What Republicans Offer the American People?

By Terry AmRhein

Author of Democracy on the Edge

Available at www.amrheinsbooks.com

 

What is the Republican Party offering the American People?  What is the Republican plan for revising Campaign Financing that allows large businesses to contribute literally unlimited funds to advertisements for their favorite candidate?  With so much money and power concentrated in the hands of the few, the voice of people gets drowned out.

 

What is the Republican plan for rebalancing the tremendous wealth inequality that exists in this country?  A situation where the wealthiest 20% of the population own about 90% of the nation’s wealth.   Is their plan to reinforce “trickle-down economics” of Reagan’s era, a plan that exacerbated the wealth inequality in the first place?    Is their plan to provide the richest with more tax breaks and more favorable government legislation, such as the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act (that then allowed investment banks to use people’s saving accounts for purchase of riskier corporate securities) or the weakening of the Security and Exchange Commission that overviews the securities market?   Is their plan to increase exemptions for estate taxes which is already almost $5.5 million?

 

What about Social Security and Obamacare?  Absolutely the Republicans will repeal Obamacare and remove health insurance for the 14 million people who got health care since start of the plan.  And what will these 14 million people be left with?  The Republicans have no plan. 

 

As for Social Security, the Republicans will privatize the plan.  Social Security has been in existence since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s time.  It has worked well and is financially solvent until the 2020s.  After 2021, cost will exceed income.  But with a few changes, increasing the retirement age for example, the plan could remain solvent for years.  Republicans want to privatize it saying that private business could do better.  Really!  The administrative costs for Social Security is 0.8% (less than 1%) and has been for decades.  Republicans know this, but their priority is making money for finance industry.  

 

It is understandable that people are tired of a dysfunctional congress, which has done very little since Obama’s first two years as president.  That is a shame!  But people are reacting emotionally, not logically.  Who has caused the gridlock?  Who caused the government shutdown in 2011 and 2013?  Who has caused the failure of any legislation on global warming or immigration, a bill that was ready for a vote in the House until Leader Banner pulled out?  Who now is refusing to vote on a Supreme Court replacement despite of the Constitutional requirements?  The answer is Republicans.  And those that vote for Republicans, are voting for exactly the same people who caused the dysfunction, they are voting against their own self.  No wonder the Republican debates are so childish.

 

Democracy on the Edge, A discussion of Political Issues in America

Available at www.AmrheinsBooks.com

Let’s Make America Great Again

By Terry AmRhein,

Author of Democracy on the Edge

available at www.amrheinsbooks.com

 

 

Let’s make America great again is Donald Trump’s hallmark quote.  What the hell is he talking about!  America’s unemployment rate is presently 4.9%.  That is phenomenal.  The unemployment rate in good times is generally considered to be 5.5%.  We’re at 4.9%! 

            There is an estimated 14 million people who have health care today, who didn’t have it in 2010 when Obamacare was passed.  That’s got to be a great thing for our country, even if you don’t like Obamacare.  Today anyone who is under 26 years old can stay on their parent’s healthcare plan thus providing younger individuals without jobs the opportunity to continue having health care.  Today, no one can be refused health insurance because they have a pre-existing disease.  This also has got to be a great thing.  Having health care reduces deaths of people with chronic diseases that could be helped if they have medical care.  In 2009, the American Journal of Public Health estimated that 44,800 die each year because of lack of heath care.  This reduction in deaths must be a great thing.  Also, although most people don’t know it, but people with heath care a paying over $1000 per year to provide emergency room services to those without heath care, according to News Week magazine.  All of these must be great things.

            Now look at the economy. In 2014, the GDP of the US was 17,419 trillion, the highest ever!  GDP per capita was $46,405.26, the highest ever!  (These figures from the World Bank.)  The GDP of China, $10.355 trillion. America’s GDP is second to the European Common Market at $18.514 trillion with China coming in fourth. America’s economic growth must be a great thing.    

            Our military is the strongest in the world.  Based on money spent, we are projected to spend $598.5 billion dollars in 2015.  This represents 37% of the total military spending throughout the entire world.  We spend more money that the next 9 highest nations combined.  This includes China, Japan, Germany, Great Britain, France, Saudi Arabia, India, South Korea and Russia.  And don’t just think that all that money is wasted buying $10,000 toilets.  The weaponry we possess is awesome.  No one else can match us.  But spending a lot of money is not necessary the deciding factor in world conflicts.  Knowing what weapons are needed in a given situation and being able to apply those weapons is also an important factor.  Removing Osama Bin Laden proves we have the capacity and the know-how. 

