If last night you wisely skipped the embarrassingly boorish bombastic bullshit thing called a speech by a diabolical dupe of our nation’s greatest enemy – good for you. It was a torturous almost two hours. I think it broke a record for fabrications and falsehoods. It was fascism on full display. It was creative.
Did you know that there are people who are over 150 years old still on the books at the Social Security Administration? OMG! Wait, wait. Did anyone in the audience ask if they were receiving payments? No. Never mind that the Inspector General’s office said that errors in payments amounted to less than 1% of the Social Security payouts. And those were overpayments to people who are quite alive. I suspect we could fix that with further research by additional experts and a scalpel – instead of firing people who COULD fix it.
And so it went…for almost two hours. Fools cheered absolute nonsense and so many lies it is impossible to count them. If you couldn’t make it through the embarrassment, the shame, the hate, the bigotry, the racism, the misogyny, the arrogance, the ignorance, the disparagement of our friends and allies – and the pure evil of that speech, you are not alone.
But after all that despicable garbage was spewed, there was a moment worth waiting for. The “rebuttal” by Senator Elissa Slotkin was excellent. This is the type of politician who will lead us out of these new Dark Ages.
Recently my wife and I viewed Conclave. I could care less that it has Oscar possibilities. I was attracted to it because of the cast. Fiennes, Lithgow, Tucci and Rosselini? They don’t sign up for acting gigs at this stage of life unless the the story is compelling and the writing terrific. And it was compelling and terrifically well written….and very well acted. IMO.
But the movie got me to thinking about churches. And religion. The origins. The practice. The hierarchy. The mission. And how all that ends up being counter to what the “prophet” who is worshipped had intended.
This will not be an anti-religion rant. It will be an anti-what people do with religion rant. It will be a rant against the uncharitable.
Not sure why they look as if they could be Norwegian
There was probably was a Jewish “rabbi” named Jesus who traveled about with 12 other Jewish guys talking about God and trying to get people to follow a better code of behavior. Sounds like a reasonable mission to me – if it had led to better behavior. Here is an “AI overview” of the ideas from Jesus:
Teachings about love:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind”
“Love your neighbor as yourself“
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them“
Teachings about wealth and prosperity:
Store up treasures in heaven: Jesus taught that people should store up treasures in heaven, not on earth, where they can be destroyed by moths, rust, and thieves.
Give to the poor: Jesus taught that people should sell their possessions and give to the poor if they want to be perfect.
Don’t serve two masters: Jesus taught that people cannot serve both God and money.
Balance material wealth and spiritual well-being: Jesus taught that people should not prioritize wealth over their relationship with God.
Be on guard against greed: Jesus taught that people should be on guard against all kinds of greed.
So in a nutshell: Follow the “Golden Rule”, don’t worship money, give it away. Simple.
It’s recorded that Jesus said: “Upon this rock I will build a church.” But I don’t think he wanted to see what came next. I find it hard to believe that he wanted his “followers” to slaughter the people who didn’t talk the party line of the “church”. Which, of course, became a Christian tradition to be played out over the centuries.
Back to Conclave. How fancy their outfits are. I asked Google the price. Here is the “AI” response:
”Dressing a Catholic cardinal with a full set of ceremonial attire, including the iconic red cassock and accessories, can cost between $5,000 and $7,000 depending on the quality and tailor, with a basic set potentially starting around $3,000; most cardinals typically have two complete sets of their red garments.”
”Key points about the cost:
High-end tailoring: Tailors like Gammarelli in Rome, known for dressing the Pope, can significantly increase the price.
Materials and details: The quality of fabric, intricate embroidery, and additional embellishments will affect the cost.
In the grand scheme of things, that’s not a lot of money. But it could feed quite a few kids. It could buy a bunch of drugs to fight HIV.
There is a Pope who is nearing the end of his life who I think “Jesus” would have liked a bit more than his predecessors – the ones who tortured people to death.
Orvieto church “art”
Years ago we toured portions of Italy. We viewed the art of the Vatican. We visited the duomos in Central Italy – places like Orvieto. I found them to be strange. Every one of them had elaborate frescoes depicting the stabbing, beheaded and dismemberment of countless people. I guess they were designed to terrify – better toe the line or this is your future?
Until we arrived in Assisi. The walls of St Francis’ church pictured pleasant interactions between animals and humans. No stabbing. No yanking of entrails.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose Francis as his Pope name. He also has been a champion of human rights. He has asked for simpler garments and reduced the budget for fancy vestments. Some of the elite weren’t happy and will be glad to see him pass. There will be an attempt to rebuild the church in the traditional expensive and abusive traditions of the past.
