Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Jacob G Hornberger
“President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Thomas Homan as his ‘Border Czar’ reminds us how the enforcement of America’s socialist system of immigration controls has been a major factor in the destruction of the liberty of the American people for at least the past 80 years. For one thing, even the use of the term ‘czar’ conjures up images of pre-communist Russian rulers who wielded omnipotent, dictatorial powers over the lives of the Russian people. But Homan’s title is more than just symbolic. While it’s tempting to think that his czar-like dictatorial powers are directed only against foreigners, such is simply not the case.” (11/13/24)
“Recent sanctions from The United States and western allies highlighted the vital role of gold as the most secure and stable asset a country can maintain in its reserves. When Western nations imposed sanctions on Russia, freezing assets like foreign currency reserves and restricting access to global financial systems, gold emerged as the one resource they couldn’t confiscate or block Russia from using. This emphasized gold’s unique position as a safeguard against sanctions and geopolitical uncertainty, offering protection in times of increased global tension. As a result, many authoritarian regimes, particularly within BRICS nations, have been boosting their gold reserves as part of a broader effort to shield their economies from potential external threats. This trend reflects the growing understanding that, in an era where economic sanctions are frequently employed as geopolitical leverage, holding large gold reserves ensures a degree of economic independence.” (11/13/24)
“Elon Musk, President-elect Donald Trump’s bounciest adviser, thinks he can identify ‘at least’ $2 trillion in federal budget cuts. Although critics derided the billionaire entrepreneur’s suggestion as improbably ambitious, that assessment hinges on political assumptions rather than a clear-eyed understanding of what could be accomplished if Trump were serious about restoring fiscal discipline. Unfortunately, there is little reason to think he is. Trump’s record during his first term and his positions during his 2024 campaign suggest he will continue the federal government’s longstanding pattern of unrestrained borrowing even as the imbalance between revenue and spending becomes increasingly dire.” (11/13/24)
Source: Common Dreams
by Medea Benjamin & Nicolas JS Davies
“When Donald Trump takes office on January 20th, all his campaign promises to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours and almost as quickly end Israel’s war on its neighbors will be put to the test. The choices he has made for his incoming administration so far, from Marco Rubio as Secretary of State to Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor, Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense and Elise Stefanik as UN Ambassador make for a rogues gallery of saber-rattlers. The only conflict where peace negotiations seem to be on the agenda is Ukraine. In April, both Vice President-elect JD Vance and Senator Marco Rubio voted against a $95 billion military aid bill that included $61 billion for Ukraine.” (11/13/24)
“Over the past several years, courageous Americans have risked their careers and perhaps even their liberty in an effort to stop Donald Trump’s return to power. Our collective failure to avoid that result now gives Trump an opportunity to exact revenge on them. President Joe Biden, in the remaining two months of his term in office, can and must prevent this by using one of the most powerful tools available to the president: the pardon power. … Gerald Ford gave Richard Nixon a ‘full, free, and absolute pardon’ for any offense that he ‘has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974.’ If Biden were willing, he could issue a set of pardons similar in scope and form to Trump’s critics, and they would be enforced by the courts as a protection against retaliation.” (11/13/24)
“The notion that Trump was ‘soft’ on Russia during his first term was (and remains) a destructive, highly politicized myth. Over the past four years, though, Trump and at least some supporters in Congress, the news media, and the foreign policy community seem to have gained an understanding that Washington’s current Russia policy has been disastrous and requires drastic reforms. It is less certain whether he will muster the courage to ignore the smears and make the necessary policy changes to begin repairing relations with Russia.” (11/13/24)
“In his book The Poverty of Historicism, Popper advocated for what he called ‘piecemeal social engineering.’ In opposition to utopian social engineering, which aimed at redesigning societies according to grand blueprints and five year plans, piecemeal social engineering was focused on making small, tinkering adjustments, learning from the result, and using that information to make new adjustments. As this process iterated, it would lead to an accumulation of small improvements and refinements to social institutions, bettering the situation of a given society. … But how optimistic should we be about the prospects of this piecemeal engineering?” (11/12/24)
“A scandal of potentially titanic proportions is brewing at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Last week, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell fired Marn’i Washington, the official accused of discriminating against Donald Trump-supporting hurricane victims in Florida, casting her as a lone wolf, a bad apple in an orchard full of good ones. Not so fast. On Tuesday, Washington — and another ex-FEMA employee who spoke with The Post — disputed the relatively rosy picture painted by Criswell. According to the recently disgraced Washington, ‘FEMA preaches avoidance’ of potentially contentious situations. And, supposedly, Trump supporters are disproportionately responsible for fomenting such situations. Washington said her team had encountered ‘political hostility’ from those in homes with ‘Trump campaign signage’, but nevertheless insisted that agency guidance is — and her own determination was — about safety, not political targeting.” (11/12/24)
“‘We don’t listen enough; we tell people what’s good for them,’ scolded Senator Chris Murphy on X. ‘Listen to poor and rural people, men in crisis. Don’t decide for them.’ … Kamala Harris absolutely listened to working-class voters. She heard their frustrations about high prices; developed a set of policies designed to improve the affordability of groceries, housing, and health care; and centered them in her speeches and ads. Working-class voters, however, didn’t listen to her, nor what Donald Trump had to say about prices.” (11/12/24)
Source: Independent Institute
by William F Shughart II
“Most political pollsters were wrong about how close the 2024 U.S. presidential election would be, especially in so-called battleground states, which were expected to be toss-ups just days before November 5. Why did the polls underestimate Donald Trump’s popular vote margin wildly and, by extension, his dominance of the Electoral College? One answer is that public opinion polls, and surveys in general, are seriously flawed.” (11/12/24)
