Bill's Focus

Same thing, Same fate?

Part 1 – Art Imitates Life
We are looking forward to the next season of the HBO-MAX show “Gilded Age”. It’s fun to get lost in another time for the imagery and fine acting of Carrie Coon and Christine Baranski and others. And it is a timely series. The parallels with 2025 are inescapable. In the 1890s the rich pulled the strings of every element of politics and social life. And the poor were suffering as spectators.

”The Panic of 1893 was a depression set off by the failure of two of the largest employers in the country: The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad and the National Cordage Company. The stock market plummeted as businesses that had borrowed heavily to invest in railroads went bankrupt. The value of crops in the American South and West fell. Unemployment rose as high as 19 percent.

The crash threw the power of the wealthy—and the powerlessness of labor—into stark relief. The Panic of 1893 showed that this notion of a laissez-faire, unregulated economy was not working. It never worked for the poor, but it took the panic for the idea to hit the middle class, who had the most to lose,”

Part 2 – Public Displays and Obscene Theft

The current Senate Version of the “Big Beautiful Bill” cuts Medicaid funding by over $900 Billion and increases the Federal debt by Trillions (pick the way you want to calculate it – anywhere from $1 to $4 Trillion) – all to finance tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the already very rich. That qualifies as robbery to me. But I guess somebody needs to pay for these ostentatious weddings.

Part 3 – Deja Vu

The BBB will probably pass and be signed by President McKinley, I mean Trump. You will excuse my confusion.

Trump admires McKinley who famously said:
”I am a tariff man, standing on a tariff platform.”

but also, ironic drumroll please:
”The mission of America is one of benevolent assimilation”

Google:
President William McKinley’s tariffs passed in 1890 when he introduced them as a member of the House of Representatives. They were very popular at the time they were enacted, but they caused an almost immediate inflation spike. Voters were very unhappy: a few months later, the GOP lost 100 seats in the 1890 midterm elections.”

The 1890s in the U.S. economy were characterized by significant growth, followed by a severe depression, and ultimately, a shift towards progressive reforms. While the decade began with rapid industrialization and expansion, it was punctuated by the Panic of 1893, leading to widespread unemployment and economic hardship. The decade concluded with a move towards greater government regulation and a focus on addressing social and economic inequality.

Part 4 – A New Era
On September 6, 1901, McKinley was shot. While initially, it seemed he could survive, he passed on September 14. His successor was Teddy Roosevelt who had been selected as VP to assuage the Republican progressive wing – their constituents had had enough of an age that was gilded for just the few.

If you Google Teddy Roosevelt, this is the result:

AI Overview

Theodore Roosevelt is renowned for his progressive reforms, conservation efforts, and assertive foreign policy. He is remembered for his “Square Deal” domestic agenda, which focused on regulating corporations, protecting consumers, and conserving natural resources. He was also a key figure in the conservation movement, establishing national parks and forests, and he played a significant role in the construction of the Panama Canal. In foreign affairs, he famously brokered the end of the Russo-Japanese War, earning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Here’s a more detailed look at his key accomplishments:

• Progressive Reforms (Square Deal):

  Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” aimed to balance the interests of labor, capital, and the public. This included:

  • Trust Busting: He actively pursued antitrust lawsuits against large corporations he deemed harmful, earning the nickname “trust-buster”.

  • Regulation: He pushed for government regulation of industries like railroads and food production, ensuring fairer practices and safer products.

  • Consumer Protection: He championed legislation like the Pure Food and Drug Act to protect consumers from harmful products.

• Conservation:

  Roosevelt was a passionate conservationist.

  • National Parks and Forests: He significantly expanded the national park system and created numerous national forests to protect natural resources and recreational areas.

• Land Management: He oversaw the development of scientific forest management practices and promoted the idea of using natural resources wisely.

Part 5 – The Cruelty

Most Americans are now headed towards some very tough times. If the BBB is passed, healthcare will become an even greater struggle for all of us – but especially for the poor and vulnerable. Hospitals and clinics will close. People will suffer and die so the rich can get tax breaks. People will die needlessly. The rich will be richer. Say it.

Weather related disasters are inevitable and a crippled FEMA won’t be there to help. Veterans will wait longer for care. Schools and critical life saving research will be defunded. Women will be deprived of reproductive healthcare.

Our Dear Leader has unleashed all manner of chaos on the planet. His approach on trade sounds as if it is an SNL skit or conducted by someone on an acid trip.

The value of the dollar is dropping. American bonds will be less attractive. Interest rates will rise to attract investment. Borrowing will slow, profits will suffer. Jobs will be lost.

Despair will be in the air. But not for the few who were made more fortunate.

Jeff and Lauren will sun themselves on their enormous “sailing yacht”. A deckhand will approach and ask if they would like cucumber and caviar sandwiches soon. She will respond with “No! I told you. I want cake!”

For another view of the “wedding from Hell”: Here is a gifted article by Frank Bruni. We have stuck with the embarrassing NY Times because of a few writers like Frank. Among other fine attributes, he has a dog named Regan. A senior canine who makes me melt.

Part 6 – The Response

A new economic populism is being born. People are listening to Senators Sanders and Murphy. AOC is more popular than ever. Mamdani’s win in NYC is a message and an inspiration. The resistance is growing. It has to. The alternative is impossible to accept.