 

            Putting troops on the ground however, is a path that will lead to disaster.  Haven’t we learned anything from Iraq and Afghanistan?  Once you get into a Mideast war, you can’t extract yourself.  A better approach is to take the long term approach.  Form a coalition of nations, European and Mid-eastern and, over time, destroy ISIS’s support.  To paraphrase Mao Zedong, a person who knew a little about terrorism, “terrorists are like fish, remove the water and the fish will die.”  Shouting “let’s make America Great again” might arouse Trump’s manhood and may sound good in television sound bites but it definitely won’t lead to greatness.      

Do Hillary Clinton’s Emails Matter?

 

By Terry AmRhein

 

For almost a year now, Hillary Clinton’s emails have been front page news throughout the nation, in every news paper and on every news show.  Here are the facts in a “nut-shell.” 

            Clinton used her private email account to send emails to hundreds of government officials.  In 90% of the cases, she used the receiver’s “.gov” account.  In doing this, the emails are automatically saved in a government server and are available for government review.  At the time she was using her private account, it was not illegal, and people before her had been doing it for years.  In December of 2015, Clinton turned over 55,000 pages of emails from her private email account.  Clinton claims that she never sent an email that was marked as classified.  Upon investigation, the congressional committee investigating the email fiasco confirmed that the emails were not marked as being classified when they were sent.  However, some of the emails were reclassified after they were sent as containing sensitive information.  In fact, seven of Clinton’s emails strings have been reclassified as “Top Secret” but they were classified later after Clinton sent them. 

            What all this shows is that Clinton made a big mistake in using her private email account.  She let her guard down and left a gaping hole, wide open for criticism.  She has admitted this mistake many times during her campaign.  What this mistake does NOT show, is that Clinton violated the law.  It also does NOT show that she purposely disclosed classified information or willingly and with disregard harmed Americans or America’s classified operations.  And while some will try to charge that Clinton did willfully harm America, there is no facts supporting this claim.  

Author of “Democracy on the Edge”

Available at www.amrheinsbooks.com

Trump’s Immigration Plan is a Big Mistake

Use Immigrants to Fight ISIS

 

Donald Trump’s plan to completely close the door to immigrant from the Middle East is a big mistake for several reasons.  This short article will explain why.  First, America was founded by immigrants.  Unless you’re Native American, we are all immigrants.  Trump’s mother was born in Scotland and his father’s parents (i.e. Trump’s grand parents) were born in Germany.  America is a nation created by immigrants and our diversity has been one of the reasons that America has led the world in technology and creativity.  Immigrants are one of our strengths.

            Secondly, many of the immigrants coming to this country, came because they were fleeing religious persecution.  How is justice served if we close our doors to those seeking asylum from war torn countries, based on their religious beliefs?  We would be breaking one of America’s most sacred oaths, “religious freedom”.

            Next, propaganda expounded by Islamic terrorists teaches how western civilization detests the Moslem religion.  Forbidding Moslem immigrants into the U. S. would play directly into the hands of these fundamentalists, reinforce their statements.

            Finally there is an opportunity here for the U. S. to recruit Middle East immigrants to help fight against terrorism.  Who is more motivated to rid their home country of terrorist than those who have lost their loved ones, lost their homes to terrorist thugs?  A properly trained and armed immigrant force could make excellent recruits to fight for their own home and family.  After all, the immigrants speak the language, know the culture and beliefs of their terrorist enemy.  The U. S. should develop a program, along with other coalition nations, to recruit and develop a native fighting force and fight fire with fire.          

            There is a natural desire to fortify our safety by limiting immigrants that can do us harm.  Even though our intelligence agencies are working hard to identify every terrorist that may sneak in with the thousands of other innocent people, there is no guarantee that every terrorist will be found.  On the other hand, our actions may actually do us more harm than good by providing addition propaganda to terrorist recruiters.  In addition, we are a nation founded on principles.  We cannot just shove aside those principles whenever it suits us.  If we do, then we stand for nothing.

 

by Terry AmRhein

Author of Democracy on the Edge

available at www.amrheinsbooks.com



   

 

If you had three wishes.

