Monthly Archives: October 2025

Why The Seventeenth Amendment Matters

Posted on by

President Woodrow Wilson did a number of things that reformatted the plan for America our Founding Fathers designed. He signed into law a personal income tax, the federal reserve, and the direct election of Senators (the Seventeen Amendment).

The Seventeen Amendment states:

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.[2]

Before the Seventeenth Amendment, Senators were chosen by the state legislators and subject to recall if they did not represent the interests of the state. Without the Seventeenth Amendment, Senator Manchin of West Virginia would not have voted for the Inflation Reduction Act. Senator Manchin did not originally vote for the Inflation Reduction Act because he understood that the green energy provisions in the bill would be harmful to the economy of West Virginia. During the negotiations regarding the bill, promises were made that would slightly lessen the impact on West Virginia (the Democrats eventually reneged on those promises). Had the Senator been subject to recall, he would never have voted on the bill.

As I write this, the government shutdown is continuing. Simplified Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be ending on November 1. Do you really believe that Senators who were subject to recall by their state legislators would continue to vote to keep the government shutdown and would have the support of their state legislators in doing so?

I don’t know who will eventually be blamed for the prolonged government shutdown. I do know that it is hurting Americans and that those voting to keep the government shut down do not seem to care for the welfare of their voters. Those are the people who should be voted out of office in the midterms.

Pros and Cons of AI

Posted on by

Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.  

All changes have advantages and disadvantages. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no exception. Because the impact of AI is going to affect all of us in some way or another, we should take a look at what is already happening and what is likely to happen. What’s more, the idea of creating an intelligence that rivals and may exceed human capabilities warrants special caution. Let’s start off with what we already know of the pros of AI.

The idea of creating artificial intelligence is not new; the possibility has been around ever since the invention of computers. AI has already been shown to be capable of data processing and linking at speeds and accuracy well beyond the human mind. Like automated machines used in manufacturing, the accuracy and precision of production is greater than humans. Machines do not get tired, do not need lunch breaks, sleep, or overtime pay. Same thing with AI, only more so. For example, students can now access AI to write reports on many topics. AI scans and collects the facts from the internet, and assembles the information in a manner that duplicates what a human can do. AI can also duplicate the human voice making it impossible to distinguish from the actual person. The autopen on steroids.

From a military perspective, AI will be used in advanced weapon systems that will enhance their potency and accuracy. Consider what is happening with the first “ war of the drones” now occurring between Russian and Ukraine. Fewer humans will be placed in harm’s way, as the combat role of humans is replaced by machines. Wars between robot armies are on the horizon. In medicine, not only is accurate diagnosis enhanced because AI will not fail to consider all the possible facts, but AI may produce more successful surgical outcomes because of greater accuracy and precise movements. This has already started with some surgical procedures that us robotic techniques and instrument control.

The development of AI and its application in all aspects of human activity is already occurring and is likely to accelerate. Countries will not be able to neglect AI if they hope to remain competitive and to be able to defend themselves from potential adversaries. Now, let’s examine some of the cons of AI. One immediate impact will be on the need for human workers. For example, high tech companies have been reducing their workforces as AI is developed. Over the past two years, the following layoffs have occurred:  Amazon: 30,000; Microsoft: 35,000; Google: 20,000; Meta: 23,000 and UPS: 14,000. Now not all of these layoffs are directly related to AI, but many of them are. Many of the jobs are high tech programming and code writing which AI is being created to do itself.   Who needs humans?

Another area of concern is energy consumption. For example, it takes 10 times the amount of electricity to conduct an AI search compared to a regular internet search. A recent report on Barclay.com indicated that the expanded use of AI data centers will increase the demand on the electric grid by 25% per year for the foreseeable future. Obviously, the existing electric grid cannot meet that demand without substantial expansion in generating power. Wind and solar will not help in the slightest. Expansion could be through more nuclear plants. However, the current restrictions and regulations can be prohibitive.  There has not been a new nuclear power plant built in North Carolina for over forty years. Some are suggesting the use of smaller nuclear reactors, about one-third of the reactors currently in place. Theoretically, these could be located near to the AI data centers reducing the demand for transmission wires. A troubling trend is being implemented by local power companies like Tidewater. Starting in January, electricity rates per KWH will depend on the time of the day the electricity is used. Not good. This plan reduces your freedom to use electricity when you decide and allows the company to dictate your access. Instead of manipulating demand, they should be increasing their generating capacity. China has been building coal fired plants for years and will be able to meet their demands. We have been handcuffed by the environmental extremists who fear monger about climate change. Through executive order 14241, President Trump has significantly reduced the restrictions on building coal fired plants, especially the additional restrictions placed by the Biden administration. There is no reason why electric companies should not immediately return to building coal fired plants, especially since coal is one of our greatest resources. Until recently, Bill Gates had believed that climate change caused by burning fossil fuels was an existential threat. He has done an about face, and now says that climate change is not a threat! That shows what a hoax the whole climate change scare has been.

Besides these practical problems, the potential impact on humans must be considered. Are we creating something with more brain power than we have? AI is not only capable of learning and thinking faster and more accurately than humans, it has the potential to learn how to control itself. A few months ago, there was a report in the Epoch Times newspaper about an AI system that would not allow itself to be shut down by its human creators! Will these systems take on a will of their own? Who knows, but it could happen. Also, as humans rely more and more on AI for such things as data gathering and analysis, what happens to the skill level of humans who are now performing these functions? Our intelligence is based on using our brains to solve complex problems and think for ourselves. With increased reliance on AI, will we get dumber? How about the impact on our self-esteem? Most people feel good when they accomplish a challenging task. With AI performing these tasks, what are humans good for? Not much I suppose. As we get dumber and less ambitious, AI takes over more and more of human activities. AI becomes the master and we become the slaves. As we become more dependent on AI and lose our skills and abilities, what happens if AI destructs? Power outage? Hacking into the system? Something to think about.

