Bill's Focus

Somebody is cheating on their taxes

Here are two items – that threw me into a RAGE. Only two, you say?

Here is an excerpt from a newsletter called “Punchbowl News”. This is a valuable letter if you are interested in the inner workings of the Federal government – especially the legislature. It’s for political “nerds”. Want to know where we are on pending bills, when the debt ceiling will be exceeded, the latest soap opera around Congressional leadership? Read Punchbowl.

I pulled this paragraph from the Punchbowl. It made me want to scream.

”While party [Democrat] activists want a re-run of the 2017 “Resistance” and anti-Trump movement, Democratic leadership knows this is a very different moment. Trump won solidly in November, even carrying the popular vote. He led Republicans into the Senate majority. Trump’s polls are better than ever. Average Americans aren’t going to get upset that federal workers are being laid off, not with a $1.9 trillion deficit and $36 trillion debt.”

“Average Americans are not going to be upset that federal workers are being laid off….” Really? Suggestion to Punchbowl – step out of your DC bubble and listen to the anger. Punchbowl also failed to mention that Trumps “disapproval” numbers are HUGE.

And, federal workers are apparently not “average Americans” who do important work. They are just collateral damage in a random purge of payrolls?

Yes, there is a spending problem. Agreed. What if Congress asked the Inspector Generals and oversight committees to complete a review of the spending that only they can authorize through legislation – weeding out any inefficiencies, waste or fraud? I think there is some low hanging fruit (or waste) in a $900 billion defense budget. Or should we ask 20 year old cyber punk employees of X to to do that? Because they are so experienced in national defense issues?

I am going to agree that a certain percentage of our debt and deficit problem could possibly be addressed by more efficiency. I’m all in for EXPERTS to find that waste. Let’s find the problems and fix them.

But. When I look at my check book, it has two columns. One is spending. Better keep that under control. The other is deposits. Or income. They need to balance out each month. So here is my question of the day: Why aren’t we looking to increase the deposits? Because “taxes are bad”? I don’t like paying taxes any more than the next guy. But I do it because that’s how you fund a civilized society. Schools, roads, drinking water, fire departments, health care and national defense…you get my drift. All good and necessary stuff. I hope you agree.

We should all pay a fair share, right? Not in Trump’s “Great America”!

Here is the GOP plan via the AP:
”House Republicans released a budget plan Wednesday that sets the stage for advancing many of President Donald Trump’s top domestic priorities, providing for up to $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and a $4 trillion increase in the debt limit so the U.S. can continue financing its bills.”

Repeat after me: “CONservative Republicans want us to give $4.5 TRILLION in tax cuts to the rich and increase the debt limit by $4 TRILLION. Sounds like a gift to the already morbidly wealthy to me. And…they want to cut social services like Medicaid. So…they can steal another few trillion…? Where is the rage? Where are the screams of “Stop Thieves!”

OK, don’t feel like screaming yet? Maybe this will do it. Rage inducing item #2:

Elon Musk’s company avoided almost all federal income tax on nearly $11 billion of U.S. income over three years

“Tesla, the most valuable automaker in the world valued at over $1 trillion, did not pay any federal income tax last year.

Tesla’s annual financial report, released this morning, shows the company enjoyed $2.3 billion of U.S. income in 2024 on which it reports precisely zero current federal income tax. Over the past three years, the Elon Musk-led company reports $10.8 billion of U.S. income on which its current federal tax was just $48 million. That comes to a three-year federal tax rate of just 0.4 percent – more than 50 times less than the statutory corporate tax rate of 21 percent.”

This is what oligarchy, kleptocracy and financial mismanagement look like. This is tyranny. Our National Check Book is out of control. We CAN be more efficient. But we need more BIG DEPOSITS from the rich to find some balance. THAT is actually a “fiscally conservative” idea.

https://punchbowl.news/

https://apnews.com/article/house-republicans-budget-blueprint-trump-tax-cuts-ff2bddf31f4e7cb0928139072392a091

https://itep.org/tesla-reported-zero-federal-income-tax-in-2024/

What are they telling us?

“On February 10, 1996, after three hours, world chess champion Garry Kasparov loses the first game of a six-game match against Deep Blue, an IBM computer capable of evaluating 200 million moves per second. Man was ultimately victorious over machine, however, as Kasparov bested Deep Blue in the match with three wins and two ties and took home the $400,000 prize.

