Once Again...

...we "deplorables" are targeted, unwittingly this time.

In the newspaper this weekend, an op-ed from a Democratic Congressmen lamented "the Republican tax plan" because it "doesn't help the middle class."  Excuse me for not laughing (although I did, but not in a funny way).  Since when do the  Democrats care about giving anyone tax cuts, let alone the middle class, you know, we who the Democratic candidate for President last year called "deplorables."  (Yes, I know what she and her supporters said she meant, but I don't buy it, not for an instant.)

Oh, this righteous (self-righteous?) Congressman spouts all the right talking points, "tax cuts for the rich and big corporations," "a scam for the working people," "hard working Michiganians need tax relief," etc.  Again I ask, when was the last time the Democrats offered a tax cut for anyone, let alone the middle class?  (Hey, I'm not excusing the Establishment Republicans either.  They've come to enjoy spending other people's money, too.)

Maybe there has been a tax cut and I just have forgotten about it--or didn't hear about it.

Then, on the radio this AM, I heard a Democrat from Michigan's Congressional delegation on "the Republican tax cut," too.  I don't know if it was our US Senator or a local Congresswoman; I never heard her identified and don't know voices.  Oh, woe are we!  This Bozo was concerned, oh I could tell from her voice over the radio how concerned, was about "increasing the deficit," further burdening our children and grandchildren.  I guess it was nice that this was radio; I can't imagine a Democrat keeping a straight face when talking about "increasing the deficit."

Why is the deficit such a big deal--now?  Remember the threats to "shut down government" because of threats to slow government spending?  (Again, let's not let the Establishment Republicans off the hook either.)  Oh, seniors will lose their Social Security (the funds of which they have raided and raided) and Medicare.  Those in need will lose their Medicaid.  Oh, everyone will lose everything!!  We can't cut spending to cut the deficit.  Well, apparently now that the Republicans are tendering a tax bill, we or rather they can at least complain about the deficit.

BTW, the toady radio host had a wonderful opportunity for a meaningful question.  All he had to do was ask, "Why is an increase to the deficit important now?  It never was to you before?"  But no, the sycophant let her off the inviting hook, "scot free."

BTW, from what I've read of the bill, I think it stinks.  Of course, with so much flying around, who knows what it looks like today?  A lot of middle class folks will jump at the sizable increase in the standard deductions.  They'll not notice, at least not right away, that they personal and dependent exemptions disappear.  The savings, at least at face value, will be lost to the vanishing exemptions.  It's probably too early to really figure out savings, but from the summaries I saw last week, once again people like me will get the short end.  And, are these Bozos really going to eliminate deductions for charitable giving?  At the least, such deductions should be added so they can be taken even by folks using the short form.  But let's wait and see......

I received a couple of sarcastic e-mails noting "the eloquence" of some of Don Trump's tweets.  I likely don't have to repeat I am no fan of Trump.  But I did have to laugh at this.  I suspect that these same e-mailers never were sarcastic in describing the "eloquent" Obama.  Remember his "eloquence?"  "I've got a pen and I've got a phone."  Other than the grating use of "got," it sort of reminds us of Lincoln and Jefferson, right?  How about this "eloquence?"  "If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun."  I know, I know.  But how "eloquent!"  I'll refrain from asking where the gun control folks were on this one.  "Oh, but he didn't mean that......"  Again, I know, I know.

"This isn't how it should be......  You should be able to walk around the neighborhood without worrying about being shot or fighting or getting jumped by other kids."  This came from a 12-year old living in Detroit.  The article is about the culture of violence in Detroit neighborhoods.  It cited a study that showed 87% of Detroit school kids "knew someone who had been killed, wounded, or disabled by gun violence."  That should make us want to vomit!  I won't minimize any of the other tragedies we've faced in this country recently, but when are we going to start addressing this?  When will the NFL players kneel over this culture of violence in their cities?  I don't understand.

I was reminded of Coach Rick Wilson over the weekend.  I was glad I had an opportunity to explain the huge influence he had on my life to another Amherst alumnus who didn't know him.  Coach Wilson was the renowned college basketball coach at AC.  He received numerous awards.  I was not a basketball player, hardly.  But he was my freshman baseball coach.  (I'm so old, freshmen couldn't play varsity sports back then!)  He had a lot of old-fashioned ideas and he had us follow them.  And he and I butted heads, at least once.  From that major confrontation, which he won, deservedly so, he became a man I admired.  We struck up, if not exactly a friendship, at least a relationship from which I benefited a great deal.  My last three years, I'd see Coach Wilson in the gym, around the athletic facilities.  In season or not, he'd stop and inquire about things; he didn't just ask, blithely, "How are things going?"  He asked about my classes, how they were going, what I was doing with them, if I was keeping up--BTW, how did he know what classes I was taking??????  Not often, but sometimes, I'd stop by his office, just to say "Hi."  He really seemed to enjoy that and then would start with is questions.  Occasionally, he'd stop by a varsity practice or game, too, and made me feel important.  He's dead now, but I remember him fondly.  After graduation, I only returned to campus once for about 35 years.  But that one time I did make sure I stopped by to see him.  About eight years ago, at a reunion, I had a talk with one of his best players, one who made the last cut with the Lakers when they had Wilt, Hazzard, Goodrich, etc.  (Dave has since died, too, hit by a car while riding his bike.) Our talk centered around the gruff Coach Wilson and butting heads with him, Dave far, far more often than I, obviously.  But we both ended up agreeing that he was a great man, one who was important to each of us.  I missed Dave at the last reunion, if only to renew our conversation about Rick Wilson.