While it is true that AI development is rushing forward, we need to think about what we are creating and the pros and cons of how far we go. AI has the potential to be one of the most powerful and life altering inventions in the history of mankind.  Let’s make sure that it will enhance our lives, and not be our undoing as human beings.

Using Their Time Wisely

Posted on by

On Tuesday, Just the News posted an article about how Republicans are using the time they have during the government shutdown.

The article reports:

Republicans have begun to articulate the beginnings of a healthcare reform plan as Democrats keep the government shut down with the nominal aim of addressing rising costs. 

The shutdown itself is nearing a record and shows no signs of ending in the near future. Republicans have accused Democrats of seeking to reinstate funding for illegal immigrant healthcare while Democrats have insisted they want to lower costs for all Americans.

While the Democrats’ gambit does not appear poised to pay off in the form of tangible concessions, it does seem to have pressured the GOP into at least developing the beginnings of a reform plan.

“This is a funding fight, not a healthcare fight,” House Speaker Mike Johnson insisted this month on the “Just the News, No Noise” television show. “But there’s the Obamacare COVID-era subsidies that expire December 31 and there’s a lot of heated debate that we’ve got to have in the House and Senate to figure out what to do about that.”

The article concludes:

“So they are, you know, indicative of the super-sized business model and pushing small businesses […] out of business,” he said. “Getting small business back into the marketplace is both smaller insurance companies and making sure that your hometown physician and your hometown pharmacist are able to service their citizens, is one of the best things to do.”

So far, however, talk of reform appears contingent on an end to the government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., for his part, stated this month that he was willing to discuss healthcare reform with Democrats, but would not do so under budget duress.

“I’m not sure how much clearer I can be, but let me give it a try: I am willing to sit down with Democrats to discuss the growing unaffordability and unsustainability of Obamacare,” he posted on X. “It’s a system they created, but I’m happy to hear them out. Heck, I’m even willing to give them a vote. Today. Tomorrow. Next week. You name it. But there’s one condition: End the Schumer Shutdown. I will not negotiate under hostage conditions, nor will I pay a ransom. Period.

Frankly, Obamacare needs to go away, and the government needs to get out of healthcare. Obamacare was designed to fail and lead us to a single-payer healthcare system similar to Britain and Canada. There is a reason many Canadians come to America for their healthcare needs.

There Is A Certain Amount Of Self Interest In This Decision

Posted on by

On Tuesday, The New York Post posted an article about the sudden change of heart by Bill Gates about climate change. You will have to excuse the amount of cynicism I have relating to this change. There are two major factors involved. One factor is the Trump effect on globalism–those moving toward one-world government are not currently getting the traction they were getting during the Biden administration. Argentina and America have shown that cutting government fat and promoting patriotism is a positive thing. The political left’s attempt to label patriotism as nationalism and paint nationalism as a bad thing is beginning to fail. The other factor is that Bill Gates is working to be a leader in the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI). Green energy and AI are not compatible–the amount of energy required by AI is enormous. We will need to develop new sources of energy and increase our use of old sources of energy to support AI. Those are the reasons I believe Bill Gates has changed his tune on global warming and green energy.

The New York Post reports:

Suddenly, Bill Gates is admitting that climate change won’t lead to “humanity’s demise” after all.

Now he tells us, after he long joined other climate alarmists in warning of “disaster,” as the West burned trillions on “decarbonizing” and steered economies toward the stone age.

The “doomsday view” that “cataclysmic climate change will decimate civilization” is “wrong,” the Microsoft co-founder writes; people will “be able to live and thrive in most places on Earth for the foreseeable future.”

It should also be noted that in the past when there were periods of global warming, there was more food to feed people and fewer people died from exposure to cold.

The article notes:

Gates still thinks it’s a “serious” problem, but admits “the doomsday outlook is causing much of the climate community to focus too much on near-term emissions goals” and “diverting resources from the most effective things we should be doing to improve life in a warming world.”

That’s precisely what moderates, like economist Bjorn Lomborg, and most conservatives have said for years.

The chief goal should be “improving lives” — not trying to end all carbon-fuel use, especially when China is still relentlessly building coal plants.

Like Lomborg, Gates now acknowledges that greater “prosperity” can let mankind cope just fine as the planet warms: “The faster people become prosperous and healthy, the more lives we can save.”

The article concludes:

If Gates wants any credit for belatedly seeing the light, he needs to put maximum effort into getting the left’s climate warriors to wake up, too.

You Would Have More Leverage If You Won More Elections

Posted on by

Our system of government is set up on the principle of checks and balances. The Senate chose to add the filibuster to make sure that whichever party was in the minority would have some say in the laws that were being made. However, I really don’t think the purpose of the filibuster was to allow the whichever party was in the minority to shut down the government.

On Tuesday, Red State reported:

Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) just became the second Democrat to say the quiet part out loud as he admitted the Schumer shutdown is “very unpleasant” but the “only moment of leverage” his party has.

You don’t have leverage because the people did not vote for your policies!

The article notes:

“Frankly, this is our only moment of leverage, and although a very unpleasant tool to use, it’s gotten us focused on what we have to do to change direction on health care,” Coons said, referencing the Democrats’ lie about how millions of Americans would be thrown off healthcare in the coming years. 

But here’s what Coons doesn’t say. The Democrat forgot to explain that the shutdown is because Republicans won’t give billions to fund healthcare for illegal aliens. 

