No, it's not about the election. It's about so called "tax cuts."
What a lot of people don't seem to realize is that tariff hikes are actually TAX HIKES on those less able to pay them. While dt says "Tariffs are going to make us rich" and that little girls may have to go from "30 dolls to two dolls"... one should think about WHO will benefit from his schemes, and at whose expense.
I tried to explain this to Scott on the yellow board. But then I started thinking about other ways that this administration is declaring war on those less fortunate with all the cuts they are making to other programs like SS, Medicare, Medicaid, USAID, FEMA, Education, etc.
Perhaps you could more accurately call what they are doing "The War on the Impoverished"?
Anyway, Scott was crying about taxes, so here is what I wrote to him.
"Tariffs = taxes
There may be a place and a time for some tariffs, but as Warren Buffet said today... "We should be looking to trade with the rest of the world, and we should do what we do best and they should do what they do best. Trade should not be used as a weapon."
Some more information for you...
Greed equals waste, fraud and abuse... WRIT LARGE!
America's top 1% have 40% of the nation's wealth, and bring in 24% of the income. CEOs make 380 times that of their average worker.
America's 1% hasn't had this much wealth since just before the Great Depression.
Who do you think should be paying more taxes in order to balance the federal budget? Those least able to pay, or those more able to pay?
Another snippet...
"The U.S. ranks high in terms of income inequality compared to other developed countries, particularly when considering wealth inequality. Before accounting for taxes and transfers, the U.S. ranks 10th in income inequality globally. However, after considering these factors, the U.S. has one of the highest levels of inequality, second only to Chile."
Think about this. Nobody likes to pay taxes, but in the US, the rich typically find ways to shift the burden of taxes to those less able to pay."
Good comments
Posted by greenman on May 6, 2025, 11:18 am, in reply to "The Big Lie...." Valued Poster
Why the Right defends the greed of the wealthy class while acting against their own interests never ceases to amaze me..-greenman
and he didn't understand a word of it, right?
Posted by Sia on May 5, 2025, 3:39 pm, in reply to "The Big Lie...." ADMIN
I think a lot of people don't really understand it (the tariffs, etc). Some might understand it but would rather stay in denial, especially if they don't want to admit that they made a mistake in who or what they voted for.
When dt was asked by a reporter about people not voting for what is happening now (with the economy and markets), he said actually they are getting what they voted for because this (the tariffs) is what I campaigned on."
That is how sick and twisted all of this is, and I am afraid it will only get worse.
Resistance; Our Resistance
Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on May 6, 2025, 4:04 pm, in reply to "I don't know..." ADMIN
This is about resistance. Our resistance. Bear with me.
Winter storm warning. May snow down here tomorrow. This iis the biggest snow of the whole winter in the mountains. New snow depth in feet, not inches. Gonna make wet slab avalanche danger over the next few days extreme.
About the You Tube piece
These are notes fcom "about the music."
Paavo Järvi and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. After the merry gathering of the countryfolk and the storm comes the finale of Beethoven's Sixth, titled "Shepherd's song. Cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm," with the Italian tempo mark "Allegretto" (slightly fast).
Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F Major, opus 68, 'Pastoral', is so different from his Symphony No. 5 that it's almost hard to believe that they came from the same composer. All the more surprising: Ludwig van Beethoven worked on both at the same time. Both were presented on December 22, 1808 in the same, four-hour concert at Vienna's Theater an der Wien that also included his Fourth Piano Concerto and other music.
One might wish that a time machine existed to take us back to that notable event. At least, however, this performance comes from Beethoven's home town, Bonn, Germany, where the original score to the Symphony No. 6 is preserved at the Beethoven House archive. Studying original sources is important to conductor Paavo Järvi, who prepared these recordings over a period of years in the "Beethoven Project."
Deutsche Welle and Unitel Classica present Estonian conductor Paavo Järvi, conductor of the year 2019, and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, recorded at the Beethovenfest in Bonn.
Well, there's more to it than this. This is the only symphony to which he titled movements. This finale, the Shepherd's Song is followed by "The Creation thanks Almighty God for the life giving rain." A bit better than the truncated and not exactly accurate "good feelings" explanation, which actually is from the first movement. "Good feelings from approaching the countryside."
Like you and me, Beethoven loved the wilderness. The Shepherds Song motiv begins with the flute, then horns, then strings. It is developed and returned to the song for a second time. That is developed again and returned a third time. Only this time the theme is absent, and surrounded by a variation that if you are very calm, still, and sensitive, you can hear the theme in your mind. Remarkable.
