RainCaster
RainCaster's JournalKeeping my sanity in the world of nonsense news media
After too many years of US news media being unable to say anything bad about TSF unless they can also say something bad about Hillary, Obama, Biden or Kamala, I've had it. My sanity is worth far more than the BS I have been fed by the mainstream news media in this country. Not to say that ALL US news media is inept, but so much of it is truly incompetent that I have taken the following steps to keep my sanity for the next 6 months. I may continue longer, we'll see how this goes first. BTW, I've been doing this for a month now, and I am beginning to see some real rewards.
Example- yesterday morning I was looking into an issue of trade between Samsung and Huawei. That led me to one of my regular Korean news outlets. The front page news there was all about their newly elected (and very unliked) President declaring martial law. I kept checking in on this, as I could see something similar happening here. By noon local time, it had all played out. There constitution has protections in it to offer a safety valve and that happened. Of course, the US evening news last night was all about fear-mongering of this event, only telling us the first story and not the final outcome. I was able to laugh at the ineptitude of our press because of my higher quality news feeds.
So what is my plan?
* No more US mainstream media (my wife still watches it, but I pay no attention)
* All my news feeds come from the internet
* All my news feeds are foreign based
* No news from social media sites (including DU)
Why have I done this? It's for my own sanity. Because I'm tired of seeing how all the media has normalized the absolute corruption of TSF and all his sycophants. He says "gram em by the pussy", and the media has to tell us about Obama wearing a tan suit after Labor Day. Isn't that cute locker room talk from the man who wants to lead the country? The idea that they have to prove their lack of bias by always saying something bad about the opposing side when the MAGA world has shown a new low in human history. This bullshit concept is not present anywhere else in world news, only here in America.
As a benefit, I am getting a whole different view of our country. I'm seeing all the painful details of how the world sees us. Also, I am getting a more accurate idea of what is happening in the world, because I can see world issue from the eyes of those countries and their neighbors, not through some corporate US boardroom filter.
My news feeds come from UK, Canada, Australia, News Zealand, Jamaica, Middle East, Germany, France, Korea, Japan, Russia, Israel, Pakistan, Iceland, Ukraine... I also have industry specific sites I will look at for more information about technology, aviation, and maritime issues/events.
Dems need to dump neo-liberal economics
An opinion piece from The Guardian
The article is a bit longer than what I have shown, well worth thinking about.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/nov/28/the-message-to-democrats-is-clear-you-must-dump-neoliberal-economics
To me, the answer is clear: 40 years of neoliberalism have left the US with unprecedented inequality, stagnation in the middle of the income spectrum (and worse for those below), and declining average life expectancy (highlighted by mounting “deaths of despair”). The American Dream is being killed, and although President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris distanced themselves from neoliberalism with their embrace of industrial policies, as representatives of the mainstream establishment, they remained associated with its legacy.
The economics of the moment mattered, but monthly employment and inflation indicators need to be understood in a broader historical context. As the Biden administration stressed on the eve of the election, the economy looks strong, especially compared with others in the G7. But this wasn’t good enough. Americans haven’t forgotten that the Democrats let loose the financial sector (Clinton), then bailed out the banks while homeowners and workers who lost their jobs in the Great Recession carried the cost (Barack Obama). Moreover, it was Clinton who unleashed globalisation, tacitly believing in a trickle-down economics that would ultimately benefit everyone. The only real difference between Democrats and Republicans on this score is that Democrats claimed to feel the pain of those who were losing out.
What are we called to do?
First off, the ideas presented here are entirely my own. This is not fully formed, and I'm looking for ideas/prayer/support from others by posting this. My spiritual background began as a child in a Lutheran church. I married a United Methodist and felt very at home in that very liberal church. In our moves over the years we have been Free Methodist, Baptist, United Methodist and now Presbyterian. We have agreed more with some of those churches than others. Now you know something of my background. Greetings to you all.
This is based on Matthew 25:31-46. A gentle reminder for those who can't look it up right now- "Lord when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?"
I've been looking at the Project 2025 document and all the conservative plans in it. It's easy for us to shake our heads and say that "they deserve what's coming" when our neighbors (conservative or not) get hammered by the various aspects of that movement. I feel called to be different. Given Jesus's teaching in this text, I feel that I am called to do positive acts that counter what the GOP wants to take away.
