Biden wants to “forgive” student loans. But is that a good precedent — to establish that when you borrow money, you ultimately won’t have to pay it back? And what would this forgiveness cost the federal government, which is already swimming in its own debt? But that’s what Democratic government does — provide reckless giveaway government to curry favor with the electorate despite the consequences. Strong leadership here from Biden? I think not.
Author: Henry Barnard
I am a voracious reader and also enjoy writing. I often have a very different point of view than the popular one. I do see value in debate, and thought it might add to the public debate on controversial issues if I were to express my contrarian opinions. I also started keeping my poems recently (I've written little pieces my whole adult life but never kept any); and I've been a photographer now for over 25 years. So I will be adding an occasional poem and hopefully interesting photograph to the blog along the way, just to spice things up.
War What Ifs
What if, simultaneously, NK invades SK and China invades Taiwan. What would the US do, led by a Biden administration soft on — and I would say naive about — China?
A NK invasion of SK would require the use of tactical nuclear weapons by the US to deter it (no way the US would send a large army into SK nor would there be enough time to mobilize and do that). But I don’t see the Biden administration willing to use tactical nuclear weapons. Same situation (need for the use of tactical nuclear weapons) with an invasion of Taiwan, which might actually be triggered by a successful first invasion by NK of SK because it would then embolden China — China would conclude that the US was actually a paper tiger and so not to be feared in their takeover of Taiwan. So the first invasion would lead to the second.
The lesson taught by history at Munich that led to the outbreak of a world war is simply that if one side is perceived to not be willing to protect it sphere of influence, that condition invites aggression by the other side.
Consider this: two such successful invasions would mean that the American sphere of influence in Asia would collapse. Japan, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and all of southeastern Asia would all become dominated by China because none of these nations would any longer trust the American defense. China would become the uncontested power throughout all of Asia. Therefore, what is obvious is that China would have a tremendous amount to be gained from a successful takeover of Taiwan — a much greater gain than just that takeover, i.e., a sphere of influence extending throughout all of Asia. Therefore, one should not dismiss a Taiwan invasion as unlikely — it is much more likely than not, imo.
These two situations — the status of both SK and Taiwan — have been simmering, tittering on the edge, and unresolved now for decades.
America Coming Apart?
I wonder if the US is about to go into a death spiral of a decline, like we have never seen before. The kicker will be the wave of small businesses that are about to declare bankruptcy. But the deeper malaise is that there is no longer any real consensus about America anymore, but instead a tremendous amount of animosity and division. Could it all just fall apart? I’m beginning to think so. Don’t think this new government in Washington has the leadership to prevent this — if anything, the divisions will just get even more emphatic.
And the economy? It’s really a colossal Ponzi scheme — with the Federal Reserve propping everything up with “money” created out of thin air. Like the wizard in the Wizard of Oz. But what happens when we all look behind the curtain and see the scam? What happens when our credulity gets punctured?
You can almost see this simmering fear of near term chaos in the markets — lots of people are putting huge amounts of money into such alternative investments as gold/silver and bitcoin. They sense the wheels are about to come off and want to protect themselves with these — they think — safe-haven assets.
People in the stock market are waiting for the federal government to put out another multi-trillion dollar stimulus bill, and when that is first announced, the stock market will go on a tear. I think that’s when they hand you an opportunity to get out before the music stops. Because when the music does stop, there won’t be any chairs — there won’t be any safe places to hide — perhaps ever again in one’s lifetime. And economic collapse will surely lead to civil collapse, like the Great Depression, only much worse.
Fraudulent Voting?
You know there’s been fraudulent voting when a conservative state like Arizona — the Barry Goldwater state — sides with Biden.
Bold Plan?
Biden’s “bold” plan to fight coronavirus is for everyone to wear a mask. Someone should tell him everyone already is. Back to BS government from Washington. As Trump described it, all talk and no action.
Half and Half
Half the country is jubilant, the other half in mourning.
Of course, the winning side calls for “unity”. Fat chance.
Platitudes
Victory speeches by Biden and Harris nothing more than silly platitudes. This is the team that’s going to face getting the country out of the economic quagmire of this coronavirus plague. Platitudes are not going to do it. Looks like the next four years will be empty words and inept actions.
But first a gigantic bailout package to drive the federal government that much deeper into truly colossal debt. Will provide a spectacular sugar high for a few months. And then what?
Hard times are coming and a clueless government without any real leadership — just platitudes.
The Election
Trump wasn’t beaten by Biden. Trump was beaten by the virus.
Trumped
They finally got rid of Trump by cheating on the ballots. Why am I not surprised?
Swamp
Looks like the “swamp” is going to take back Washington. Too bad. Prepare yourself for the old BS government pursuing ridiculous liberal ideas with lots of unintended consequences.
Henry's Views 