 

In the spirit of peace and good will toward all men, my wife asked me last night what would I wish for if I had three wishes, then she immediately applied the rule, “you cannot ask for three more wishes”, which took the words right out of my month.

            I had to think about it for awhile.  What would I wish for, that’s not an easy question to answer.  After contemplating for a little while, I responded

            - I’d wish that I would die before everyone that I loved (My brother died before my         mother.  That must have been terrible for her).

            - I’d wish that I lived a long happy and healthy live (which means that my loved one         would also live a long life because of my first wish) and

            - I’d wish that when the time comes, that I would go fast and not linger around in misery             spending all my heir’s inheritance.

After I divulged these rather morbid wishes, my wife reviled what her three wishes would be

            - That the Islamic State, ISIS, would be quickly and thoroughly destroyed.

            - That the world would find a solution to global warming and

            - That the finally we would reach world peace. 

(Had to smile at this last wish because it remained me of Steve Martin’s comedy routine in which he lists his three wishes that starts out with “world peace” but after reconsideration, finally winds up with him being a billionaire and world peace ending up in tenth place.)

 

There are stark contrasts between the wishes.  Obviously my impending disaster weighs on my mind and my great love for those who are close to me.  My wish list is self centered, my wishes revolve around me and what would make me happy.  And of course, Cindy and my children and grand children would be the benefactors of these wishes.

 

Cindy’s list is much more worldly and more gracious and generous toward all those inhabiting this forlorn planet.  But her wish list is also much more difficult to obtain, perhaps impossible. 

The conclusion I reach is that my wishes are more self-centered, but more realistically accomplished.  My wife’s are more charitable toward everyone, more generous and more worldly but incredibly difficult to accomplish.  Maybe that’s the way it is suppose to be.

 

Maybe you should ask those closes to you what they would wish for.  You might get interesting results.

 

Terry Amrhein

Author of Democracy on the Edge

Available at www.AmrheinsBooks.com

Gun Violence is Killing America. Can we stop it?

By Terry Amrhein, Author of Democracy on the Edge

 

Mass murders are occurring in the United States with such regularity that the public is almost callous to them.  Shooting of marines in Chattenooga, Tennessee then shooting of church goers in Charleston South Carolina, followed by a shooting of a news broadcaster and her camera man near Roanoke, Virginia, followed by Colorado Spring Planned Parent Hood murders, then in San Bernardino, California.  All mass murders and the American public says and does absolutely nothing.  Just another mass murder in America!  It almost as if Americans are smug about gun violence, that it won’t happen to us; but it could by the mere toss of the dice.

              Invariability, conservative’s solution to reduce gun violence is for the law abiding citizens to carry more weapons.  Apparently, conservatives envision an America where everyone carries side arms and AR-15s at all times in order to defend themself against attack.  In San Bernardino, this would mean people would come to a Holiday Party armed to the teeth.  In reality, those favoring an armed America have not thought about it much.  Would they really support a society where the law is enforced by an armed mob, a vigilante society like the days of Wyatt Earp?  I think not.  Most Americans want a country that provides them peace and security, not having to worry about being shot.  If everyone carries arms, who’s training these people?  Can they shot accurately?  What qualifications do they have to identify the shooter from the victim?  Preservation of peace is why we have an armed and trained police force.  Everyone being armed does not promote peace and security, it aggravate them.  

            But there are thing that we can do to reduce gun violence.  Requiring background checks before anyone purchases of weapon is a good idea.  Those who are convicted felons or have a history of mental illness, angry behavior or spousal abuse should be ineligible to purchase firearms.   Would this solution eliminate all murders? No, but it would help.  The Virginia Tech shooter had been diagnoses with anxiety disorder before he killed 32 students and injured another 17. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, the Columbine High School shooters, had signs of anti-social behavior and were sentenced to a juvenile diversion program after being caught for stealing tools from a parked automobile.  We have a “no fly list” that prevents suspected terrorists from flying on commerce airlines, yet we allow these same people to purchase weapons. (In fact, Republican members of Congress turned back a proposal last week to forbid those on the no fly list from buying weapons.)  That makes no sense!  Why can’t we have a no gun purchase list for terrorists, but we do not such a list?  Performing a background check requires only a few minutes.  Isn’t it worth it to help assure the purchaser is not going to shoot you someday?