Nice look – I bet it comes in red.
But just maybe, Francis will be a pace setter. What if the next Pope said: “Let’s get back to basics and dress even more simply. Let’s save some money and clothe the poor”
Conclave is an allegory for all this and much, much more. I call it a “must see”.
I hope Pope Francis suffers little. He was turning the ship slowly. Perhaps he will inspire the next crew to get the “church” to shed some wealth and share it more widely. And more importantly be a louder voice for peace, human rights and democracy. Bring the “church” back to its origins of love and simplicity.
Post script: Project 2025 and the MAGA masters should have Americans wondering what they are really all about. Evangelical Christians are a major reason $Trump is in office again. He could not have been re-elected without them.
Vought – fake Christian worshipping a “king”
Consider the following blatant brutal hypocrisy: Russell Vought, Project 2025 author and now head of OMB (national budget) is attempting to define America as a “Christian” nation. Literally name it so.
Project 2025 budget cutters (Musk as the front man) have halted the feeding of millions of children (the food is rotting warehouses). And they have blocked the distribution of the drugs that have been keeping alive millions of people with HIV.
Imaginary versions of Jesus
I do not know if there ever was a Jesus or if he is the son of God or if he was just an invention of some Jewish guys who wanted positive change in a chaotic world. It doesn’t matter.
What matters is that “he” had some excellent ideas about how we should treat our fellow humans. And too many people who invoke his name are bigots who ignore those teachings and cause misery and death. While worshipping him they violate everything he stood for. There is NOTHING “Christian” about Project 2025 or MAGA. Nothing.
There ARE wonderful “true Christians”. Jon Pavlovitz is one. I have written about others. Again, this screed is not anti religious people. It’s anti people who use religion to do horrible, despicable things in the name of a “God”.
Most of you know who Anne Applebaum is. If not, read here. Anne may be one of the most educated individuals on Earth about Putin’s Russia as well as Eastern and Central Europe. She is a brilliant journalist and author.
From her Substack about Russia and the UN: ”This was a moment of diplomatic incompetence as well as bad politics: The U.S. was on the losing side, and indeed another American resolution also failed. Nevertheless this marks a turning point. The US voted against its allies on something that deeply affects their security. One might say that the United States just aligned itself with Autocracy Inc.”
Anne clearly married brilliance, as well. Below is yesterday’s speech by her husband. Radosław Sikorski is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland. He was speaking for the European Union at the UN.
This is the speech that should have come from the United States. Instead, the US voted along with NORTH KOREA to opposea resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. You read that right.
This bears repeating with emphasis. Our current president has sided with the beyond brutal COMMUNIST dictator of NORTH KOREA – a piece of human shit responsible for the deaths of millions of his own people. WE voted with arguably the most horrible nation on the Earth in support of Putin’s attempted theft of it’s neighbor Ukraine.
THIS IS VERY BAD. THIS IS THE STUFF OF VERY FRIGHTENING MOVIES.
Our president is openly supporting Russian aggression against our friends. This international realignment is a betrayal of such scope and depth, that it seems surreal. For this alone, $Trump should be handcuffed, head shaved and dressed in orange.
There are many versions of treason. Donald J. $Trump seems eager to embrace them all. Now… where are those Republican “patriots” who believe in freedom, democracy and a strong defense? I am listening….
Woody Guthrie wrote this song on February 23, 1940. The next year we would finally enter a war against fascism – after a period of “America First”. We ignored the plight of our European brothers and sisters for years. Nations fell. Millions were exterminated. But we finally joined the fight when WE were attacked.
We had to be attacked by the Japanese. We had to feel the pain ourselves. And here we go. Embracing an “America First” agenda again – that will lead to the suffering and deaths of thousands if not millions of people. We have already cut off aid to starving children and people dependant on HIV drugs for survival. Cut them off. Sentenced them to death.
MAGA ain’t “Christian”. It ain’t putting America first. It IS abandoning our friends and embracing our enemies. It IS cruelty to average Americans.
There IS a Russian asset in the White House. (Google “Trump Russian asset”)
MAGA IS HATE. MAGA IS FASCISM.
How much pain will we have to suffer this time before we defeat the Fascists?
