I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.

—James Madison

Taken verbatim from Kamala’s 2019 presidential platform talking points:

• • Pledge to end immigrant detention
  • Provide taxpayer-funded gender care and transition surgeries for detained immigrants
  • Slash immigrant detention by 50% – close all family/private facilities
  • Decrease funding for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
  • End ICE detainers

According to Kamala’s 2019 ACLU official questionnaire, she was in favor of decriminalizing illegal immigration. And gender care and transition surgeries are a politically correct way to say gender mutilation.

For these reasons and more, I believe Kamala Harris is a menace to American society and I am glad she lost the election!

No Appreciation for the Importance of the Authentic America 

I don’t recall who coined the phrase Drama Queens of Hyperbole, but it is probably the most accurate portrayal of today’s college students at the liberal bastions of higher education. The more I think about it, perhaps they would benefit from compulsory military service.

Many on the left are portrayed in kind of a weird way on YouTube and TikTok. I see under 30s sporting purple, blue, and green hair, as well as body piercings and loud mouths that tell everyone within earshot that they are not taken seriously, that they are marginalized. My recommendation is that they should look in the mirror and ask, Who would take me seriously? 

Millions of videos circulating around the Internet portray these young’ns as your neighbors’ disaffected children. Personally, I think they are in sore need of history and civics courses with a dash of ROTC thrown in for good measure. While on the subject, why not mandatory work study programs at veterans’ organizations such as Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and others. Let these kids learn American history from those who fought to create it. They have the right to do as they please because of those who came before them, who picked up rifles, who had targets painted on their backs and are now buried in thousands of cemeteries scattered across our nation. Freedom for these college students was not free. It was paid for in blood—blood they have no understanding of or appreciation for. Best they spend time with some authentic Americans and learn what civic responsibility is and why I am proud to be an American.

A Plug for a Very Special Book 

One of the best books I have read in 2024 is The 56: Liberty Lessons From Those Who Risked All to Sign The Declaration of Independence. Author Douglas MacKinnon has done a masterful job of providing short 5- or 6-page biographies of each of the signers. You will come away with an appreciation for each of these brave founders who signed their death warrants by affixing their names to this historical document. You will learn, as I did, who was imprisoned, who was tortured, whose homes were burned to the ground, whose farms were destroyed, and what families were forced into hiding for fear of being captured by King George’s Red Coat Army.

These extraordinary people deserve to be acknowledged and revered. A chapter in a junior high school history textbook does not do these men justice.

I don’t care what George Clooney, Ellen DeGeneres, Taylor Swift, or Elton John say about Donald Trump. I am glad he is MY President.

Don’t Be Proud of What They Share

When I think of America and Generation Z and younger Millennials, I am forced to conclude that they share an undesirable trait—specifically, a lack of situational awareness. It seems that neither one has any clue what is actually happening around them.

It seems these teens and 20- or 30-year-olds can’t walk down the street with their heads up to see what’s going on around them. Recently I spied an under-30 fellow, complete with pants too short, a backpack, and an iPhone in his hand. His eyes were glued to a video. Whether TikTok or YouTube held his attention, I’m not sure, but if a T-rex had been bearing down on him, he would have been clueless. He literally had no idea what was in front of him. I was hoping he would walk into a telephone pole to shake him out of his social-media-induced trance, but no luck. He looked up just in time to avoid smacking his head. I pray that America, Gen Z, and Millennials will wake up and see what is transpiring around them, and act accordingly.

Is the Government Aware? 

Is the government aware of recent statistics that indicate that 75% of crimes in Manhattan are committed by illegal aliens? See the article on Redstate.com written by Bob Hoge, published on September 3, 2024. These newcomers, as progressive liberals like to call them, are flooding the criminal court system with murders, carjackings, robberies, battery, and more. It looks like they are not acclimating to America very well. The New York Post ran a headline describing this horrid situation, and what has the government done? Nothing.

There are only three ways a smart person can go broke: liquor, ladies, and leverage.

—Charlie Munger

 

The Federal Government CHIPS and Science Act Debacle 

The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 was hailed by the Biden Administration as a giant leap forward to secure America’s domestic production of vital semiconductors. The Act seeks to lure semiconductor manufacturers back to mainland America after decades of offshoring.

Obviously, the way they do that is to dangle billions of dollars of subsidies and grants in front of gigantic tech companies who are worth billions of dollars.

Intel was slated to be a major recipient of government cash. To date, it has received zero as it attempts to meet a myriad of government-imposed requirements. And as serendipitously as I can report, Intel has recently slashed 15% of its workforce. In March 2024, the Commerce Department trumpeted that Intel was in line to receive over $8 billion for manufacturing projects located in Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, and Ohio. Intel is beside itself, both exasperated and discouraged in its negotiations with the government. It’s worth noting that at the time I wrote this, Intel’s shares were down an astounding 60% year-to-date. So much for free government handouts! Beware of these words: We are from the government, and we are here to help you.

This really got my undies in a twist: The media is reporting that President Biden has taken 532 vacation days out of the 1,326 days in office (as of this writing).

I figure I have done my job if I can give you a view of what the political spin masters are serving up to the American people.

An unimaginable sum: In fiscal year 2024, the Department of Education received budgetary resources of $224 billion to be spread among its 10 sub-departments and agencies.

Understand that I’ve been called a compulsive writer. Others term me feisty, in-your-face, and blunt. I can live with that. I’ve been called worse. I have a highly refined bullshit meter and arrogance detector. I sniff out political bullshit like a house cat making a beeline for catnip.