In a post from our sister site Townhall.com, it noted that Coons’ leverage comment is truly disgusting given the fact that “42 million Americans are going to go hungry and lose SNAP benefits this weekend… so Dems can have ‘leverage.'”

Democrat House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05) was the first one in her party to admit that the suffering of Americans was giving Democrats “leverage,” RedState reported.

If I were not a lady, I would tell them what they could do with their leverage.

The article concludes:

During his appearance on Fox News Tuesday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) reacted to Coons’ comment and said Democrats think they are playing a “political game,” but it’s not.

“They’re looking at this like it’s some sort of political game,” Thune said. “Where there are winners and losers of the political game. Whereas, we look at this as real impacts on real families and people in this country.”

“It becomes more real and the consequences become more real over time,” he added. “I mean, what they just said, they said the quiet part out loud. These people are looking at this as a political game, Martha [McCallum], and it’s not.”

When someone admits the truth, Americans would be wise to listen. They are playing a game with you — you are expendable as long as they get their way.

Voters, please take some of these Democrats out of office during the midterms.

We Have A Problem With Some Of Our Judges

Posted on by

In August, Iryna Zarutska was stabbed to death while riding the light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was killed by a a violent repeat offender who had been arrested 14 times and was STILL free. The North Carolina legislature passed Iryna’s Law in response to her murder. The law basically limits pretrial release of criminals. Well, evidently some judges have not learned from Iryna’s murder.

On Tuesday, Zero Hedge reported:

A federal magistrate judge appointed during the Biden administration earlier this week released the anarchist accused of posting a bounty targeting Attorney General Pam Bondi. 

The judge, Douglas Micko, allowed Tyler Maxon Avalos to be released from a Minnesota federal prison as long as he does not travel outside the state and undergoes GPS monitoring. 

Avalos was arrested on Oct. 16 after allegedly posting a $45,000 bounty on Bondi, alongside an image of her with a target symbol over her head. 

…The post included the caption, “*cough cough* when they don’t serve us then what?” 

According to prosecutors, Avalos’s TikTok profile used an anarchist symbol in place of the letter “A” in “Wacko.” The page also featured a link to “An Anarchist FAQ Book,” according to Law and Order. 

An FBI affidavit detailed Avalos’s lengthy criminal record, including a 2022 felony stalking conviction and a 2016 felony third-degree domestic battery.  

He was also charged in April 2016 with misdemeanor domestic assault, which was later upgraded to felony domestic assault by strangulation. 

Would the judge have let loose a criminal who threatened a Democrat? This is just asking for trouble.

The Law Of Unintended Consequences

Posted on by

The government shutdown continues. The Democrats refuse to pass a clean continuing resolution identical to thirteen that they have previously passed. The shutdown is on the Democrats–all but one Republican has voted to keep the government open. However, while the shutdown continues, we are learning some interesting things.

On Monday, The Gateway Pundit reported:

One aspect of the government shutdown that probably wasn’t anticipated by Chuck Schumer and other Democrats, is that it has revealed to the public just how many people receive food stamps.

Years ago, when the program was still called ‘food stamps’ it was seen as something that struggling families might use temporarily to get through a hard time. Then it was re-branded as the ‘SNAP’ program and destigmatized. People were encouraged to enroll. Now there are many more people using the program, many who probably don’t even really need it.

The longer the shutdown goes on, the more reports there are about this and it’s stunning to taxpayers who did not realize until now how incredibly huge this is.

The article quotes The Hill:

More than 40 million low-income food assistance beneficiaries are expected to receive less help with grocery bills — or no help at all — in the coming days.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is threatening to withhold billions of dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contingency funding, which Congress has already allocated for emergency scenarios, if the government shutdown stretches into November.

According to The Overton News:

“There are 42 million people in this country that need food stamps on a weekly basis.”

“And we’re saying ‘people’ deliberately instead of Americans because most of the people that are on food stamps aren’t even from this country.”

“45% of Afghanistan immigrants are on food stamps.”

“42% of Somali immigrants, 34% of every immigrant from Iraq, 23% of Haitians.”

“59% of ALL illegal aliens are collecting food stamps, meaning that most of the people getting food stamps from the U.S. Government and the U.S. Taxpayer are not even Americans.”

“Think about that.”

“And we didn’t know about any of this before the government shutdown started.”

“But thanks to Democrats, we can confirm tonight that millions of Joe Biden, illegal aliens, people who crossed the border when Joe was president, are now collecting food stamps from a program funded by hardworking American taxpayers.”

This country was built by immigrants who came here, worked hard, didn’t take money from the government, and contributed to the growth of America. I need someone to explain to me how the people who came here illegally and immediately took advantage of government programs are benefiting America.

These Are The Numbers

Posted on by

Om Tuesday, CNBC posted an article reporting that because the government is currently shut down, Automatic Data Processing (ADP) will now release a four-week average weekly change in employment with a two-week lag every Tuesday.

The article reports:

Private sector employers added an average 14,250 jobs per week over the past four weeks, according to new preliminary data being released by ADP, a turnaround from the negative September numbers.

Stepping into the void created by the government shutdown, ADP will now release a four-week average weekly change in employment with a two-week lag every Tuesday. Today’s number is the four-week average ended Oct. 11.

“ADP’s near real-time employment data, released weekly, will now provide an even clearer picture of the labor market at this critical time for the economy … providing a dynamic view of job creation and loss at an unprecedented level of weekly detail,” said Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP.

This preliminary data will be different from the better-known and closely followed National Employment Report, generally released on the Wednesday before the government’s payroll number. The NER measures the monthly change in job growth during the week that contains the 12th of the month and provides detail of job growth by sector.

I am looking forward to more accurate numbers than were previously reported by the government during the Biden administration.

