Earth Day 2019: Where We Are and Where We Need To Go

Earth Day, 2019.

So much to say. Worse, so much to do.

49 years ago today, we had the first Earth Day. People could look around, and they did, to see we had polluted our planet horribly and still were. Rivers were catching fire, literally, from what we poured and dumped into them and our air was filthy. You could not just see it, the air, you could see the filth we dumped and were dumping into that. We called it a nice, polite word we could live with. That is, smog.

So we got smart.

We passed laws, clean air and water laws. We worked together.

And it worked.

Our air is cleaner now than it used to be. Our waterways got cleaner. Rivers stopped catching on fire.

Now, however, there is a man supposed to be leading our nation, he and his political party are taking us backward. They're undoing some of those laws. The old fool wants to take us back to foul, dirty, literally killing coal.  Here are two examples.

Complete Wiping Away of Clean Water Act': Trump EPA Rule Would Free Corporations to Pollute Nation's Water Much as They Please

Trump pressures TVA to keep old coal power plant running

It's insane, it's certainly irresponsible but it's who he is and what he wants. 

We had to fight once for all this and we won. Then, there was the hole in the ozone layer. We learned what the problem was, we fought it, we worked together, we corrected our actions, our production and use of chlorfluorocarbons, CFCs and fixed it.

Now, there is an even bigger problem.

We, as a people, all across the world, are pouring carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, at unheard of rates, with our cars and burning coal, etc., and we're heating up the planet. Nearly all scientists, across the world, agree on this. The data shows we are.

The data also shows the ice caps and glaciers across the planet are melting--and at rapid, unheard of rates--we're experiencing ever-hotter years, year after year, across the globe and we're experiencing destructive, even killing weather events worldwide. From floods to drought to wildfires, we're already there.

But corporations and the political parties they can buy want to derail efforts to move from fossil fuels, toward "green", sustainable energy.

Fortunately, the people and technology are against these people and their efforts.

Battery Costs Drop Even Faster As Electric Car Sales Continue To Rise

A Majority of Americans Want the Federal Government to do More to Protect Air and Water

So what this all boils down to is that we must wait this man in the White House out, work against his agenda(s), him and his party, work, fight for clean air and water and soil and not let our guard down.

For a while, with this man in the White House and his political party controlling the Senate, we'll have to fight him and them but fight we must. Fortunately, we have science and data and logic, common sense--and our survival--on our side.

Quote of the Day (Week, Month, Year)-- On Donald Trump

A Facebook friend posted the following quote about Donald Trump and I cannot find a better, more complete, nor more accurate description of the man.

Someone asked "Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?"

Nate White, an articulate and witty writer from England, wrote this magnificent response:

"A few things spring to mind.

Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem.

For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace - all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed.

So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.

Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing - not once, ever.

I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility - for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman.

But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is - his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.

Trump is a troll. And like all trolls, he is never funny and he never laughs; he only crows or jeers.

And scarily, he doesn’t just talk in crude, witless insults - he actually thinks in them. His mind is a simple bot-like algorithm of petty prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness.

There is never any under-layer of irony, complexity, nuance or depth. It’s all surface.

Some Americans might see this as refreshingly upfront.

Well, we don’t. We see it as having no inner world, no soul.

And in Britain we traditionally side with David, not Goliath. All our heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver Twist.

Trump is neither plucky, nor an underdog. He is the exact opposite of that.

He’s not even a spoiled rich-boy, or a greedy fat-cat.

He’s more a fat white slug. A Jabba the Hutt of privilege.

And worse, he is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully.

That is, except when he is among bullies; then he suddenly transforms into a snivelling sidekick instead.

There are unspoken rules to this stuff - the Queensberry rules of basic decency - and he breaks them all. He punches downwards - which a gentleman should, would, could never do - and every blow he aims is below the belt. He particularly likes to kick the vulnerable or voiceless - and he kicks them when they are down.

So the fact that a significant minority - perhaps a third - of Americans look at what he does, listen to what he says, and then think 'Yeah, he seems like my kind of guy’ is a matter of some confusion and no little distress to British people, given that:
* Americans are supposed to be nicer than us, and mostly are.
* You don't need a particularly keen eye for detail to spot a few flaws in the man.