            Other ideas like banning high capacity magazines are also sensible.  The Supreme Court has repeatedly decided that a person has a right to bear firearms to defend their property and to protect the lives of themselves and their family.  A high capacity magazine is not required for either of these.  Firing 10, 12, 15 times without reloading is not required for protection but it is required if you want to commit a crime without reloading.   

            Another sensible idea is to close loop holes on gun purchases.  An example is making “straw purchase” of guns (when someone purchases a weapon which is then given to another person) illegal.  This is one of the most common means for criminals to get weapons and it should be stopped.  How can anyone object to stopping the sell of firearms to criminals?  But I know some of us will object.

            My favorite idea is to require a gun education course before you can purchase a gun.  Most states already require a gun safety course before you can obtain a hunting license.  Why shouldn’t we require a gun safety course before purchasing a firearm?  If fact the gun course for firearm purchase could also suffice for the hunting course.  Everyone would be required to get a safety course.   Guns can be dangerous to you and to others, if you don’t know to treat them safety.  We require a driver license before driving.  Why not a gun safety course be buying a gun?    

            None of these methods will stop all guns homicides in America but they will help and they are far superior to arming every American, which is what the firearm manufacturers would love to see.  

Terry AmRhein

Democracy on the Edge

Buy it at Amrheinsbooks.com

 

What are the Issues Behind Raising the Minimum Wage?

How Would a Raise Affect You?

By Terry AmRhein, Democracy on the Edge

 

buy it www.Amrheinsbooks.com

The discussion over raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour continues to be a major issue of contention among the presidential political candidates.  Republicans are united in their opposition to raising wages.  Hillary agrees with raising the minimum wage, but to a more moderate level of $12 per hours while Bernie Sanders stands behind a $15 wage rate.  What are the issues behind raising the minimum rate and what would happen if the wage rate was raised?

            The present federal minimum wage is 7.25/hr ($14,500 per year) which was last increased in 2009.  Some states do have higher minimum wage rates, some are $9.00/hr or over, but most states have a minimum wage close to the federal rate.  Had the minimum wage kept up with production, it would be $18.28 per hour by now according to the Economic Policy Institute.  Republicans claim that raising the minimum wage will result in putting people out of work; by raising workers wages the costs of products will increase and companies will be forced to layoffs workers to help maintain low prices.  The problem with this theory is that if a company had excessive employees, given the present economic conditions, employers would have already laid them off.  This is particularly true with the slow economic recovery we have experienced; there are very few excessive workers.  (Yes, some people who are not presently looking for a job may rejoin the labor market and hence increase the unemployment rate.  However, this is not the same as laying off a person who already has a job.)  To maintain profits, companies will be forced to increase prices of their products and to find new ways to increase efficiency.  The burden of dealing with higher cost of labor will be experienced in all industries alike, it will be a level play field, and the most competitive company will perform the best.  So product price increases would not be unlimited, they would be checked by competition.  This is the way it should be in a capitalist economy.     

            Increasing prices, of course, is called inflation.  Nobody likes inflation.  However, some inflation is a good thing, it shows the economy is vibrant.  The United States is presently experiencing a relatively low inflation rate of about 2%.  The reasonable rate is considered to be about 3%.  So while higher wages can be inflationary, it doesn’t appear to represent much of a hazard in the next few years.  Additionally, inflationary affects of a wage raise can be mitigated by raising wages in steps over several years.

            There are potentially many unforeseen benefits from raising workers pay.   Republican’s major objection to government is that there are too many people on the welfare, all of them freeloaders.  Increasing the minimum wage could allow people working a full time job to earn a living wage and welfare should decline.

            The effects of an increase in minimum wage will also ricochet among hire wage earners.  When the pay of lower wage earners increases, higher wage earner demand compensating wage increases.  So in effect, all workers would benefit from higher wages.

            The biggest benefit from higher wage though is on the national economy.  With increased wages, demand for goods and service will increase.  People will have more money and much of these funds is going to buy “things” like cars, boats, houses and taking vacations.  This increase in spending will simulate production of products.  The resulting profits could potentially out weigh the increase in costs caused by the wage increase.  And with increased production, employment rates would increase.  So the benefits of an increase in minimum wage are numerous and the ill effects are small or imaginary.  It is the right thing to do and it is the smart thing to do.  What is congress waiting for?    

 

By Terry AmRhein author of Democracy on the Edge available at www.Amrheinsbooks.com