January 20, 2021–The Beginning of the End?

When President Barack Obama (D-USA) was inaugurated, I wished him luck.

I also said this:

I am thrilled that my daughters (now 2 and 5) will grow up in a world where a black man has been elected President. While that is a reason for celebration, a better reason for celebration would be that it’s non-news, and that no one cares whether the President is black or white or green with purple polka-dots. I don’t see that event coming anytime soon, much to my dismay.

Hopefully this does represent a milestone in race relations and a sign that one’s race is unimportant in America. I have my doubts, but will continue to have cautious optimism on that front.

And, since I realize that I never got around to it back in November, congratulations, President Barack Obama (D-USA). Your hard fought campaign and victory has earned my respect and admiration. Keeping them is up to you.

So, while I had my doubts about an Obama Presidency, I tried to find causes for optimism. I did not wish him to fail. I want all Presidents to succeed, if success is defined as improving life in our country.

I had serious doubts about him, most of which turned out to be justified. But on this day, 12 years ago, I tried to convey a message of hope, and to have hope myself.

I have no such delusions regarding the next four years. Joe Biden is going to be a failure as a President and the country is going to suffer for it, possibly irreparably.

January 20, 1981

52 American hostages are freed after being held in captivity for 444 days in Iran.

Coincidentally, President Ronald Reagan (R-USA) is sworn in on this day.

The Relentless Attack on Conservative Thought Continues

Today’s blacklisted conservative: Lawyer who represented Trump fired by university (behindtheblack.com)

Chapman University President Daniele Struppa promptly denounced Eastman for engaging in constitutionally protected free speech. Struppa accused Eastman in a Jan. 8 statement of playing “a role in the tragic events in Washington, D.C., that jeopardized our democracy. … Eastman’s actions are in direct opposition to the values and beliefs of our institution. He has now put Chapman in the position of being publicly disparaged for the actions of a single faculty member, and for what many call my failure to punish and fire him,” Struppa wrote.

The Left is coming for you. Even if you’re a “good American”, eventually you’ll slip. And they’ll get you.

This Alone Should Disqualify Her from Holding Office

Treasury nominee Yellen: U.S. can afford higher corporate tax if it coordinates globally (cnbc.com)

This is code for “if we can get other countries to also raise their taxes so there will be no safe havens, we can destroy ways of hiding corporate money from us”.

I’ve said it many times. Corporate taxes are completely regressive. They’re just about the most horrible thing possible for the economy and the citizens. They are effectively just an additional expense to the company that gets passes on to:

1. Consumers – in terms of higher prices
2. Shareholders – in terms of lower dividends
3. Employees – in terms of lower wages and benefits

History has shown us that the biggest one of these by far is #3, and the smallest is #2. So, if you are an employee of a corporation or a consumer of the products and services of a corporation, higher corporate taxes directly affect you in a negative way.

The only fair corporate tax rate is Zero. You want the economy to explode like gangbusters, drop the rate significantly. It worked for Trump. You want to kill the economy? Raise the rate significantly.

This is simple math, and well known, even to Keynesians.

So, why would a Treasury Secretary deliberately try to destroy the economy?

Good question.

 

This is what you voted for. #IToldYouSo.

January 19, 1809

Edgar Allan Poe is born.

 

I’d Laugh if it weren’t Just So Very Sad

This is an actual headline at The Hill.

Biden's climate plan will not address gender and racial inequality | TheHill

Ok, even if you believe that gender and racial inequality are problems that need to be addressed, you’d have to be a complete idiot to think that a climate plan would be the vehicle for such a thing.

Biden and the Keystone XL Pipeline

Biden indicates plans to cancel Keystone XL pipeline permit on 1st day in office, sources confirm | CBC News

There’s really no reason to do this unless you’re just being a d*ck.

There’s no scientific reason for it. The EPA studies showed that it is not a threat to the environment.

It will help the economy both Canada and the United States, and create thousands of jobs.

It’s not even really going to cost us anything.

The only reason to cancel the project is to cater to the hard left wing of your party.

Brilliant start to your Presidency, Joe.

Federal Holiday Trumps Need for Vaccinations

Covid Vaccine Takes A Day Off - Victory Girls Blog

Americans have been treated to messages of fear, doom, and gloom since March. We’ve also seen far too many examples of ‘do as I say, not as I do’ when it comes to the lockdowns. Since November we’ve been treated an endless ‘vaccine will save us all! It is imperative that you get vaccinated!’ string of messages. Los Angeles, one of the strictest lockdown areas in the country, has seen a major surge in cases in the last few weeks. Even as we receive message after message about getting the vaccine as soon as you can!

Then suddenly we find that Covid vaccination sites will be closed today. Yes indeed, since it is Martin Luther King Day, the Covid vaccine needs a holiday.

 

Call me crazy, but needlessly delaying when a life-saving vaccine is administered to thousands of people does not strike me as the appropriate way to honor Martin Luther King Jr. https://t.co/KkOOQBNCEJ

— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) January 17, 2021

January 18, 1919

Bentley Motors Limited is founded by Walter Owen Bentley.

While touring the DFP automobile factory Walter Owens Bentley noticed an aluminum paperweight and had the idea of using aluminum to produce lighter cylinders. W.O., as he was known, took the idea home to North London and began producing aluminum cylinders for the Sopwith Camel airplane during the Great War. His success in manufacturing led to the founding of Bentley Motors Limited on this day in 1919.

January 17, 1950

The Great Brinks Robbery.

On January 17, 1950 around 7 p.m., the Brink’s building located at 165 Prince Street in Boston, Massachusetts was robbed. The FBI states the men involved “had just committed the ‘crime of the century,’ the ‘perfect crime’” (FBI). “Filling 14 canvas bags with cash, coins, checks and money orders—for a total weight of more than half a ton—the men were out and in their getaway car in about 30 minutes” (History). This was the largest robbery in U.S. history until 1984. The men were trained and prepared extensively for this heist, “casing” the building “for almost two years” (NY Times).

During the robbery, as described by 5 Brink’s employees inside, “a group of armed, masked men emerged, dragging bags containing $1,218,211.29 in cash and $1,557,183.83 in checks, money orders, and other securities” (FBI). With very little evidence, the investigators had little information to find the criminals. Brink’s soon “offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible” (FBI). It was stated that, “in the hours immediately following the robbery, the underworld began to feel the heat of the investigation. Well-known Boston hoodlums were picked up and questioned by police” (FBI). Creating a stir within the community, many were on edge. It wasn’t until Joseph James O’Keefe had confessed to the robbery and ended this manhunt when eight men were found guilty on October 5, 1956.