Another new technology that promises to help reduce carbon emissions

Not that many people realize that about 8% of civilization's carbon emissions come from the limestone (Calcium Carbonate) used to make concrete. This is another form of fossil carbon.... the atmosphere of the Earth has been saturated with oxygen for well over a billion years, creating a carbon cycle that incorporates what would otherwise be a crushing greenhouse load of atmospheric carbon dioxide in rocks. Venus, an otherwise somewhat similar planet to Earth, did not go this route, and lacks oxidated rocks and has all that carbon in the atmosphere as CO2. Which is why the temperature on the surface is hot enough to melt lead... not because it's closer to the Sun, but mainly because of greenhouse gas. 

So, back to concrete. What can be done? Turns out it is possible to manufacture high quality concrete without releasing the CO2 from fossilized carbon in rocks. The process is still in its infancy, but just as microorganisms such as foraminifera and radiolarians were involved in the creation of carbonate rocks in the first place, it is possible to utilize microorganisms to process carbon from CO2 to produce carbonate, then utilize that as the cement in the manufacture of concrete. It would be energy intensive, but it's at least theoretically possible to make carbon neutral concrete. 

As with many technologies, such as biofuels, it all comes down to energy input. Civilization requires enormous amounts of energy, more per capita by at least an order of magnitude than we use now, to be truly carbon neutral. Solar and wind will never be enough. We will have to develop nuclear fusion or other advanced energy technology to make this work. But, somehow, I have to believe the human race is clever enough to do that. The question is more: are we smart enough to avoid killing ourselves off before we get there? 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. 

Chinese "bug" EV

 After some delay, and, remarkably, with no serious objections from Volkswagen, the Chinese company Ora is about to start selling its "Cat" (various iterations, including "Good Cat" and "Funky Cat," they lose something in translation) worldwide. Except, not, for now, in the US. This is a 400 km. range 5 passenger sedan that people simply love, and it will sell for under $30,000 without subsidies. And Ora is ramping up to build millions of them. Still think the EV revolution isn't upon us? 

Supreme Court declines to rule in favor of Trump on tax returns

So, after more than two years, the Treasury Dept. is obligated to turn over the requested tax returns to the Ways & Means Cttee. (Which unfortunately will soon be dissolved in favor of a Republican version). So, my question is, they've had two years to prepare, so why aren't the boxes being delivered to-f*ing*day, thank you very much?  Something tells me that isn't happening.  

Probably shouldn't let on.... but...

Earth to Republicans. Nobody but your most die hard cult followers gives one single shit about Hunter Biden.  

Barr and Gonzalez think there's a good case against Trump on the Mar a Lago case

I find it very telling that two well known former Republican AGs, Barr and Gonzalez, both of whom were severely criticized for their own compromised conduct, have just opined that the appointment of a Special Counsel was a good move, and that there very much appears to be a fairly straightforward case to be made, particularly on the documents at Mar a Lago. (Neither dismissed the insurrection case, either, but both commented on the obvious truth that that is a much more difficult and complicated case to prosecute).  

Twitter embraces Traitor Trump

If I had any doubt (didn't), the fact that Musk's Twitter has now allowed the insurrectionist traitor Trump back on the platform is confirmation that I made the right decision to delete my account and banish Twitter from my life forever. 

Demographics favor Democrats. Period.

Ya want a single fact to "take to the bank" as to why the Republicans should be really worried about their future as a national party?  It's this: the highest percentage of voters under 29 voted Democratic in 2022 than in any election in over 50 years, and the highest percentage of them voted period over the same time. First time voters tend to vote again, and more often than not for the same party as the first time. Go figure: Democrats' share of the electorate is increasing; Republicans' is decreasing. The outcome of that process over even a few election cycles, with the electorate even in many "red states" close to evenly divided, is obvious. 

A pack of losers for 24

DeSantis, Christie, Haley, Scott, Cruz, Youngkin, Abbott, Noem, Rubio, and Trump. Sure looks like a pack of losers to me. Our challenge, if Biden chooses not to run again as I've indicated I think he should, is to make sure we come up with a far, far better list, from the point of view of the tiny marginal group of independents who actually decide presidential elections. I think we can.  

Florida man accused of false imprisonment

Gotta say. It's on video. Trump's bodyguard thugs physically prevented people from bailing out on Trump's interminable low energy "announcement" speech at Mar-a-Lardo (which he seems to think will somehow immunize him from having to pay the piper for his crimes). I submit that if Joe Biden's staff tried that, the new House would launch a multimillion dollar investigation into "false imprisonment." Hmm. Come to think of it, that's exactly what it was. Yet another Trump felony. Or at least a tort... I'd love to see one of those folks sue him. 

Further comment on the appointment of a Special Counsel

Once again, we see the just overwhelming hypocrisy of the Right Wing Party in this country, and this (unlike "Trump Cult") includes most of the Republicans in public office. After the almost universally acknowledged abuses of the old Independent Counsel law, which gave us Ken Starr and the absolutely ridiculous endless investigation of the non-story Whitewater followed by endless delving into the personal life of President Clinton, at a cost of tens of millions of dollars to the taxpayers and untold damage to the country and its international reputation, both Republicans and Democrats early in this century acquiesced in the sunsetting of that law, replacing it with the current Special Counsel law. The Mueller investigation I think demonstrated the fecklessness of this situation when a partisan Attorney General is in place. But this is different. Here, the use of the Special Counsel law is almost literally bending over backwards to avoid even the slightest suggestion of a conflict of interest when the public record is clearly indicative of the commission of serious crimes. And there is no question of prosecuting a sitting president. Yet they object. Do they really think they would have fared better under the old Independent Counsel law? The current procedure will cost some delay, but will ensure, insofar as is humanly possible, that the completion of investigation and anticipated prosecution of this criminal will be fair. The alternative, clearly, is to simply declare that former kings are above the law and can never be brought to justice. And does anyone seriously believe the Right Wingers would apply that standard to a former Democratic president? I call BS and say, seriously, shut the f* up and let Mr. Smith get on with the job. 

Special Counsel for Trump Prosecutions

If you're worried about delay and possible "fizzling out" of prosecution of Trump because of today's appointment of a special counsel, watch this. I believe that although at least some delay is unavoidable, Garland really had no choice, and this is the best course to ensure that the law is carried out and the criminal Trump is actually prosecuted, based on the facts and the law, not politics.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p87mljBLXdg 

Free fonts for fun and fantasy

Most people are barely aware of, and care little about, fonts (more properly referred to as typefaces), but to some of us, they are graphic art and make reading either more pleasant or sometimes very much more unpleasant, depending. And this includes screen fonts. Few, for example, change the font on their phone (not sure it's even possible on an iPhone), but I did. I hate simple sans serif fonts like Arial and Helvetica and wish they were never invented. But, anyway. My reason for posting, which unfortunately does not lend itself to demonstration because the font I am using will almost certainly not appear in what you are reading, is to tout an unexpectedly pleasant font. It's free, just google it and install it on your PC (don't know about Mac). Doesn't work on phones. What's odd about it is that it wasn't designed. It's an average. It takes all the well known serif fonts and averages them to produce a sort of consensus font. But I actually like it. It's calle Averia Serif. There is also a more gothic font which is also a nice alternative to sans serif fonts, called Averia Gruesa Libre. If you like fonts, try them. 