This last point is what especially confuses and dismays British people, and many other people too; his faults seem pretty bloody hard to miss.

After all, it’s impossible to read a single tweet, or hear him speak a sentence or two, without staring deep into the abyss. He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Picasso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit. His faults are fractal: even his flaws have flaws, and so on ad infinitum.

God knows there have always been stupid people in the world, and plenty of nasty people too. But rarely has stupidity been so nasty, or nastiness so stupid.

He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart.

In fact, if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws - he would make a Trump.

And a remorseful Doctor Frankenstein would clutch out big clumpfuls of hair and scream in anguish:

'My God… what… have… I… created?

If being a twat was a TV show, Trump would be the boxed set."
Meanwhile, THANKS, REPUBLICANS!

Now get us out of this mess.

Missouri's Sad State of Infrastructure

I've written about Missouri's sad state of infrastructure here before. Our roads and streets and bridges, not just here in Kansas City but statewide.

It seems clear, with Republican-led government, on the state or national level, either one, we--read: they--just don't want to fund the basics like education or, again, infrastructure. Millions and billions for perpetual war in foreign countries but far too little for our own nation.

So along comes this study:

Bridge safety: It'll take More Than 80 Years to Repair the 47,000 Structurally Deficient Bridges in America, Report Finds

Check out these statistics from the article:

More than 47,000 bridges in the United States are in crucial need of repairs, says the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, or ARTBA. The group, which advocates for investment in transportation infrastructure, analyzes data from the Federal Highway Administration and releases an annual Deficient Bridge report.

This year's report, released Monday and based on 2018 data, found:

• There are 616,087 bridges in America
• Of those, 47,052 (nearly 8%) are "structurally deficient" and need urgent repairs
• 235,020 bridges (38%) need some sort of repair
• Americans cross structurally deficient bridges 178 million times a day, including such landmarks as the Brooklyn Bridge and the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge over the San Francisco Bay
• The average age of a structurally deficient bridge is 62 years

Now, check out our own state of Missouri’s ranking in all this.

The states with the highest number of compromised bridges are:

Iowa (4,675)
Pennsylvania (3,770)
Oklahoma (2,540)
Illinois (2,273)
Missouri (2,116)

We're one of the worst, one of the top 5 states with bridges in poor repair in the nation.

Meanwhile, this is our current status:

“President Trump has said repeatedly that he wants to upgrade America's crumbling infrastructure. Even though some Democratic leaders have expressed a willingness to work with him on a plan, little progress has been made on the issue.”

We need to demand more, much more from our legislators, in Jefferson City and Washington, both.

We've been in Afghanistan, either blowing things up or building schools for 18 years.

Even Chinese billionaire Jack Ma has pointed this out.

Chinese Billionaire Jack Ma Says the US Wasted Trillions On Warfare Instead of Investing In Infrastructure

What part of that makes sense?

Let's get back to taking care of the important things.

At home.

We can't be strong over there if we're weak over here.

Links:

Falling apart: America's neglected infrastructure - CBS News

Why do Republicans really oppose infrastructure spending?

The Big Takeaway From Yesterday's Election

Okay so we got that election out of the way, for better or worse.

Thankfully, we are now down to only two candidates for mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. That trying to weed through a dozen was a bit crazy but hey, this is America. We love choice.

No surprise, I don't think, the vote to possibly help pre-kindergarten with daycare died. Between the fact that even the school district didn't support it and that it was "just one more tax", I can't say I'm surprised it died.

And now we have 2 choices for mayor. The differences couldn't be more stark, could they? Jolie Justus and Quinton Lucas? Yet more of us will have to go out and do some more homework, for those not fully familiar with both.

But here's the big takeaway, the big blessing, for me, anyway, and maybe for a lot of us--the entire city?--after this election.

We likely--hopefully?--don't have to hear from or about Clay Chastain any longer.

Understand, this is not a post to mock, ridicule or otherwise make fun of Mr. Chastain. Not at all.

But come on.

We have seen and read and heard so much from and about him over the last several years and it seems he doesn't even really live here.

I get the sense he was sincere and well-meaning, good intentioned with his hopes and plans and dreams and ideas for our city. I'll give him that.

But you ought to live here. And you ought to live here full time.