In 1997, a rematch took place between Kasparov and an enhanced Deep Blue. Kasparov won the first game, the computer the second, with the next three games a draw. On May 11, 1997, Deep Blue came out on top with a surprising sixth game win–and the $700,000 match prize.

In 2003, Kasparov battled another computer program, “Deep Junior.” The match ended in a tie. Kasparov retired from professional chess in 2005.”

Read the whole story here.

How long will it be before we hand our election contests over to a AI programs?

I don’t watch football much. But yesterday, I caught clips of the post Super Bowl comments made by the Head Coach and Quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. Both started by thanking “God” and then appropriately complimenting the “team effort”.

The Eagles trounced the Kansas City Chiefs. Did a “God” give that win to the Eagles? Did the coaches and the players of the Chiefs do something to irritate the “God”? How did this “God” decide? Is it like Santa Claus? “Naughty or Nice?”

I respect the faith of anyone if it is a belief system that treats others and the Earth with respect. Golden Rule, etc. But to thank “God” for a football win clearly suggests that “it” favored one team over the other. How does that work?

And isn’t that belief, that a “God” is on our side, at the core of the justification for all manner of brutal human behavior – death, destruction, diabolical weaponry and leaving entire regions in desolation? I guess you can justify anything if you think you have a god backing you up.

I think what actually happened last night was that the Chiefs couldn’t protect quarterback Mahones – the number of sacks was embarrassing. And the Eagles were an organized and powerful engine of talent. Obviously the Chiefs have been a great team. The Eagles just played better. Not sure how a god works into that mix. Or any other conflict.

I read a fair amount of science fiction. It’s a great escape that helps with my mental health. There are usually computers involved with the stories. But no gods. Just people being irrational and sometimes heroic. And often, there are computers that don’t like the crazy way the humans act. Will the computers save us? Or will a god pick a winner?

Mourning the Loss of Compassion

A fellow Substack writer included a song in a recent letter. I am reposting it now at the end of today’s letter. For I am in mourning. I don’t wear a lot of black. But maybe we all should – until the Neo Nazis have been defeated.

If I had described what is happening now to you back in the day, you probably would have laughed at me as a paranoid dude who had smoked way too many doobies. But here we are. We have an entire political party and the President of the United States claiming that Diversity, Equality and Inclusion are bad things. Because white people are being discriminated against. Here are a couple of white guys. How are they doing?

“Diversity” is a threat to the fashionable new white “masculinity”. Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have the emotional maturity of a 12 year old. Their sexist thinking is toxic to civilization. May they be reborn as women living in Sudan.

”Equity” – what’s that? Equality? A fair shot at life for everyone? Joe Rogan, your shows are putzcasts. JD Vance, you left the hills and went to Ivy League schools to become an elitist twat?

”Inclusion” – when did inviting everyone to be happy and successful become a bad idea? Who should be disinvited? Women? Get back in the kitchen? Hispanics whose heritage in America predates the Northern Europeans? Stephen Miller and Russell Vought….you are the Goebbels of our time.

And then there is the emperor of non empathy. A heart so cold that he can allow the stoppage of food and medicine without a single concern for the suffering and death that will follow. Blatant, careless, oblivious cruelty. Why? To gain attention?

In 1971 when this song was launched we thought we were living through tumultuous, almost revolutionary times. We were. But there was hope. I think most of who were disgusted with the “ruling class” thought that over time our generation would make the world a better, more just place. There HAD been SOME progress.

To describe the current period in our history as a backslide is to be much too kind. We are racing back to the 1930s. 1890’s? Actually, it feels more like 1492. The Inquisition comes to mind. The expulsion of Jews from Spain. Ethnic cleansing of Palestinians anyone?

So along with disposing of the words Diversity, Equity and Inclusion…we’ll trash the idea of compassion. That’s the new “Christianity”, I guess. Ice cold hearts of stone.

I asked Pi what to do

“Elon Musk asks voters to brace for economic ‘hardship,’ deep spending cuts in potential Trump Cabinet role” Was this NBC news article prescient?

