Trump is also point blank manipulating the stock market for certain investor capitalists (his family and other insiders) who are making a bundle with every "misstep" Trump makes. It isn't even complicated, it's simple stock market manipulation imposed by a career criminal who has slithered his way into the best imaginable position to steal on a nearly universal scale with impunity. He is after all a criminal, and so what we expect from him is crime, and that is what we are getting, every day. Everyone not on Trump's "OK" list is a mark, a victim, and that list changes at his whim. If Wal Mart suffers too much, he can cut them a "deal," a break, and their stocks will suddenly rise. What a trick. Is anyone really fooled?
On a similar note I am so disappointed about the reversal of the paid sick time that was voted in in Missouri. The state says it will hurt businesses. What about people who have sick children or are sick themselves? Why don't companies realize that workers who are not stressed out about losing their jobs when they have to miss work are more likely to be better performers and more loyal to their jobs. Disgruntled people often find ways to get back. I for one am going to boycott businesses headquartered in Missouri.You can find a list on Google.
Missouri has been run into the ground by Repubs and the latest shenanigans over sick leave has many of us furious. I am still trying to figure out why people who vote for sick leave and an increased minimum wage can turn around and re-elect Josh Hawley. Life has many mysteries.
If you want to boycott MO companies, here are a few to start: Anheuser-Busch, Andy’s Frozen Custard, and Bass Pro.
Good comment, Hamilton. It led me to muse on a quite different topic. I've been thinking about the monopolization of the big tech companies and the attempt to deal with Amazon's predominance through anti-trust legislation. The remedy, if a huge corporation is found to be a monopoly, has been to break up the corporation into different, smaller entities, as happened with Standard Oil in 1911, and AT&T in the 80s. I wonder whether a better threat and alternative remedy would be to require that 51% ownership be transferred to the government, in this way generating future revenue for the public good.
I don't disagree but I also feel like America functioned as well as it ever did under FDR whom many described as a strongman at the time. Wouldn't it have been cool if Obama had gone strongman on the banks or the health insurance industry?
Maybe not "strongman" but its usual definition, but something more aggressive re: The Supreme Court: fight harder for Garland, and for Ginsberg to step down while he was still in office.
Amen. Also, clear and to the point. So sad that many don't see this reality, but they're beginning to see it and will soon see and experience the tidal wave knocking them down and maybe--since Trump and his pals seem to enjoy doing this--killing lots of children as he makes people poorer and poorer and makes sure that there is no healthcare worth a damn. He hates America and loves only himself. Who knows who the puppet master behind this "strongman" really is.
Greater piece than normal except for one tiny quibble: Let’s say Trump blocks businesses from passing on the increased costs of tariffs: That helps Walmart employees specifically and workers how? Further complicating the concept of Trump’s frequent failure to commit.
And anyone who thinks he’s the man to do anything good for the masses please. Get your BS detector fixed because it obviously isn’t working.
It would seem that this “strong man rules” idea has been accepted for longer than people realize. Whenever we have criminal, impeachable behavior in the White House it’s ignored, forgiven, and let’s face it, accepted by both Congress and the people:
Nixon was pardoned, Reagan’s Iran-Contra skullduggery was quickly forgotten , Bush II invading Iraq, and torture was taken as an “oh well” and then approved, when Obama subsequently refused to prosecute, and he himself as POTUS assassinated American citizens without due process, (al-Awlaki and his grandson), business as usual, evidently. Its not as if Trump suddenly appeared out of nowhere like the Big Bang, this country long ago watched this black hole grow and now we have a leader sucking the life out of the country for his own self aggrandizement.
It’s clear we have to start paying attention. We meaning the people. Its obvious our political leaders aren’t too worried about strong man when their party is in power. IMO, the next president, no matter the party, will be another strong man.
Thanks for this explanation. The "laid off coal miner" you referred to will likely not read your excellent explanation of capitalism, but they will read their checkout receipts from Walmart. It is horrible to think of the suffering coming America's way but the true defeat of Trump will be from all those workers who voted for him staring at their pay stubs, tax bills, and grocery receipts.
