American Cultural Revolution-Bob Davis Podcast 745

These days the United States is fast becoming a place where you cannot speak your mind. A country founded on free speech faces mob rule. Learn more in American Cultural Revolution-Bob Davis Podcast 745.

A Sea Of Nonsense

Furthermore misinformation and disinformation fill the sea of our thought. Even the news sounds like conspiracy theory. Everything is personal. People expect tolerance but give no quarter.

One Slip Up

Especially relevant is the reality that one slip up can turn a friendly conversation ugly. Consequently I wonder if we’re living through the early stages of what the Chinese went through in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Sure seems like it.

Abuses

During those years in China millions of people suffered a wide range of abuses. Public humiliation, sustained harassment, resettlement and worse. Historic relics and artifacts were destroyed. Religious sites ransacked. Sound familiar?

Political Minefield

Our world today is a political minefield. Stripped bare of decorum and decency. Long gone are the founding concepts protecting the rights of political minorities through free speech and republican government. They have been replaced by the unpredictable grievances of the mob, and its solutions.

Enemy Of The People

Finally the mob doesn’t necessarily have to follow a specific political direction. While one side is driving people out of restaurants the president is telling the country the ‘press is the enemy of the people‘. More shouting and demands.

Labels

Most noteworthy is the penchant for labels that make the old republican and democrat divide quaint. Alt-Right, Democratic Socialist, Populist, White Nationalist, Conservative, Liberal, Right and Left, up and down in a dizzying tornado of deadly serious nonsense.

Setting The People Back Decades

When the Chinese Cultural Revolution finally ended under Deng, the party recognized it had set the country and people back decades. Perhaps the only reason China wasn’t torn apart by Mao sponsored mobs running amok is because it was and is a tyranny. Maybe that is our future.

This Doesn’t End Well So Grow Up

In conclusion, this doesn’t end well. I know it seems like years but Trump has been president for only a year and eight months.  Eventually some test will come up for Donald Trump. The question is whether our politics these days can weather it.

Sponsored by Water Butler Water Purification Systems and Reliafund Payment Processors

American Cultural Revolution-Bob Davis Podcast 745

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Without Air Conditioning-Reading More News-Midnight Walk Talk-Bob Davis Podcast 738

Some people turn off their air conditioning as some kind of statement. I just don’t like air conditioning and it doesn’t matter how hot it is. It’s perfectly still outside at midnight. Storms on the way. Time for a walk and talk podcast in Summer Without Air Conditioning-Reading More News-Midnight Walk Talk-Bob Davis Podcast 738.

Back To Reading

These days in my world I feel the need to start reading in depth again. During my talk radio days it wasn’t uncommon to read two to three hundred pages of information a day. Most noteworthy here is podcasting doesn’t require that level of prep. Unfortunately you lose the detail on key issues.

So it’s back to scanning, printing and reading. I feel like I am in summer school!

Two Big Stories

In Summer Without Air Conditioning-Reading More News-Midnight Walk Talk-Bob Davis Podcast 738 we’ll take a look at two big developing stories with an eye toward pointing out how story lines force us to anticipate outcomes rather than waiting until a story plays out.

Telling Us What’s Going To Happen Again

It has been a week since the president slapped tariffs on US trading partners. There has been no measurable economic effect to this date but that doesn’t stop commentators and reporters from telling us how Trump’s actions are already ‘having an economic effect’.

In addition the president’s comments on NATO are generating all kinds of talk. What’s going to happen? Why don’t we wait and see?

No Information Means Shouting Matches Not Conversations

Do you feel confident discussing trade and international defense agreements with strangers? Maybe it’s because you don’t have enough information.

Finally if we’re being fed a constant stream of speculation with no real information, is it any wonder our conversations about issues turn into shouting matches?

Join me on the walk and talk as the storms roll in and we’ll talk it out.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul and Reliafund Payment Processors

Summer Without Air Conditioning-Reading More News-Midnight Walk Talk-Bob Davis Podcast 738

Trump Foreign Trade Fight-Free Trade-Protection-Bob Davis Podcast 737

President Trump slapped tax increases on goods imported to the US from Europe, China, Mexico and Canada. Our trading partners retaliated with their own tariffs. Now what? Find out in Trump Foreign Trade Fight-Free Trade-Protection-Bob Davis Podcast 737.

What Is A Tariff Anyway?

Finally someone has defined what a tariff is. Moreover you might be surprised to learn the history of trade legislation in the United States goes back to 1789.

These days we are awash in charges and counter charges in the media. Trade Wars and Rumors of Trade Wars. This kind of coverage doesn’t serve anyone.

1945 Looms Large In Trade Discussions

Most noteworthy is the impact of World War 2 and the advent of nuclear weapons in 1945. Since then, trade deals have been  considered central to keeping the peace and stabilizing the world.

Trade Has Been A Political Football since Hamilton

Trade has been regional and national issue in the United States in every political era. None other than Alexander Hamilton was an advocate of high taxes on imports going back to 1789.

Trump A Throw Back To The 1840’s?

Moreover tariffs were an issue in local and national politics in the US until the introduction of the Income Tax in 1913. Is President Trump a throw back to the 1840’s? Find out in Trump Foreign Trade Fight-Free Trade-Protection-Bob Davis Podcast 737.

NAFTA China Mercantilism Free Trade

We hear so much in the news about trade but few of us understand it. China. NAFTA. Mercantilism. Trade Protection. Free Trade. As citizens we need to make informed decisions about what is best for each of us individually and the country. With all the noise about trade it’s almost impossible for people to do that.

Especially Relevant Today As It Was Back In The Day

In conclusion with yet another new trade bill in the offing the question of whether the US should protect its markets or open them is as relevant today as it was in 1789.

Sponsored by Reliafund Payment Processors and Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Trump Foreign Trade Fight-Free Trade-Protection-Bob Davis Podcast 737