And you shouldn't have what seem to be kooky--or worse--ideas. 

As mayor, you would have to lead all of the city. Everyone would have to come along with you. That means being with and behind you on your ideas.

Too often, it seemed Mr. Chastain had his own, very headstrong ideas but that much of the metropolis wasn't with him on them. I could be wrong on this but I don't think so.

So with this, Mr. Chastain, I think it's safe to say, again, for most of the area, maybe thank you for your thoughts and ideas and efforts. Thank you for those intentions. We wish you well.

Now, go, enjoy retirement.

Wherever you live.

Right Wing, Republican Party Extremism Coming Out of Jefferson City Lately

Have you seen some of the headlines lately, coming out of our very Republican, Right Wing, wackjob state capitol and government? Here are just a few and from the past few days.

Missouri lawmakers approve Bible class in public schools

"A bill passed by the Missouri House would allow school districts to offer the Bible as an elective class."

Clearly not familiar with church and state being "separate", for starters. They'd be the first to criticize some Middle Eastern, Muslim country for having religion in government but boy howdy, do they want theirs in ours.

And this is just the beginning of their Right Wing insanity.

Missouri Senate Votes to Nullify Federal Gun Control 

They need to Google the Supremacy Clause. (Link below).

All the "good old boys" got together for this one. Every Goober for 200 miles. And it shows. But wait...

Missouri Lawmaker Files Bills Requiring Some Residents To Own AR-15s, Handguns

A law.

Requiring--REQUIRING--Missourians to own a gun. Required to BUY a gun. Required to buy an AR-15, a semi-automatic weapon.

Insane.

Keep in mind, of course, this is all from the political party that says it's for "small government." God forbid they had any restraint.

And God help us.

Better yet, folks. Vote. Vote and never miss a vote. And vote these people out.

Link:

Supremacy Clause

Another Plea to All Local Media--On This Mayoral Race

The topic is Kansas City Mayor.

The election for a new one, after Sly James terms, is coming up, of course, April 2. Weeks away.

All I personally know is that there are at least several people running for the position. This is most of them, I understand

I've seen a few names. I've gotten some mail from a few but really, I've no idea who's running, who they are, what they stand for or what they say they will stand and work for.

I know Clay Chastain threw his proverbial hat in the ring. That's all I need to know about him.

And Jolie Justus. I know she's running and from where she's coming, mostly, since she's been around the area for some time.

I did a cursory Google search today and found this, thankfully, from our local NPR station, KCUR:

Here's Who's Running For Mayor Of Kansas City, Missouri

But if you go there, you'll see they are extremely brief descriptions of the candidates, of one small paragraph. That's it. It is also, brief as it is, the most complete description of these candidates I've been able to find. That's sad.

I don't think our Star newspaper has run articles on all the candidates yet. I don't see every daily paper but I do check in regularly.

There are a couple more links on the interwebs, from national sources:

Mayoral election in Kansas City, Missouri (2019) - Ballotpedia

According to that link, above, there are officially 11 candidates in the race. Six of those candidates are currently on the City Council. Three are on the Council for their first terms--Alissia Canady, Jolie Justus and Quinton Lucas. Two are second-term candidates--Jermaine Reed and Scott Taylor while Scott Wagner is currently Mayor Pro Tem.

2019 Kansas City mayoral election - Wikipedia

The Star did run this piece:

Newcomers to 2019 KC mayoral race most active fundraisers

This is helpful, of course, but it more tells of their fundraising than anything, of course. It's important, sure, but still doesn't tell what they stand for and say they're going to work for in the office. It is also an extremely brief article. If that tells us anything, it's that the one candidate, City Council member and candidate Scott Taylor has the most money behind him and by a long shot. (This may make him the defacto winner. We'll see, of course). Another interesting thing coming from that article is that it doesn't even mention Clay Chastain. 

Finally, Flatland KC ran this online article.

What You Need to Know About KC's Mayoral Election

It gives the most perfunctory information, with links to the candidates own websites so again, it's up to you, the reader and voter to chase down any and all information.

So my question. Is any news media out there--KCUR, KCPT, the Star, Mike Shanin and his program "Ruckus", Steve Kraske and his, anyone, anyone doing any in-depth interviews and research on these people and who they are and where they come from and what they stand for and what they say they'll work for as mayor?

I surely hope there is. If someone's seen or heard something, please let me know. I want and need to know, before the election, just as we all do here in the area. 

It's coming down to election time. We need to know.

With the Star having famously/infamously and recently slashed its staff, it seems unlikely we'll now get this kind of article and coverage, however important.

Seems like the perfect program for KCPT, doesn't it? "Meet the Candidates"?

KCPT? Thoughts?

Link:

Meanwhilere's the scary part. The honestly, deeply scary part.

As Newspapers Close, Role of Government Watchdog Disappears

An Open Letter to Davis Hammet, KCUR, KCPT, Steve Kraske, The Kansas City Star and All Kansans

So yes, first of all, this is going to be an open letter and it's to several entities so thanks for your patience and I'll do my best to be brief but first, an introduction.

Davis Hammet is a young man living in Kansas, Topeka, to be exact, who moved here--from Florida, I believe--because he felt like it was important and there was work to do. So move he did.

He was and is a political science student (not unlike yours truly) so he knows a bit of what should and should not and can and cannot happen in government.

So he came here and began his work.

His work is educating now-fellow Kansans on their state government at all levels, trying to get more "average people" involved and by so doing, getting to more justice, fairness and some equality in the state.

Noble goals.

With that brief introduction, the open letters.

Mr. Hammet,

Thank you, first, for coming to Kansas.

I don't know how you picked this state or how you came here but thank you and thank goodness you did. Your work, already, in the presumably short time you've been here has been pretty monumental. With your research and time spent at the State Capitol in Topeka and writing and videos you have gotten a great deal of information out to Kansas and Kansans they wouldn't otherwise have and in a very quick, informative, palatable and apparently complete format.

I thank you and I don't even live in Kansas.

What you're doing is extremely important---and helpful. You're making big changes and all for the people.

So now to KCUR, KCPT, Steve Kraske, The Kansas City Star and all the Kansans out there.

You media sources need to have Mr. Hammet on your programs AND BADLY. All one need do is see his brief, concise, very informative YouTube videos (see some below) on his organization, LOUD LIGHT, and you can tell he is a serious young man doing some terrific work and he's extremely informed. This man is headed places.

So please, please have him on your programs, Interview him, write about him, let him speak. He is a voice of the people. Whether Right Wing or Left, Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Independent, it's difficult to be against someone who is merely reporting good, hard, timely information on the state government and who wants justice for his fellow citizens.

So again, Mr. Hammet, thank you. Thank you very deeply and sincerely. Thank you for your work, your energy and the information you give us. Thank you for your intentions. Thank you for coming to Kansas and the Midwest.

Missouri badly needs someone very like you in Jefferson City.

Heck, every state in the nation does.

And Kansas, you are very, very fortunate. Congratulations on your "acquisition." You are very fortunate indeed. You need to know and follow this young man.

Links:

Just some of his YouTube videos, reporting on the Kansas Statehouse.













Additional links:

Loud Light

Loud Light - Home | Facebook

Loud Light (@loud_light) | Twitter

Loud Light - YouTube

We Must Get the Big, Ugly Money Out of Our Election System and Government

Jennifer Lawrence says what I've been saying for at least a few years.



Don't let anyone say or tell you we can't do this.

We can and must.

It has to come from us.

Links:

Get the Big, Ugly Money Out of Our Election System and Government

End corruption. Defend the Republic. | RepresentUs

My Valentine

In case you've never seen it.



Happy Valentine's Day, everyone.

How Much Do We Have to Lose Across the Planet Until We Accept Climate Change?

Did you see this?

Did you see how many head of cattle, alone, were lost recently in Australia, with their flooding?

Queensland floods: 500,000 Cattle Survived Years-Long Drought Only to Die in the Rain

500,000 head of cattle--or more, if you read the article--died last week in the flooding in Australia.

And this doesn't include all the other animal life that died in their scorching heat waves in the last month. I posted on this earlier.

Australia's Heat Wave Has Been Devastating For Animals

Australia's Heat Wave Is Taking A Toll On People, Animals

'Boiled' Bats Fall from Sky in Australian Heat Wave

Stifling Heat Wave Descends on Australia, Killing Dozens of Horses

And that's just Australia, of late. Check out what it's done in California last year.