A message to Democrats. Stop self flagellating. The party with problems, causing problems and making them worse every day is the MAGA Republicans. Democrats need to erect a big tent without litmus tests for favorite subjects.

I believe in DEI. I believe in Medicare for All. I believe in equal education – publicly funded. Call me a socialist. I also believe the biggest crime (there are so many) of this fascist regime is the denial of a Climate Catastrophe. If you disagree, I get it. But we still have the same enemy.

There is one subject that every Democrat and most Independents can agree on. There is too much money flowing to the top, too much money illegally flowing to the White House, too much money being stripped from schools, veterans and hospitals. Our banner needs to be “Economic Justice”. We can sort out everything else when we regain power. And we will – if we stick together.

Personal Therapy – we’re having babies!

Gilded Age HBO https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4406178/

https://www.history.com/articles/gilded-age-end-reasons

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/opinion/trump-bezos-sanchez-iran.html?unlocked_article_code=1.S08.L21s.1SmfmVWmI3Xb&smid=url-share

While we were distracted by an unconstitutional act of war….

Part 1
Not so fast. It looks like the “obliteration” of the Iranian nuclear site (stone mountain) was incomplete at best. And because our dear leader announced his intentions well in advance, nuclear material appears to have been relocated. Can I please hear a collective “DUH!”? IMO, we just opened another big can of worms – a president set another precedent in making war without congressional approval. Impeachable offense.

”Hours after the bombing, President Trump claimed in a televised address that the strike on Iran’s nuclear facility at Fordow had “obliterated” the facility. This morning Pete Hegseth echoed that, using the same word: “obliterated.” It fell to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine to inject a note of reality into the proceedings, noting that it was too soon to know for sure how damaged the facilities are.

Meanwhile, indeed, several new findings have surfaced making it clear that—just as military analysts had predicted beforehand—the strike has not left the facilities “obliterated” or “completely destroyed.”

A former U.S. Air Force targeting officer told Reuters that it’s “the difference between denting a safe and blowing it open.”

Read more here from ex CIA officer Michael D. Sellers.

And for a perspective from other experts as to why this failed, read on:
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/18/30000-pound-bomb-iran-nuclear-program.html

And then there is this devastating yet unsurprising article from the NY Times. “Strike Set Back Iran’s Nuclear Program by Only a Few Months, U.S. Report Says”.

Let the boondoggles continue. Will our meddling in the Middle East never cease?

Part 2

This past weekend I visited an open house in our neighborhood. The condo has been on the market since early April. It is beautifully staged and in perfect condition. Extremely desirable area. Over the last ten years, units here have sold in four days with multiple offers – often over the asking price. But now, no bites.

Two price drops. Nothing is happening. I asked the realtor why. He said “It’s the market, it is dead. Normally there would be less than a dozen homes for sale in this town. Now there are 65 listings and none are moving.”

I asked why?
“Uncertainty. The immigration raids.”
“In our town a large percentage of buyers are Asian. They are afraid.”
“Others are just frightened about the economy. They are frozen with fear.”

“There were four very interested parties. They knew this was a 55+ village. But when they heard that the maximum permanent occupancy was two, they bailed. They all had “20 something” children living with them.” Guess why.

For more on the housing market, this article is revealing. And for Zillow’s take on the shift from seller to buyer, read here.

Part 3

“Canada Freezes Utah, Florida, Arizona, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Maine as Cross-Border Friction Deepens, This Strike Deep Steep in US Tourism Sector”

“Canada has pressed the brakes—hard. Utah, Florida, Arizona, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Maine are suddenly feeling the chill. As cross-border friction deepens, Canada freezes its travel enthusiasm for these once-favorite U.S. destinations. The result? A strike so deep, it cuts steep into the core of the U.S. tourism sector.

Utah’s scenic wonders now sit quieter. Florida’s sun-soaked beaches feel emptier. Arizona and Phoenix report drops. Las Vegas lights still flash, but fewer Canadians are watching. And Maine? It’s no longer the go-to coastal escape it once was.”

More Canadians are ditching U.S. road trips with 38% annual drop

“The overall tourism decline threatens to wipe out US$12.5 billion from the American economy this year.”

Part 4

The food inflation rate in the US, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food, is currently 2.9% for the 12 months ending in May. This means food prices are 2.9% higher than they were a year ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

• Food at home (grocery prices): Increased by 2.2% year-over-year.

• Food away from home (restaurant prices): Increased by 3.8% year-over-year.

• Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs: Specifically, this category saw a 6.1% increase.

Part 5
Trump has set July 9th as a deadline before huge tariffs are levied on most of our trading partners. The ONLY “deal” so far is with the UK.

“Across Southern California, Port of L.A. officials estimate, a million jobs are tied to the port, including truckers, warehouse workers, manufacturers and freight forwarders. Their jobs now hinge on the terms of trade set by the president.”

On the recent Thursday, the effects of the tariffs were evident in the union hiring hall across the channel from the Port of Los Angeles where dockworkers go each morning to claim new assignments. The screens displaying jobs for daily workers showed about 40 percent fewer positions than normal.

Some truckers say tariffs have already hammered their business.”

Mark Zandi, the chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, said the tariffs posed a “very significant threat to the economy” that would become visible in the next few months.

“The hit to the economy is dead ahead,” he said. “We haven’t dodged that bullet.”