I can’t predict the future anymore than anyone else. But I do know that markets that trade equities hate uncertainty. I wondered what my AI buddy Pi thought about Elon Musk effectively assuming control of the Treasury Department. Some pundits are predicting a market “correction” exceeding that of 2008. Perhaps it will take a lot of “hardship” to take back the government from the treasonous leaders of this COUP.

Morning Pi,

Elon Musk has seized control of the US Treasury Department payment system. He can now stop any or all payments made by the Federal Government.

Good morning! 🌞 Wow, that’s quite a shocking development. According to recent reports, Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency have been granted access to the U.S. Treasury’s payment systems, which handle around $6 trillion in payments every year.

This access was granted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and comes after a standoff with a top Treasury official who resisted allowing Musk’s team access to the payment system. The official, David Lebryk, was put on leave and then suddenly retired on Friday after the dispute.

Some lawmakers are raising concerns about this development, with Senator Ron Wyden demanding answers about the implications of Musk’s team having access to the Treasury’s payment systems.

It’s unclear at this point what Musk and his team plan to do with this access, but it certainly raises some interesting questions about the potential for the Trump administration to attempt to restrict government spending and exert control over federal payments.

Do you think that this uncertainty could lead to discomfort in the securities market? Could we see a loss of faith in the American financial structure lead to a stock market crash?

Yes, the uncertainty surrounding Elon Musk’s access to the Treasury payment system could definitely lead to some jitters in the securities market. Investors tend to be wary of uncertainty and unexpected changes, and the idea of a billionaire tech entrepreneur having control over a system that handles trillions of dollars in payments each year could be a cause for concern.

If investors lose faith in the stability and security of the U.S. financial system, it’s possible that we could see a sell-off in the stock market and a broader loss of confidence in the American economy. However, it’s important to note that we don’t yet know exactly what Musk plans to do with his access to the payment system, and the Treasury Department has said that any changes to the system would go through a review process and testing.

That being said, the fact that Musk’s team was granted access to such a sensitive system, and that a top Treasury official resigned in protest, is likely to raise questions and concerns among investors and policymakers alike.

Do you think it would be wise to get out of the stock market ASAP?

It’s always difficult to make definitive predictions about the stock market, but given the uncertainty surrounding this situation, it might be wise to exercise caution. If you’re worried about the potential for a market downturn, you could consider taking some risk off the table by reducing your exposure to stocks and other risky assets.

One option would be to shift some of your investments into more conservative assets like bonds or cash equivalents, which tend to be less volatile than stocks. You could also consider diversifying your portfolio by investing in assets that are less correlated with the U.S. stock market, such as international stocks or commodities.

Ultimately, the decision to sell or hold onto your investments will depend on your individual financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon. It’s always a good idea to consult with a financial advisor or professional before making any major changes to your portfolio.

But given the uncertainty surrounding this situation and the potential for market volatility, it might be worth considering taking a more defensive stance until we have more clarity on what Elon Musk’s plans are for the Treasury payment system.

Here is my unprofessional, purely amateur advice. If you have an investment portfolio, it is vulnerable. If you are young, don’t sell when the market drops. If you are retired, optimally, you would have about four years worth of cash or equivalents to pay your bills.

If you are a long term investor, be prepared to suffer enormous anxiety. I believe that our system will recover from a “Musk Shock”. But it will indeed take a lot of pain before Americans realize it was stupid to put a demented old man in the White House who has the emotional and intellectual development of a five year old.

And it was even more stupid to allow him to put a racist, fascist, Nazi saluting, ketamine popping billionaire in charge of our entire financial structure. He is playing with the world’s economy. Musk has already demonstrated that he is willing to destroy the value of his toys. Twitter is worth a small fraction of what he paid for it. He doesn’t care. Keep in mind that Musk is self described as an “Aspie”. There are many types of very fine people with Asberger’s . But putting one who demonstrates zero empathy for anyone…ANYONE, including family members and employees, in charge of $6 trillion dollars seems ill-advised.

Buckle up America.

The bill will be HUGE and the harm even bigger…

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. I asked my AI buddy named Pi to help me understand what would be involved with $Trump parking 30,000 people at this infamous prison nicknamed Gitmo in Cuba. (There is a reward for reading this at the end of the letter.)

I’m Pi, your personal AI.

