Party of Two

There's little hope to improve America if waiting for Democratic Party reforms.

The Democratic Party is corrupt.

US systems of federal elected government often are horrible. The professional elite of both parties is at fault.

The Electoral College system is also an outrage, and fundamentally undemocratic.

Imagine the Republican Party is your Boss. Unfortunately, the Democrats are his wife.

Don't wait for the ruling family to help or assist.
They gain by taking from you.

The Donald Menace

The Guardian's recent interview with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (link) details clear dangers of Donald J. Trump as a pathological liar seeking to undermine American democracy.

Sanders explicitly rejects that these complaints & worries are partisan. Sanders cites many political opponents with disagreeable policies who operate within the mainstream of American political values, who believe what they advocate. Sanders warns that Trump, on the other hand, continuously lies.

"He lies in order to undermine the foundations of American democracy."

According to Sen. Sanders, Pres. Trump's intent is imposing "AUTHORITARIANISM - where the President of the United States has extraordinary powers, far more so than our Constitution has provided for or the values of the American people support."

Scary stuff.

President Trump should recognize his own "lazy eye" - 
Amblyopia, fleeting & unrecognized, could be his downfall.

Korea Topples its Tyrant

Park Geun-hye has been removed as President of South Korea.
Good riddance!

Park was a despot. Her "election" was orchestrated by her predecessor's government, the Grand National / Saenuri Party & President Lee Myeong-bak 이명박. Korea's 2012 presidential election was globally infamous for criminal interference, as the government used a team of 70 agents from Korea's National Intelligence Service to spread lies about the opposition candidate and talk up Ms. Park Geun-hye. These Psychological Warfare Division Cyber Warfare Command agents were later assisted by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Office, whose coverup was surmounted by Korea's Supreme Prosecutor's Office. Sounds dirty ?  It was probably worse.

Park is vindictive and anti-democratic. She interfered in the livelihood of thousands of artists and entertainers by reportedly placing them on a blacklisted enemies list (link). Her right-wing government declared the 60,000-member Korean Teachers’ & Education Workers’ Union (KTU) illegal (link), and systematically sought to destroy it.

Who were the strategists forcing the dark Park right-wing regressive agenda?

Park was partly propped-up by her crony Choi Soon-sil (최순실). But Yankee may at least be partly responsible... America's position in Korea requires knowledge of all such dirt.

Is the USA more actively involved? (as with Park's father, General Park Chung-hee, Korea's dictatorial former president). One day we should know more ...

Silly Progress

Does Richie Rich care?

Your soft organs can feed his hogs ...

American Health Care drops from bad to deadly worse

US Accepts Korean Corruption?

Korea's President Park Geun-Hye (박근혜) is tangled in multiple scandals, including both bribery & collusion with Samsung, and improper infiltration of crony Choi Soon-sil (최순실) into Korean national strategy & decisionmaking.

Of course, South Korea is still heavily occupied by US military forces - many tens of thousands of highly-trained American professionals work 24-hrs each day in Seoul & throughout Korea to protect the nation's people.

What did Yankee do when discovering corruption at the peak of Korean politics?

Nothing?  Blackmail ?
Why's nobody asking?

Corrupted Japan ?

Japan's Ministry of Finance reportedly sold land in Osaka to an ultra right-wing organization with close ties to Prime Minister Shinzō Abe & his wife Akie. As the land was sold far below its appraised value, the uncommon deal at first was kept secret (link).

Akie Abe, nicknamed "Akky" was named Honorary President of a planned school that would inculcate Shinto values into the curriculum and student life. At one point the ultranationalist school was to be named for Prime Minister Abe.

Now the sweetheart deal is coming apart. Did serious pollution (buried garbage) create the low price? What was done with the pollutants, and is the site now safe for children? Does Moritomo Gakuen threaten children's health?

[ Land valued at ¥956 million was sold for ¥134 million to the far-right corporation, supposedly because buried garbage reduced the value. And before the land was sold, the government gave ¥131.76 million to Moritomo Gakuen toward decontamination. Something rotten... ]

How much has the "Akheed Scandal" dirtied Japan's government? It appears the tentacles of ultranationalism and Nippon Kaigi have reached deeply into the Ministry of Finance, Osaka Prefecture, and Japan's Board of Audit. But perhaps not -- at least some people feel this case is an unreasonable insider scandal...

