcement wreaking economic havoc.”
Well, nobody put a gun to Texans' heads and ordered them to vote for a transparent con man. So they're getting what they voted for, even if they were too foolish to know they were voting for it. Too bad they're dragging the rest of us down with them.
And one thing is a given about the economy-- when people are feeling economically stressed, no amount of happy talk from a politician will change that. As George H.W. Bush learned the hard way in 1992, all the happy talk does is convince the voters that the politician is out of touch.
I guess Texas businessmen believed that an orange con-man could be easily manipulated (like powerful Germans thought they could rein in Hitler). Certainly, it seemed to them that a white Con was a better choice than a woman of color with a fully functioning brain.
The Trump family and close supporters (nominally friends) are doing extremely well out of this economy with these tax and spend policies and with wide open insider dealing. Since FOX tells him it's all wonderful, what's not to like?
But, but, but: "Trump’s boasts only reinforce the perception that he is proud of making himself and the billionaire class richer and cares nothing about average Americans."
All the bad news about this administration, while it makes me sad for us now, also makes me glad because it makes it even more likely that we will be able to get rid of Trump&CO, and eventually all of the vampire squid class that's had us in their stranglehold for far too long.
I still think Trump's vulnerable underbelly is Epstein.
n my inbox for March 28:
Daniel, No Kings organizers want almost 9 Million people to show up to stand up to Trump – but to achieve that we need to start organizing NOW!
We know No Kings will make Trump FURIOUS. We’ve seen his default response to being criticized is to try to humiliate, imprison and silence his opponents, so when we turnout we need numbers that are UNSTOPPABLE!
Can we count on you turning out to stop Trump??
++++++
I beg them to concentrate on Congressional Republicans.
Heads are already rolling in Europe. Here, not so much. IMHO there are degrees of culpability. Under state law there is no statute of limitations for rape. States should be able to subpoena all the redacted records relevant to allegations of rape that occurred within their jurisdictions.
Not so clear about pimping and pandering.
Companies and individuals who knew he was running an illegal honeypot operation and did business with him may/may not be culpable. But their records are discoverable.
Lastly those who obstruct justice.
Sen. Ron Wyden has subpoeaned Treasury Department records. Every person mentioned as a perp may have records.
Epstein is dead. His estate is a treasure trove. His lawyers have records.
Since Trump is mentioned thousands of times, I'd send him a subpoena.
My husband and I have been to all of the previous No Kings Rallies, as well as two anti-ICE rallies. I've meanwhile been told that my immune system has grown weaker with the years and I should avoid crowds. As if. I'll be there in March wearing an N95.
Oh, PS. The so-called Epstein Class is actually the predatory rich which has arisen in all European countries and most Asian countries in every age. We can all read now and have a (still) free press so we are seeing how this class has always acted. It's so tragic that our Founding Fathers created a constitution based in part on the understandings and governing mechanisms developed and sustained over hundreds of years by our own Native American Iroquios Confederation. It was highly egalitarian and democratic, no one got filthy rich, no one suffered in poverty and many wars were avoided via these norms. And we blew it, having dragged our 'white man's burden' with us. Time to revisit.
The economy is in the greatest downturn it’s been in. That’s what’s the greatest thing about it. So he got that wrong. We have been looking at cars and there’s really not many of except what’s available is expensive. Food prices are not cheaper neither is health insurance. It’s nearly 1k per month what we’re paying. The medication my husband takes went up nearly 1300k. If he’s going to call it the greatest then it’s the greatest colossal disaster he’s created with tariffs and gutting our public health system in the FDA,NIH and other agencies within HHS.
The "legacy media" aren't going to confront Trump about anything. If they make him mad, he'll attack their other businesses. They're basically irrelevant at this point. Their irrelevance is in direct proportion to their compliance with Trumpism and is growing at the same, increasing velocity of that compliance.
tRump has always been a fabulist and believed the whole Universe rotated around him. Well... too little, too late, but folks are finally starting to put his words up against their reality and there appears to be a huge mismatch. Go figure - tRump has taken a meat ax to the Economy and that has consequences. We have to keep our focus. We need to be listening to wavering rethugs and Independents who voted for him. We need to be coming up with small, easily-processed sound bites to get their attention and start helping them make the swing.
