The world around us

Any claim from Donald Trump of public benefit is bogus. It’s important to recognize the REAL reasons he’s been consistently, aggressively, and publicly pressuring the Federal Reserve to lower rates. Here it is, and you can be an expert in just 4 minutes.

The Big Orange Menace is obviously intent on intimidating us into staying in bed with the covers pulled over our heads. He doesn’t want us to protest or vote or challenge him in any way. And the moment we give in to that inclination to say “Please just leave us alone,” he’s won.

Thoughts for the new year My own father was a narcissist who believed none of the rules that applied to normal people ever applied to him. Everything wrong was always someone else’s fault, though he’d quickly take credit for anything good that happened around him. I’m used to this crap, and know that over the long run it will be defeated. Here’s why.

Headlines notwithstanding, we still have the freedom to reflect, speak, and participate. Even in times of division, the ability to express ourselves, to engage, to disagree, and to make choices about our leadership is a gift.