Trump Must Resign

For the good of the country

Policy of Detente with Russian should continue under new President

A Simple Proposal

In his landmark book, Move Fast and Break Things, author Jonathan Taplin quotes a letter of Thomas Jefferson from Paris where he was stationed back to James Madison who was serving at the Constitutional Convention.  Jefferson was concerned that there was no bill of rights proposed.  He wrote:

I will now add what I do not like.  First, the omission of a bill of rights, providing clearly, and without the aid of sophism, for freedom of  religion, freedom of the press, protection against standing armies, restriction against monopolies [emphasis added], the eternal and unremitting force of the habeas corpus laws, and trials by jury in all matters of fact triable by the laws of the land, and not by the laws of Nations.

This shows clearly Jefferson's concern that among the other  rights, a restriction against monopolies was necessary.  Jefferson had witnessed the monopolies of the English companies in the new world and knew how excessive power from monopolies as such was as great a threat as restrictions on freedom of the press or religion.   But Hamilton, representing as he did the big New York financial interests, objected strenuously and the "restriction of monopolies" was not adopted.  It was not until the anti-trust laws more than one hundred years later that protections against trusts and combines were written into law.

Sadly, more than anyone else, Robert Bork helped to enshrine a new doctrine of supposed "consumer welfare" as the test by which all proposed anti-trust actions would be judged.  That is, as long as prices were falling, Wal-Mart could take over the whole retail economy, as far as he was concerned.   Left out of his procedure was any concern for over-concentration of political power or predation.*

So, the anti-trust laws have essentially been put on the shelf, only trotted out from time to time for the biggest mergers, and even then only in the context of "consumer welfare."

The relevant portion in Chapter 6 of Move Fast and Break Things is well worth the reading.

But this problem could be taken care of by simply adopting an Amendment to the Constitution which would do little more than restore Jefferson's original proposal to restrict monopolies.  But this time, said restriction would be in the Constitution itself.  We could do this.  In fact, we must do this or its equivalent.   Otherwise, corporations will increasingly run rough-shod over our laws and the Constitution itself.  



*see quotation of Robert Reich, p. 112 

This Explosive Week

U. S.  LEADERS, PUBLIC BEGIN TO RESTORE DEMOCRATIC NORMS

Regular readers here will have noticed I have been silent all week amidst unprecedented political intrigue in Washington, D.C.   And even tonight comes news that the U.S. special diplomat to Ukraine has resigned.

The reason for the silence is this:  Since ever so many lives are affected by this unfolding crisis, and since there are seemingly limitless details, it has seemed prudent to wait and evaluate before commenting here.   After all, this is a blog, and not a monthly magazine like The Atlantic.

However, I will say the governmental whistle-blower, whose name has not been released, is to be congratulated as a true American hero.  Coming forth as he did allows the American people and their leaders to have a fairly clear picture of what has been going on in the Presidency these last days.

At the same time, since my views are not necessarily the views of the major media or either political party in the U.S., I will maintain my reserve at this time.

All I can say is the house of smoke and mirrors is a little less dark tonight than it was even a few days ago.  It is enough for us to keep our eyes open -- wide and ever so eager. 

OML's Well-being Focus of Former White House Aide's Concern

But if a clinical diagnosis is beyond my own expertise, Trump’s psychological impairments are obvious to all who are not willfully blind. On a daily basis we see the president’s chaotic, unstable mind on display. Are we supposed to ignore that?

                                                                                                                -- Peter Wehner

Former White House official Peter Wehner comments and cajoles us into both settling down and standing up.   This is no small feat.  

We must do both -- and fast.

Atlantic Monthly article on line:   

It's in Plain Sight: Something Is Wrong With the President 

As OML Escalates Border Wall Funding Push, Lawsuits Remain

Even as Our Military Leader squeezes the lemons harder for more juice, lawsuits against his politically motivated border wall continue and even increase.  The latest appears to come from the state of Washington. Below is a concise article about another lawsuit which seeks to stop the building on environmental grounds.

Building of Border Wall Halted, Delayed:
One of Many Lawsuits Against Trump Border Wall

Hillary Rodham Clinton Impeachment Memo Again Relevant

Hillary Rodham, second from left

Quick Link --

A memo Hillary Rodham wrote in 1974 on impeachment is once again being looked to as instructive for House members interested in impeachment.  


H. Clinton Impeachment Memo Again Useful 

For Republicans, Vote Suppression Starts With Voter Purging

It is well to remember that the U.S. Constitution contains no right of citizens to vote for President.

Yet, voters can and do vote for House members and Senate members, and even indirectly for President.

How is it that last year alone 14 million -- that's million -- voters were purged from the voting rolls in the United States.  It is this which is the big scandal of our times -- not Russia.  Yet, why are most Americans ignorant of this fact?  And who or what has done the purging?  Internationally known journalist Greg Palast has done the research and has the facts. 

The Republican Assault on Voter Rights

Just like in Alcoholics Anonymous, the first thing you have to do is admit the problem… We have to admit that we as Americans, and our officials, are purging legitimate voters from the voter rolls and blocking Americans from voting. 

                                                                           --  Journalist Greg Palast 

Geo-Engineering: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

Geo-Engineering: An Example to Save the Planet

The link above leads to a very interesting article on how the Sahara Desert region of Africa could potentially be used to actually lower earth sea level rise due to global warming, as well as help power the world's electricity grid.

Very much recommended

Hurricane Dorian Fatigue

The Hurricane named Dorian is pummeling The Bahamas for seemingly interminable hours, as Florida and the Southeast coast of Florida wait seemingly interminable days for the long-feared storm to come ashore, if it does at all.

As the cable TV channels dig into the details of the cyclone, the larger questions about stronger and stronger storms due to global warming continue. 

"I'm a Genius." Really?

Quick Link --

Real geniuses don't have to announce the fact, says former speech writer for Jimmy Carter.   


How Actual Smart People Talk About Themselves
(This does not include the most famous self-declared "really smart person.")

What Kind of Man Is John Hickenlooper?

The Democratic nomination race has lost a person with gubernatorial experience.  Now he is running for Senator.   Democratic Campaign Watch asks what kind of man John Hickenlooper really is. 


Direct Link:
https://democampaignwatch.blogspot.com/

Watergate Forty(-five) Years On

At the link below you can watch an interview with PBS program hosts as they describe their coverage of the Watergate hearings.   For many, the Watergate hearings were a seminal influence.



https://youtu.be/YxCASPRMZb8

Market Inversion, German Economic Decline: What Does It All Mean?

Rush Post --

The Guardian Newspaper Explains -- 


This item was originally posted at Patriot in Exigency

New Investigation of World Trade Center Building Collapse Called for By City Fire Commisioners

This is an important development in the saga of 9/11/01 investigations.  We are getting nearer to the truth.  

New Investigation of the Collapse of Building 7 in World Trade Center Called for By Fire Commisioners

The Greatest Legal Hoax

The title can be taken in more than one way.  But here, I mean to say that there is a certain legal fiction which has taken hold in these states that a corporations has most of the rights of an in-the-flesh person under the Constitution.

The web site below shows otherwise!


http://poclad.org/