In furtherance of your observation that Trump and his family have been and will continue to be one of the largest beneficiaries of his economic policies, I would like to offer the following commentary on the billions of dollars that Trump and his family have built into their family planning:
ISN'T TRUMP’S “BOARD OF PEACE” REALLY JUST ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL SCAM?
Isn't this really just a front to funnel billions of dollars from foreign nations into “contributions”that will wind up in the pockets of Trump’s “Family & Friends” who will get the rich development contracts, while the contributors will be buying Trump’s favors and good will, which some might even call "bribes"?
What is Trump's Proposal for his Proposed Venture: "The Board of Peace"?
According to statements from the White House and Trump’s own comments:
Trump presents the Board of Peace as an international body to promote peace, stability, and reconstruction, especially focused initially on the Gaza Strip after the Israel-Hamas conflict. He says it will help oversee demilitarization, governance reform, rebuilding, and a transition to security and prosperity for the people there.
The White House describes the Board as essential to implementing his 20-point comprehensive plan for ending the Gaza conflict — mobilizing international resources, providing strategic oversight, and ensuring accountability during the transition from war to peace and development.
Trump has also spoken broadly about the Board’s role in addressing global conflicts beyond Gaza, saying it could take on a wider peace-building mission and work with but not replace the United Nations.
The Board’s charter defines the Board’s purpose in neutral organizational language:
It states the Board of Peace is an international organization established to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.
While tied to the Gaza context by UN endorsement, the charter itself does not explicitly limit the Board’s mission to Gaza — language refers to conflict-affected areas generally.
In Trump’s own words and framing, the purpose of the Board of Peace is to:
Promote and Secure Peace and Stability in Conflict Zones, Especially Gaza.
In furtherance of the mission of the Board of Peace, Trump has created an Executive Board to oversee peace implementation and reconstruction in Gaza. This board includes political, business, and international figures working on various aspects of post-war Gaza planning.
And guess who is a member of the Executive Board of the Board of Peace?
Jared Kushner! YES, JARED KUSHNER!
Jared Kushner, former adviser and Trump’s son-in-law, has been publicly involved in shaping and promoting a reconstruction and development plan for Gaza following the 2023–2025 war. He helped negotiate the cease-fire deal and has since been a key figure advocating for a major redevelopment effort that aims to rebuild Gaza as a modern economic hub. I think that we all remember that Kushner had proposed turning Gaza into a luxury resort on the sea, which he would, of course, spearhead.
At the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Kushner unveiled an ambitious $25–$30 billion “New Gaza” reconstruction plan focused on rebuilding the territory with zones for infrastructure, residences, tourism, data centers, and industry — pitched as a free-market, investment-driven future.
This plan talks about private investment opportunities and funding from countries and investors, but details about committed private financing or formal investor consortium agreements remain unclear as of the latest reporting.
Public Controversy and Interpretation
Critics argue the initiative carries risks of commercialization or exploitation and ares skeptical about whether it genuinely serves Palestinian interests. Supporters portray it as a needed economic rebuilding effort.
The discussion around Kushner being the “investor” or leading a private consortium has appeared in political commentary, but specifics on formal investment vehicles or committed private capital consortium arrangements have not been publicly documented in the same way as his master plan presentations.
To serve as a permanent member on Trump’s Board of Peace requires a $1 billion contribution.
Given the above, one cannot help but conclude that the billions of dollars in membership contributions will be, at least initially, poured into contractors who will be selected by the Board of Peace, or rather by its Executive Board, for the redevelopment of Gaza.
And who do we think the vast majority of these billion contributions will be going to for such redevelopments? You guessed it: Trump's family, friends and contributors. It will be the Trump family slush fund.