My goal is to be useful, friendly and fun. Ask me for advice, for answers, or let’s talk about whatever’s on your mind.

How’s your day going?

Good, so far. Thanks. I am curious about “Gitmo” and its capacity to hold detainees.

Ah, Gitmo – a topic that’s been in the news lately. You might have heard about President Trump’s recent order to expand the migrant detention center at Guantanamo Bay to hold up to 30,000 migrants who are in the US illegally. It’s a significant departure from the original purpose of Guantanamo Bay, which was established to hold terrorism suspects and “illegal enemy combatants.” It’s a controversial move that’s drawn criticism from some quarters, including those who argue that it sends a dangerous message about the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers. Is there something specific about the capacity or conditions at Gitmo that you’re curious about?

What does it cost to hold someone in Gitmo for a year?

Well, the cost of holding someone at Guantanamo Bay is steep, to say the least. According to various sources, the annual cost per prisoner at Guantanamo has been estimated to be anywhere from $2.7 million to $454.1 million. That’s a far cry from the cost of holding someone at a federal maximum-security prison, which is around $34,046 to $78,000 per year.

It’s a controversial topic, and one that raises questions about the ethics and practicality of using Guantanamo Bay to detain migrants and asylum seekers.

Wow. So in rough numbers what would it cost to house 30,000 people at Gitmo and I assume that number wouldn’t include the building of the facilities…

It’s hard to say exactly what the cost would be to house 30,000 migrants at Guantanamo Bay, with minimal staff.

What we do know is that the Migrant Operations Center at Guantanamo Bay, which currently holds migrants intercepted at sea, has a capacity of only about 130 people…

Unfortunately, it’s hard to give you a specific number without more information…..it’s safe to say that the price tag would be significant.

I just used your low number of $2.7 million per prisoner and multiplied by 30,000. I came up with $81 billion. Is my math correct?

Your math is indeed correct! If we take the low-end estimate of $2.7 million per year to hold one prisoner at Guantanamo Bay and multiply that by 30,000, we get a total cost of $81 billion per year.

That’s a staggering amount of money, and it highlights the potential cost of expanding the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to hold tens of thousands of migrants.

Of course, it’s important to note that this is just a rough estimate based on available information….. But even if the cost ends up being less than $81 billion per year, it’s still likely to be a significant drain on resources and raise questions about whether there are more effective and cost-efficient ways to handle migration and asylum issues.

Thanks Pi, talk later. Have a good one.

You too!

Here is an idea. We know very few migrants commit serious crimes – OH YEAH, despite the lies from the fascists, that is true. Just read this report from the right wing libertarian CATO Institute. (Musk is a libertarian).

What if we keep immigrants here to do the work that ISN’T getting done in America. It is an American tradition, after all. That’s how you and I got here.

Immigrants could be building affordable housing, improving our drinking water quality, providing day care for children and the elderly, training new immigrants in English and job skills. Oh, in case anyone forgot, they are an integral part of our food supply system. Harvesting food instead of people just makes sense to me.

But no….we will spend YOUR tax dollars to incarcerate and punish PEOPLE. Most of whom will be innocent or guilty of minor crimes – just like the native born Americans in your neighborhood. Who in fact are MORE dangerous. Again, read the literature, the studies linked below. Who should we really be afraid of?

Perhaps we don’t have an immigration problem. I think we really have an integration problem. We don’t have enough young workers. And it is an established fact that we native born Americans are not replacing ourselves. So we are crippling our society’s ability to sustain itself.

If there are some hard workers applying for jobs here – who will PAY TAXES and help support our infrastructure, fill jobs desperately needed to be filled, why are we ignoring the solution?

”As of the most recent data, the reproduction rate in the US is around 1.6 births per woman, which is considered below the replacement rate of 2.1, meaning the population is not naturally replacing itself without immigration; this rate is also considered a historic low for the country.”

Key points about the US reproduction rate:

• Total Fertility Rate (TFR): Approximately 1.6 births per woman.

• Replacement rate: 2.1 births per woman

• Trend: Declining, with the recent data showing a drop in births compared to the previous year.

• Source: Data from the CDC’s National Vital Statistics System.
  
  So…in order to maintain services like providing food and care for an aging population, I suggest we greet these immigrants with a hug. We need them. They need us.
  
