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The price we pay: Tom Price’s untruths

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If you still trust the folks in the administration, I have some land I can sell you at a great price.

 

Claim: Price did nothing that policy didn’t allow.

Fact: Federal Travel Regulations say that officials can use a charter flight if “no scheduled commercial airline service is reasonably available (i.e., able to meet your departure and/or arrival requirements within a 24-hour period, unless you demonstrate that extraordinary circumstances require a shorter period) to fulfill your agency’s travel requirement.”

Truth: Price could have quite easily and much more cheaply used commercial airlines, as his predecessors did.

 

Claim: Price was on official business.

Fact: He was mixing business with pleasure. At least two flights were to places where he owns a home (how many does he have?)

Truth: Bad judgment at minimum, especially when he was flying in several days before any official event.

 

Claim: He’s paying it back.

Fact: According to Politico, the total cost of flying Price and his support staff and others was more than $400,000.

Truth: Price has said that “Today, I will write a personal check to the US Treasury for the expenses of my travel on private charter planes. The taxpayers won’t pay a dime for my seat on those planes.” Yes, he is paying the price of one person traveling ($51,887.31) a sum not even close to the total cost.

 

What a scam.

 

Sources

NPR | Price to pay for portion of charter flight costs

NY Times | Spokeswoman Cites ‘Demanding Schedule’ for Health Secretary’s Use of Private Jets

Politico | Price’s private-jet travels included visits with colleagues, lunch with son

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Don’t hate on California: at least not for this reason

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I’ve noted before that I find most cable news to be utter crap.

I try to avoid even referencing cable news articles, but today I just can’t help myself. I came across an article from Fox News USA` titled “California is No. 1 haven for hate groups, report says.”

They do rightly state that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) Hate Map found the most hate groups in California.

This is what I call a “no shit Sherlock” statement. Being by far the most populous state in the country, it isn’t surprising that the most groups are in California as well.

If you look at the ratio of hate groups to the state’s population (2016 estimates, also including the District of Columbia), California ranks 35. That headline is much less interesting.

And take a look at the top 10:

 

  1. District of Columbia
  2. South Dakota
  3. Idaho
  4. Montana
  5. Mississippi
  6. Tennessee
  7. Alabama
  8. Arkansas
  9. Kentucky
  10. Virginia

  I doubt you’ll see the data reported that way…

 

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What exactly did deputy attorney general Rod J. Rosenstein say about Comey?

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Check out this New York Times article that include the letters and memos.

I definitely think Rosenstein has some valid points, but I still have serious misgivings about how it all played out. And you know darn well that these are not the real reasons behind firing Comey.

I would say that it is essential that we find new leadership that restores public trust in the White House.

NTY | Deputy Attorney General’s Memo Breaks Down Case Against Comey

 

 

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Lie, blame, purse lips to look powerful. Repeat until public gives in

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Lies, blame and intimidation are tools of a weak leader. As citizens, our responsibility is to insist upon truth, demand accountability and protect our nation’s honor.

On April 5th, after a chemical attack in Syria killed more than 100, Trump stated:

“I think the Obama administration had a great opportunity to solve this crisis a long time ago when he said the red line in the sand. And when he didn’t cross that line after making the threat, I think that set us back a long ways, not only in Syria but in many other parts of the world because it was a blank threat.”

Not so fast my orange one…

In August 2013, around 1,500 Syrians, including around 450 children, were killed in a chemical attack. Trump’s numerous tweets at that time were very clear. No war, focus on the U.S.A.

I’ve picked out some of the most relevant tweets — there were so very many to choose from. (bolding is mine)

mr trump would attack Syria or no?” No, lets make our country great again as they fight their war! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
3 Sep 2013

The only reason President Obama wants to attack Syria is to save face over his very dumb RED LINE statement. Do NOT attack Syria,fix U.S.A. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 5 Sep 2013

Don’t attack Syria – an attack that will bring nothing but trouble for the U.S. Focus on making our country strong and great again! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 9 Sep 2013

If the U.S. attacks Syria and hits the wrong targets, killing civilians, there will be worldwide hell to pay. Stay away and fix broken U.S. . — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 2 Sep 2013

This isn’t about whether or not I agree with the action, this is about my not being able to trust anything that this administration says. I find it insulting and unacceptable that Trump feels so comfortable blaming others and feeding us lies.

If you spend just a few minutes you can find his Twitter trail that contradicts what he claims now.

It isn’t that hard, you just need to value the truth.  Please don’t give up or give in.

Click here for more Trump tweets on Syria

 

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Is all of this political turmoil messing with your sleep?

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Same here. Here are some tips on how to cope.

OK, I had to take a little break from writing about current events. I found that I wasn’t sleeping much, and when I did my dreams were very tightly woven with the day’s current events. My mind couldn’t let go and it was getting very creepy. Continue reading “Is all of this political turmoil messing with your sleep?”

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Some of America’s goodness comes though in a very un-American moment.

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We should all be talking to each other about the murder of Srinivas Kuchibhotla.

His death highlights what can go wrong when we don’t know, understand or care about each other, and what good can come when we do.

 

Last week at Austins Bar and Grill in Olathe Kansas, Adam Purinton approached Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani and asked them what type of visa they had and if they were in the country illegally. (Both were educated in the US and here legally). He also hurled racial slurs towards the two immigrants from India. For a moment, things seemed to get better:

  • Patrons at the bar complained and Purinton was removed from the bar
  • Someone else picked up the tab for the two men

But then got much worse. Purington came back with a gun, and witnesses heard him yell “get out of my country!” He shot at Kuchibhotla and Madasani, killing Kuchibhotla.

