Stop Pulling the Wagon

FOX NEWS

California will spend about $30 million to build 1,200 small homes across the state this year, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday, part of a plan to help house the nation’s largest homeless population and to address an issue that has persistently plagued the state during the governor’s time in office.

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s 30 Million Dollar Homeless Solution

Being a good citizen and wanting to help our Governor out I want to look at his plan and see if I could make some helpful suggestions.

First I have a few questions which I am sure he can answer easily.

I will start with asking if any of his advisors and planners own a calculator?  I do and I divided his 30 Million Dollar plan by the 1,200 Tiny Homes he wants to build.  Using his numbers the cost for each Tiny Home will be $25,000.  These homes, some as small as 120 Square Feet, can be assembled in 90 minutes.  On my calculator that would make the cost $208 per square foot.

Second, in addition to the above photo I noted the governor looking at various other models which reminded me greatly of the Tough Shed line available at Home Depot.  For example, the one pictured below which is a 20 feet x 8 feet (160 Square Feet) model which they sell for $3,195 (MSRP $3499.95).

Now I am just an average guy but it would seem to me that $3,500 is a whole lot less than $25,000 and you could even add a few amenities and furnishings for a couple of hundred dollars more.  And they have lots of other models available for under $5,000.

So, why are you budgeting $25,000 for the Governors equivalent “Tough Shed” type Homeless Dwelling when it could be provided for a whole lot less money?

I am not, but many others might suggest that this is just a grossly overpriced “Pork Barrel” project our Governor will be handing off to one of his Silicon Valley Bank Club “Buddies” and  supporters. 

There are many others who also believe the California High Speed Rail To Nowhere 100 Billion Dollars (and growing) project is a political payoff to “Organized Labor” – like the Operating Engineers Union for example. For more on California’s High Speed Rail debacle type:   High Speed Rail 2.0   in the search box in the left column of this page and hit enter on your keyboard.

Still other questions:  Will these “Tiny Homes” be equipped with plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical service?  Will they meet the State and County strict codes for occupancy?  Is there infrastructure (water, sewage etc.) in place to service them?  Knowing the health and safety habits of 90% of the homeless, who will be providing maintenance, cleaning, disposal and sewage service?  Are funds going to be made available to clean up what’s left of them after about one year of “occupancy” and they become a ramshackle slum?

Last question.  What I, and I think most taxpayers want to know is:  Why does the State of California, its Counties and Cities keep coming up with Mega Million Dollar solutions to the homeless crisis (and other problems) and a year or two later the money is gone and the problem keeps getting worse but the Politicians and their Rich Supporters, Labor Unions etc., get richer and richer while the rest of us struggle to pay our energy bills and buy groceries?  

I was raised to believe that the first, and primary obligation of government is to keep its citizens safe and living in a clean, sanitary environment. Yet our cities streets are filled with crime, drug dealers and filth.  Please tell me why this is so Governor.

Bob Bandy – March 2023

SILICON VALLEY BANK

R.I.W.P.

(Rest In WOKE Peace)

To steal an old saying:

Giving Tens of Billions of Dollars to a bunch of WOKE Bankers

is like giving whiskey and your new car keys to a teenager.

The collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank has created some level of chaos in the Financial Markets.  I am no expert on banking and my own experience over the years has been that my own bank is not my friend and the most I can hope for is that they would keep my meager savings safe from robbers. 

We are told now that those who had money in Silicon Valley Bank will be reimbursed by the Federal Reserve even if their deposits exceeded FDIC Insurance limits.  The fact that many of these depositors were heavy Democratic Donors and had Millions of Dollars on deposit at SVP is, I am sure, a coincidence and had nothing to do with Joe Biden’s decision.  Our President has said this will happen without impacting taxpayers.  This is code speak to say the Federal Reserve with some smoke and mirrors will fire up the printing presses and simply print the Billions of Dollars to cover the losses of the banks failures.

It is widely reported in the media that the Silicon Valley Bank was proudly WOKE and practiced “Diversity – Equity – Inclusion” as a corporate theme.  I believe their resultant failure is what happens if you let your political and social agenda take priority over a sound business agenda.  Gets me to thinking……..