#RIPTwitter

Not exactly a stunningly original observation, but anyway: Elon Musk may be a really smart businessman when it comes to creating enterprises that actually build advanced technology, like electric cars 15 years ago (he's built the biggest electric car company in the world and electric cars are about to wipe out the internal combustion industry)... and amazing reusable rockets. You can't just joke these accomplishments off. But as a manager of people, and in particular social media, his ineptness appears to be epochal. After spending $44 billion, not all his own money, to buy Twitter, there is serious discussion of the possibility that his management since the sale went through has killed a company whose only real value was its social functionality, maintained by its people. He has shown no respect or understanding of that, and the possibility that Twitter will simply implode and cease to exist entirely is actually a real danger for them. For me, I do not care. I used Twitter very little, and objected strongly to his plans to remove reasonable controls against abuse, so I canceled my account and removed the app and links to it from my devices. And many millions of other people did the same. Trending now: #RIPTwitter. We shall see. Likely there's enough momentum to bring it back from the brink, but wow, what a debacle. 

Jeffries considered almost certain to take on Leadership role for Democrats in the House

With Nancy Pelosi's announcement she will not seek re-election for the leadership post, it's widely anticipated that Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) will be more or less "acclaimed" as Democratic House Leader, which means he will likely be Speaker eventually. I can't pretend to intimate knowledge of the ins and outs of party leadership, his skills at negotiating with members, etc., but I've heard him commenting on various issues over the last several years and I respect and admire his intellect, grasp of issues and political realities, and concern for core Democratic principles. In short, as a Democrat, I'm happy to see him step into the leadership role. It's time to pass the torch, and while Pelosi has certainly shown great skill and ability, it seems like it's definitely time for this change. And this is someone who can, I hope and believe, appeal to the more centrist and the more Progressive Democrats alike, and help prepare for the time when we once again have the ability to promote and pass major legislation. Because to my thinking, it is a given that the Republicans will almost certainly fail, since they have no real policy agenda at all. And, as Lincoln famously (supposedly) said, you can't fool all the people all the time. 

Consequences of extremely thin Republican Majority in the House

Question for the collective mind: if, as appears likely, the Republicans hold the majority in the House with only one or two votes to spare, what are the chances of cross-party defections, deaths, forced resignations due to corruption convictions, or other events to actually change the majority back to D before the 2024 presidential election? I would advise Nancy P to continue exercising with a spare gavel just in case. 

Of course similar events conceivably could actually widen the gap and make the R majority larger, but there will be at least some pressure on the NY moderates, for example, and possibly one or two others, to consider shifting parties; pressure which will not have much of a counterpart the other way around. 

 

No red wave, but. . .

Somehow I didn't expect the debacle most seem to have expected. I listened to people like Simon Rosenberg and Tom Bonier, who said the polls, especially the polling aggregates like Fivethirtyeight, were being systematically skewed by junk polls like Trafalgar and Rasmussen, and that the early vote actually indicated a strong showing for Democrats. So for me, the results were a bit disappointing, because I honestly thought we had a decent chance of holding onto the House. Which, in fact, we did (have a decent chance), but the chips fell a bit short. Especially in New York. 

So it is with great pleasure that I read that, more than a week after the election, it is finally clear that my hero Katie Porter (D-CA) won re-election to her seat from Orange County, California. 

Donald Trump as a disease

You often hear Donald Trump and his cult following analogized to a "cancer" on the Body Politic. (The latter term itself a rather blunt, cliché metaphor with its origins in Spinoza and Hobbes). I think the metaphor of a serious but not necessarily fatal infection is more apt. We have tried various remedies, and none have completely cured the disease, although they do appear to have weakened it and perhaps reduced the probability of fatality. But even in this analogy there is a place for radical surgery... to excise the necrotic tissue that is Donald Trump himself. Whoa! I am not advocating assassination. But I am saying that this man needs to be prosecuted for his provable crimes to the full extent of the law, and as as expeditiously as possible. Because a nation that does not enforce its laws against the highest profile criminals, who thumb their nose at its ability to reach them, cannot last. 

Lock him up

 Since the Jan. 6 committee will cease to exist December 31 (almost for sure)(hopefully with its job taken up by a new Senate Committee in a 51 seat majority Democratic Senate)... I want to see the Lame Duck House refer Trump for Criminal Contempt for blowing off a Congressional subpoena and failing to attend his deposition today. I then hope to see the DOJ add it to the lengthening list of crimes for which Trump will be prosecuted expeditiously in the coming months. It cannot be overstated how important it is to clearly show the nation that no one, including no former president, is above the law. 

51 seat majority DOES matter

For anyone who doesn't realize why it's very important to have 51, and not merely 50, seats in the Senate (in other words, why Warnock's runoff is so important), see this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DXoAnzqx0M 

Status of the House a long shot for Democrats, will "definitely" come down to California

With the OR 5th district now conceded to the Republicans (chagrin!), this LA Times piece about the NINE still undecided races in California is particularly telling. There is the slimmest of chances for a Democratic majority in the House, and it's all down to California. 

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-11-11/2022-california-election-congressional-races-results 

There is of course no remaining chance for a real working majority in the Senate, so the miracle result of actual improvement in our legislative position overall which I secretly hoped for and thought might actually happen is out of reach. There is even an argument, advanced rather halfheartedly by Josh Marshall of talkingpointsmemo.com, that Democrats would be better off without a House majority at this point, because otherwise they will be blamed for everything that doesn't get done due to obstruction in the Senate, and may be more likely to lose in 02024. I don't buy that, but it probably won't matter, because this really is the slimmest of reeds.   

And Cortez Masto makes it... at least... 50

As crappy as it is likely to turn out to be to have the legislative branch divided between the Constitutional Party (aka Democratic Party) and the Authoritarian Party, the control, even 50/50, of the Senate is, in Biden's phrase, a Big F*ing Deal. If only because McConnell will not be majority leader and will be unable to prevent the appointment of many, many non-insane Federal judges. There are other things, too, for example, at least in theory the Senate could take over the Jan. 6 investigation. And it's still at least remotely possible we will have, or later gain, House control. But this alone is something to really celebrate. 

 

 

New York and Florida! WTF!