California: Wildfires losses at $3.3 billion

Then there is around the world.

2018 Global Disasters Cost $160 Billion

At what point do the climate change deniers actually look, recognize the losses and damage and agree with us we need to do things to change?

What more does it have to take?

What Is It With Republicans Undoing Voters', Constituents' Expressed Wishes?

Time and again both in Missouri and across the nation, Republicans have been shown to be working to undo things their constituents already voted on. It's happening right now, right here in Missouri.

Defying voters, Missouri House Passes ‘Radical Undermining’ of Open Records Law

Missouri Legislators Trying to Change Open Records Law; Critics Say They Are Gutting It

We Missourians all voted to have more openness in our government and to know what's going on in it. Those pesky Republicans want nothing to do with it so they're working to undo our vote.

There is, fortunately, just one little problem with their trying to undo the voters' will, at least this time.

Lawmakers rush to undo ‘Clean Missouri’ Open Records Reform. 

That’s Unconstitutional

But it's not just here in Missouri. Republicans in other states, too, have, time and again, gone against their own constituents, gone against the will of the people, the popular vote, people be damned.

This is from last month.

Missouri's GOP Governor is Trying to Block Voter-Approved Limits on lobbyists, gerrymandering

This is happening now, too.

Utah Republicans Poised to Undo Voter-Approved Medicaid Expansion

We know they want to do the will of their already-wealthy sponsors/donors--owners?--and corporations that give them big campaign money but go against our own stated will? Go against the people?

How long are we going to put up with this, folks?

How long are we going to tolerate this?

Link:

Get the Big, Ugly Money Out of Our Election System and Government

Oh, Yeah. Tax the Already-Wealthy

I am, in fact, in favor of what some people claim to be a new thought of eliminating the possibility of being a billionaire, I have to say. Strongly in favor.

For anyone who knows me, this will come as no surprise.

If you're worth 999 million dollars---isn't that enough?

What could you possibly want that isn't attainable for you at that level of wealth?

Jeff Bezos of Amazon, et. al, is worth an estimated $130.7 billion dollars.

Not only that, but he had to be recently publicly shamed into giving his employees a raise up to a whopping $15 per hour. And even then, he took some away from their benefits plan. That is some chutzpah.

Seriously.

That is insane.

And immoral. Just obscene.

There are people, not just in your own nation but across the planet that are hungry, indeed, starving, literally, homeless and a lot more--but you need, somehow, a billion dollars? And/or more?

Really?

Besides the poor of the nation and world, we should all keep in mind, as has been said elsewhere, many times, that when the US was collecting 90% and 70% taxes of the uber-wealthy, we were a far stronger nation, we built a national highway system and went to the moon, among all else.

So yeah, let's do this.

Links:

Yes, Tax the Rich. But Do It Right

Fact Sheet: Taxing Wealthy Americans 

Tax the rich: Millionaires' tax popular among public

Poll: Majority approve of Warren wealth tax

Rich Class fighting 99%, winning big-time 

For Those Who Don't Believe in Global Warming and/or Climate Change

For any out there who may still not believe in or accept that the planet is warming and that human activity is having a large role in all of it, please read on. For starters, this winter, this was the middle of last month, January, while much of our nation was in a deep freeze.

Australia heatwave reaches it peak with record temperatures

Australia suffers through searing temperatures

Australia's Heat Wave Is Taking A Toll On People, Animals

Dozens of wild horses die of thirst in Australia's heatwave

Australia: Heat Wave Causes Overheated Bat Die-Off

Hundreds of flying foxes die in searing Australian heat

Naturally, it wasn't simply Australia that was blistering hot, either.

Heat wave scorches Southern Hemisphere with record-shattering temps

Still Australia, this article posted 6 days ago, as if the heat and their losses from it weren't enough.

20,000 homes feared lost in Australia floods

Remember last Summer and the record California wildfires?

California Wildfire Insurance Claims Total $11.4 Billion

We're very familiar with the Polar Vortex that effected so much of our nation in the last few weeks.

Making Sense of the Polar Vortex and Record Cold on a Feverish Planet

This is taking place presently.

