The Government Stumbles; The Judicial Legislature Rumbles (October 2, 2023)

Posted in First Monday In October, Supreme Court on October 2, 2023 by e-commentary.org

. . .

J          “Congress managed to stay open for business for a few more weeks.  The Supreme Court Legislature is open for business for a few more months.”

K          “Hold your hats.  Try to hold onto your civil liberties.”

. . .

J          “They legislated their views on abortion.  They legislated their views on affirmative action.  They legislated their views on political gerrymandering.  They are the most activist unelected legislature in the world.”

K          “In a facetious moment, you could say that they get things done.  They get done the things they want to get done.”

. . .

K          “I lament that America is a land of ‘consumers’ not ‘citizens’ and yet must support the continued existence of the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau.”

J          “What about the Citizen Protection Financial Bureau?”  

. . .

J          “I think I understand the role and even the necessity of ‘Chevron deference’ to agency action in our political system.  I suspect that the putatively judicial branch is going to change the rules so that the actions of an executive branch agency are subject the legislative review by the Supreme Court legislature.”

K          “I have seen so many agencies fail and then the court defer to the failed agencies and thus the system fails again.  Time and time and time and time again.”

. .  .

J          “There is a case to be heard next month that could preclude domestic abusers and violent felons from possessing a gun.  Seems profoundly sound to me.”

K          “Me too.”

. . .

K          “I have said it before.  The Supreme Court as currently constituted is an illegitimate institution.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at the Category Supreme Court.]

Bumper sticker of the week:

There is no law.  There is only ideology.

Leave a comment »

The Economic Equinox:  Half Light; Half Dark? (September 25, 2023)

Posted in Economy on September 25, 2023 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K          “From my vantage point out my Overton Window, matters still look far more dark and ominous than light and optimistic.  The economy is on final approach with flaps flapping and landing gear up on course for a very hard landing.”

J          “It is dark, it is very dark, but they manage to avoid crashing.”

. . .

K          “True inflation is much higher than acknowledged by those in power and is only going to go higher because of the lag effect of the rate hikes; even the coming recession will not drive down the cost of necessities for the over-extended consumer who may not be able to drive up the economy any longer.  Fuel prices are going to move up.  Multiple interrelated sovereign debt crises loom on the horizon.  The stock market is basically seven companies with anemic price/earnings ratios propping up dozens of indexes and funds; many other unprofitable companies are unable or soon will be unable even to finance and extend their maturing debts.  Commercial real estate is set to collapse in a pile of rubble and rebar.  The Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) may not to be undergirded with any collateral; they are Ephemeral Traded Funds.  And then the gazillion dollars of derivatives could unfurl and unfold in a cataclysmic and cosmic collapse.  And then there is the slow fuse burn of de-dollarization which ultimately will render the United States a second world country.”

J          “It is profoundly unhealthy for one to aggregate everything that is going on all at once.  No one understands.  No one cares.  Everyone is cranky.  Everyone is angry.  The population may pop.”

K          “There is that.”

. . .    

K          “The fissures have not fused.  The fractures have further fractured.  I just do not see how the economy sustains.”

J          “They will resiliently kick the can down the pot-holed highway.”

. . .

J          “Failure to pass some manner of continuing resolution could be a trigger.  They will do something at the last minute.”

K          “There will come a time when they do not do something critical in a timely manner or there is nothing that can be done.”

. . .

K         “Does it strike you as ironic to bandy around the words ‘sustainable’ and ‘resilient’ to describe an economy that is hollow and shallow?”

J          “One must maintain a wry sense of humor.”

. . .

J          “Rake the leaves.”

K          “One last mowing.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at What Is With Our Friend Sweden And Our Friends The Swedes?  The Swedish Central Bankers Reward One Of Their Criminal Home Boys:  Bernanke.  The “Real” Nobel For Peace (War?) Rewards Hypocrisy And Dishonesty.  The Nord Stream Pipeline Terrorism Investigation Is Dodgy. (October 24, 2022) and Spoiler Alert:  Yup, Uncle Sam Did It . . . Or At Least Approved It (March 6, 2023).]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Boogie ‘til ya puke

September 26 – anniversary of the unprovoked USA-approved international terrorist attack on the Nord Stream pipelines

Leave a comment »

United States of America V. Thomas Jefferson: The Transcript (September 18, 2023)

Posted in First Amendment, Free Speech, Revolution on September 18, 2023 by e-commentary.org

. . .

