Post #4242 M: Does Capitalism Exploit the Poor?; Ron Paul on Socialist Fools

Quote of the Day

The palest ink is better than the best memory.
Chinese Proverb

Does Capitalism Exploit the Poor? NO

Tom Woods on the Economic Tsunami

Ron Paul on Socialist Fools

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Steve Breen via Townhall

Musical Interlude; My Favorite Vocalists

Kim Carnes, "Draw of the Cards"

Post #4241 M: Victims of Trumpian Protectionism; Violence in Chicago; Freedom and Love

Quote of the Day

There is nothing so comfortable as money, 
- but nothing so defiling if it be come by unworthily; 
nothing so comfortable, but nothing so noxious 
if the mind be allowed to dwell upon it constantly. 
If a man have enough, let him spend it freely. 
If he wants it,let him earn it honestly.
Anonymous  

Victims of Trumpian Protectionism

Violence in Chicago

Freedom and Love

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Steve Kelley via Townhall

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Kim Carnes (with Randy Meisner), "Deep Inside My Heart"

Post #4240 J: STEM, Women, and My Experience With Managers

STEM and Women

I don't really think I ever developed a chauvinistic attitude to women in academia; most of my teachers, role models of sort, had been female, including math and science (at least until high school). When I later went to OLL, a former coed college run by the Roman Catholic sisters of Divine Providence, I can't even remember having a single male math or science professor, The other top student in my graduation class was a brilliant female premed major. When I later went to graduate school in Austin, I met some exceptionally bright UT female math students. My first bosses, as a work-study student, with one glaring exception, had been female librarians, I never did develop any "math is hard" Barbie stereotypes of women; in fact, one of my nieces is an eighth-grade math and robotics teacher.

In fact, I have done everything I can think to encourage my female relatives to pursue STEM (science technology engineering and math) academics and professional opportunities. For example, my oldest niece, a bight young woman who had participated in magnet school programs during early education,
had enthusiastically written to me during early high school of wanting to major in biotechnology, probably at the (local) University of Colorado. I wrote back an encouraging response. She, however, had issues and made some unfortunate choices. She would end up later choosing to pursue her interests in graphic design. Of course, it's her life and choices, and one tries to be supportive, even if one doesn't understand decisions other loved ones make.

I do get triggered by ideological feminism, in part because I think it presupposes cartoonishly bad stereotypes about men and how they think about women. I wasn't brought up that way in my family of 9, including a mom and 4 little sisters. My blue-collar Dad never made any stereotypical remarks I can remember. If anythings, girls could be quite assertive. I remember this other high school military brat at the bus stop telling me (totally on her own) that she had a 37-inch bust, one inch away from a "perfect figure". How was I supposed to respond to that? Years later, as a young UWM professor, I had befriended a female graduate student running a statistics lab. (I was running some confirmatory factor analyses using LISREL, which couldn't be accessed from my office PC.) She seemed attracted to me and started to share these stories about her professor. One in particular odd story was how her male professor had kept her after class one day, complaining that her very large breasts were distracting other class members. I was at a loss for words. First of all, this young women always dressed rather modestly, usually thick pullover sweaters that masked her curves, not even the hint of cleavage. Second, what did he expect her to do? Unbuckle her breasts and store them in a locker during class? I told her that I thought that conversation was inappropriate, that perhaps the professor was in a bizarre sense attracted to her, and that was itself inappropriate.

But I did get the sense that this lab manager was attracted to me. One day when I came into the lab; she was on the phone, saw me, smiled and waved hello, then turned sideways as if to emphasize the bulge under her sweater.  I remember trying to figure out if there would be any political issues asking her out; she was not my student or employee. But I was working in a world where single white male professors were presumed to be likely predators. That was laughable; a junior (untenured) male professor was probably the least powerful person on campus. This was over and beyond the usual fears a geek has of rejection from the opposite sex, of misreading signals, would she let me hold her hand, kiss her, etc. So one day, out of the blue, she casually invites me to an orgy at her place. May Day! We have jumped over that whole "would she have sex with me" thing to having sex with people I've never met. And here I was, a good Catholic boy, dealing with Church prohibitions of sex outside of marriage. (No, I didn't accept, and I don't remember seeing her much after that (maybe I had finished doing my statistics around then.)) I do recall seeing her featured in the student newspaper around the time I was leaving Milwaukee, repeating the weird professor story.

I have had a mix of experience dealing with female supervisors. Some were abominable, with a feminist chip on their shoulder: "it's because I'm a woman, isn't it?", presumptuous claptrap. I will push back on bad ideas, pure and simple, from any boss. I particularly don't care for being micromanaged or having my motives questioned; I remember in one case at a now Equifax subsidiary my boss, a company co-founder, had resigned and recommended me to replace him, basically involving small Unix server/database support for statistical modeling analyses. Besides the proverbial kiss of death (the other co-founder, the CEO, had threatened to sue my boss for jumping to an alleged competitor), I would later learn that there had been a revolt by developers, none of who had ever worked with me, threatened to quit, speculating that I was going to replace their mainframe asses with fresh Unix-savvy graduates. This rumor was completely fabricated. There had been no discussions with management on staffing, and I personally know the managers were more concerned with retaining their industry knowledge and were willing to retrain personnel as expected.

