Sanders’ Extremism is Full of Vice
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
March 10, 2020
“Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. ...moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”
Thus were the immortal words spoken by the Republican nominee for president, Arizona Senator Barry M. Goldwater (1909-98), on July 16, 1964, during his acceptance speech at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, home of the GOP convention. Those two statements were, without a doubt, the biggest applause lines of his speech in Goldwater’s clarion call for a new direction for the United States in moving forward from the Kennedy-Johnson days. Sadly, that November Goldwater would be pounded by Lyndon Johnson (1908-73), winning his own full term in the White House.
Today, 56 years later, there is a new extremism brewing, and it is rather foul smelling. This new extremism is viciously dangerous and will most definitely move the United States in a direction heretofore never experienced by Americans. This is an extremism with a price tag of greater than $50 trillion - yes, trillion with a “t,” for the total governmental takeover of the healthcare system that will bankrupt the United States. This is an extremism with a price tag of greater than $16 trillion for a Green New Deal that, if actually implemented, would cripple or bankrupt the automobile industry.
In both cases, millions of people - automobile manufacturers and those associated with that industry; insurance representatives and those associated with that industry will lose their jobs. Once out of work, they will then become reliant upon the government for unemployment payouts, and those folks will not be contributing to the massive tax hikes required to implement the aforementioned plans. Their purchasing power will be severely diminished which will create a glut in the overproductions of goods that will sit on shelves for longer periods of time causing those manufacturers to layoff tens to hundreds of thousands of workers, putting them on the dole. That is just the appetizer.
This is merely a part of self-proclaimed Socialist Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’ very unappetising plan, to borrow a phrase from Barack Obama, to fundamentally transform the United States of America. In Sanders’ case, Medicare for all and a single-payer health plan would create a monopoly, ending all competition and costing more than 180 million Americans to lose their current health care coverage - this according to Sanders’ fellow Democrat and former competitor Minnesota Amy Klobuchar. In fact Sanders said his Medicare for all is the answer to the Coronavirus. He could not be more wrong. At current the government is seeking the assistance of private medical centers and labs for testing kits and possible antidotes, as the CDC had to admit their testing kits were unusable. Competition will drive a race to the cure. Competition - one of the bellwethers making the United States the strong capitalist society that is the envy of millions of people worldwide, which is why they continue to flood our borders to enter this country “by any means necessary.” - Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-80)
Do we really want the federal government taking complete control of our healthcare? See Exhibit A - the Veterans Administration is run so poorly they can’t keep track of veterans - thousands of whom are homeless - the real shame of our country. Those veterans need to be taken care of - we have a moral obligation at the very least. And to be fair, all candidates on both sides of the aisle have called for improvements in that area. Fully take care of the veterans and fund such programs - housing, medical care - physical and mental health - by cutting off the illegal aliens who continue stroming our borders. The poorly run VA is a microcosm of how the government would run healthcare for more than 330 million people living in the United States.
Sanders’ diabolical plans include raising the payroll taxes, raising the death/inheritance tax, as well as taxes on all workers earning $29,000 or more annually. Does $29,000 sound like the one percent - the group Sanders vilifies at every turn? Hardly. And while those taxes will rise, the cost of housing will also continue to rise as will the cost of groceries, and virtually every aspect of American life. What will not rise, undoubtedly, will be the stock market, also a target of Sanders’ vilification, referring to those on the corners of Wall and Broad streets as “crooks.” Naturally the rise in taxes will limit people’s spending abilities, creating more of the vicious cycle described above.
But Sanders is not interested in simply raising people’s taxes - he is a supporter of wealth confiscation. Sanders hates, no, loathes the one percent, which, by the way, he is a member of that vaunted club. Sanders is clearly stoking the flames of class warfare. He condemns people’s wealth, yet, without it his plans can not be seen to fruition. (Let’s hope that is true.) It is the wealthy that build businesses, companies, and corporations and create jobs. It is the wealthy that create foundations to fund scholarships, grants, universities, hospitals, symphonies, theatres, the arts, and other quality of life enjoyments.
Sanders also demands a wealth tax, which even if 100 percent of all American’s wealth were confiscated, it still would not come close to what is needed for his takeover of the lives of every American. And while we the people are ponying up these egregious taxes to fund his ineffable socialist schemes, Sanders has committed, as did all the Democrats on the debate stage months ago, to provide free healthcare and education to illegal aliens. There goes the rule of law as well as the economy.
Think about the concept of free tuition for a moment. How will these institutions of higher education (indoctrination factories) pay their professors? Pay their utilities? Operate dormitories? Feed the masses on the campuses? Will they force schools to raise money by selling naming rights to anything and everything that doesn’t move? The Chick-fil-A Science Labs? The Huntington Bank Economics building? How will these schools pay their athletes either under the table as has been the tradition for decades, or with cash upfront as has been the suggestion from so many unwilling to put their foot down and end that madness.