According to Pew Research, in 1958, 75% of Americans trusted the government to do what is right. In 2024, that number has plunged to 24%. Score one for the American public’s bullshit meter. Said another way, public trust in our elected officials has plummeted.

Case in point is Harris and her royal anointer-in-chief, Joe Biden, who are clamoring for term limits for Supreme Court Justices. Do you think they would be making as big of a racket if the Court was overwhelmingly liberal? Term limits did not become a thing until the Court achieved a conservative majority. Before that? Crickets. And do you find it interesting that their proposed 18-year term limit would only apply to three sitting conservative justices? During Biden’s time in the Senate, he was an ardent supporter of the Supreme Court’s independence until it was no longer politically expedient to do so. Now it MUST be reformed with great haste!

Ex-Senators Harris and Biden are UTTERLY SILENT on the idea of Congressional term limits. The 10 members of Congress shown below have served for a combined 420 years.

1. 1. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has served in Congress for 49
   2. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) has served in Congress for 47
   3. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has served in Congress for 43
   4. Senator Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has served in Congress for 43
   5. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has served in Congress for 43
   6. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has served in Congress for 39
   7. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has served in Congress for
   8. Congressperson Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) has served in Congress for 41
   9. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) has served in Congress for 37
   10. Congressperson Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has served in Congress for 37

Bet Ya Didn’t Know

One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was Benjamin Harrison. Born in Virginia sometime around 1726, his family became the envy of Americans for over 100 years. Let me explain. His dad wanted to ensure that young Ben got a good education, so he sent him to the College of William and Mary. In 1776, Ben was elected chairman of the First Continental Congress. He served three terms as Governor of Virginia. His son, William Henry Harrison, became the ninth President of the United States, and his great-grandson, also named Benjamin Harrison, was the 23rd President of the United States. Not many American families have that kind of history, except maybe the Camelot Kennedy clan.

You Don’t Score Political Points by Denying Reality

 Senate Appropriations Committee Chairperson Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senior Asshat Senator Chuck Schumer believe that the SAVE Act, passed by the House in early 2024, is a MAGA right abomination. They rail against a bill whose primary purpose is to secure our national elections and make certain that only American citizens vote. Clearly, Democrats are not interested in securing our elections.

PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THIS IS PARTISAN REPUBLICAN MAGA UNAMERICAN THEATRICS.

Energy Independence IS a National Security Issue

Kamala Harris: I want to ban fracking.

Kamala Harris: I never said I want to ban fracking.

Fracking and horizontal drilling are American innovations that have allowed the United States to become a world energy superpower, revolutionizing the energy landscape forever. We have enough natural gas to last centuries.

If you think energy independence is just some Republican talking point, I’ve got news for you. Remember the Jimmy Carter presidency and the OPEC oil embargo? Our tanks couldn’t fill themselves up at the local Sunoco station. Our jet fighters lacked the aviation fuel for a prolonged air war. American worker productivity plummeted as we spent countless hours on gas lines instead of working and producing.

Energy independence = security. Never forget that.

One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results.

—Milton Friedman

Sergeant at Arms – Break Out the Ivory! 

According to the House of Representatives website, the Sergeant at Arms is an elected officer of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Sergeant at Arms is the chief law enforcement and protocol officer of the House and is responsible for maintaining order on the House side of the United States Capitol complex.

My guess is that the Sergeant at Arms stands in the back of the chamber along with his staff to ensure no fighting breaks out and that everyone stays safe and decorum is maintained.

Might I add additional responsibility? I propose that the Sergeant at Arms be issued a large bar of soap to use only when a member of Congress is caught lying their ass off. In such circumstances, the Sergeant at Arms would be empowered to haul the offending member (man or woman) up against the nearest wall, handcuff them behind their back, and begin vigorously scrubbing their mouth out with soap. That will send a clear message to other members that lying will not be tolerated within the chamber, and this simple act might do wonders in furthering government honesty and accountability. As a proud and civic-minded American, I am happy to purchase a case of Ivory soap bars and have it delivered to the Capitol.

Is This Republican Member of Congress a Demented MAGA Sociopath?

Not in my book. In fact, I believe that Trump supporter Congressperson Anna Paulina Luna is to be commended for publicly stating a platform that is both reasonable, intelligent, and in the best interest of America. Here is a sampling of legislative proposals she has co-sponsored in the House.

• • Expand mental health and substance abuse care programs for our veterans
  • Eliminate income taxes on seniors’ Social Security income
  • Enact term limits for members of Congress
  • Ban China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia from purchasing American farmland

If you can spot any batshit-crazy MAGA items in the short list above, please let me know. Unlike some of her colleagues in Congress who are certifiable asshats, Congressperson Luna speaks the truth and is a wonderful example of a committed public servant whose primary goal is serving the American people to the best of her ability.

For more of the Equal Opportunity Critic, tune in to any of these podcasts where I have been interviewed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD-R8J867Zo&t=2488s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PO2pBo8pas&t=4s

https://www.youtube.com/live/yPzwt0gkz_c?si=VMs6NpHUxSCiKCoI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-41bH5heDy8&t=237s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m0FsWobqkw

You will find additional interviews on my website at EOCritic.com.

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THIS EDITION OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY CRITIC IS DEDICATED TO TOM REGAN, A WONDERFUL FRIEND, A CONSERVATIVE AMERICAN WHO BELIVED IN THE RULE OF LAW AND THAT AMERICA NEEDS FIXING. TOM WAS A VETERAN AND TOM WAS FAMILY. HE WAS MY BROTHER-IN-LAW. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.

