Disqus - Latest Comments for jdledell

Re: America, the Land of Dreams

jdledell — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 20:03:41 -0000

This one is a difficult concept for me. I believe in enough inequality to keep people striving to improve their station in Life. However, the U.S. has taken the concept of inequality to an extreme. The mega dollars associated with some athletes, CEO's and entertainers is insane. There is no way that these extreme amounts of money produce more "striving and intelligent hard work" than rewards one tenth the size.

The biggest problem is the significant increase in productivity that has occurred over the last few decades has gone to executives and shareholdes not the employees whose productivity increases produced the higher profits.

I can remember attending a Prudential Board meeting where they were considering offers for the 17 subsidiaries I and the 22,000 employees who worked in the subsidiaries had built from scratch. Pru's initial funding was $2 million and the offers for the 17 subsidiaries totaled $755 million. I was leaving Pru so I was neutral in the sale issue but I did propose that Pru take a lousy 10% of the sale proceeeds and give the employees of the former subsidiaries a bonus. Remember, Pru was making a capital gain of $750 million on the sales.

I lost that vote with the Board after the CEO made the case that he "allowed" me to work my ass off and beat my body to death with the exreme travel the job required. The board gave a $2 million raise to the CEO and nothing to the employees.

I felt bad that in my last hour I could not protect the people who actually made the subsidiaries successful. I wasn't looking for money for myself, I had done okay financially. A bonus of abut $3,000 to these employees whould have made a big difference in their lives and would not have made much more than a rounding error in Pru's bottom line.

I learned that "thems that have, want more" - the American way of life.

Re: GREAT MUSIC – Chapter 39

jdledell — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 09:29:47 -0000

dduck - These 2 songs are not the end of my mining that era for great music - stay tuned.

Re: CASSANDRA AND THE HORSE

jdledell — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 19:02:19 -0000

Deborah - Bravo, Bravo, Bravo. Now what can, or will, we do about it. I see the new republican essence as a huge wave that is about to swallow the country. The Democrats will put up a fight and have some local successes like they had in the 2018 House elections. Trumpism is sweeping the country and the 2020 election will sweep the Democrats to the back benches.

Trumpism is the evolutionary end of American capitalism - greed and dishonesty employed to reach goals unattainable by normal methods. This will end in a great social and economic upheaval similar to the 1930's that will almost destroy this country. But we will rebuild, hopefully on a sustainable basis, that I have named "Moral Capitalism" more about this is subsequent posts.

Re: Trump’s unrealistic promises to the Rust Belt may haunt him

jdledell — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 18:44:13 -0000

I don't believe that even if the local economy collapses in the rust belt states that Trump will lose very many voters. Trump represents rural America's raised middle finger to the rest of the country and that is worth a LOT more than a positive economy or job. I cannot emphasize enough that hatred of successful America is what motivates most Trump voters. Besides they will have even more excuses than even Trump can conjur up to blame everything and everyone else for the continued failure.

Remember, Trump could shoot someone in broad daylight on 5th avenue and he would not lose any votes - this is the absolute truth. There is not a single Democrat who stands a snowball's chance in Hell of defeating Trump in 2020. The ferver of his supporters is simply something that most of us cannot, and will not, ever understand. Trump is the pied- piper of disaffected America.

Re: Silence on Antisemitism Can No Longer be Accepted

jdledell — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 19:02:48 -0000

As a Jew and an Israeli citizen, I am sensitive to anti-semitism. We are much more open and tolerant of Jews than we were 50-60 years ago, when my father was not allowed to build a house on land we owned and I was routinely called a "Christ Killer" etc. I can remember the tears in his eyes when the town of Minnetonka refused to give him a building permit and told him to build in Saint Louis Park, where his kind lived.

I don't think in the present day America, except for right wing and white supremacists, there is much real anti-semitism. It is more that Jewish "memes" or "tropes" are repeated without much thought. These should be called out as wrong but I don't think this is the same as truly evil anti-semitism.