I've been around long enough to have predicted that the aging Baby Boomers, better healthcare would become a problem for greedy, wealthy people and politicians. The old are now seen as an unnecessary burden that can be eliminated by withdrawing benefits, making it to expensive to continue living, make the DIE earlier is the answer. Stop paying or recommending vaccinations so the weaker young and old die. Make the gene pool stronger by advancing Darwin's "Survival of the Fittest." Stop imigration, throw immigrants out, older people are fired because youngwer people are faster, healthier and cost less to employ. So, when AI takes away your jobs, go work at Home Depot, picking crops, cashier at fast food/a shop-jobs that immigrants did for minimum wage of $7.25/hr, set back in 2013, get no benefits and just hope you can survive-no safety nets. Females will go back to the streets to be able to survive. Look a Dickensian England, the Gilded Age for the plight and powerlessness of workers working for food, shelter. Wealth disparity insulates some and burns up the rest as useless widgets in the profit machines. This happening on our watch as I predicted way back in the 1980's when this started and never stopped arriving where We the People are now. We have a duty to pass something on to posterity that can be a piece in the jigsaw crafted for 250 years as a way to live free and to rule ourselves. We were lucky to have a good idea long ago and a hope to create a "more perfect Union" through our elected representatives in state and federal governments. We came a long way to give it up now. RESIST!
What did Pam Bondi say about the stock market - over 50,000! Right... who was she talking to? She was talking to the wealthy.
The top 10% of Americans held 93% of all stocks, the highest level ever recorded.
Meanwhile, the bottom 50% of Americans held just 1% of all stocks in the third quarter of 2023.
https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-ownership-wealthiest-americans-one-percent-record-high-economy-2024-1?op=1
This country has been warped in favor of the wealthy - economically, politically, culturally, you name it. All affordability issues can be explained by the huge disparity in wealth. It is unconscionable. Until we clamp down on the many ways the wealthy get to keep all their money, despite the benefits this country has given them, we will never solve the affordability problem. I have yet to read any article that purports to address solutions to affordability that calls for an intentional leveling of the wealth disparity gap.
The dynamics are worth deep and thorough study. As always, motivation is a primary driving force. The Nash theorem likely only applies approximately because it isn't a closed system - there are source and sink functions and the flow of money crosses all boundaries. Systems dynamics theory would still apply if all the primary actors are identified and analyzed. I doubt there is a simple fix, but effective constraints can and should be considered.
AI sayz:
Trump's tariff policies, particularly in 2025 and early 2026, have largely resulted in higher prices for U.S. consumers and businesses,, with over 90% of the cost burden falling on American importers. This has caused increased market volatility, reduced U.S. GDP by approximately 0.5%, and forced businesses to shift supply chains.
Key effects on U.S. markets include:
Increased Costs and Inflation: Tariffs have acted as a tax on American businesses and consumers, raising prices for goods like furniture, bedding, and food.
Supply Chain Disruption: Businesses have responded by accelerating, delaying, or cancelling purchases, or by shifting sourcing away from China, whose share of U.S. imports dropped significantly.
Impact on Earnings: U.S. companies affected by tariffs saw declines in labor productivity, employment, and profits, particularly in manufacturing.
Market Volatility: The threat and implementation of tariffs have increased market volatility and created headwinds that have weighed on growth.
Revenue Generation: Tariffs are estimated to have raised $132 billion in net tax revenue in 2025.
Currency Impact: The U.S. dollar experienced fluctuations in response to tariff announcements, which, at times, helped companies with significant international revenue.
Weaning an addict from his favorite drug is hard work. The US and much of Europe is addicted to Chinese manufacturing. Curing that addiction will bring significant pain and consequences.
Trump is making Canada and Mexico financially great. US not so much.
SCOTUS hasn't ruled on tariffs yet. Republicans joined with Dems in opposing Canadian tariffs.