On September 11. 2001 we were attacked. Almost all of the world’s leaders, most countries came to our aid. Europe was there for us. She was there for us even as we began foolish wars. And now, at a time when Europe needs the US more than any time since WWII, we are embracing her enemy. We are traitors to our ancestors. We are traitors to my parents who fought to liberate a continent from monsters. We are now about to give the brutal monsters a big hug. WTF?
MAGA is the betrayal of our centuries long friends. MAGA is embracing a nation that KILLS its political opponents. Speak out against Putin and prepare to rot to death in Siberia, be thrown out an apartment window, or be poisoned. If you were a real threat to Putin – like Navalny, if poisoning didn’t work, THEN you would be killed in a far away Siberian death camp. Sounds like a leader we should be chummy with…right?
MAGA is the antithesis of the Founders goals and guiding principles.
There is legitimate criticism that Guthrie’s song is “often recognized as a patriotic anthem, Native Americans argue that the song plays into America’s continual erasure of Indigenous peoples in culture”.
I get that. The European invasion of the Americas and the slaughter and extermination that followed is real. If I were a descendant of the “Indigenous people” of America, why wouldn’t I have resentment built into my DNA? It was a genocide.
But very sadly, that’s what humans have done since we climbed out of the trees. Every nation is a creation. Geography carved up and assigned new names by the most powerful. Humans have been doing it in the Middle East, Poland and Ukraine for centuries. Eons.
But for all its faults, all its awful mistakes, “this land” – America has been the best country to have ever existed. Until January 20, 2025.
For historical perspective, Woody Guthrie’s song was born just after the Great Depression. This film about it was also born in 1940. This very short clip leapt into my mind when I thought about that era.
MAGA is a warped by hate and vomit inducing insanity. There must be a brain worm epidemic. Or something in the water. More lead than we thought? Microplastics? What would explain why so many otherwise “nice” people are applauding the destruction of a democracy and the embrace of one of the most evil leaders in human history? What?
MAGA is NOT for this land… or for you and me. They are not patriots or “Christians”. They are for themselves – only. MAGA is for selfish haters. And MAGA is TREASON.
Bonus experience if you are into Dylan: Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie (Live at Town Hall, New York, NY – April 1963 – Official Audio).
I’m a former Mainer. I’ll always be an “away” guy because I wasn’t born there or raised there. But based on a 15 year residency, I am proudly claiming the moniker of “former Mainer” anyway. I love the state.
Above is short clip of the Governor Maine standing up to King Donald in person. She defied him by quoting established law. The King said HE was the law. And he is so insecure and pathetic, he needed to layer the exchange with insults. But Janet Mills said “See you in court.” In person, to his face. More like this, PLEASE!
And here is another Governor with guts. The first video is one the best and most important speeches I have ever heard. The second might add a chuckle to your day.
I can imagine this governor as a president. What do you think?
The following is a story lifted directly from the Guardian. The message is clear to me. Populations of “developed” countries are shrinking. People are not having enough kids to replace themselves. The answer is to import people. Not deport. But read on to see how it could work right here. I think an “exceptionally” smart nation would see success and copy it. That’s what smart business people do. Since “businessmen” have taken over the US, why are they not learning?
How Spain’s radically different approach to migration helped its economy soar
As immigration has increased, GDP has surged and unemployment has fallen to lowest level since 2008.
In Spain, where migrants have gone from making up less than 2% of the population in 1998 to more than 15% in two decades, analysts say the country’s more open approach to migration has boosted Spain’s economy, which was named the world’s best by the Economist in 2024. Spain’s economy grew by 3.2% last year, compared with Italy’s 0.5%, Britain’s 0.9% and the Netherlands’ 0.8%. Migration, along with factors including investment in green energy and tourism, played a part in this strong performance, experts said.
From Madrid to Barcelona, restaurants and bars are brimming with people, and reservations have become essential for everything from fine dining to high-end hotels.
It’s a glimpse of how Spain has become Europe’s buzziest economy – named the world’s best by the Economist in 2024 – fuelled in part by what analysts have described as the government’s strikingly different approach to migration.
This difference was laid bare late last year when Spain’s prime minister gave a stark warning on migration. But unlike his counterparts in Italy, Germany or France, Pedro Sánchez was intent on rallying the country behind a markedly different approach.
“Spain needs to choose between being an open and prosperous country or a closed-off, poor country,” he told parliament in October. “It’s as simple as that.”
Europe’s population crisis: see how your country compares – visualised
Read more to visualize Europe’s future with or without immigration.
Migration was not only a question of humanity, he said, but – in a country where the birthrate ranked among the lowest in the EU – it was the only realistic means of growing the economy and sustaining the welfare state.
