Tax cuts for the rich didn’t trickle down, new study shows

Isn’t it about high time for some sociopolitical explor-i-mentation, America?

Fifty Years of Tax Cuts for Rich Didn’t Trickle Down, Study Says – Bloomberg

By Craig Stirling December 15, 2020, 4:01 PM PST

•  Paper looks at fiscal policies in 18 countries over 50 years

IS THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT OVER?🤔 | For Seekers & Other Heretics (wordpress.com)

What lies ahead?

From a 9-21-2020 text message to a Japanese lady believer in Tokyo:

So many conflicting forces and trends are tearing at the social fabric of America. The news is filled with conflicting, sometimes contradictory stories not to mention skewed and even fabricated news segments and social media posts. I am however seeing one trend surface among some genuine believers: prophetic insights into what is coming which agree with scriptures and are not self-serving. One example:  Messianic Rabbi Herschberg (Beth Yeshua International in Macon, Georgia) has stated that the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) showed him that “after November” God is going to create situations that will cause believers to confront their own immorality, greed, corruption, racism and such both in America (and beyond) and then do likewise with many nonbelievers throughout the world (Rabbi Herschberg said “All that can be shaken will be shaken”). I surmise this move of God will result in many believers being convicted of gross sins and then called to repent and commit to obey his commandments. Other prophetically gifted preachers and teachers have been told (by God) the same exact thing. I too have had convictions well up within me that confirm what these men are saying. I have also seen in my spirit an image that comes out of the book

of Revelations: a white horse being readied to ride across the world. I have seen this quite vividly and even witnessed its bridle and other gear being secured in place which means this horse is being readied to be mounted and ridden. I have also seen in my spirit a menorah being lit. This is what I believe this is telling me and all who will receive it: by the time Hanukkah unfolds this year many believers will experience Holy Spirit empowerment and gifting in order to do the things God has for them to do in life. This interior conviction and image preceded comments by Rabbi Herschberg concerning the fact God is going to equip genuine believers and followers of Yeshua with what they need to shine as lights in a world rapidly sinking into darkness and chaos.

The American experiment: recovery, revolution or resignation (to decline & fall)?

As I put fingers to keyboard (August 2020) it is very evident that America is in very deep trouble. Our chickens have come home to roost. While debates rage about the exact nature and extend of the sins, unredressed wrongs, bad policies, corruption, inequality, racism and xenophobia and such that landed us in such dire straits, and how to address or remedy them, I for one am convinced that neither a left or right wing sociopolitical revolution will have a good outcome. Nor will scraping everything up to and including the Constitution and starting over “from scratch” (The French Committee of Public Safety dictatorship tried their hand at radically reinventing France’s social, economic & political order including introducing a secular Republican calendar and dechristianizing France. These extreme reforms paved the way for the Reign of Terror).   

And, mind you, I am a democratic socialist. I’ve been one since 1986. But I also know how often revolutions meant to liberate “the people” – especially those that took place in the last century – wound up suppressing dissent and even eliminating dissenters (and other “undesirables”) by often cruel, inhuman means.

In light of human nature as reflected in history, it is difficult to imagine that any revolution-spawned modern day government, no matter how benign its intentions, will be able to resist relying on sophisticated surveillance, cyber warfare and AI technologies to “manage” its people and fend off its enemies (Real or imagined/contrived).

The loss of civic virtue and the fall of the Roman Empire (and perhaps America as well)

Who among you has not read an editorial, op-ed piece or commentary that points out alarming parallels between America and the Roman Empire in decline? Do you believe America’s sun is setting? And if so, why? Is it the shift from democratic republic to oligarchy and/or plutocracy? Loss of our moral bearings? Rampant fear and paranoia? Racism? Xenophobia? Religious intolerance? Other evils? I’m sure you have your own pet theory. Is loss of civic virtue on your list? If not, why not? Need convincing that this belongs there? Then drop down, click the mp3 link under Rabbi David Wolpe’s name, and listen to his powerful sermon.

January
Mishpatim : Why Rome Fell and We Might, Too
keywords: Anton Chekhov, Benjamin Guggenheim, Christianity, civic virtue, Constantinople, Edward Gibbon, Egypt, Herman Cohen, John Jacob Astor, John Lukatz, lead, Mishpatim, physician Roman Empire, Rome Titanic, Tucson
January 29, 2011
Rabbi David Wolpe
mp3
drash – Rabbi Nicole Guzik
mp3

A Post-Racial America? Think again!

If you harbor the notion that America is a land of racial equality prepare to be disabused of this. In “Goodbye to my American dream” (Salon.com) a bright, well educated, personable young writer named Tiffanie Drayton lays out how utterly un-post racial  America is (We American Indians also have experience with this, but that’s another story). In her insightful article Miss Tiffanie states:

My relationship with the United States of America is the most tumultuous relationship I have ever had, and it ended with the heart-rending realization that a country I loved and believed in did not love me back.  

Click the picture to your left or this link to read Miss Tiffanies’ wake-up call: http://www.salon.com/2013/07/16/goodbye_to_my_american_dream/

You can follow Tiffanie on Twitter at https://twitter.com/draytontiffanie (I heartily recommend you avail yourself of her comments, insights & sharing from the heart)