Layoffs in the Time of Record Profits

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/dec/18/layoffs-us-companies-workers-holidays-christmas “…corporations have announced mass layoffs right before the holidays, claiming economic downturns have driven the cuts, even as they record profits and the economy showing no signs of a downturn. Yet, the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes have driven concerns that a downturn could happen soon.

I believe that the Federal Reserve will not be able to stem rising prices given the tools that they have. This is because record profits seem to me to be an indication that expense is not driving costs, but rather, greed is the major driver for the current upturn in prices.

After all, employees are an expense and profit means that revenue is exceeding expenses. Therefore, if revenue is rising, then it isn't expenses (labor) which is driving the increase in prices (revenue). Seems pretty simple to me.

The US Flag — Sad

It’s really disturbing to me that the MAGA devotees have changed to my view of the flag. They wear it on their buts, wave it at rallies while shouting for the overthrow of democracy or while storming the Congress calling for the death of their own elected officials. They change my view of the flag as I see it in my daily life.

Now when I walk by houses flying the flag my reaction is negative. I see the flag and think, "there's a right-wing wacko living here" even if there isn't. It really makes me feel bad that the symbol of what should be a great, caring country has become the symbol of radical anti-democratic thinking.

IT makes me think of raging MAGAers wearing the flag on their butts and sitting on it in disrespect. It makes me remember the MAGA supporters who stormed the US Capitol on January 6 using the flag as a weapon against the police trying to protect our elected representatives. It represents everything I dislike about the radical right-wing stoked by the Greed Over People (GOP) party since the rise of Little Lying Donald. And it makes me worry about the future of our democracy.

It makes me feel ashamed to be an American and that makes me very sad.

Really Irritating

One of the things that really irritates me is the tendency of people to form groups where there aren't any. For example, the tendency of political parties to look at

• Hispanics
• Blacks
• Old people
• Asians

anyone who isn't white as all the same. The old people thing really bothers me as I am one. In fact, I'm the "worst" kind an old white guy. The parties view us as right wing, conservative, bigoted and I am none of those things. Hell, I grew up in the 1960's!

As I used to tell my kids growing up. Treat each person as an individual, not as some member of a group. Sure, you will have some impression of them when you first meet them, but, give everyone a chance. After you have known them for some time, make your decision about that individual, not the entire class of people.

I used to own three perfectly good read caps from one of the local radio stations. They were good hats which I enjoyed wearing. Then came Little Lying Donald and MAGA. I was forced to stop wearing them and eventually to throw them out because of people assuming that because I was old and wearing a red cap that I was a MAGA supporter. Far from it.

So how do I deal with the frustration? I pretty much ignore the radical right. If a "talking head" on TV is lumping all the old folks into the same group, I remind myself that he is doing so for ratings. It's easy to lump everyone together. It's much harder to get to know someone and treat them as an individual with their own needs, desires and issues.

I also remind myself that we are all pretty much the same wherever in the world we go. We have basic needs and issues. We try to deal with them in the best way we can and just try to get along.co

I'm going to write up some things that I would like to see. Those of you who think that we old white guys are all right-wing conservative bigots may be surprised. Keep an open mind and we can have some fun.

Why "Conservative"? Why not "radical right"?

Sitting here watching MSNBC and they keep referring to the Republican party as "conservative". To my mind there is nothing "conservative" about today's republican party. The Greed Over People (GOP) party has shifted radically to the right while at the same time becoming a big government, overspending group of hypocrites. Someone coming from the Regan years would not recognize the GOP, even vaguely. Some say both the GOP and the Democrats have shifted to the right and left respectively, but I believe that the Democrats have made a minor leftward move while the GOP has embraced the Kool-Aid and leaped radically to the right. They have shifted so far that destroying the democracy is a major strategy in their lust to win above all.

Let me know what you think.

Indigenous-Led Fire Resiliency Project Could Cut Severe Wildfire Risks In Half

https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/indigenous-fire-resiliency-wildfire-risks-oregon 
The West Bear forest restoration collaboration provides a blueprint for creating climate-resilient cities.

Aforest management and restoration project in wildfire-prone southern Oregon has won national support for its collaborative approach, its “eco-cultural” methods based on Indigenous practices and its significant promise: The West Bear All Lands Forest Restoration Project, or “West Bear” for short, is anticipated to reduce the risk of severe wildfire for communities in the area by up to 50%.

I'm all for this type of thing. It's something we should have been doing for years. The tribes have a long history with fire and know the techniques to keep it to a minimum. We have lost too many lives and too much property in the west to keep going the way we are now.

We need to understand that fire is something natural. I know we are encroaching on the forests more and more each year, but we need to know that this is something we will have to deal with and, if we are going to take that risk, then we need to be ready for fires.

Just to Set the Record Straight

These thoughts aren't original to me, but, this is what I want.

• I don't want free healthcare; I want my taxes to pay for it, not for war.
• I don't want money for nothing; I want a job that pays for my basic needs.
• I don't want a free place to live; I want affordable housing that costs no more than 30% of my income.
• I don't want corporations to be unprofitable; I want them out of the political election, regulatory and policy-making processes.
• I don't expect elections to deliver the result I want; I want my vote to count.
• I don't want the wealthy to pay for everything; I want them to pay their fair share.