Winter storm dumps record snow on Seattle, Pacific Northwest with more to come

Seattle normally gets 0.7 inches of snow per year. A few weeks ago, they got nearly 2 inches. Now, today, they got another 10 inches and as the headline shows, they are apparently going to get still more. Seattle wasn't alone, of course.

Yakima gets 10 inches of snow in winter blast

Then there's the overall picture.

2018 was 4th hottest year on record for the globe

This year is no better and we're not even 1/4 of the way into it..

2019 may be the warmest year on record

Then that's having predictable effects, of course.

Arctic permafrost is melting faster than predicted

Arctic sea ice is vanishing far faster than anyone thought

Finally, if that all isn't enough on our planet, there is this. When all else is deniable or ignored, there is the CO2, the carbon dioxide levels in our planet's atmosphere that comes from what we humans are pumping into it.

Let's do something before it's too late. 

Some things.

How about it?

Catholics Hit a New Low

We've known Catholic leaders, mostly Priests, have abused children and students and not for just years, which would be horrible enough, not just decades--even more frightening--but for hundreds of years. Centuries. Catholic leaders have been abusing, sexually abusing children of the Church and for centuries.

It's a fact.

Stunning and unforgivable as all that is, it's a documented fact.

And it's across not just a nation.

Not just nations.

Not just a continent.

But across continents.

Across the world.

And again, for centuries.

It should be unbelievable.

Sadly, very, very sadly, it's not unbelievable.

Far from it.

Now, the impossible has happened.

It's gotten worse.

Much worse.

They've outdone themselves. There's another new discovery, this week.

Pope admits clerical abuse of nuns including sexual slavery

It is stunning the continuing revelations that seem to take place within this Church. 

You wouldn't think you could outdo abusing children. But they've done it.

Here's hoping there are no further revelations out there from these people (no pun intended).

Hopefully this is the last, worst thing they'll have to also admit to.

At what point, Catholics, are you going to say "Enough!"

At what point are you people going to rein these people in?

Suddenly, People Caring About the East Side

We all know now what happened on the City Council this week.

Kansas City Council Renames The Paseo For Martin Luther King

Kansas City Council votes to rename The Paseo

The City Council of Kansas City, Missouri voted this week to have the name of The Paseo changed to Martin Luther King Boulevard, of course.

Stunningly, all of a sudden, people, lots of white people, who are never over there, are suddenly lamenting the name and name change.

We segregate an entire race on the East side of the city and for decades, at least, and by very discriminatory laws, make sure they go to crappy schools, are paid less and don't have good access to  better-paying jobs or transportation but by God, suddenly name a street over there something else and people start getting bent out of shape about something not in their own area.

Those people over there.

How dare they?

Entertainment Overnight

That voice.

Once Again, They Show Missouri for Kansas

Yes sir and ma’am, once again, there is an online article, this one describing weekend winter getaways and they show Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri as being Kansas.

The Best Weekend Trips to Take This Winter 

in Every State

What they show for Kansas.

I love the media.

And while I don't want to be mean, I feel pretty certain, for a winter getaway in Kansas, they don't mean get away to Kansas City, Kansas.

Just saying.

Then, when it comes to Missouri, they recommend a Winter getaway of Branson.

I have no idea what they're supposed to be showing here, from Branson but at least, hey, they stayed in the state, right? And got it correct?

Hilarious.  I love it.

So to have a great weekend getaway in Kansas----get outta’ the state.

Right.

I’m sure Convention and Visitors Bureaus all across Kansas will love that.

Last note: On no other state or recommendation did they get the state and corresponding picture and recommendation incorrect regarding that state’s getaway.

To Be Clear: There Is No Immigration Crisis at the Border

Let's look at the facts.

This was from December, 2017, a year ago.

Arrests For Illegal Border Crossings 

Hit 46-Year Low

Last Summer, June, 2018

Border Crossings Have Been Declining for Years

Also June last year, from Forbes Magazine.

There Is No Crisis At The Border - 

And DHS Stats Prove It

November 27, 2018, just this past Fall.

Undocumented immigration population in USA reaches 12-year low

Backing that last one up, this is from the same month and the very Right Wing Wall Street Journal.

Illegal Immigration to the U.S. Hit a Low Point in 2016

Let's be clear, folks. Let's put this to rest. 