What the hell happened in New York and Florida this election? In 02000 Gore and Bush were within a few hundred votes; now, 22 years later, DeSantis beat Crist by almost 20 points! What happened to Florida? And, thanks to that complete scum Cuomo and his conniving with Republicans to gerrymander New York, we have probably lost the House. Where everywhere else, almost (one other anomaly being my district, which pisses me off), close races went to Democrats, in New York, apart from the governorship, Republicans did much better than in, for example, neighboring Pennsylvania. 

Democrats have a lot of work to do before 02024 to make sure that every Democratic vote turns out, and we overcome these structural problems. Since MAGA is clearly very unpopular, and the Republicans have no policy platform at all, this should be doable. We should defy conventional wisdom again and win the 02024 elections thoroughly and systematically. 

Why I think Biden should not run for re-election

In the primaries in 02016* I was a Bernie guy. But, like easily 90% of us, maybe more, I voted for, and contributed to, Clinton's campaign. Of f*ing course. In retrospect, I wish I'd done more, as I have done in elections since, but the blame for her loss, in my view rests squarely on three main factors: social media algorithms, with included Russian interference (the latter frequently overstressed, in my view) which combined grossly distorted information many voters received; the ridiculous and unlawful manipulation of the FBI investigation communication by Comey; and, probably most important, Clinton's own failure to connect with working class voters in the heartland. Democratic overconfidence is another factor, which has now, if anything, swung all the way to lack of confidence being a big negative, but I think that is actually not as significant. We almost won, and the main reason we didn't was that Clinton was actually not the right candidate. I know many people disagree with that, but that's my view. Of course, Trump was unpredictable, but we have to focus on our side of the street... assume the worst from them and you won't be disappointed. 

In 02020 I supported Elizabeth Warren during the primary season. But, again, once it was clear the nominee was going to be Biden, I supported him as best I could, including donating what was a lot of money, for me, to his campaign. With both Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, in 2020, I had a significant concern, which was only slightly less in the case of Warren. And that is that these folks are all too old to have begun a two-term presidency in 02021. Not legally, maybe not even in terms of basic competency. But it's just not a good idea to elect someone, and attempt to re-elect them, when they will be in their mid-80s before their term is up. If this is ageist, so be it. I think it is merely pragmatic. We should be looking to younger leaders to be our candidates for president next time around. And this alone is sufficient reason, in my view, to want 02024 to be that "next time."

In addition, Biden's approval is at 41%. The charges of "cognitive decline" are overstated to the point of outrageous slander, but the fact remains that, with circumstances, his age, his demeanour, his fairly lackluster speaking style, and his inability (even if not his fault) to bring his party into functioning as a legislative juggernaut despite having, just barely, a majority in both Houses, all point to a presidency that, at best, can be called a mixed bag. I think he is much better than many feared, but he is not the best candidate to lead us forward. History is moving at an accelerated clip these days. We cannot wait and hope for the best by trying to re-elect Biden. And Biden should see this, and voluntarily, even enthusiastically, make way for a new generation of leadership, this time. 

I am a progressive. Progressive wing of the Democratic Party. But our party is unified, by and large. I would support most any Democrat (not Sinema, Manchin, Menendez (who is a crook), or anyone in their cohort, which would include my former congressman, Kurt Schrader, for example). Hell, I would no doubt vote even for them, but enthusiasm, zip. And if Joe Biden ends up running in 02024, which seems likely, I will, of f*ing course, support him. But. But. 

I think Joe Biden should decide and announce now, or soon, that he does not intend to run for a second term. He should not endorse anyone to replace him, and should give a short, dignified speech saying that he thinks for the good of the nation and Democratic electoral prospects, he wants to concentrate all of his efforts on navigating the difficult waters of (likely) divided government, doing the very best job possible for the American people, and assisting in setting up the agenda and program for major policy reforms if we are successful in electing an efficient and committed Senate, House, and Presidency, in 02024. Which will be his goal, and the goal of every committed Democrat, to actually achieve the ability to enact the policies and programs that the majority of the American people clearly want and need. 

I honestly believe that this is the best way, the optimal way, to make that outcome as likely as possible, and that Joe Biden will be remembered as an important and accomplished president who paved the way for a Democratic wave and new progressive era. 

-----

* I am adopting the "Long Now Foundation" idea of putting a leading zero before the year, to emphasize that we are stewards of a vast future, and that we should keep it in mind at all times. longnow.org. 

Multnomah County (Oregon) report: gas stoves are hazardous to your health

 Purely anecdotal, and there could be other causes, of course, but I have definitely noticed a "breathing easier" improvement in my respiratory health since moving to Portland's SE suburbs into a house with an electric stove. 

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2022/11/gas-stoves-are-hazardous-to-your-health-multnomah-county-report-says.html

  

Beginning my campaign

.... for a lame duck wallapalooza of legislation, principal among which must be permanently eliminating the debt ceiling (a dumb idea to begin with), to take away the ability of the Republican monsters to hold the entire world economy hostage for their deeply, deeply unpopular agenda. It's amazing how many Americans vote for fascists who intend to enact policies that huge majorities oppose. The conclusion is inescapable that most people just don't grasp how representative democracy works and how you have to vote if you want something even vaguely resembling your own views to prevail.  

Nissan, Toyota, Subaru EVs? Better rethink that.

Just in case you were thinking you'll wait for the Toyota or Subaru EV (same car, essentially) or get a Leaf, out of brand loyalty to Toyota, Subaru or Nissan, take note. EV international expert Sam Evans ("the Electric Viking") has disclosed test results that show: 

1. The new Leaf is ok, but subpar in range and important features such as battery temperature control and advanced infotainment, for the price.

2. The BZ4 Toyota and Subaru Solterra (same car) fails utterly to live up to its advertised range, and, for the price, is basically a rip-off. (Also, Toyota is whining that it cannot make the car at a profit and will therefore only make as many as it has to to be compliant with laws... a "compliance car.")

Subaru is no doubt really sorry they decided not to make their own electric vehicles... because it's probably too late to save the brand. That's how fast this paradigm shift is occurring. 

The cases against Trump, notwithstanding politics

There is a rational argument that slow walking the prosecution of Trump, by, say, appointing a Special Counsel to handle all the Federal cases against him, might actually benefit Democrats in 2024. By preventing the Republicans from shifting the blame to Democrats for indicting the cult leader, but at the same time keeping him tied up in various long-dragging legal woes. (Maybe then proceeding to nail the bastard once and for all in December, 2024?) From a purely political-strategic point of view, this could actually be the best course of action. I think the election results demonstrate that Trump is now very probably a liability to the American Fascist Party (so-called Republican party) for 2024. But, as Glenn Kirschner likes to say, Justice Matters!.... so I oppose this idea (which has actually been floated as a trial balloon). The most legally sound procedure based on the facts and the law, and given that quite a lot of time has passed since the optimal time to appoint a Special Prosecutor, if there ever was one, is to simply proceed to indict him for each and every crime where there appears to be a very good case for conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. And since the great majority of reputable former federal prosecutors who've weighed in on this have concluded that just the public record alone is enough to convict him of several very serious felonies, this should now move forward with all deliberate speed. 