「アッキード事件」

There seems unexplained corruption, and criminal misreporting with links to Japan's highest politicians and bureaucracy. How deeply implicated are the right-wing Abe and his Defense Minister Tomomi Inada? Abe's wife Akie already appears dirty. Yasunori Kagoike should testify before the Japanese Diet to explain his activities.Reuters reports that Kagoike is the head of the Osaka branch of Nippon Kaigi; who knows what dirty garbage might emerge from Kagoike's sworn testimony?

Donate to Shinzō Abe Elementary School?  (安倍晋三記念小学校の寄附)

Wag the Trump?

Was it a mixup at tonight's Oscars for the Best Picture prize? Or was it a message to the people of the world that news is often scripted and can be tainted?

Commentators claimed "Nobody could write this script" but it's already wrapped.

The film "Wag the Dog" speaks of how the population of America is manipulated by media. Looking beyond, the election of President Donald J. Trump was more than unexpected. Was he legitimately elected? If not, how many people were enlisted to dupe the nation, and were they Americans?

Would President Trump even know he'd been installed via deceit? Better he didn't know...

What's a moldova?

Almost half-million people have watched this 'humor' video about Moldova:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=380xwSXnzeU
MOLDOVA

Yes, it is ridiculous.
Yes, it is insulting.

But dozens of other nations have made similar videos, and behind the jokes, it actually teaches a lot about Moldova (facts the typical person wouldn't know, and probably never otherwise hear about).

Hundreds-of-thousands of people spent 4+ minutes watching this presentation. Maybe as a marketing tool, humor & sarcasm are second to none...


I've visited Moldova for business four times, and as a member of the Swedish-Moldovan International Association I must tell you Moldova is Great in many ways. But it's too often unknown & forgotten...

-----------------------------------
"Don't believe marketing is about what you want to say. Craft something other people – the people you're trying to reach – want to listen to, read, interact with... To be interesting today: Earn people's time.  If you haven’t made that commitment you're just talking to yourself in public... who's going to make time to listen to that?"  (Mark Di Somma)

Dos Equis Beer, "Most Interesting Man" marketing campaign created a fictional celebrity endorser (and fabulously boasting about him). Most ads end with the most interesting man dressed in a tuxedo surrounded by beautiful women, at which point he says, "I don't always drink beer, but when I do I prefer Dos Equis." For a beer spokesman to admit he doesn't always drink beer, does not seem like the smartest marketing campaign decision, but the numbers have proven its worth. People want to be seen as interesting.  (Jaci Russo)


Ads can be funny to better sell the brand -- "designed to create a longing in someone who wants to be as interesting as the ads' leading man and brand spokesperson." Emotional connection: [My Nation & I are nearly as cool as America & Trump]  (Sage Marketing Group)

----------------------------
More nasty videos mocking the America First movement:
http://everysecondcounts.eu/index.html

Please remember, FIRST to create such a video was the Netherlands:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELD2AwFN9Nc
It's Great. Fantastic.

Ultra-Nationalist Japan

Some people celebrate when rabid leaders pledge to cleanse their country of foreign scum.

But racism and hate ultimately are costly & hurtful to us all.

Japan has allowed the ultra-right to flourish. In part, Japan's rightists were protected by America during the 1950s and 60s, claiming to be anti-Communist.

Now, organizations such as Nippon Kaigi 日本会議 are vigorous (link), reaching to the pinnacle of the political world. Reportedly 15 of 19 ministers, and 289 of the 480 National Diet members, are Nippon Kaigi as of 10/2014. Maybe forging sweetheart deals with Japan's Ministry of Finance?

Moritomo Gakuen 森友学園 and 瑞穂の國記念小學院 are frightening!

Kids must memorize the prewar Imperial Rescript on Education 「教育勅語」

But the waste & destruction of WWII are easily remembered in Japan, and many (probably most) people are unsupportive of right-wing extremists.