I can envision the loss of confidence by the American people to commence the day after a Sanders election, not inauguration day, January 20, 2021 - just the same way the day after President Donald Trump’s victory confidence levels and the stock market began to rise. This breach in confidence will include corporations moving their headquarters out of the United States to limit their tax liability. The market will drop precipitously costing millions of people multi-millions of dollars, driving the housing market into a standstill and general spending to a virtual halt, save for necessities. The picture is bleak. It is meant to be a wake-up call.
Sanders simply does not comprehend the concept of the free market economy, for if he did, he would understand that raising taxes spurns growth rather than spurs growth. But this comes from his socialist and statist beliefs - honeymooning in the Soviet Union, speaking and writing complementerally of murderous dictators Fidel Castro of Cuba and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua all the while downplaying their extreme behaviors calling them authoritarian instead of the truthful totalitarian. The literacy program Sanders’ tauts as a Castro success is bunk. On the eve of the Castro Revolution, literacy rates in Cuba were about 77 percent, according to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization). Under Castro literacy diid approach 90 percent, but Cubans had no freedom of expression.
Supporting food lines in Nicaragua in 1985, Sanders astonishingly said, “It’s funny, sometimes American journalists talk about how bad a country is. The people are lining up for food. That’s a good thing! In other countries people don’t line up for food. The rich get the food and the poor starve to death.” I watched that tape of Sanders from 35 years ago and thought he must be confused. Nope. Just addle minded. That was during Ortega’s reign. Ironically, supporters of Sanders are calling themselves “Sandernistas.” Very disturbing as it shows either an absolute lack of knowledge of history, or worse that they understand it all too well and are seeking that kind of despotic leadership in Sanders. Either way no good comes of a Sanders election in November. May G-d save the Union.
Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.
Showing posts with label Sanders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sanders. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Monday, February 17, 2020
The Bloomberg Coefficient
The Bloomberg Coefficient
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
February 17, 2020
“Sixty billion dollars can buy a lot of advertising, but it can’t erase your record,” said erstwhile Democrat candidate Joe Biden (DE) about former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg (R). Oh wait, Biden is still in the race, in spite of miserable showings in both Iowa and New Hampshire. Although to be fair, no one really knows what the hell happened in the Hawkeye State, belying its nickname. And to correct, Bloomberg is no longer the Republican he once was as New York City mayor. First he dropped the GOP label for that of an independent, now he wants people to believe he is a Democrat. By the way, Mr. Bloomberg, $60 billion will never buy class.
Apparently, traveling the country on your knees and in tears in an apology tour for virtually anything and everything that has occurred since time in memorium is how Bloomberg expects people to forget his past transgressions, both in word and deed. Oh, yeah, and there is also the advertising blitz which will have no end in sight until Bloomberg either has the nomination bought and paid for or drops out of the race.
The Democrat Party establishment is hoping for the former, in its own hypocrisy, and is proving so by changing their party’s own rules regarding the upcoming debate in Nevada to allow Bloomberg, who is not accepting donations, to appear on the debate stage at the Paris hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Interesting how the DNC made no exceptions for Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), former HUD Secretary Julian Castro (D-TX), or US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI). Gabbard, by the way, has been the punching bag of the DNC and the liberal media simply because Gabbard, a veteran still on active duty, is willing to speak out against her own party when she feels necessary. Any bets on whether or not the caucus results will be available the same day as they are held? Figures - the Paris - they even chose a venue named for a socialist city. Seems the nomination is going to boil down to the socialist Bernie Sanders (VT) and the former Republican Bloomberg - neither a true member of the Democrat Party. The DNC, under incompetent Tom Perez, has such animus toward Sanders, they are willing to pull the rug out from under his and his acolyte’s feet - yet again.
For those who think boy wonder Mayor Buttigieg is a moderate, think again. He will “Peter” out as people learn how South Bend, IN is a cesspool outside of the environs of the campus at Notre Dame, the continuing problems he has with race issues, and that he is more toward the socialist wing of the party than the middle. Thinking Buttigieg is a moderate, is demonstrative of how far left the Democrat Party has launched itself.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the closest candidate to a moderate, and she is still a solid liberal, and could find her way onto the ticket as the vice presidential nominee. She has surprised many with her performances in both Iowa and New Hampshire (not this writer who predicted a third place finish for her in the Granite State). She sounds like the voice of reason on the debate stage, is a midwesterner, a part of the country Democrats only recognize if it pertains to Chicago, Minneapolis, or St. Louis. Additionally, Klobuchar is infinitely less of a lightning rod than Hillary Clinton, yet, according to the Drudge Report, it is Hillary that Bloomberg is considering for the second spot on the ticket. A bit premature? How did that plan work out for President Ted Cruz and Vice President Carly Fiorina?