Chagrin in Oregon's 5th District

I am chagrined about the election in the congressional district I live in. The control of the House is very close, although it's now accepted that the Rs have it nationally. But it's very unsettling that my district is one of the flips, apparently. They haven't called it yet, and it's theoretically possible for the Democrat, Jamie McLeod Skinner, to win, but at this point it has to be considered unlikely. The SE sector of the district, which is Bend, and the northern 1/3 of it (Oregon City, Clackamas (where I live), part of Milwaukie, Gladstone, some of "the road to Damascus," an unincorporated but largely residential area east of here) are Democratic, but the rest, in the middle, is all R and some of it is real "Trump country." There is more than a point separating the two candidates and the Repub. Chavez DeRemer is ahead. So, in all likelihood, she will win, and the supporters of defeated former Blue Dog Congressman Kurt Schrader will all say we should've voted for him, he would've won. And, much as I hate to admit it, it's possible they're right.  I just hate this winner take all / calculate the margins pseudo-democracy we have in this country. We know there is a better way, because quite a few countries already have it (proportional representation, automatic runoff, etc.) 

This means, by the way, that Oregon's representation will  have gone from 4 Ds and 1 R to 4 Ds and 2 Rs, which is not an improvement, obviously. (Oregon picked up another House seat in the 2020 census, at California's expense). 

DOJ cold feet?

I sure as hell hope reports of leaks from DOJ to the effect that they're biting their nails over whether they should indict Trump in the Mar a Lago case (and/or the Insurrection case?) because of... well, political considerations... are untrue or at least merely reports of ordinary consideration of the posture and strategy. Because significant weight given to political considerations is just not the way it's supposed to work. If they have a strong case by the standard applied to any other citizen, they must proceed. And if they don't, then there had better be some pretty weird-ass evidence we don't know about, because in both cases many former respected DOJ prosecutors have agreed the public record already constitutes a pretty solid case. 

Clarence Thomas must go

Heather Cox Richardson summarizes facts relating to the Eastman documents that were leaked to the press ... by Eastman's stupid lawyers who left a live dropbox link in a public document. Seems Eastman, who clerked for Clarence Thomas, not only communicated with Thomas's wife, Virginia Thomas, about an illegal coup involving fraudulent election schemes, he also conspired with her and with others to try to get a faked-up petition "of some sort" before Clarence Thomas, who would be expected to rule in their favor, in order to get "the Georgia legislature in gear" to, pretty explicitly, overturn the actual vote of the people of Georgia and try to throw the election to the House. Where, under archaic and undemocratic rules, Trump would simply win by fiat despite losing the election popularly by 7 million votes nationwide. 

This is not merely disgraceful. It is not merely conspiracy to defraud the United States by Eastman and others. And it is not merely grounds for recusal or even merely an ethical violation on the part of Thomas (if he could be inferred to have known about it). With that same caveat, scienter... meaning he knew about it and didn't report it or recuse himself from the related documents case, this is a dead bang impeachment case against Thomas. 

We are maybe going into a dark period. But, as Glenn Kirchner likes to say, "Justice Matters." We cannot allow this to simply slide along as business as usual. One way or the other Clarence Thomas must be removed from the Supreme Court. The man has no ethics, no respect for democracy, and no fealty to the Constitution. If that's not "bad behavior," which is all it takes under the Constitution, I do not know what possibly could be unless he were to just take a gun out while in session and shoot one of the lawyers or something. 

A poem for our music club

Our music club of old timer Portlanders usually begins with a whimsical verse by one our member, Jim A., but he will be out tomorrow so I had to come up with a substitute. Since the only poetry I've ever written is, well, rather personal, I chanced on this, and I think it's appropriate for the day. 

«

If I should need to name, O Western World, your powerfulest scene and show,
'Twould not be you, Niagara—nor you, ye limitless prairies—nor your huge rifts of canyons, Colorado,
Nor you, Yosemite—nor Yellowstone, with all its spasmic geyser-loops ascending to the skies, appearing and disappearing,
Nor Oregon's white cones—nor Huron's belt of mighty lakes—nor Mississippi's stream:
—This seething hemisphere's humanity, as now, I'd name—the still small voice vibrating—America's choosing day,
(The heart of it not in the chosen—the act itself the main, the quadrennial choosing),
The stretch of North and South arous'd—sea-board and inland—Texas to Maine—the Prairie States—Vermont, Virginia, California,
The final ballot-shower from East to West—the paradox and conflict,
The countless snow-flakes falling—(a swordless conflict,
Yet more than all Rome's wars of old, or modern Napoleon's): the peaceful choice of all,
Or good or ill humanity—welcoming the darker odds, the dross:
—Foams and ferments the wine? it serves to purify—while the heart pants, life glows:
These stormy gusts and winds waft precious ships,
Swell'd Washington's, Jefferson's, Lincoln's sails.

»

[Election Day, November, 1884]   • Walt Whitman  (1819-1892) 

Widely reported that Trump will "almost certainly" run in 2024

Shortly before I retired in 2014, I said to one of the secretaries in our office, a Jamaican American who had just opined that Donald Trump was going to be elected president in the near future, "Well, I can tell you right now. Donald Trump will never be president of the United States."

Obviously, my ability to predict the depths of depravity to which the electorate might sink in this country was not up to snuff. 

But I just cannot grasp how it is possible that Donald Trump will be able to run again. It seems very likely he will have to either settle or face trial in the NY lawsuit that threatens to unpend his fraud... I mean business... and he will very likely be indicted in at least two pretty serious criminal matters, those being the interference in the Georgia election and the Mar a Lago documents case. In both of those, conclusive evidence against him is already a matter of record. And the Insurrection case and the criminal case which should have... and still might... grow out of the same evidence as the NY civil case are also potentially extremely dangerous for the Don. Even if the midterms go badly for Democrats, it strains belief that a criminal with those kinds of legal trouble could run for and win the White House. Never before in American history would such of thing be given even a moment's consideration as a possibility. But... well, we are living in strange times indeed. You simply cannot rule out anything. 

I will say this, and it's hardly a novel notion: if Trump is elected to a second term (with hiatus, which is not unprecedented)... American democracy will be over and done with. We can not recover from the damage he would almost certainly do if put in that position. 

So, whatever happens next week, if you care a fig for the United States of America, you will do everything you possibly can to ensure that never happens. 