As far as criticism of Israel being tolerated - he has to be kidding. I am met by the Shin Bet every time I fly to Israel and subjected to a "discussion" of every blog post I write on this subject. In addition whisper campaigns have driven me out of two synagogues I have attended.

Re: La Pietà, ‘Handle With Care’

jdledell — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 09:58:30 -0000

BG - I am glad you mentioned the look on Mary's face. That is the image that has always stuck in my mind. Somehow, Michelangelo captured in that look what it means to be a mother. As a man, Michelangelo will never really know the incredible bond that exists between a woman and her child, yet Michelangelo was able to capture the very essence of that bond in Mary's face.

Re: Only one thing can save Trump now: Democrats

jdledell — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 19:15:12 -0000

Dorian - I don't believe we are as much apart on this issue as would appear on the surface. As a participant in the New Jersey Democratic party, the emphasis on identity politics was, in my view, extreme. We spent an entire day, deciding on who was going to be the outreach coordinator to the Puerto Rican community, vs a coodinator to the other spanish speaking population. Then we had to decide on one or two different coodinators to the LGBT community, one male and one female or one who could peak for everyone.

Then we had to decide on outreach to the black community. Should one be more militant and another who could speak to educational and job training aspirations. We even had a tough time with Jewish outreach, should we have separate people, one who speak to the orthodox and one who could speak to the Reform congregations. We finally got bogged down in who talks to women - should we have people who can talk with women of color vs other women. Should we stratify the women's issues based on income.

I finally got pissed off and asked how about people who could talk to the middle class and poorer people about how to improve their lives regardless of how they were currently situated or what ethnic group they were in, Lets try to come up with policies that lift everyone one step higher in their station in Life.

I told everyone we were ass backward. Lets determine policys that work for most people and then go out and explain those policies. Lets not try to "pick flyshit out of pepper" by some magic wand where we come up with policy appeals to Puerto Ricans vs Hondurans.

I am not sure I convinced many Democrats to change positions but I tried.

Re: California and the Death Penalty

jdledell — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 18:40:45 -0000

I am not in favor of capital punishment under any circumstances. Basically our court and legal system is a flawed human endeavour, just like ourselves, imperfect. That is why the Bible says "vengeance in mine, sayeth the Lord"

Re: Lindsay Graham: Political Jellyfish

jdledell — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 18:10:11 -0000

This article and the tweets tell the real story about Lindsey Graham. I don't understand what job in the world, even a Senator, is worth the complete debasing of one's principles and integrity. Without principles and integrity, there is no there in a man - nothing more than a worn out apparition. When Lindsey looks in the mirror in the morning, does ANYTHING reflect back?

Re: A Failed UN Prediction

jdledell — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 19:23:21 -0000

David - The majority of people who make predictions are 99% wrong. Look at all the stock market predictions or Trump predictions that were wrong. Predictions are a fool's game as Trump's 6% GDP growth prediction proves. Should I write a caustic blog piece everytime Trump is wrong? The UN may be wrong in specifics but it is not necessarily wrong in the general. Climate change is real and we should all work on mitigating it's impact. Sometimes it takes a scary prediction to motivate people into action and that is how I take the UN announcement.

Re: La Pietà, ‘Handle With Care’

jdledell — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 09:17:24 -0000

BG - You are absolutely correct that there is something in the La Pieta as well as other extraodinary art pieces that provide a direct connection between it and G-d. It is a Spiritual experience that has a profound effect on a person if you let it. When I viewed La Pieta, I broke down in tears as I have at other extraordinary pieces of art and music. It is humbling to stand before such other worldly works knowing that the hand of G-d was directly involved and knowing without a doubt that what we are seeing or hearing in beyond our mere human abilities.