A new baseball season is starting and teams are forming.

Manager number one calls in his recruiters and scouts and gives them the following instructions:   Go find me players who want to play on a winning team.  Players who are focused on being the best and work hard at it for the good of the team and their fans.   We want players who can excite the crowd with their excellence on the field that will bring the fans back game after game wanting more.  I don’t care what color they are, what their nationality is, what their religion is, what they do in their free time, what their politics are or their sexual orientation.  Keep all that off the field.  Whether we are at practice or in a game we are a team and play as a team with a common goal.  Never lose sight of the fact that we are on that field to play Baseball, not make political statements.

Manager number two calls in his recruiters and scouts and gives them the following instructions: This is the 21st Century and we want to build a team that “looks like America”.  Find players who are an obvious cross section of our Diversity – Equity – Inclusion goals.  Recruit equal numbers of  Black, Brown and White players and be sure to include a token Asian.  We want to show fans a cross section of Transgender, Gay, and physical diversity.  At the end of each inning have the players rotate to new positions so they get the full benefit of “Inclusiveness”. All practice sessions will include Critical Race Theory training as well as Gender Options Studies and, of course, lessons in Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness.  We want players who are socially involved.  Players will be excused from practice to attend important events such as “Climate Change”, Black Lives Matter and similar rally’s.   Players should be encouraged to promote their “Diversity” on and off the field and especially when interfacing with the media.  Players need to understand that it’s not important whether we win or lose a game.  Our goal is to showcase “Diversity – Equity – Inclusion” to educate fans attending the game.

Which team do you think has the best chance to win a championship?

Now apply these same principles to our Military and other public service where real teamwork and common goals are critical.  If your first priority is having a WOKE agenda of Diversity – Equity – Inclusiveness what you end up with is what we in the military used to call a group of monkeys playing football. 

Are you scared yet.

Bob Bandy – March 2023 

The Toronto Star

“WINK – WINK”

A MAN ASKS HIS FRIEND: “HAVE YOU BEEN SLEEPING WITH MY WIFE?”

HIS FRIEND ANSWERS: “NOT A WINK”

The one thing in this world that is often more damaging than an outright lie is a partial truth which is in reality a lie covered with the lipstick of a misleading truth.  For example: Our President recently said that illegal border crossings had decreased by 97 percent from three countries.  What he did not say was that illegal border crossings from the other 101 countries invading our southern border had actually increased. 

But, he is not alone.  Politicians, Advertisers, Attorneys and many others in our human race do the same thing.  Sometimes it is to get you to buy their product.  Sometimes it is to escape punishment for a misdeed.  Sometimes it is simply intended to misdirect your attention just as a magician gets you to focus on the shiny object in his right hand while his left hand picks your pocket.

With politicians it has become a true “Art Form”.   Politicians send  spokespersons out with a line like:  “Senator Foghorn” is aware of the tax burden you are suffering from and has his team working on a solution to hold down your taxes by having those greedy rich corporations pay their “fair share”.   Senator Foghorn is fully aware that corporations don’t pay taxes…..  their customers do.  If you raise corporate taxes the corporation must raise the price on the shampoo they sell to pay the taxes.  Ultimately the customer pays those taxes in the form of higher prices.

Advertisers do much the same thing with “weasel words” in their ads.  Phrases like “Big Beefy Taste” (no Beef) or “Chocolatey” (no chocolate).

A good example of a government “spin” is the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.  The name of the act is itself a “spin” because it will not only not reduce inflation, it will cost 20 Billion Dollars in new taxes and will actually increase inflation. 

A SPIN CITY NARRATIVE

Conrad Blowhard is the Mayor of Spin City, California.  His city has become infested with homeless encampments and vagrants numbering in the thousands.  To some this would seem a problem but Mayor Blowhard sees an opportunity.  