G         “Mr. Jefferson, would you look at Exhibit 1?  Would you identify that document?”

J          “Yes.  Exhibit 1 is a true and correct copy of the Declaration of Independence.”

G         “Did you write the document?”

J          “Yes.  Most of it.”

G         “Does it reflect your thoughts?”

J          “Yes.  The provisions I wrote reflect my thoughts and beliefs and convictions.”

G         “You realize in this proceeding that you may be convicted for your convictions?”

J          “Yes.”

G         “Would you look at the section highlighted in the middle of the page and read it?”

J          “Yes.  ‘But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.’  That sentence?” 

G         “Did you write that statement?”

J          “Yes.  I did.  My friends John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston and I discussed some of the phrases and the cadence and the placement of provisions in the document.”

G         “Your Co-Defendants?”

J          “I would say co-authors.  They deserve credit.  They have not gotten enough credit for their suggestions and editing.”

G         “Did you say:  ‘it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government’?” 

J          “Yes.  I did.  Under those stated circumstances, it is the right and the duty of the citizen to take that action.  A right is something that usually protects against an action of or statement by a person.  A duty is something that a citizen must do.  Under those stated circumstances, the citizen has both a right to act and a duty to act.”

G         “‘to throw off such Government’ is how you say it?”

J          “Yes.  That is how I say it.  ‘After a long train of abuses and usurpations.’  Yes.  Absolutely.  Those sentiments are part of the core assumptions and foundation of the United States of America.  Someone in the future will discover something likely to be described as ‘DNA’; these sentiments are part of our ‘DNA’.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at On Revolution (March 15, 2010).]

Bumper stickers of the week:

“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”  Thomas Jefferson

“Every generation needs a new revolution.”  Thomas Jefferson ???

“I hold it that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing.”  Thomas Jefferson

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”  Thomas Jefferson

Leave a comment »

9/11 Revisited And Revised.  Oh, And Happy Patriot Day! (September 11, 2023)

Posted in Courage, Niner Eleven, Truth on September 11, 2023 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K          “Can’t accept the Official Narrative.”

J          “Can accept most of it.”

. . .

[See the article and broadcast at “UAF Researcher Looks At Causes Of The 9/11 World Trade Center Attack,” by Dan Bross, KUAC, June 27, 2016 and reflect on  “A Structural Reevaluation of the Collapse of World Trade Center 7” overseen by lead researcher Professor J. Leroy Hulsey at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.]

[See the e-commentary at World Trade Center Building 7 And The AIA (May 18, 2015) and realize that not just lawyers and politicians are dishonest and callow.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Try Truth

Try Courage

1 + 1 /=/ 3

Never Forget Buildings 1 and 2; Forget Building 7?

Leave a comment »

Workers And Builders Day.  Oh, And Happy Labor Day! (September 4, 2023)

Posted in Middle Class, Work on September 4, 2023 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K          “Workers Day.”

J          “Builders Day.”

. . .

K          “Workers must unite.”

J          “And then bargain zealously or strike with zeal.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at Labor Day.  Oh, And Happy Labor Day! (September 3, 2018).]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Workers of the world unionize

“Rich Men North of Richmond.”  Oliver Anthony

We The People      Are Really Pissed

I work, therefore je suis

Leave a comment »

Another BRICS In The Wall? (August 28, 2023)

Posted in BRICS, Great Transition, World's Reserve Currency on August 28, 2023 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K          “A few more BRICS in the Wall?  Much if not most of the world is trying to erect a firewall to protect against US-led aggression and domination.”

J          “But no one really knows.  No one really cares.  It is not a topic at the water cooler or around the bar-b-que.  If I said BRICS, someone would think I was building a walkway.  A few stragglers may have some idea.”

. . .