So the company basically filled the spot with an unqualified mainframe female supervisor who (I shit you not) starts out in an introductory conversation with this badass statement to the effect, "I don't care about whatever successes you have had in the past; you get treated just like all the other people reporting to me, and you have to prove yourself to me." I have an older data administrator reporting to me; he is blatantly insubordinate ignoring my tasks assigned to him; she strips him from me, arguing that I'm trying to get him fired. She engaged in all sorts of petty bullshit, like maintaining open sessions on databases to ensure I don't bounce any database without her knowledge and approval.

Now PC, my old boss, said his contract had prohibited recruiting me to his new company. But at this point I was making below market, and in fact my female predecessor in the role had left for a six-figure consulting position in nearby downtown Chicago. And to be honest, she had been an abysmal predecessor, not a DBA but a developer, there were slipped contractual requirements for data loads skipping deadlines; she used the position to prioritize her past role preferences . I quickly had the trains operating on time; our key load, which had been taking a week or longer, was cut to less than 2 days after receipt of cartridges. All backlogs cleared, etc. Developers had been using disks faster than the company could acquire them; management gave me a mandate, and I delivered, with developers screaming about my "bureaucracy".

In the interim I had started to get unsolicited recruiter calls, including from Coopers and Lybrand (a future employer).. So I negotiated a transfer to another business unit. (I had been servicing our largest, oldest client, a credit card issuer.), one including the largest card issuer in South America and a large one-year contract with Southwestern Bell (now AT&T) before deregulation (I still have in my archives a handwritten letter from an SBC executive, thanking me for being their DBA). The swap was made with an Indian-American contractor who was making 40% more than I was. Even though I had extensively documented procedures and walked my less-capable successor at least 2-3 months past my transfer, my former female supervisor tried to block my going to Brazil for several weeks, not trusting my successor to do it in my absence. (The Indian-American eventually ended up getting a higher offer from Oracle Consulting and left.) I just did not like this woman, and it didn't have to do with her gender, although it probably was, in her mind.

In contrast, my first female boss, AK, who ran the social work library at OLL, was nearly the totally opposite, basically delegating the library to me during my hours. The library was sort of a mess; I spent a lot of time "reading the shelves", i.e., patrons would pull out books and return them out of sequence, making them almost impossible for other patrons to find. AK later told me that she thought I would be overwhelmed by the responsibility and  quit, but to her surprise I had been up to the challenge and succeeded. I think in the end I ended up leaving for the main library; I think I had pissed off some alumni or professors who called, demanding me to keep the library open past my shift/posted library hours, and I refused. But I thrived under management that set objectives and gave me the space to meet them. Micromanagement/intervention, if anything, is counterproductive, not a dignified way of working with ,motivated professionals.

To be sure, I've had my share of cartoonishly bad male managers, in fact my worst overall back in the 1980's. It's just I don't usually have male managers come back with, "It's because I'm a man, isn't it?" (Internally, it's like "Who the hell do you think you are questioning my professionalism?") My male supervisors have been less likely to micromanage or explicitly threaten termination, which in my view reflects a manager's insecurity. I'm  not arguing this is applicable beyond my anecdotal experience.

I'm so annoyed by the constant mushrooming of "women's inequality" threads on social media. There are a number of factors to explain the 77% pay gap, including men's higher-paying occupation preferences or likeliness to accept overtime opportunities. It has nothing to do with paying men more to produce the same widget. So I recently tweeted that I worked with s woman of color with 2 advanced STEM degrees and have a niece-in-law with a Master's in engineering; women's choices have economic consequences.

When I later talked to my colleague in question, she abruptly asked, "Who told you I had 2 Master's?" "You did." It turns out she didn't really intend a second Master's degree but was going for a PhD. Something happened at the university involving the PhD program that affected a half-dozen or so students, including her., from getting a terminal degree. The Master's degree was more or less a consolation prize for the work they had done. She told me the decision embittered her; she had been told she would likely be granted PhD student status by passing just one course at Florida International, but she was embittered by what had happened and chose to end it.

Not that politics was a topic, but at some point she made it clear that she had had to deal with male chauvinist pigs in her STEM pursuits. I didn't press her for specifics, told her I was sorry she had experienced that. I really haven't seen it in the IT profession or academia, but I can't generalize beyond my experience.

To a certain degree, I can relate to her experience getting screwed over by a PhD program. I had initially gone to UT with the idea of earning a PhD. However, a glut of math PhD's let to UT tightening PhD candidacy to 6 exams. I knew of one married couple where the wife advanced but the husband stalled out at 5 exams. In addition, for political reasons beyond the scope of this post (I've described it in past posts), my graduate stipend had been canceled after my first year, which effectively ended my quest for a math PhD; the Master's degree was basically my consolation prize.

