tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post7096366521759358574..comments2024-03-28T14:52:13.218-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: Walls, Damned Lies, and StatisticsJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-90575623566992754412019-03-03T06:26:39.986-06:002019-03-03T06:26:39.986-06:00What do we have that they should want?
We have a w...What do we have that they should want?<br />We have a wall to work upon<br />We have work and they have none<br />And our work is never done<br />My children, my children<br />And the war is never won<br />The enemy is poverty<br />And the wall keeps out the enemy<br />And we build the wall to keep us free<br />That’s why we build the wall<br />We build the wall to keep us free<br />-- Anaïs MitchellAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-51609078369809706422019-02-11T18:57:29.768-06:002019-02-11T18:57:29.768-06:00"The only way to make a wall effective over t..."The only way to make a wall effective over that distance to monitor and man it over every inch every minute of every day."<br /><br />Missing an "is" between "distance" and "to".<br /><br />"If you have to have eyes on the border an anyway."<br /><br />Yeah, the "an" isn't needed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-92155642946557167112019-02-04T16:20:17.627-06:002019-02-04T16:20:17.627-06:00It is astounding that a single one of the unpaid w...It is astounding that a single one of the unpaid workers had to experience anything but complete forthcoming generosity of the many banks the american people bailed out in 2008. Appalling that they did not immediately rally to provide interest free advances to all of them. <br />Donna S please do NOT correct my grammar or spelling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-577566511607770242019-02-01T12:12:28.089-06:002019-02-01T12:12:28.089-06:00Thanks for the time, thoughtful reasoned approach,...Thanks for the time, thoughtful reasoned approach, and opportunity to share. Perhaps if more people had the time to read they might also find some time to think crically about the world around them and the events that inform their personal view and actions. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08375607438336657550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-12407495987109527172019-01-30T13:47:54.049-06:002019-01-30T13:47:54.049-06:00On the one hand, we have the outmoded and ineffect...On the one hand, we have the outmoded and ineffective Electoral College system. On the other hand, we have yhe24 hr news cycle, unfettered by any accountability for truth or accuracy. On The Gripping Hand, we are faced with a debilitating voter apathy, and until this nation finds itself a way to once again field a well-informed and engaged electorate, we are heading for a true Crazy Eddie event. Like most here I fear for the future of this country. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00527688531159535531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-75303659574575420542019-01-28T05:36:58.904-06:002019-01-28T05:36:58.904-06:00"Build a Wall and crime will fall"
Maybe..."Build a Wall and crime will fall"<br />Maybe that's his new offer? He will give up his life of crime if he gets his wall? That could have a statistical impact!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-65433835308019146542019-01-28T03:51:57.188-06:002019-01-28T03:51:57.188-06:00It gets even better (which is to say, worse).
You...It gets even better (which is to say, worse).<br /><br />You forgot benefits. The rule of thumb in private industry is that you double the salary for benefits and overhead. So we should cost the agents out at about $100,000/year.<br /><br />We currently have 20,000. But let's think big. Let's go for FIVE THOUSAND new agents, and devote them to protecting just the 1,300 miles of border Trump wants to add a wall on. That's better than one per mile in three shifts. Annual cost: $500 million.<br /><br />The current 10-year T-bill rate is about 2.7% - and you know it's going to go up, given the GOP's $1 trillion a year deficits. (I know you are as shocked as I that the tax cuts did not pay for themselves.) But even if it stays the same, the annual interest on the increase in the national debt for building the wall Trump wants would be: $567 million per year. Dead minimum, using the most optimistic price tag from DHS. Savings: $67 million per year. And they could be ready to go in a couple of years at most. I mean, if this is such a big freaking emergency, don't we need to do something NOW?<br /><br />Nancy Pelosi hit the nail on the head: this is a manhood thing for Trump. Michael Steinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15327720239440758991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-5569292160906663822019-01-27T11:45:32.059-06:002019-01-27T11:45:32.059-06:00ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON!!!!!!!!! ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON!!!!!!!!! bonkmc1https://www.blogger.com/profile/04605815448635489137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-2469664505850157582019-01-26T16:48:58.591-06:002019-01-26T16:48:58.591-06:00Crazy Eddie point was reach 9 Nov 2017.