K          “From the reports, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa appear to be admitting the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Argentina and Ethiopia to the Club.  Look at the resources and population and land mass and other metrics.  Collectively, the Club will wield a much bigger club.”

. . .

K          “Seems to me that the most effective way to unite a group of folks with disparate goals and interests is to identify and demonize a common enemy especially one that is a true demon.”

J          “Seems to be a truism not just of politics but of human nature.  Overlooking internal divisions is easier with an outside divider threatening everyone.  That is at play and at work.”

. . .

K          “The United States does not have the individual talent or the talented institutions to recognize and adjust to changing realities.  The United States does not have the human capital in positions of power.  We are hosed.”

J          “Bummer.”

. . .

J          “The mess we are bequeathing to the kids is a real and an unreal and a surreal mess.  No one really knows, yet there are a few stragglers who do care and are concerned but cannot figure out how to manifest their care and concern.”

K          “Folks are restless and restive and not resting well.  Things are festering faster and percolating precipitously.”

. . .

[For an exuberant but perhaps exaggerated perspective on the Great Transition, see “‘Welcome to the BRICS 11’” by Pepe Escobar, the recipient of the Sixth Annual Pushitzer Prize In Commentary For 2021 (June 7, 2021), dated August 25, 2023 in “thecradle.co”]     

[See the e-commentary at Portentous Developments In 2022? (January 23, 2023),  The China-Russia Affair: Advancing The Petro-Yuan; Dictating The Future (March 26, 2018), World’s Reserve Currency War I = Cold War 2.0 = WW III (?) (September 8, 2014), AIIB: China: 1; U.S.A. 0? (April 6, 2015), The Mandibles, FRNs, SDRs, IMF, G20, WTD! (September 5, 2016), USA + FRN/PD — > IMF + SDR — > NDB + UMU? The “Universal Monetary Unit” . . . Coming To a Planet Near You (January 2, 2017) and One World Currency? (January 8, 2018).]

Bumper stickers of the week:

There is a disturbance in the force

There is a disturbance in the farce

Multipolarity – Coming to a planet near you

Dragon < Eagle > Bruin; Dragon + Bruin > Eagle; Eagle + Bruin > Dragon

Bummer

Leave a comment »

Back To School.  “Credentialists” Versus “Human Capitalists”: STEM Classes – Arts & Crafts Classes – Education Classes (August 21, 2023)

Posted in Education, Propoganda, Schooling, Schooling Industrial Complex on August 21, 2023 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K         “Most of the Arts & Crafts programs d/b/a Arts & Sciences at the most profitable universities are simply certifying that its graduates are obedient to and compliant with the Dominant Narrative.”

J          “That is what the System wants and that is what the System produces and that is what the System gets.  Yet some elements of the Dominant Narrative are dominant for a sound reason.”

. . .   

K          “Most STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs do create some human capital.  Arts & Crafts Schools provide a mix of some useful skills along with the certificate of conforming behavior.  The Arts & Sciences Schools certify that the individual is properly potty trained.”

. . .

J          “Most education degrees could be distilled into four fundamental classes rather than slow rolled over four years.  Education Schools leave their graduates with more student debt in a world that underpays teachers.  How about a three year program and thirty percent increase in pay?”

.  .  .

Bumper sticker of the week:

Education breeds confidence.  Confidence breeds hope.  Hope breeds peace.  Confucius

Leave a comment »

All The People In Power.  At Every Opportunity.  All The Time (August 14, 2023)

Posted in Hypocrisy, Justice, Law on August 14, 2023 by e-commentary.org

. . .

J          “Absolutely.  Without exception.  Your ‘favorite’ politicians.  My ‘favorite’ politicians.  The big people who are supposed to protect the little people.”

K          “The big people who are supposed to protect the little people.  My ‘favorite’ politicians.  Your ‘favorite’ politicians.  Without exception.  Absolutely.”

. . .

K          “The Special Counsel regulations state in pertinent part:  ‘The Special Counsel shall be selected from outside the United States Government.”

J          “The way I see it, the regulation uses the mandatory verb ‘shall’ not the discretionary verb ‘may’ so the duty is clear and absolute and simple to implement.  Even the non-lawyer can interpret the language.  Maybe we need more non-lawyers to interpret the language.”