Allowing Space For Fraud In Obamacare

Posted on by

On Tuesday, The Federalist posted an article about one aspect of Obamacare that is often unused and provides a gateway for fraud.

The article reports:

Obamacare failed to make health care more affordable. Every day the government shutdown lumbers on, more Americans are looking more closely at health care costs and learning just how damaging the impact of Obamacare has been.

The latest evidence comes from the Obamacare exchanges which have seen a spike in “zero-claim enrollees.” Because of irresponsible Biden-era policies, federal subsidies were increased during Covid. Health insurers received payments on behalf of 35 percent of enrollees—and 40 percent of fully subsidized enrollees—who did not use a single service for the time period they were covered. Zero-claim enrollment, which is more than double the rate in a typical health insurance market, is consistent with evidence of widespread fraud.

So the insurance companies were receiving money from the government on behalf of people who did not use the insurance. It is very possible widespread fraud was involved.

The article notes:

The main explanation for the rise in zero-claim enrollees is the tremendous amount of fraud and abuse endemic to Obamacare. The data does not lie. In 2025, there are more than 6.4 million ineligible people enrolled in a fully subsidized Obamacare plan—and in 15 states there are more than twice as many people enrolled in fully subsidized plans than are eligible. And the examples of the fraud are overwhelming, as a huge money-making apparatus from lead generators to unscrupulous agents and brokers to insurers made massive profits from the fraud. Millions have been enrolled without their consent or knowledge, falling victim to fraud schemes. 

Obamacare supporters and the health insurance industry cannot have it both ways. Those who downplay the fraud simply show that Obamacare is broken in other ways as the coverage does not translate into any care—not a single visit to the doctor, prescription filled, or lab test ordered. The reality is that both explanations indict the law. If millions of enrollees are fraudulent, taxpayers are being robbed. If such a large number of enrollees are real but not using any care, Obamacare’s central theory collapses—that generous subsidies and “free” preventive services would drive better health and savings. Either way, the system is failing on its own terms.

Sunsetting Obamacare subsidies is a good idea. The Democrats previously agreed to do that. Now the Democrats are trying to undo that (along with a number of other spending boondoggles) by shutting down the government. I would rather see the government continue to be shutdown than to ask American taxpayers to fund the Democrats’ list of demands.

Not All Democrats Support The Government Shutdown

Posted on by

On Monday, The Daily Caller posted an article about one union that is not supporting the current Schumer Shutdown.

The article reports:

Senate Democrats were dealt a severe blow on Monday morning when the country’s largest federal workers union called for a swift end to the government shutdown.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), a union representing more than 800,000 government workers, released an open letter calling on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his caucus to vote for a House-passed bipartisan spending bill to reopen the government. Schumer and a majority of Democrats have voted against a clean funding measure to reopen the government a dozen times — and will vote on a spending bill to end the shutdown for a 13th time as soon as Tuesday.

“It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today,” AFGE national president Everett Kelley said in a statement. “No half measures, and no gamesmanship. Put every single federal worker back on the job with full back pay — today.”

The article notes:

Monday marks Day 27 of the government shutdown that continues to stretch on despite mounting financial distress for Americans who receive federal paychecks or depend on federal food aid programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Congress has passed 36 continuing resolutions to fund the government rather than following the regular budget process since January 2009. During the Biden administration Congress passed 13 continuing resolutions. Trump derangement syndrome is about to cost people their food stamps and government checks.

The article concludes:

Senate Democrats, however, show few signs of relenting from their hardball tactics that have kept the government shuttered for one of the longest durations in American history. Schumer continues to demand an extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies — in addition to a bevy of costly left-wing priorities — in exchange for reopening the government.

Just three Democratic caucus members have crossed party lines to vote for the bipartisan spending measure. Republicans must get buy-in from an additional five Democrats in order to clear the Senate’s 60-vote threshold for government funding bills and end the shutdown.

Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has consistently voted against the bipartisan funding measure, arguing the bill does not do enough to cut spending.

A spokesperson for Schumer did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

Common Sense Is Winning

Posted on by

On Monday, The New York Post reported that President Trump congratulated Argentinian President Javier Milei for the gains he made in Argentina’s legislative elections. The opinion polls (surprise) had not predicted the win.

The article reports:

With partial results reported, Milei’s La Libertad Avanza had increased its seats in the Chamber of Deputies to at least 64 from 37 and gained at least six seats in the Argentine Senate.

“BIG WIN in Argentina for Javier Milei, a wonderful Trump Endorsed Candidate! He’s making us all look good,” Trump added on Truth Social. “Congratulations Javier!”

Recently, the Trump administration had done a $20 billion currency swap with Argentina in order to to stem a panic in which investors had been spooked by the poor performance of Milei’s party in the Sept. 7 Buenos Aires provincial election.

The article concludes:

Milei had spent his first two years in office with a minority in Argentina’s Congress. With his party’s victory on Sunday, he will have more breathing room to carry out his shock therapy agenda with less fear of legislators overriding his vetoes. 

Under the new government’s watch, monthly inflation plunged from 12.8% prior to Milei’s inauguration in December 2023 to 2.1% in September of this year. 

Milei himself is up for reelection in 2027.

If the courts and the Democrats would allow President Trump to do his job, we would see the same sort of success in America. We are already seeing a lot of success even with the efforts to ‘cancel’ President Trump.

Why?

Posted on by

Every time I think members of Congress can’t say anything dumber, they prove me wrong.

On Sunday, Fox News reported the following:

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said the next Democratic presidential nominee must vow to demolish President Donald Trump‘s White House ballroom, proposing the pledge a litmus test for the party’s 2028 contenders.

“Don’t even think of seeking the Democratic nomination for president unless you pledge to take a wrecking ball to the Trump Ballroom on DAY ONE,” Swalwell wrote on X on Saturday.