BEB Status

For unfamiliar readers, my former doctoral student colleague, Bruce, had a massive stroke at the beginning of June. I've been updating his recovery, based on mostly daily posts from his spouse, Susan.

Bruce continues to improve his verbal skills, sometimes briefly joining in on Christian songs. (Bruce and Susan are devout Baptists, and every post reflects on some reading or hymn.) Sometimes it's hard to tell, because Bruce can often be a man of few words, and he doesn't like to respond to what he thinks are stupid questions.

Bruce continues to have nutrition/nausea issues and to experience weakness/trembling with his right limbs (he's naturally right-handed). His swallowing reflexes continue to improve. Susan occasionally brings him ice cream or guacamole, but it seems we're some time away from Bruce's resuming a regular diet. Much of the last couple of weeks has involved intentionally transitioning to a less accommodating wheelchair. Apparently Blue Cross has been more accommodating based on Bruce's progress after nearly cutting off funding.

The New Car

I've now got over 135 miles in 2 weeks (I've got a modest commute to work)with average mileage just under 50 mpg, with over 400 miles driving range left on a tank of gas.The suggestions for improving mileage are somewhat annoying, for example, it suggested raising the A/C  setting. Dude, it's like set on 76. I am enjoying listening to Pandora off my cellphone and a Bluetooth connection off the car speakers. And I've got my 5 years of car payments set up.

I took the car to my nearest Sam's Club in Baltimore County. I've been flirting with letting my membership go. It was probably 5 or 6 months since my last visit. Boy have they remodeled the store since my last visit. It feels roomier and looks better organized. In the past I bought more produce and frozen goods but my home refrigerator is broken, and I haven't been able to get my landlord to replace it yet.

Post #4239 M; Why Today's Dishwashers Suck (HINT: USG); New FreedomToon; McClanahan on Trump

Quote of the Day

The wise man learns more from his enemies than a fool does from his friends.
Chinese Proverb

Why Dishwashers Suck

McClanahan on Trump

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Kim Carnes (with Kenny Rogers), "Don't Fall in Love With a Dreamer".

Post #4238 Social Media Digest

Twitter

Breakup the unsustainable government.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 19, 2019

No, he's a Socialist running for the nomination of a party he's not a member of, unlike Cherokee Lizzie.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 19, 2019

Abortion is a monstrous crime against humanity, and Planned Parenthood is the leading murderer of innocent life. I don't give a damn how you put lipstick on that pig. The idea that my tax dollars should subsidize merchants of genocide is beyond evil.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 20, 2019

I don't care about the means of stopping evil: the world is a better place without the evil of Planned Parenthood. https://t.co/e11ySpckYD

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 20, 2019

Screw you pro-genocide bastards! Murder of preborn babies is a crime against humanity!

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 20, 2019

The very concept of Title X violates the Constitution. Let's not stop with ending the evil of Planned Parenthood. "Planned Parenthood"

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 20, 2019

A measure of justice against the morally unjustifiable State execution of Garner. But it's incomplete without the prosecution and conviction of Pantaleo. #EricGarner

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 20, 2019

No, you 'progressive' retard. Leftists have made the word trite, not unlike the boy who called wolf. "Racism" is the go-to smear of opponents of your political base; it has lost its moral legitimacy.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 20, 2019

The "progressives" can't handle the truth of what Woolery is saying about how they have made blanket charge smears of their political opponents. So, so like my former cheating students, they cry out like stuck pigs when they're caught. "Chuck Woolery"

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 20, 2019

The whole parasitic affirmation action industrial complex is a scam, a fraud perpetuated on and by universities, corporations and government. No, the real enemy isn't failed government education and police protection; it's a loser typing in his parent's basement. "Chuck Woolery"

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 20, 2019

The whole Fox News Channel, aka the Trump Propaganda Network, is so predictable it's pathetic. Of course, after Eric Garner's policeman/killer Pantaleo is finally terminated, FNC has Pantaleo advocates making him a "victim". The real victim was choked to death over cigarettes.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 20, 2019

The worst President in history deserves no better than a dungpile.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

It's time we end the deification of American Presidents, in particular the great imperialist and the man who is responsible for the most American deaths. No, defeating the evil Hillary Clinton is not worthy of any monument. Maybe a leftover Little League trophy."Mount Rushmore"

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

Trump is getting quoted out of context; he is continuing his petty scapegoating of the Squad and is suggesting their American Jewish supporters are naive.

Trump's bullying of the Squad is not worthy of a POTUS, as well as his condescending comments on voters.

"American Jews'

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

Back in the 2008 primary, Obama famously couldn't understand why Midwesterners, clinging to their Bibles and guns, weren't voting for his pandering tax proposals to their own economic interest.

So former Obama supporter Trump analogously discusses American Jews

"American Jews"

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

I suggest that you revisit your devotion to FDR who, despite rubberstamp majorities in Congress, refused to support relaxing immigration rules to accommodate European Jewish immigrants, famously including the SS St. Louis.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

You don't understand the meaning of the term "fascist". Fascism is a softer version of socialism, where the State has primacy over individuals and groups. FDR in fact implemented a version of fascism which persists to this day.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

Okay, how stupid are most people on this thread? Trump was talking in the context of his petty dispute with the Squad. He was talking about Democratic politicians who advocate policies like boycotts of Israel and Jewish voters who enable them.#DisloyalToTrump

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

How to get people to lend you money after your first 5 bankruptcies #TaughtAtTrumpUniversity

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

The Revolutionary War and how George Washington recaptured our airports #TaughtAtTrumpUniversity

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

How to Nickname Your Adversaries #TaughtAtTrumpUniversity

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

The Art of the Deal on Capitol Hill #TaughtAtTrumpUniversity

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

How to marry a supermodel and cheat on her #TaughtAtTrumpUniversity

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

Statistics 101: How to argue this is the best economy in American history with below-average growth #TaughtAtTrumpUniversity

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

Political Science 101: How to get elected POTUS without spending a single day in public service #TaughtAtTrumpUniversity

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

Management 101: How to publicly humiliate your subordinates, fire them, and bash them for the rest of their lives #TaughtAtTrumpUniversity

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

Social Media 101: Tips from the Hemingway of Twitter #TaughtAtTrumpUniversity

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

Do an Internet search on Melania and supermodel; there are lots of people who call her one, e.g.,https://t.co/zbmlxpTxzP

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

How "surprising"; a woman who killed 2 babies is trying to rationalize her actions. No, she is not a "hero", but a monster.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

Despite Sanders' illiteracy about economic liberty in the Scandinavian countries and Trump's bizarre lust to buy Greenland, with zero political support, I think they are both upset that Denmark bests the US in business freedom. https://t.co/MNjjAa5HxQ

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

Trump is floating the idea of cutting payroll taxes. Conceptually I like the idea, but the problem is that the entitlement programs are on the path to insolvency within 15 years & without serious reform & spending cuts, Trump would be exacerbating the deficit and national debt.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

It's headquartered in DC, dumbass. (Yes, I know what he meant. but he's still a dumbass.)

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

Are you stupid enough to believe what delusional sycophants tell you? You definitely are stupid enough to quote them.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

Trump is simply an aging adolescent who has a narcissist's obsessive need for attention. He's desperate for good or bad publicity. He thinks when leftists overreact to him, it motivates his base.

"King of the Jews"

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

I've watched Sean Spicer dance before the press' questions. I was not impressed. What was ABC thinking? #BoycottDWTS

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

Stop obsessing over Trump. He's irrelevant. Don't let him pull your chain. No, he'll never be impeached and short of something like a major stroke, the 25th Amendment will not happen. Learn to live by the Serenity Prayer. #25thAmendmentNow

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 21, 2019

For the record, Denmark's finances are more sustainable than your spendthrift multi-trillion dollar debt. The fact that you are throwing record spending at the military-industrial complex, more than the next 7 countries together, is not an argument for Denmark to spend more.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 22, 2019

Denmark, unlike the US, is a peaceful country, while the US is at perpetual war, constantly meddling in other global regions. You oversee over an 800 military base footprint overseas, you have supersized Bush/Obama's unconstitutional drone wars. You need to downsize the military

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 22, 2019

Just a reminder there was a time when the Know Nothing WASPs were obsessing over "invasion" of the northern border, the nineteenth-century Quebec diaspora (including my ancestors), fear-mongering over French/Catholic annexation of New England. https://t.co/xRNGKQp7Yq

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 22, 2019

Just like Latino and other immigrants have engaged in hard, low-paying manual work other American workers don't want (e.g., migrant farm labor, meatpacking), Franco-Americans similarly worked in the textile mills (my maternal grandmother/godmother was a weaver).

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 22, 2019

Why have so many immigrants worked hard, long hours at low pay? Because they believe in the American Dream and the promise of a better life for their children. My pro-immigration views are in part a tribute to my own ancestors who left their homeland and culture for the US.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 22, 2019

The only way Barry, the worst Empty Suit POTUS, would be "greatest" would be if he was the only one eligible.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 22, 2019

Henry Ford, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison #NewFacesOnMountRushmore

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 22, 2019

John D Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Walt Disney, Cornelius Vanderbilt #NewFacesOnMountRushmore

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 22, 2019

William James, John Dewey, Charles Sanders Peirce #NewFacesOnMountRushmore

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 22, 2019

Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Frost #NewFacesOnMountRushmore

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 22, 2019

It's great to see a conservative brave enough to challenge former Democrat Donald Trump. "Joe Walsh'

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 22, 2019

America is all about one's ability to love where you choose, not where some morally-corrupt xenophobic bastard like Trump or you decides where people should live.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 22, 2019

If you don't realize that the Green New Deal is a Statist plot for power by left-fascists and socialists at the expense of your freedom and prosperity, you are beyond naive. I wouldn't trust economic illiterates like Sanders, Warren and AOC run a lemonade stand. #GreenNewDeal

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 22, 2019

You are historically illiterate. FDR's policies, basically a souped-of version of Hoover's economically illiterate economic intervention, was a huge failure by any objective measure. Green New Deal is a prescription for economic suicide, all for the benefit of political whores

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 22, 2019

Are teachers "underpaid"? Political whores like Bernie Sanders, pandering for public school teacher votes, argue that, but these are based on bogus statistics, including hidden compensation, artifacts of public employment vs. competitive labor markets, etc https://t.co/0eFE2aJvKz

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

Similar bogus statistics operate in discussions of the compensation (and the self-serving rationalization of higher compensation that government hires more qualified people) of civil servants. I know colleagues, even relatives who waited years for a civil service job.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

I responded to an earlier tweet over somebody ranting how judges can set aside 100-year, unanimously passed laws. I didn't know of such a case but I now think it was a Trumpkin who was exaggerating a point, furious over district judges blocking Trump's actions. I'm okay with that

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

Massie, a favorite pro-liberty Congressman, often writes/retweet things that exasperate me. There is a point about activist judges who rewrite laws. But as one who worries about the tyranny of the majority in Congress or the imperial Presidency, I embrace judicial review.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

I do not agree with most of Ginsburg's decisions, but I have respect for her as a person and wish her a full recovery and good health. "Ruth Bader Ginsburg"

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

What's particularly embarrassing is that a young royal is already dancing better than I ever have. "Prince George"

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

Shut the hell up, you goddamn disrespectful economically illiterate left-fascist bastard.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

If you're criticizing him, and I am actually favorably disposed to this policy, you are simply a goddamn Statist bastard. First of all, child labor laws were unnecessary. Rising wages had already made them irrelevant. But who the hell gave you the right to intervene?

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

If you die, you won't meet him. He'll be in a higher place.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

You'll go to the same place as your left-fascist heroes like Hitler and Mussolini--hell itself. Koch is in heaven.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

Thank God capitalism, which has to date lifted over 90% of the world out of poverty. Thank God for Koch! Parasites like you are responsible for State mass murders!

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

When the hell is Trump ever going to learn to shut up? He'll never win a trade war against a Chinese dictator. But ever time this stupid bastard opens his mouth, my retirement savings take a 3% hit or worse.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

David Koch was a blessing for all of us who believe in economic liberty. It's due to people like David that capitalism has lifted more than 90% of the global population out of poverty for the first time in the history of mankind. Thoughts and prayers to his family.

"David Koch"

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

What will the left-fascists do without David Koch to bash for every global issue?

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

You are a bunch of left-fascist morons! Koch was a libertarian, not a populist "conservative". He simply knew Obama, the $10T man, and Clinton worked against the Founding Father's ideal of limited government. And if I'm not mistaken, the Kochs supported Gary Johnson in 2016.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 23, 2019

"A new poll shows what really interests 'pro-lifers': controlling women - Jill Filipovic". I call bullshit on said op-ed. I oppose abortion for the same reason I oppose rape and other violence against women: it violates the non-aggression principle.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 24, 2019

Yes. And I intend to support Amash if he runs for President, even if it means I have to write-in his name a year from November. https://t.co/stqXZwC4n0

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 24, 2019

How retarded are you? Amash is far from a "leftist". The Fascist-in-Chief was a registered Democrat who supported Clinton AND Trump in 2008 and has NEVER been a conservative. Amash is a TRUE conservative like his fellow patriot Ron Paul, who has endorsed him.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 24, 2019

Cherokee Lizzie is an anti-liberty, Politics of Envy left-fascist. No, we need to support a real libertarian, Justin Amash, in Nov. 2020.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 24, 2019

This is Soft Rock America. This Beatles parody is the best I've heard, and it may just be Remy's best clip yet. Remy is mocking the left-fascist POTUS candidates' vows to bail out college student debt on the backs of other taxpayers:https://t.co/fcn1HFqbtT

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 24, 2019

Ain't no deficit and debt high enough; ain't no depression low enough... #DeficitSoHigh

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 24, 2019

I grade you by a higher standard because you're capable of better work. #MyProfessorOnceSaid

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 24, 2019

Post #4237 M: Depressed About Social Media; the 1619 Scam; Wooda on Sweden

Quote of the Day

Whoever is happy will make others happy too. - Anne Frank  

DEAD WRONG Depressed About Social Media?

McClanahan on the 1619 Project

Woods on Sweden

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Al Goodwin via Townhall

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Kim Carnes (with Tom Cotton), "You're a Part of Me"

Post #4236 M: It Ain't So Easy Being a Green; Cultural Genocide in China

Quote of the Day

One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important.
Bertrand Russell

Cultural Genocide in China

Prager U. v Google

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Kim Carnes, "More Love" My God, I love this song and performance!

Post #4235 M: Political Correctness is a Power Play; 10 /Myths of Government Debt

Quote of the Day

“I hold it to be the inalienable right of anybody to go to hell in his own way.” 
Robert Frost

Political Correctness is a Power Play

10 Myths About Government Debt

Woods on NYT's 1619 Project

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Tom Stiglich via Townhall

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Kim Carnes, "Bette Davis Eyes". Let's start with her signature #1 hit. The vocals and lyrics are great but the arrangement is AWESOME! Kim shares that attractive raspy voice with Janis Joplin and Bonnie Tyler.