Investors fixated on earnings and rates may be underestimating how geopolitical stress and shifting alliances could reshape markets.
hump :bankrupt 6 times
you are right. the decline of America started when corporations went for cheap manufacture of goods for their profit. loss of jobs and decreased quality of life followed...for workers. It has gotten so bad that even health corporations have shareholders...ask rick scot of HCA, perp of biggest medicare fraud anyone has ever seen.
Democrats should develop a good economic plan to reduce prices. They cannot fail this time if they win the Congress in November.
Oh, she was talking to the wealthy? I thought she was addressing her hero and saviour Donald J. Trump.
I am worried about the mid-terms. We all foresee a "blue tsunami" in November, but his lowness is already showing us that he intends to interfere with our ability to conduct free and fair elections. I am writing to my secretary of state today asking him to refuse to participate in Republican-led efforts to corrupt the outcome of voting, but I don't believe that will be enough to prevent the voter suppression efforts I expect to see. Armed men at voting precincts around the country WILL discourage people from casting ballots. Voter roll purges between now and election day will result in fewer eligible voters and thus fewer ballots cast. There is little we can do to prevent either of these actions, so we need to be thinking ahead about how we intend to counteract them.
Don't be a classic "bed-wetting Democrat". I'm optimistic that in spite of the GQP's best efforts to rig the system, the voters will not be fooled or intimidated.
Ivan,
I'm not concerned about the voters' being fooled but about their ability to cast a vote.
I hope The Contrarian addresses this. The SAVE Act, increasing state level efforts to increase voter suppression, the raid in Georgia as a dress rehearsal for voter intimidation ... this is a five alarm fire for voting rights.
It doesn't help when the pathetic 'Democrat' John Fetterman says he will vote for the SAVE Act, one of the worst national level voter suppression bills we have seen in some time. It also doesn't help when snarky observers dismiss this all as 'bed-wetting'.
Currently volunteering as a D poll observer in an almost completely R county. My sense - and really not any more firm than that - from listening to voter chit chat is that the lie about voter fraud is deeply imbedded.
Also, among my D party friends, there is more talk like, well I'm going to the protest, hope I don't get killed. Everyone is on edge. Intimidated even though still standing strong.
wow, thanks for those observations.
I’m both concerned about voters being fooled (“Almost 6 in 10 respondents” think trump is doing a lousy job with the economy), the ability to cast a vote and/ or the counting of the vote and/or the refusal to accept the vote. Doesn’t mean I eon’t do everything I can to prevent my concerns from happening. Unfortunately there are plenty of people who never thought trump could win, never imagined the creation of Super Ice, never thought non-criminals or citizens would be in danger, couldn’t imagine the scope of the current grift and now can’t imagine that mid-term elections won’t be handled as per usual - and resort to insults if you see it differently.
I'm with you Ivan, just tell us we can't vote. Go ahead-make my day.
Vote early and by mail, if that’s an option where you live. I haven’t missed voting in an election since the early 1970s, but haven’t set foot in a polling place since the pandemic.
I wrote to my SOS as well.
https://www.brennancenter.org/election-security
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/inside-democrat-plans-to-beat-back-trump-election-meddling-attacks-midterms-2026?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=87281&post_id=186926890&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=e4iu&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Democrats have to pound into everyone’s head the truth about Trump.
He is NOT one of them.
He has never had to worry about money.
He’s never had to work at a job for hours in order to be paid.
He’s never been paid ‘minimum wage.
He’s never done his own shopping, laundry, cooking, etc!
He’s a millionaire who will take everything from them to decorate his gaudy bordello White House.
Agreed! There are so many headlines and talking points for Dems to be taking to their podiums!!
“Now, nearly 6 in 10 respondents disapprove — the highest of either of his terms in office and a higher level of disapproval than his predecessor Joe Biden measured at any point during his presidency.”
How can 4 out of every 10 Americans say, “Yeah, I’ll put my hand back on that hot stove again!”? Simply incomprehensible that THAT many people….close to HALF of our electorate….can be THAT stupid! SO sad!
