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While the rest of the world was very aware what would happen in a new Trump regime, it seems the MAGA movement were somewhat misaligned in how they thought a vote for Trump would somehow benefit them. Cumulating with an attack on Immigration, Trade, Allies, the courts, the law, government services, voter suppression, free speech & democracy along with social services, education, health care and the economy was all going to turn out great under Trump. Not to mention taking guidance from that “genius” policy template, project 25 that he knows nothing about! Well, it’s still only early days but the writing is on the wall for the ship of fools in the Whitehouse. It may be too late for any MAGA voters’ remorse as well as all those lazy democrats in every swing state who apparently stayed home on election day. But as one MAGA voter commented, “I voted for other people to get hurt, not me!” That will become their calling card, almost three decades of choosing to live in the Fox news universe comes with a price along with their leader always committing crimes then claiming to be a victim. If Fox news tells their audience its raining on a blue sky day then it must be raining, its exactly how a cult works, make people ignore what they are actually seeing.  They did this the entire time Obama & Biden were in office, but when in Trump world everything is just fine. The very wealthy are no different, they also live in that same bubble totally removed from the real world, thinking what benefits them must benefit everyone.  The obsession with tribalism and owning the libs along with the so-called war on woke just shows how a lack of empathy for their fellow man with this America first BS can just as easily be translated into America last. This is how North Korea evolved to become an isolated state with a large percentage of their population always struggling just to survive. It’s what happens with authoritarians, especially a narcissist like Trump because anyone who comes into his orbit its the “kiss of death” they either end up in jail, bankrupt, or their career is over. That can also include countries, even Elon Musk is now feeling that pain, yet was lured down the same rabbit holes where critical thinking abilities vanish despite his intelligence. Helped along by poor lifestyle choices (or perhaps victim to one of his own neural implants going rogue) where an alternate reality becomes his new world view. The same goes for all Maga & Religious fanatics, regardless of education cannot critically think anymore. It’s either that or a more underlying prejudice in why 70+ million Americans would rather vote for an ignorant fascist criminal knowing his track record that comes with a high risk to destroy everything along with almost 90 million who decided not to vote which is just as bad. As opposed to voting for a smart educated black woman and I think that question answers itself. So, a simple example like the Trump tariffs believing this will somehow revive the 1950’s with a Labor-intensive manufacturing industry suddenly being resurrected back to the US in 2025 is a complete fantasy. Even the mining industry has become automated with specialised machinery now and the same goes for the car industry. It’s even less labour intensive in production line assembly with multi parts sourced globally. Automation & Robots are far more efficient than human labour, (no vacations, no pay, no sick leave, etc) and most of these robots are made in Asia. Governments were not responsible for moving manufacturing offshore, Corporations and Capitalism did that.  What Governments were responsible for, opening trade on previously closed markets and making unions ineffective, capitalism did the rest. Stolen IP (Intellectual Property) and unfair trade practices in some countries is another issue but corporations were well aware of that before moving there but did it anyway including Musk. So, unless you want to import sweat shops back to the US, all these stupid exercises achieve nothing except a complete collapse of the economy and total self-destruction of a country. America like most western advanced countries achieved their success in the current century providing services not by throwing more people into coal mines or drilling for oil and the MAGA mob just don’t get it. Any large manufacturing venture that starts from scratch these days will want the skills of highly educated engineers for automation not low skilled people assembling parts & packing boxes unless it’s a small boutique industry. The highly skilled demands will far outweigh the unskilled by a massive margin. Trump has surrounded himself with complete idiots, there are no wise people giving him advice anymore. He chooses people like him where ideological fanatics operate on a world view that is totally opposite to the truth. Taking the most successful country on Earth into the toilet and no-one in the regime has the courage to speak up to realize what massive mistake’s they are making. There is a trend in conservatism worldwide these days especially in western countries flooded with propaganda trying to resurrect failed economic and ideological ideas that have no place in a modern connected global world. Currently in Australia we are also in an election mode but what is going on in America right now has tremendous impact on all western countries that are aligned with the US. A tragedy in the making where no good outcome for both the US and the world can be seen while it’s allowed to continue. Greed that comes with capitalism has always been good for building empires but it can never be sustained the same way once an Empire is established. That’s what the Europeans have learnt with 1000’s of years more history, they have done all forms of government with Kings & Queens, along with dictators and everything in between. Yet settled on a form of government where everyone pays their fair dues and year after year always rank as the happiest nations on Earth. America has NEVER been one of them, due to that uneven wealth distribution accelerated during Regan’s time results in  a large percentage of their population living in poverty.  Helped along by the undue influence of big business in the way government is run. However, the world is about to give Trump’s America a real look in the mirror exposing that minority section of their population who choose a seriously flawed regime self-destructing their own country was never going to make America great.

