Interesting perspective on Democrats and Evangelicals courtesy of Amy Sullivan

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/31/opinion/sunday/trump-evangelicals-christians-easter.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-left-region&region=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region

Another example of misplaced priorities in Education: Sports Teams over the arts.

Schools in this country, on average, spend more on sports programs then they do on Math education. When schools cut programs, they are more likely to cut the arts and/or increase class sizes. This is a misplaced priority among many public schools. In other countries around the world, athletics is viewed as important but it is sports leagues around towns and cities that promote sports teams, not the schools. Having students engaged in physical education and intramural sporting activities is important and should be maintained. But after school sports teams, when compared with investing in small classes in core classes or keeping a balanced art program, should not be given higher fiscal priority. Schools around the world have figured that out and along with longer school years and in some cases longer school days, are beating us in Math and Science. How is maintaining the status quo of putting school sports teams a priority over Math, Science, English, History, and the Arts going to help move this country forward? Just a thought to consider.


https://www.facebook.com/attn/videos/10216060309236050/UzpfSTM1MjU4NzE5ODE4MTE0MzoxNDM0NDEwNTkzMzMyMTI2/

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/10/the-case-against-high-school-sports/309447/

Shields and Brooks from 3/30/18

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/shields-and-brooks-on-veterans-affairs-ouster-census-citizenship-question

The latest from Robert Reich

https://www.facebook.com/WatchClassInSession/videos/588467638197531/UzpfSTM1MjU4NzE5ODE4MTE0MzoxNDM0NDEyMjk2NjY1Mjg5/

Video on the Paris Climate Agreement courtesy of VICE

https://www.facebook.com/VICE/videos/907372206089397/UzpfSTM1MjU4NzE5ODE4MTE0MzoxNDM0NzgwNzE5OTYxNzgw/

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Clay Bennett

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Adam Zyglis

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Mike Luckovich

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Lisa Benson

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Nick Anderson

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Jeff Danzinger

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Marshall Ramsey

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Gary Markstein

Editorial Poster courtesy of The Other 98 %

Idea of the Week; Creating Jobs by expanding our major league sports leagues

In honor of Opening Day of the 2018 Baseball Season, one jobs program to consider is the expansion of sports franchises in our major sports leagues. 

Would it not be cool to have Major League Baseball in New Orleans, Portland, Knoxville, Buffalo, or back in Montreal.

Or how about the return of National Football League franchises in St. Louis, San Diego, and eventually Oakland after the Raiders go to Las Vegas.

The expansion of sports franchises would create jobs and opportunities for achievement that would not exist otherwise. 

It is definitely a progressive idea to pursue that embraces free-market economics. It is a no lose situation. 

Documentary of the Week coming on 4/10/18 courtesy of Frontline

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/trumps-takeover/

Book of the Week coming out on April 3, 2018

The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America
by Timothy Snyder 

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Stephen Benson

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Gary Varvel

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Darren Bell

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Nate Beeler

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of RJ Matson

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Jack Ohman

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Matt Wuerker

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Lisa Benson

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Steve Sack

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Jimmy Marguiles

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Patrick Chappatte

Why are we even discussing Privatizing the V.A.?

The Veterans Administration needs more doctors and more medical facilities. It does not need privatization. These are the people who always serve, fight and get injured protecting the freedoms and lifestyles we take for granted. They should only receive the best care by the best doctors at the best medical facilities and not have to worry about waits or any out of pocket costs.

In fact, a case can be made that all people in our great country that work every day to protect us be it law enforcement or firefighters should be entitled to a Veterans Care type health care program. How many years did 9/11 first responders have to petition Congress for help with their medical issues resulting from the attacks that day? It was criminal that some of our "public" servants held them up for years while they suffered both physically and financially.

These people risk their lives every day to protect us. They deserve the best healthcare possible and they should not have to worry about how to cover the hospital bill they received while serving us.


https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/opinion/shulkin-veterans-affairs-privatization.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-right-region&region=opinion-c-col-right-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/bill-911-first-responders-finally-passes-congress

Again, what do these yutz's have against clean air and water? It is not like we can live without it.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/climate/epa-cafe-auto-pollution-rollback.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

President Trumps nominee to head the Veterans Administration is the same as when President Bush nominated Harriet Myers to be on the Supreme Court.

Remember when President Trump said during the campaign that he would get the best people to serve in his government. Well after a little over a year, the first team is already leaving en masse and a second team is coming on board. To honor the opening day of the 2018 Baseball Season, the problem is the first team was not exactly an all-star team of public service but this latest bunch of nominees is making those individuals look like Hall of Famers. While Dr. Ronald Jackson is undoubtedly a highly skilled physician who has done great service in the medical and military sectors, he has not been prepared to administer a cabinet agency. This is like when George W. Bush thought Harriet Myers would be a good addition to the Supreme Court. We know where that nomination went. Dr. Jackson, for all his strengths, should not be confirmed as the next Secretary for Veterans Affairs. There are many more qualified individuals who could serve in that capacity and would be willing to serve. President Trump's first question should be "Can he or she do the job," not "Does he or she look good on television?"



https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-pick-to-head-veterans-department-faces-skepticism-over-his-experience/2018/03/29/b2677c4e-335d-11e8-94fa-32d48460b955_story.html?utm_term=.1020b04310bb

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2016/09/15/trump-ill-choose-the-best-people-for-my-administration.html

The latest from Paul Krugman

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/opinion/ronny-jackson-trade-trump.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-right-region&region=opinion-c-col-right-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region

The latest from Robert Reich

https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/videos/1908637432482177/UzpfSTM1MjU4NzE5ODE4MTE0MzoxNDMyOTUzMzgzNDc3ODQ3/

Great Ideas on Reforming Education courtesy of The Center for American Progress

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/education-k-12/reports/2018/03/28/448156/7-great-education-policy-ideas-progressives-2018/

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Adam Zyglis

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Kevin Kalluagher

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Robert Ariail

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Steve Sack

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Jimmy Marguiles

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Gary Huck

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Jimmy Marguiles

Editorial Poster courtesy of Jean Sargent

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Jack Ohman

We need to have a Plan to Balance the Budget and Reduce our National Debt

This country has a revenue problem.