Biden's remarks on preserving democracy.... bear repeating

Last night, President Biden gave a speech on the precarious state of our democracy, starting with a description of the attack on Paul Pelosi. He reminded us that the words of the attacker,  "Where's Nancy?", echoed the words used on January 6, 2021, words "used by the mob when they stormed the United States Capitol ... when they broke windows, kicked in the doors, brutally attacked law enforcement, roamed the corridors hunting for officials and erected gallows to hang ... Mike Pence." The crowd had been fomented by Donald Trump's repeating the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen; the lie that "fueled the dangerous rise in political violence and voter intimidation over the past two years."

Biden said Americans must "confront those lies with the truth," for "the very future of our nation depends on it. ... We must, with one overwhelming unified voice, speak as a country and say there's no place... no place for voter intimidation or political violence in America. Whether it's directed at Democrats or Republicans. No place, period. No place ever."

As Biden said, democracy itself is at stake in this election. He appealed "to all Americans, regardless of party, to meet this moment of national and generational importance." Democracy is not guaranteed, as Biden made explicit, echoing Lincoln: "Every generation has had to defend it, protect it, preserve it, choose it. For that's what democracy is. It's a choice, a decision of the people, by the people, and for the people."

"We the people must decide whether we will have fair and free elections and every vote counts. We the people must decide whether we're going to sustain a republic, where reality's accepted, the law is obeyed, and your vote is truly sacred. We the people must decide whether the rule of law will prevail or whether we will allow the dark forces and thirst for power put ahead of the principles that have long guided us."

Farflung friends: Please, please, please vote, and make sure everyone you know or care about is voting. Drive them to the polls. Harangue and harass them. Nag them and cajole them. (But don't bribe them, that's illegal). 

Thanks and may democracy prevail. 

Electric Car Paradigm Shift Redux

If anyone is unclear on the fact that the electric vehicle paradigm shift is ALREADY well underway and that legacy automakers, especially Nissan, Toyota and the Stellantis (Fiat/Peugeot/Chrysler) group, which have failed to prepare to make all EVs very soon are going to lose out hugely or even go out of business, consider these facts. 

1.  Only BYD (China) and Tesla are currently able to make EVs at a profit. But battery costs are decreasing according to something akin to Moore's law, so EVs will be the only profitable products for automakers in the near future. Everyone knows this, except for those auto executives suffering from paradigm blindness, who seem to be in charge at Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Stellantis, and a few other companies (although not so much Ford and GM, anymore, to their credit). 

2.  Only EVs are able to backlog hundreds of thousands of orders for cars before they even go on sale. Many ICE cars' sales are anemic at best. 

3.  Tesla can make $10-15,000 on a car, where Toyota or VW, when you factor in warranty and recall costs, barely break even. 

4.  Nissan has posted a loss 2 years running and Toyota, hanging on to the title as the world's biggest automaker by the slenderest of threads, just posted a 2022 3Q LOSS in North America. In both cases, it is largely because they are continuing to produce cars no one wants to buy. 

Companies that have not already prepared to manufacture mostly or entirely EVs within 5 years are going to lose market share massively, and some of them will not survive. It's like the Wild West, like the early 1920s, a total paradigm shift. In 2030 the largest automaker in the world will likely be either BYD or Tesla, companies that did not even exist 20 years ago. 

Popular Vote Election

As I see it, we in the US will never return to the kind of acceptance of the electoral process as fully legitimate we once enjoyed until we adopt some form of the National Popular Vote for president. In case you are not aware of it, google this phrase and read about how this could be accomplished without a Constitutional Amendment. Clearly there is spillover: people (of both parties) feel (as opposed to rationally conclude) that the vote is unfair, and I think it's largely because it is inherently unfair. The majority does not elect the president. And this affects their view of all elections. It even has an effect in other countries (Jair Bolsonaro apparently is accepting defeat in Brazil, but he has not conceded or congratulated his opponent; the parallel with Trump is all too clear). Ironically, since the late 19th century this has only happened in the presidential election twice. And both times it was the Democrat who won the popular vote but was not the winner in the Electoral College. In 2020 Biden won the popular vote (it wasn't even particularly close), and the electoral college. But Trump fairly won the electoral college in 2016 despite losing the popular vote by more than 3 million votes, many in California. (The second time was 2000; Al Gore won the popular vote handily but lost the Electoral College). This wholesale illegitimacy affects the psychology of the minority party, too, and, ironically, it is they who seem to be rejecting the very idea of democracy by and large. 

The National Popular Vote Compact would go a long way to fixing this, on the presidential level. The inequity of Senatorial elections will have to wait until some fine future day when beneficial amendments to the Constitution again become possible. And then, an even better fix to the presidential electoral process is obvious:  At the quadrennial election, the candidate who receives 50% +1 vote nationally is elected. State boundaries have no bearing; the Electoral College is abolished. If no candidate receives this margin, a runoff occurs two weeks later between the top 2. (Alternatively, there could be ranked choice). 

If this were adopted, I believe the faith and credit the people put in elections in general would also be restored. 

Boycotting Twitter

After his insane conspiracy theory nonsense about the Pelosi attack, I have decided to boycott Elon Musk's Twitter. Wasn't much of a user anyway, but I've deleted the link. If his $44B ends up having been spent on a platform no one uses anymore, it will have been deserved. 

The crucible... will American democracy survive?

Steve Bannon says Bolsonaro "can't leave office" after losing the election in Brazil. (Bolsonaro himself has said nothing, and some of his allies have accepted Lula da Silva's victory, so I guess that means Brazil is more democratic than the US, since our former guy, with Bannon's help, did not do that). Does anyone honestly believe Bannon has information, or any cause to believe, that the Brazilian election was anything but essentially fair? It was close. But counting votes actually isn't all that hard, and other advanced countries which have a fundamental respect for the rule of law do it all the time. Almost 2% in an election of millions of votes isn't that close, and a forensic analysis would assign essentially 100% to the validity of the outcome. It was indeed much closer than the 2020 presidential election here. So what is Bannon, the quintessential Trumper, actually saying? Simple. They don't believe in elections. They believe in their power. Elections are useful for idiots who believe in them, when they win. If they don't win, roll out the Big Lie, because power is everything. 

This is not American. Those who support this are traitors to our country. Simple as that. 

Rachel Maddow (who, whether you like her or not, is a patriot), said yesterday that this election, "top to bottom" is about whether we will still have elections, and democracy, or not. And "not" is force and violence. The kind of force and violence, like the attempted kidnapping of Nancy Pelosi and attempted murder of her husband, committed by a Trumpist lunatic, that people like the absolutely disgusting Kari Lake (Trump candidate for Governor of Arizona) thought was real funny. The same Kari Lake who, when asked if she would accept the results of the election were she to lose, refused to say she would. She kept saying, I will respect the results when I win. 

I say again, this is not American. It's just not. Not all Republicans think like this. But the de facto leader of their party, the increasingly deranged Donald Trump, does, and his rallygoers are now openly embracing the absolutely insane and out and out fascistic QAnon conspiracy. (Trump's podium is now emblazoned with the QAnon slogan "WWG1WGA," which I refuse to even explain (look it up), and he speaks over the creepy fascist song they all swoon over). 