One example relates to the destruction of Social Security. When my church gets the notice that we no longer have to pay into the FICA fund, we will receive a savings for a part of our payroll. Should we celebrate & "thank God"? I think we should instead increase our matching funds into every employee's 401K plan to make up for the fact that their SS has now been stolen.
Another example relates to the destruction of the Department Of Education. I suspect this will hit every school district around the country. I know it will hit mine. Our church proclaims that we are here to reach the children of our community. To me, that means that we must become involved in politics- at least enough to proclaim firm support for the obvious emergency school levy.
So what are your feelings on the coming changes? Where do these changes intersect with your faith? What ideas do you have about how we are to reach out to our neighbors during these times? Medicare, Medicaid, veterans healthcare, food stamps, etc are all going to face a retribution from the far right, even though it will hit them hardest. What can we do to counter such things, and how hard do I have to bite my tongue as I think "I told you so"?
Guardian will no longer post on Elon Musk's X from its official accounts
Source: The Guardian
Platform’s coverage of US election crystallised longstanding concerns about its content, says Guardian
The Guardian has announced it will no longer post content on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, from its official accounts.
In an announcement to readers, the news organisation said it considered the benefits of being on the platform formerly called Twitter were now outweighed by the negatives, citing the “often disturbing content” found on it.
“We wanted to let readers know that we will no longer post on any official Guardian editorial accounts on the social media site X,” the Guardian said.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/nov/13/the-guardian-no-longer-post-on-x-twitter-elon-musk
May others follow this example
Where I plan to travel now
You mileage may vary, but as for me, it will only be the blue states from here on out. I will update my travel map after the next election. BTW, I will also be out of the country spending my travel dollars in Europe, Australia, & NZ.
All those conservative generals can help fix the broken military
It seems that a wide majority of our military has voted for TSF in this latest election. All those leaders who spoke out against him helped cause that, and so they own the solution. Begin by removing Faux News from every military base and VA facility. It was the 100% 24/7 lies from FN that had all our "suckers" and "losers" (his words, not mine!) believing that our economy was cratering, and that the moron who caused it is the only one who can fix it.
Does anyone know one of these leaders? They need to start a discussion about how to educate their soldiers. These soldiers are far too ignorant to be of use to this country. They don't even believe that TSF has no respect for them and their service.
It's time to take record of prices
I am going out tomorrow to get photos of gas station signs, and prices in the grocery store. They will go on my own server, not trusting Google or Apple to keep these safe. I will bring them out in 2027 to show the MAGAts how their economy has worked out.
It's time to make a plan
If the GOP really does go through with Project 2025, it will affect every community differently. We need to begin thinking about how we will deal with all the changes that will be coming.
With the lack of federal education funding, school districts will need bigger levies. So we need to get involved in those issues.
Then there is are the changes coming with the loss of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, etc. There will be people in all our communities who need help. I really think this area will need to fall on local churches. Not only did so many of those folks vote for TSF, but it is their doctrine that teaches a moral imperative to help those in need.
So what other areas need to be planned for?
How about those trump voting farmers who will lose their field hands? I don't have anything nice to say about that one, others may feel differently.
Do you live in a hurricane - tornado - earthquake zone? Without NOAA, FEMA and others, what will be needed in those areas?
Really, it's time to stop pointing fingers, and start planning for the coming disaster. All suggestions are welcome.
It's time to take a break
I'm stepping back from the news. No more watching/stressing about what is going on. I can't do anything about it except vote, and I did that. You will see me less on here as I seek to avoid those things, and I will spend more time in my wood shop and reading books. Today I'm taking a break from Doobies and listening to Coltrane. My blood pressure needs a break and so does my spirit.
I will do less:
* news- web
* news- TV
* blogs
* email
I will do more:
* Pandora (music only)
* yard work
* home repairs/improvements
* instrument repairs
* book reading
* community involvement
Donations vs Voting
I just don't get it. A record number of small donors came out for Kamala- where are the votes that match up to that?
I'm suspecting fraud on a grand scale.
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHome country: USA
Current location: Left Coast
Member since: Mon Oct 10, 2016, 06:19 PM
Number of posts: 11,590