Concluding thoughts: It is a classic playbook for failing and flailing national leaders to inflate danger from abroad in an effort to distract us from our troubles at home. The real estate market and the tourism business are barometers of economic trends and health. The warning signs are there. We have shifted to a buyers market in real estate. Tourists are too afraid or too angry to travel here. The chaos of a trade war with the rest of the world certainly weigh heavy on the Federal Reserve who refuses to lower interest rates for fear of the inevitable inflation from the tariffs. Which completes the circle of housing continuing to be less affordable.

The impacts of removing thousands of workers, making veterans wait longer for health care, defunding important medical research…I don’t have the time to keep the list going. But it will be infinitely longer if the BBB atrocity makes it through Congress. Read an assessment from the Tax Foundation. Our nightmares seek to be reality.

The debacles will accumulate and “47” will be reviled as the worst, most destructive president in our nations history. I guess Stephen Miller really meant it when he said: “The Cruelty is the Point!”

Our president is hiding his incompetence behind B2 bombers.

Personal Therapy:

Visit garden at 6:00 am, water heavily to keep plant life alive in a heatwave. 99 degrees yesterday.

https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/canada-freezes-utah-florida-arizona-las-vegas-phoenix-maine-as-cross-border-friction-deepens-this-strike-deep-steep-in-us-tourism-sector/

https://financialpost.com/news/canadians-ditching-us-road-trips

https://www.fastcompany.com/91355934/housing-market-zillow-new-ratings-for-250-major-cities-buyer-seller

https://www.npr.org/2025/06/23/nx-s1-5440502/home-sales-uncertainty-mortgage-rates

https://www.fastcompany.com/91355943/housing-market-map-zillow-updated-home-price-forecast-for-400-cities-markets

https://www.reuters.com/business/powell-repeats-rate-cuts-can-wait-fed-studies-tariff-impacts-2025-06-24/

https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/big-beautiful-bill-house-gop-tax-plan/

A child thinks he is a God

We are all on the edge of our seats. Wondering what an infant in an old man’s body will decide to do with regard to Iran. If he attacks Iran, it could be the greatest mistake by any president in our history. Below is an explanation by an expert in the field. The impact would be devastating and not a solution. Not a solution, at all.

No matter how many “bunker busting” bombs the U.S. drops on Iran’s nuclear facilities, it WILL NOT destroy the regime or their ability to produce a nuclear weapon. It will unify a divided society in support of the current government of Israel haters. Their knowledge of how to build a bomb will be retained.

And we will be dragged into another foreign war by a president who campaigned on keeping us out of such conflicts. A president who campaigned on “America First”.

Trump is “playing checkers – not chess.” Our fate is in the hands of an abused child.

Read on:

Popular Information

What will happen if the United States bombs Iran?

Trump campaigned as a peacemaker, promising to “end the endless foreign wars.” Less than six months into his presidency, things have changed…

Read more

5 months ago · 157 likes · 12 comments · Judd Legum

and a fresh idea

Part 1

I’m Jack. You asked me why I voted for Trump. Why? Because my life sucks. I feel trapped and he promised to make things great again. What did Biden do for me?

What’s my life like? I’m married to Katie. We met in college. We both borrowed money to get in. She was studying childhood nutrition and stuff like that. I was going to be a scientist or a tech wizard. Maybe some new technology. I was learning to code and studying entrepreneurship and business. We were excited. Until we weren’t.

Katie got pregnant. Having a kid at this stage in life was nuts. We were at the hospital when her cross wearing, overbearing, highly religious parents swooped in and dragged her home. God was going to save that embryo. We were going to get married and raise that kid – or rot in Hell for eternity. We had twins.

I caved. Not much choice. I love Katie. Now we live in her parent’s basement. Her dad finished it off into two rooms and a bathroom. A nursery and a room for us. We watch TV with headphones on. Take meals upstairs with the “Thumpers”. Sometimes I just grab some McDonalds on the way home so I don’t have to listen to their bullshit.

Of course, school became impossible with the twins. Katie now works at a daycare center. The pay is crap but that way she can get care for the twins at a discount. I work there, too. Nights. Cleaning the place. But my real job (for health insurance) is driving an Amazon truck. I make sure you get that one day delivery for that birthday gift you forgot about.

So. How’s my life? Between the two of us we owe $175,000 in school debt. Based on our current wages, that will be paid off in 40 years. Maybe. We have nothing in the bank. One of the twins has a unique illness. My healthcare plan covers a lot of the cost. But not all. We live in a basement.

Once a week I allow myself a night with the guys. Fridays after I finish cleaning up kid puke at that day care center. Katie goes out with her girlfriends on Wednesdays. We usually get hammered.

I listen to Joe Rogan and a couple of other podcasters while I drive. Watch YouTube crap at night. Maybe Trump will fix things. Maybe not. I don’t hear many solutions from the Democrats. They are always whining about “social justice’ and DEI stuff. Where’s my justice? All I know is that today is Friday. I am going to get extra hammered.

Part 2

Is there a solution for folks like Katie and Jack? Could there could be “justice” and a satisfying life for young workers? Yes. But it may require a completely different way of looking at life, business and employment.

In America, “business” is really the number one religion. We worship capitalism as an engine of prosperity and personal opportunity. And twice, our voters picked a president because he is a “good businessman”. I know. OY.