If you believe in prayer, pray for our country. If you don't, please, please do everything you can to ensure everyone you know who believes in fairness, in democracy, in the Constitution, as a guiding principle, hell, just in civil order and the rule of law, actually votes next week. Because a whole hell of a lot is at stake. It's not primarily about policy, although of course there's a lot to say about that, too. It's about whether the winners of elections take office; whether there is any honesty or rules of the road to our government. The very continued existence of America as a republic is being threatened. 

If you think this is hyperbole, or hysteria, I'm sorry, you are just not paying enough attention. Political violence has increased over 100% since Trump was dragged kicking and screaming from the White House after losing the election. Over half the candidates in his party openly endorse the Big Lie and refuse to acknowledge the validity of our electoral process. If you are familiar with historical precedents, such as Italy in 1921 or Germany in 1933, the parallels are absolutely terrifying. Wake up, my friends. It is time to take this threat very, very seriously indeed, because if we lose the civil order and orderly transition of power our foreparents fought for so fundamentally, there will be an enormous amount of pain and death before it can ever be recovered. 

Bolsonaro demonstrates more respect for democracy that our former guy

Apparently Bolsonaro is going to accept his decisive defeat at the polls in Brazil. 

Per the NYT, 

"On Friday, in an interview after the final debate, Mr. Bolsonaro was asked directly whether he would accept the vote's results, regardless of outcome.

"There's no doubt," he said. "Whoever gets more votes, takes it. That's democracy.""

 

 I point out, entirely without guile, that our disgraced and failed former president has never said this, or anything close to it.  

The Irreducible Necessity of Voting ... a plea for everyone to do all they can

Here it is less than two weeks before the election, and, farflung correspondents, I am worried. We're hosting a music club that's been around since the 1950s in our house next Friday evening. It's hard for me to shake the fear that our music making on that particular weekend may turn out to be a dirge for democracy. Please don't let's let that happen. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell everyone you know it's vital that they vote this time, for democracy, not for the forces of darkness. I really do see the dichotomy as that serious the way things have gone down in our country. 

And don't forget, if you know people who may not know it, not only do the Right Wing Republicans (i.e., all of them) want to do absolutely nothing for ordinary people, but they do intend to end reproductive rights, cut Social Security and Medicare, and grow the debt with even more tax cuts for the very, very rich, and they want to end fair elections to ensure that they remain in power permanently. We used to have no difficulty calling such politics what it is: fascism. 

You have to finesse the message talking to some people. It does no good to alienate people. But even many folks who aren't "political," and who often don't vote, don't want the government telling them a teenage relative raped by her uncle can't get an abortion, and they don't want a governent that does absolutely nothing for them but restrict their rights and tank the economy with unstable and nutty economic theories and tax cuts for the rich. They don't want politicians to cut and disable Social Security and Medicare, which ordinary folks have paid for, and they sure as hell don't want anyone to end fair elections and rig the system so all elections they win are called "fair," but if they don't win, then they're "rigged" and their candidates have to take office anyway. This is the legacy of Trump, and it's unAmerican. Most people still believe in fundamental fairness, and if you can get them to realize that Republicans really do stand for ending fair elections permanently, and that the only thing they can do about it is vote... well, maybe they just will. The reality is, almost everywhere in America, that if we Democrats could get the same margin of our voters to actually vote as the Right Wing Party does, we would win almost every election. So, getting casual voters and nonvoters to actually vote is the key. And every single vote counts. 

Thank you. 

The upcoming election and foolishness abounding

George Lakoff has often pointed out that small-l liberalism is mired in 18th century thinking that really just doesn't work in 21st century politics. (His analysis is much deeper and broader than that, but that's part of it). Anyway, I guess this applies to me squarely. Because I simply cannot understand how this election, both in my own state and in the nation, can possibly be even somewhat close. We have one party which is consistently seeking to overthrow the small-d democratic order, lies openly in its campaigns and ads about just about everything, and has no agenda at all other than reduce taxes for the rich and pander to the mean spirited hatefulness of the ultra right. I submit that although colored by my political ideology, these simple statements are essentially facts. The other party, while hardly a paragon of consistency, and marked by horribly inconsistent messaging, is basically trying to act rationally; to accept facts; to deal with the realities of climate change, global economic problems, etc. etc. So you would think just about everyone with, as folks used to say, "a whit of sense," would reject the Republicans en masse and vote for Democrats. But that is not what is happening. It is close everywhere, but that will translate into losses for Democrats. Some places. It is still possible, of course, that Democrats will win a significant margin in many states and retain the House and build a margin in the Senate (since two of our members are completely unreliable as Democrats). Possible, but most of the pundit class seems to think unlikely at this point. And I just cannot grasp how this could be so. Except that I realize I am taking a false premise as a given, that being that most people are rational actors and vote in their own self-interest. Clearly 2016 proved that was not the case, if it needed proving. But I am a slow learner. I still shake my head. And hope for the best. 

 

"If you want the present to be different from the past, study the past."
― Spinoza

Gazpacho in a juicer

I've been experimenting with making gazpacho with a juicer rather than blender and sieve. Then add back about 20% of the pulp. 

My no-oil no bread recipe can hardly be simpler. 

2 or 3 cucumbers, peeled.

2 or 3 small asian pears, cored and peeled (or if you are separating the pulp, don't bother to peel; you don't want pear peels in the pulp). 

6 or 7 garden tomatoes

2 red bell peppers, cooked 2 min. in microwave, cored

2 cloves garlic

1/2 sweet raw onion

1 tbs. dried tarragon leaves

1 tsp. salt

about 1 tbs. lemon juice.

A little ice water

Run all the vegetables through juicer and add back roughly 20% of the pulp. Then use immersion blender till smooth. Can add up to 1/4 cup olive oil before blending if you like that; it makes it smoother and richer in a way, but less "gardeny." I like it without. Cooking the bell peppers makes them sweeter and less astringent tasting. Chill before serving. Makes about 1/2 gallon. 

  

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE !

Just voted my (100% by mail) Oregon ballot. All Democratic of course. Not fooled by phony ex-Democrat Betsy Johnson's fraudulent campaign (of course!) We had a measure to enshrine health care as a right in the State Constitution (YES) and to ensure Republicans can't just escape their responsibility to show up at floor sessions of the legislature in order to prevent the Democratic majority from passing anything. Also not to opt out locally from our new law permitting psilocybin therapy (by licensed people), and to require relatively minimal permitting of guns and prohibiting high volume ammunition (designed to pass muster in the new horrible climate in the US Supreme Court, but I expect this measure to fail in relatively pro-gun Oregon). 