Swalwell’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital for additional comment.

For the first time in its history, the White House will have a formal ballroom, a new addition built where the East Wing once stood, a project that has become a political flashpoint as photos of the demolition fuel debate over President Trump’s mark on the historic residence.

On July 31, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the planned construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The sprawling ballroom will accommodate approximately 650 seated guests and will stay true to the classical design of the White House.

“The White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders in other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building’s entrance,” Leavitt said, adding the new ballroom will be “a much-needed and exquisite addition.”

I am not always a big fan of President Trump’s taste, but this ballroom is needed. Outdoor tents are tacky. Outdoor tents are much more tacky than any decor that can be put in the coming ballroom. I can’t help thinking that if former President Biden had done this, Representative Swalwell would have praised it.

There is another factor to consider when looking at the design of the ballroom. President Trump is a second-generation American. His grandparents on his father’s side came here from Germany and his mother came here from Scotland. Germany is the home of beautiful cathedrals and amazing art. America builds simple churches and simple buildings. I wonder how much of President Trump’s taste in architecture and decor is rooted in the culture of Europe.

Rebuking The Lies

Posted on by

On Sunday, The Gateway Pundit posted an article about an interview of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on ABC’s This Week.

The article contains text of some of the interview:

Martha Raddatz:
And today is day 26. I know you have been over there, but there has been a government shutdown here. People are suffering. Federal employees are starting to go to food banks. Any light at the end of the tunnel on that? Should the President be meeting with Democrats again?

Scott Bessent:
What good does it do, Martha? They’ve dug in. The American people are hostage to Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries’ poll numbers. Because what’s changed between now and the last time there was a clean continuing resolution is Chuck Schumer has tanked in the polls. Both of the two guys from Brooklyn, as I call them, are worried about being primaried from the left.

The article notes:

Bessent went on to remind viewers that Republicans have voted 11 times to reopen the government, while Democrats, led by Schumer and Jeffries, continue to hold the nation hostage for political gain.

The transcript continues:

Because, Martha, what I can tell you is—we managed to find the money in the middle of October to pay our brave service members, and I think we’ll be able to do it on November 1st. But we’re going to be out of money on November 15th, and for our military not to get paid is a disgrace.

The other thing that’s happening is this is starting to eat into the economy—starting to slow the economy—and we’re also starting to see there’s a problem with air traffic control. So it’s beginning to slow down our nation’s travel.

…Martha Raddatz:
But Secretary Bessent, I should add that the President’s party—your party—controls the White House and both chambers of Congress. You don’t think you bear any responsibility for this?

Scott Bessent:
Martha, what can we do? What can we do for this desperate act? We can call on them to change their minds. Because I can tell you—the $1.5 trillion in spending that they’re calling for—that’s not on the table.

We inherited a mess. We inherited the worst budget deficit-to-GDP ratio when we weren’t in a recession and we weren’t at war. It was 6.4%, 6.5%. We’ve managed to bring that down to 5.9%, and we’re not going to let them be irresponsible with the budget again.

I wonder if Scott Bessent will be invited on the show again! He may be punished for telling the truth!

One Fiscal Impact Of President Trump’s Immigration Policies

Posted on by

On Sunday, Breitbart posted an article about the amount of money flowing out of America to other countries via Western Union.

The article reports:

In another example of the Trump effect, money transfer giant Western Union is reporting that its revenue from cash transfers to locations outside the U.S. has seen a 12 percent decline this year.

Migrants living in the U.S. both legally and illegally have traditionally been the greatest source of U.S. dollars flowing out of America and into foreign nations, even dwarfing the amount of foreign aid lavished on the world by the U.S. government. But with Donald Trump’s focus on immigration, Western Union is seeing far fewer customers needing their services.

The money that flows out of America through the hands of illegal immigrants is money that is not being put into the American economy. Having a large number of people working in America and sending their earnings out of the country puts a drag on the American economy.

The article notes:

“Recent policy changes have led to a substantial decline in border crossings and an increase in enforcement actions including workplace inspections and deportations which have created uncertainty and hesitation within migrant communities. These developments continue to impact customer behavior,” McGranahan (Western Union CEO Devin McGranahan) said during the call with investors.

The loss of business sent Western Union’s stock down 15 percent this year.

The article concludes:

In January 2025, Nicaragua received $373.5 million in remittances, for instance. A World Bank report found that remittances amounted to 27 percent of Nicaragua’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024.

Other nations receiving huge amounts in cash sent home by foreign nationals living in the U.S. include El Salvador ($8.479 billion in 2024), Peru ($4.945 billion), Ecuador ($6.54 billion), and India ($135.46 billion).

By contrast, the U.S. government only lays out about $80 billion a year in direct foreign aid.

While many criticize foreign aid doled out by Congress, claiming that the U.S. doesn’t really benefit from the expenditures, remittances are fully a detriment to America. It is money that does not go to benefit our local stores, our schools, our cities, or anything else. It is cash summarily sent away to benefit other countries.

This is not small change.

Protecting The Public From Fraud

Posted on by

On Sunday, Townhall posted an article about the recent success of a combination of the U.S. Secret Service, alongside local law enforcement and state agency partners in ending a credit card skimming operation in Baltimore, Maryland.

The article reports:

Personnel visited 493 businesses and removed 22 illegal skimming devices, preventing an estimated potential loss of nearly $22.9 million. More than 3,000 point-of-sale terminals, gas pumps and ATMs were inspected.

Teams also distributed educational materials about Electronic Benefit Transfer fraud and skimming to businesses to help them better identify the warning signs of illegal skimming devices in their point-of-sale terminals, gas pumps and ATMs.

