There is no reason to complain if you are paying attention to what is happening in our legislative house. The vote has always been the answer! MA.
Ivy Grace-Benzinga
Fri, July 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM CDT
Elon Musk Backs Warren Buffett’s Brutal ‘5-Minute Deficit Fix’ To Ban Congress From Reelection If They Blow the Budget: ‘100% This Is the Way’
More than a decade ago, Warren Buffett said the national deficit could be solved in just five minutes. His plan? “You just pass a law that says that any time there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for reelection.”
That 2011 quote, from an interview with CNBC’s Becky Quick, resurfaced in early June — and this time, it gained traction with one of the world’s most influential voices.
On June 4, Utah Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) posted the clip on X and asked, “Would you support this amendment?” Elon Musk didn’t hesitate. He reposted it with the words “100%” and “This is the way,” signaling full endorsement of Buffett’s blunt solution.
James Roosevelt Jr., Henry Scott Wallace And June Hopkins, Common Dreams
April 06, 2025 | 08:38AM ET
Thank you, Senator Cory Booker. In your record-breaking Senate talk-a-thon, you sounded the alarm about President Donald Trump’s increasingly blatant threats to Social Security, and the devastating impacts for ordinary people who count on it.
Ninety years ago, our three grandfathers created Social Security. It’s the most popular, efficient and effective government program ever, ensuring financial security for 73 million Americans today. Now, appallingly, America’s workers and seniors must get ready to fight like hell.
The first draft of Social Security was written by a small committee including Agriculture Secretary Henry A. Wallace and top FDR advisor and Federal Relief Administrator Harry Hopkins, chaired by legendary Labor Secretary Frances Perkins. FDR had insisted that Social Security be funded by a system of payroll taxes, with both worker and employer contributing. He expressed great confidence that this would give workers an unquestionable “legal, moral and political right” to collect benefits.
Save Social Security. Don’t “outsource” it. Don’t tolerate this “reverse Robin Hood”—taking from the poor and giving to the rich.
President Dwight Eisenhower got it. There may be “a tiny splinter group” of politicians who want to mess with Social Security, he wrote, but “their number is negligible and they are stupid.”
Now comes Trump and Musk. They’ve fired 7,000 Social Security Administration staffer, citing a “bloated” workforce (actually severely overstretched at 50-year lows), made it harder to access their benefits, and closed most of the regional and field offices, guaranteeing chaos. Musk has called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme” (it’s NOT), and shared a post calling Social Security recipients “the parasite class.” Trump has lied that Social Security benefits are being collected by illegal immigrants (they actually strengthen Social Security by paying payroll taxes while being barred from collecting benefits) and by tens of millions of people over 120 years old (nobody in the worldis over 120 years old, and in fact, only 89,000 people over age 99 receive Social Security benefits). Musk says fraud in “entitlement spending … is the big one to eliminate“.
Now, after whipping up anger at imaginary Social Security abuses, Trump is proposing to end all federal taxes on people earning less than $150,000—the largest category of taxes for people in that bracket being the payroll taxes that sustain Social Security— which, when combined with the current payroll tax cap of $176,000, would leave Social Security with virtually no revenues. Trump previously promised to completely end payroll taxes.
Could their intentions be any clearer? Trump campaigned on a promise that Social Security “will not be touched, it will only be strengthened” (and Musk has recently promised that benefits will be increased, unbelievably, without congressional action and without worsening the government spending he enjoys slashing with his chainsaw).
Today, the CEO earning $10 million a year hits that limit and stops paying payroll taxes after the first week of the year, while his janitor keeps paying the 6.2% payroll tax for the next 51 weeks. It’s an outrage against all working people.
But remember how a previous President, George W. Bush, wanted to “strengthen” Social Security? By privatizing it. Trump’s acting Social Security Commissioner now prefers to frame it as “outsourcing.”
The Washington Post reports that with seniors “beside themselves” with uncertainty stoked by all the cutbacks, “many current and former [Social Security] officials” fear that the ultimate goal is privatization. And they’ve got plenty of company among Democrats in Congress. (Trump’s Treasury Secretary recently suggested that the goal was to privatize everything government does.) And Trump’s likeliest argument is that the only way to prevent benefit cuts driven by the system’s looming solvency crisis, and strengthen retirement security, is to put Social Security’s money in Wall Street (rich financiers would surely love the extra $3 trillion in investments).
The fact is that there is absolutely no way for Musk and Trump to reach their goal of eliminating $2 trillion in federal spending without either 1) raising revenues or 2) decimating the largest federal spending program in America: Social Security (Medicare and Medicaid are not far behind).