Note: I am very grateful to all those wonderful Americans who stepped up on election day and demanded that Donald Trump again be our President and Commander-in-Chief. We won!

I was asked recently why I felt America was broken and what can be done to get us back on track. It is a question I grapple with every day. So I guess a good place to start is to list what I believe is broken. Here is a sampling of the biggest parts of America that I think are broken: 

• Our nearly non-existent border
• Executive Branch overreach
• Lack of military readiness and intelligent leadership
• Massive DEI influences in our military
• CRT and DEI rampant in our schools
• Out-of-control Department of Education
• Defunded police departments across the country
• Tens of millions of illegal immigrants
• Idiotic foreign policy
• No American energy independence
• Resistance to intelligent voter ID requirements

I’ve learned that CEOs set the tone in corporations and direct the legions of employees to produce certain results. Think of Jack Welch in GE’s glory days, Steve Jobs at Apple, and Bob Iger at Disney (before he went off the rails). Keeping with the analogy, America is led(?) by the Biden-Harris team and their cabinet and executive departments. With such a terrible team leading us, it is no wonder we are struggling as a nation. I’ve read that over 100 million Americans are facing financial difficulty. While I love duct tape, it ain’t gonna help us now.

Age Is Not Necessarily a Bad Thing 

Compare and contrast the sheer ignorance of 34-year-old House member AOC and Founding Father Ben Franklin who at age 70 was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence. One is a national embarrassment, and one is a national treasure.

Move Along – Nothing to See Here, Folks 

I’m astonished at the sheer number of Americans who are basking in the glow of ignorance. It’s difficult to hide the fact that America has been on a decline since the inauguration of the Biden Administration. With media complicity, the government has spoon-fed our nation a host of lies that our neighbors accept as truth. The recent revelations that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is “truly sorry” for his complicity in government censorship of conservative narratives during the China COVID virus and associated lockdowns of most of America, come as no surprise. There’s nothing to see here, folks, so move along. Zuckerberg’s line is familiar. I have heard it countless times form Senators, Congresspeople, judges, governors, and mayors—I regret my actions, I did not think them through, I am truly sorry, it will never happen again. I’m still waiting to hear an old fashioned “Yea, I fucked up.”

MAGAs Are Not Closed-Minded Zealots 

I hear a constant refrain from the left describing MAGA zealots as people with extremist views and fascist leanings. I have found these remarks to be astonishing, well-crafted lies and half- truths. First, help me understand why anyone would not want America to be great (again). Unlike Michelle Obama sharing with the world her view that America was never great, I believe we are (were?) the freest country in the history of the world, owing its freedom and greatness to our remarkable Founding Fathers who risked all to codify a form of government that served the people and not the other way around. Many view MAGA folks as belligerent and in-your-face fanatics. To set the record straight, the MAGA folks I have met are 100% true-blue Americans who see today’s Marxist influences in government as a fast-spreading cancer seeking to kill over

200 years of American history and exceptionalism. They recite the Pledge of Allegiance with a hand held over their heart, they stand for the national anthem, and they respect the flag and our veterans. Does that sound like extremist agitators to you? I for one would feel secure having MAGA neighbors display their American flag seven days a week.

Right as Rain, Senator 

Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) was recently interviewed on Hannity and stated that San Francisco radical liberal Democrat Kamala Harris is AOC without the bartending experience. 

Senator Kennedy went on to say, “Bidenomics, paying more to live worse.” Spot on, Senator, and may I add that Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s dictator, wholeheartedly endorses Kamala Harris for El Presidente.

Highly Educated Ignorance 

I came across the phrase Highly Educated Ignorance in one of the dozens of books I read this year, and it stuck with me. I’m told that approximately 30% of House members and about 50% of Senators have law degrees. With all those hours spent obtaining their legal educations, somehow we still have jackasses serving in Congress, including Steny Hoyer, Hakeem Jeffries, Jerry Nadler, Eleanor Holms Norton, Jamie Raskin, Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell, Rashida Tlaib, and dozens more.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines ignorance as “lack of knowledge, education, or awareness.” I prefer the term cluelessness. Obviously, these folks are educated. They all received their law school degrees. Yet their stupidity and foolishness have placed our nation in grave danger. The trouble is that many of them lack real-world experience outside of politics and law school. It is my fervent hope that these lawmakers are shown the exit on Election Day and take their rightful place as apprentices in a uranium reprocessing plant.

Arizona Will Arrest You for Exercising Your First Amendment Right to Free Speech 

Rebekah Massie, a 32-year-old mom, was arrested at a city council meeting after she criticized a city official. The city of Surprise, Arizona, has about 160,000 people and is 45 minutes from Phoenix. If you think you can exercise your First Amendment rights there, think again. The city has a regulation that prohibits its citizens from “lodging charges or complaints against any employee of the city or members of the body, at a podium at an official city meeting.” It seems that the mayor ordered the chief of police to take Massie into custody. Massie was allegedly charged with three crimes—trespassing, resisting arrest, and obstructing government operations.

She went to the council meeting to make a point and speak her mind. She left in handcuffs. My fervent hope is that her attorney will sue the city to hell and toss the council and mayor out on their asses. Criticizing the government is a right exercised every day by citizens and the media alike.

This is not Russia, this not North Korea, and when elected government servants forget their roles, they should be tossed to the street corner.

Who Am I Thinking Of ? 