As an asi...Crazy Eddie point was reach 9 Nov 2017. <br />As an aside re. Trump's management of the government; is it malfeasance, misfeasance, nonfeasance or a malignant combination of all 3?whitelillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-25273030049969108082019-01-26T16:00:00.151-06:002019-01-26T16:00:00.151-06:00Seconded, as worded it should have been "murd...Seconded, as worded it should have been "murder rates would drop by 100%..." but there is other math news. The actual rate of .049% not .0049 percent. The math is 49/100,000 x 100.<br /><br />Having said that, I full agree with all the sentiments in Jim's, essay, typos and all.- and that's the real point.Maxwell's Demonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00150736465942147646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-44510746094514754662019-01-26T15:54:37.980-06:002019-01-26T15:54:37.980-06:00Thanks for the reference for one of my ATF sci-fi ...Thanks for the reference for one of my ATF sci-fi novel, one that does not get it's due.. Would love to see a high budget movie of it one day!Maxwell's Demonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00150736465942147646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-84766274181331767092019-01-26T12:42:21.944-06:002019-01-26T12:42:21.944-06:00This is a brilliant piece but obviously much too i...This is a brilliant piece but obviously much too intellectual for the Trump 'core base'.Rivermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10805024347428729831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-40567696456968141142019-01-26T12:33:53.153-06:002019-01-26T12:33:53.153-06:00Jim, been checking your site almost daily for a ne...Jim, been checking your site almost daily for a new essay these last months, and as per usual, you did not disappoint. Glad to see you back in long form again, since I don't do the social media thing, as important as it is to you. But, can you explain the healing comment?<br /><br />Maybe too personal a question, but today's my birfday, man! Throw this old man another bone.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />LeroyLeroyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02021120389394278239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-66390261005717775232019-01-26T11:50:34.211-06:002019-01-26T11:50:34.211-06:00Note of hope: A Trump supporting friend of mine fi...Note of hope: A Trump supporting friend of mine finally saw the light. And I didn't have to say a thing. He's a Texan. And a veteran. Maybe now that Trump has trashed every state in the union with his shutdown more people will figure it out.Nancy Alborellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09670097162853715770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-88301436509847610752019-01-26T11:03:57.516-06:002019-01-26T11:03:57.516-06:00In that case Jim, in the sentence, "They come...In that case Jim, in the sentence, "They come in using fraudulent papers." I think you meant "They'll come in using fraudulent papers." Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17201444554439019957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-36029976278966078592019-01-26T00:36:11.543-06:002019-01-26T00:36:11.543-06:00I found this... https://twitter.com/Kristin_Hook/s...I found this... https://twitter.com/Kristin_Hook/status/1088833209687777280 which talks about immigrants and crime (with sources) from a furloughed scientist who loves research. Thought you'd be interested. Nadinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-11341289284874497262019-01-26T00:08:31.255-06:002019-01-26T00:08:31.255-06:00Now that Trump has given us 3 weeks of funding. Wi...Now that Trump has given us 3 weeks of funding. Will the Republicans continue to use these tactics to make Government ineffective, so they can turn everything over to the corporate private sector? To defund the Democratic party, the unions, that still fight against the Monolithic corporate funded Republican right? Are they using the Democratic House to further their agenda, ruining the economy as Putin wants to lessen the strangle hold on Russia? If the Republicans go two years with no legislation passing, Executive Orders, Lobbyist as Cabinet Members or in positions of power in government to make them ineffective. Then continue to cry to their base how government doesn't work? Hollowing out government institutions, getting rid of senior people. Just like they do in corporations, by cutting costs firing the most senior people to bring in fresh talent just above minimum wage with no pension due. Too bad the 20 yr guy lost his job just before he got a pension. That money will have to go to the execs. By breaking down the middle class, they cause fear, and apathy and gerrymandering they maintain control. Open your eyes and vote people. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-25449193914009752372019-01-25T23:53:04.041-06:002019-01-25T23:53:04.041-06:00If we launched Trump into Orbit and then let him r...If we launched Trump into Orbit and then let him re-enter to strike the planet, say North Korea. That Head hitting the ground with that Ego, would do a lot of damage. It would be Huge and Bigly! I'm just not sure we have a rocket big enough? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-80142264900718840932019-01-25T23:47:13.926-06:002019-01-25T23:47:13.926-06:00Sou,