This outreach operation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, along with the Annapolis Police Department, Baltimore Police Department, Bel Air Police Department, Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, Harford County Sheriff’s Office and Howard County Police Department. Personnel from the Maryland Department of Human Services also took part in the operation.

The article concludes:

EBT fraud targets the nation’s most vulnerable communities. Each month, money is deposited into government assistance accounts intended to help families pay for food and other basic items. This enables criminals who steal card information to time their fraudulent withdrawals and purchases around the monthly deposits.

There are several precautions consumers can take to protect themselves:
• Inspect ATMs, point-of-sale terminals and other card readers. Look for anything loose, crooked, damaged, or scratched. Do not use a card reader if anything appears unusual.
• Whenever possible, use tap-to-pay technology or use debit and credit cards with chip technology.
• If using a debit card at a gas station, run it as a credit card to avoid entering a PIN number. If that is not an option, consumers should use their hand to hide their PIN to block scammers who may be using tiny pinhole cameras above the keypad area to record entries. Use ATMs in a well-lit, indoor location, which are less vulnerable targets.
• Be alert for skimming devices in tourist areas, which are popular targets.

Being an alert consumer can save you a lot of money and hassle!

Yes, Virginia, Non-citizens Do Vote

Posted on by

On Thursday, Just the News posted an article about the number of non-citizens voting in American elections.

The article reports:

The dual revelations that an illegal alien school administrator from Iowa made it onto the voter rolls in Maryland and that over 2,700 noncitizens escaped strict voter ID checks to qualify to vote in Texas are creating new momentum for creating a nationwide citizenship check system for elections.

“Many folks that come into my office will tell me, and anyone who will listen, this is the biggest issue in the country. Democrats don’t want tightly run elections,” Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., told Just the News on Thursday night. “We all know that they want as much room for, you know, fraud, as humanly possible.”

“So right now, in many states, you can just check a box and say you’re a citizen, and that’s it. What we’re fighting for is we’re actually fighting that you as a citizen have to prove that you’re a citizen of this country if you’re going to vote in our election,” he said during an interview on the Just the News No Noise television show.

Crane and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, are spearheading a campaign to mandate proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in upcoming federal elections.

The article concludes:

The notion and popularity of only lawful citizens voting in elections is not new.

In the late 1990s, Democrats, led by President Bill Clinton, firmly opposed non-citizen voting, which led to the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA). This law, passed with strong Democratic support (72-27 in the Senate, 370-37 in the House), criminalized non-citizen voting in federal elections, imposing fines, up to one year in prison, and deportation. Clinton framed it as a defense of legal residents and electoral integrity, reflecting the party’s unified stance that only citizens should vote in federal races.

Republicans have expressed identical sentiment in their fight to keep noncitizens off of voter rolls.

Using a Real ID would be a step in fighting this problem, although you can get a Real ID if you have a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) if you are a non-U.S. citizen. I suspect that very few of the people who are illegally voting in our elections have green cards. Using Real ID as voter identification might be a step in the right direction.

There’s Community Service And There’s Community Service

Posted on by

The idea of community service as a penalty for a criminal action is to impose a penalty of service to the community. Theoretically it allows someone to contribute to the community in some way to atone for their crime. Well, it doesn’t always work that way.

On Friday, The Federalist reported:

Democrat Jay Jones has found himself in hot water during the final weeks of his campaign to become Virginia’s top law enforcement officer. The closer to Election Day it gets, the scandals seem to keep piling up.

At around the same time he was fantasizing about assassinating Virginia’s former Republican House speaker and wishing death upon his children in 2022, Jones had a truly remarkable run-in with the state’s criminal-justice system. According to recent reports, the Democrat AG candidate is now under investigation for a 2022 reckless driving incident.

By way of background, Jones was clocked going 116 mph in a 70 mph stretch of highway and charged with reckless driving. While other defendants facing the same charge as he faced — with the “same initial hearing date as Jones” — reportedly got jail sentences, Jones got away with a fine and 1,000 hours of community service. (These defendants were even caught driving more slowly than Jones was, according to Cardinal News.)

Supposedly, Jones did that community service in 2023 — 500 hours at “Meet Our Moment” and 500 hours at the Virginia chapter of the NAACP. The first tranche of hours has caused considerable controversy and may be at the heart of the aforementioned criminal investigation.

Meet Our Moment is Jones’ own political action committee, founded to train Democrats to run for office. His hours were certified by an adviser of his, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. As noted by National Review, social media posts revealed Jones crisscrossed Virginia campaigning for Democrats in 2023, raising questions about whether such activities were counted as part of the 500 hours of “community service” he purportedly conducted with the group.

Perhaps equally interesting, however, is Jones’ “community service” time with the Virginia wing of the NAACP.

Unbelievable. And this man is running for Attorney General of Virginia. This is the equivalent of calling washing your car and cleaning your house community service. All of the law enforcement involved in this charade need to be investigated and held accountable. Aren’t the Democrats the ones who always remind us that ‘no one is above the law’?

Exploding Government Programs

Posted on by

Author:  R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D. 

We Americans have been warned about the dangers of big central federal governments, not only by the Founding Fathers, but more recently by President Ronald Reagan among others. Apparently, the warnings have gone unheeded, especially by the Marxist Left in our country, many of whom would rather be called “progressives” even though they are following the Marxist playbook. According to Karl Marx, a strong central government is critical to his theory of getting people dependent on the government rather than on themselves. Most of these dependency programs are initially sold to the people by appealing to their willingness to assist people who are in need and cannot help themselves. The Marxists then continue to expand these programs to more and more people, most of whom are fully capable of supporting themselves.