• Born just outside of Boston, Massachusetts
• A direct descendant of someone who came over on the Mayflower
• Helped draft the Declaration of Independence
• Had a hand in appointing George Washington as commander of the Continental Army
• Served as America’s first vice president
• Served as second president of the United States
• The father of America’s sixth president

Hint: The answer is not Joe Biden.

Politicians Continue to Spin Real Estate and a Bountiful Economy, BUT…

If you pay any attention to the business page, you might have spied some really bad news.

A record number of deals to purchase homes were cancelled in July 2024. This record is nothing to shout about. In fact, 60,000 contracts to buy homes were ripped up due to fear and uncertainty about the economy, elections, interest rates, home prices, and the cost of dragons. Well, not so much the dragons, but you get my point. There is much concern about the political climate in America, and people are loathe to commit big money until they feel they are on stable ground. I don’t blame them. All in all, home sales in July were the lowest since 2012 according to Redfin. Go, Bidenomics!

Men Are Entitled to Be Men, Not Women

Diversity, equity, and inclusion will never make men women or women men. Paying Dr. Smith, Dr. Jones, or Dr. Schwartz to cut off someone’s testicles and fashion female parts does not mean that an annual prostate exam is no longer required. It does not mean that Jessica, born Harold Jeffery Adams, is entitled to play on a women’s soccer team or sport her junk in the women’s shower and locker room. Liberal Democratic laws cannot make us buy into this mass delusion. The Title IX sledgehammer wielded by Biden’s venomous Education Department was never intended to place men with male chromosomes on girls’ sports teams. Using newly created Department of Education regulations as legal weapons is discriminatory, un-American, and wrong. No matter how hard they try, surgeons, psychiatrists, and puberty-blocking drugs cannot change someone’s chromosomes.

A Sad Seattle Commentary

When Goodwill thrift stores begin to shut their doors permanently, you know something is seriously wrong. Two Goodwill stores in Washington state announced they are closing for good. The two locations are South Lake Union and the University District. Here is a quote from their spokesperson: “We were unable to maintain a secure and sustainable environment for both employees and shoppers.” Safety in the stores, property damage, and massive theft were the main reasons. You have to stoop pretty low to steal from a thrift store where the average price of a pair of pants is $3. I’m certain that high rental costs were a contributing factor.

Politicians Making Bad Decisions

The latest idiocy out of California—$150,000 mortgage assistance for illegal aliens who are first- time homebuyers. American citizens are NOT entitled to this freebie, nor are veterans, but the idiot Socialist liberals who run the California Legislature see no reason not to open the taxpayer spigot and splash yet more money on individuals who have no right to be in this country.

No, I’m not done with California yet. It seems the Legislature has passed a bill banning voter ID laws. How do you spell IMBECILES?

Yet another Difference between Congressional Democrats and Republicans

Folks in Congress are expected to know how to communicate. It’s a given. Yet I have noticed extreme differences in how each side chooses to communicate with others. Here is a sampling of what I have found:

Democrats                                                      Republicans

Slam                                                                Discuss

Blast                                                                Review

Shred                                                               Confer

Mock                                                               Debate

Smash                                                              Deliberate

Condemn                                                        Talk

Shame                                                             Chat

Rip                                                                  Consider

How Can Financial and Fiscal Insanity Be Our New Normal?

As many of you are aware, the stock market is having a banger of a year as everyone is salivating at the idea of the Fed cutting interest rates. If memory serves me, these are the same geniuses who proclaimed we would have seven interest rate cuts this year beginning in March. Well, as I write this, we are in the third quarter, and now I’m hearing of a potential rate cut in September. Meanwhile, the stock market continues to rally, and traders are soiling themselves in anticipation of a severe downturn if they don’t get all they had hoped for.

Insanity? Delusion? Take your pick. They are all reacting to government numbers, which as we have seen, are not always accurate. We have insane levels of debt that I doubt can ever be repaid. We have a radical, dangerous Democratic presidential candidate who must have flunked Econ 101 since her grasp of economics is comical. She wants to give away billions of dollars to every group who she hopes she can buy votes from and wants to raise taxes on everyone else. Rational economic decisions have gone out the window. What we are seeing is Socialist policy where the government will provide for all citizens’ needs at exorbitant costs. I see very dark clouds on the horizon, and I hope you all have sturdy umbrellas ready because I fear you will need them.

Who Says You Can’t Find a Gem in the Garbage?

As many of you know, I don’t hold the New York Post in high esteem. Yet from time to time I am delightfully surprised by what I find there. An opinion piece written by Miranda Devine, published on August 29, 2024, made me smile from ear to ear. Evidently, the United Nations is terrified of a (second) Donald Trump presidency. According to a senior official, word is that they are not sure the UN can survive a second term with President Trump. The opinion makes great reading. Make sure to find it on whatever device you use to access the Inner-Net. I think a whole lot has to do with the fact that the United States contributes the largest share to the UN budget (currently 22%). And, yes, they are deathly afraid of “those crazy MAGA people.”

P.S. I think the only people who want to make the UN great again are employees of the UN.

MUNGA: Make UN Great Again?????

My Dad and Superman Both Served in the U.S. Army Air Force

I have been a fan of Superman for better than 60 years, so I find it really cool that I still run across stuff I had no clue of. In a trivia contest, I assure you that I don’t stand a chance. But it seems my dad had something in common with the 1950s Superman TV show star George Reeves. Who knew? They both served in the U.S. Army Air Force. Did they ever have the chance to meet? Probably not, but that would have been cool. Note: In 1947, through an act of Congress, the Air Force was split off to a separate service from the Army. Apparently, the land- based generals just couldn’t agree with the fly-boy generals.