Thankfully, abusiveness is monitored & sometimes reported upon, such as sex scandals:

Dietmember Yoshitaka Shindō 新藤義孝
元内閣府特命担当大臣（地方分権改革、国家戦略特別区域）

http://www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2017/01300801/?all=1
(English summary here)

After a funeral, lawmaker Yoshitaka Shindō 新藤義孝 reportedly goes whoring

Theft of the Sacred

Property and community of Hawai'i's indigenous people are threatened by development of sacred Mauna Kea. Similarly, construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline by Energy Transfer Partners is being forced upon native communities, uprooting their environment.

On Mauna Kea, should cars and vehicles be allowed at the summit?

Early maneuvering by pro-development forces sought to stifle resistance through arrests claiming protestors blocked traffic.

Scientific activities have already harmed Mauna Kea. "The cumulative impacts of certain resources of past and existing development in the astronomy precinct have already been substantial, significant and adverse." (written testimony by James T.Hayes to BLNR Contested Case Hearing, Thirty Meter Telescope, p.34; link, video 3:08:15)

Worse, this person with primary responsibility for the Environmental Impact Study on Mauna Kea by the TMT, James T. Hayes, cites the existence of the road around Mauna Kea's summit as the key factor the proposed Northern Plateau site is no longer a pristine area -- see Dexter Kaimana cross-examining James T. Hayes, link, at 3:12:48
http://cdn-origin.peg.tv/vod/T01590/2016-10-31-LOW_LIVE_TMT_Hearing_103116.mp4

When people can tour through special places in their own messy vehicle, chugging slurpee, listening to sports or talk radio, eating a burger, they too easily overlook the fact they are guests within an honored & exceptional place.

We too often give precedence to motor vehicles.

Ban cars from upper Mauna Kea. Heavily tax every allowed vehicle, with revenues to Native Hawaiian programs.

Political Scum?

Americans who've been shaken awake by the first weeks of Donald J. Trump's presidency are surely partly to blame for wider national crises.

America's many troubles have grown up under the carelessness of both Democrat & Republican lawmakers, "public servants" who serve themselves and their funders before anything trickles down to the masses.

Nancy Pelosi and her husband are not people I admire. The Republican leadership is no better. It seems clear to me the people Hilary Clinton most wished to help were wealthy financiers. Fatcats threatening hellfire to the insufficiently Christian?    -- No Thank You.

All For Profit

Moves by the new U.S. Federal Administration to deify profit & aggrandize market economics are dangerous. The powerful who now control resources will gain more. The great majority will lose everything valuable (which now is not much). Social Darwinism is unsustainable!

All government operations are being reinterpreted as potential business opportunities. Troublesome information is being hidden, data gathering discontinued, and regulations dismantled in areas such as conservation and human services.

So sad.

How Dirty is the FBI?

For many or most in my generation, the FBI was admirable. They upheld the law without falling into the squabbles, nepotism and petty politics of local sheriffs and police departments. The "G Man" was highly-trained and above corruption. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover reportedly was highly concerned with the Bureau's reputation, even interviewing and organizing training for Efrem Zimbalist Jr. for his TV role depicting the FBI.

For Boston & New England people, the saga of James "Whitey" Bulger and his brother Billy dirtied the FBI's reputation. Whitey was collaborating with the Bureau even as he murdered people, and FBI agent John Joseph Connolly, Jr. provided the tip-off allowing Whitey to escape justice in late 1994.

Subsequently, Bulger was highlighted as America's "Most Wanted" by the FBI for awhile, but it became clearer his insider knowledge of important people's dirt may have led to him being "America's least wanted."

We common folk will never know the full truth. Yet there remain troubling points:

1) Was Mr. Bulger truly captured? If so, where's Whitey now?
We're told this infamous criminal is safely locked-up (in US Federal Penitentiary Coleman II, Florida). But is he really there? Whitey & the Feds did bad shit together. The government should supply periodic photos & updates of his alleged incarceration.