People addicted to hate and racism have a hard time breaking that addiction even though everything around them indicates that they should change for their own good.
Interesting concept, being addicted to hate and racism, Steve. I wonder whether it's more like being addicted to The Cult of Rump, however it may go. I don't think their thinking (if any) goes that specific. Besides, who would admit "I'm addicted to racism?"
Whether admitted or denied, the condition appears to exist, when all good sense would indicate that it shouldn't. As for hate, some people don't seem to be able to live without it.
Agreed. Alas. And we can add rank stupidity to the mix, another trait to which nobody will ever admit.
yeah, because they are too stupid to know they are dumb...
They're "too stupid to know they are dumb" - ACK!!!!!! Exactly!
it's not something you admit...it's something you live
Let me just throw this out which others have talked about with me on other comments sections. There are many well educated intelligent people who still vote Republican because they cannot conceive of ever voting for a democrat, no matter how it may be against their interest. I’m just hoping that those people don’t vote at all rather than vote Republican in spite of everything.
racism ...america's problem since day one
it's why we have the electoral college
Well, start comprehending it, because they ARE that stupid.
The problem is, Trump blurts out any lie and phony numbers to back it up he chooses. Fox News and others amplify them, and even the legacy media has let us down. They won't ask him where he gets his facts, probably because they're afraid the fool will have their credentials pulled. He's like a low-IQ mob boss that lies almost every time he opens his mouth. And these lies have helped him get elected twice. But there's good news. He can say whatever he wants, but the American people are feeling the strain of his failed "policies," which are really just fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants guessing, or stem from advice from his right wing psycho "advisors," who care about only the wealthiest. I was afraid we could never break out of this cycle, but on Nov. 4, when New York's new mayor, and the new governors in New Jersey and Virginia ran and won on a platform of affordability for the average person, I got a new spring in my step. And all three of them are getting stuff done quickly. All the Democrats running in the midterms have to do is point to NYC, New Jersey and Virginia. And a tape of Georgia senator's Jon Ossoff's recent speech should be circulated to everyone running for office. He blended a perfect concoction of affordability and ripping Trump and his autocratic ambitions.
Texas businesses do not share Trump’s pride in the economy. In the Rio Grande, the business community is reeling from “aggressive immigration enforcement wreaking economic havoc.”
Well, nobody put a gun to Texans' heads and ordered them to vote for a transparent con man. So they're getting what they voted for, even if they were too foolish to know they were voting for it. Too bad they're dragging the rest of us down with them.
And one thing is a given about the economy-- when people are feeling economically stressed, no amount of happy talk from a politician will change that. As George H.W. Bush learned the hard way in 1992, all the happy talk does is convince the voters that the politician is out of touch.
I guess Texas businessmen believed that an orange con-man could be easily manipulated (like powerful Germans thought they could rein in Hitler). Certainly, it seemed to them that a white Con was a better choice than a woman of color with a fully functioning brain.
The Trump family and close supporters (nominally friends) are doing extremely well out of this economy with these tax and spend policies and with wide open insider dealing. Since FOX tells him it's all wonderful, what's not to like?
But, but, but: "Trump’s boasts only reinforce the perception that he is proud of making himself and the billionaire class richer and cares nothing about average Americans."
trump said "Make America Great Again", but of course, he never said for whom. Now we know who he was talking about.
Yep. The robber barons of the Gilded Age have returned with a vengeance and are making out like bandits. It’s always the same. 😖
All the bad news about this administration, while it makes me sad for us now, also makes me glad because it makes it even more likely that we will be able to get rid of Trump&CO, and eventually all of the vampire squid class that's had us in their stranglehold for far too long.
I still think Trump's vulnerable underbelly is Epstein.
n my inbox for March 28:
Daniel, No Kings organizers want almost 9 Million people to show up to stand up to Trump – but to achieve that we need to start organizing NOW!
We know No Kings will make Trump FURIOUS. We’ve seen his default response to being criticized is to try to humiliate, imprison and silence his opponents, so when we turnout we need numbers that are UNSTOPPABLE!