What could avert such stupidity? Revenues. Make the wealthy pay their fair share. One no-brainer example: eliminate the current $176,000 cap on payroll taxes. Today, the CEO earning $10 million a year hits that limit and stops paying payroll taxes after the first week of the year, while his janitor keeps paying the 6.2% payroll tax for the next 51 weeks. It’s an outrage against all working people.
What related outrages should we expect? Start with Trump’s promised $5 trillion of tax cuts for billionaires (like Trump and Musk). That’s the justification for all of Trump’s cuts to programs that help ordinary people, from veterans to children to health care to preventing terrorism. And don’t imagine for a second that the privatization of Social Security can be blocked in Congress, as it was under President George W. Bush. Trump’s reign of boundary-pushing executive orders has made a supine Congress irrelevant and the Constitution a technicality.
Save Social Security. Don’t “outsource” it. Don’t tolerate this “reverse Robin Hood”—taking from the poor and giving to the rich. Don’t count on “guardrails” like Congress or the courts. It will take a movement of ordinary Americans shouting to protect FDR’s greatest legacy of financial security for working people.
Apparently Not!
All of the touted greatness of the United States and the assistance given to other countries has started to pale. Our former world dominance is being relegated to this country being seen as potentially near mediocre actor on the world stage. All of the bad actors are looking at the current “leader” as a purchasable commodity who if offered the right largesse will ease their situations with the U.S. in the way of sanctions or restrictions. As shown in his first term DJT is out for DJT and it will always be so. His Cabinet members, his Whitehouse staff all play to his ego and his greed so they can insert their agendas onto the American public.
These are the same actions performed during the 30 or so years prior to WWII. There are too many folks who don’t think it can happen here while it’s happening here! DRT is seeking a “Kingship” with absolute authority, that aspiration was imbued by same folks who pushed the “moral Majority, attacked and killed abortion rights”. These are the people who think Medicaid should get less funding (do you hear that Seniors with medical needs and disabilities?) It is not wrong to pursue waste and fraud but usually after a complete investigation as to where misdeeds occur. Forcing needy folks whose disabilities and age preclude any ability to work is ridiculous and wrong. At the bottom of all of this is funding the massive tax cuts for the wealthy.
The elected members of Congress who are kissing the “Arse” of FFLOTUS are people elected by the people to represent them in government but have failed and will continue to fail as long as they are in office. Terms are limited at the ballot box not by the people running for office.
The statements made on the campaign trail along with the empty promises are borne out by the negative rhetoric about Americans and allies against the sucking up to middle eastern strongmen who have swayed his views with pomp and circumstance long with lavish gifts. All of this aside, the promises made by the people we elected are next to useless while the promises made by a inveterate self-serving liar is as Anti American as you can get without actually stating that fact!
Apparently, we are not as sharp politically as we should be, we have more rested on our laurels aka Asses while the government is in the hands of an idiot on steroids!
| Robert ReichMay 12 |
| My opinion: There was a chance to avoid this corrupt administration but too many people went for the: egress” and now find them selves outside! MA. |
Friends,
Trump is overplaying his hand.
Not just by usurping the powers of Congress and ignoring Supreme Court rulings. Not just abducting people who are legally in the United States but have put their name to opinion pieces Trump doesn’t like and trucking them off to “detention” facilities. Not just using the Justice Department for personal vengeance. Not just unilaterally deciding how much tariff tax American consumers will have to pay on almost everything they buy.
Polls show all these are tanking Trump’s popularity.
But one thing almost all Americans are firmly against — even many loyal Trumpers — us bribery. And Trump is taking bigger and bigger bribes.
Yesterday it was reported that he’s accepting a luxury Boeing 747-8 plane worth at least $400 million from the Qatari royal family, for use during his presidency and for his personal use afterward.
Trump just can’t resist. He’s been salivating over the plane for months. It’s bigger and newer than Air Force One — and so opulently configured that it’s known as “a flying palace.” (No report on whether it contains a golden toilet.)
Apparently he’s been talking about the plane for months. In February, he toured it while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport.
He’s tried to redecorate the White House into a palace but that’s not nearly as satisfying as flying around the world in one, especially once he’s left the White House (assuming he will).
Attorney General Pam Bondi said it’s perfectly legal for him to accept such a bribe, er, gift.
Hello?
The U.S. Constitution clearly forbids officers of the United States from taking gifts from foreign governments. It’s called the “emoluments clause.” (See Article I, Section 9.)