2) Whitey was on the run for 16+ years; thousands of tips & leads were supposedly tracked, and the FBI offered a US$2 million reward for Bulger's capture. In 2008, Keith Messina reported seeing Whitey in Santa Monica, California. Three years later, a more precise tip by an Icelandic woman led the FBI to the doorstep of Bulger & his fugitive girlfriend. Perhaps the FBI could easily disregard domestically-generated tips, but an Icelandic TV crew finding Bulger would surely be a black-eye to the Bureau -- they needed to act. The Icelandic tipster was paid her reward, but her name and personal details were leaked to media & publicized. Nasty take-away lesson: collaborating with the FBI is very dangerous! Surely policing is more effective when working together with the public. Government promises of confidentiality must be enforced.

U.S. Senate Confirmed

During the Senate confirmation hearing for a new U.S. Attorney General, the senior Senator for Massachusetts, Vice Chair of the chamber's Democratic Caucus, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, was officially rebuked by the Republican majority. The measure barred Warren from speaking further during Sessions' nomination hearing.

Warren was slapped-down for questioning past motives & conduct of a Senate colleague, Jeff Sessions from Alabama.

Ultimately, this confirms the U.S. Senate is doing a poor job. The Senate is entrusted with offering advice, and must consent to the appointment of key nominations. For the national interest, the confirmation process is not meant to be a whitewash, and should allow debate. It seems ridiculous when historical documentation and negative background of potential Cabinet appointments cannot be mentioned.

Regardless of the fitness of Sen. Sessions to become U.S. Attorney General, this incident was a black-eye for the U.S. Senate and underlines the shoddy tenure of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

We Know Things Are Bad...

It's 40+ years since the (link) 1976 film Network ...

We carry-on as string puppets controlled via media.
Parasitic corporate interests suppress community & suck dry the output of each modest life.

Did YOU get free public money from the bipartisan Bush/Obama bailout? If not, you're simple normal social scum -- a badly connected outsider. Deplorable.

USA = 99% Deplorable

 ... enjoy this audio clip ( link )

Who Won?

This posting will evolve, but the key concept is wondering:
Who won the 2016 Presidential Election?

First, it seems (somewhat) clear Hilary Clinton LOST -- while the Democratic National Committee was LOST from long ago

My Question is not the choice of A or B, but rather X
 - did Russia interfere & actively intervene?
 - is Trump working for Russia?
 - why did / (does?) Trump want the job of President?
 - why was there no recount in the key states where requested?
 - is American DEMOCRACY an illusion?

Selling a Pollution Pit

Entergy is the fat corporation owning Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They've sucked revenues from the nuclear reactor, but have no proper plan for dealing with the dirty aftermath.

Now they suggest selling the aging plant to another (newly formed) corporation.

Some support the sale. Former Massachusetts State Sen. Daniel Wolf (D) is quoted as calling the potential transaction "really exciting news." (link)

SUCKER !

A similar process is happening at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear plant. There's no reasonable vision for optimism. Entergy would exploit profitable decommissioning, if there were such a thing. They instead plan to wash their hands by passing the muck to a newly-formed shell corporation.

This new firm may perform correctly, but tens of millions, maybe billions of dollars urge them to default, defect, and pass most costs to the public.

Don't let Entergy off the hook for their obligations.

Cruelly Corporatist Korea

Gangjeong Village is among the furthest points from Seoul as exist in South Korea. Some 480 km from Seoul and far from mainland troubles, Gangjeong sits on beautiful Jeju Island's southern coast. Threats to develop the region were first put aside through legislation and edict. (link) The coastal area was designated a Cultural Protection Zone by the South Korean government in 2000 and 2004. In 2002 South Korea's Ministry of Land defined the region a Marine Ecosystem Conservation Area, and that same year it also became a UNESCO Biosphere Conservation Area. In 2006, the government of Jeju Island named the Gangjeong Village zone a Marine Provincial Park, and the central government's Ministry of Environment designated it an "Ecological Excellent Village"; in 2007, the Jeju Island government identified it as an Absolute Retention Coastal Area; and in 2008, the Ministry of Environment designated it a Natural Park.

