France

Alaska Summit Of Trump And Putin A Win For Putin!

Ronald 20 Comments

Donald Trump met with Vladimir Putin on American soil in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, and it was a total win for Putin and Russia!

Putin was greeted by a “Red Carpet”, and was permitted to drive to the location of the summit in “The Beast” Presidential Car, which is usually only allowed for allied leaders such as Great Britain and France.

But Putin got “royal treatment”, and clearly, has no interest in stopping the war against Ukraine, and not even willing to agree to a cease fire.

Clearly, Trump can easily be flattered, as he was about Putin suggesting that their next summit be in Moscow.

But no agreements were reached about ending the war against Ukraine, and no indication of any substantive agreement on anything.

Trump is not concerned about European security of NATO allies or of Ukraine, and is more concerned about the possibility of winning the Nobel Peace Prize, than saving lives and showing toughness toward Russia.

His inability to show strength and determination are likely to encourage China to make moves toward Taiwan, with the clear understanding that Trump will not do anything to repel such an aggression.

Putin, an international war criminal, gained stature from the meeting, while Trump came across as a very weak excuse for a man, one with no principles except gaining wealth and abusing power over his fellow American countrymen.

The world is less safe as a result of this disaster of a summit, which should never have taken place, as there was no planning or agreements arranged before the meeting, which is the usual nature of a high level summit!

90th Anniversary Of Social Security: Republicans Still Wish To Destroy This Landmark Legislation!

Ronald 4 Comments

Today marks the 90th Anniversary of the Social Security Act of 1935, arguably the greatest single accomplishment and legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal.

Behind major European nations (Great Britain, France, Germany) in bringing about this legislation, Social Security provided security and a safety net to elderly, widows, orphans, children, and the disabled, to insure a basic standard of living.

It was not designed to provide an entire sense of security for anyone, but an important part of protecting families and those no longer working or able to work, of a minimal coverage of protection.

From the beginning and until the present, the vast majority of Republicans have been against Social Security, and we still have in 2025 those conservatives and Republicans who term Social Security “A Ponzi Scheme”, which is totally inaccurate.

The danger, however, is that Social Security may run out of ability to provide full benefits, including cost of living adjustments by the early 2030s, unless Congress agrees to raise the amount of income that is taxed to cover the payments.

There is no reason why all income, not just wages, should not be taxed, but the Presidency of Donald Trump and the MAGA Republican mentality represents a dire threat to the long term survival of the program.

The American people need to be educated and informed of the crucial need to elect Democrats who will continue to promote this wonderful legislation that has made the lives of tens of millions of Americans more dignified, whether in retirement, or in families that have disabled members, or have lost a wage earner.

Imagining A Theodore Roosevelt-Donald Trump Meeting!

Ronald 8 Comments

At a tumultuous time like now, in late March 2025, after two months of the second Donald Trump Presidency, it seems appropriate to make a comparison between a past President, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President, and Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th President.

First, the similarities:

Both TR and Trump were Republican Presidents, although massively different in philosophy and outlook.

Both TR and Trump ushered in massive change, revolutionary in many ways.

Both TR and Trump were attention grabbers on a daily basis, constantly creating news and publicity.

Both TR and Trump were egomanics, having an element of insecurity that required them to insist on “rocking the boat” on a regular basis.

Both TR and Trump could be described as “characters”, highly outspoken more than any other combination of Presidents.

It has been said that TR wanted to be “the bride at every wedding, and the groom on every wedding cake”, and that Trump wanted to be equally admired and noticed constantly.

TR was toasted by Great Britain as a great man during and after his Presidency, and loved every minute of it, while Donald Trump was toasted as a great man during his first Presidency by the Saudi Arabian government, and loved every minute of it!

Both TR and Trump were born to wealth and in New York City, with TR in Manhattan, and Trump in Queens County, and with TR’s vacation home in Nassau County, Long Island, at Oyster Bay, and Trump’s vacation home in Palm Beach County, Florida at Mar a Lago.

As former Presidents running again for reelection in 1912 for TR and 2024 for Trump, both were victims of assassination attempts, with TR more seriously wounded than Trump, but both showing a defiant spirit at the time of their being victims.

Now, the massive differences between TR and Trump!

TR was our youngest President ever at age 42 and ten and a half months of age in September 1901, while Trump was our oldest inagurated President age 78 and 7 months in January 2025, and he will be the oldest President when he leaves office in 2029, surpassing Joe Biden in that statistic if it occurs.

TR believed in a need for a stronger, more engaged national government, challenging the conservative, laissez faire philosophy of the Republican Party, and proudly asserting he was a “progressive”.

Trump has declared “war” on the federal government, wanting to cut down the involvement of the national government in a wide variety of ways, promoting a return to state and local government control as in the Gilded Age of the late 19th century.

