Update no.1236

 Update from the Heartland

No.1236

15.9.25 – 21.9.25

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

To all,

 

It would be easy to say, We, the People, and this once grand republic have reached a new low in the nation’s history, and from my perspective, the history of humanity—all six millennia worth of written human history.

This week, I watched a news segment broadcast around the world of [the person who shall no longer be named; AKA no name, the orange one, the Felon, et al ad infinitum ad nauseum], who happens to be the duly elected president of the United States of America. Our employee (the president) was sitting in the Oval Office with all its gold trappings at the historic Resolute Desk while one of his yammering minions, Commerce Secretary Howard William Lutnick, was hawking the Trump Gold Card that looks distinctly like a credit card with his scowling mug dominating the face of the card along with the Statue of Liberty, a bald eagle, and his scrawl of a signature.

The orange one signed two presidential executive orders on Friday. One introduced the “Gold Card.” The other directed that a US$100,000 fee be added to all H-1B visa applications. When Raytheon bought Corporate Jets Ltd. from British Aerospace in the early 90s, I was tasked with moving as many engineering personnel as possible from England to Wichita, Kansas. I estimated that we might get 10-20 people. We achieved 122 individuals. If the president’s order had been in place, the fee cost alone would have been prohibitive. The so-called “Trump Gold Card” is not illegal or unconstitutional as far as I can tell, but it is a world beyond the ethical boundary. The transgressions are beyond counting. It is a sleazy initiative. Government in any form is not a for-profit business. We should not be making policy decisions based on money. Further, giving wealthy individuals preference for entrance to this country is abhorrent and absolutely wrong. The president is selling (hawking) U.S. citizenship.

In writing the gold card order, he felt compelled to malign the prior administration, which served no purpose other than to inflate his ego farther. For those who have the means and choose to participate, they are required to make “an unrestricted gift to the Department of Commerce.” Further, “The requisite gift amount shall be [U.S.]$1 million for an individual donating on his or her own behalf and [U.S.]$2 million for a corporation or similar entity donating on behalf of an individual.” The collected “gifts” shall be deposited in a segregated Treasury fund for the secretary of Commerce to utilize for promotion of “commerce and American industry,” which is code for businesses they approve of and toe-the-line with respect to administration policy.

It is quite interesting that the orange one chose the Commerce Secretary to make the flashy Oval Office public announcement when the State Department has responsibility for visas and immigration.

Lastly, the orange one’s action is yet another example of our employee in the Oval Office taking unilateral action that is truly the domain of Congress. And so far, what does Congress do to protect its constitutional authority? NOTHING! They have, de facto, abdicated to the autocrat (dictator). Such are the times in which we live.

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1235:

Comment to the Blog:

“The Russian moves echo past wars, but Putin’s incursions into Poland and Romania have at least taught him that NATO will respond to his transgressions.

“The Felon’s use of tariffs violates common sense, of course. I can predict the Felon a little bit by remembering that his only strategy is blitzkrieg.

“We’re getting the sunshine you miss, and currently are in moderate drought.

“I’m making laptops work, but starting to really long for a desktop.

“Many of us still follow the Epstein saga, and information continues to trickle out.”

My response to the Blog:

If Putin pays attention to the Europeans, I would agree. Unfortunately, no name has injected considerable doubt regarding NATO’s unified resolve, which is most likely why he is probing Eastern European NATO member states. I suspect he will probe the Baltic states soon. How far he is willing to go is entirely up to Putin. No one in NATO wants war with Russia, but again unfortunately, no one in NATO controls that trigger.

Blitzkrieg is a well-organized and executed tactic. I cannot give him credit for such logic. He is chaos, plain and simple.

One thing is certain, the weather will change.

My writing is much easier on the big desktop. I am still not back to normal, but I am moving closer.

You are not alone. The statute of limitations has long expired, so there are not likely criminal charges that can be brought against the consumers of Epstein’s services. However, public shame is still a powerful force. The consumers should suffer the consequences of their actions.

“That’s just my opinion, but I could be wrong.”

[Postscript: Three days after the above response, the Russians flew three (3) MiG-31 fighter jets into Estonian airspace {a NATO member state} despite repeated warnings to turn back. From my perspective, the Allies should have shot down all three violators just as the Poles did with the Russian drones, and the Soviets did with KAL007. Unfortunately, and regrettably, we failed to do so, which will only embolden Putin and his ultra-right supporters. Either we defend ourselves, or we do not. Regardless, we shall endure the consequences. We are at our Munich ’38 moment.]

 

My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)