If we work hard, if we come up with good ideas, our companies will grow and all will be rewarded! It is true. It happened to me. I worked for two companies that were quite successful and relatively benevolent to their employees.

But too many American companies don’t think that way. They exist primarily to enrich their managers and stockholders.

Here is an excellent “explainer” of capitalism:

The United States has done well for some of its residents. There have been periods where there has actually been a “middle class” that was achievable through smart hard work. For some. It helped if you were white and lived in the right region where jobs were plentiful.

The man worked. The wife raised the two kids on one modest but adequate income. The 1950’s into the 1960’s was a sort of utopia for some folks. Again, if you were white.

Now? Both parents MUST work to pay for a modest difficult life. A couple may even question whether they can afford to have children! Unless, of course, you are a part of the “ruling class”. The executives.

“….the Economic Policy Institute found that CEOs were paid 344 times as much as a typical worker in 2022, up from an average pay ratio of just 21 to 1 in 1965.”

This ain’t right. Is there was a better way of doing business? Yes. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

The Basque region of Spain is semi-autonomous, famous for Jai-Lai and renowned for its unique culture, cuisine and language. It is also home to a remarkable company called “Mondragon”.
From Wiki:
”In 2024, Mondragon had over 70,000 workers, 30,660 in the Basque Country, 29,340 in the rest of Spain and around 10,000 abroad.^[3] Mondragon cooperatives operate in accordance with the Statement on the Co-operative Identity maintained by the International Co-operative Alliance.”

Please read this article. Here is how it begins:
”Mondragon Corporation, with headquarters in the Basque region of Spain, is the fourth biggest company in the country, based on gross revenue (which was 13 billion Euros last year). It has businesses in four different sectors: financial (it runs its own bank), industrial (its factories produce automotive parts, construction materials and appliances, among many other products); retail (its popular grocery-store chain Eroski has 2,000 stores throughout Spain); and knowledge (its Mondragon University offers college degrees). Mondragon has sales and production presence on five continents and employs more than 80,000 people around the globe.

This may sound like just another big player in the multi-national corporate scene, however Mondragon Corporation is anything but your typical corporation. This company is actually a federation of 110 worker cooperatives. Employees aren’t really employees, but “worker members,” as they all own a piece of the pie.”

At the year end, members of Mondragón’s co-operatives also decide collectively on whether they should pay themselves bonuses and, if so, how much. This profit-sharing comes in addition to a base pay rate that, on average, is 40% above Spain’s minimum wage.

AI Overview

Salaries at the Mondragon cooperatives are structured with a strong emphasis on equality, with a maximum pay ratio between the highest and lowest earners typically capped at 6:1 or even 9:1. This means that the highest-paid individuals earn no more than six or nine times the salary of the lowest-paid workers. The specific ratio is decided democratically by the worker-owners. In addition to base pay, Mondragon workers also participate in profit-sharing.

• Wage Ratios:

  Mondragon cooperatives set wage ratios, with the general manager’s salary typically no more than 5 times the minimum base-level pay. These ratios are periodically reviewed and decided upon by the worker-owners.

• No Exorbitant Salaries:

  According to Craftsmanship Magazine, no CEO at Mondragon earns more than $1 million a year. This contrasts sharply with the CEO-to-worker pay ratios seen in many US companies.

• Profit Sharing:

  In addition to base pay and the agreed-upon wage ratios, Mondragon workers also share in the profits of their cooperative.

• Democratic Control:

  The worker-owners have a say in how the cooperative is run, including decisions about salaries, profit sharing and pay ratios.

  

  No. This is not communism. I think it is common sense. It is far from perfect. But doesn’t it sound refreshing?
  
  The idea that a company should pay one guy or a few guys tens or hundreds of millions of dollars to dictate how a company should be run is essentially oligarchs running a scam. Want to know how to make a better widget? Want to know how to do it quickly and more efficiently? Ask the people who are doing the work. Give them the resources and tools. And the power.

  
  

  Leave a comment

  Share

  Thanks for reading Bill’s Focus! Subscribe for free to receive new posts.

  Excellent article that describes this co-op business:
  https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/apr/24/in-the-us-they-think-were-communists-the-70000-workers-showing-the-world-another-way-to-earn-a-living
  

  

  
  
  

More than a Protest Letter

Yesterday was exciting. We never turned on the TV. Somebody said there was a military parade in the nation’s capital. I heard it was a celebration of the founding of our US Army with educational aspects. We owe our soldiers and veterans more than can be expressed in print. Feel our appreciation.

It was also a fun and satisfying day. As the “No Kings Day” protest began in our town, the rain stopped, the crowd grew. About 500 loud residents. The variety of signs was amazing and entertaining.

Drumming and chanting began. “Hey ho, the king must go!”
Many flags on OUR Flag Day.

The crowd was energetic and diverse. Not just a bunch of old grey hairs like me. Families with kids and dogs. And the highlight for me? Our middle aged “kids” brought their kids! One of them held a sign that said:
“Alexa, please change the President!” Feel me smile with pride.

Speaking of pride, this and future letters will continue offering two parts. The first will be observations on whatever is the latest point of interest. But this second section will be something good. Something to celebrate or aspire to. Without the good stuff in our heads, the bad guys, the fascists, the nutcases, the enemies of America and our Earth will win the battle for our minds.

