by Dick Pilling | Jun 20, 2024 | 250 Words
We are presently in a period of political discord and confusion but, sometimes, just by asking yourself a few simple yes or no questions, you can clarify your thinking and, thereby, your political position.
For example, there is heated controversy regarding who can use the girls’ locker rooms because, some would say, these facilities should not be restricted to just girls but should also allow equal access to boys who claim to be girls.
Accordingly, the simple question you would ask is, “Do you think that allowing sexually confused boys access to girls’ locker rooms is a bad idea?” Yes or no.
As another example, the Biden administration struck down many of Trump administrations border controls which has heralded the worst border crisis in American history.
Therefore, our simple question, “Do you think that dismantling/removing our border fencing/ controls and thereby allowing hordes of uneducated aliens unfettered access to our country with it’s very generous social assistance programs is counterproductive to our country?” Yes or no.
Lastly, shortly after his inauguration, President Biden directed a halt to new oil and gas leases as well as a review of existing permits amid strong opposition from the oil/gas industry.
A final simple question, “Do you think that eliminating/curtailing our fossil fuel industry thereby enriching those countries who bear us ill will may well merit some further reconsideration/” Yes or no.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be a conservative or even, gasp, a Republican.
Dick Pilling
by Dick Pilling | Jun 15, 2024 | 250 Words
Those of a certain age — like old — will remember a TV show called “Dragnet” wherein detective Joe Friday would say, when interviewing a subject, “Just give me the facts.”
Like Joe, I prefer a news article that “Just gives me the facts” because that’s what I need… facts… Because I want an article that makes me think and not one that tells me what to think. One that explores — not ignores — differing viewpoints. “Just give me the facts” and I’ll make up my own mind.
For instance, provide reports about climate change from all perspectives and not just ones railing how it is a threat to all humanity. If climate change is, in fact, dangerous, I can figure that out by myself.
Some say it is the most serious issue of our time … that it will cause intense heat, droughts, hurricanes, fires, floods, and rising sea levels. But it hasn’t yet! And may not!
For instance, research reflects that today’s temperatures are lower than those of past times (climate.gov/media/113323) … present day conditions are not noticeably dryer than years past (drought.gov) … major hurricanes striking the U.S. have steadily decreased in the past 80 years (nhc.noaa.gov) … major forest fires are a fraction of those previously recorded … flooding events and magnitudes are decreasing (agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com).
Remember, we’ve a right to our own opinion but not our own facts and, per detective Joe, these are the facts, like ‘em or not.
Oh, and forget your dreams of a seaside home because, darn it, the oceans just ain’t rising that fast (nov79.com).
Dick Pilling
by Dick Pilling | Jun 12, 2024 | 250 Words
The term Third World is normally given to those nations that are poor or developing.
And, hopefully, it’s assumed that they will progress from developing to something better.
However, nations don’t always progress to something better but, frequently, regress into something much worse.
And it can happen quickly.
Consider Argentina which, in the early 20th century, was one of the wealthiest places on the planet but, in a few decades, through ever-increasing entitlement/welfare programs and the ensuing depletion of the country’s treasury, Argentina became an economic basket case.
Or, perhaps, Venezuela which, in 1929, was the world’s largest oil exporter and, in 2001, was the richest country on the continent, with more oil reserves than any country – including Saudi Arabia – but, in just 20 years, mismanagement and unrestrained public spending have placed the economy in freefall.
Is America heading in a similar direction by committing unforced errors to the detriment of our economy, which is still touted – for the moment – as the world’s most powerful?
For instance, is our refusal to use our own petroleum but, rather, purchasing oil from foreign sources – at ever-increasing prices – chancing the devaluation of our currency, a la Argentina, thereby adversely impacting our status as a world leader?
And is phasing out our usage of very dependable coal-fired and nuclear electricity generation systems in favor of unreliable wind and solar presaging the electrical blackouts typical of a third world nation like the present Venezuela?
Just remember, if we do what they did, we may get where they are.
Dick Pilling
by Dick Pilling | Jun 11, 2024 | 250 Words
As I see it, under “Bidenomics,” prices seem to be going up a heck of a lot faster than our take-home pay. Studies reflect that average hourly pay increased by 13.6% since January 2021 but, also, inflation increased by 17% — this means that, on average, one had to make an additional $11,434 annually just to keep from going backwards. (cbsnews.com)
But apparently, President Biden has not noticed this because he says that “We’re better situated than we were when we took office, where inflation was skyrocketing”.
Not sure if he was mis-speaking, mis-remembering or mis-leading, but, regardless, it was another example of mis-informing for which he is famed. To set the record straight, when he took office, inflation was a lowly 1.4% and, under his administration, “Bidenflation” kicked in, pushing it to a 41-year-high of 9% in 2022 before dropping back to 3.4%, over twice what it was when he entered office. (blackburn.senate.gov)
To put a finer point on it, prices across the board soared by 17% to include clothing prices (+7%), rent (+ 19%), food (+20%), energy (+ 31%), gas (+ 34%) and mortgage rates are at two-decade highs and, placing this in historical perspective, between January 2010 and January 2021, the price index for food increased less than 18% but since Biden’s election, it rose by 21%.
Bidennomics and Bidenflation are just two different names for the same thing. Rising prices and less money in your pocket. The better term would be Bidendisaster.
Dick Pilling
by Dick Pilling | Jun 8, 2024 | 250 Words
Admittedly, I am old enough to remember the Carter presidency, but, happily, I still retain some degree of mental competency — however limited — and am therefore able to compare it to that of Biden’s administration and note that there are some similarities.
For instance, both men subjected our country to international humiliation arising from the disrespect visited upon our embassies during their respective tenures. Carter lost control of the Tehran facility when it was overrun by militants, and Biden, not to be outdone, was forced to evacuate facilities in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Belarus and Sudan.
Also, both Carter and Biden experienced economic problems but, in defense of Carter, he inherited high inflation with slow economic growth, rising crime and high gas prices, but due to his apparent inability to set consistent policy goals, made these situations even worse.
Carter’s decisions could be considered textbook examples of what not to do.
Biden, on the other hand, inherited a low inflation of 1.9 percent, the lowest gas prices since 2004 and, overall, a much better economy.
Unfortunately, he then made the same mistakes as did Carter, which have boosted the cumulative inflation rate by 20 percent and raised gas prices to be the highest average of any president in past 15 years.
Truly, Biden had to work hard to screw things up as much as he did.
Guess he didn’t read Carter’s textbook. So really, all things considered, Carter was actually a pretty good president.
But only, of course, if you compare him to Biden.
Dick Pilling
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