Slapping the American Voter upside the Head

I will borrow a term from the meteorologists on the Weather Channel when I say that America finds itself in a cone of uncertainty. The term is often used to describe the path of a tropical storm or hurricane, so I feel it is a fitting to description of the pickle America finds itself in today. We as a country may find ourselves decimated in the near future, not unlike Fort Meyers, Florida, during the last hurricane. Or we might escape the carnage and live on to heal our fractured country, like the phoenix rising majestically from the rubble, and accomplish truly magnificent things as foretold by our Founding Fathers.

The Democrats are seeking to increase their power and cause the country to become one where the central government wields all power and determines the course of citizens’ lives from cradle to grave. The Republicans, at least the ones I am familiar with, seek decentralization of power and returning autonomy back to the states. That’s what John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and all the magnificent men envisioned when they endorsed the resolution that created the United States Constitution.

Perhaps America needs a slap upside the head with a rolled up newspaper, or better yet, a swipe to the back of the head with a bag of silver dollars. When will our neighbors understand that America is at a tipping point, staring down at the abyss of Socialism and permanent disfigurement from the ideals set forth by our founders? Capitalism has brought this country to heights unimaginable by other countries. We were the envy of the world, but now our luster has faded, and we are the laughing stock of the world. Our neighbors see us as a country and government that cannot be trusted. I don’t blame them.

The world is not a safe space, and I fear our safety and good fortune will take a nosedive under the utter incompetence of Kamala Harris.

Has Anyone Noticed That America Is Crumbling before Our Eyes?

I went to high school in an old ghetto section of lower Manhattan, an area populated by many Eastern Europeans who escaped the carnage of World War II. YES, it was a melting pot in the truest sense of the word. And everyone lived and worked to make a better life for themselves and their families, favoring education so the new generation of legal Americans had the opportunity for a better life than their parents had. By the time I was there, it was a ghetto. Yes, there was crime, but there were also policemen walking the beat, keeping the peace. The rule of law prevailed. Today, much of what I grew up with has vanished from the American landscape.

The defunding of police departments has made our cities more dangerous. Ask someone living in Chicago, New York City, Minneapolis, Portland, or Seattle how safe they feel. If you caught any of the DNC spectacle in Chicago, you most likely caught the newscasters commenting on the skyrocketing crime in that city. Daily murders are a part of life there. While I do have relatives who live there, I will NEVER visit them.

On my last trip to Manhattan, I was astounded that there were more potholes than I remembered. Even with New York City’s Pothole Hotline, navigating the city streets is a nightmare. What was really interesting was that there were as many potholes on the sidewalks as there were on the streets. And with everyone walking around looking at their iPhones instead of where they were going, I was surprised I didn’t see more folks on crutches with broken legs or feet. I continue to be amazed at the dilapidated condition of city streets.

For more of The Equal Opportunity Critic, tune in to any of these podcasts where I have been interviewed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD-R8J867Zo&t=2488s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PO2pBo8pas&t=4s

https://www.youtube.com/live/yPzwt0gkz_c?si=VMs6NpHUxSCiKCoI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-41bH5heDy8&t=237s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m0FsWobqkw

This private email message, including any attachment(s), CCs, BCCs, or REPLIES, are covered under this NOTICE and is limited to the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain privileged and/or confidential PRIVATE information. Any and all political, private, or public entities, federal, state, or local corporate government(s), municipality(ies), international organization(s), corporation(s), live individual(s), person(s), agent(s), investigator(s), or informant(s), et al., and/or third party(ies) working in collusion by collecting, observing, monitoring, and/or analyzing my email(s), using any means of spying and/or data collection is PROHIBITED. Without my exclusive WRITTEN permission, all communications herein are PRIVATE. In de jure freedom.

Any omission(s) not specifically enumerated herein cannot be construed as permission by default. This notice prohibits any and all unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution, verbally or otherwise, with explicit reservation of all my rights, without prejudice and without recourse to me. Any omission does not constitute a waiver of any and/or ALL intellectual property rights or reserved rights!

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What is your “fair share” of what someone else has worked for?

—Thomas Sowell

The political left continually misrepresents data to prove their lie that the folks at the top of the economic pyramid don’t pay their fair share of income taxes. According to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation article “Who Pays Income Taxes: Tax Year 2021,” updated February 13, 2024, “The top 10 percent of earners bore responsibility for 76 percent of all income taxes paid, and the top 25 percent paid 89 percent of all income taxes. Altogether, the top 50 percent of filers earned 90 percent of all income and were responsible for 98 percent of all income taxes paid in 2021.”

So I pose this question: What is fair share? Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, two of today’s more famous political hacks, would have you believe it is 100%. And by the way, isn’t it ironic that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris continually tell us that the rich must pay their fair share while Biden’s son Hunter has been convicted in Federal Court of failure to pay millions of dollars in federal income taxes?

Rid Yourself of Media That Make Up Their Own Facts

I recently unsubscribed to a popular politically conservative website. Their daily updates were, well, over the top, and their headlines assumed facts not in evidence. In other words, it was hearsay with a tablespoon of bullshit. My guess is that they all worked from home in their PJs and made stuff up. I wager they were underpaid RINOs trying to make a name for themselves. Their views of the progressive liberal left were brutal. And that’s coming from me, folks! I enjoy filling my cup with many viewpoints, but exaggeration and stretching the truth are something I cannot abide by. It’s been seven days since I weaned myself off their updates. No sweating or fever yet, but I am watchful for signs of media withdrawal-induced sickness. I have my trusty bottle of Tylenol standing by.

