What are they afraid of?

Because of their belief system, the male leaders of ISIS assume they’re right about everything they do. Because they view things in “us vs. them” terms, the different (like women) are automatically viewed as second-class citizens, or enemies.

Because of their belief system, the male leaders of the Afghan Taliban also assume they know and understand everything, and believe everything they do to be right. Anyone who differs (like women) are automatically viewed as second-class citizens or enemies.

Putin assumes that everything he believes is also automatically true, and few, if any, are allowed to challenge what he believes. Anyone who differs is automatically viewed as an enemy.

The belief systems of the authoritarian leaders of the Republican party, and evangelical Christians allow them to assume they’re right about everything they believe, though much of what they believe has been proven false. Those who are “different (women, blacks, LGBTQ, Asians, Native Americans, etc,) are seen as second-class citizens, and treated accordingly.

Like ISIS, the Taliban, Putin and many others, the more these people need to control others, the more zealous they’ll become in trying to use their belief systems to rationalize their need to control others.

How far will they go to promote their agenda? Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) recently compared women and fetuses to sea turtles, eagles and their eggs, in a stunningly ignorant and asinine argument against protecting reproductive choice for women.

If these male-dominated belief systems are so rational and effective, what, exactly, are they afraid of?

Gary Burt
Marble, Minnesota

Remember that thing called truth?

Biden distributed millions of vaccines to everyday Americans, but Trump continues to blame him for somehow doing the bidding of the Clintons and the Obamas? Trump also villainized scientists whose work began to lessen the spread of Covid-19. However, even when the number of Covid-19 cases dropped dramatically, Biden still could not appease the accusing voices discrediting him. So, why do all of these lies continue to spread? Because the “BIG LIES” devised by Trump are designed to make gullible Americans believe them.

 Encouraged by other conspirators Trump helped plan seizing the Capitol via an insurrection (which involved threats to kidnap Nancy Pelosi and to hang Vice President Pence)! Five people were killed in the melee and 140 policemen were assaulted. Then, soon after, Mitch McConnel spoke in Congress for more than 20 minutes, openly stating, “The mob was provoked by the President and other powerful people.” Yet Trump permitted the violence to go on for 4 hours before invoking the “We are the party of law and order” card.

Lately our floundering economy has been at the mercy of inflation, a fact that Trump is using to convince voters that Democrats are completely to blame for high prices due to inflation.

However the truth is that Biden’s actions created an unemployment rate as low as Trump’s, and even though the gains on Wall Street should also be growing the economy on main street, they aren’t. So what went wrong? Perhaps the illusions used by Trump to falsely bolster the economy are being exploited by Wall Street? Read this link to The Congressional Record of May 12, 2022 to understand how.

Large corporations are taking advantage of hardworking Americans and raising prices just because they can…”Exxon, for example reported that in the first (quarter) of 2022, its net profits have more than doubled, to $5.5 billion, compared to last year. Chevron has reported its highest quarterly profit in nearly a decade. These record profits are a direct result of record gas prices, (But) If these prices were solely based on inflation or supply chain issues, companies wouldn’t be seeing these obscene increases in profits.” Instead, they continue to benefit from massive company stock buybacks, shareholder dividends, and salary bonuses….”This is pandemic war profiteering!”

“In the meatpacking industry, …the top four companies are estimated to control up to 85 percent of the industry. In industries all across the economy, the story is the same. Three firms control 93 percent of the soft drink industry. Three firms control 85 percent of the baby formula industry. Three firms control 93 percent of the baby food industry. Four firms control 79 percent of the beer industry. Three firms control 79 percent of the dry pasta industry. And three firms control 73 percent of the cereal industry.” So, although they’re not complete monopolies, similar Industries control so much of their common markets, that they can mutually agree to set higher prices that bring more profits to all – it’s called Market Consolidation!

Price Gouging involves say, charging less for gas in distant localities because they are too far away to be profitable to consumers i.e. who may drive say, 50 extra miles – and thus may burn more gas just to reach more distant locations. Biden explained Market Consolidation and Price Gouging simply – “Capitalism without competition is exploitation. “

Here is a short video of Mitch McConnell telling the truth.

As a testament to Trump’s greedy character, his current attack dog Ted Cruz honesty discusses the immoral lies of Trump.

 So given the comments of staunch Republicans like McConnell and Cruz, Trump is quite capable of manipulating facts and using smoke and mirrors to benefit Wall Street executives – although not ordinary Americans?

Peter W. Johnson,
Superior, Wisconsin

Hickory Dickory Dock …

Remember that cute nursery rhyme? During the 2016 Presidential campaign I came up with a variation. It goes: Hillary Dillary Dork the B------ is Running for President! Now, because the Democrats have nobody and I mean NOBODY as a candidate for 2024, Hillary Dillary Dork’s name is surfacing! So, no Biden, no Kamala, no Bernie, NOBODY! Remember when Biden was given the 2020 nomination there were 21-22 candidates in the primary. Obviously, Trump would beat Hillary Dillary Dork (if he decides to run) for the 2nd time in the rematch!!

So, the John Durham investigation is moving forward with the trial against attorney Michael Sussmann who was hired by the Clinton campaign to “dig up” dirt (the false Russian collusion story) prior to the 2016 Presidential election. It is sad that when this story was updated in February, 2022 that none of the mainstream media (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC) had any articles on this news! It is even more shameless that Hillary Dillary Dork called this a “fake scandal” on February 17th, 2022.

Lock her up!! Hillary committed treason as she continued to spy on Trump while he was in the White House.

Chuck Bracken
Cannon Falls, Minnesota

The buffoon’s run has ended

Irrespective of the far right’s chronic assertion that the 2020 election was stolen or rigged, I find it refreshing to note that former President Trump’s rally “crowds” are getting thin as time goes on.
Could it be that those once loyal suck-ups are beginning to acknowledge that this pathetic carnival barker’s bluster is simply that – a load of unmitigated baloney?

Collectively, those of us on both sides of the political spectrum have had a bellyful of this clown’s fascistic bullcrap.

Again, even this buffoon must know that his days in the national spotlight have ended. Thank God!

Ken Bracken
Minneapolis Veterans’ Home