I remember one year, a well-known Morris businessman came into the Sun Tribune office and engaged in a little idle conversation re. the Vikings in the ad manager's office. I heard him refer to the "coloreds" on the Vikings team. The people willing to make references like this are fading from society, for sure. But they retain enough of an influence to keep President Trump propped up to a degree. They are his foundation, the people who refer to "the coloreds."
The Sun Tribune employee in the office smiled through the chat in the spirit, I'm sure, of humoring the individual because he was an advertiser. Advertising money rules in such businesses.
Many of us are wondering how history will ultimately record the Trump presidency. It's in the spirit of "once all this blows over." Such speculation is on the increasingly shaky assumption that the U.S. can even survive this stage in our history. Trump continually shatters norms like how you're not supposed to try to interfere with the Federal Reserve. Trump is walking all over that in spades.
Maybe historians will be perplexed someday about why there wasn't more of a revolt from the truly sensible people in society, and that includes a lot of Republicans. Respected conservatives run a great risk at present of being marginalized if they show skepticism about Trump. They seem literally intimidated into silence in many cases. Worse yet, they can be intimidated into submission or acquiescence with the absurd human being who occupies the presidency.
I remember several years ago telling friend Brent Waddell that I felt Neil Cavuto of Fox News had "a trace of humanity." I watched closely because even though Cavuto seemed to "tow the line" a great deal with Fox News, he didn't seem to be blind about it. His conservative sensibilities seemed tempered by a genuine caring about what was right and wrong. Yes, he had an "absolute" about keeping taxes as low as possible. He did an April Fool's gag more than once, as I recall, where he stated a new receptiveness to taxes - then came the April Fool's message. In Cavuto's eyes, limited taxes was partnered with reining in spending.
Look at the national deficit under Trump. Has there been any restraint in spending? I asked friend Dan Pagel, a good old tea partier who felt Jeb Bush could be judged part of "the swamp," if the deficit would be any higher under Jeb than under Trump. The Trump apologists these days, like Rush Limbaugh, seem to shrug and say it's a fool's errand trying to contain the deficit, like it just can't be done. Limbaugh is a professional entertainer and he knows he'll be finished if he criticizes Trump. Psychologists have a term for this: "learned behavior." My term would be "racist-inspired." Shall we throw in "Stockholm syndrome?"
To you racists I'll say that racism is never going to win in the end, so just get over it. Better yet, learn to love all humanity.
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| Neil Cavuto |
Trump says "the tariffs are not being paid for by our people" but "by China." Trump further says that of the "billions" he claims we're getting from China now, a part of it is being given to American farmers. He says "the farmers, they came out totally whole." I'd ask farmers "are you tired of winning yet?"
Cavuto's response to the president's assertions: "I don't know where to begin." He continued: "Just to be clarifying, China isn't paying these tariffs. You are."
The latest round of tariffs that begin on September 1, on $300 billion worth of goods at ten percent, "that will be felt by consumers directly," Cavuto says.
The Fed chairman made his first public statement about the probability of lowering interest rates, when Trump was threatening the tariffs on Mexico. Those tariffs were cancelled but a good case of jitters set in. Now the Fed may be in the process of a continual rate reduction cycle, which began as "insurance" for the economy in the event the trade war exacts a toll. The interest I get on bank CDs may drift down to near zero, so Trump is now having a direct effect on my life.
I will not be able to give as much money to my church, but since it's a "liberal" ELCA church, a church that believes in climate change theory and accepts gay people on equal terms, Trump supporters couldn't care less. They'd probably like to see the ELCA die. Well, it's in a process of decline anyway.
If Christianity didn't even exist in America, Donald Trump would not be our president. Think about that.
With football getting closer, I'm thinking again about the businessman who came into the Sun Tribune talking about "the coloreds" on the Vikings. He's retired now but once sold pressure washers in Morris.
Addendum thoughts: If a "tax cut" is paid for by borrowing, does it really accomplish anything? And, Fox News seems surprisingly receptive to Obamacare now, because the insurance companies see this system is better for them, than what is being suggested by many Democrats. The "talking heads" are getting talking points from the insurance company heavy-hitters.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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