Then, against the wishes of the local people, distant militarists decided to develop the area as a strategic naval base. Both the Korean Government in distant Seoul and the U.S. Government in Washington D.C. pushed to reclassify the area for development, overturning all objections. Jeju Naval Base (제주 해군기지) is now operational.

But serious struggles continue (link). Many local people and their supporters were arrested & fined. Worse, because construction was slower than expected due to local opposition, the large private-sector chaebol construction companies demanded compensation for the delays, Seoul's right-wing government is forcing the local villagers to pay these costs (link).

In other words, refusing to quickly stand aside when government tries bulldozing your neighborhood will lead to bankruptcy. Forcing the local population to pay restitution & indemnity is horrible -- closer to fascism than a democratic process. Shame on Korea's politicians!

Artist Carlos Latuff (Brazil) supports Jeju villagers against the menacing naval base

Unfortunate blowback from a global imperialist alliance is deployment of foreign military forces in places otherwise peaceful, thus distressing the local population. Korea, Japan and Hawai'i are in a feudal relationship with Washington D.C., forced to accept American military installations into such places as Jeju's Gangjeon coastline, Okinawa's Yanbaru forest, and O'ahu's delicate Mokapu Peninsula. Tough.

Targets & Tiaras

The first combat death for the new US Government came in an engagement which killed an 8-year old girl.

Obama's government assassinated the father & his 16-yr old son. Both were U.S. citizens targeted without trial. Trump's first combat mission (on his 10th day as President) now kills the daughter.

We wholly condemn extrajudicial targeted killings (link). Neither should American forces suffer tragic death. President Trump has vowed to withdraw American troops from many overseas trouble-spots, leaving local forces to protect & police themselves. "We cannot be the Policeman of the World" said candidate Trump (link)

But assassination is not an acceptable substitute policy, and all the more terrible when it targets family members.

President Trump declared we must kill the families of America's enemies, but surely that's illegal under international law, and shortsighted policy (we should hope to avoid reciprocal targeting of American leaders' families).

The US Government already has a bad history:
1986  US bombs kill Libyan leader Gaddafi's infant daughter
2003  American forces target & kill Saddam Hussein's two sons & 14-yr old grandson
2011  US / NATO bombs kill Gaddafi's son & grandkids, 5-mo & 2-yr old twins (30 April)
2011  US drone attack kills Anwar al-Awlaki, dissident American Muslim cleric (30 Sept)
2011  US drone attack kills Anwar al-Awlaki's son, US teenager Abdulrahman (14 Oct)
2017  American SEAL Team 6 kills Anwar's 8-yr old daughter, Nora Al-Awlaki  (29 Jan)

Knee-Jerk Anti-Trump? NO

Too many Americans are already hyper-critical of everything done by President Trump.

This is a big mistake. Here's why:
For all his bluster and megapresence, Donald J. Trump is just one geezer. Sure he's rich and disturbed, but he can't do much all by himself.

Focusing our attention on his antics, we fail to monitor the thousands of his minions now infiltrating & undermining our communities. The system of government is being hijacked. This is beyond partisan politics or questions of policy difference.

Trump peacefully came to power because Americans had faith in law & order, and in the United States Constitution. The President took an oath to protect & defend the Constitution, and Donald J. Trump became a federal employee.

The American People have not agreed to become employees or slaves to Donald J. Trump and his allies.

So avoid reflexively watching corporate media showing Trump stages of tantrum. Watch-out for Republican operatives: robo-signers, slash-and-burn specialists, the same wolves & weasels who crippled the global economy at the end of the Bush-Cheney reign and were bailed-out with public funds by America's political elite.

Both parties have huge crony networks. Probably you, dear reader, are not appropriately connected. Watch your pockets against thieves, and plan for trouble. The distractions around you are deliberate.

Theresa May LEAVE

UK Prime Minister Theresa May owes her job to the "Leave" campaign to take the United Kingdom out of the European Union.

The UK's EU Referendum generated 17,410,742 votes to LEAVE.

Estimated UK population on 23 June 2016 was 65,620,891 people.