Re: Cartoon: Parents Prepare for College

jdledell — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 09:27:20 -0000

When my oldest son applied to MIT, we put on his application that we did not need any financial assistance so would pay full freight. At my income level, I did not think he would get any aid anyway. After he was accepted, at the first parent's weekend, I asked the Admissions Director if that made any difference, he looked at me funny and said "of Course". Not that there was much money involved compared with Singer's clients but I learned when it comes to money and colleges - every little bit helps

Re: Democracy and Tribalism

jdledell — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 19:23:36 -0000

I know tribal instincts still remain but goodness, we have had at least 100,000 years of human development to wean ourselves off of some of the more onerous aspects of tribalism. Extensive travel and education should offset much of the "us" vs "them" feelings in people. Do people still use their Amygdala to navigate life instead of their brain? If so, we have not progressed much beyond apes.

Re: Sic Semper Tyrannis : Singer's clients actually received discounts on admissions

jdledell — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 18:45:04 -0000

When my oldest son applied to MIT, we put on his application that we did not need any financial assistance so would pay full freight. At my income level, I did not think he would get any discount anyway. After he was accepted, at the first parent's weekend, I asked the Admissions Director is that made any difference, he looked at me funny and said "of Course". Not that there was much money involved compared with Singer's clients but I learned when it comes to money and colleges - every little bit helps

Re: Don’t Let the Ilhan Omar Fight Hide Two Essential Truths

jdledell — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 18:46:57 -0000

Any citicism of Israel and it's policies unfortunately very quickly gets labeled anti-semitism. It is a hammer that Israel, AIPAC and many Jews in this country use to silence criticsm. It is ironic because Jews in Israel are much more vocal and crtical of Israel than in the U.S.and it is tolerated quite well. The criticism of Dual Loyalties in valid with respect to some American Jews but as a generalisation it goes too far and is not accurate. I know in my own case my criticism of Israel is barely tolerated locally in the Jewish community and every time I fly into Ben Gurion, I am met by the Shin Bet for a "discussion" about my latest blog posts of which they have printed out copies.

Re: Only one thing can save Trump now: Democrats

jdledell — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 09:52:25 -0000

What bugs me about the Democrats is their focus with under represented minorities. Be it Blacks, Hispanics, Jews, women, the poor etc. This is where they place a lot of their political rhetoric. They seem to believe that demographics are destiny wnich is not what gave rise to their becomming the majority party in the U.S. Democrats were built by their emphasis on the meat and potatoes issues of daily living REGARDLESS of one's race, religion,or pocketbook. I don't care what your color and status is - EVERYONE needs some improvement in their ability to live a decent life. Get back to the meat and potatoes and the Democrats will be successful.

Re: Only one thing can save Trump now: Democrats

jdledell — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:41:07 -0000

Like others in America, I am a dual citizen of Israel and America although my loyalties are strongly with America. Again like others in this situation I am conflicted by the dual citizenship, I received Israeli citizenship when I lived there during the latter part of the 1980's. I have only kept my Israeli passport because it makes flying into Ben Gurion airport so much easier as well as traveling in the West Bank. But this convenience comes at a price. Speaking out about Israel's flaws marks me as a "turncoat" and being strongly admonished for " airing Israel's dirty laundry publically".

Re: Netanyahu’s True Colors Now Show

jdledell — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 11:19:50 -0000

"From following your writings I believe you may have expressed similar struggles, jdledell." - Dorian - You sure got that one right!!!

Re: Trump has an atrocious report card, but will he fail with his voters?

jdledell — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 19:49:30 -0000

Eugene - You are basing your opinion on the wrong premise. His supporters don't really care whether his promises come true ot not. That is irrelevent. They love that Trump is an asshole, but he is their asshole and showing the middle finger to all the people who they hate. That is what is important. After talking with a couple thousand Trump supporters in my random phone bank acivities. Trump supporters seem to be very unhappy with how their lives turned out and if they can drag the rest of the population down to their station in life, so much the better.