Trump is also point blank manipulating the stock market for certain investor capitalists (his family and other insiders) who are making a bundle with every "misstep" Trump makes. It isn't even complicated, it's simple stock market manipulation imposed by a career criminal who has slithered his way into the best imaginable position to steal on a nearly universal scale with impunity. He is after all a criminal, and so what we expect from him is crime, and that is what we are getting, every day. Everyone not on Trump's "OK" list is a mark, a victim, and that list changes at his whim. If Wal Mart suffers too much, he can cut them a "deal," a break, and their stocks will suddenly rise. What a trick. Is anyone really fooled?
Well put, Hamilton.
Very lucid article. Thank you
On a similar note I am so disappointed about the reversal of the paid sick time that was voted in in Missouri. The state says it will hurt businesses. What about people who have sick children or are sick themselves? Why don't companies realize that workers who are not stressed out about losing their jobs when they have to miss work are more likely to be better performers and more loyal to their jobs. Disgruntled people often find ways to get back. I for one am going to boycott businesses headquartered in Missouri.You can find a list on Google.
Missouri has been run into the ground by Repubs and the latest shenanigans over sick leave has many of us furious. I am still trying to figure out why people who vote for sick leave and an increased minimum wage can turn around and re-elect Josh Hawley. Life has many mysteries.
If you want to boycott MO companies, here are a few to start: Anheuser-Busch, Andy’s Frozen Custard, and Bass Pro.
Keen crystallization here. I would have everyone read it!
Good comment, Hamilton. It led me to muse on a quite different topic. I've been thinking about the monopolization of the big tech companies and the attempt to deal with Amazon's predominance through anti-trust legislation. The remedy, if a huge corporation is found to be a monopoly, has been to break up the corporation into different, smaller entities, as happened with Standard Oil in 1911, and AT&T in the 80s. I wonder whether a better threat and alternative remedy would be to require that 51% ownership be transferred to the government, in this way generating future revenue for the public good.
I don't disagree but I also feel like America functioned as well as it ever did under FDR whom many described as a strongman at the time. Wouldn't it have been cool if Obama had gone strongman on the banks or the health insurance industry?
Maybe not "strongman" but its usual definition, but something more aggressive re: The Supreme Court: fight harder for Garland, and for Ginsberg to step down while he was still in office.
I don't want to get into it about lawyer stuff but absolutely the Garland thing was the polar opposite of strongman behavior.
Amen. Also, clear and to the point. So sad that many don't see this reality, but they're beginning to see it and will soon see and experience the tidal wave knocking them down and maybe--since Trump and his pals seem to enjoy doing this--killing lots of children as he makes people poorer and poorer and makes sure that there is no healthcare worth a damn. He hates America and loves only himself. Who knows who the puppet master behind this "strongman" really is.
Greater piece than normal except for one tiny quibble: Let’s say Trump blocks businesses from passing on the increased costs of tariffs: That helps Walmart employees specifically and workers how? Further complicating the concept of Trump’s frequent failure to commit.
And anyone who thinks he’s the man to do anything good for the masses please. Get your BS detector fixed because it obviously isn’t working.
It would seem that this “strong man rules” idea has been accepted for longer than people realize. Whenever we have criminal, impeachable behavior in the White House it’s ignored, forgiven, and let’s face it, accepted by both Congress and the people:
Nixon was pardoned, Reagan’s Iran-Contra skullduggery was quickly forgotten , Bush II invading Iraq, and torture was taken as an “oh well” and then approved, when Obama subsequently refused to prosecute, and he himself as POTUS assassinated American citizens without due process, (al-Awlaki and his grandson), business as usual, evidently. Its not as if Trump suddenly appeared out of nowhere like the Big Bang, this country long ago watched this black hole grow and now we have a leader sucking the life out of the country for his own self aggrandizement.
It’s clear we have to start paying attention. We meaning the people. Its obvious our political leaders aren’t too worried about strong man when their party is in power. IMO, the next president, no matter the party, will be another strong man.
WE need to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Thanks for this explanation. The "laid off coal miner" you referred to will likely not read your excellent explanation of capitalism, but they will read their checkout receipts from Walmart. It is horrible to think of the suffering coming America's way but the true defeat of Trump will be from all those workers who voted for him staring at their pay stubs, tax bills, and grocery receipts.