There is no crisis at the Southern border of any kind and we certainly don't need to be spending 5 billion dollars on a wall---that would be ineffectual, to boot.

Do we need immigration reform?  Absolutely.

Have the Republicans in Congress been fighting it for years?

Yes sir and ma'am, they absolutely have. But no one is telling that story.

Meanwhile, look what this Republican Party's tantrum may do to us here in the country.

US shutdown leads Fitch to send Triple-A rating warning

And here's what it and he is doing to government employees.

'I'm Scared': TSA Families 

Fear Falling Behind On Bills

The credit rating company Fitch has publicly warned today that we, the US, risk losing our AAA credit rating because of this Republican Party government shutdown, should it continue. Meanwhile, this Republican Party President warned he would be only too willing to let the shutdown go on for weeks or even months.

What the heck?

He's always gotten his way up to now so why shouldn't this, too, go his way?

Right?

Finally, not even the people down there at the Southern border think there's any crisis.

Border Residents Remain Skeptical About The Need For An Expanded Wall

No wall.

Let's be done with this, get the government back open and people and the nation working again.

On the Way to the Super Bowl...

Check out the latest article on the NFL playoff games and who may be going to the Super Bowl.

Ranking the possible Super Bowl LIII matchups

In four of these, the pick is our Chiefs, with the number one pick being Chiefs vs. Rams!

16. Colts vs. Rams: Nothing wrong with Andrew Luck vs. Jared Goff, and this would be a fresh matchup. Just not a lot of sex appeal and the Rams have a limited fan base.

15. Colts vs. Saints: Same deal, except New Orleans has a much larger fan base and wouldn’t be far from home. This is also a rematch of Super Bowl XLIV. Blowout potential is higher than you’d like.

14. Colts vs. Cowboys: What we’re saying is there really are no terrible potential matchups left. Nothing wrong with these two teams, and the Cowboys are the Cowboys — very popular and very polarizing. But neither team feels Super Bowl-worthy this year.

13. Chiefs vs. Cowboys: This would be fun, but there’s not much to it and Kansas City would be a clear-cut favorite.

12. Chargers vs. Cowboys: This is basically on the same level as Kansas City-Dallas, except the Chargers are chasing their first-ever Super Bowl on the back nine of Philip Rivers’ career and there’s a better chance this would be a close game.

11. Chargers vs. Eagles: Everything we just said about the Chargers, but now you’ve got the Nick Foles magic and Philadelphia chasing back-to-back championships — something nobody has done in the last decade.

10. Colts vs. Eagles: Andrew Luck and the Colts might be slightly more of a draw than the Bolts.

9. Chargers vs. Saints: Philip Rivers vs. predecessor Drew Brees would be interesting, but I’d be concerned about a potential New Orleans blowout. The Saints would practically be at home against a team that lacks a fan base.

8. Chargers vs. Rams: Even though the two franchises lack large fan bases, a battle between two teams from the same city would be pretty damn fantastic.

7. Chiefs vs. Eagles: Philly going for the repeat against the league’s highest-scoring team in a battle between former colleagues Andy Reid and Doug Pederson.

6. Patriots vs. Rams: Can the Patriots beat the team they defeated in their first Super Bowl in order to win their sixth?

5. Patriots vs. Cowboys: This would be a freakin’ ratings bonanza for CBS. Quite possibly the two highest-profile teams in the NFL, but I’d fear a New England blowout.

4. Chiefs vs. Saints: Patrick Mahomes vs. Drew Brees in a battle between the league’s two most valuable players, and it’d probably be close.

3. Patriots vs. Saints: Tom Brady and Drew Brees are two of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history, and you’d have an interesting dynamic with New England chasing its sixth Lombardi Trophy in essentially a road game only 400 miles from New Orleans.

2. Patriots vs. Eagles: This would mark only the second time in NFL history in which teams met in back-to-back Super Bowls, and this one would be especially intriguing because Philly is once again led by Nick Foles while the Patriots are trying to bolster their incredible legacy.

And the one we really want to see:

1. Chiefs vs. Rams: When they met during the regular season, the two most lethal offensive teams in the NFL only combined for 105 points in the first-ever NFL game in which both teams scored 50.

...with Chiefs going all the way, naturally.

GO CHIEFS!!