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Drew Sheneman, The Star-Ledger
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LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN
October 22, 2024
Heather Cox Richardson
Oct 23, 2024
Former president Trump’s closing economic argument for the American people is that putting a high tariff wall around the country will bring in so much foreign money that it will fund domestic programs and bring down the deficit, enabling massive tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations.
Vice President Kamala Harris’s closing economic argument is that the government should invest in the middle class by permitting Medicare to pay for in-home health aides for the elderly, cutting taxes for small businesses and families, and passing a federal law against price gouging for groceries during emergencies.
The two candidates are presenting quite stark differences in the futures they propose for the American people.
Trump has indicated his determination to take the nation’s economy back to that of the 1890s, back to a time when capital was concentrated among a few industrialists and financiers. This world fits the idea of modern Republicans that the government should work to protect the economic power of those on the “supply side” of the economy with the expectation that they will be able to invest more efficiently in the market than if they were regulated by business or their money taken by taxation.
Trump has said he thinks the word “tariff” is as beautiful as “love” or “faith” and has frequently praised President William McKinley, who held office from 1897 to 1901, for leading the U.S. to become, he says, the wealthiest it ever was. Trump attributes that wealth to tariffs, but unlike leaders in the 1890s, Trump refuses to acknowledge that tariffs do not bring in money from other countries. The cost of tariffs is borne by American consumers.
The industrialists and Republican lawmakers who pushed high tariffs in the 1890s were quite open that tariffs are a tax on ordinary Americans. In 1890, Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World complained about the McKinley Tariff that raised average tariffs to 49.5%. “Under the McKinley Act the people are paying taxes of nearly $20,000,000 and a much larger sum in bounties to Carnetic, Phipps & Co., and their fellows, for the alleged purpose of benefiting the wage-earners,” it wrote, even as the powerful companies slashed wages.
Today, on CNBC’s Squawk Box, senior economics reporter Steve Liesman noted that the conservative American Enterprise Institute has called out Trump’s proposed tariffs as a tax hike on American consumers of as much as $3.9 trillion.
Together with Trump’s promise to make deep cuts or even to end income taxes on the wealthy and corporations, his economic plan will dramatically shift the burden of supporting the country from the very wealthy to average Americans, precisely the way the U.S. economy worked until 1913, when the revenue act of that year lowered tariffs and replaced the lost income with an income tax.
That shifting of the economic burden of the country downward showed in another way yesterday, as well, when the Committee for a Responsible Budget noted that Trump’s economic plans would hasten the insolvency of Social Security trust funds by three years, from 2034 to 2031, and would lead to dramatic cuts.
Harris’s plan explicitly rejects the supply-side economics of the past and moves forward the policies of the Biden administration that work to make sure the “demand side” of the economy, or consumers, has access to money and opportunity. Those policies, discredited by the ideologues of the Reagan revolution, had proven their success between 1933 and 1981 and have again delivered, achieving the nation’s extraordinary post-pandemic economic growth.
The International Monetary Fund underlined that growth again today when it outlined that the nation’s surge of investment under the Biden administration has attracted private investment, all of which is paying off in higher productivity, higher wages, and higher stock prices, enabling the U.S. to pull ahead of the world’s other advanced economies.
And it is continuing to deliver. Yesterday the Federal Trade Commission’s final rule banning fake online reviews and testimonials that mislead consumers and hurt real businesses went into effect. Today the Department of Health and Human Services reported that in the first half of 2024, nearly 1.5 million people with Medicare Part D saved almost $1 billion in out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs thanks to the drug negotiations authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Harris has expanded that plan to focus on small businesses and families. In addition to her plan to permit start-ups to deduct $50,000 in costs rather than the current $5,000 and to cut taxes for families by extending the Child Tax Credit, she has called for raising the corporate tax rate to 28%, lower than it was before the Trump tax cuts and lower than the rate President Joe Biden proposed in his 2024 budget. She has proposed $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers and promised to work with the private sector to build 3 million new housing units by the end of her first term.
Her recent proposal to enable Medicare to pay for home health aides has flown largely under the radar, although it would be a major benefit to many Americans. She proposes to pay for that benefit with additional savings from drug price negotiations. By keeping seniors in their homes longer, it would save families from having to meet the high cost of residential care.
Yesterday the White House proposed an expansion of the Affordable Care Act to make over-the-counter contraceptives free under health plans. Currently, only prescription contraceptives are covered. If the rule is finalized, it would expand contraceptive coverage to the 52 million women of reproductive age covered by private health plans.
As the campaigns enter the last two weeks before the election, the difference between their economic vision is stark.
So, it seems, is the difference between the candidates.
