I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK....

DO YOU TOO NOTICE THAT WHENEVER TRAGEDY STRIKES THESE DAYS FROM THE MAYOR ON UP, THE SAME TIRED SHIBBOLETH'S ARE PARROTED, REGARDLESS THE CIRCUMSTANCES:

'I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THOSE BRAVE FIRST, SECOND, THIRD (AND SO ON), RESPONDERS' etc. etc.

Take the one that just occurred in New York City where the hapless Muslim Terrorist prematurely blew himself up.

Maybe all and sundry public officials should have led off by saying 'I would just like to thank the Terrorist for being an inept dolt when it comes to building pipe bombs'.

Or the Serial Killer in Tampa Florida who stupidly turned his gun over to a colleague in a Fast Food joint who then immediately took the gun to a police officer chowing down on doughnuts in her shop.

' I would just like to thank the brave McDonald's worker who, by turning her work colleague in, successfully put an end to the hunt for this totally deranged and indiscriminate killer'

Or back to New York and the recent murder of 8 cyclists by another Muslim Terrorist who was stopped when he drove his truck into an unsuspecting school bus.  So here we go...

'I would like to thank the Terrorist for being such a lousy driver and of course the driver of the school bus for being at the right place, at the right time'.

So just for the heck of it let's do a pretend scenario:

Setting- Mother and 3 year old Daughter are in their kitchen when the Mother notices that her daughter is about to touch a hot stove burner.

Mother acts quickly to block young Daughter's hand from being burned.

Word of this 'hits the streets' whereupon the following occurs.

Mayor - I would like to thank the first responders, including fire, ambulance, para meds and city police for their brave and rapid response in preventing what would likely have been a very tragic occurrence. Next,

Governor - I too would like to echo the Mayor's sagacious words but would be remiss if I did not especially single out the State Police, etc.  Next,

President - And don't for a minute forget the essential role played by the FBI, Homeland Security, the CIA and of course our dedicated and courageous Military.

Did you notice who is missing in all of this? 

The Mum of course.

There is no political mileage to be made by promoting her.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

HE'D HUFF AND HE'D PUFF AND HE'D BLOW HIS HOUSE DOWN...

THE HE IN THIS STORY IS NONE OTHER THAN DONALD TRUMP AND THE HOUSE OWNER IS NORTH KOREA'S RULER FOR LIFE KIM ...the YOUNG-UN.

And I guess from recent events, Young-un Kim's home must be made out of brick because for all Trump's huffing and puffing, his house is still standing.

When The Donald was on the campaign trail and even well into his Presidency, he was regularly quoted on what he was going to do the Young-un if he did not cease and desist from perfecting Nuclear Tipped ICBMs that could reach the United States.

Why he was going to tear the Young-un limb from limb...totally destroy his war making ability and that was just a start.

But as they say, that was then and this is now.  'Now' meaning North Korea has recently shown itself able to successfully launch such dreaded ICBMs.

So what does President Trump's latest threats to the Young-un consist of?  Why there are going to be more sanctions imposed on North Korea, more harsh resolutions emanating from the United Nations and most recently Trump has ....are you ready for this...added North Korea to the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.

I think you will no doubt agree with me that these new measures will likely cause Kimmie to collapse with spasms of paralytic inertia.

Or you just might say, if threats of bodily injury and death did not make a dent in his determination to acquire these dangerous weapons why would hollow threats about ineffective sanctions and resolutions and laughable sponsor lists have any greater effect?

And a good point you'd make.

Trump, if you can believe it, is even talking about more negotiations with China and with North Korea even though heretofore he rightly pointed out that such negotiations were worthless since they have been ineffective throughout past decades and several American Administrations of various stripes. 

So what gives?

I am not sure but I do know that if North Korea is permitted to have nuclear weapons this will extend to Iran and a new nuclear armament race will be launched the likes of which we have never  seen before.

And I know something else as well.  If President Trump persists in this weak line of attack against North Korea, his credibility will be critically diminished.

As I see it...

'K.D.  Galagher'

Doesn't Trump Realize That This Will Jeopardize These Delicate Negotiations ?

The Delicate Negotiations I am of course referring to are the Negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians on the latter's right to Nationhood.

What was Trump thinking ?

At least that was the position taken by all 20+ attendees at our weekly discussion group yesterday morning ...save for one ...yours truly.