  • Ian Grillot tried to intervene and was also shot

Purington ran off and later ended up in an Applebee’s, where he eventually told the bartender that he was in trouble as he had killed some Iranians.

  • She called the police and he was arrested without incident

People worldwide have come together to help the Kuchibhotla family.  Currently, there are close to 18,000 donations. Click here to donate.

Let’s start talking to each other and try to prevent this from happening to other families. Hatred and ignorance are not American values.

Sources

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A first step in rebuilding common ground

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So, three kids are in an adjacent room and you hear a crash. You go in the room and see a vase broken on the floor. You ask what happened:

Child 1: “The dog knocked it from the table. Terrible dog.” 

You look and confirm that the dog is outside. “Fake news” starts early. You ask again:

Child 2: “We were playing and then the vase fell over, but I didn’t do it as I wasn’t closest to the table.”

You ask again:

Child 3: “We were running in the room and someone tripped me and made me knock the vase over.”

Each child reported the same event differently, but when pieced together you can get a pretty complete report of what really happened.

We benefit from seeing an event through multiple lenses.

It’s human nature to gravitate towards that which reinforces or doesn’t challenge our existing views. This appears to be the case in our media consumption.  (In psychology this is called the selective exposure theory.)

According to Pew Research Center Studies:

At this point, we don’t expect to even agree on the basic facts.

Pew Research Center – Basic facts are in dispute

This isn’t surprising, as we don’t start from the same place.

Trump supporters relied heavily on Fox for their election news and information.  No single source was as pronounced among Clinton supporters, but this is perhaps due to the perception that there are more liberal leaning news options.) (Pew Research Center – Trump, Clinton Voters Divided in Their Main Source for Election News)

And we have tended to think that our own news sources are more trustworthy than others.

Press Widely Criticized, But Trusted More than Other Information Sources

The path to rebuilding common ground starts with some understanding of other sides of an issue. But where to start?

While this diagram from Imgur may not be perfect (the center may be more liberal than is shown here), but it’s a good place to start. Try to:

  • Focus on reading and sharing from sites that are more centered
  • Venture out of your safety zone
  • Remember that understanding something doesn’t require that you agree with it

It may not be pleasant, but we need to make the effort.

My two cents:

  • I am not a fan of ANY cable TV news. In order to fill a 24-hours news cycle, the headlines are hyperbolic and views too often vitriolic. And too often we are watching the news while doing other things, and can’t give the attention that the topics require.
  • Try reading instead. You control what you read, when you read it and you can more easily compare multiple sources.
  • You may want to start introduce new sources slowly and not venture into the comments section until you are very ready.
  • While social media is good for entertainment, it isn’t ideal for gaining an understanding of an topic. Use sparingly.

Sources

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ambigamy/201402/selective-exposure-calling-inconvenient-news-irrelevant

http://www.journalism.org/2017/01/18/trump-clinton-voters-divided-in-their-main-source-for-election-news/pj_2017-01-18_election-news-sources_0-01/

http://www.people-press.org/2016/10/14/in-presidential-contest-voters-say-basic-facts-not-just-policies-are-in-dispute/

http://www.people-press.org/2011/09/22/press-widely-criticized-but-trusted-more-than-other-institutions/

 

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A few good quotes for President’s Day

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Today seems like a very good day to reflect upon the words and wisdom of honored Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

George Washington

“The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.”

“Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.”

“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”

“Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.”

 

Abraham Lincoln

“No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.”

“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.”

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

“Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.”

 

 

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Useful term of the day – Narcissistic Personality Disorder

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After this week, I think we all know what Narcissistic Personality Disorder looks and sounds like.

But just in case… here is an official definition:

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that’s vulnerable to the slightest criticism.”

Source

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/basics/definition/CON-20025568

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How to stay grounded in times like these

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How are you feeling today?

Stressed out? Forgetful? Overwhelmed by the increasingly bazaar and disconcerting national events?

Recently a friend and I were discussing how we both were having a hard time focusing on the tasks at hand. I constantly find myself distracted and forgetful, and too often a bit short-tempered.

We are not alone. Turns out that a lot of us are feeling stressed.

According to the recent American Psychological Association’s (APA) report Stress in America™: Coping with Change,” two-thirds of Americans say they are stressed about the future of our nation, including a majority of both Democrats and Republicans.”

Not surprisingly, Democrats are more stressed out by the outcome of the 2016 election and the future of the nation overall, but Republicans are also stressed out about the future.

Given that tensions are high, we can we do to stay grounded?

Talk with supportive friends and family

Most every morning I have a conversation via text with a few close friends. Sometimes we share our dismay at recent events, or exchange a funny video that makes us laugh. The conversations are usually brief, cathartic, empowering and always reinforce our friendship.

Act with kindness overall

With many of us on edge, a little act of kindness can go a long way.  If someone bumps into you (or you into them), imagine the difference it makes if you give a big “hello” or “good day!”

If you see someone who needs help, why not stop and give them a hand. Showing acts of kindness not only help others but also ourselves. It feels good to be kind.

Watch your news consumption

There is so much real news to take in, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.  Set up some time to dive in, decide how you want to act (not react) and then get out.

Take a break from Social Media

It’s become a great way to get your blood pressure up.

Be compassionate

As much stress as I feel now, I know that there are many others who live with constant stress. Going forward we could all benefit by showing greater understanding and compassion.

Don’t get discouraged

There is a lot that needs fixing in our nation (and the list seems to grow every day), but together we can make things better.

Sources

http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/index.aspx

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/emotional-support.aspx

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-political-change.aspx

http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/02/stressed-nation.aspx

www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/02/15/515366975/feeling-way-more-stressed-out-youre-not-alone

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/emotional-support.aspx