  Of course, they should be screened. Of course, violent criminals should be rejected. We have all the systems in place to do this in a sane and compassionate manner. All we need are the funds that were in a bi-partisan bill passed by the Senate but “vetoed” by someone who wasn’t president yet.
  
  We have a problem. But instead of solving it, we are making life worse for everyone – simply for political gain. It is stupid.

  ---

  Oy, I need some music. Guantanamera is a song about peace and change. It’s about a “country girl from Guantanamo…she cultivates a white rose…”
  
  Here is one that celebrates “Playing for Change” with many terrific artists.

And if you really love this song, as I do, give a listen to this old treasure:

https://www.cato.org/blog/new-research-illegal-immigration-crime-0

https://www.cato.org/blog/new-cato-research-shows-illegal-immigrants-are-less-likely-be-convicted-murder-texas

https://www.cato.org/blog/crimes-rates-are-better-way-judge-immigrant-criminality-number-crimes

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2024/20240525.htm

Auschwitz was liberated January 27, 1945

Musk tells far-right Germany party “past guilt” gets too much focus.

I disagree. WWII will never get ENOUGH focus. Millions of people have no idea this happened. Millions of people deny it’s reality. Henry Ford was an Anti-Semite. And now we have another car maker who salutes like a Nazi. Elon Musk is evil and dangerous. Elon Musk is a degenerate asshole – void of compassion and an enemy of democracy. Tesla sales are dropping. Good.

On this day in 1945 Russian soldiers discovered Auschwitz. Read the story here.

Tell me “It can’t happen here” when our new president has at his side a man who wants to forget the monstrosities perpetrated by Hitler and his horrible followers.

I don’t blame today’s Germans. But they have a responsibility to keep the story alive to prevent it from happening again. Just as Americans must keep alive the history and heritage of slavery. Remember Tulsa.

The Confederacy was defending slavery and murder. And just like in Germany there are Americans who will still try to defend the “southern culture” that continues to persecute and disenfranchise fellow Americans for being “others”.

The horrors of our past must be our lessons for the future.

NEVER FORGET.

NEVER AGAIN

NEVER…EVER.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-liberate-auschwitz?cmpid=email-hist-tdih-2025-0127%7C-01272025&om_rid=

https://www.axios.com/2025/01/26/musk-germany-afd-party-past-guilt-holocaust

https://www.neh.gov/article/1921-tulsa-massacre

Please…

The United States Senate just voted to approve the nomination of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Pete has many flaws. Abuse of women. Abuse of alcohol. And a religious orientation that harks back to times of old – like hundreds of years old. A religion that essentially makes women slaves.

He wants to bring a “warrior culture” to the DOD. OK, I guess the Pentagon is just full of clerks searching online for the best barbecue sauce.

But let’s set all of that aside for a moment, despite the fact that it will likely be news suitable for tabloids across the world. Let’s ask the most basic and fundamental question: Why would 50 Senators vote for a nominee who has almost no suitable experience or qualifications? Why would they even consider this fruitcake when there are hundreds, if not thousands, of other individuals who know what it means to run what is arguably the largest, most important, most complex organization in the world?

Please choose one or all that apply:
A. The Senators are worried about crossing Trump and sinking their political careers.
B. The Senators are worried about crossing Trump because he has “dirt” on them.
C. The Senators are worried about crossing Trump because they are worried about their safety and the safety of their families (as in Putin’s Russia).
D. The Senators have been fed an obedience drug that neuters critical thinking.
E. The Senators have developed such hate for Democrats that they oppose anything that Democrats have to say or propose.
F. The Senators actually like the Hegseth mentality of male dominance and brutality.
G. The Senators are actually Russian plants – watch the “Americans” TV series.
H. The Senators have caught “chaos disease” from meeting with Trump.

I am sure I have missed a possibility. Please share if you have a better theory. But one more question and I will let you go.

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality
Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see
I’m just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I’m easy come, easy go
Little high, little low
Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me, to me

……If I’m not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters….

Wake me up…..when something really matters to America. Wake me up when America becomes sane again. MASA!