”Project 2026” is now official. More on that in the future. For now, I must share with you why I am so proud of our town’s school system. Students here are being taught to research, evaluate and advocate. And to CARE about something good. Please read on.

“R.J. Grey Junior High School held its annual Civics Fair on June 4 and 5, with over 400 seventh graders presenting their research and proposing ways for the public to advocate on local, state, and national issues that matter to them.”

”Students presented on a wide range of issues facing teens including the effects of social media, the dangers of vaping, bullying prevention and response, book bans, LGBTQ+ rights, school-related stress and anxiety, and the importance of sleep. Other presentations focused on raising the minimum wage, food and housing insecurity, immigration, healthcare access, the “pink tax” (charging higher prices for products aimed at women), preventing animal abuse and neglect, the environmental impact of pesticides and rodenticides, and PFAS chemical accumulation in the environment. Others called attention to the war in Sudan, the threat of bird flu, and problems with the electoral college system. Still others worked on issues local to Acton and Boxborough, such as dangerous intersections and the need for bike lanes. One student team interviewed Boxborough Town Planner Alex Wade on incentives and barriers to increasing the number of restaurants in Boxborough.”

“Student-led civics projects are now required curriculum in Massachusetts in part due to advocacy by the League of Women Voters-MA.”

Our teachers are planting seeds. They are empowering as well as educating.

This information was from an article in the Acton Exchange – a little online newspaper that reports purely on local issues and events.

TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD!

Bonus reading if you are into educational issues:

A write to an education

By Carol Kocivar

It will feel good!?

Democrats and anyone else angry at the needless devastation heaped on America and the Earth by a diabolical president and his MAGANAZIs will someday have a chance to get their “pound of flesh”. Payback time. Big time revenge. Like never in history. Like, OMG, finally.

But wait. Can we do the right thing? Achieve justice – without being as awful as the addicts who brought this on?

Addicts? What addicts? “The MAGA monsters are just evil and brought this on themselves”. Maybe yes. And maybe partly … no.

Scientists have found evidence that revenge is an addiction – just like a dependence on alcohol, drugs or gambling. You never get enough.

Consider listening to a recent “Hidden Brain” NPR show and podcast or read about Dr. James Kimmel, Jr. – a lecturer in psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. His new book, “The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World’s Deadliest Addiction—and How to Overcome It,” is published by Harmony Books.

“The author recounts a childhood incident of bullying and revenge, which led him to become a lawyer seeking revenge for clients. Neuroscience research indicates revenge activates brain regions linked to addiction, while forgiveness reduces activity in pain and reward circuits.

The author advocates for forgiveness as a method to counteract revenge addiction, drawing on both scientific findings and ancient teachings.”

Our addicted president has been leading a “revenge tour” for his entire adult life. And he became even more addicted as he gained more power. Our president is more than senile and demented. He is an addict who has no control over his emotions or actions.

Donald J. Trump has not been in control of Donald J. Trump. And his followers have channeled their resentments and disappointments to the same part of their brains. They have become addicted to payback. Owning the libs is like smoking crack.

But now, let’s look forward in time.

It is sometime later in 2027.

Democrats achieved their “blue wave” in the 2026 mid term elections and now control the House of Representatives with a strong majority. They will also set the agenda in the Senate with 50 Democrats and 2 Independents who will caucus with them.

MAGA legislators had obeyed King Donald. After his official coronation, he ordained that “his party” be renamed. He felt that “Republican” was too weak. A few still use the old label and hinted behind closed doors that they may actually support the impeachment of the “king”. Dems have lawyered up and the articles of impeachment are being refined to reflect the latest “crimes and misdemeanors”.

The impeachment vote was close, but this time the Senate DID convict #47 and remove him from office. J.D. Vance was soundly defeated in November 2028. The country was exhausted and sick of the chaos foisted on them by vengeful men.

So, now that we have regained our power and are in the process of restoring order, decency and democracy, will we exact revenge? Will we thrill in the punishment? I hope not. Let’s exact justice and an appropriate sentences. History will punish the wannabe king and the brutally cruel MAGA clan.

We will need to restore a sense of good will around the world. Restore a faith in our government. In ourselves. In a democracy that is based on the rule of law. On our Constitution. The path of justice does not require revenge.

President Whitmer with Vice President Melanie Stansbury and Chief of Staff Stacey Abrams standing close by, took the oath of office and delivered an Inaugural Speech for the Ages. She spoke of unity and a course correction that will take years to accomplish. She accepted no money for celebration balls and parties. She went to work immediately and signed hundreds of Executive Orders reversing all the destructive anti-democratic, fascistic EOs of her predecessors.

The U.S. rejoined the WHO and the Paris Climate Accord. New pledges to fully support NATO and other alliances around the world were announced by Secretary of State Pete Buttigieg. A special task force to search for and remove embedded foreign influence in American elections was announced by Attorney General Jamie Raskin.

Large bonuses and contract guarantees were offered to thousands of experts to join or rejoin Federal Agencies in an historic restoration of good governance. Scientists returned from exile and resumed critical research. USAID was resuscitated.