And now the party faces a genuine dilemma. Nominate an avowed socialist who will deleteriously impact the down-ballot candidates, or a multi-billionaire virtually every candidate has railed against. If Bloomberg is the nominee, where will the Bernie Bros. go? Will they hypocritically march in lock step and vote for the billionaire they loathe, or will they stay home on Election Day? Will Bernie demonstrate his level of hypocrisy and support the billionaire he has verbally harangued since day one?
Bloomberg will have to spend the bulk of the campaign explaining himself much more than looking toward the future and how he will govern, which may work for him, considering how he left New York City. Let’s legalize marijuana and decriminalize other drugs, but no one is allowed to drink a soda more than an ounce and a half. Keep explaining “Stop and Frisk,” Bloomy. Stop and frisk is a violation of a person’s Fourth Amendment right to not be searched without probable cause. The real name of the program was “Stop, Question, and Frisk,” which had a level of success worth bragging about at the time, except when Bloomberg talked about dispatching more officers to minority neighborhoods, “because that’s where all the crime is. Bloomberg has said mea culpa pretty much everywhere he campaigns - so often, he probably says it before going to bed at night.
Bloomberg also displayed an ignorance and racism, that if he were still a Republican, would be unforgivable, but now that he is a Democrat, a full prostration before the “right” people, and all is forgiven. From a 2011 PBS NewsHour, Bloomberg talked about black and Latino men ages 16-25, saying, they “don’t have jobs, don’t have any prospects, don’t know how to find jobs, don’t know what their skill sets are, don’t know how to behave in the workplace.”
In addition to alienating minorities, Bloomberg has no doubt antagonized American farmers, and thus so-called fly-over country. Speaking at Oxford University on America’s Veterans’ Day, November 11, 2016 Bloomberg diminished the nature of farmer’s work. Disparaging those who grow our food and feed millions upon millions of people the world over, Bloomberg attempted to simplify it: “I could teach anyone… you dig a hole, put seed in, you put dirt on top, add water, then the corn comes up.” Is this the 2020 version of Hillary’s “deplorables” comment?
Reminds me of one of my favorite lines in the classic Mel Brooks film, Blazing Saddles. Jim, played by the late Gene Wilder, says to Bart, played by the late Cleavon Little following a racial epithet leveled at Bart: “You’ve got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land… You know… morons.” In this case it is Bloomberg who clearly is the moron.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R) rightly took issue with Bloomberg’s myopic assertion about the vital farm community. Bloomberg’s statements are “incredibly insulting,” and “nothing but pompous ignorance,” said Noem, Tuesday on Fox & Friends. “Who does Mike Bloomberg think he is? Every single day farmers work long hours, but they don’t just have to deal with the labor side, they understand genetics and engineering, biology, chemistry. It is incredibly difficult for farmers every day to feed the world and I’m just so proud my entire family is farmers. I’ve been a farmer my entire life. His comment is so out of touch with every day Americans,” said Noem before issuing a challenge to Bloomberg.
“I would challenge Mike Bloomberg to come spend a day with a farmer… ride horses, rope steers,... drive GPS controlled tractors, computer program grain handling systems, and then internationally market your commodities to pay your bills and continue to do what they do best,” said Noem.
In addition to being a moron, he may also be on a fool’s errand. To date, Bloomberg has spent $417 million; Sanders $40 million; and Biden $12 million on this campaign. Bloomberg has yet to appear on a debate stage, has not been balloted in Iowa, New Hampshire, or Nevada. Bloomberg said he is willing to spend more than a billion of his own dollars to win a race that about a year ago he had no intention of entering.
Many Democrats simply want a candidate who can beat Trump, regardless of personality or politics. Seems counterintuitive to those people complaining about Trump’s personality vis a vis his obsession with Twitter. Yet, Bloomberg has the charisma of a warthog’s tuchus. He’s a guy who does not connect well with the people, but he cannot hide behind his advertising - he actually has to go face to face with the folks, something Sanders is reasonably adept at. Sanders, a socialist for sure, is not a phony - he lets people know what they are in for, he just doesn’t have a price tag - something he said in a recent interview. “Who knows?” he responded. Just what the people want to hear.
A parting thought on socialism, courtesy of Ayn Rand. “There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in the way of achieving the same goal: communism proposes to enslave men by force, socialism by voting. It’s the same difference between murder and suicide.” May G-d help preserve the Union.
Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
February 17, 2020
“Sixty billion dollars can buy a lot of advertising, but it can’t erase your record,” said erstwhile Democrat candidate Joe Biden (DE) about former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg (R). Oh wait, Biden is still in the race, in spite of miserable showings in both Iowa and New Hampshire. Although to be fair, no one really knows what the hell happened in the Hawkeye State, belying its nickname. And to correct, Bloomberg is no longer the Republican he once was as New York City mayor. First he dropped the GOP label for that of an independent, now he wants people to believe he is a Democrat. By the way, Mr. Bloomberg, $60 billion will never buy class.
Apparently, traveling the country on your knees and in tears in an apology tour for virtually anything and everything that has occurred since time in memorium is how Bloomberg expects people to forget his past transgressions, both in word and deed. Oh, yeah, and there is also the advertising blitz which will have no end in sight until Bloomberg either has the nomination bought and paid for or drops out of the race.
The Democrat Party establishment is hoping for the former, in its own hypocrisy, and is proving so by changing their party’s own rules regarding the upcoming debate in Nevada to allow Bloomberg, who is not accepting donations, to appear on the debate stage at the Paris hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Interesting how the DNC made no exceptions for Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), former HUD Secretary Julian Castro (D-TX), or US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI). Gabbard, by the way, has been the punching bag of the DNC and the liberal media simply because Gabbard, a veteran still on active duty, is willing to speak out against her own party when she feels necessary. Any bets on whether or not the caucus results will be available the same day as they are held? Figures - the Paris - they even chose a venue named for a socialist city. Seems the nomination is going to boil down to the socialist Bernie Sanders (VT) and the former Republican Bloomberg - neither a true member of the Democrat Party. The DNC, under incompetent Tom Perez, has such animus toward Sanders, they are willing to pull the rug out from under his and his acolyte’s feet - yet again.
For those who think boy wonder Mayor Buttigieg is a moderate, think again. He will “Peter” out as people learn how South Bend, IN is a cesspool outside of the environs of the campus at Notre Dame, the continuing problems he has with race issues, and that he is more toward the socialist wing of the party than the middle. Thinking Buttigieg is a moderate, is demonstrative of how far left the Democrat Party has launched itself.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the closest candidate to a moderate, and she is still a solid liberal, and could find her way onto the ticket as the vice presidential nominee. She has surprised many with her performances in both Iowa and New Hampshire (not this writer who predicted a third place finish for her in the Granite State). She sounds like the voice of reason on the debate stage, is a midwesterner, a part of the country Democrats only recognize if it pertains to Chicago, Minneapolis, or St. Louis. Additionally, Klobuchar is infinitely less of a lightning rod than Hillary Clinton, yet, according to the Drudge Report, it is Hillary that Bloomberg is considering for the second spot on the ticket. A bit premature? How did that plan work out for President Ted Cruz and Vice President Carly Fiorina?
And now the party faces a genuine dilemma. Nominate an avowed socialist who will deleteriously impact the down-ballot candidates, or a multi-billionaire virtually every candidate has railed against. If Bloomberg is the nominee, where will the Bernie Bros. go? Will they hypocritically march in lock step and vote for the billionaire they loathe, or will they stay home on Election Day? Will Bernie demonstrate his level of hypocrisy and support the billionaire he has verbally harangued since day one?
Bloomberg will have to spend the bulk of the campaign explaining himself much more than looking toward the future and how he will govern, which may work for him, considering how he left New York City. Let’s legalize marijuana and decriminalize other drugs, but no one is allowed to drink a soda more than an ounce and a half. Keep explaining “Stop and Frisk,” Bloomy. Stop and frisk is a violation of a person’s Fourth Amendment right to not be searched without probable cause. The real name of the program was “Stop, Question, and Frisk,” which had a level of success worth bragging about at the time, except when Bloomberg talked about dispatching more officers to minority neighborhoods, “because that’s where all the crime is. Bloomberg has said mea culpa pretty much everywhere he campaigns - so often, he probably says it before going to bed at night.
Bloomberg also displayed an ignorance and racism, that if he were still a Republican, would be unforgivable, but now that he is a Democrat, a full prostration before the “right” people, and all is forgiven. From a 2011 PBS NewsHour, Bloomberg talked about black and Latino men ages 16-25, saying, they “don’t have jobs, don’t have any prospects, don’t know how to find jobs, don’t know what their skill sets are, don’t know how to behave in the workplace.”
In addition to alienating minorities, Bloomberg has no doubt antagonized American farmers, and thus so-called fly-over country. Speaking at Oxford University on America’s Veterans’ Day, November 11, 2016 Bloomberg diminished the nature of farmer’s work. Disparaging those who grow our food and feed millions upon millions of people the world over, Bloomberg attempted to simplify it: “I could teach anyone… you dig a hole, put seed in, you put dirt on top, add water, then the corn comes up.” Is this the 2020 version of Hillary’s “deplorables” comment?