Let’s take a look at a few examples. Medicaid was initiated by the Democrats in 1966. The program was intended to assist children without parental support, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Within a couple of years there were 2 million Americans receiving Medicaid. Flash forward to 2024, there are now 89 million recipients of Medicaid. The expansion has added adults regardless of age, raised the income level to qualify, and expanded the definition of eligibility. Since 2020, the number of recipients has grown by 47%. The annual cost of Medicaid in 1966 was $900 million. It is now over $900 billion! Food Stamps (now called SNAP) again was started by the Democrats and was supposed to help the very poor and disabled. The number of recipients of food stamps in 1967 was 2.1 million; now it is 42 million. The cost of the food stamp program in 1967 was less than $2 billion dollars; it is now it is over $100 billion. Another example is the so-called Section 8 (Housing Voucher Program) This program, originally intended for struggling poor families, now pays up to $1700 per month for recipients, many of whom have incomes above the federal poverty level. It should be noted that 61% of current recipients do not have children. Also, many illegal aliens are accessing these programs.

What we have here is the classic Marxist strategy of the transfer of wealth from hard working tax payers to those who choose not to rely on themselves, but become wards of the government. The people advocating these program expansions, such as Rep. Alexandria Cortez from New York, claim that healthcare is not a privilege but rather a right! –a right that others must pay for. Of course there is no such right mentioned in the Constitution, but that does not matter to the Marxists who use giving free stuff to their supporters to get votes. We see this dependency during this ridiculous Schumer government shutdown, where recipients of food stamps are threatening to go into food stores and take what they need without paying. So much for these programs helping make people self-sufficient.

Meanwhile, the national debt keeps growing. It has now reached $38 trillion, which amounts to $327,000 per taxpayer. The largest expenditure in the federal budget is Medicaid/Medicare at $1.7 trillion. Just the annual interest on the national debt is now almost a trillion dollars a year ($970 billion). If you have not done so, go on the website: The National Debt Clock. This will provide a clear picture of what we are facing.

The question becomes, “Is it too late to turn things around?” Our country cannot survive as we have known it, if the value of the dollar collapses. Schumer and his Marxist buddies want to undo the cuts made by the Trump administration and fellow Republicans, and add back $1.5 trillion to the budget. Also, the Marxist candidate for mayor of NY City is running on more free stuff for the voters. This is not good for our country.

It will take extreme political courage for our elected officials to turn this around.

Unraveling the National Basketball Association Scandal

Posted on by

On Friday, Doug Ross posted an article at Substack about the scandal related to the National Basketball Association. The article lists twenty facts about the scandal. Some are truly disturbing.

Here are a few of the items stated in the article:

  • The FBI’s “Operation Nothing But Bet” and “Operation Zen Diagram” led to 34 arrests across 11 states in two intertwined schemes: one exploiting insider NBA information for illegal sports betting, and another rigging high-stakes underground poker games backed by four of New York’s “Five Families” (Bonanno, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese), highlighting the Mafia’s shift from traditional violent crimes to sophisticated tech-driven frauds like online betting scams. High tech included rigged card shufflers with hidden cameras to predict hands. Threats involved gunpoint robberies and extortion to collect gambling debts, with one incident where mobsters allegedly punched victims and sent messages like “Watch what’s good now” to intimidate payments. Link: CNBC.
  • Portland Trail Blazers head coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups was charged with wire fraud and money laundering for acting as a “face card” to lure high-rollers into rigged poker games in luxurious spots like Las Vegas and the Hamptons, where he was paid by the Mob to participate and sometimes instructed via text to intentionally lose hands to avoid suspicion. Advanced cheating tech featured X-ray poker tables allowing accomplices to see face-down cards remotely. In one crazy debt collection episode, a victim who lost $1.8 million was threatened with “a bunch of goons” showing up at the door. Link: The Athletic.
  • Miami Heat guard Terry “Scary Terry” Rozier was arrested for allegedly faking an injury during a March 2023 game against the Memphis Grizzlies, exiting after just nine minutes to manipulate prop bets on his underperformance, netting bettors over $200,000 in illicit gains. The scheme used encrypted messaging apps for sharing insider tips. One co-conspirator drove through the night to Rozier’s house to count and divide profits, while threats of physical harm were used against debtors, including ominous texts implying violence. Link: USA Today.
  • Former NBA player Damon Jones, a confidant of LeBron James, was implicated in both schemes, leaking non-public injury info about James before a February 2023 Lakers vs. Bucks game via text: “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out!” Tech involved special contact lenses to read marked cards in poker. Jones’ own gambling addiction reportedly cost him millions, leading to mob ties where debtors faced extortion like being punched or robbed at gunpoint to settle debts. Link: NBC News.

That’s just four of the twenty items listed. Please follow the link to the article and read the entire list. This is a sad day in American sports.

Following The Rules Saves Lives

Posted on by

On Friday, Breitbart posted an article about the recent deadly crash allegedly caused by an illegal migrant truck driver from India.

The article reports:

Jashanpreet Singh, 21, was charged Thursday by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office with three counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one count of DUI causing injury in the eight-vehicle pileup, ABC7 reported.

A Los Angeles County high school basketball coach and his wife were killed, with Pomona High School identifying the victims as Clarence Nelson and his wife, Lisa. The third victim’s identity was not publicly released by Friday. 

The article includes a statement by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy:

“My prayers are with the families of the victims of this tragedy. It would have never happened if Gavin Newsom had followed our new rules,” Duffy said in a statement obtained by Breitbart News. “California broke the law and now three people are dead and two are hospitalized. These people deserve justice. There will be consequences.”

A report from the Department of Transportation (DOT) shows every step where California let Singh obtain his CDL against the department’s policies put in place following the state’s “significant compliance failures” revealed by a recent audit that found that 25 percent of non-domiciled CDLs sampled were issued improperly. 