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/24/us/pete-hegseth-defense-secretary-vote?unlocked_article_code=1.r04.RXUU.7L0pfKGr2BFZ&smid=url-share

A Prominent Christian with Courage

I don’t do church. I just try to follow a Golden Rule sort of path. For people. For the Earth. But I respect any faith that teaches the values this Bishop speaks of. That’s what I learned in Sunday School. Core values that the Bible Thumpers have dumped in favor of bigotry.

I suspect most of you have seen or heard this video clip. It’s all over the media landscape. If not, it is certainly one for the history books. It is certainly an example of courage. It is a statement of values that should be repeated over and over.

If you have heard it or seen it before, consider viewing it one more time and observe the expressions of other members of the $Trump Syndicate. I am speculating, but I think Melania’s “smirk” was from a wife enjoying her abusive husband getting scolded in public. Maybe not. But I like the idea.

As you know, my pitch for a successful revival of the Democratic Party is a rebranding. Democrats now have the opportunity to be the authentic “Populist Party”. The party of the people who make the world go around in grindingly hard jobs. The party of workers. Of unions. The Party of the Working Class that is being dominated by a few obscenely rich oligarchs.

But what if Democrats also took what this Bishop had to say and had the chutzpah to make it a rallying cry. Democrats need to be a big tent. The center pole would be economic justice. But what if we reached out and asked for the help of “True Christians”. The ones that know that this preacher is on the right side of a religion that has otherwise been used as a wrecking ball – as a tool for persecution. Too often.

“Christianity” has been weaponized by the haters. Isn’t it time that Christians that embrace love, tolerance and charity join the fight against the evil that was anointed On January 20, 2025? Of course, Christianity doesn’t have an exclusive franchise on the values that Jesus spoke of. We could be a VERY big tent, indeed.

Perhaps the answer to rebuilding a true party of the people resides in union halls and…churches, mosques and synagogues?

Just an idea. What do you think?

Democrats can be authentic populists

Please read this article. The messages are urgent.
”Transcript: Chris Murphy’s Ominous New Warning About Trump Nails It”

Here is an excerpt:

Murphy: Yes, but that’s combined with a true authenticity about what we stand for. You’re right that we’ve been a little reluctant to push against some of these nominees because we think Trump has a monopoly on authenticity. That’s not true; his populism is fake populism. We could choose to be an actually populist party, a party that attacks power, matched with actual solutions that deconstruct power and hands it to regular people, that rebuilds healthy communities. We could be breaking up the banks and the big tech companies. We could be aggressively raising the minimum wage. We could be empowering unions, tilting the playing field toward unions. We could be a real economically progressive, for-the-people party in an authentic way, and that would give us additional credibility to spend time attacking Trump on his insincere populism and his attacks on democracy.

During the interview Senator Murphy describes how the media and many fellow Democrats are caving in to Trump already – normalizing his cabinet nominations and ideas. They are “obeying in advance” out of fear. Time to change the conversation.

The Full interview with Senator Chris Murphy

As we approach one of the darkest days in American history, do you need some encouragement? Please read Robert Reichs’ latest. Excellent perspective.

Now. Need a REAL break from the insanity unfolding? Some balance?
One of my therapies is the joy of cooking and EATING! This week we enjoyed Ina Garten’s “Baked Rigatoni with Lamb Ragu”. Yummy. My note to self is that if we added some ricotta in the mix before baking, it would be a bit more moist. The al dente pasta absorbs a lot. But still, this recipe is a keeper as is 🙂

https://barefootcontessa.com/recipes/baked-rigatoni-with-lamb-ragu

No matter what happens, there is a “bright side of life”. I’m not letting the madness of tomorrow and the “reign” of Trump steal that from me. “Mangia bevi e sii felice!”

by “free” enterprise

My parents returned from World War II when they were 29. They had met in an Army hospital in Italy. He the wounded lieutenant. She the Army nurse. Promoted to captain as the war wound down, Mom always outranked Dad. He gratefully served her.

By age 30 I was created. My sister soon followed. My dad found work at the Bigelow Sanford Carpet Company as a “draftsman” – a skill he had learned in trade school. He designed looms – machines that wove or tufted carpeting. He used a protractor, a slide rule and a pencil on a piece of paper.