Reminds me of one of my favorite lines in the classic Mel Brooks film, Blazing Saddles. Jim, played by the late Gene Wilder, says to Bart, played by the late Cleavon Little following a racial epithet leveled at Bart: “You’ve got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land… You know… morons.” In this case it is Bloomberg who clearly is the moron.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R) rightly took issue with Bloomberg’s myopic assertion about the vital farm community. Bloomberg’s statements are “incredibly insulting,” and “nothing but pompous ignorance,” said Noem, Tuesday on Fox & Friends. “Who does Mike Bloomberg think he is? Every single day farmers work long hours, but they don’t just have to deal with the labor side, they understand genetics and engineering, biology, chemistry. It is incredibly difficult for farmers every day to feed the world and I’m just so proud my entire family is farmers. I’ve been a farmer my entire life. His comment is so out of touch with every day Americans,” said Noem before issuing a challenge to Bloomberg.
“I would challenge Mike Bloomberg to come spend a day with a farmer… ride horses, rope steers,... drive GPS controlled tractors, computer program grain handling systems, and then internationally market your commodities to pay your bills and continue to do what they do best,” said Noem.
Many Democrats simply want a candidate who can beat Trump, regardless of personality or politics. Seems counterintuitive to those people complaining about Trump’s personality vis a vis his obsession with Twitter. Yet, Bloomberg has the charisma of a warthog’s tuchus. He’s a guy who does not connect well with the people, but he cannot hide behind his advertising - he actually has to go face to face with the folks, something Sanders is reasonably adept at. Sanders, a socialist for sure, is not a phony - he lets people know what they are in for, he just doesn’t have a price tag - something he said in a recent interview. “Who knows?” he responded. Just what the people want to hear.
A parting thought on socialism, courtesy of Ayn Rand. “There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in the way of achieving the same goal: communism proposes to enslave men by force, socialism by voting. It’s the same difference between murder and suicide.” May G-d help preserve the Union.
Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Radical Public Defender Elected San Fran DA
Radical Public Defender Elected San Fran DA
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
November 12, 2019
That only 35 percent of the citizens of San Francisco wants to move out of the City by the Bay is either a testament to the stubbornness or the stupidity of the 65 percent willing to remain in a city thinking it will improve from the unmitigated, unsafe, disgraceful cesspool it has become in the last several decades.
Perhaps after the tenure of newly elected District Attorney Chesa Boudin (D) drives the city into a more precarious, deleterious state even more San Franciscans will flee leaving the city to the illegals protected by the powers that be that ensconced these denizens in a sanctuary city, and those too old to move.
An ultra-liberal former public defender, Boudin, 39, was born in New York City to Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert, members of the domestic terrorist group the Weather Underground. At 14 months old, Boudin’s parents went to prison - his mother for 22 years, and his father may very well remain in prison for the rest of his life. Boudin’s parents were imprisoned for the murder of two police officers and a security guard during the Brink’s robbery in Rockland County, NY in 1981. Boudin would be raised in Chicago by his adoptive parents Bernadine Dohrn and Bill Ayers - the leaders of the Weather Underground and unrepentant domestic terrorists to this very day. Ayers founded the communist revolutionary group in 1969 and continues to aver that he wished the Weather Underground had been more destructive.
In terms of his radicalism, Boudin comes by it honestly, considering his biological and adoptive parents. Come January 8, 2020 when Boudin is sworn in as District Attorney, he will move from one side of the judicial aisle to the other where he will be responsible for prosecuting scofflaws. Yet, he already pledged to do just the opposite.
“We will not prosecute cases involving quality of life crimes. Crimes such as public camping, offering or soliciting sex, public urination, blocking a sidewalk, etc. should not and will not be prosecuted,” said Boudin. Part of etcetera includes, but is not limited to public defecation, protecting illegal aliens from deportation, thus unilaterally legalizing the aforementioned crimes.
So radical is Boudin, a one-time translator for Hugo Chavez, the late dictator of Venezuela, that the establishment Democrats had endorsed interim DA Suzy Loftus. Such endorsements included Governor Gavin Newsome, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and Senator Kamala Harris. The results of the election have Boudin winning in a squeaker, 50.8 percent to 49.2 percent - a margin of 2,825 votes out of more than 170,000 votes cast.