 

"If you want the present to be different from the past, study the past."
― Spinoza

Tesla Model 2 coming

I own a Kia EV, but I'm a realist. I'm interested in the Aptera three wheeled autocycle, which can generate about 40 mi. worth of range just by being parked in the sun for a day (production is about to start, sales next year, delivery of current orders probably late 2024). But the real news in EVs is, as it often has been, Tesla. They have worked out technology and manufacturing for cheaper, better batteries, and the actual production of a much cheaper small car, which is probably going to be called the Model 2. It will likely be built in China, and so not eligible for the $7500 credit (they're current cars don't get the current credit either but they still sell well). But, here's the thing. It will compete directly with cars like the Bolt and the new Kia EV4, which is still a couple of years away. Small hatchback. Not tiny, but small. Expected price: about $25,000. For a Tesla, which will share most parts with its big brothers. This will definitely accelerate the huge shift to electric cars already underway. Tesla, unlike all the Japanese, other American, and European manufacturers, is retaining and expanding a technological and manufacturing advantage. Their only really strong competitor is the Chinese company BYD. 

Short additional comment on EV market

There are exactly two automakers in the world that make money on every pure battery EV they sell. And they are the largest and second largest EV makers in volume as well. They are BYD (Chinese company, plans to build 4 million EVs and PHEVs next year), and Tesla. Sam Evans (the "Electric Viking" on YouTube) predicts BYD will be the largest automaker, period, in the world, by 2030, and Tesla is on track to be second. Both these companies didn't even exist as automakers in 2000. And they will be each larger than Ford, GM, Stellantis, Renault, Daimler, BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche, Volvo, Hyundai Group, Toyota, Nissan, Mistubishi, Subaru, Honda, Mazda, or Tata (India), which is a list of pretty much all the major automakers in the world as of 2000, as currently constituted.

BYD electric model

I submit this as proof that a major revolution in the auto industry is well past its tipping point.  

 

Writing to Voters

Just finished sixty letters to voters in swing districts. We all have to do our part to try to win this damn election. 

Some Electric Car Facts.

BYD (Chinese, but it stands for "Build Your Dreams," no kidding) is now building 200,000 EVs and PHEV (plug in hybrids) per month, which is more EVs than all US manufacturers other than Tesla combined, and all Japanese manufacturers combined. 

US auto sales are down 21% year over year. But Tesla is up 169%. That tells you all you need to know about the collapse of the internal combustion engine and the exploding demand for electric cars. 

Vinfast (Vietnamese auto startup), BYD, and Hyundai group (includes Kia) are planning projects to build factories in the US to take advantage of the tax credit for EVs built in North America. I'm not aware of any new projects to build internal combustion engine (ICE) cars in North America. And Hyundai group, the Chinese, and even GM and Ford, have all but stopped R&D on ICE power trains, and will probably never build a new passenger car engine design. The technology is rapidly becoming obsolete, full stop. There will be niche markets, of course, but for standard transportation, ICE is disappearing. Electric motor technology is already mature and very efficient... the technology race is for cheap batteries that don't use especially rare or toxic materials, and there are several very promising new developments in this area. 

Drastic Change in Auto industry worldwide coming.

I've passed on some of the buzz about this before, but let me just say this succinctly. The legacy automakers, all of them, and especially the Japanese, should be very, very worried about the 18 (count 'em, 18) Chinese automakers. None of the Chinese (largest being BYD) seem to be planning to move into the North American market right now. And Tesla has world class high end electric cars, which will continue to gobble market share. But the Chinese are making high quality, attractive, and far more advanced electric cars that are selling, without rebates but before tariffs, for approximately $20,000, and they're starting to flood the market in Europe already. This will make the 1970s Japanese "invasion" look mild, although the Biden administration's plans to offer rebates on North American built cars will in fact help the US to remain competitive. Still, Ford, GM, Stellantis, Volkswagen, Porsche, Renault, BMW, Daimler, and, even moreso, Nissan, Honda, Subaru, Toyota, Mazda, Suzuki, and Mistubishi, are poised to be virtually wiped out because they have almost nothing that can compete. Hyundai group will struggle but may be able to find a niche because their cars are competitive in quality. But the Chinese are way out in front, especially in the critical area of software development, where the rest of the world has failed to realize that this isn't just something you outsource and don't stress too much but an absolutely critical component of the driving experience. (Most companies outsource this to, whaddaya know, the Chinese (including Taiwan), who tend to push their second tier product. Only the high end Audi, Porsche and BMW cars get the best systems, but here's the rub, they're not better than the ones in cheaper Chinese cars. Bottom line: the Chinese are just plain doing it better and cheaper. 

 

China has its challenges, to be sure, and none of this is cast in stone, but Western governments and corporations had better take the threat seriously, because as of right now they are falling behind rapidly. And the Japanese are probably in the worst situation of all. Their cars barely change from year to year except cosmetically (and the less said about Japanese styling the better)... and their response to the obvious rapid approach of a drastic changeover to electric cars has been abysmal. Full stop. Worse than abysmal. Even Nissan, which developed the Leaf early on, has fallen so far behind they're hardly selling any EVs, even in North America, where they have done better than anywhere else (Nissan has posted a loss two years running, because their ICE cars aren't selling either). 

  

Democracy in Peril

We all know that Trump, however canny and good at schmoozing people, cannot write a single paragraph of coherent prose, much less 14 pages. So you have to wonder what brand of idiot does he have working for him who cannot understand that the size of the Insurrection crowd is totally irrelevant to the case made by the Jan. 6 committee that this f*ker is guilty of treason (one definition: making war on the United States), or at least seditious conspiracy. Michael Cohen went out on a limb and bet Chuck Todd $1 that Trump will never in hell appear before the committee. Not exactly a longshot. UNLESS. Unless the Democrats win enough races to keep the House in November. Not perhaps likely but certainly possible. If this committee is reconstituted and reissues its subpena, and Garland does indeed indict Trump in the Mar a Lago case, he may have no choice, since he will be in custody. 

And, folks, if we lose even just the House, our democracy is in its greatest peril since the Civil War. This is not hyperbole. Please take this threat seriously. Vote. Make all your friends and relatives vote. So very, very much is at stake. 

  

Historian's eye view of January 6

This is literally the first draft of history. If you're a follower of current affairs, you know all this, but historian Heather Cox Richardson has put it down in succinct, chronological paragraphs just like a future historical account. History is not totally objective, of course, but this is a balanced and factual account of what actually happened. Only those who are oblivious to reality in their virtual worship of Cult Leader and Former Failed President Trump would find much to quibble with here. 