Looking at Our Depleted SPR from another Perspective 

SPR—Strategic Petroleum Reserve. I’ve written about it before, about how Biden has used it for political purposes. To refresh your memory, the SPR is our nation’s strategic—read EMERGENCY—oil reserve to be used in times of national emergency and war. The capacity of the reserve is 714 million barrels of oil. The oil is stored in enormous underground salt caverns along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana. Although I have never been a fan of President Gerald Ford, he established the SPR in 1975 after OPEC imposed an oil embargo on the United States. I commend President Ford for acting with non-partisan foresight and a touch of genius.

By the way, a barrel contains 42 gallons of oil. Here’s some math fun: 714,000,000 X 42 = 29,988,000,000 gallons of oil. Hey, we’re friends, so let’s just round it off to 30 billion gallons of oil—oil to be used to avoid severe economic disruptions as well as oil to be refined to power our

U.S. Army tanks and self-propelled howitzers. It’s oil to be refined for our B-1 bombers, F-22s, F-18 Super Hornets, A-10s, AC-130s, B-52s, F-35s, and others. Yes, the military has massive energy reserves. Consider this a backstop to that.

What’s my point here? Well, I’ve read and been told that the United States is in a very dangerous position at this time, much of it the consequence of the Biden Administration’s foreign policies. Both Russia and North Korea are threatening nuclear strikes. Iran and North Korea are exporting missiles to Russia. Iran is behind most if not all of the attacks on Israel. What’s more, the U.S. Energy Information Administration has indicated that the SPR has dropped to its lowest level since 1985 with just under 445 million barrels of oil.

SO, DURING THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME IN RECENT GLOBAL HISTORY, AMERICA’S GAS TANK IS DOWN OVER 40%.

Inflation and Hunger – Inextricably Linked

No Kid Hungry is a Washington, DC–based nonprofit. It commissioned Change Research to perform a Texas Hunger Survey with data collected from 1,133 people in July 2024. That they commissioned a study in Texas is not for me to understand, but the results are sobering. You have to be living under a rock to be unaware that inflation has soared a cumulative 21% during the Biden presidency. That has literally crippled millions of Americans’ ability to put healthy food on the table for their families and has led to massive food insecurity. An astounding 81% of Texans polled responded that the cost of food was rising faster than their incomes. A full 46%, nearly half, responded that it is much harder to afford groceries. Worse yet, for Texas families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade in public schools, 29% reportedly had to choose between paying for food and paying their utility bills.

Voters, this is as real as it gets.

America cannot withstand four more years of Democratic inflationary policies.

By way of background, when President Trump stepped down from office, the year-over-year inflation rate as of January 2021 (that’s inauguration month, folks) was approximately 1.4%. America’s inflation was virtually nonexistent. Just so it is not lost on you, in May 2024, CNN fact-checked President Biden’s false claim that when he assumed the Presidency the inflation rate was 9%. Not even close, Joe. It was June of 2022, well into the Biden presidency, that inflation topped out at 9.1%.

Frack You, Pennsylvania 

One of the many news outlets I spend time with is Oilprice.com. As someone who wants to stay informed about global energy trends, I read their articles every week. I recently ran across a superb piece written by Dan Doyle, owner of an Appalachian-based hydraulic fracking company. His September 11, 2024, article titled “Kamala Harris’ Real Stance on Fracking” was a real eye- opener. I recommend you read the article. Here is the link:

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Kamala-Harris-Real-Stance-on-Fracking.html.

Dan Doyle is an articulate and knowledgeable energy insider. His command of energy policy is truly impressive. He details many of the anti-American energy policies of the Biden Administration, including placing a moratorium on most if not all federal gas and oil leases during the first week of that administration.

The administration and the press secretary de jour have mastered the art of half-truths, mistruths, and outright lies. Whether it was Karine Jean-Pierre or Jen Psaki standing at the podium and misleading the American public, I have learned that simply fact-checking their statements are not enough. The lies told by the Biden Administration are superbly well-crafted. Mr. Doyle has learned to unravel their speeches and get to the heart of where and how they seek to deceive the public. Those who know me understand that I am not one to shout unproven tales. I am thoughtful in my approach to writing and consider the facts before taking pen to paper.

I agree with Dan Doyle that if Kamala Harris became the 47th President of the United States, her policies would strangle domestic fossil fuel production and fracking. Horizontal drilling would be wiped out of existence by the energy regulatory bureaucracy in Washington, DC. Thank God for Trump!

Newsmax published an article on September 15, 2024, called “Pennsylvania’s Fracking Industry Plans to Continue, Whoever Wins White House.” Many Americans don’t realize that

Pennsylvania’s contribution to natural gas production (via fracking and horizontal drilling) is massive. The state produces more natural gas than Qatar or Canada. Mr. Google informs me that Pennsylvania pumps 20% of America’s natural gas (the second-largest after Texas). That number was 7.5 trillion cubic feet in 2023.When it comes to fracking and colossal natural gas production numbers, Pennsylvania has a lot of skin in the game. Frack You Kamala!