Perhaps, most importantly, our new president ordered that the Climate Crisis be a consideration within every department and agency of the Federal Government. Legislation was signed eliminating subsidies for fossil fuel companies and reassigning the funds to projects expanding sustainable energy resources. Thousands of new jobs were stimulated by a commitment to a refreshed and rebuilt “smart energy grid” to handle the explosive growth of geothermal, wind, solar, hydro, fusion and ocean power projects.

During that same first week, bills were delivered to her desk that restored women’s reproductive rights, a complete rewriting of the Federal tax code that reversed the flow of money to the top – back to the rest of us, removed the income cap on Social Security taxes and established Medicare for All!

President Whitmer asked Congress to promptly give her an immigration bill to sign. It must include additional funding for tools to secure the border, better drug traffic screening, processing asylum seekers more quickly, offering work permits, providing a path to legal residency, and possibly citizenship. The money will be provided by a tax on all uses of AI.

A Special White House event was planned for the President to sign a bill ending unlimited donations to political campaigns. Corporate political donations were capped at $1000. Personal Donations were capped at $100. “PACs” were effectively disabled. “K Street” firms became much less influential.

The House of Representatives resumed the process of impeaching Justices Thomas, Alito and Roberts. It was rumored that two of them were planning to resign rather than trying to explain the numerous bribes they received from the Fascist Oligarchs.

Elon Musk was arrested, deported, banned from re-entry. StarLink was nationalized for security reasons. “X” was sold to Andy Borowitz. He told his financial backers (George Clooney, Ryan Reynolds and Larry David) he was renaming the platform “Tweezer” and that it’s entire focus would be satire and fun. No AI or hate allowed.

The first 100 days of the Whitmer administration saw a measurable drop in hate speech and crime. It was reported that people were happier and more productive at work. They were smiling. A happy life in a decent country is the best revenge.

Wasn’t that fun? Sadly, it will be a long slog with many struggles and setbacks. We will get to a better place. But it will take a lot of work. June 14th will be the largest ever protest – but hardly the last. See you on the streets.
Find a peaceful event near you:
No Kings!

50501 events

Women’s March

Hidden Brain podcast – Science of Revenge – James Kimmel

Good Reads – Science of Revenge

https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2025/03/26/james-kimmel-jr-yale-psychiatrist-to-publish-the-science-of-revenge/

It was D Day

Yesterday I talked to a crowd of several hundred people. It was hard to get a good count because they were going so fast. Was it a thousand people who read my message? I know that many agreed with me, as I got a LOT of smiles, waves and thumbs up. And honks, many honks. A semi nearly blew me off the sidewalk with his horn.

I smiled and waved at the crowd for over an hour. I did it alone. In solidarity with the Veterans in DC and around the country.

It was D Day. Thousands of us died in the fight against Fascism. Somehow I needed to say thank you and to celebrate all the veterans who have served and sacrificed.

Nobody organized a Veterans Protest in my town and I don’t do cities. So I simply decided to walk in front of our town hall as long as my old body could handle it in the heat. It was a “something”. And it felt really, really damn good.

There are a lot of issues that Americans disagree about. But taking care of our veterans is a mostly universal value. I realized as I stood out there, that many of those honking at me were of differing political opinions. I loved the irony. It is commonly thought that vets vote for the GOP. But their benefits are being threatened by DOGE and MAGA slashers like Vought (Project 2025). We may see them jumping into our fox hole.

As I was marching, a woman stopped by to talk with me. She is a vet who had served in the Navy Medical Corps and had worked in healthcare afterwards. She enlightened me as to how the MAGAs are not only jettisoning 83,000 VA employees, they are referring more and more vets out to private healthcare services. Her normal process of staying in touch with her VA caregivers has been interrupted. She was being treated for melanoma. Basically, she has been put out to healthcare pasture – on her own to find providers. Nice, eh?

In our town, getting an appointment with a doctor takes months. The private system is already overwhelmed. The VA ain’t perfect but it has been doing a good job for millions of vets. We recently saw an interview with a fired DOGE software employee. He had been charged with finding fraud at the VA. He found NONE.

The Musk and Trump soap opera is hogging the headlines. Taking the oxygen out of the room. The real talk should be about the push to privatization. The oligarchs have severely damaged Federal Agencies – and then they will blame the inefficiency of government on the “Deep State” and Biden, of course. The answer? “PRIVATIZE!” Because they already do such great job with healthcare? Right? Follow the money.

The VA struggle is just one of many battles on many fronts. There will many more. But we WILL win this war on people. Be inspired by Ukraine. This war will take years. Buckle up, strap yourself in. Slava Ukraini! Slava USA.

See you on the streets June 14th? Find a location here.

And then, the life balance. My other “something” yesterday was at the vegetable garden. It’s going well. Eating wonderful lettuce, kale and mini broccoli. Sugar snap and snow peas soon. Oommmm. All in all? It was a good day.

Maybe MAGA is the “hare” who runs fast at the beginning. Let’s be the “tortoise” and win the race. Never give up.

It was D Day

Yesterday I talked to a crowd of several hundred people. It was hard to get a good count because they were going so fast. Was it a thousand people who read my message? I know that many agreed with me, as I got a LOT of smiles, waves and thumbs up. And honks, many honks. A semi nearly blew me off the sidewalk with his horn.

I smiled and waved at the crowd for over an hour. I did it alone. In solidarity with the Veterans in DC and around the country.