Can we count on you turning out to stop Trump??
++++++
I beg them to concentrate on Congressional Republicans.
Heads are already rolling in Europe. Here, not so much. IMHO there are degrees of culpability. Under state law there is no statute of limitations for rape. States should be able to subpoena all the redacted records relevant to allegations of rape that occurred within their jurisdictions.
Not so clear about pimping and pandering.
Companies and individuals who knew he was running an illegal honeypot operation and did business with him may/may not be culpable. But their records are discoverable.
Lastly those who obstruct justice.
Sen. Ron Wyden has subpoeaned Treasury Department records. Every person mentioned as a perp may have records.
Epstein is dead. His estate is a treasure trove. His lawyers have records.
Since Trump is mentioned thousands of times, I'd send him a subpoena.
My husband and I have been to all of the previous No Kings Rallies, as well as two anti-ICE rallies. I've meanwhile been told that my immune system has grown weaker with the years and I should avoid crowds. As if. I'll be there in March wearing an N95.
Oh, PS. The so-called Epstein Class is actually the predatory rich which has arisen in all European countries and most Asian countries in every age. We can all read now and have a (still) free press so we are seeing how this class has always acted. It's so tragic that our Founding Fathers created a constitution based in part on the understandings and governing mechanisms developed and sustained over hundreds of years by our own Native American Iroquios Confederation. It was highly egalitarian and democratic, no one got filthy rich, no one suffered in poverty and many wars were avoided via these norms. And we blew it, having dragged our 'white man's burden' with us. Time to revisit.
The economy is in the greatest downturn it’s been in. That’s what’s the greatest thing about it. So he got that wrong. We have been looking at cars and there’s really not many of except what’s available is expensive. Food prices are not cheaper neither is health insurance. It’s nearly 1k per month what we’re paying. The medication my husband takes went up nearly 1300k. If he’s going to call it the greatest then it’s the greatest colossal disaster he’s created with tariffs and gutting our public health system in the FDA,NIH and other agencies within HHS.
The "legacy media" aren't going to confront Trump about anything. If they make him mad, he'll attack their other businesses. They're basically irrelevant at this point. Their irrelevance is in direct proportion to their compliance with Trumpism and is growing at the same, increasing velocity of that compliance.
tRump has always been a fabulist and believed the whole Universe rotated around him. Well... too little, too late, but folks are finally starting to put his words up against their reality and there appears to be a huge mismatch. Go figure - tRump has taken a meat ax to the Economy and that has consequences. We have to keep our focus. We need to be listening to wavering rethugs and Independents who voted for him. We need to be coming up with small, easily-processed sound bites to get their attention and start helping them make the swing.
Thank you. Sadly, I don’t believe that the legacy media has any great desire to confront Trump.
In furtherance of your observation that Trump and his family have been and will continue to be one of the largest beneficiaries of his economic policies, I would like to offer the following commentary on the billions of dollars that Trump and his family have built into their family planning:
ISN'T TRUMP’S “BOARD OF PEACE” REALLY JUST ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL SCAM?
Isn't this really just a front to funnel billions of dollars from foreign nations into “contributions”that will wind up in the pockets of Trump’s “Family & Friends” who will get the rich development contracts, while the contributors will be buying Trump’s favors and good will, which some might even call "bribes"?
What is Trump's Proposal for his Proposed Venture: "The Board of Peace"?
According to statements from the White House and Trump’s own comments:
Trump presents the Board of Peace as an international body to promote peace, stability, and reconstruction, especially focused initially on the Gaza Strip after the Israel-Hamas conflict. He says it will help oversee demilitarization, governance reform, rebuilding, and a transition to security and prosperity for the people there.
The White House describes the Board as essential to implementing his 20-point comprehensive plan for ending the Gaza conflict — mobilizing international resources, providing strategic oversight, and ensuring accountability during the transition from war to peace and development.