I kindly pointed out to all and sundry that there were no "Delicate Negotiations" underway..in fact, there were no Negotiations period and there have not been for a long time.

In that regard, the Palestinian situation is similar to North Korea where the charade of negotiations has played out by various US Administration with 'zip all' to show for it.

The bottom-line here is that if Arab nations really wanted the Palestinians to have their own Statehood, it would have happened years and years ago.  The cruel fact is that most Arab States want  to see things unsettled on Israel's border with Palestine. 

The other fact in the mix is that Israel is the only Democratic Nation in the Middle East and it is time that they were allowed to get on with their lives including determining the location of their capital city.

President Trump made it official yesterday that the US would henceforth recognize Jerusalem to be their capital as per their wishes.  

I see Trump's action as a step in the right direction which will hasten the Palestinian march to statehood.  I say that because when Palestine / and its other Arab neighbours see Israel moving on without them, they will realize that further stalling, foot-dragging will no longer be in their interests.

So back to our group.  I suspect much of their criticism of Trump yesterday was due to their overall dislike for the man and not so much with respect to his declaration regarding Jerusalem.  Indeed, I think this applies to much of the criticism surrounding Trump...it is knee-jerk reaction rather than thought out positions and policy.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

BIG 'EXPLETIVE' DEAL

So said potty mouthed Joe Biden in a loud whisper to President Obama at a Press Conference to announce the passage of Obama's Health Care Legislation a few years back.

But today's 'Big Expletive Deal' pertains to the passage of Trump's Tax Reform Bill(s) in Congress.

The Democrats, to no ones surprise, dismisses this accomplishment by saying the legislation:

• favours the rich
• increases taxes on the middle class, 
• pampers Corporations and, 
• will add $ Trillions to the Debt.

But here is the truth.

1. The rich will benefit but only marginally.  And bear in mind the top 10% of America's income earners pay over 70% of all income taxes each year.  I'd say they are due for a modest break.

2.  The vast majority of middle income earners will see a sizable drop in the income taxes.  Only a small exception will see their taxes rise and that raise will be modest.  Again it is important to keep in mind that American's are not overtaxed to begin with...figures from 2015 show that their income taxes are but 26 % of America's GDP whereas the average for other developed countries hovers at around 34%.

3.  The US has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world ...at 35%.  In our own country Canada, for instance, the rate is but 15%.  The new Trump Tax Reform Legislation will reduce their rate to 22 and perhaps to even 20%.  This will give American Companies an important edge to better compete with an ever growing world economy. Americans of all stripes have been complaining bitterly about losing jobs off-shore, this will work to stop and even reverse that flow.   And, 

4.  Finally the claim by the Progressives that the Debt will have to increase by at least 3 Trillion Dollars per year to account for lost tax revenue.  This is rather rich coming from the Left who in the last 8 years doubled the Debt from $10 Trillion to $20 Trillion.  The fact is, from previous experience, when income taxes were reduced, the debt did not increase, rather it decreased as more economic activity resulted in greater revenues for the Government. And this will happen this time as well to the chagrin of the Left. 

So there you have it....a Big 'Expletive' Deal...and America has Trump and the Republicans to thank for it.

If this keeps up, The Donald may well be re-elected in 2020.  Maybe they will run Hillary against him..

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

GUESS I WAS WRONG ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP NOT COLLUDING WITH RUSSIA IN LAST YEAR'S ELECTION !

NOT !!

But boy would the Progressives out there like to hear people like me admit to such in light of this week's charges against Michael Flynn (Lt. Gen ret'd).

But dear reader, those charges have nothing ...zilch... to do with anyone seeking Russia's help to defeat Hillary in 2016. All they prove is that Flynn, like countless others in Washington, on all sides of the aisle, are lobbyist first and foremost trying and usually succeeding in filling their pockets with tons of other people's money. In fact, the biggest knock against the American Political System is that it is funded / controlled by Big Money.

And, as to the charges...hold your breath, they are for 'lying to the FBI', the same cops who continually lie to each other, to others in related security agencies and even to their politicians.  I classify these charges as Martha Stewart Charges since that was all they were able to pin on her.  It is all so pathetic. 

And all the while, the only real proof of an Election Candidate seeking the help of Russians is with respect to dear Hillary.  And yet no investigation there.  

It is nothing but a Witch Hunt ... or should I be politically incorrect and call it a Warlock Hunt in the case of The Donald?