It was D Day. Thousands of us died in the fight against Fascism. Somehow I needed to say thank you and to celebrate all the veterans who have served and sacrificed.

Nobody organized a Veterans Protest in my town and I don’t do cities. So I simply decided to walk in front of our town hall as long as my old body could handle it in the heat. It was a “something”. And it felt really, really damn good.

There are a lot of issues that Americans disagree about. But taking care of our veterans is a mostly universal value. I realized as I stood out there, that many of those honking at me were of differing political opinions. I loved the irony. It is commonly thought that vets vote for the GOP. But their benefits are being threatened by DOGE and MAGA slashers like Vought (Project 2025). We may see them jumping into our fox hole.

As I was marching, a woman stopped by to talk with me. She is a vet who had served in the Navy Medical Corps and had worked in healthcare afterwards. She enlightened me as to how the MAGAs are not only jettisoning 83,000 VA employees, they are referring more and more vets out to private healthcare services. Her normal process of staying in touch with her VA caregivers has been interrupted. She was being treated for melanoma. Basically, she has been put out to healthcare pasture – on her own to find providers. Nice, eh?

In our town, getting an appointment with a doctor takes months. The private system is already overwhelmed. The VA ain’t perfect but it has been doing a good job for millions of vets. We recently saw an interview with a fired DOGE software employee. He had been charged with finding fraud at the VA. He found NONE.

The Musk and Trump soap opera is hogging the headlines. Taking the oxygen out of the room. The real talk should be about the push to privatization. The oligarchs have severely damaged Federal Agencies – and then they will blame the inefficiency of government on the “Deep State” and Biden, of course. The answer? “PRIVATIZE!” Because they already do such great job with healthcare? Right? Follow the money.

The VA struggle is just one of many battles on many fronts. There will many more. But we WILL win this war on people. Be inspired by Ukraine. This war will take years. Buckle up, strap yourself in. Slava Ukraini! Slava USA.

See you on the streets June 14th? Find a location here.

And then, the life balance. My other “something” yesterday was at the vegetable garden. It’s going well. Eating wonderful lettuce, kale and mini broccoli. Sugar snap and snow peas soon. Oommmm. All in all? It was a good day.

Maybe MAGA is the “hare” who runs fast at the beginning. Let’s be the “tortoise” and win the race. Never give up.

Trump’s death sentences

I am a person unaffiliated with organized religion. However, I have often found reasons to admire the spirit of helpfulness embraced by some people of faith. The idea of a missionary “spreading the word” makes me want to scream “Go Home!” But, when a believer visits another country with the express purpose of helping, I am the first to applaud. Helping people with farming techniques, water projects, building homes, and providing medical assistance are wonderful efforts. Echoes of Jimmy Carter. Hear me cheer.

There was another president who I will always consider to be a war criminal. George W. Bush was instrumental in the deaths and displacement of millions of people in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two stupid wars, thousands of American service people dead or suffering from PTSD, injuries and burn pit health issues. Trillions of taxpayer money up in smoke with nothing to show for it but failure and shame. History assigns “W” a legacy of brutal and foolish foreign policy. He should be in prison.

And yet. Ironies abound. This war mongering fool has another side to him that we should recognize. He is capable of empathy and compassion.

What was George W. Bush’s immigration policy?

“Since January 2004, President Bush called for comprehensive immigration reform that would enhance border security, bring illegal aliens out of the shadows, establish a temporary worker program, hold employers accountable for the workers they hire, and facilitate the assimilation of new Americans.”

But what started me thinking about “W” was not just immigration. It was his signature achievement called PEPFAR. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. He didn’t demonize people with HIV around the world. He helped them. Estimates are that this program has saved over 25 million lives. The cost per U.S. taxer is about $37 per year. The cost of a burger and a beer in my town (with tip). The impact on U.S. foreign policy has been enormously positive.

President Trump has declared an “America First” agenda and has defunded PEPFAR. Sentencing children to death. Creating an international void which will be filled by the likes of Saudi Arabia, Russia and China.
Ya just can’t fix stupid…and cruel.

One man (with the support of the Project 2025 authors now embedded in our government) has made a decision that will lead to the awful suffering and deaths of millions of people as a preventable disease is allowed to run rampant again. Efforts to combat HIV were on track to virtually eliminate it by 2030.

And now. From KFF:
A 90-day PEPFAR funding pause and associated service disruptions could result in over 100,000 excess HIV-related deaths over a year in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Ending PEPFAR could result in up to 11 million additional new HIV infections and nearly 3 million additional AIDS-related deaths by 2030 across 26 countries. Another study found that ending funding in all 55 PEPFAR-funded countries could result in an additional 16 million deaths and 26 million new HIV infections by 2040.

• An additional 2-4 million deaths could occur each year in sub-Saharan Africa.
  
  George W. Bush has a complex legacy for a guy who many considered simple minded. Johnson declared war on poverty and signed into law groundbreaking civil rights legislation. But he also continued a horrific and ill conceived war. Until now, most of our presidents have had mixed records.
  
  But so far, President Trump is on track to have a simple legacy of cruelty. Will he ever do anything to be remembered favorably like his predecessors? Thousands of little kids are starving in Gaza and he wants to build a resort over their graves. Millions of people in Africa and elsewhere are on a path to death because he uses a sharpie to rip away essential life saving funds.