He will convince his City Council that in an effort to help the homeless and decrease their numbers on the cities streets and alleys he would like them to pass a funding bill in the amount of 80 Million Dollars with the proceeds dedicated to renovating a dilapidated, nearly abandoned hotel down on “Skid Row” and convert it’s 80 rooms into housing for the homeless.  The City Council passes the funding request and pats themselves on the back for “caring” about the homeless.

Closed bidding contracts are let out to major contractors who are supporters and donors to the Mayor for the work to be done.  A ceremonial event is held at the Foggy Bottom Hotel with the Mayor swinging a sledge hammer through a faded door of a shoddy 200 square foot room in front of live television cameras.  Everybody applauds.

Work begins.  Some effort is made to rid the building of most of the rats, termites and other vermin which infest it.  The leaking roof is patched.  Contractors workers “freshen up” the rooms with new paint, carpet, updated (cheap) fixtures from China and new window coverings.  Cost per room innovated is $400,000.  In addition, the hotel gets a new name:  “NEW BEGINNING’S” and a single fresh coat of exterior paint. 

Grand Opening Day arrives.  Brass Bands and Ribbon Cutting.  Mayor Blowhard and City Council members make grandiose speeches about how they have solved the cities Homeless Crisis.  A few ragged homeless people are seen entering the building to take occupancy of their renovated 200 square foot “apartments”.

The Mayor’s handpicked contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers go out and spend their profits on new boats, sports cars and luxury vacations but not forgetting to “tithe” back some of those profits to the Majors campaign re-election coffers.

The 80 “new” tenants of the once dilapidated hotel settle in and begin the task of de-renovation on the hotel to turn it back into a Skid Row Manor.  

The whole process is “spun” as a huge success and praise and credit is layered on all who participated in the project.  What could possibly go wrong.  Housing was provided, at least temporarily, for 80 homeless people for only 80 Million Dollars.  “WINK – WINK”.

Bob Bandy – March 2023

P.S. I would like to give inspirational credit to Michael J. Fox and his long ago television series “Spin City”.

THIS IS NOT A PAID ADVERTISEMENT FROM FOX NATION

THIS IS A NON-PAID 100% ENDORSEMENT  FROM ME

AMERICAN REQUIEM  is a three part series available on Fox Nation either streaming on the internet or through your cable provider – in my case Comcast. It is also available through You Tube.  Fox Nation is a subscription service of Fox News and is very reasonable in price.  If you are a veteran like me they have service available for “free trials” or a couple of dollars a month through the internet and service through your cable provider with a cost for Fox Nation of about $5 or $6 a month.

In my opinion, and that of others, this is a must see documentary series. Further, it is also my personal belief that it should be required viewing in our schools. Their are three episodes and viewing time for all three is about 2 hours.  There are no commercials (when viewed on Fox Nation). 

The three episodes are fascinating, informative and definitely not boring though some of the information provided will likely make you angry at what is happening to America before our very eyes.

*******************

Carol Swain

America is dying before our eyes. Our economy, culture, and foreign policy
are in decline with few signs of a backlash. The Biden administration and Democrats have
destroyed the country, divided the nation, and surrendered to our enemies.

******************

Ronald Reagan

“In [his] farewell address, there was a warning. Reagan said this – all of our accomplishments could vanish into the ether if we forget American history and our heroes, and I think we’re still in the situation that Reagan described in 1989,” Charles Kesler, “Claremont Review of Books” editor, said in the new Fox Nation series, ‘American Requiem.’

“The moral fabric of our country is frayed. It is strained. It is at its breaking point,” he added, pointing to today’s counter-cultural entertainment.

The three-part series available for streaming on Fox Nation delves into the takes of historians, writers and educators who look to America’s past, at its present and into the future to determine its trajectory.

*******************

Victor Davis Hanson

“Evil is ancient, unchanging, and with us always. The more postmodern the West becomes — affluent, leisured, nursed on moral equivalence, utopian pacifism, and multicultural relativism — the more premodern the evil among us seems to arise in nihilistic response.”

******************

The presentation is by many noted and respected scholars, historians and professionals like Victor Davis Hanson, Carol Swain and a good many others.  The series is based on documented facts and not hyperbole.  If you want to know what is happening to the America most of us love this is a MUST SEE series!