This country has a spending problem.

This is all good news for the people and countries that hold our 21 trillion dollars in debt.

When President Reagan was sworn in in 1981, the Nation's Debt was approximately one trillion dollars. What took 200 years of American Governments to accumulate, the next 37 years of our nation's leaders duplicated 20 times over like college students getting their first credit cards and not knowing how to control their spending urges.

We need to adopt a Progressive Plan to reduce our debt and balance our budget. It will be gradual and it will take time and there will be some pain but it could still be accomplished along with prudent investments in education, technology (green preferably), infrastructure, our safety net, safe communities, and healthcare/retirement security. This would include:

1) Higher taxes on the wealthy and businesses
2) Increasing the payroll income limits on Social Security and Medicare.
3) Increasing the retirement age gradually to 70 for able-bodied individuals.
4) A national sales and gas tax that kicks in after a certain purchase threshold.
5) Cutting our national defense budget while still modernizing our military.
6) Cutting corporate welfare.
7) A National Lottery

These steps would help bring our nation's finances to balance. Our country can not have a sustained long-term financial future if we do not address this issue. Eventually, interest rates will start to go up if we continue on this debt path. Democrats and Progressives need to include this with their other plans to move our country forward.

Where is the Infrastructure Plan and why is the President not pressuring his own party?

It looks like there is not going to be any grand Infrastructure Plan this year to rebuild our nations roadways, rail lines, shipping, and airlines. While there have been substantial nuggets thrown into bills like the omnibus spending budget one that passed last week and local and state governments are taking up some of the responsibility, there appears to be no grand design or vision to project where and how to modernize our country which is very sad for us as a nation. Democrats have rightfully said that the federal government has not committed enough resources to any infrastructure plan and Republicans think the Trump Plan calls for too much federal funding. If the President could somehow get infrastructure funded through tax cuts, Republicans would be falling over themselves to sign up. This is a national priority that both sides need to find solutions on. Our future as a great power depends on it.

http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/infrastructure/380707-trump-takes-infrastructure-pitch-to-ohio-as-sweeping

Interesting Video on comparing aspects of a Social Democratic System versus a Free Market System. There are Pros and Cons to both sides.

https://www.facebook.com/TheNationMagazine/videos/10154478297006116/UzpfSTM1MjU4NzE5ODE4MTE0MzoxNDMyMDE4MTc2OTA0NzAx/

Interesting Video on Modern Nuclear Energy courtesy of The Third Way

https://www.facebook.com/ThirdWayThinkTank/videos/10155122579905563/UzpfSTM1MjU4NzE5ODE4MTE0MzoxNDMyMDIxMjA2OTA0Mzk4/

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Joe Heller

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Dan Wasserman

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Dave Granlund

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Clay Bennett

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Adam Zyglis

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Jim Morin

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of RJ Matson

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Jack Ohman

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Jimmy Marguiles

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Steve Benson

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Mike Luckovich

Editorial Poster courtesy of The Third Way

If this were any other President in the Modern Era.

As the pundits have pointed out, on the surface, asking someone if they are a citizen of this country (or any country) during a nation's census makes sense because the countries representatives are voted on by citizens. However, as with everything else since President Trump eked out an electoral college victory (while losing the popular vote: it never gets old to remind people), positions and policy mostly take an alternate reality course. If any modern President in the modern era (say Truman forward) wanted to include this question on the census (and the question was on it up until the 1950's), no one would question the motives of the President or his/her surrogates. Not so with President Trump. Everyone is so concerned that he would use that question as a way to go house to house trying to uncover illegal aliens, there is a fear that some states will lose out on their census numbers. If that is the goal of the Trump people. If that is their goal (and it probably is), Blue California, Nevada, and New Mexico would not be the only states to lose representation. Red bastions like Arizona, Utah, Texas, Alabama, and Florida (Purple during Presidential Elections) would be included in that equation as well. You can not have it both ways Mr. President.


https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/27/us/census-citizenship-question.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Steve Sack

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Matt Wuerker

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Adam Zyglis

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Patrick Chappatte

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Mike Luckovich

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Steve Benson

Editorial Cartoon courtesy of Patrick Chappatte

Our Teachers Deserve a Living Wage and great health and retirement benefits. They are the ones shaping the future generations.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/3/23/1751543/-AZ-Gov-David-Garcia-D-Continues-To-Hammer-Ducey-R-For-Refusing-To-Give-Teachers-A-Livable-Wage

http://www.governing.com/topics/workforce/gov-state-employee-health-care-reserve-kentucky-west-virginia-strike.html

Editorial Poster courtesy of Occupy Democrats

Editorial Poster courtesy of NBC News