Brexit advocates won the referendum.

But LEAVE gained support of just  26.5%

Citizens under 18 and long-term UK expats overseas had no voting rights.

America's Savior: TRUMP®

Donald J. Trump deserves to be President of the United States of America.

Trump received 62,979,636 votes across the USA.
Trump received 304 electoral votes in the Electoral College.

Trump was duly sworn & properly assumed the Office of President.

But :
According to the United States Census Bureau, on Election Day 8 November 2016, the US population was 324,013,797 people.
Trump got 62,979,636 votes.

That's only  19.4% 

Look around America: only 19% of the people you see voted for Pres. Trump.

Trump Makes a Furor

Winter Songs & Christmas Carols

As I was singing "c'mon it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with Aimee" (a personal adaptation of the song Sleigh Ride (Mitchell Parish lyrics, Leroy Anderson music), I was struck by a thought.

This song has no references to Christmas or religion, so differs from almost all traditional Christmas Carols. What popular seasonal songs are wholly "secular" ... ?

Sleigh Ride

Jingle Bells

Frosty the Snowman

Aside from this, it's late January, we've no snow outside (in Stockholm, Sweden), and no sleighs nearby... I did find Sleigh Ride composer Leroy Anderson was born to Swedish parents & visited here repeatedly.

Media is "Dancing With The Donald"

All enjoy the President Trump Two-Step.
Such antics.
And he sez the darndest things!

Controversy sells news.

Media fueled the Trump presidential campaign, trumpeting all his off-color antics. Now U.S. President Trump's America First Circus continues as he waltzes with corporate media in a symbiotic dance programmed to end in 2021.

We consumers tune-in to monitor the Latest. We gasp at Trump's "Unafraid to Risk it" style. He's reportedly edgy, misanthropic, and politically incorrect. He's got a manly history. As his tale weakens, stories of mega-money, bimbos & creepy kids wait in the wings. 

Both sides are parasites. So Entertaining!
Consuming Trump® News is the new & improved American Dream.
It's the greatest. Couldn't be better.

Buy your popcorn Here  (link)

Funneling Money to TRUMP®

US President Trump is still exposed to illegal kickbacks from his global hotel empire and many other business operations.

Is Trump too rich to be bribed?

Already wealthy (or still not enough) he should divest from all active participation in Trump® businesses.

Foreign elements recognize new possibilities. They want to generate conflict-of-interest & quickly buy shortcuts to favors.

On the new president's inauguration day, The Telegraph (UK) published a list of room rates for top Trump hotels. You can funnel funds to President Trump by staying at his hotels in the USA or overseas. Here are their cited 14 top choices (2 night stay; £/$ exchange @1.24):

1    Trump Washington DC (room = Trump Townhouse)  $58,900.
2    Trump Doral (Miami; Presidential Suite)  $17,180.
3    Trump Waikiki (Honolulu; Waikiki Penthouse Suite)  $7,513.
4    Trump Las Vegas (Penthouse Suite)  $5,130.
5    Trump Panama (Panama City; Executive Suite)  $3,880.
6    Trump New York (Park View Suite)  $3,435.
7    Trump Soho (New York; SoHo Suite) $3,220.
8    Trump Chicago (Grand Deluxe Lake View Suite)  $3,055.
9   Trump Vancouver (Executive Suite)  $2343.
10  Trump Doonbeg (County Clare, Ireland; Premier Courtyard View Suite)  $2,006.
11  Trump Toronto (Deluxe suite)  $1,793.
12  Albemarle Estate at Trump Winery (Charlottesville; Jefferson Grand Suite)  $1,314.
13  Trump Turnberry (Ayrshire, Scotland; Ocean View Suite)  $1,113.
14  Macloed House & Lodge (Aberdeenshire, Scotland; Garden deluxe king room)  $868.

These aren't always their top rooms.

Two nights over 2017 Valentine's Day in the Presidential Suite at the Trump Panama costs $6,003. (including the 10% taxes and complimentary wireless internet).