Only 11 NATO Members Are Meeting Their Funding Requirements 

European countries have benefited from American security guarantees since World War II, yet many have steadfastly refused to honor their own commitments to help pay for those guarantees. After reading an article about the abysmal level of NATO funding in the September 2024 issue of Newsmax, I took to NATO’s website and saw a lot of high morality with kid-sized financial responsibility.

In 2006, NATO Defense Ministers agreed to provide a minimum of their 2% of GDP (gross domestic product) to fund the Alliance’s military readiness. Think of a high school class all promising to submit their homework on time. While there’s a good number of over-achievers such as Poland, the United States, Greece, Finland, Hungary, the United Kingdom, and a few others, the majority of the class has failed to submit their homework on time and have consistently underfunded their commitments. Their consistent theme is that they will try to do better in the future. HEY! I used to say that to my math and English teachers when I failed to submit homework on time. Listed below are those countries with failing grades that are not living up to their commitments. Those numbers represent 2023 funding amounts directly from NATO sources. Keep in mind that small countries need friends with big guns because they exist in dangerous neighborhoods.

NATO Members Not Living Up to Their Funding Commitments

France – Why am I not surprised?

Bulgaria – Former satellite state of the Soviet Union.

Croatia – It figures. Its socialist roots run deep.

Albania – Remember when it was occupied by Nazi German forces?

Netherlands – They should be ashamed of themselves.

Turkey – Perhaps the worst behaved of the group.

Spain – From dictatorship to a parliamentary democracy—pony up, guys.

Belgium – You can cry neutrality, but the Nazis still invaded you in 1940.

Denmark – At twice the size of Massachusetts, they need friends with bombs and big guns. Norway – Mr. Google says Norway is the size of Montana. They need friends with big guns. Germany – Europe’s financial titan? Phooey! Show me the money.

Canada – Hey, Trudeau! Pony up the cash.

Italy – Wait ’til you need saving again.

I’m sure I missed a few underachievers, but you get the idea. As a nation, if you make a commitment, you are expected to keep it. My guess is that Donald Trump will forcefully request that these countries meet their funding commitments.

New York Politicians Spending Taxpayer Funds on Illegals 

Multiple media sources tell me that New York City has already spent $1 billion on migrant (illegal alien) housing. That’s taxpayer money that’s not supporting New York taxpayers. Ever wonder why after-school programs are not expanding? Ever wonder why city services are being cut? Ever wonder why schools are shut down to cater to illegals? Stop wondering. New Yorkers again voted these clowns back into office. They get what they deserve.

The Idiots Running Oregon 

According to a September 15, 2024, article written by Carlos Fuentes in the online media outlet The Oregonian/Oregon Live, the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has admitted that it has registered at least 306 illegal aliens to vote. What began in 2021 is just now acknowledged in 2024. Both federal law and Oregon state law prohibit non-citizens from voting in local and national elections. Blue state Oregon has allowed and encouraged voter registration automatically when applying for a driver’s license. It has permitted non-citizens to apply for driver’s licenses since 2019.

Kevin Glenn, spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation, which oversees the DMV, was quoted as saying, “It’s basically a data entry issue.”

NO, Mr. Glenn, it is NOT a data entry issue. It is a stupidity issue. It is a national security issue. States should not be encouraged to welcome illegal aliens into the warm bosom of their irrational entitlement programs. They should be placed on a bus to Mexico, escorted by Federal Marshals, and removed from this country. They should not be given jobs, licenses, and permits, or be encouraged to begin a life here once they have committed a felony by entering the United States illegally.

Oregon state income tax rate tops out at 9.9%—among the highest in the nation. When will Oregon voters understand that their tax dollars are NOT benefiting their communities. They are benefiting felons.

Oregon Is NOT the Only State with Voter Integrity Issues 

What is so racist about proof of citizenship? I grew up in the melting pot of the East Coast— New York City—and I never met anyone who didn’t have valid identification. Here is a sample of states dealing with non-citizens discovered on their voter registrations. I gathered the information from a recent CNN online article authored by Zachary Wolf on September 12, 2024.

Texas has discovered approximately 6,500 potential non-citizens on its voter registration.

Ohio recently removed an astounding 155,000 voters from its voter registration. It claims that a little less than 600 were referred for prosecution as potential non-citizens.

Georgia states that it has identified 1,634 non-citizens attempting to register to vote and is investigating the matter.

Pennsylvania claims a “glitch” enabled 168 non-citizens to register to vote.

Alabama discovered 3,251 non-citizens on its voter registration (this was my own investigation).

Arizona’s Secretary of State admits that close to 97,000 non-citizens are incorrectly listed on its voter registration according to Just the News website. Arizona is involved in a lawsuit due to its refusal to clean up its voter registration. Adding insult to injury, this has been going on since 1996.

Just so there is no question in your mind, be assured that the only number of non-citizens allowed to vote in America is zero. Voting is a right and a privilege reserved for American citizens. If you climb under (or over) a fence in Texas, Arizona, or California, arrive on a raft in Florida, or sneak in through our unprotected borders to the north, you are not authorized to vote. For all the states that encourage automatic voter registration at the DMV, my hope is that each Secretary of State will be tarred and feathered, sued, fired, jailed, and pensions cancelled. That will send a strong message that these types of policies are shortsighted, stupid, and encourage illegal behavior.

DEI – Deluded, Entitled, and Irrational

 I’ve lost count of the number of articles I have read that describe how corporations from coast to coast have instituted DEI training—you know, diversity, equity, and inclusion. They’re the golden buzzwords of today’s woke generation. And then there is this question: “Do you speak English?” That is considered microaggression. Safe spaces have taken on a life of their own. If something I say offends you, you have many choices. You can close your laptop, you can stop reading or listening, you can walk away, or you can even run out the door and no longer be subject to my anti-woke rhetoric.

