Community Roundtable

The Prez followed the teleprompter well, delivering a speech loftier than expected, however embedded with firecrackers and questions like: a $54B increase in defense spending, $54B decrease in social programs, $1 Trillion infrastructure rebuilding investment, $21B to build the “Great, great wall”, while pledging big tax cuts for the wealthy and “massive tax relief for middle class”.  Talk of repealing ACA and creating a better, cheaper healthcare system with “access to all” through tax credits, and deregulating banks, businesses and agencies like EPA and FDA.  Soaring rhetoric and lofty pledges delivered by a “UGE LIAR” — money pouring in from NATO?  A successful Yemen raid that yielded significant intel with one Navy Seal killed and several wounded  (25 civilians killed)?  He’s going to eradicate ISIS, crime, drugs, poverty and illegal immigration!  ALL PROBLEMS WILL BE SOLVED!  We do listen to Trump differently.  We hear everything through our own perceptions, beliefs and biases.  Supporters cheer and opponents Boo!  Politics are tribal; I am of THIS TRIBE!

Trish Forsyth Voss

Very concerned …. and it’s not just “possible”.  Several of Trump’s associates have very disturbing entanglements with Russian financiers.  Fantastically-expensive luxury real-estate deals, money-laundering, tax evasion, organized crime connections, spies, and a string of mysterious deaths.  It is reported that “Trump has sought and received funding from Russian investors for his business ventures, especially after most American banks stopped lending to him following his multiple bankruptcies”.  I agree with Evan McMullin that “Republicans in Congress bear most of the responsibility for holding the president accountable and protecting the nation; Attorney General Jess Sessions should appoint an independent special-counsel to investigate Russia’s assault on American democracy and Trump’s possible collusion with the Kremlin; and a bipartisan special-select committee with subpoena powers in the House and Senate” be convened.  Now we hear Trump’s attorney, Michael Cohen, left a document in Flynn’s office, a peace plan that Cohen developed, which involved lifting sanctions from Russia, should they withdraw from Ukraine.                      What else was in that bargain?!      A Tricky Russian Connection — to be sure!

Trish Forsyth Voss

Hastily contrived and poorly executed with no normal legal oversights, only help from Rudy Giuliani creating this Muslim ban; expect the next Attorney General to uphold it.  Weakening American security, endangering our servicemen and women stationed throughout the world, and injuring business relations — yet the Trumpet sounds: “Keep America Safe” — working on fears and bigotry, as he also threatens defunding Sanctuary Cities; it is an assault on immigrants, refugees, vetted visitors and students!  Staunch supporters say he’s keeping his promises, but “Draining the Swamp” has flipped to stocking it with super monsters.  Trump has made more noise about “Building the Wall” and now ordering a Muslim ban — he has proclaimed, “I am a man of my word!”, but Trump’s words are all mean-spirited, bullying, threatening, distorting, dividing, damaging!                    Our government is now run by Extremists!  What of the former GOP complaints about lawless Executive Orders?    King Trump?                                  The Emperor Wears No Clothes!

A global phenomenon occurred on Saturday, January 21, 2017 — the likes of which we have NEVER seen!  Millions of people worldwide marched in peaceful protest rallies, in solidarity with US, marching FOR human rights and progress.  Some don’t see the point, or they think this “hissy-fit” is over; they think we need to put our “big boy pants” on, but they are so wrong!  We are donning our pink pussycat hats and we’re getting out there!  Men, kids, women of all ages  are Awakening!  They have seen what can happen when the electorate is too complacent to vote, relying on others to work and stand for democratic values.  Over 639 marches took place in cities and towns in all 50 states and across the 7 continents!  Google: INDIVISIBLE.  When the need to waken is greater than the need to stay asleep, WE THE PEOPLE, will open our eyes, become engaged and behold and uphold our power!  EXPECT ACTION!

Instead of draining the Washington swamp, DJT has appointed several Goldman Sacs billionaires to cabinet positions, and in nearly every instance — the person tagged is the one most likely to bring that agency’s demise.  He has NOT YET hired ANY of the directors or staff needed for NSC, State Dept, or the Pentagon.  WHY?  He plans to eliminate White House access to mainstream media.  Banning a free press is one of the first steps in dismantling a democratic society; it was one of the first steps in Hitler’s playbook.  Trump is way too cozy with Putin, who agrees with Trump that NATO is obsolete and should be disbanded.  This is a horrifying series of unfortunate events beginning to play out on our world’s stage, with the spotlight on U.S.   We cannot afford to normalize this man or his presidency!  William Henry Harrison’s presidency lasted a mere 31 days.                 My hope is — that Trump’s presidency will be VERY SHORT!