As you know, from the very beginning I have called these assertions against Donald Trump to be wishful thinking on the part of the Dems.  They still are and will always continue to be so.

But there is something even more sinister happening here and it is not about either Donald Trump nor even Hillary Clinton since, in the scheme of things, they are merely bit players. Rather it is the Socialist Left's (a.k.a. the Democrats) fear of Parties of Capitalism, which, for the most part, the Republicans continue to be although even that is being tested in today's Progressive Climate.  

They will stop at nothing to discredit Capitalism even though that is what made America great, has pulled the majority of the world's peoples out of poverty and despair and today is being employed most successfully by heretofore communist nations and their like.

To paraphrase Winston Churchill, capitalism is the worst basis for economic development save for all the rest.

As I see it...

"K.D. Galagher'

TWO REPORT CARD GRADES FOR PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

"We know you like Trump, Galagher so let us guess whatever the subject matter is, you are going to give him As."

Well Dear Reader, you'd be half right:

Subject Matter One...Defence of the Free World.

In this important area the United States is truly back.  After 8 long years of apologies from Obama coupled with inaction in the face of aggression, Trump is bringing his country back to the delight of his allies and chagrin of America's enemies.

This is most evident in America's dealings with two of the world's out-of- control rogue States ....Iran and North Korea.  The former has threatened that once they have acquired the Nuclear Bomb they are going to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.  The latter, under the lunatic Young-Un, has threatened to reduce USA's major cities to rubble along with the death of millions of their citizens.

So here you are correct, I give the President a strong A.

Note: In order to keep this A at the end of coming Winter Term, President Trump will have to do more to de-denuclearize these two outliers.

Subject Matter Two...Free Trade:

Trump was elected on a platform that included Isolation for America especially when is comes to Trade and Commerce.

I never thought that he would actually stick with this nonsensical position since it is clear that Free Trade is a boon for Importing and Exporting Countries alike. (I won't get into the reasons for this but if you insist, will deal with that specifically in a future blog). 

One of his first actions in office was to take America out of the Pacific Trade Agreement which includes the most influential and growing economies in the Far East.  Instead of looking to America for guidance, they will now look to China and the Chinese cannot believe their good fortune.

Trump is also threatening to deep six the North American Trade Agreement his country has with Canada and Mexico.  All three countries have benefited immensely under this agreement and all have seen a dramatic rise in jobs.  

And you need look no further than Brexit to see the predicament the Brits have placed themselves in having to leave the European Union.

Bottom-line....Isolation does not work and to think this is being done on the brink of China replacing the United States as having the largest economy in the world.

So Dear Reader I give President Trump a solid F.

One final note, if Trump sticks to his approach in the above two areas ...Subject Matter Two will eventually erode the State's ability to deal effectively with Subject Matter One.

In other words, they simply will not have enough money to keep adequately funding Defence. 

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

FIRST WORLD ISSUES (F.W.I.)

OUR FOREFATHERS CUT THEIR WAY INTO THE WILDERNESS TO EKE OUT A HAND-TO-MOUTH EXISTENCE.


They endured plague, war and depression and yet kept their human spirit.

Issues of the day included worrying about whether or not there would be enough food to eat, enough wood to burn, and whether they could escape the multitude of diseases for which there were no cure.  

Men were men and women worked in lock-step beside them in true partnership against the elements.

As we enter nicely into this, the 21st Century, the Issues of today would have made our Forebears giddy with relief.

But there are consequences with these new preoccupations and it is up to each of us to determine whether they are good, bad or indifferent.  Or more to the point, whether those consequences are worth ??

First of all, the Individual's Rights and Freedoms are being replaced by Group Rights where Individual Groups are the ones being protected by law.  

Governments continue to grow while Democracy rapidly declines;  the Courts make the law rather than the Legislatures while Special Interest Groups are catered to at the expense of the Majority. 

Belief in God is being replaced by Environmental Worship especially when it comes to the related issues of Global Warming  and Climate Change. And as a consequence, Our Economic Health is being sacrificed to the delight of our competitors in South East Asia and beyond.

Marriage is no longer the preserve of a man and a woman and the terms male and female too are under strong attack.

We have become a throw-away Society and this has extended to the elimination of our most innocent and frail.

So you vote.  Are you okay or not okay with the direction that Society appears to be headed.

Yes or No?

And if No, what are you going to personally do about it.


As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'