TR was the promoter of environmental reform and conservation of natural resources, regarded as the single most significant President in that area of policy.

Trump has made clear his desire to shut down most environmental and conservation efforts, and promote more drilling and more industrial use of natural resources, despite the reality of climate change and global warming. He is attempting to cut back on national parks, national conservation lands and national monuments in a dramatic fashion.

TR believed in the need for federal government regulation for consumers, regarding food and drug protection, while Trump has allowed himself to appoint a Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, who is reckless and unstable, and has created great concerns about the protection of health for the American people.

TR promoted openmindedness on workers’s rights, while Trump has demonstrated that he is unconcerned about the average working man and the significance of labor unions.

TR believed in the concept of corporate regulation and responsibility, while Trump has the belief that corporations should not be regulated, and corporate taxes should be cut, both in his first term, and now in his second term. So TR utilized the anti trust laws, while Trump has not and will not do so.

TR and Trump both were involved in the issue of the Panama Canal, with TR promoting a revolution in the area of Colombia which broke away, became independent with US support, and agreed to the building of the Canal, while Trump is now promoting US takeover the Canal, which was given back by treaty in 1977 under Jimmy Carter, and returning to Panamanian control in the year 2000.

TR was aggressive in his relations with the rest of Latin America, promoting the “Big Stick” policy, with intervention in Cuba and the Dominican Republic, while Trump has created tensions in the entire Western Hemisphere, and including our Canadian neighbors to the North, as well as the nations south of the US.

TR cultivated good relations with Japan, while looking down on China, while Trump is being aggressive in his policies toward China, and ready to use tariffs against all nations, including those in Asia.

TR wanted good relations with Europe, particularly with Great Britain and France; was suspicious of Germany; and critical of Russia and its mistreatment of Jews and other minorities. Trump, on the other hand, seems ready to abandon NATO and our close alliances with Western democracies since World War II, and is cozying up with our traditional antagonist, the Russian Federation..

TR won the Nobel Peace Prize for helping to negotiate the treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War, while Trump is hoping for a Nobel Peace Prize by resolving the Russia-Ukraine War.

It is very clear that TR, were he alive today, would be a major critic of Donald Trump, and would have no issue in confronting him openly and “in his face”.

The question is how would Trump react to such scathing and extreme criticism!

The Deteriorating US-Canada Relationship

Ronald 22 Comments

The United States has been blessed with having the best possible neighboring nation in Canada, which it shares a boundary of 5,525 miles, the longest boundary between any two nations in the world.

There has been no major issues between Canada and the US for nearly two centuries, just the “normal” disagreements that any two neighbors might have over time.

But now, the United States under President Donald Trump is creating conflict with its policy of promoting economic war through imposing tariffs, which only harm both nations.

Additionally, Trump has promoted the idea of Canada becoming the “51st State”, totally preposterous idea, and if anything, Washington DC SHOULD be the 51st state!

It has caused growing hostility between Canadians and Americans, whether at sports events, or just promoting a new wave of Canadian nationalism, resentful of the unnecessary provocations which undermine both nations, not only economically, but also regarding national defense and security of both nations.

Canada may stop sharing intelligence information with the United States as a result of Trump’s cozying up with Russia and Vladimir Putin in its war with Ukraine, as well.

There is the danger that the nations America is closest to (all of which share the English language)–not just Canada, but also the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand–will stop such shared intelligence, which would be a major tragedy in international relations against authoritarian regimes around the world that undermine security of all of those nations! This alliance has been known as the “Five Eyes” alliance.

It could also affect other major democracies, including France and Germany, to be more cautious in their dealings with the US government.

The recent news that new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has denounced Donald Trump and that Canada will match tariff for tariff is something all decent Americans will support wholeheartedly!

Donald Trump Trying To Bully Senate Into Submission On Appointments!

admin 13 Comments

Donald Trump is clearly working to bully the Republican majority in the US Senate into submission regarding his many controversial Cabinet and other appointments, and stripping the Senate’s power of “advise and consent” on Presidential appointments.

Trump’s aim is to make the US Senate lose its status as a co-equal branch of government, along with the House of Representatives, part of his plot to establish an authoritarian executive branch, uncontrolled by the legislative branch.

In so doing, he is working to undermine the Constitution, rule of law, and American democracy.

This, despite the reality that his victory was NOT a massive one, and that he has not won a majority of all votes cast by the American people, while defeating Kamala Harris by less than a two point margin.

Trump is causing our closest allies, including the United Kingdom, France, Israel, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to consider NOT sharing intelligence information.

Such an eventuality undermines American national security, and puts America in danger from its adversary nations, including Russia, North Korea, China, and Iran, among others.

Disturbing Right Wing Trend In International Affairs, Mirroring Donald Trump!