I expect the 115th Congress to work more than the previous two Congresses, which hold the record for producing the least amount of real legislation since the 1930s, while working the fewest number of days, making a base salary of $174,000, with great pension and health benefits.  I expect the GOP to get busy repealing “Obamacare”, slashing Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, privatizing Veteran’s Care, reducing taxes for billionaires, rescinding Executive orders, dismantling the Intelligence agencies and our democracy, pillaging whatever they can while revoking civil and human rights!  I fully expect the Democrats to RESIST all the thievery and chicanery, and to EXPOSE the lies, corruption and treasons of the Trump White House.  I expect the Dems to offer the same level of cooperation, and to extend the same olive branch of peace and healing to the Trump administration — that was offered to President Barack Obama.  I expect IMPEACHMENT FOR TREASON!  I expect the Resistance and the Revolution to begin in earnest NOW!

Obama took office amidst a systematic financial crises and hit the ground running to avert a huge depression.  Many banks were saved and the auto industry was rescued; that bailout money was repaid!  “Unemployment, which peaked at 10 percent the year Obama took office — the highest it had been since 1983 under Ronald Reagan, is now 5 percent; the budget deficit is down roughly three-quarters or around $1 trillion during his 2 terms, and G.D.P. is growing!  In early 2009 the economy was losing 800,000 jobs a month and the Dow was under 7,000.  The private sector has added jobs for “73 consecutive months — some 14.4 million new jobs in all — the longest period of sustained job growth on record”.  The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) was enacted, Dodd-Frank legislation passed, environmental and immigration protections undertaken, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act signed into law, Osama Bin Laden taken OUT,  sacred tribal sites in Utah and the Nevada desert protected!   Killing Bin Laden is the only accomplishment stated that cannot be reversed!  Newt Gingrich says that Obama’s legacy will be GONE within a year of his leaving office.  Certainly the economic stability will be pillaged, ACA probably repealed, civil protections certainly revoked. The Haters will ensure that they deface all the good that he achieved and rewrite history to suit their purposes; they intend to show that Obama was one of the worst presidents ever; they have said that much!  Barack and his family have been the epitome of dignity and GRACE under pressure; their influence will be missed!

Most Americans take seriously the intelligence that our CIA gathers and the threat levels that emanate from that agency.  We will learn more as information is dispersed on what the U.S. intelligence community (17 intel agencies) has gleaned over the last several months.  The CIA has high confidence through technology tracking, diplomatic sources and spies that work for U.S. allies … that Putin, former KGB officer, was directly involved in cyber- hacking and a disinformation program that definitely disrupted and influenced our 2016 election in favor of Donald Trump.     Why does Putin want Trump as leader of the United States?  That’s the question to ask?  Follow the money and the motives.  This was a huge achievement on Russia’s part, who has a history of using cyber-hacking to undermine democracies in Europe.  This cannot be tolerated or go uncontested: Watergate pales in comparison!   The resounding call for a bipartisan select committee to investigate these high crimes will soon be met.  Our Founders saw the threat of our country being beholden to foreign powers and set up constitutional remedies for such situations.

The picks thus far are horrifying, terrifying selections for high-level cabinet and agency positions, and in nearly every instance the appointee is one most likely to destroy the agency they would head.  Trump’s early choices:  Steve Bannon, flagrant white supremacist and neo-Nazi, as top strategist, Reince Priebus, Chief of Staff, Mad-dog Mattis, Defense Security, and John F. Kelly, for Homeland Security Secretary were alarming enough.  Betsy DeVos for Education Dept. is pro-charter, against funding for public schools; Scott Pruitt, to head up EPA, is totally against environmental protections; Peter Thiel for FDA — would be a nightmare!  I’m buying some Exxon stock — so sure am I that Rex Tillerson, Exxon CEO, will be Secretary of State; Google this guy and his relationship to Putin.  Retired general, Michael Flynn, for National Security Advisor, is a nutcase- extraordinaire, war-monger, huge conspiracy theorist, and like Trump, we can’t really believe a word he utters!  Jon Huntsman Jr. would be a good choice for Secretary of State, but he won’t get selected; he’s not sinister enough!

Trish Forsyth Voss

November 7th Register-Mail article stated to be discussed at the City Council meeting — possible $17 decrease in property taxes for every $50,000 value in a city home.  Ten days later an article appeared discussing the Galesburg School Board meeting held, and outlines “a range of options to increase the property tax levy rate” with corresponding amounts shown as needed in budget cuts, numbered options 1 – 5.  Option 5 leaves a budget surplus of $45,000 and would increase the property taxes by $150.15 annually “for the owner of a $100,000 home”.  Last year 16 teachers and 13 aides were eliminated from the school system equation.  I’d say just “bite the bullet” and go for option 5 — no teacher cuts necessary.  The article stated, “the tax levy was slightly helped by an estimated increase of equalized assessed value of 1.5 percent”.  So as our property values are increased,  and tax levy rate is annual, are our property taxes going to continue to increase annually to pay for salaries and pensions?  And has the State of Illinois contributed all the monies it owes for schools?