Then as the storm finally breaks, Godbeams can be heard in the music, piercing the clouds and illuminating the creation below with that pre dusk evening light, beauty of which is attempted in words and music, but never achieved.
it's kind of like these pictures.
So today, instead of seeing an icky, dreary day, I am joining the Creation to thank almighty God for the life giving rain.
Those Godbeam moments in this symphony used to draw deep emotion and tears. For a long time, it was the only one. Now it is happening more and more frequently with more, touching music that crosses a threshold of absolute truth and ultimate human value.
I wondered. Am I losing it? What is happening? The chapter or book of my professional music performance is now closed and forever sealed. I am dedicated here forward to writing the last things I have left to say, and working with our praise orchestra, and others as an outreach in overcoming and defeating the evil that moved into our White House.
As the Creation thanked almighty God for the life giving rain, I am wondering if in fact I am being prepared to thank Him face to face, for the life and opportunity He gave me. No it isn't imminent, but it isn't far off either. I think we all know that about ourselves as each day progresses. The years and days ahead are far fewer than those behind, in the rear view mirror. It's the cycle of life.
Keep the spirit going. Move. Exercise. Write. Create. Protest and resist evil. Keep the fire lit. Don't let the bastards win. Pour water on their fire. Stir and stomp them out. Then do it again. Do it until they are cold and threats to nobody.
Thursday when this all breaks, I am going up there somewhere to have a look see at all the new snow. Like being a little fleck of dandruff that fell onto a sparkling tiara. Somewhere areound Mt. Lincoln, or maybe Elbert and Massive, and maybe hear the roar of a few slides. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on May 7, 2025, 2:23 pm, in reply to "Oh hey..." ADMIN
I hope you had fun. Did you do that with a house ball? House shoes? You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
Yep
Posted by Skye on May 7, 2025, 2:43 pm, in reply to "Excellent!" Valued Poster
I used a 12 lb M ball. If we get into it, we may invest in our own shoes and balls. It was fun! We had started to get into curling awhile back before FIL came to stay with us. We liked that, too, but it's a seasonal thing, and not too sure I want to risk falling on the hard ice and breaking something at my age! I have a suspicion that you and I may be almost exactly the same age.... ?
Your own ball and shoes
Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on May 8, 2025, 12:44 pm, in reply to "Yep" ADMIN
I hope you get into it. Hubby into it too? Encourage him. It's something we seniors can do and feel good about until we croak.
My mountaineering is also coming to a more gradual close. Much of it is just too hard on my body, especially my knees, and I am increasingly aware the consequences of any kind of fall are no longer a "get up and brush the snow, or dust off" matter.
151. That's good enough, you should consider a fingertip ball. Get that at your local pro shop, often in your home alley. They will measure you and drill it for your specs. At first it will seem weird. But your fingers don't have to be deep in the ball, like with a house ball. The finger tip inserts allow you to time pulling out the thumb, and then flipping the fingers up, under the ball as you release it onto the lane. That gives you much better control, and helps you develop the technique of revving, which curves a ball into the pocket. Even a straight rolling plastic ball will have some curve on it when you learn to "rev."
Same for your own shoes. Makes a world of difference.
Consider a bowling glove too. Helps your wrist support the ball correctly so you don't develop an injury. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
Or take up candlepin bowling like us east-coasters bowl
You can do that for as long as you can cup the small ball and push it down the lane. No finger holes needed. Even school aged children can roll the ball down the lane. Obviously, the faster, the better, but they CAN do it, just like "old people" can still bowl.
You get 3 much smaller & lighter balls per turn. The pins are considerably thinner, but fairly tight together. It's harder in some ways and easier in others.
Jus' sayin'.
Candlepin is strickly New England and eastern Canada
Our so called advertized candlepin alleys don't have or do it. It appears to be strictly New England in America. I wanted to try candlepin. It came up in two alleys in Denver, but they don't do it. It's that stupid Google thing that picks up on a word and then stupidly lists matches that aren't.
Likewise for Duckpin. There is one duckpin place here, which is really more of an arcade thing with short little alleys. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony
I saw a beautiful rainbow. The colors seemed more brilliant than any I could remember.
I would really like to be more optimistic, but I find it difficult in these times. I just feel angry that all of this is happening and more people aren't rising up.
Re: Just the other day....
Posted by Christopher Blackwell on May 6, 2025, 9:09 pm, in reply to "Just the other day...."
Skye, rising up requires effort, doing nothing requires no effort.ChristopherBlackwell
on May 5, 2025, 10:25 am
