Credo

So now you have simply resorted to trolling. But I'll take a moment to answer your question. Maybe they will.

The supply has not been impeded. The oil is moved by train. Large amounts also pass through the existing pipeline to refineries in the midwest. Refineries are at maximum output so this oil is not going to get to world markets through any pipeline.

Fracking is a type of drilling and recovery that can't be undone. If they are fracking a well, then it continues until the oil is exhausted. Keystone is not needed. The oil from Keystone was Canadian crude destined for US oil refineries for primarily export to other countries. The US refineries are left with a very toxic residue from shale oil refining. If a pipeline is needed, it is to bring much needed water to the drought stricken Western US. Or maybe to replenish the Mississippi where hundreds of barges with tons of crops from the upper midwest are stranded as well as large amounts of petroleum. The river is too low to get the barges through. So, expect food prices to rise. But hey, the right-wing mantra has been that Climate Change is a hoax, so no need to address the underlying problem, is there?

Wrong. Warp Speed had nothing to do with the roll-out of the vaccines. It had to do with their development.

Cancelling the Keystone has not impeded Canadian Oil from entering the US. It's simply one method of transport. The US shutdown started on March 15, 2020. That was under the Trump administration. In his usual style, he locked down then complained about it. The current President has overseen the opening of the country. So, don't blame Biden. He expedited the largest mass inoculation in US history in lightening speed. The roll-out took massive amounts of logistics and coordination, which he was done fast and efficiently. It seems you have trouble with facts.

Oh, you mean the things that actually help middle and lower income people? The energy industry is as free as they can be. They have ample permits and have been given permission to frack where it was previously denied. The renewable energy sector is showing unprecedented growth. Keep trying. Now, please explain how cutting or ending social security is going to help?

Oh, wait, yes, I do know of one proposal -- cutting social security.

And yet I have not heard one thing that the Republican Party plans to do to lower inflation. Nothing.

How long it will take for inflation to work itself out depends on a lot of factors, not the least of which is how long countries are going to muck around with Covid and vaccines. The things that need to get done are getting as many people vaccinated to keep the cases down, keep people working and keep kids in school. A lot of the supply chain issues will take longer, just like a car crash, the system broke in an instant and like the repairs it takes time. Unless/until the issue of climate change and it's knock-on effects is addressed, there will be dire consequences. In the US, large swaths of land in the California central valley and in Arizona were plowed under because they do not have the water to irrigate. I do live on a fixed income, and a modest one at that. If push comes to shove, I do have resources I can tap, but not quickly nor easily. It's amazing how far your money can go when you shop carefully. It's still expensive, but we are all suffering. The choices are limited, but it will end. I am not an economist, but once we have the supply issues under control, then we can start. The party you support has no plan that will stop it, but like you, they holler and whine about it instead. For someone who has no interest in the US domestically, I have to wonder why you take such a strong position and a fervent interest in US politics? I am suspicious.

It's interesting that so many people have to read into what he means. He could be clear, but he isn't. I wonder why? Could it be an attempt to further divide and plant the seeds of future violence? I also wonder why other politicians are expected to be clear in their remarks, but this one isn't.

Yes, some of us do remember the 80s and high inflation. I also remember gas lines and gas shortages. The situation this time, however, is very different. We are coming through a pandemic that has caused world-wide disruption of supply chains, and it's ongoing. Large parts of China are again locked down. I also know that once the world situation straitens out, inflation will be reduced. Until then, I am happy that most goods are available, albeit more expensive. It was quite inconvenient when things like toilet paper simply were not available and store shelves were empty. Of course, the worst of the pandemic could have been avoided had people followed protocols. Instead of dropping off a cliff, we'd have only hit a few potholes in the road. The people you are routing for are the same people who called it a hoax, touted remedies that did not work, undermined the roll-out and distribution of the vaccine. They also subscribe to a BIG LIE that Biden didn't win the election and have endorsed candidates who have stated they will not certify elections, instead letting the state legislators decide. It is clear that you really wish bad things for the US.

...and so it begins. MAGA 2.0

Since we are telling little family homilies, my kids and grandkids have all done very well. I also have one disabled child--a veteran. He doesn't work but the gov't takes very good care of him. Free medical, a very generous disability check and social security. His wife worked full-time and during the pandemic, made it quite far up the corporate ladder. She plans on retiring this month. Two of the others are quite content with their careers. They were able to leave their previous employment for jobs which they find much more satisfying with benefits that are much more generous. So, all-in-all quite content. One of the grandkids has his own construction company, and the pandemic was good for his business. He followed Covid protocols and a lot of the building was done outdoors and when it came to finishing, they took precautions. His business did well enough that he is now taking his first vacation ever for a nice visit to SE Asia. Almost everyone suffered during the pandemic. Coming out on the other side has had challenges. I simply don't know too many people, other than those that succumbed to the disease, who haven't managed to come through reasonably well. We face challenges ahead, but we've always had challenges.