For the record, I am not a fascist, and I do take offense to the never-ending, neo-Marxist dialogue so prevalent in both offline and online media. And by the way, I support and respect our military and our veterans. I pay my taxes on time, and I don’t text while driving. I stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. I respect the flag and give generously to charities. I have found that many woke persons are angry and inflexible in their beliefs, clinging to misrepresentations and rejecting objective discussion, debate, and conversations. I have seen far- left political activists repeatedly attack the person, not the argument. For them, having a calm and rational discussion on numerous important topics is simply not an option.

I do not seek to oppress anyone, and taking offense is a personal choice, as is victimhood, which demands the sanction of the victim. Those with far-left political views that hold on to factual inaccuracies make no pretense of wanting to engage in dialogue. Evidently, everything I say and stand for will naturally offend them, so they choose not to listen to a viewpoint that is not their own. What they refuse to understand is that contrary points of view exist and are not wrong simply because they do not agree with them. Anyone can have a personal belief, but it does not mean that belief is right.

I Can Find No Mention of Systemic Racism in Our Founding Documents

Why do I keep writing? I’m not looking to receive a persistence award, although I am told that is a thing. I continue to write because my concern for the direction, future, and well-being of America has ratcheted up to ALARM. I read recently that President Trump is solidly in favor of voter ID laws. I agree with him. Democrats in Congress are 100% against voter ID bills, calling them racist. They argue that gays, transgenders, African Americans, and others are marginalized by the requirement to show an ID to vote.

Last I checked, this is 2024, not 1862 when Abraham Lincoln was in the White House. I’m a fairly intelligent guy, and I don’t get it. I have yet to have anyone explain to me how presenting an ID to vote in a federal election smacks of racism. To the best of my knowledge, you need ID to rent a car, a hotel room, or an apartment. You need ID to sell or buy a home, get on an airplane, and get medical attention at a hospital or doctor’s office. I’ve heard no cries that my doctor’s office is racist or that car rental counters at airports are racist. If you want to enlist in the military or go to an R-rated movie, you have to show ID. If you want to buy beer or whiskey, you will probably be asked for ID. In fact, if you buy a cell phone and connect to a carrier, you are asked to show ID. Are cell phone companies racist?

The rallying cry of the left—SYSTEMIC RACISM—would not permit a Tom Scott, Republican Senator from South Carolina, to exist. Born poor to a single-parent household, he nonetheless was able to raise himself with the help of mentors and his mom and become a voice of reason on Capitol Hill.

The rallying cry of the left—SYSTEMIC RACISM—would not permit a Ben Carson, brilliant neurosurgeon and candidate for president in 2016 who became Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Trump Administration, to exist. Born in Detroit and a poor student through much of his schooling, he was able to rise up and attend Yale University, the University of Michigan, and Johns Hopkins Medical School. In a society of systemic racism, that would never have been allowed to happen. Sure, there is racism in America just as there are pockets of anti-Semitism and those who hate Asians, Poles, or Russians.

There will always be people who hate. They were around in the time that Jesus walked the earth, and they are around today. Racism exists, but that does not mean that America, the country, is racist. The racists and haters inhabit every country around the world. And it’s almost guaranteed to happen in a society described as a melting pot of cultures. There are those who stick to their beliefs no matter how vile and detestable they might be. But to suggest that this country’s racism is systemic is untrue. There is no plan, official or not, for racism anywhere in state government constitutions or in the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, or the United States Constitution. Those screaming the loudest omit inconvenient facts and cling to their beliefs because it serves their purposes. Ben Shapiro’s book Facts Don’t Care about Your Feelings is a must-read for those looking to understand this subject on a deeper level.

This Country Did Not Achieve Greatness by Directives from Washington, DC 

All of us need to be reminded that the Federal Government did not create the States; the States created the Federal Government.

—Ronald Reagan, First Inaugural Address

I believe our founding principles are under attack. Washington liberals continue to usurp state power at an alarming rate. Let’s go back to Civics 101. Our founders believed in limited central government, and the majority of the power residing in the independent states. The Biden-Harris Administration seeks to reverse that with their far-left, Green New Deal policies that have severely weakened our country. The administrative state led by executive departments such as the Department of Education have increased regulations and overstepped their authority. They have bypassed Congress and created regulations that Congress never intended. This is about to come to an end with President Trump’s inauguration in January.

Case in point: I believe it’s time to shutter the Department of Education and return all power over schooling and education to the states where it belongs. The federal government refuses to understand that one size DOES NOT fit all, and states should be free to chart their own course as written in the Federalist Papers and detailed in the United States Constitution. In 2021, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) proposed legislation to dismantle and eliminate the Department of Education.

Here is what the Congressman said: “Unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. should not be in charge of our children’s intellectual and moral development. States and local communities are best positioned to shape curricula that meet the needs of their students. Schools should be accountable. Parents have the right to choose the most appropriate educational opportunity for their children, including home school, public school, or private school.”

I believe it is time for the states to take back power from the bloated and misdirected federal government. I am a great admirer of Senator John Kennedy, Republican from Louisiana. He said, “I realize you can’t fix stupid, but you can vote it out.” You CAN vote it out—permanently.

This is spot on as usual for this extraordinary defender of our country.

Living Testimony

I am an American with inherited sovereignty.

I was born on American soil.

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