You have to read the founding fathers to get...Sou, <br />You have to read the founding fathers to get an understanding of what they were trying to make. They did model it after other forms of government and they did not want to be ruled by a King with no representation. They setup the co-equal branches of government to counter the power of the president. What they did not for-see was the corruption of the Republican party by big business and the corruption of the President of the United States. The Congress was suppose to counter the President, and the Courts. Now that the House is controlled by the Democrats, and Robert Mueller, he will have to face the consequences if the Republicans ease off. If they are too greedy and power hungry, then America will face the same things that happen with all civilizations after hundreds of years. America is facing the same Corruption and Rot that all civilizations face as the Wealthy manipulate the system. The Founding fathers put in mechanism's to counter this and keep the system honest more or less. We are now finding out how rotten the core is by the total disregard of the middle class and poor. "Let Them Eat Cake". Yet 30-40% of the population has been brainwashed for the last 30-40 years. So long as they get to die with their hands on their rifles, you can starve them, bomb them, kill them. They will vote Republican, and complain the Government doesn't work. If they had half a brain they could see their representatives block aid to them, give to the Billionaires, destroy health coverage, Infrastructure, Education, Welfare for average Americans. Vote for Military, Homeland Security, Police, FBI,(unless investigating president). Now they are placing corrupt judges in positions to cement their power. Look at what Germany did and the Kangaroo courts. WE have to stand fast and fight the corruption or it's going to get a lot worse. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-85627247016724279062019-01-25T19:33:13.187-06:002019-01-25T19:33:13.187-06:00You know who loves them some walls? Manufacturers ...You know who loves them some walls? Manufacturers of tunneling equipment. Also ladders.Nick Jorgensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02744164016613065882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-34920745958528128852019-01-25T18:54:03.282-06:002019-01-25T18:54:03.282-06:00Bush II was the first "businessman". We&...Bush II was the first "businessman". We've had our toes in this water before. It's now rignt under our noses.Robb Uryhttp://rocketmail.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-30862971217601616962019-01-25T17:30:11.114-06:002019-01-25T17:30:11.114-06:00Thanks for this, sir. Thanks for this, sir. Hank Brandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10440975906601732962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-13745212042037905082019-01-25T16:40:48.506-06:002019-01-25T16:40:48.506-06:00@Eliphion - I agree with a lot of what you're ...@Eliphion - I agree with a lot of what you're saying, but I think you're underestimating the role of the electorate. They have the power to punish the violation of "settled norms" but if they don't play the role of cat, the mice will play.<br />BoomDYadanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-85222153276425177202019-01-25T16:39:12.307-06:002019-01-25T16:39:12.307-06:00Look at sports to understand this. Sports constant...Look at sports to understand this. Sports constantly have to adjust the rules because people will always find a way to bend the rules to get an individual advantage, often to the detriment of the sport as a whole. What is unique about the American system is its age, and how static it is. It sort of breaks me up that there are "originalists" who are proud of restoring the constitution to the way it was 250 years ago (in the age of slavery). I think constitutions need to be rewritten from scratch roughly once every lifetime. As a constructive non-partisen effort - which would be a hell of a lot easier without the two party system, which is also the source of many of your ills in the USA.reasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09488435543492412991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-78972223679363182222019-01-25T15:54:30.251-06:002019-01-25T15:54:30.251-06:00I have a different opinion on Jim's using Isra...I have a different opinion on Jim's using Israel's wall as a comparison--I think it's quite apt. Netanyahu and the Israeli Likkud Party are like a miniature version of the Trump cabal and Republican Party. They use fear of the other--and sell a misplaced fear of an existential threat against them as a people--to support hardline, inhumane policies against their neighbors, just like our right-wing government "leaders" are doing here. Further, they tar *all* Palestinians with the same Hamas brush, saying that *all* Palestinians want to wipe Israel off the map and kill all of the Jewish people.<br /><br />Meanwhile, similar to the Central Americans and Mexicans who seek asylum at our southern border, most Palestinians just want the same things everyone else on the planet wants: security, peace, good jobs and a good life for their families, and freedom from hunger, violence (state-sanctioned or otherwise), and starvation/homelessness. What's worse is that Netanyahu and the right wing in Israel are able to horribly manipulate and deceive their people by playing on their very legitimate fears of genocide in a not-so-distant past. The Jewish people were horribly wronged--the *entire world* (including the U.S. at the time) wronged them by denying them safe harbor during the Holocaust--and Netanyahu & Co. misuse the memories of that history to justify oppressing the Palestinian people. Absolutely, the Hamas outfit is a bunch of criminal thugs that should be punished to the fullest extent of international law--but the Palestinians as an entire people should NOT continue to suffer at the hands of their neighbors. Just as the people in the Americas of the Global South should not continue to suffer at our hands--their U.S. neighbors--for simply wanting a better life.<br /><br />The wall, in both cases, is simply a symbol of the fear that continues to tear us apart as a people and bring about our and Israel's downfalls from within, sadly. :(Michelle K in Tampahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781838852205106904noreply@blogger.com