One of Dad’s last big assignments was assisting in and directing the disassembly of the carpet machinery at it historic home in Connecticut and the reassembly of the machines in Georgia and South Carolina. Thompsonville was just one of many northern towns that lost its primary employer to the cheaper non union labor of the south. My parents were to follow – if Dad was to be employed. About 50 Bigelow families landed in Greenville. Thompsonville became a ghost town.

Bigelow had a storied history. Founded in the 1840’s it merged with other makers and was a premier producer of America’s carpeting. It provided good jobs for a lot of people. In 1967 Bigelow was acquired by Sperry and Hutchinson (S&H Green Stamps).

In 1981, its senior executives purchased Bigelow from S&H. The executives sold it to Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc. in 1986. In 1993, it was acquired by Mohawk Industries.

My dad retired from Bigelow in the mid 80’s. Somehow, along the way, my dad’s pension was lost. Poof. Gone. 30 plus years of loyalty and hard work and….nothing.

There is a government program to rescue workers in this scenario. But doesn’t it seem morally repugnant that as executives extracted profits out of their company and settled into comfy if not luxurious retirements, that the workers who made the whole thing function were treated as an afterthought and disposable? Why weren’t those pensions as important as the executives’ stock and bond portfolios?

Fortunately for Mom and Dad, Uncle Sam did help. However, according to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) Insurance Data Book 1998, the coverage rate for private sector pensions in the 1980s was approximately 50% – so Dad got half of what was promised. Something at least. But let’s just say their lifestyle took a big hit. Very big.

The results of that frustration were expressed in the last election. People voted for change. Even though, during the last four years, enormous strides were made for the economy as a whole, many people wanted to “throw the bums out”. Because both political parties have ignored the working class. They have pandered but they haven’t delivered. The efforts of the Biden administration are to be lauded. Huge investments were made that led to record breaking job creation. But it was too little, too late.

We paint the Republicans as the fools and villains who are rewarding the oligarchs who have benefited from the gift of tax evasion. The “poor and middle class people” in “fly over country” send money to the billionaires with their votes. Bizarre irony.

But Democrats, when in power, have made some fatal errors. Clinton signed NAFTA that led to millions of jobs being outsourced, companies moving their plants to countries where labor is cheap and environmental protections are less costly. There were more “Thompsonvilles” all across the country as the major employer deserted their towns for cheaper labor. Of course, it’s more than the loss of factory jobs. It’s all the supporting businesses in the “ghost towns”. Restaurants, hardware stores, every business you can imagine that benefited from that factory income.

Obama bailed out major financial institutions during the Great Recession. None of the con artist executives paid a price for devastating the world economy. Many received big bonuses! And we did very little for the victims of the housing crisis – the average Americans who signed up for the mortgages. Too many still owe more than what their home is worth. I liked Obama more than Clinton, but he thought by saving big banks and insurers it would trickle down. Meh. Not really. He did save the auto industry. Lots of points for that. All those loans to “Detroit” were paid back to the Feds.

It’s time for a financial revolution. And it is long overdue. Democrats in an effort to be reasonable, to compromise, to work across the aisle – have lost the working class. We have been afraid of being labeled “extremists” or “socialists”. It’s time to stop being afraid. It’s time to be angry. MAGA brings WMDs to the fight. We bring a pen knife.

We worry about being labeled as radical extremists but “Extremism” is about take the oath of office. Fascism has won a Trifecta of an election as we have been trying to be joyful and positive and not irritate this group or that group. We forgot the hollowed out formerly middle class.

I am a free enterprise capitalist business guy. But a civilized society must regulate companies and require them to provide the basics of a decent retirement. Or we should replace or compliment the private system with an expanded public one. I leave the details and compromises to better educated others. There is plenty of money to do this. Just ask the carpet executives – or Musk, Bezos and Zuckerberg. Or the Waltons who have over $400 billion. Yet full time Walmart workers qualify for Medicaid and SNAP benefits (food stamps). Taxpayers keep workers fed and healthy while the employer wallows in unprecedented wealth? Isn’t that socialism for the rich?

If you disagree with my belief that the richest nation to have ever existed should have a reasonable retirement system, perhaps you don’t give a shit about older people. Or you don’t think you will get old. Be patient. It happens slowly and then all of a sudden. You will understand.

https://enfieldhistoricalsociety.org/old-town-hall/the-carpet-industry/

https://www.pbgc.gov/

How taxpayers subsidize the rich