Anyone viewing Bondi as a neutral judge of what’s legal and what’s not when it comes to Trump can’t be trusted to be a neutral judge of Bondi. Recall that she represented Trump in a criminal proceeding. Presumably he appointed her attorney general because he knew she’d do and say anything he wanted.
Oh, and she used to lobby for Qatar.
So, what does Qatar get in return for the $400 million plane? What’s the quid for the quo?
This week Trump takes the first overseas trip of his second presidency. He’ll land in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, followed by a visit to Qatar, and then to the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E).
That’s a big boost for Qatar right there.
Trump also just did what Qatar has been wanting done for years — announcing that the Persian Gulf (as it’s been known since at least 550 B.C.) will henceforth be known as the Arabian Gulf.
Trump’s company has just announced a new golf resort in Qatar, reportedly partnering with a company owned by the royal family.
Qatar is also pushing the Trump regime to lift sanctions on Syria.
The payback could be any number of things. The only certainty is that you and I and other Americans won’t necessarily benefit.
This week’s trip to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E. is as much a personal business trip for Trump and his family businesses as a diplomatic trip.
Eric Trump, who officially runs the family business, has just announced plans for a Trump-branded hotel and tower in Dubai, part of the U.A.E.
The Trump family’s developments in the Middle East depend on a Saudi-based real estate company with close ties to the Saudi government. Saudi Arabia has a long list of pressing matters before the United States, including requests to buy F-35 fighter jets and gain access to nuclear power technology.
Trump’s family crypto firm, World Liberty Financial, announced that its so-called “stablecoin” — with Trump’s likeness all over it — will be used by the U.A.E. to make a $2 billion business deal with Binance, the largest crypto exchange in the world. The deal will generate hundreds of millions of dollars more for the Trump family.
I had assumed that Trump’s undoing would be his unquenchable thirst for power. It may yet be, but I’m beginning to think his insatiable greed will do him in. America’s Grifter-in-Chief knows no bounds.
| Robert Reich |
Friends,
In the last week, Trump has gone wild on the global economy, saying tariffs are the key to American prosperity.
As a result, global stock and bond markets tanked.
Today — telling reporters that “you have to be flexible” and conceding that “over the last few days it looked pretty glum” — Trump paused his tariffs for most countries for the next 90 days, backing down on his policy that had sent markets into a tailspin and threatened to upend global trade.
The reversal prompted the S&P 500 stock index to climb over 7 percent in just minutes.
Traders with inside information about what Trump was about to do — some of them, presumably, Trump family members and cronies — just made a fortune.
It looks like chaos but Trump’s chaos always creates winners and losers, and Trump makes sure he’s on the winning side.
The mayhem that Trump’s cuts in the federal workforce is creating have nothing to do with efficiency or with reducing the federal budget deficit.
Trump and Musk just gutted the IRS at the height of tax season by firing thousands of employees – and is planning to downsize the agency even more.
Recent estimates show that the richest 1 percent of Americans already underpay their taxes by as much as $205 billion each year. And for each $1 the IRS invests in auditing the tax returns of the richest 1 percent, it collects $13 in additional tax revenue.
So the tax revenue our government loses every year is way higher than the amount of taxpayer dollars DOGE claims to have “saved” by cancelling contracts and grants for vital government programs – of which only a small portion can actually be verified.
The truth is: Gutting the IRS has everything to do with making it easier for billionaires like Elon and Trump to evade taxes.
It all feels like chaos until you look more closely
Trump’s unpredictability also makes him seem particularly powerful and dangerous.
In 1517, Niccolò Machiavelli argued that sometimes it is “a very wise thing to simulate madness.” Wise, that is, for the manipulative ruler. Trump is simulating madness, but it’s all about increasing his wealth and power.
An increasing number of so-called “leaders” – in the private, public and non-profit sectors, and around the world – are telling their boards, overseers, trustees or legislatures: “We have to give Trump whatever he wants and even try to anticipate his wants, because who knows how he’ll react if we don’t?”
My strong recommendation to anyone in a position of leadership here or abroad: Do not give in to Trump’s feigned madness. Do not surrender. Do not capitulate. Join forces and fight back.