. . .

K          “David Weiss is not outside the government.”

J          “Nope.”

. . .

J          “John Durham was not outside the government.”

K          “Nope.”

. . .

K          “Robert Mueller was outside the government?”

. . .

K          “My ‘favorite’ politicians.  Your ‘favorite’ politicians.  Without exception.  Absolutely.”

J          “Absolutely.  Without exception.  Your ‘favorite’ politicians.  My ‘favorite’ politicians.”

. . .

J          “It is always an inside job.”

K          “Last time I looked, I was on the outside.”

. . .

K          “All the people in power breaking the law all of the time.”

J          “At every possible opportunity.”

. . .

Bumper stickers of the week:

28 Code of Federal Regulations § 600.3 Qualifications of the Special Counsel  “The Special Counsel shall be selected from outside the United States Government.”  (Emphasis added.)

Near the end of the movie “Rancho Deluxe”, Slim Pickens said to Henry Dean Stanton:  “Son, all large-scale crime is always an inside job.”

Leave a comment »

When Will They [Le Kennedys] Ever Learn?:  The Answer Is:  ASSANGE (August 7, 2023)

Posted in Cameo In Courage Award, Courage, Hypocrisy on August 7, 2023 by e-commentary.org

Dear ___________,
The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation invites you to submit nominations for the annual Profile in Courage Award®!

Acts of courage happen at every level of government – and the Profile in Courage Award aims to recognize individuals who have taken a political risk to do what is in the greater good for their community, their constituents, and their country.

Founded by President Kennedy’s family, the award honors his legacy by celebrating leaders, like him, who act with integrity and conviction, regardless of the consequences.

Take a few minutes to nominate an elected official at the federal, state, or local level who you believe has demonstrated this exceptional political courage.

Thank you for your nomination and for helping us honor those who serve with courage and integrity.

Best wishes,

The JFK Library Foundation Team

. . .

K          “They are brokering their award to curry favor with the ‘Parvenu PMC’ and other errand boys and girls.  They are engaging in what I describe as ‘cross-credentialing’ with others.”

J          “Everyone is hustling to get a bigger piece of the Racket.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at Cameo In Courage Award Nominee: Julian Assange (January 31, 2022) and The Persecution Of Assange And The Feckless MSM (September 21, 2020).]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Alpha

Sierra

Sierra

Alpha

November

Golf

Echo

ASSANGE

Julain Assange’s continued incarceration is a continuing crime against humanity.  Anyone concerned with free speech and the First Amendment should be appalled and incensed.  By our silence and our indifference, we are all co-conspirators in a crime against humanity.  And we just go on with life. 

Leave a comment »

The Trenchant And Traumatic Hemingway (July 31, 2023)

Posted in Economics, Rackets, War, Writing on July 31, 2023 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K          “Perhaps his best work.  Done when he was young.”

J          “He worked the trenches and wrote trenchantly.”

. . .

[See the e-commentary at Smedley And Ernest On Our Friend “War”; The “Racket” Continues (September 7, 2015) and Interest Rates ‘risin’? (March 30, 2015).]

Bumper stickers of the week:

“Notes on the Next War: A Serious Topical Letter.”  Esquire, September 1935.

“Hills Like White Elephants”

“Up In Michigan”

“No one man nor group of men incapable of fighting or exempt from fighting should in any way be given the power, no matter how gradually it is given them, to put this country or any country into war.  The first panacea for a mismanaged nation is inflation of the currency; the second is war.  Both bring a temporary prosperity; both bring a permanent ruin.  But both are the refuge of political and economic opportunists.” 

. . .

“They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.  But in modern war there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying.  You will die like a dog for no good reason.  . . .  The only way to combat the murder that is war is to show the dirty combinations that make it and the criminals and swine that hope for it and the idiotic way they run it when they get it so that an honest man will distrust it as he would a racket and refuse to be enslaved into it.” 

Ernest Hemingway, “Notes on the Next War:  A Serious Topical Letter,” Esquire, September 1935

Leave a comment »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »