There are two great mysteries in the universe. The first has to do with the nature of dark matter, and the second is why New Times keeps printing John Donegan’s pompous bullshit. First, it was he and his political party that created the mess by enthroning one Donald J. Trump in the Oval Office. The same Trump, as you may recall, who only intended to be a dictator for a day, but it seems that autocracy has grown on him. He also promised to end the Ukraine War that same day but no such luck.
Trump also promised a booming stock market, which only went up some 70 percent during Biden’s administration. Right now, it is in free fall, so the only boom is for short sellers. He promised a quick end to inflation, and lower grocery prices, particularly eggs. Don’t hold your breath. Worse yet, he once again promised to defend and uphold the U.S. Constitution, and has been trashing it ever since.
So now Donnegan is offering advice on how to deal with the mess created by his lying and incompetent leader (“Showdown at the not-so-OK Corral,” April 10). It is obvious that the only real solution would be to get that nut case out of the office and possibly banish both political parties in the process. Maybe we could send them to El Salvador.
Mark Smith
San Luis Obispo
This article appears in Best of SLO County 2025.
I can’t tell you why the New Times keeps printing my “pompous bullshit”, other than to speculate that perhaps they think that you local lefties need to hear another point of view, instead of just uncritically absorbing and accepting all the demented gibbering in your ideological hot house. After all, if the administration of a lunatic asylum relied upon patient consensus to set hospital policy, things might get pretty bizarre.
Totally agree, Mr. Donegan. We need all viewpoints to make this an “Opinion” page. This is still America, for at least a little while longer. I also love the frequent comments of Fly/Shanti or MSlivinskie, and others. This should be a community forum.
Of course, I still think you’re a Trump plant—his supporters could certainly believe that you were placed here years ago by dear leader, just as Mr. Trump believed that Barrack Obama was planted by communists years ago in Hawaii and was never a citizen. LOL
John, the problem is with the right wing what is “true” is less important than what you “believe”.
It started with Reagan and the “stories” he told, the media laughed and played along, he was never really challenged, he was just ‘old’. Then the rise of right wing “hate media” like Faux ‘News”, Rush Limbaugh and those types who literally said, only listen to me, I’ll not lie to you, AS THEY LIED.
Actual facts and data is no longer acceptable to most right wingers, it’s “fake news” or liberal bias. The rights “tax cuts bring in more revenues” BS, even though is and has been a lie for 45 years, is the rights ONLY plan the past 45 years. Debt or deficits don’t matter, in fact they “show” how the lefts “spending” is the problem, although in the past 45 years it’s ONLY the Democrats who spend more AND increase revenues. GOP just gut taxes as they blow up spending
I personally don’t care that YOU lie or create “pompous BS”, I do care that moral character and honesty doesn’t matter to you, from you or to those you follow. If honesty and character mattered to those in the GOP, there is no way Trump could be a leader in their party, you know he’s a felon who had top secret docs, who lied about EVERYTHING since Obama was in office, but you accept it.
One day,like Dubya, the right will say Trump, I never supported him. Sadly many will deceive themselves, but the next right wing created “issue”, I guess Trump took care of the immigrants eating dogs, will give you something to complain about the “left”. Today it’s transgendered garbage and left supporting “gang members” vs actual rights and rule of law
In 1980 the top 1% earned 8.5% of total income.
In 2007 they earned 23%.
In 2024 it’s 26.3%
In 1980 the bottom 90% earned 68% of total income.
In 2007 they earned 53%.
In 2024 it’s 47.4%
(ANTI) Tax Foundation
WOOHOO, THE BOTTOM 90% OF US HAVE LOST OVER 20% OF THE PIE, NO MATTER HOW LARGE IT GETS, IT’S TILL 100%. Of course the US has over 15,000 families worth $100 million each
Tax Cuts Do Not Increase Revenue
Bush CEA Chair Mankiw: Claim That Broad-Based Income Tax Cuts Increase Revenue Is Not “Credible,” Capital Income Tax Cuts Also Don’t Pay For Themselves
Bush-Appointed Federal Reserve Chair Bernanke: “I Don’t Think That As A General Rule Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves.”
Bush Treasury Secretary Paulson: “As A General Rule, I Don’t Believe That Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves.”
Bush OMB Director Nussle: “Some Say That [The Tax Cut] Was A Total Loss. Some Say They Totally Pay For Themselves. It’s Neither Extreme.”
Bush CEA Chairman Lazear: “As A General Rule, We Do Not Think Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves.”
Bush Economic Adviser Viard: “Federal Revenue Is Lower Today Than It Would Have Been Without The Tax Cuts.”
Bush Treasury Official Carroll: “We Do Not Think Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves.”
Reagan Chief Economist Feldstein: “It’s Not That You Get More Revenue By Lowering Tax Rates, It Is That You Don’t Lose As Much.”
Feldstein In 1986: “Hyperbole” That Reagan Tax Cut “Would Actually Increase Tax Revenue.”
Conservative Economist Holtz-Eakin: “No Serious Research Evidence” Suggests Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves.”
Tax Foundation’s Prante: “A Stretch” To Claim “Cutting Capital Gains Taxes Raises Tax Revenues.”
Michael, I’m still waiting for Trump’s guy
“I have people that have been studying [Obama’s birth certificate] and they cannot believe what they’re finding … “
“An ‘extremely credible source’ has called my office and told me that @BarackObama’s birth certificate is a fraud.”
Jon is 100% correct. Right wing think tanks have spent millions of dollars since the 80’s to develop a strategy that put them in power, and now the current administration is setting policy based on those lies and rhetoric.
Let’s have a thought experiment, let’s imagine a Democrat regime suddenly takes power.
Does anyone really think they’ll suddenly remove all our active duty troops at our southern border, allow millions of undocumented migrants, cartel members, human traffickers, and foreign nationals the globe over to simply walk in and disappear into our cities? Seriously?
What happens if Democrats suddenly roll back tariffs? The US depends on selling Treasury notes to fill our budget deficits. No one will buy our debt and unless rates are raised. There are serious issues trying to sell these.
Will a Democrat regime suddenly rehire the hundreds of thousands fired federal workers? How? All the money used to pay them just went into a trillion dollar defense budget.
The math doesn’t give a hoot about who the president is. This is collapse and we are doing it like the Soviet Union. The dollar and economy is collapsing. Jobs aren’t coming back. And our country is run by sociopaths on both sides of the aisle. We’re in a Depression, folks. It’s over. We’re doomed.
Fly, sure “both sides”, lmaorog
The envy of the world
Oct 19th 2024
The American economy has left other rich countries in the dust. Expect that to continue
THE ECONOMIST
Oct. 30, 2024
U.S. economic growth remains impressive. It’s the envy of the world, except at home
LATIMES
November 6, 2024
America’s economy is the envy of the world. Will it stay that way?
Donald Trump’s victory in this year’s election had a lot to do with how many Americans feel about the US economy (surprise: not good). But Simon Rabinovitch, US Economics Editor for The Economist, argues that, despite the turmoil of the past few years, America’s economy remains the envy of the world. Today on the show, Simon explains why that is, but also why he believes a Trump presidency puts America’s ‘economic exceptionalism’ at risk.
NPR
IT’S SIMPLY MATH HUH? NOT POLICY LIKE TRUMP GUTTING THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES, WHICH THE ENTIRE US BUDGET, IF YOU CUT 100% OF THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE, WOULD “SAVE” 4%?
Defense? Oh right Trump is blowing up DOD and DHS spending AS he guts domestic spending and guts taxes (revenues) on the richest, again
Jon K:
Sourcing three legacy news sources.
The Economist: Mainstream British publication from lapdog state. The British economy is worse than ours lol.
LA Times: Not taken seriously, laid off huge amounts of staff recently. Struggling to survive.
NPR: Mouthpiece for bourgeois liberals.
These are laughable arms of American propaganda.
“Media outlets prioritize access to the powerful more than truth. They amplified lies and propaganda to propel us into a war on Iraq. They lionized Wall Street and assured us it was prudent to entrust our life savings to a financial system run by speculators and thieves. Life savings were gutted. They fed us the lies of Russiagate…They dance to the tune of their corporate advertisers and sponsors. They render whole sections of the population, whose misery, poverty, and grievances should be the principal focus of journalism, invisible.”
Chris Hedges
Fly_meet_ointment
HOW ABOUT NUMBERS THEN
GDP growth among G7 nations
2023 2024
US – 2.5% 2.1%
JAPAN – 1.9% .9%
CANADA – 1.1% 1.4%
FRANCE .- 8% 1%
ITALY – 0% 0%
UK – 0.5% 0.6%
GERMANY 0.3% 0.5%
“In 2023, the GDP growth for developed nations was generally lower than in previous years, but some countries saw a rebound. For example, the United States saw a 2.5% growth, while advanced economies as a whole were projected to experience a slowdown to 1.3%. “
Advanced Economies:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected a slowdown in growth for advanced economies, from 2.7% in 2022 to 1.3% in 2023.
United States:
The US economy grew by 2.5% in 2023, exceeding its long-term growth potential and the previous year’s growth of 1.9%, according to the Comisin Econmica para Amrica Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL). Consumer spending was the main driver of this growth.
Global Growth:
The IMF projected a global growth of 2.8% for 2023, following a 3.4% growth in 2022.
GOOGLE AI
In 2024, GDP growth in developed nations was generally muted, with initial estimates suggesting a slight slowdown to 1.7% compared to 1.8% in 2023. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected a slight acceleration for advanced economies, with growth rising from 1.6% in 2023 to 1.7% in 2024.
Overall Slowdown:
While global GDP growth is expected to moderate, the OECD estimates a slight slowdown in advanced economies, with growth slowing to 1.7% in 2024.
OECD Growth:
Initial estimates from the OECD indicate a slight decrease in GDP growth compared to 2023, with 5 of the 28 OECD countries for which data was available experiencing a GDP contraction in 2024.
US Growth:
The US economy is expected to have a 2.8% GDP growth rate in 2024, driven by strong consumer spending. However, the OECD projects a slower pace of growth in 2025 and 2026.
Chris Hedges, THE GUY CALLING NATO THE MOST DANGEROUS ALLINCE IN THE WORLD TODAY? LMAOROG
MAYBE CHRIS CAN GO PLAGIARIZE MORE ARTICLES FOR YOU
“They fed us the lies of Russiagate…”
Oh right
Senate panel finds Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. election
….The nearly 1,000-page report, the fifth and final one from the Republican-led Senate intelligence committee on the Russia investigation, details how Russia launched an aggressive effort to interfere in the election on Trump’s behalf. It says the Trump campaign chairman had regular contact with a Russian intelligence officer and says other Trump associates were eager to exploit the Kremlin’s aid, particularly by maximizing the impact of the disclosure of Democratic emails hacked by Russian intelligence officers.
The report is the culmination of a bipartisan probe that produced what the committee called “the most comprehensive description to date of Russia’s activities and the threat they posed.” The investigation spanned more than three years as the panel’s leaders said they wanted to thoroughly document the unprecedented attack on U.S. elections.
NPR
Jon K:
You really put a lot of faith in government reports, committees, and hearings don’t you? Personally, I don’t believe any of it and would advise anyone else not to either. You must have not lived through the 60s did you? I mean on one hand, according to government, we were winning the Vietnam war but on the other hand, and it took Daniel Elsburg and the NYTs, to publish a secret report by the think-tank Elsburg worked at, to show the American public that they were being lied to, also known as the “Pentagon Papers “
You must not have lived through the Gulf War either when General Colin Powell’s testimony was shown to be false when he attested that Sadam Hussein had mobile biowarfare labs, later proven to be false and known to American insiders.
How old are you, Jon? 12?
Try thinking for yourself and cast off your childhood fairy tales that the US government is truthful. Our politicians vote their class interest and not ours (there are academic reports that prove this). They’re pretty much all millionaires or trying to be by doing the bidding of their corporate masters.
Jobs aren’t coming back, we will default on our sovereign debt, we will get hyperinflation, the dollar will collapse, social security and Medicare are being looted, all politicians are corrupt, the SCOTUS is biased, the Constitution will be suspended, martial law may be declared, we could have a civil war, the military now has a trillion dollar budget, and we have no future other than national poverty. We’re in a DEPRESSION with a military clique overseeing it all. Neither party will save us, they are part of the problem and are endorsing it.
You are like Jews in Nazi Germany, still convinced as they/we were being loaded into boxcars for liquidation, that their trip to the countryside was simply for jobs. If their Nazi government told them they were being relocated for purposes of work, it must be true. That’s you, Jon. Still convinced everything is fine because government reports, the media, and officials say it is. It won’t be until you are sent to the oven that maybe, just maybe, you will admit you might be wrong.
You’re in for one hell of a rude awakening and in utter denial, sir. There isn’t a single thing you or I can do about it other than say goodbye to all that we knew or, like you, just whistle past the graveyard.
My family and I already have our bags packed and have a hole in the wall on a large island in Asia just waiting.
Lastly, here’s your “independent” news:
https://youtu.be/ksb3KD6DfSI?si=MH2Q4eMp_O…