Trump has also spoken broadly about the Board’s role in addressing global conflicts beyond Gaza, saying it could take on a wider peace-building mission and work with but not replace the United Nations.
The Board’s charter defines the Board’s purpose in neutral organizational language:
It states the Board of Peace is an international organization established to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.
While tied to the Gaza context by UN endorsement, the charter itself does not explicitly limit the Board’s mission to Gaza — language refers to conflict-affected areas generally.
In Trump’s own words and framing, the purpose of the Board of Peace is to:
Promote and Secure Peace and Stability in Conflict Zones, Especially Gaza.
In furtherance of the mission of the Board of Peace, Trump has created an Executive Board to oversee peace implementation and reconstruction in Gaza. This board includes political, business, and international figures working on various aspects of post-war Gaza planning.
And guess who is a member of the Executive Board of the Board of Peace?
Jared Kushner! YES, JARED KUSHNER!
Jared Kushner, former adviser and Trump’s son-in-law, has been publicly involved in shaping and promoting a reconstruction and development plan for Gaza following the 2023–2025 war. He helped negotiate the cease-fire deal and has since been a key figure advocating for a major redevelopment effort that aims to rebuild Gaza as a modern economic hub. I think that we all remember that Kushner had proposed turning Gaza into a luxury resort on the sea, which he would, of course, spearhead.
At the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Kushner unveiled an ambitious $25–$30 billion “New Gaza” reconstruction plan focused on rebuilding the territory with zones for infrastructure, residences, tourism, data centers, and industry — pitched as a free-market, investment-driven future.
This plan talks about private investment opportunities and funding from countries and investors, but details about committed private financing or formal investor consortium agreements remain unclear as of the latest reporting.
Public Controversy and Interpretation
Critics argue the initiative carries risks of commercialization or exploitation and ares skeptical about whether it genuinely serves Palestinian interests. Supporters portray it as a needed economic rebuilding effort.
The discussion around Kushner being the “investor” or leading a private consortium has appeared in political commentary, but specifics on formal investment vehicles or committed private capital consortium arrangements have not been publicly documented in the same way as his master plan presentations.
To serve as a permanent member on Trump’s Board of Peace requires a $1 billion contribution.
Given the above, one cannot help but conclude that the billions of dollars in membership contributions will be, at least initially, poured into contractors who will be selected by the Board of Peace, or rather by its Executive Board, for the redevelopment of Gaza.
And who do we think the vast majority of these billion contributions will be going to for such redevelopments? You guessed it: Trump's family, friends and contributors. It will be the Trump family slush fund.
I've been around long enough to have predicted that the aging Baby Boomers, better healthcare would become a problem for greedy, wealthy people and politicians. The old are now seen as an unnecessary burden that can be eliminated by withdrawing benefits, making it to expensive to continue living, make the DIE earlier is the answer. Stop paying or recommending vaccinations so the weaker young and old die. Make the gene pool stronger by advancing Darwin's "Survival of the Fittest." Stop imigration, throw immigrants out, older people are fired because youngwer people are faster, healthier and cost less to employ. So, when AI takes away your jobs, go work at Home Depot, picking crops, cashier at fast food/a shop-jobs that immigrants did for minimum wage of $7.25/hr, set back in 2013, get no benefits and just hope you can survive-no safety nets. Females will go back to the streets to be able to survive. Look a Dickensian England, the Gilded Age for the plight and powerlessness of workers working for food, shelter. Wealth disparity insulates some and burns up the rest as useless widgets in the profit machines. This happening on our watch as I predicted way back in the 1980's when this started and never stopped arriving where We the People are now. We have a duty to pass something on to posterity that can be a piece in the jigsaw crafted for 250 years as a way to live free and to rule ourselves. We were lucky to have a good idea long ago and a hope to create a "more perfect Union" through our elected representatives in state and federal governments. We came a long way to give it up now. RESIST!
The reality IS that Trumps cares only about enriching himself amd his billionaire donors. He's never cared about average Americans; he's
exploited their gullibility and fear about the economy and social issues to win their votes.