 

"If you want the present to be different from the past, study the past."
― Spinoza

Music videos on YT a real treasure trove

One of my real pleasures these days is regularly dipping into the wonderful video recorded performances of music, especially sacred music like the Bach Stiftung and Netherlands Bach Ensemble on YouTube. I pay for premium to avoid ads, and it's worth it. Like this, Cantata No. 77, Du sollt Gott, deinen Herrn, lieben, performed by the Bach Stiftung of Switzerland, conducted by the estimable Rudolf Lutz. (This isn't even a particularly well known or exceptional cantata; this is workaday Bach, which means reliably far superior to any of his contemporaries). These are first rate performances, far better, in general, than anything available on records 50 years ago when I first discovered the wonders of Bach's cantatas, and it's all free. And the visual component is a huge plus as well. Of course it helps to have decent sound on whatever you use watch YouTube. I cast to a TV with auxiliary high fidelity speakers. (And I send them a little money now and them and get nice programs and letters (in German) from them). 

What it will take to land Trump in Jail

There's a certain irony that the case which seems to be the most likely to put Failed Former President Trump in an orange jumpsuit is the one where he probably had little to gain other than sheer ego aggrandizement. I appreciate that there are serious and real national security concerns with the classified documents, but it's not actually that easy to monetize something like that, and now that there is laserlike attention on them, he can't really profit. Yet he's doubled down, virtually admitting guilt and compounding the law violations with dead to rights, openly recorded obstruction of justice. The insurrection and seditious conspiracy is probably worse but more complex and harder to prove. It is Mar a Lago that seems most likely to land him in actual jail.  

Maybe if, mirabile dictu, the House remains under Democratic control, it will be easier to force him to testify about his role in the only time a president has ever instigated an insurrection against the United States when all they have to do is request the Bureau of Prisons to deliver him to the Capitol for the hearing. 

One can hope. 

Another critical reason to return the Dems to House Control

So now we have yet another extremely important reason to return the Democratic majority to power in the House. The Jan 6 committee has voted to subpoena the Failed Former President, and unless the Democrats retain control, it's a certainty that that forcing that crucial appearance before Congress will not be happening.  

In Memoriam

One of the very last of her generation. RIP Angela Lansbury, died yesterday at 96.  

Polarization at a tipping point?

Interesting discussion in the NYT. Here. 

I agree with those that say that an actual war, like the 1861-1865 Civil War, is essentially impossible, because the Federal government has massive weaponry. But there is a real question whether the military would follow the orders of a Trump (not necessarily Trump himself, who may not be capable of this at this point).... who had seized power through fraud. By which I mean massive disenfranchisement of voters, beyond even the amount of that that's built into our current non-democratic presidential and senatorial electoral systems. If they were to do it with the complicity of the Supreme Court (which seems all too possible), then they would probably have the military behind them. And what we would have would be a 1921 Mussolini military coup, in effect, not a civil war. What that would entail for the future I almost literally shudder to think. But with an actual majority opposed to that outcome, it would be a very unstable situation. The sad truth is that faced with overwhelming authoritarian power, most people just accept the situation and begin rationalizing how it's actually fine. Right up until and even after Stalingrad most Germans were complicit, even supportive, in the Nazi regime. Is this bad, bad, bad? No. It's worse. 

Japanese Carmakers and the great electric catastrophe

If you doubt my previous claim that the Japanese automakers, all of them, have missed the electric car juggernaut, see this for additional confirmation. 

Automakers that have missed the Electric Wave are in BIG trouble

See this to understand some of the major reasons why Tesla will soon sell more cars than any other company in North America and why companies have ignored the rapid shift to electric cars  -- past the tipping point already -- are going to lose market share and some even go bankrupt. Like all the Japanese makers (including Nissan's Renault*), Stellantis (Fiat/Peugeot Chrysler), and most automakers other than Korea's Hyundai Group, and the Chinese, as a group. Ford and GM are barely competitive. Mercedes, BMW, and VW are also barely in the game. This is the biggest disruption of the auto industry since the 1920s. 

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*Nissan produced one of the first successful electric cars, the Leaf, but they have dropped the ball and are not really competitive; also their conversion from ICE has been, pardon the pun, glacial. Toyota is worse, and none of the other Japanese makers have produced viable electric cars in any numbers. 

MAGA playbook

Kind of sums up what it is to be a MAGA politician. One of them, a city councilmember in Las Vegas, stood in front of the tiny MAGA crowd at Orange Menace's rally this weekend and said, almost a literal quote: » Under Donald Trump unemployment was a little over 3%. Now, under Biden, it's over ten percent! Yeah! Ten percent! «

Except in Nevada in particular, its 2.1%.  Two point one percent. The lowest unemployment level in decades. 

This is what you call a goddamn lie, and that's their playbook in a nutshell. 

Only a month to go... gearing up to help Democrats keep the House and Senate

Honestly don't know how much good it does, but I completed 50 postcards to Wisconsin voters to aid in the effort (primarily) to send Ron Johnson packing and elect Mandela Barnes to the Senate. Now I've signed up to complete 40 letters to voters in New York (Ryan) and Illinois (Sorenson) toss up districts to try to help Democrats keep the House. Every effort helps, or so I want to believe. This election really is crucial, so if you're thinking about what you can do, try Vote Save America or Vote Forward. 

 

DOJ: Trump still has more government documents

Hah? Ya think?  

We must deal with this out of control Supreme Court

 Clarence Thomas has ordered the DOJ to respond to Trump's deranged petition to the SC to vacate the 11th Circuit order in the Mar a Lago case. There are no legitimate issues here. This is yet another example of the completely out of control overreach of the Supreme Court, and especially Clarence Thomas. The only solution, if we are to save our country, is for the Democratic party to win the House and Senate and for our leadership to realize that the only solution is to add more justices to the court to restore the balance of sanity. I can no longer countenance or even credit arguments to the contrary. This is it. The time for "deliberation" and "moderation" is long past. 

Some basic economic realities people tend to ignore

When inflation was running at about 2-3% and CD rates were about 1.25%, it took no genius to realize that "parking money" was on a fee basis, and savings was disincentivized. I for one don't see this as a primarily political issue. It's just the way the late-stage capitalist economy works, and it's transnational. So now inflation in the US is something like 8% (or higher), and savings rates are maybe 3%. It takes no genius to see that savings are more disincentivized, and, in fact, debt and deficit spending, and not just by governments, is being canceled by stealing savings, which in effect transfers money from the future to the present. Well, well. Hardly surprising. People always think if you spend money you don't have it's just magic, but money isn't real. Goods and services are real, human behavior is real. All we can really do is influence behavior now to try to get people to do things to relieve economic stress. The natural gas crisis in Europe is an example. Governments can't create gas by fixing prices. If there's less gas, there's less gas. But they can use industrial policy to accelerate and incentivize new sourcing, rather than just let the marketplace allocate the shortage and let higher prices incentivize new sourcing. My point is that we need to remember that wealth has to come from somewhere, it's not just rates and prices that can be manipulated by policy. And that somewhere is human effort and natural resources, which can only be influenced so much by policy.