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Pedro Sánchez took a radically different approach to migration compared with his western European counterparts. Photograph: Luis Soto/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock
Months on, his stance has seemingly been backed by economic data: Spain’s economy expanded by 3.2% last year. This far outpaced Germany’s 0.2% contraction, France’s 1.1% growth and Italy’s 0.5%. The figure was also ahead of Britain, whose total GDP grew by 0.9% last year and the Netherlands’ 0.8% growth.
Crucial to this growth was the movement of people, said Javier Díaz-Giménez, a professor of economics at the IESE Business School. “It’s been done with a lot of tourists and a lot of immigrants.”
A record 94 million tourists visited Spain last year – up 10% on the previous year – creating jobs in hotels, restaurants and other tourist services. High rates of migration have allowed Spain to take advantage, and push unemployment levels to their lowest since 2008, as migrants have plugged the gaps in a labour market where the working-age population is ageing.
Other factors are also at play. Spain’s abundance of wind and solar renewables has helped to keep energy relatively cheap while EU Covid recovery funds bolstered the economy and the socialist-led government ran a deficit to fund initiatives such as raising pensions and public sector hiring. “If you get this combination, it’s hard to beat,” said Díaz-Giménez.
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More than 400,000 jobs created in Spain last year were filled by migrants or people with dual nationality. Photograph: Kevin Foy/Alamy
After years of watching the far right’s hardline views on migration become mainstream, analysts were swift to highlight how Spain was different. “One remarkable facet of Spain’s recent performance has been the role of immigration,” economists at JPMorgan noted in a recent research report. “2022 saw the highest net migration in 10 years, at close to three-quarters of a million individuals.”
The result was a working-age population that nearly doubled compared with other countries in western Europe. Of the 468,000 jobs created across Spain last year, roughly 409,000 were filled by migrants or people with dual nationality, many of them from Latin America, but also from across Europe and Africa. “Overall, Bank of Spain analysis suggests immigration contributed over 20% to the near 3% GDP per capita income growth during 2022-2024,” noted JPMorgan.
The Spanish experience comes as countries across Europe wrestle with a seemingly intractable dilemma. As politicians on the far right and the right compete for votes by peddling hostility towards migrants, ageing populations are shrinking the pool of workers who can pay for pensions and support the welfare state.
So if you lived in Canada or the UK, where would like to vacation now? Florida or Spain?
What if we focused on BUILDING a country instead of ripping it apart? What if we made America a WELCOMING place for desperately needed workers and more tourists? Spain shows that it works! Will we ever learn?
This snowy morning I offer two things. The first is a statement from Melanie Stansbury – an eloquent member of Congress who represents New Mexico. Democrats are not silent. They are outraged and they are making a lot of noise.
Friday I shared a video of Bernie Sanders telling it as it is – as only Bernie can do. Consider this another in a series of “American Heroes” who are standing tall.
Many of us are bemoaning the caving of our politicians to $Trump’s fascism. It IS astounding how many Republicon Congress members have embraced the “Unitary Power” theory of the presidency (the idea that the executive branch reigns supreme) despite the fact that so many of them have law degrees. Perhaps they skipped their Constitutional Law courses and just got lucky on their board exams.
And here is an excellent Substack article that provides “a way out” of this Constitutional Crisis. A lesson, if you will, from the “old world” where democracy was close to being lost – but retrieved just a couple of years ago. Does Poland point the way?
I highly recommend Kathleen’s Substack series “As Time Goes By”. Her excellent insights are well expressed. Today she featured a post by Tanner Caplan. (More please, Tanner 🙂
Bernie Sanders has been called “too progressive”. In this speech he sounds like a champion of truth, democracy, respect for the rule of law and…the Constitution. Watch this. Find some resolve.
February 28, 2025
The 24 Hour Economic Blackout
Be a part of history
On this day millions of Americans will silently protest economically. We won’t buy anything except essentials. We will still support local independent businesses. But Amazon, Walmart, chain stores and restaurants will be boycotted. We will keep our money home.
It should be an easy but effective way to flex some protest muscle.
It won’t hurt the moneyed class at all. The traitorous Republicans will mock the event. But they will notice.
It will not affect the economy in a meaningful way. People will resume normal activity the next day. But it will be a test.
If White House Crooks and Odiferous Oligarchs even mention it, it will be a successful test. The next one could be three days. And then…?
Here is John. He launched the People’s Union. Support his effort on February 28th.
Bill's Focus 