Ronald Leave a comment

As the threat of Donald Trump continues to be a menace, we are seeing in international affairs a troubling and disturbing trend of right wing populism, mirroring his extremism.

Already, this has been evident in Turkey, Poland, Hungary, Italy, and now The Netherlands, along with Egypt, India, Myanmar, and now Argentina, and dangers of right wing extremism threatening to rise in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere.

Religion, whether Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist is a growing factor in these nations.

It seems as if the world is moving back into the Fascism movement that was so prominent in the 1930s and 1940s.

Away For Two Weeks, And The World Changes, Not For The Better! :(

Ronald 6 Comments

Having just returned from my vacation with my older son after watching nine baseball games at eight baseball stadiums from Washington DC to Chicago, it is clear while I have been away that the nation and the world have changed, and not for the better.

Russia under Vladimir Putin is in turmoil after a challenge to the government by a militia group, creating more international instability. And demonstrations in France have gone large after the killing of an Algerian Arab French citizen by police, making clear that racism is alive and well in not just the United States but world wide!

And then, domestically, the Supreme Court has shown once again just how extreme they are, and presenting a constitutional crisis, as the Bush I and II appointees, along with the Trump appointees, have declared war on precedent and progress, trying to bring America back to the 18th century “originalism”, which many scholars make clear is totally preposterous!

The majority Court Justices have been shown to have massive financial and ideological conflicts of interest with no means for accountability, and with Chief Justice John Roberts losing all of whatever reasonable reputation he has had over the years, with his refusal to testify on ethics violations by himself and the other Republican Justices, particularly, but not only, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.

Between the attack on abortion rights a year ago, and now the end of affirmative action; the denial of student college debt relief; and allowing religion to interfere with the basic human rights of gays and transgenders, and arguably, other groups that any person in any business or industry could decide to refuse to interact with in daily life, is clearly the most dangerous time in constitutional history since the Civil War!

78th Anniversary Of D Day Normandy Invasion In World War II!

Ronald Leave a comment

Today is the 78th Anniversary of the D Day Normandy Invasion of France in World War II, a turning point in the struggle against Nazi Germany!

The number of veterans who live on after this momentous event is very small, as one would have to be in the mid 90s or higher to have been part of that battle and still survive today!

We must never forget the sacrifices of the veterans who survived, but even more of those who gave their last effort for the American nation and the civilized world!

The striving for democracy, which was fought in 1944, continues today as we face the threat of Fascism and Donald Trump, and the future of American politics in the Midterm Elections of 2022 and the Presidential Election of 2024!

A Turning Point In International Relations: The French Presidential Election Today

Ronald 1 Comment

Today’s French Presidential election pits Emmanuel Macron, who has been President for the past five years, against Far Right candidate Marine Le Pen, who is closely associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It seems clear that this is a turning point in international relations, as Le Pen would be likely to support Putin, and even, likely, take France out of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), fatally weakening that defense alliance, and affecting US foreign policy.

The Russia-Ukraine War and what NATO and the United States do about it, is hanging in the balance.

And if Le Pen won, it could be a sign of the danger of Donald Trump or someone of his stripe being a major challenge to Joe Biden or whoever the Democrats would run for President in 2024, along with the possible effect on the Midterm Congressional and Gubernatorial elections of 2022.

Emmanuel Macron is not perfect, but no one is, but we all need to hold our breath and hope he wins for the future of international relations and US foreign policy!

The United States Has Become A “Flawed Democracy”!

admin Leave a comment

Americans want to believe that their nation is a paragon of “democracy”, but by estimates of many experts who watch how governments change in their level of democracy, the United States has become a “flawed democracy”.

The Economist Intelligence Unit, the research division of the publication THE ECONOMIST, has rated the nations of the world as “Full Democracies”, “Flawed Democracies”, “Hybrid Regimes”, and “Authoritarian Regimes”.

The United States is in the “Flawed Democracies” category as Number 25, second on the “Flawed Democracies” list behind France, which also has fallen out of the “Full Democracies” listing!

23 Nations are “Full Democracies”, led by Norway, Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand and Canada. Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Australia and The Netherlands are the next five, with the latter two actually tied for 9th!

Other major nations in the “Full Democracies” list include, among others, Taiwan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Chile, Costa Rica, Japan, Spain, and South Korea.

Inspiring is the fact that Taiwan, Chile, and South Korea have become democracies in recent decades, but sadly so many more nations have moved away from democracy, and the fact that the US and France are put at the top of “Flawed Democracies” is troubling! And Israel and Italy are 5 and 6 as “Flawed Democracies”. And Mexico is way down, near the bottom of 52 nations that are “Flawed Democracies”.

“Hybrid Regimes” are the next 35 nations, and “Authoritarian Regimes” were 57 in number, with the total of nations on the list being 167.