Post #4234 M: Woods and Folsom on Robber Barons and the Progressive Era; Political Correctness

Quote of the Day

People will try to rain on your parade 
because they have no parade of their own.
Jeffrey Gitomer  

Tom Woods on Robber Barons

Folsom on the Myth of the Robber Barons

Woods on Political Correctness

Choose life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Michael Ramirez via Townhall

Musical Interlude: My Favorite Vocalists

Gary Wright, "Really Wanna Know You". This marks the end of my Wright retrospective. Next up: Kim Carnes. I've been trying to alternate between male and female artists but I'm nearing the end of favorite female artists on my list.

Ppst #4233 Social Media Digest

Two weeks are too long forone post. I'll publish a second posr later this week.

Twitter

John Kennedy once said, "Don't ask what your country do for you." Current Dem parasites like Sanders and Cherokee Lizzie want to force Americans (many without a college degree or government pension) to pay for the the personal expenses of other. It's theft https://t.co/OHWYnMXijD

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 11, 2019

Everyone knows that Trump has a thin skin and plays Whac-a-Mole with any celebrity critic. Scaramucci is disingenuous in the sense Trump had engaged in anti-Mexico rhetoric from the get-go of his campaign. No, Trump isn't a racist; he's a self-serving manipulative politician.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 11, 2019

Trump is stuck in the 43% (plus or minus) RCP average job approval range. The good news for him his most likely challengers have a single-digit lead, and the economy, at the moment, is on his side; Biden is also being pulled to the left of center by his partisan opposition.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 11, 2019

Trump is reportedly set to commute the sentence of Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor best known for trying to barter Obama's vacated Senate seat for his own advantage. Trump is not draining the swamp; he IS the swamp.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 11, 2019

Immigrants are less eligible (waiting periods) and likely to use welfare and other fungible benefits. And during a period when Congress approved more benefits (since 2000), the number of unauthorized immigrants has fallen. https://t.co/VdCTpfZy6u

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 11, 2019

My brother-in-law originally wanted to market grass-fed beef from his Dad's Texas farm, but government regulations made it logistically impossible, especially across state lines. Government kills competition. You're right to seek reform.
But you should defend voluntary contracts.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 11, 2019

The Trump Administration's raid, arresting workers in voluntary work arrangements, is morally and constitutionally wrong and economically illiterate.

A more legitimate criticism is that Durbin's party has stood in the way of foreign work visas, including the Bracero program.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 11, 2019

@RepThomasMassie First of all, I should have to lecture another libertarian on the fact people aren't "illegal". The fact is that companies often have a difficult job recruiting area labor to fill these positions. Immigrants tend to be more mobile and willing to fill open jobs.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 11, 2019

This may be my favorite George Will column of all time. If and when "conservatives" adopt Statist tactics, e.g., immigration restrictions and tariff wars, they have abandoned the free trade principles underlying Constitutional interstate commerce and are nuanced vs principled. https://t.co/CiqhVL0tgp

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 11, 2019

Current proposed social security reform fails to reform eligibility dates despite longer lifespan and to restrain COLA increases or mitigate/freeze higher-income distributions. It would also increase the regressive payroll tax burden by up to 40%. https://t.co/vFBzFeEJCp

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 11, 2019

In the political hysteria following the recent tragic mass shooting, looking at yet more restrictive laws, we tend to forget that restrictions, like assault weapon bans, are largely unenforceable and widely ignored (even in other western countries). https://t.co/YcLiRtwF0n

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 11, 2019

How much did Soros pay you to ask that question?

This is Massie, one of the few principled politicians around. He would be pro-Second Amendment if the NRA endorsed his opponent and never paid the trivial contributions to his campaign.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 11, 2019

Wow, I didn't even know Amazon has brick-and-mortar stores... #JewsAgainstICEhttps://t.co/6WSH6iL8k4

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 12, 2019

Trump's anti-immigration politics are negative in nature, unworthy of our rich, distinctive nature as a melting pot of nations, the enduring promise of the American dream. We Christians join our Jewish brothers in welcoming foreign-born residents with dignity. #JewsAgainstICE

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 12, 2019

Yet another government screw-up on Trump's watch. Just a reminder that government is a leading cause of death. #EpsteinSuicideCoverUp

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 12, 2019

I first heard "Your Song" when I was in high school. You did mean Bernie Taupin, right? The only Bernie worth listening to. #MyBernieStory

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 12, 2019

Are those horns protruding from Pelosi's head?

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 13, 2019

Should Trump be given a Red Flag for his [fill-in-the-blank] speech? He's totally out of control. He shouldn't be allowed near any nuclear strike button. He's insane.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 13, 2019

I remember how utterly stupid Obama was in hyping green jobs, infrastructure and teaching--rather than the whole economy, the lion's share of jobs were in other sectors. But then Trump focuses on the manufacturing sector with maybe 8% of Jobs.https://t.co/QOZVYz07tb

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 13, 2019

China is already transitioning to a more consumer-driven economy and in fact commodity labor was already transitioning to other countries like Vietnam. Trump's corrupt protectionist policies are intrinsically lose-lose and counterproductive.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 13, 2019

Trumpkins are sadistic dimwitted liars. The fact of the matter is that immigrants use significantly less welfare resources than other Americans. #StatueOfLibertyhttps://t.co/tSyzEjQYsy

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 14, 2019

What does Trump's potato vodka taste like? #StupidQuestionsForAlcoholics

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 14, 2019

Obama also won a Nobel Peace Prize and later killed more civilians than all other Peace Prize winners put together.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 14, 2019

I thought he grabbed Emmy by the *ussy. #EmmylessDonald

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 14, 2019

No, it just means that your rich parents didn't know how to raise their son.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 14, 2019

The idiocy behind this hashtag (and I'm a NeverTrumper) is why Trump is likely to win reelection. #TrumpIsAWhiteSupremacist

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 14, 2019

It's left-handers day. You probably already know I'm a southpaw because I'm always right. Since Ford, only 3 Presidents have been right-handed: Carter, George W. Bush and Trump. Aren't you proud?

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 14, 2019

Trump exposes the fact that you don't have to pass an IQ test to win the Presidency. No, trade is win-win. The trade deficit is only possible if you're running a capital surplus. Without foreign investment, the economy would be struggling. https://t.co/QLs2Miq7Kf

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 14, 2019

You're not informed enough to realize that our economy grew at far higher rates during the 80's and 90's, without a single trade surplus, than your sub-3% GDP growth record, including your failed protectionist policies, way below historical averages.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 14, 2019

Are you so seriously stupid as to believe your pathetic manipulative rhetoric works on hardheaded commies? If you truly believe that load of crap you're saying, you are beyond gullible and naive. Tiananmen Square was no accident. God save the Hong Kong protesters!

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 15, 2019

Trump has been playing Russian roulette (of course) with his toxic brew of trade wars and anti-immigration economic illiteracy. Politically, a recession ends Trump's Presidency. Unfortunately, a Dem Presidency won't bring the only real solution: the free market. #TrumpRecession

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 15, 2019

No, there are a lot of things that drive up the cost of living, much of which is due to government meddling beyond its limited core competency. For example, healthcare costs crowd out wage increases, a weak currency feeds inflation, and zoning laws pressure housing

"Ben Shapiro"

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 15, 2019

#TestTrumpsMind

Why did you cheat on your supermodel wife?
Why did you hire Omarosa in your administration?
Why did you publicly contradict the rationale for firing Comey?
Why a trade war with China before reelection?
What the hell were you thinking after Charlottesville?

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 15, 2019

I think masturbating with the US flag may violate the flag code.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 15, 2019

The progressive bogeyman of racism is not only untenable: it's a sign of lazyass feeble-minded thinking. I grew up in a thoroughly integrated America. I'm sure there are people with intolerant views, but most of those are hypocritical progressives themselves #WakeUpToRacism

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 15, 2019

The Israeli government does itself no favor by intervening on the side of a corrupt, partisan Trump. They should welcome the opportunity to welcome all US Congressmen and discuss policies directly.

"Bibi"

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 15, 2019

It's time to end unconstitutional invasion of resident privacy by the US government. An important start would be to pass Amash's bill to stop mass collection of phone records. https://t.co/EmSUXI5WwQ

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 15, 2019

Just a reminder that economic sanctions are acts of war, and innocent people are casualties of war. https://t.co/WyIS1nFN2l

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 16, 2019

I think Justin is being sarcastic. It's one thing that Trump to go bankrupt gambling on casinos with private-sector investors taking the hit. But not when he's gambling with the money of grandchildren taxpayers.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 16, 2019

It's sad to hear of a naturalized citizen now in a country which recognizes her God-given rights, but who herself sides with the Communist State of her native country. Maybe she is worried about reprisals against friends and family if she says otherwise. #BoycottMulan

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 16, 2019

But I fail to see how an economic attack on Disney is expressing solidarity with Hong Kong protesters. It's not like Disney is owned by China. All Disney did was cast a talented actress. You can more directly protest outside a Chinese embassy or boycott imports. #BoycottMulan

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 16, 2019

I'm relieved to see Israel has accommodated Congresswoman Tlaib's request to visit her grandmother in the West Bank. I'm not sure Trump would allow her grandmother to visit her granddaughter.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 16, 2019

It's hard to watch Trump pep rally clips. If these are indicative of his sales pitch next year, he deserves to get his ass kicked. No, he has ZERO to do with stock market gains; no, the market won't crash if he's not elected. But my retirement account gets hit over trade wars.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 16, 2019

I was not aware that Israel wants to restrict Congresswoman Tlaib's freedom of expression in visiting her grandmother in the West Bank, which is immoral.

On the other hand, Tlaib seems to be sacrificing a family union to score political talking points. Put family before ideology

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 16, 2019

Nope. Trump unilaterally bombed Syria, he's aided and abetted the Saudi Arabian genocide against Yemen, he's aggravated tensions with Iran, and he is continuing to engage in undeclared drone wars.

Yes, Obama's award should be stripped; the issue I have is giving it to Trump.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 16, 2019

I realize Senator Paul was justifiably mocking Obama's Nobel Peace Prize, but he has a longstanding talking point about unconstitutional drone wars, and Trump has supersized drone strikes vs. Obama. https://t.co/uGK90XOkzW

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 16, 2019

Just a reminder that the Patriot Act/Freedom Act (actually oxymorons) is unconstitutional and un-American. It's time to end them, reject any extension. https://t.co/escNZbKSmG

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 16, 2019

I have the belief that a news channel should generally steer clear of opinion, other than an occasional editorial. Similarly I expect a business network to stick to finance and business issues, not politics. I listened today to Stuart Varney on FBN who endlessly promoted Trump.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 16, 2019

This would be a long-overdue reform. But realistically the "America First" POTUS has supersized Obama's unconstitutional drone wars and bombed Syria without provocation. I don't think an "America First" POTUS would hire a neocon bastard like John Bolton. https://t.co/oxDkKl3ht1

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 17, 2019

Proving "progressives" wrong #IsMoreSatisfyingThanSex

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 17, 2019

What is "Obama Ave"? Eight years of going nowhere where traffic is even slower than economic growth under Obama? #ObamaAve

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 17, 2019

Even stupid people know that Antifa is an oxymoron, they themselves are modern-day fascists.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 17, 2019

Talk about partisan hypocritical bullshit. Let's see--Obama and Clinton won the support of Big Wall Street and Big Tech. At least go through the motions of checking your crap before tweeting.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 17, 2019

Let's see: public union parasites collect taxpayer money in pay and benefits while backing corrupt Dem politicians. Trump has done more than recent POTUS in promoting energy independence from corrupt, unreliable sources. Why would Shell like Trump? Go figure. #EmptySeatsMagaTour

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 17, 2019

Trump's economic "achievements". In fact, we've continued to see far weaker growth than under Reagan/Bush and Clinton. Not mind Trump's unprovoked trade wars, all aimed at Trump's political promises in the Rust Belt. #SomethingIFindOverrated

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 17, 2019

Obama's "achievements" #SomethingIFindOverrated

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 17, 2019

Dems' record in large urban areas #SomethingIFindOverrated

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 17, 2019

Some lady of color indignantly pointed at me leaving Walmart, "You're supposed to get your receipt checked," no doubt thinking I was exercising my "white privilege". I shouted back, "Not if you self-checkout." The only time you get stopped is they don't see something bagged

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 17, 2019

I have this Howdy Doody face where people will stop me in a Walmart, even though I'm not wearing the uniform. Some lady was looking for hot dog buns. I told her to check the bread aisle near frozen foods. Not that I've bought hot dog buns in 16 years on my lower-carb diet.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 17, 2019

Going back to the receipt check kerfuffle, I personally don't like Walmart's policy of double-checking receipts, but I don't think it's my role to explain self-checkout policies. She was probably upset that there was a queue of 3 carts by blacks who went through regular checkout.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 17, 2019

In fact, Walmart customers of color use self-checkout lanes, located near the exits, all the time. Walmart has cameras on everyone in self-checkout; for example, there was a glitch in buying bananas, requiring the local clerk, and I watched her check the video of my fruit scan.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 17, 2019

There are more effective alternatives to protectionist occupational licensing. https://t.co/csPK8fVwyg

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 18, 2019

The troll has amnesia of what happened under Nobel Peace Prize winner Obama.https://t.co/t9P7aRdgqG

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 18, 2019

Nope. Socialism is all about the failed monopoly of the corrupt political elite. Tell me what rich Trump has bailed out? The parasite Sanders is motivated by the Politics of Envy. The free market does more to bring people out of poverty than any political whore.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 18, 2019

How could Trump help grow the economy?

- declare unilateral free trade
- embrace the strong dollar; end the Fed
- cut the federal budget in real terms 10% across the board
- flatten/eliminate income taxes
- radically downsize the $2T regulatory burden

"Larry Kudlow"

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 18, 2019

Yeah, like those casinos in New Jersey and trying to abuse eminent domain to steal Vera Coking's property for casino parking.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 18, 2019

Your comment is rubbish, implying causation vs. correlation. The yield inversion last appeared in Feb. 2006, well before the Oct 07 stock market peak. Note the 10 yr yield in part reflects foreign demand for safety and historically high Fed holdings. https://t.co/hXFzWoNS1i

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 18, 2019

How many economists are billionaires? There is a reason why Larry Kudlow is working for Trump vs. vice-versa.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 18, 2019

The latest victim of Trump's petty Whac-a-Mole? "Juan Williams". I'm jealous and bored by Trump's predictability.

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 18, 2019

I think the leftists are confused. Hillary lost the election. #CROOKEDPRESIDENT

— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) August 18, 2019