Smoke and Mirrors

A Cabinet of billionaire businessmen with a vested interest in policy reversals...no wonder they'll work for a dollar...make no mistake about it: the reins of the country are in the hands of big business reminiscent of the Gilded Age. Only problem is, public finance doesn't use math the same way a corporation does.

 A healthy public/ private balance sheet is derived differently...f'rinstance, there's a public safety component to welfare (desperate people do desperate things); in business that would go under the heading 'goodwill'. Seen through the lens of bootstrap republicanism, welfare enables indolence and is a favorite entitlement target.

Policy decisions can't be judged soley on the basis of efficiency:
government is about people, by definition it has to be inefficient. It's saving grace in the past is that it moves slow, so not too much damage can occur before being noticed and corrected. Because their ideologies and past actions are entirely self-interested, actions by key cabinet posts filled as a result of the Trump whisperers bear relentless scrutiny going forward.

I would love to see come true the argument that these people, at this point in their lives, care about leaving a legacy for the greater good.

Vague Unease

'Populist' has become shorthand for the anger candidate - and boy, the world seems pissed off. The upcoming elections in Italy, Austria and France have formerly fringe parties moving into the mainstream to challenge centrist governments. Between Trumps' election and the Brexit vote in the UK, people are becoming increasingly nationalist, protectionist and isolationist. Not saying it's a foregone conclusion, but history reveals these are necessary ingredients for a world war. All it takes is one loose cannon...

Jingle All the Way

On Carrier only moving half of those jobs to Mexico deal: wow...a sterling example of crony capitalism at its' best...and what don't we know? Moving those jobs would have saved the company 65 million; presumably, the incentives for staying has to be equal or greater. Terms of the deal we know are some state tax incentives, the promise of federal tax reduction and, oh right, federal contract renewals for parent company UTX that are in the billions. Both carrot and stick in action here. And the Carrier press release includes a potential rip-cord to bail in their free trade affirmation. Creating a ripple in the capitalism playing field for one company invites others to follow suit: why aren't traditional republicans screaming?

Big Bowl of Hypocrisy

Breitbart's counter-offensive against Kellogg for pulling it's advertising is troubling for the precedent it sets: the threat of a boycott effectively hijacks aligning corporate values with their advertising dollars. Business is used to consumers objecting to a site or tv show in which they advertise-and usually cave to their demands. Here, the site itself is organizing consumer protest...what is the takeaway: news outlets can bully their way to advertising dollars?

The quote below boggles the mind in it's inflammatory word choice and plain ol' thuggery:

"For Kellogg's, an American brand, to blacklist Breitbart News in order to placate left-wing totalitarians is a disgraceful act of cowardice," Alex Marlow, the site's editor-in-chief, wrote. "Boycotting Breitbart News for presenting mainstream American ideas is an act of discrimination and intense prejudice. If you serve Kellogg's products to your family, you are serving up bigotry at your breakfast table."

I went on Kellogg's facebook page to read the comments - good lord, such vitriol...it remains to be seen if Kellogg takes a hit to their bottom line, but the backlash is noisy, swift and ugly. For me, kudos to Kellogg - finally, an example of 'money is speech' I can admire.