  

  And now, the same guy who called fallen soldiers “suckers and losers” and is cutting 83,000 jobs at the Veterans Administration will ask us to spend at least $45 million on a military parade (June 14th) – $16 million just to repair the roadways that will be ripped up. You do the math on how many kids that could feed. The president called $45 million “peanuts”.
  
  Veterans will protest in the Capitol June 6th at 2:00. If you can’t be there, consider your own pop up protest in your town. I think my sign will simply say “Veterans Deserve Better – Not Worse”.
  
  June 14th protests will be powerfully symbolic. Find an event near you. I am still designing that sign. Or maybe I’ll just use the one from a previous protest: “No King, Stop the Chaos and Cruelty!”

  Leave a comment

  Share

  Thanks for reading Bill’s Focus! Subscribe for free to receive new posts.

  
  
  https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/pepfar-global-aids/pepfar
  
  https://www.brookings.edu/articles/pepfar-delivers-outsized-returns-it-deserves-more-funding/
  
  https://www.bushcenter.org/publications/sustaining-pepfars-success-beyond-2030
  
  https://www.snopes.com/news/2024/11/11/trump-soldiers-suckers-losers/

  
  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/5-reasons-federal-cuts-are-hitting-veterans-especially-hard
  
  https://www.nokings.org/

Fascist Fleecer finds a Home in the White House

The Founding Fathers, in their words, deeds and documents explain that the separation of church and state is a firmly established principle of our nation.

My intention in this letter is not to mock or criticize anyone’s faith or religious associations. Most are fine with me if they ask people to treat each other well and suggest we leave the Earth a better place than we found it.
Golden Rule + Respect for our Home.

Here is an “AI overview” of separation of church and state:

The concept of separation of church and state, while not explicitly stated in the U.S. Constitution, is a core principle derived from the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. This clause prohibits Congress (and by extension, the states through the Fourteenth Amendment) from making any law respecting an establishment of religion. Essentially, it means the government cannot establish a national religion or favor one religion over another.

Elaboration:

• First Amendment:

  The First Amendment, particularly the Establishment Clause, is the foundation for the separation of church and state in the United States. It states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”.

• Establishment Clause:

  This clause prevents the government from creating or endorsing any particular religion. It also prohibits the government from interfering with an individual’s religious beliefs or practices.

• Wall of Separation:

  The phrase “wall of separation between church and state” was popularized by President Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association. While not a direct quote from the Constitution, it became a widely accepted metaphor for the principle of separation.

• Supreme Court Interpretations:

  The U.S. Supreme Court has consistently affirmed the importance of the separation of church and state, citing Jefferson’s metaphor and the Establishment Clause. For example, in Everson v. Board of Education, Justice Hugo Black stated that the First Amendment erected “a wall of separation between church and state”.

• No Official Religion:

  The U.S. Constitution ensures there is no official or established religion in the country. All religions are treated equally under the law, and individuals are free to practice their faith or not practice at all without government interference.

  ---

  But now, the White House has been INVADED by a SINGLE religious point of view. People who have stolen the words of Jesus and twisted them for all manner of cruelty and persecution now have a monopoly of “faith” and a pulpit in the People’s House.

If President Trump and his crew had created a multi-faith, multi-cultural center for his minions to enjoy – that would suggest a freedom of religion attitude. Personally, I still think it crosses the line. But that would have at least shown respect for all the 10s of millions of Americans who have a variety of spiritual ideas.

And what kind of “spiritual leader” would take a meal with an adjudicated sex offender, convicted felon, wife cheater, tax cheater – a man who lies daily. A man who abandons his friends and hugs our enemies? A man who fires people for fun?

Answer: someone more interested in power and money than true spiritual guidance. Another con artist. Her name is Paula White-Cain.

”Multiple Christians have criticized White-Cain in the past, but she has recently faced backlash for her online Passover Season sermon on March 23, in which she asks people to give to Paula White Ministries.

The video includes calls to “honor God with your Passover/Easter Resurrection Offering” of different amounts which gets people a “Holy Land Communion Set ” with two olive wood cups, grape juice and unleavened bread from Israel and an instruction booklet “on how to celebrate the Lord’s supper” all in an “attractive, commemorative boxset.” People would also get White-Cain’s Passover devotional book, her DVD series and a “special disc on communion.”

But, “for your special Passover offering of $1,000 or more as the Holy Spirit leads, you will also receive the “beautiful 10-inch Waterford crystal cross.”

A CROSS for Passover? OY.

Sound familiar? Using every opportunity to pitch for money?

Want to read about some actions you can take? Read this from People Power United.

My regular readers know that IMO, the worst offense of this fascist regime is the denial of the Climate Crisis – the actual exacerbation of the destruction of our world and its inhabitants. But breaching the wall between church and state is an issue that sends me into an intense rage. This Constitutional violation sticks in my craw.

Much has changed for the better since the 1960’s. But not nearly enough. This slide back into radical right wing “religious” wrongdoing makes me want to scream “Freedom”! This song came to mind.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/us/politics/white-house-prayers.html?unlocked_article_code=1.BE8.7J4y.YXsu-csWFsg7&smid=url-share

https://www.newsweek.com/paula-white-cain-christians-donald-trump-2050102

https://www.newsletter.peoplepowerunited.org/p/keep-your-religion-out-of-my-government