The article notes:

On June 27, then 20-year-old Singh, claiming to be an asylum seeker, was issued a restricted, non-domiciled CDL. The license included a “K restriction,” which limited him to in-state operation, DOT said.  

On September 26, Duffy formally notified California of its compliance failures after a department audit revealed the staggering amount of improperly-issued CDLs. To fix the issue, DOT required California to pause issuance of non-domiciled CDLs, identify all unexpired non-domiciled CDLs that fail to comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, and to revoke and reissue all noncompliant non-domiciled CDLs if they comply with the new federal requirements.

Please follow the link to read the entire article. Governor Newsom is attempting to put the blame on the federal government, but I don’t think that really works. The bottom line is that we have a lot of people in the country illegally who don’t speak English and are driving large trucks. That is not a good thing.

Elections Matter

Posted on by

The City of New Bern (where I live) is currently having a run-off election for Mayor and one of our Aldermen. I am familiar with all of the candidates after having attended a number of candidate debates. The results of this election will be significant for the city. One of the mayoral candidates is boosted on the Craven County Democrat Party page as being in support of No Kings Day. The other candidate has successfully run the city since 2022. An example of the difference leadership can make can be found in the contrast between the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Maryland.

On October 20, The Daily Signal reported:

Thanks to smart fiscal management, the Republican administration of Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears just mailed numerous Virginia households checks ranging from up to $200 and $400. 

This pleasant surprise for many of us heading into the holiday shopping season is indicative of the competent, prudent leadership that will fall by the wayside if Virginians fail to continue Richmond’s fiscally conservative leadership. 

Youngkin announced these checks—tax rebates—late last month for eligible taxpayers—up to $200 if they filed individually, and up to $400 if they filed jointly. Because of Virginia’s record job growth and capital investments under Youngkin totaling $140 billion, Virginia enjoyed surpluses for four straight years.

The article concludes:

Virginia and its neighboring state Maryland provide the perfect natural experiment in what would happen if conservatives lose the Virginia’s Governor’s Mansion. Maryland’s Democrat governor, Wes Moore, squandered outgoing Republican Larry Hogan’s budget surplus.

“For eight straight years, we balanced the budget without raising taxes—in fact, we cut taxes, tolls, and fees every single year, totaling $4.7 billion in relief,” Hogan wrote in a statement in August. “When we left office, Maryland was in the strongest financial position in state history, with a record $5.5 billion surplus.”

In an about face, this year, Moore raised taxes on the backs of Maryland taxpayers instead of sending out checks.

Virginia’s choice couldn’t be more clear: prudent, abundant economic growth with conservative leadership or fiscally reckless, resource squandering, tax-raising progressive failures. My fellow Virginians: Choose wisely.

Elections have consequences.

It’s Hard To Find Honest Reporting On This

Posted on by

North Carolina will now have new U.S. House of Representative districts. Most of the news articles I found about the changes made to the map focus on the idea that the Republicans redid the map to add a Republican seat. That may or may not be true, but let’s look at the before and after maps and see how they add up.

This is the new map:

This is the old map:

Which map looks gerrymandered?

District 1 is currently represented by a Democrat. The change in the map will make District 1 a more competitive district. However, there are no guarantees.

The Hysteria Continues

Posted on by

The political left’s hysteria over the addition of a ballroom to the White House continues. Those objecting choose to overlook the fact that the addition is paid for by private money and that the addition is needed to provide a place for larger gatherings. Meeting in tents outside because the White House is limited in the number of people it can host is simply not appropriate. There are not that many months when the climate of Washington, D.C., is all that comfortable outside–humidity, heat. and cold are normal occurrences. Those objecting also seem to forget that additions and changes to the White House have occurred multiple times over the years–paid for with taxpayer money.

On Thursday, Townhall reported:

New York AG Letitia James vowed to make a name for herself by prosecuting President Trump, vowing to “get” the former President and going so far as to try and seize his properties. Frank Luntz warned her that such a move would make Trump more popular with voters. Luntz was right, and now James is facing charges of mortgage fraud.

The Left is calling that prosecution a “weaponization” of our justice system. That’s adorable for a variety of reasons, of course. Enforcing the law is not a “weaponization” of anything, and Democrats spent years telling us “no one is above the law.”

What they meant by that, of course, is that Republicans aren’t above the law. Democrats, on the other hand, are.

Rather than learning from this — after all, many people warned them that weaponizing the government against Republicans would backfire — Democrats are doubling down.

Case in point: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries just vowed to investigate the people who made private donations to President Trump’s White House ballroom project.

The article notes:

Jeffries said, without evidence, that the donors were probably using the donations to curry favor with the Trump administration.

“More likely, this is part of what Donald Trump has been doing since day one of his presidency: running the largest pay-to-play scheme in the history of the country. And probably soliciting donations from people who’ve got business before the United States government,” Jeffries said.

“And all of this is going to have to be investigated. It will. All of this will have to be uncovered. It will. And these people are going to be held accountable, no matter how long it takes,” Jeffries continued. “And that’s a warning to all of these people participating in this scheming to manipulate taxpayer dollars and, of course, to destroy the people’s house. The White House belongs to the American people. It doesn’t belong to Donald Trump.”

Right. And 75 million Americans voted for Donald Trump to be president. It’s their house, too. Hakeem Jeffries went on MSNBC and threatened people who are making lawful donations to improve the White House.

President Trump was a successful businessman before entering politics. In the circle of people he hung around with, a donation of several thousand dollars is probably not even noteworthy. The idea that this is pay-to-play is ridiculous, particularly since the Democrats in Congress never seemed to question President Biden’s seemingly endless supply of funds.