Some of the endorsements Boudin picked up include the League of Pissed Off Voters, Our Progressive Future, Our Revolution, Restorative Justice International, San Francisco Berniecrats, as well as the district attorneys from Chicago, Kim Foxx and Philadelphia, Larry Krasner both radicals in their own right. But Boudin’s biggest “get” was the endorsement from self-described Socialist candidate for president Bernie Sanders, who issued a public congratulatory message upon Boudin’s victory.
As if at all possible, San Francisco will spiral further and further into the abyss. If there was any question the inmates had been running the asylum, this election clinches it as law abiding citizens and families will be at greater risk. A once beautiful city, San Francisco will continue to be marred by anti-American illegal aliens, an anti-American Board of Supervisors, and a soon to be anti-law abiding citizen district attorney, masquerading as a “reformer.” Testing every rape kit and expanding mental health treatment are the most reasonable goals Boudin espouses. That said, Boudin’s opponent Loftus endorsed those two no-brainer issues as well.
As of January 8, the honest law abiding citizens of the city of San Francisco will be less safe and secure. The “broken windows” theory employed by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani went a long way to not only restoring the image of the Big Apple, but making legitimate strides in reducing crime, thus encouraging more tourism, and more people moving to New York City having the confidence of safety and security the people in the City by the Bay will neither understand or enjoy.
Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
November 12, 2019
That only 35 percent of the citizens of San Francisco wants to move out of the City by the Bay is either a testament to the stubbornness or the stupidity of the 65 percent willing to remain in a city thinking it will improve from the unmitigated, unsafe, disgraceful cesspool it has become in the last several decades.
Perhaps after the tenure of newly elected District Attorney Chesa Boudin (D) drives the city into a more precarious, deleterious state even more San Franciscans will flee leaving the city to the illegals protected by the powers that be that ensconced these denizens in a sanctuary city, and those too old to move.
An ultra-liberal former public defender, Boudin, 39, was born in New York City to Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert, members of the domestic terrorist group the Weather Underground. At 14 months old, Boudin’s parents went to prison - his mother for 22 years, and his father may very well remain in prison for the rest of his life. Boudin’s parents were imprisoned for the murder of two police officers and a security guard during the Brink’s robbery in Rockland County, NY in 1981. Boudin would be raised in Chicago by his adoptive parents Bernadine Dohrn and Bill Ayers - the leaders of the Weather Underground and unrepentant domestic terrorists to this very day. Ayers founded the communist revolutionary group in 1969 and continues to aver that he wished the Weather Underground had been more destructive.
In terms of his radicalism, Boudin comes by it honestly, considering his biological and adoptive parents. Come January 8, 2020 when Boudin is sworn in as District Attorney, he will move from one side of the judicial aisle to the other where he will be responsible for prosecuting scofflaws. Yet, he already pledged to do just the opposite.
“We will not prosecute cases involving quality of life crimes. Crimes such as public camping, offering or soliciting sex, public urination, blocking a sidewalk, etc. should not and will not be prosecuted,” said Boudin. Part of etcetera includes, but is not limited to public defecation, protecting illegal aliens from deportation, thus unilaterally legalizing the aforementioned crimes.
So radical is Boudin, a one-time translator for Hugo Chavez, the late dictator of Venezuela, that the establishment Democrats had endorsed interim DA Suzy Loftus. Such endorsements included Governor Gavin Newsome, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and Senator Kamala Harris. The results of the election have Boudin winning in a squeaker, 50.8 percent to 49.2 percent - a margin of 2,825 votes out of more than 170,000 votes cast.
Some of the endorsements Boudin picked up include the League of Pissed Off Voters, Our Progressive Future, Our Revolution, Restorative Justice International, San Francisco Berniecrats, as well as the district attorneys from Chicago, Kim Foxx and Philadelphia, Larry Krasner both radicals in their own right. But Boudin’s biggest “get” was the endorsement from self-described Socialist candidate for president Bernie Sanders, who issued a public congratulatory message upon Boudin’s victory.
As if at all possible, San Francisco will spiral further and further into the abyss. If there was any question the inmates had been running the asylum, this election clinches it as law abiding citizens and families will be at greater risk. A once beautiful city, San Francisco will continue to be marred by anti-American illegal aliens, an anti-American Board of Supervisors, and a soon to be anti-law abiding citizen district attorney, masquerading as a “reformer.” Testing every rape kit and expanding mental health treatment are the most reasonable goals Boudin espouses. That said, Boudin’s opponent Loftus endorsed those two no-brainer issues as well.
As of January 8, the honest law abiding citizens of the city of San Francisco will be less safe and secure. The “broken windows” theory employed by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani went a long way to not only restoring the image of the Big Apple, but making legitimate strides in reducing crime, thus encouraging more tourism, and more people moving to New York City having the confidence of safety and security the people in the City by the Bay will neither understand or enjoy.
Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.
Friday, July 19, 2019
Sanders' Salary Hypocrisy
Sanders’ Salary Hypocrisy
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
July 19, 2019
“The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” - Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) British Prime Minister (1979-90)
The trouble with Sen. Bernie Sanders (S-VT) is that he is an enormous hypocrite calling for a $15 minimum wage while not paying his own staff that much. Grassroots field staffers complain they are not being afforded the minimum that Sanders demands of the rest of the country.
Quite frankly, during the ‘80s when candidates would staff their campaigns, most people were just happy to be a part of a campaign, paying their dues as grassroots field staffers barely earning enough money to fill their gas tanks and living half a dozen in a two bedroom apartment. The reward would hopefully come at the end of the campaign with a victory and an invitation to join a Congressional, Senatorial, or even White House staff - working even longer hours for barely what they earned in the field. Some of you are reading this thinking, yeah, those were the days!
Now these young grassroots workers are unionized, making demands that if fulfilled on a nationwide basis could cripple the economy. While the current minimum wage of $7.25 clearly is not enough for a person to live on independently, a sudden boost to more than double that amount will actually cost people their jobs. Based upon an eight hour day, five day week, and 50 weeks of work per year, a $7.25 an hour worker would earn $14,500 before taxes. The $15 an hour employee would earn $30,000, which in quite a few places is still a challenge on which to make ends meet. Costs of living vary from state to state and even within states - New York City versus Elmira for example; Chicago versus Pittsfield; Dallas versus El Paso.
A gradual rate increase would make sense, but it must include qualifiers. Small businesses, size to be determined by the Commerce Department, would be exempt, as should part time, temporary, and seasonal employees. The $15 an hour rate would take effect in 2025, according to the proposal by House Democrats. Incremental raises should be implemented to soften the blow and keep costs and unemployment from rising too drastically instead of a potentially sudden rate increase.
Employers required to pay workers more than double what is currently mandated will cut those costs by eliminating and downsizing their workforce, thus raising unemployment, and ultimately, the need for government to pay greater unemployment benefits to more people, perhaps for a longer period of time. The rate increase could likely see prices rise if some businesses opt not to downsize the labor force. It then begs the question, will the rate increase offset the increase in unemployment and the rise in prices? Economists are divided on that question.
People should earn a living wage, but it should also be incumbent on the job one performs. This is based upon the concept of equal opportunity, not equal outcome. Equal opportunity begins with education and it is up to the family and the students to work as hard as they are able to ensure success. There are no entitlements, and affirmative action in education has proven a failure. A fast food worker or coffeehouse barista are literally not brain surgeons and should be paid what the market demands. Athletes and entertainers will continue to make multi-million dollar salaries as long as they fill stadia and theaters with people willing to pay the ticket prices - like anything else, it’s a matter of simple economics - supply and demand.
Simultaneously, people must live within their means - make coffee and lunch at home instead of spending $5 for Starbucks ® and another $7-10 on food. Shop for new clothes when needed and wait for sales. Let supermarket circulars be the guide for weekly grocery shopping. Maintain vehicles regularly, get as much life out of them as possible. When a car loan is paid off, pay yourself the same monthly amount in savings toward the next car. These are simple ways to economize.
Yet, none of this matters to Sanders, the original socialist from the 2016 campaign. As long as he has the indoctrinated and ignorant from the colleges campuses, he can continue to make the case for more government running and ruining our lives with higher and higher taxes convincing them to vote against their own self-interests. This multi-millionaire, multiple home owner, is a hypocrite of the highest degree. This is not to disparage Sanders’ for his wealth - accumulated out of the pockets of the American people having never held a job not paying him from the people’s coffers - as a capitalist, it is his G-d given right to earn what he can and again, what the market will allow.
How is socialism working out in Venezuela, once upon a time, one of the most successful, thriving countries in both South America and the Western Hemisphere? Or Angola? Or Cuba? Or the former East Germany? Or Vietnam? Socialism fails because it lacks consistency with human behavior. People inherently protect what is theirs - they work for a paycheck and want to keep as much of it as possible - to spend as they wish and need. People are also generous when they see people in need - to help them as they choose - not as per government dictates. Take more money from people in taxes, the first to suffer, charitable contributions as people still have the necessities in their lives of paying mortgages/rent, electric, phone, cable, tuition, grocery bills. With more money in their pockets, people are more generous. It is government that needs to pare back and stick to what the Constitution requires.
Sanders can pay his people $15 an hour or not, but those employees knew their salary when they were offered the job. That doesn’t make Sanders any less a hypocrite who clearly does not understand economics. Pay no attention to the talking heads discussing their candidates seeking the Democrat nomination. Listen to the actual words of the actual candidates - they are far more truthful and dangerous.
Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.
Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
July 19, 2019
“The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” - Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) British Prime Minister (1979-90)
The trouble with Sen. Bernie Sanders (S-VT) is that he is an enormous hypocrite calling for a $15 minimum wage while not paying his own staff that much. Grassroots field staffers complain they are not being afforded the minimum that Sanders demands of the rest of the country.
Quite frankly, during the ‘80s when candidates would staff their campaigns, most people were just happy to be a part of a campaign, paying their dues as grassroots field staffers barely earning enough money to fill their gas tanks and living half a dozen in a two bedroom apartment. The reward would hopefully come at the end of the campaign with a victory and an invitation to join a Congressional, Senatorial, or even White House staff - working even longer hours for barely what they earned in the field. Some of you are reading this thinking, yeah, those were the days!
Now these young grassroots workers are unionized, making demands that if fulfilled on a nationwide basis could cripple the economy. While the current minimum wage of $7.25 clearly is not enough for a person to live on independently, a sudden boost to more than double that amount will actually cost people their jobs. Based upon an eight hour day, five day week, and 50 weeks of work per year, a $7.25 an hour worker would earn $14,500 before taxes. The $15 an hour employee would earn $30,000, which in quite a few places is still a challenge on which to make ends meet. Costs of living vary from state to state and even within states - New York City versus Elmira for example; Chicago versus Pittsfield; Dallas versus El Paso.
A gradual rate increase would make sense, but it must include qualifiers. Small businesses, size to be determined by the Commerce Department, would be exempt, as should part time, temporary, and seasonal employees. The $15 an hour rate would take effect in 2025, according to the proposal by House Democrats. Incremental raises should be implemented to soften the blow and keep costs and unemployment from rising too drastically instead of a potentially sudden rate increase.
Employers required to pay workers more than double what is currently mandated will cut those costs by eliminating and downsizing their workforce, thus raising unemployment, and ultimately, the need for government to pay greater unemployment benefits to more people, perhaps for a longer period of time. The rate increase could likely see prices rise if some businesses opt not to downsize the labor force. It then begs the question, will the rate increase offset the increase in unemployment and the rise in prices? Economists are divided on that question.
People should earn a living wage, but it should also be incumbent on the job one performs. This is based upon the concept of equal opportunity, not equal outcome. Equal opportunity begins with education and it is up to the family and the students to work as hard as they are able to ensure success. There are no entitlements, and affirmative action in education has proven a failure. A fast food worker or coffeehouse barista are literally not brain surgeons and should be paid what the market demands. Athletes and entertainers will continue to make multi-million dollar salaries as long as they fill stadia and theaters with people willing to pay the ticket prices - like anything else, it’s a matter of simple economics - supply and demand.
Simultaneously, people must live within their means - make coffee and lunch at home instead of spending $5 for Starbucks ® and another $7-10 on food. Shop for new clothes when needed and wait for sales. Let supermarket circulars be the guide for weekly grocery shopping. Maintain vehicles regularly, get as much life out of them as possible. When a car loan is paid off, pay yourself the same monthly amount in savings toward the next car. These are simple ways to economize.
Yet, none of this matters to Sanders, the original socialist from the 2016 campaign. As long as he has the indoctrinated and ignorant from the colleges campuses, he can continue to make the case for more government running and ruining our lives with higher and higher taxes convincing them to vote against their own self-interests. This multi-millionaire, multiple home owner, is a hypocrite of the highest degree. This is not to disparage Sanders’ for his wealth - accumulated out of the pockets of the American people having never held a job not paying him from the people’s coffers - as a capitalist, it is his G-d given right to earn what he can and again, what the market will allow.
How is socialism working out in Venezuela, once upon a time, one of the most successful, thriving countries in both South America and the Western Hemisphere? Or Angola? Or Cuba? Or the former East Germany? Or Vietnam? Socialism fails because it lacks consistency with human behavior. People inherently protect what is theirs - they work for a paycheck and want to keep as much of it as possible - to spend as they wish and need. People are also generous when they see people in need - to help them as they choose - not as per government dictates. Take more money from people in taxes, the first to suffer, charitable contributions as people still have the necessities in their lives of paying mortgages/rent, electric, phone, cable, tuition, grocery bills. With more money in their pockets, people are more generous. It is government that needs to pare back and stick to what the Constitution requires.
Sanders can pay his people $15 an hour or not, but those employees knew their salary when they were offered the job. That doesn’t make Sanders any less a hypocrite who clearly does not understand economics. Pay no attention to the talking heads discussing their candidates seeking the Democrat nomination. Listen to the actual words of the actual candidates - they are far more truthful and dangerous.
Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.
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