Re: Socialism Confused With Democracy

jdledell — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 19:29:24 -0000

tidbits - I understand your concern about affordability. However, this is prevalent in our exising healthcare system. Most people in the country are covered under Group plans provided by employers. Most of these plans have more onerous out of pocket expenses than medicare because of the high deductibles and 80% coverage. That is why I am recommending dental and vision discount plans be packaged with medicare for all. Our healthcare financing system cannot cure all the ills of our existing wealth and income disparity. Medicare for all helps in this regard but does not eliminate the disparity. The goal is NOT to make healthcare free for people but to remove the impediments in seeking healthcare for perhaps 95% of he people. There will always people for whom any cost sharing is too much. I think it practical to help the vast majority even if not everyone.

Re: Socialism Confused With Democracy

jdledell — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 08:37:45 -0000

Tidbits - My idea for Medicare for all is a package of benefits similar to present day Medicare - this is enough coverage to provide basic, reliable and neccesary medical care. It leaves enough room for insurance companies to provide medicare supplement insurance - similar to today. As far as supplemental benefits like Dental and Vision they could be part of the supplemental insurance that would be available. To keep premiums down, Dental and Vision could be provided as discounts from participating dental and vision providers - Cigna, Aetna and other carriers already have these plans. I built one of these plans at Pru before it was sold to Aetna. I asked Dentists for a 40% discount (built as a set fee structure) to 175,000 dentists in the U.S. and 38,000 dentists said yes just to have an incentive to gather patients. If this were offerred as part of medicare for all, my guess is 75% of the dental and vision shops in America would participate. Except for a few rural areas, we found 93% of Pru's cusomers would be within 5 miles of a dentist and within 11 miles of a vision shop.

Re: Socialism Confused With Democracy

jdledell — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 20:04:51 -0000

I wish people would look at the financial aspects of Medicare for all more carefully. Yes it would cost the government about $30 trillion dollars over the 10 year fiscal window or about $3 trillion per year. What people forget is we are already spening $3.5 trillion per year on healthcare in this country. Medicare for all really just rearranges where the dollars come from, NOT new dollars. Yes, it will cause upheavals in some economic sectors and that will have to be managed. since there will be $500 million fewer dollars/year flowing to insurance companies, doctors, hospitals and other medical personnel. In addition, corporate entities will save about $1.2 trillion/year, Medicare, medicaid, and other government programs spend about $1.8 trillion/yearand individual insurance and out of pocket expenditures amount to another $0.6 trillion.

By having a new corporate tax equivilent to what they are now paying for group insurance along with premium contributions by individuals based on income and some benefit cost sharing would result in a minimum accross the board tax increase of 5% would cover the cost of Medicare for all.

Unfortunately, the word socialism is thrown around and the term has NOTHING to do with financing healthcare, Socialism means government control of the means of production.

Re: Remembering the Souls of MH370

jdledell — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 19:29:52 -0000

I remember one time flying on Swift Air from Los Angeles to San Diego on a commuter plane when suddenly the engine died. As we were falling from the air, I took a piece of paper from my briefcase and wrote a love note to my wife so she would know that I loved her then, now and forever. Thankfully the pilot was able to land the plane on a beach and no one was really hurt but the experience has never left my dreams.

Re: As Erdogan turns away from the West, he sabotages Turkey’s progress

jdledell — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 19:22:11 -0000

Erdogan ia no different than other authoritarian leaders around the world. Erdogan is similar to Maduro in Venezuela. In both cases they exhibit absolutely no care about their people ( in both cases their people are sufferring a dramatic fall in their standard of living) only staying in power and building their own ego. Something to think about with our own leadership.

Re: will-hillary-clinton-please-go-away

jdledell — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 20:08:31 -0000

David - We agree Clinton ran a pretty lousy campaign but that should not prohibit her from voicing public policy issues. I notice Republicans do not want to shut up Mitt Romney who ran just as lousy a campaign in 2012. In fact, Trump and other Republicans worked hard to elect Romney as a Senator so that people would continue to hear Romney voicing public policy. Rather than accuse Republicans of hypocricy in this situation, I will default to the position that Republicans have a core belief that women are not the equal of men and should remain in their homes and be seen but not heard. I've been to enough Christian weddings to hear vows expressed that the man will be the head of the household and women should obey their husbands. Is this where Republicans get their ideas about the role of women in Life and government?