nomadpete

Someday somebody might compile a book of famous Trump statements..... but nobody will believe it. "Trump told Sean Hannity on Fox “News” Thursday night when he bragged in a senior moment that the entire push to seize Iran’s enriched uranium — the ostensible casus belli for the deadly bombing campaign that’s killed so many children and 15 Americans — is, in his own words, “more for public relations than it is for anything else.”

That's done it for me. I am ready to abandon democracy. In it's modern form it thrives on dividing society, on promoting extremism and on protecting oligarcs. Tweedism. Bring on government by A.I. It is my only hope for a logic based government. One that is constantly scanning and constantly responsive to the will of the masses.

I don't like a two party system, mostly because it works like a duoploy. It gives the impression that we have a choice without actually giving MUCH choice. The biggest flaw in politics is the hidden financial 'sponsorship' directly favoring candidates. Someone famously said, “I don’t care who does the electing as long as I do the nominating.” All that happens way before the actual election where we try to vote for a 'least worst' candidate, whilst pondering 'was that the best they could find for us'?

Is USofA actually becoming a 'failed state'? When the dust finally settles in the Middle East (I know, that's an oxymoron), will USofA go broke? According to a report in the Washington Post, “Iranian airstrikes have damaged or destroyed at least 228 structures or pieces of equipment at U.S. military sites across the Middle East since the war began, hitting hangars, barracks, fuel depots, aircraft and key radar, communications and air defense equipment.” The above costs have not been estimated in war expenses. So in a 2 month 'brief excursion' in M.E. donold increased national spending by $50 BILLION. And depleted major weaponry by circa 60%. To the east go the spoils of war.

Tis, at a deeper level than a Trump brainfart, not only about oil & grift. It's all about military industry salesmanship. Long read but an interesting look at the game playing in M.E. https://wajeehlion.substack.com/p/empty-quivers-and-digital-yuan-chinas

Back in the day, many Chinese made better money by growing market gardens and selling food to european miners.

We had similar animosity on the Australian goldfields. Reportedly 10,000 Chinese miners on each of several goldrushes. Oddly, I don't recall much fuss over the multitudes os other nationalities. Nothing new there.

Each nursing home has it's own schedules and individual contracts. There are cheaper options, but in her area, they were sterile environments devoid of dignity and proper care. My MIL just wanted to die in her 'forever' house that she and her late husband built together. But even before the dementia diagnosis, a combination of changing rules made it financially impossible. It was never a viable farm - 100 acres of blacksoil in a rainshadow. But insurance & water licensing, and rates all kept rising fast over recent years.

A related 'Random Thought':- We already have a tough system of wealth redistribution in Australia. It's called Aged Care. My Mother-in-law recently moved into residrntial care. This requires payment of $600k, plus other ongoing costs. So far we have already paid over $15,000 over the past couple of months. So, the family home sold for $1.3 million. Less CGT because she had it for less thsn 20yrs. Hooray, she's a millionaire! Meanwhile there are bills to pay along the way. Depending on her longevity, over half of her nest egg will be redistributed. I haven't an issue with 'user pays' concept. I am pointing out that perceived windfalls from selling a family home do not offer the luxury lifestyle that being a millionaire implies. We all have to pay for the late stages of our lives. I prepaid by paying my mortgage during my productive years. But those who never achieved home ownership suffer financially most. They are given no reasonable choices in their autumn years.

One T, I apologise for touching a raw nerve. That was not my intention. I simply stated that I do not know anyone in my age cohort, that can be classed as 'multi-millionaires'. No doubt they do exist. But *mostly* they are people who already privileged. Your own story confirms the difficulties that normal people face. I think is unfair to use artificially inflated housing values, as an indicator of personal wealth. Yeah, technically it is wealth.... on paper. Often such claims ignore the simple fact that the family home for most people, is not bought as an investment. So you can sell it and be a millionaire - so long as you don't mind having noplace to live.

Nice pics, Octave. Looks like the view from my bedroom window

OME, It's time you scraped the cobwebs out of the rain gauge. Otherwise those rare drips won't make it to the bottom.

Sorry, but most of me disagrees with that assertion. Maybe just I don't mix with the 'right' boomers.

For those sarcastic people who say that donold is incapable of coherent thought..... quote: "I don't think about Americans' financial situations. I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon," he said. That's coherent, & proof that he does think, especially what what he thinks least of.

Maybe DJT was cunningly trying to implicate the other see? The holy one? He doesn't like the pope much!