Watch the series, tell others about it, share this article with friends, neighbors and relatives.

Bob Bandy – February 2023

ideal.com

DIVERSITY – EQUITY – INCLUSION

This is the “battle cry” of the “Woke” crowd and on the surface these words sound harmless, even desirable.  I certainly enjoy diversity in my relationships with others.  I want everyone to have equity in their opportunity to succeed.  I am enriched by the inclusion of family, friends, co-workers and neighbors with diverse backgrounds, interests and ideas. 

DIVERSITY – INCLUSION

The “problem” I find with the “Woke” generation is in their application of these ideals.  I think most of us can see the similarities in “Diversity” and “Inclusion”.  In many ways two sides of the same coin.  To demonstrate:  discussions of political and religious views often includes both inclusion and diversity.  For example: The Christian faith includes a diversity of churches: Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, etc..  However, in the “Woke Culture”  if a conservative or religious speaker wants to make a presentation at say, Harvard or Cornell University, two bastions of “Woke-ness”. They are shouted off stage, often pummeled with debris, even chased off campus.  In doing this we see the “Woke” crowd demonstrating their hypocrisy to a high degree.  Ideas that do not agree with theirs are not included in their definition of “Diversity” and “Inclusion”.  Religious Faith and Conservative Values are not in their lexicon.  At one time our Colleges were considered Citadels of  “Free Speech”.  No more!

On another front, in their demands for “Diversity” and “Inclusion” the more militant elements of the “Woke” LGBTQ culture are stealing the innocence of our children and the joys of their childhood. In the process these militant “Woke true believers” pursue their own agenda to recruit these young ones into a sexual lifestyle of “Gender Fluid”, choices, that as children, they are unprepared to make.  The  “Wokies” are also encouraging pubescent young men to “choose to become” (??) “Transgender” so they can share showers and locker rooms with young girls and then compete unfairly with them in athletic competition. This, and the encouragement of so called “Drag Queens” performing suggestively in front of young children, are all elements of the destructive path these militants are on in their attempt to indoctrinate the most innocent of our youth.

EQUITY

I am a believer in true equity and define it as equality of opportunity.  Just to be clear.  Equal opportunity is already the law in America.  The “Woke” crowd are demanding something else.  They want equity as defined by equality of outcomes.  You cannot legislate “equal outcomes” that will work.  Below is a short piece I shared some time ago about a professor who wanted to teach his students about equal outcomes.  This is followed by an article I wrote some nine years ago about  our government “Fixing Income Inequality”. 

THE PROFESSOR

“A group of students go to college.  Some students work hard,  study diligently and get all A’s & B’s.  Other students party, skip classes, do not study, attend marches and protests for “causes” and get D’s & F’s.  Their Professor says that in order to be “fair” to all students he has decided to “tax” the hard working students A’s & B’s  and share those grades with the lazy students who got the D’s & F’s.  In this way all students can average out at a “C” grade.    Some of the students are going to love this idea and others will likely hate it.  Can you guess which ones will love it?” 

FIXING INCOME INEQUALITY

The government says it wants to “fix” the problem of unequal pay and income.  They say too few are paid too much (the evil rich) while too many are not paid enough (victims of the rich).  The goal of the government is to equalize pay for all citizens.

Based on the governments track record of “fixing” things like the War on Poverty, our Public Education System, the Postal Service, Amtrak, and the growing National Debt, I am not sure we want them to try to “fix” income equality.  Or anything else.

I have a vision of what a likely government “fix” will look like.

First they will establish what is a reasonable amount for everyone to be paid. For sake of  this discussion lets say they decide on $60,000 a year.  That would be $5,000 a month.

Here is a plan that I am sure would appeal to every bureaucrats heart.  All residents of the United States of working age (18?) would receive a “salary” of $5,000 per month from the government who would function as the payroll department for all employers.  A “single payer” system under complete control of the government and IRS.   We could all become cogs in the wheel of the Proletariat masses.