Over the past 8 years we have been subject to lies, ravings and ill-conceived ideas of DJT. His much-touted business acumen has been proven to be fallacious and a fantasy. The millions who believed his stewardship of the United States would be better than his predecessors because he is a businessman. Let’s look at what we know and many of his supporters failed to acknowledge or understand:
DJT:
Bankrupted 3 casinos for sure
Dodged paying construction crews who worked on his properties, While Trump has used little of his own money but used the bankruptcy laws as a hedge:
Trump said in August 2015:
“I have used the laws of this country just like the greatest people that you read about every day in business have used the laws of this country, the chapter laws, to do a great job for my company, my employees, myself and my family.”
The above statement is more of a boastful statement rather than a explanation of circumstances. This is what has fueled his Presidency and his mistakes in the office. He has bullied and lied his way in life until he has reached the highest office. This pretty much the way another demagogue in the 1930’s, the pattern is the same and running true to form aka “divide and conquer”. We the people have allowed and promoted his actions thereby condoning his methods to our own detriment. Impeaching him at this time will bring more problems since this time his VP and the House speaker are weak people who shout and talk a lot but have no ability to govern. We must look at what he did before and what he is doing now then decide what to do during next election cycle where we can dilute the power of current political groups. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue, it is a people issue and trusting or not trusting office holders and aspirants to office. Please remember public opinion, TV personalities are not definitive reasons to vote for anyone. Just one last point:
This is a quote from: Austan Goolsbee President of Chicago Federal Bank, He made this statement in reply to use of Tariffs: Using tariffs to fix the economy is like using explosives to clear the kitchen sink!
In my leisure time I was looking at the Marvel Movie “Captain America”, the basic premise is the creation of a Superhuman during WWII. The underlying theme is evil behind the war, world conquest, domination of all other countries. The history channel has run a series on the “rise of Hitler”. It outlines “Der Fuhrer’s” planning to take over the German Government in the 30’s and 40’s. If one looks at the current political climate here and abroad the connection to DRT’s vision of America is eerily similar. If you are a Trump supporter bear in mind that there are no lines between the named targets within government and the unnamed. The sweeping changes will affect anyone they touch. This is the culmination of the Right (religious and otherwise) seeking power over the government under the false face of religion. This is another stab at compromising the freedoms our founders fought and died for. It would be prudent of all citizens to fight against the current administration’s attempt at taking us backwards for its own ends. This fight needs to be vocal and physical if required. We need to forget the party system and look at the character of the PEOPLE we elect to serve us rather than the bureaucracy. Our current administration will turn out to be one of the worse we have seen in 50 to 60 years. Are we ready to go backwards?
Looking at the Movie “Iron Man” today and was reminded of the past year of the Gaza “conflict?”. Much of the action that occurs in the Middle east shows natives being rounded up and killed, sent packing or enslaved. Meanwhile the political classes (asses) discuss and guess as to what should be done. And in America the new “Sheriff” has begun to dismantle the government agencies because either they can or because they don’t understand how Government works. The policy of “nuevo Trump 2.0 is to get even at all costs with the overt and tacit approval of the GOP. It is unfortunate that the DEMs are so weak as to present a meager objection even though they do not have control of Congress. All political change starts with small voices that build with facts as the foundation. This pollical weakness appears to voters as the weakness that it is. If the status quo is to shift, then the political winds need to shift also. It is bad enough that the public is apathetic, complacent or just doesn’t care but the public servants need to take the heat and do their jobs with as much honesty as they can muster or just because it is what they were elected to do.
Information overload has caused a gap in facts. The fact that the conservative right, right, far right have quietly been remaking our educational system. They have changed or erased parts of history to keep modern learners ignorant of the real origins of our country that include the good, bad and ugly. History is history and remains unchanged until the manipulators get a hold of it. It has always been incumbent on the learners to source out what true and what is not. It is irrational to follow “the party line” for the sake of deceiving the public and pushing agendas against the public and sometimes national interests. The first world war was started by an assassination based on a rumor or perceived injustice. World war 2 was started by almost the same reasons with the help of (then) modern communication methods. Now the same bad actors are updated with the advent of the world wide web and its associated components (“X”, Google, Microsoft, etc.).
Again, the onus is on the public to be wary of mass communication and become skeptics of what is being reported as facts. Investigating information is fairly easy compared to 5 or 10 years ago, it just requires reading which again is not what it used to be. Something as simple as ‘cursive” writing is foreign to many younger people along with books about real history. Books are the ever-giving resource for information hence the “selective ban” on certain books which have been mainstays in our educational system. It is ironic that many of the banning’s occur in Southern, Republican states under the guise of fighting against “woke”(whatever that means). It is well to remember that the Modern Republicans bear no resemblance to past Republicans while against some Democratic agendas, made a way to function for the country through the fog of disagreement.
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