As I understand it, he may be planning on staying and using the military to insure he remains. His silence is not a good sign.

I doubt they have had the new booster, but that said, I said it would help them immensely.

They might want to contact Pfizer or Moderna. They could help them immensely.

A lot of people who have shown genius in various fields are horrible people to deal with. I suspect Elon is in that category. I don't begrudge them for their contributions to advancements in science but they are people that are best kept as far away from anything else. Einstein was a horrible person, Steve Jobs was not very nice and Elon Musk, who, by his own admission, is on the autism spectrum, isn't a nice person. I have a friend who has a Tesla and on a brief visit, I had the joy of being shuttled around in it. A Tesla is a great car, it is extraordinarily safe and comfortable. Since I've owned a Hitler-inspired VW, I think I can justify a Tesla. I think his talents would be better used somewhere other than Twitter, but when you have as much money and power as he has, I guess he can do what he wants, regardless of the consequences for a nation and the rest of the world.

There is something seriously wrong when one person can control rockets, satellites, cars and one of the biggest social media platforms. It's simply not right.

I am from a state that has used mail-in voting for a very long time. Almost all cheating occurs in person because the vote by mail is extremely secure. First, to vote you have to be a registered voter and registering to vote is the hard part. That's where you have to prove your citizenship, residence, etc. Once you get the voter registration card, it has a bar code with all the relevant information when you vote. The bar code appears on the envelope of both the envelope the ballot arrives in, and the envelope provided to return it. You must sign the back of the envelope. Once the ballot is filled out, it is returned in the envelope provided. You can also include your phone number, should you want them to call you if there is a problem. Once your ballot is received, your name is removed from the eligible voter role. You can request a notification that your ballot has been received. Once the ballot is received, the envelope will be scanned to assure it matches the registration roll and your identity. The signature on the ballot is verified with the signature on file -- that may include not only the one when you registered to vote but other sources such as the signature provided for a Driver's License. The verification is done by both a machine and then a visual verification by a person. If there are any discrepancies, such as a signature that doesn't match, then it is put aside as a provisional ballot. They will contact you, and you can get any discrepancy taken care of. (I know a person who had a broken arm and the signature didn't match--he got a call and went to the election office and got it taken care of). Your envelope will remain unopened until the designated time to begin the count. If you vote in person, it's not all that difficult to have someone else's registration card and ID and go through the line more than once. You can't do that with a mail-in ballot.

And you are using an opinion piece from 2020 to support your position? The calls to defund the police were mostly a small but vocal group, and among them most simply wanted more money diverted to mental health services. The police are not trained to deal with a lot of mental health situations, domestic disturbances and a multitude of other situations. They shouldn't have to. They should have professionals available on-call that can step in and let the police take care of more serious crimes.

The point is that this weapon should have been removed completely and been kept by the police. I realize that hindsight is 50/50, but leaving the gun in a situation where he could gain access to it was less than responsible. I wonder if it was even legal for a person with a history of mental health issues and hospitalizations for them should/could even legally purchase or own a gun. This is a prime situation for intervention by some legal entity other than the police. The police don't have the training to deal with a situation like this and they shouldn't be put the position to have to. There are some definite red flags here: First, he is a teenager. At his age, there is a much greater risk of engaging in risky behavior. Second, he had a long history of mental issues. Third, he was a loner and that's a definite risk factor. Finally, he had purchased a particularly lethal weapon. The police answering a call may not be able to put the pieces together, but almost any mental health professional will hear alarm bells going off. I suspect a mental health person would have had the kid committed for evaluation at a minimum.

No, he didn't slip through the cracks. The gun was taken away and given to someone who apparently gave it back or failed to secure it properly. That gun should have been held by the police. In situations like this, the immediate thing is to remove anything that they can easily use to hurt themselves and others. The mental health issues that need to be addressed are more long term. As long as they allow that type of weapon to be legal, these shootings will occur.

Out of curiosity, what choice over your body have you been denied.?

So, you changed your mind and now an entire country is forced to change their mind with you? I don't think that's how it works.

I haven't seen anyone mocking his mental illness. Please show us who and where this is being done. If anything, he's been given a great deal of latitude because of his condition. Kanye has made it known that he was going to forego regular medication for more natural methods of dealing with it. Whether he has or not is unknown and it is privileged medical information. From all appearances, it seems that he is not taking medication. I am interested to know just what you think his friends and family can do. Their options are limited. They can try to get him hospitalized, but a good attorney is going to most likely keep him out of a psychiatric facility. He is rich and powerful, and those people live a much different life than the rest of us. Probably the best thing that can happen is that he start losing his sponsorships. He will have to realize his words are dangerous and that what and how he is saying is hurting others -- and himself.