While this podcast is long and in two parts, it explains in great detail how voters are continually manipulated into cult like behavior just on the basis of targeted misinformation and how that is coupled with corruption on steroids. Technology has a lot to answer for, as it’s a contagion spreading worldwide. Not only that real journalism is also under attack both financially (no one buying newspapers) and having to compete with nonfactual commentary across all platforms. As a result, the powerhouse news organizations lose their relevance and influence in getting real information out. Budgets become less and less for proper investigative reporting and society suffers the consequences. Where a fitting comment from journalist Anthony Davis ends up with “turkeys voting for thanksgiving”. Part 2 is featured first as I thought it covers more ground on important issues. Part one here:

As the opportunity came up for a road trip north again this winter into warmer weather I couldn’t pass it up. Considering all that has gone on over the past to two years globally, its nice to be able to travel freely once again while still being cautious at the same time. These are a small sample of pictures taken along the way at various locations. This has always been part of my retirement bucket list, I hope to keep doing it as long as I can.

Another decision passed down by the American Supreme Court (or as Jon Stewart describes it as the “Fox News of Justice”) that was against the wishes of around sixty five percent (70% in 2013 when misinformation was not the weapon of choice) of the entire population of the US shows how democracy has evolved in this new world order of the GOP. They are not concerned about one vote one value, they are only concerned about holding onto power at any cost. By enforcing minority values on an entire population is not much different than Islamic state rule or Taliban type tactics. This is a party that claim to be the moral gate keepers for the entire population so concerned about the life of the unborn no matter how it was conceived yet this same philosophy also means you are on your own after birth. Not to mention the social outcome for unwanted children and the welfare of the mother. When you operate with this sort of logic against the wishes of the majority there is no good outcome at the end. Not to mention other factors being revealed in the Jan 6th hearings with the same GOP. In any other civilised democracy Trump & his minions would already be behind bars but at the time of this post nothing but the outer circle are currently wearing the orange jumpsuits despite overwhelming evidence that multiple crimes have been committed.

Just back from a recent trip to the Gold Coast playing in the Australian Open Bowls tournament. While we were blessed with perfect weather and great bowls clubs to visit I have to say it’s not my favourite destination of choice. Only because I prefer to wind down rather than a wind up when it comes to taking a break. To have so much high density living so close to a beach, looking through my eyes is graffiti on nature. Especially with those huge high rises, in my view that sort of development so close to the coast line is like throwing a tin of paint on a masterpiece work of art. In the meantime while away this web site also came under multiple attacks again since I put up a link to a video on the stupidity of embracing a gun culture in a modern highly populated society. This obviously upset quite a few people but they still don’t have the courage to make an argument identifying themselves. Instead they troll behind a VPN and try to kill a message they don’t agree with because their reality vaporises when it comes to arguing against truth.

A month or so ago I posted an article on propaganda that was broad comment on the invasion of Ukraine plus how it is used world wide for political power. In the meantime we had a federal election in Australia and much to my surprise there was a change of government. So here was a rare victory for truth over misinformation as it was climate change policies or lack of them that turned this political tide. Now once again we have a tragic mass shooting in America and yes, those good ole boys from GOP or as we like to call them these days, “The American Taliban” still keep pumping out the same absurdities about a “good guy with a gun” and lets not forget the mental health card as legitimate arguments to do nothing about policy changes. Well it seems the good guys with a gun were there, plus more good guys with guns some 14mins later. Yet all that carnage still took place, but they keep looking for any answer except the obvious because that answer they can’t fathom. This is conservatism American style in the 21st century, everything they purport to believe in is the exact opposite to the truth. Which in turn poses a direct threat to everyone. This is what happens when you immerse yourself in a flawed culture without the ability to zoom out in changing circumstances and problem solve. The sad part is, these misguided people are always the minority in terms of the American population wishes overall, yet still determine policy. They suppress voting, stack courts, deny science, deny facts and determine anyone who disagrees with them the enemy not a fellow citizen. I once mentioned in a previous post on the gift good comedians have looking at something objectively and highlighting how firmly held fictional beliefs are easily dismantled with humour and truth. Jim Jefferies may be crude, rude & foreign which are all the ingredients to make American gun lovers angry. However he still has every argument covered on the insane logic they use for no change to gun laws. This skit is almost decade old now and was made before the Las Vegas mass shooting but still every bit as relevant today as it was then.  One final point to all the gun nuts out there, with those mythical fantasies on freedom and fear. You have no idea what real freedom is until you can go about your everyday business, send your kids to school and never have to think about others carrying a gun or be concerned. That’s a freedom that most western wealthy countries have that you will never ever know. Part one below, Part two here.