Don’t worry, if you like your current job, you can keep it.  That’s a promise.

Your education does not matter.  Your age does not matter.  Race, religion, political party, type of work, skill level, work ethic, level of responsibility, or experience. None of these matter.  Unions could be eliminated, you wouldn’t need them.  No merit or performance pay, everybody gets paid the same.  Movie stars, Presidents, Barbers, Plumbers, Soldiers, Dog Catchers, Burger Flippers, Brain Surgeons, etc.

Visualize a Baseball Team under this system.  The owners, the managers, star players, beginning players,  bat boys, groundskeepers, peanut vendors, everybody gets exactly the same pay.

As desirable as this sounds in providing equal pay for all of us it would have the added benefit that the IRS could withhold their “fair share” before we see our paycheck with no need for us to ever file an annual return.  Who could possibly object to such a fair and equitable solution?   Consider this,  we would all get paid the same no matter how lousy a job we do.  Just like members of Congress.

If every citizen received the same amount of pay every month, do you think we would all have the same bank account at the end of the year?  Or would some have a fat bank account, another a new car and still another a giant hangover?

Perhaps government’s next task is to require equal outcomes for all of us?  It should be easy.  A plan to devolve all of us to the lowest common denominator.  Call it government approved cookie cutter equality.

An American melting pot filled with glassy eyed, average room temperature IQ automatons.

OPPORTUNITY CREATES WEALTH – EQUITY CREATES POVERTY

Bob Bandy – January 2023

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IF YOU CAN DESTROY FAITH AND THE FAMILY YOU CAN DESTROY A NATION

I am an older citizen.  Born just before Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into World War II.  Have seen my country under threat many times.  Wars, Pestilence, Natural Disasters and more. Never have I seen a threat more insidious than the one shaking the very foundations of our nation right now.  It is invading our schools, our churches, our families and our very government.

The odd thing is that this threat is not based on the armies of a foreign enemy or any cause based in science.  It is based on an idea that has become almost a religion in its fervor.  It is best called Wokeism and many consider it the new religion of the west. If you Google it you will find it defined as follows: “Wokeism is a religion. Although it has not been organized into any formal religious structure, it has all the functions of religious doctrine. It has a unique epistemology (theory of knowledge), an evaluation of the human condition, and a redemption narrative.”

The main tenet of this new faith seems to rest in the belief that gender is a fluid thing and you can be any of some 100 different genders on any given day and change your gender at will.  There is no science behind this.  There is no “Gender Fluid” or “Transgender” DNA.  If a person is crushed beyond recognition a scientist or a medical professional can run a test and tell if the deceased was a male or a female.  If you research “Transgender” you will find it medically defined as a “Dysphoria”: “A transgender (often abbreviated as trans) person is someone whose gender identity or gender expression does not correspond with their sex assigned at birth.” In simple “country boy” terms it is defined as an “I wannabe” someone other than who I am.  No insult intended.

Wokeism could easily be described as a sort of infectious insanity.  Some might consider it almost laughable if it were not so dangerous and damaging.

Radical Woke elements within the LGBTQ community have infiltrated our schools and seek to groom and introduce grade school children into the “Gender Fluid” lifestyle while so-called “Drag Queens”; men dressed in women’s underwear and lingerie dance provocatively in front of our children in libraries and churches in an effort to sexualize them.  In my opinion this is a crime and an abomination.

We are in the process of destroying the pillars of civil society in pursuit of this insane WOKE doctrine.

It has infected our schools, including grade schools and is causing great damage to even young children who are being indoctrinated and exposed to, even subjected to, pharmacological as well as surgical disfiguring procedures in pursuit of “sex-change”.   It has become a cancer in our churches, military, corporations, medical institutions, even our government.  It must be stopped and excised from our culture before the damage becomes irreconcilable and we all find ourselves living in some kind of “Alice In Wonderland” fantasy world and slaves to a form of group insanity within our own land.

Disagree if you want.  Hate me if you want.  I stand by what I have written here.  Share if you dare.

Bob Bandy – January 2023