You can book MacLeod House & Lodge for your 2-night event (lodging up to 32 people) for $29,611. If American & non-EU guests reclaim 20% VAT, it's $24,676. Not too bad -- and maybe not enough to draw the notice of President Trump... 

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew) is filing a lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court claiming federal official U.S. President Donald J. Trump is illegally receiving gifts & emoluments (money) from foreign governments, which the US Constitution bans as corruption.

The strict rules on gifts & bribes are based on good reasoning. There are not exceptions for bribing a wealthy Cabinet Secretary, a top military General, or little-known Federal judges. President Trump is now a Federal EMPLOYEE.

Here's a link to U.S. Department of Justice rules, procedures, and Standards of Ethical Conduct. They begin (quote):
You may have heard it said that “public service is a public trust.” This means that each Federal employee has a responsibility to the United States Government and its citizens to place loyalty to the Constitution, laws, and ethical principles above private gain. The public deserves and should expect no less.

Federal employees cannot accept unsolicited gifts worth more than $20 (and maximum $50 value over one calendar year from one person).  Until now, if there appears conflict-of-interest, federal employees have been urged to refuse gifts & money. Will Trump change this?

If we allow federal employee corruption, U.S. government procurement & the American goal of impartial justice will be badly undermined.

Welcome New Government Employees

Top members of the new American government are already wealthy & powerful. Let's hope they understand they're now EMPLOYEES. The polarizing rhetoric depicts a conquering army, as if we've new bosses, rather than a new slate of public servants.

'Onlooker' Booker, US Senator

US Sen. Cory Booker is accused of pocketing Big Pharma cash, then voting to forbid desperate Americans from buying cheaper lifesaving drugs from Canada.

As detailed by Richard Eskow (link), Booker is a hypocrite who betrayed endangered Americans needing medical relief.

Sure professed progressive Democrat Booker voted down the Bernie Sanders / Amy Klobuchar budget amendment to allow prescription drugs from Canada for millions of America's desperately ill.

Those worst-off won't vote again, and most others will soon forget.

Booker is a looker with his eyes on the White House. Big Pharma can help him gain entry.  

Devil Ain't Far

Here's a comment on the ever-present danger of murderous nice folk - it's stuck with me, and is worth reproducing. Written by Doug Salzmann:

"It’s a very human reaction, in the face of such vile and hateful behavior and speech, to insist that the culprit is fundamentally different from — less than — "normal" human beings, like us. "We" could never do such things, believe in such evil madness, speak such despicable words.

But that’s not true. It’s a big lie. Given the "right" environment, the "right" experiences, the "right" frustrations and disappointments, the "right" programming and encouragement, virtually all humans are capable of atrocities such as Roof perpetrated.

We could all be Dylan Roof.

Hell, people only have to be told that they are heroes protecting the world from one sort of evil or another and they willingly napalm villages in Southeast Asia or blow up wedding parties with Hellfire missiles from air-conditioned easy chairs thousands of miles away.

If you’ve reached whatever age and place in life you’re at now without becoming "one of them," you’re not special or different; you’re just lucky."

Beware a Demagogue!

Waiting for Trump GOLD

Are you one of the 62 million Americans who (supposedly) voted for Donald Trump? Do you eagerly await him "draining the swamp" ?? Will Trump Make America Great Again?

Cracker, You're plumb Out of Luck.

待ちぼうけ 
Only Waiting. ...

待ち惚け

wait in vain...

Trump promised, and you gave him what he wanted. Now, a more-mighty Trump dumped all obligations to little people.

He dumped Giuliani.

He dumped Gov. Chris Christie.

Look at last summer's Republican National Convention video - Trump had already decided Christie was poison (explained before, link)

Watch the candidate's final strong message (link here -- recognize the machine which made the video already enslaves America). Until Election Day, Mr. Donald Trump pledged to work With us & FOR US. Now those promises, and us, are simple bother.

President-elect Trump's uplifting messages stopped after his election. Jackals gathered round him; he welcomed the worst. Did YOU get a personal invitation to the great President Trump's inauguration? If yes, You're in Trump's 1% -- the rest of us are trash.

Trump offered Christie a "Big Embarrassment" brush-off