Today, Trump canceled another event, this one a roundtable with Robert Kennedy Jr. and former Democratic representative Tulsi Gabbard, both members of Trump’s transition team, that was supposed to highlight Kennedy’s vision for America’s health and their contributions to the campaign. He later held a rally in North Carolina.
Harris, meanwhile, sat down with Hallie Jackson of NBC News and participated in an interview with Telemundo’s Julio Vaqueiro. Tonight, rapper Eminem introduced former president Barack Obama at a rally for Harris and her running mate, Minnesota governor Tim Walz. Harris’s campaign announced today that on Friday she will campaign in Houston, Texas, where she will emphasize the dangers of abortion bans in the heart of Trump country.
The biggest news about the candidates today, though, appears to be an article by Jeffrey Goldberg in The Atlantic exploring Trump’s disparagement of the U.S. military. Noting that it is an odd thing for a president to remain popular when he is openly dismissive of soldiers and their decorated officers, Goldberg explores Trump’s inability to understand any relationship that is not transactional. He noted Trump’s dismissal of soldiers as “losers,“ his astonishment at how little pay they make, and his dislike of wounded personnel who, he thinks, made him look bad.
Unable to understand the principles of honor or patriotism, Trump could not comprehend that Army generals were loyal to the U.S. Constitution rather than him. He yearned for generals, he said, like those of autocratic rulers. He said he wanted generals like Hitler’s, a leader he sometimes praised. “Do you really believe you’re not loyal to me?” Trump asked then–chief of staff General John Kelly. Kelly was clear: “I’m certainly part of the administration, but my ultimate loyalty is to the rule of law.”
That was not an answer Trump liked. When the generals refused to shoot protesters or deploy U.S. troops against American citizens, Trump screamed: “You are all f*cking losers!”
Finally, General Kelly spoke up himself. In an interview with Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times published tonight, Kelly noted that he had decided not to speak out about Trump unless Trump said something deeply troubling or something that involved Kelly and was wildly inaccurate. For Kelly, Trump’s recent talk about the “enemy within” was dangerous enough that he felt obliged to make a public comment.
The retired U.S. Marine Corps general confirmed that Trump is “certainly the only president that has all but rejected what America is all about, and what makes America America, in terms of our Constitution, in terms of our values, the way we look at everything, to include family and government—he’s certainly the only president that I know of, certainly in my lifetime, that was like that.”
Kelly added that “in his opinion, Mr. Trump met the definition of a fascist, would govern like a dictator if allowed, and had no understanding of the Constitution or the concept of rule of law.”
LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN
HEATHER COX RICHARDSON
#Drew Sheneman#the Star-Ledger#political cartoons#undecided voters#Economy#Heather Cox Richardson#Letters from An American#General Kelly#election 2024#what American is All About#Constitution#the rule of law
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#selfie bee#good evening friends!! how are you doing! C:#I'm very very sleepy I got a new ikea office chair and I build it all myself#I think it went okay! I don't think I pulled the back screw tight enough and now the back is a bit loose#I can probably fix it but I can also ignore it for the next 18 years#thats how long the old chair held up!! in germany it could now drink vodka and drive a car!!#not at the same time that is illegal! not at the same time!! (❁´▽`❁)*✲゚*#but the day is not over yet my uncle asked me for a big art quest and I do not want to disappoint#he wants a muppet tattoo and asked me to draw it#my uncle has started to get tattoos a few months ago#as far as I know he has now gotten 3 note clefs 3 stars a flower and multiple birds#he also started getting piercings but so far I managed not to know exactly where#I think tattoos are super cool (´。・v・。`) I wish I had a good idea for a tattoo but the last time I was very sure about getting a tattoo#it was heath ledgers face as the joker#at that point I was 12 and would not see the actual movie for two more years#a muppet tattoo is a way better idea!! he asked for the count van count! that is also one of my top 3 muppets ₍՞◌′ᵕ‵ू◌₎♡#I always thought I knew a lot about muppet lore but since I started looking up muppet pictures I think there are still a lot of secrets#can the muppets from the Sesame Street actually leave the Sesame Street?#I think Kermit is both on the Muppet Show and on Sesame Street but he is also like the boss muppet#he might have special abilities#I hope you're having a good day friends!! C:#I think I'll post a Sherlock comic later this week#miss you!! ♥♥♥
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"I could fix him"
"I could join him"
I could crochet him a cardigan (what muuuuderr?)
(yes I organized them with the most recognizable at the top, yes I also know the last two are extremely niche and people won't know what I'm talking about, what of it?)
#the dark knight#joker folie a deux#dc joker#heath ledger joker#star wars#starwars fandom#lightsaber#the acolyte#the high republic#high republic#cbc news#james gillies#bucky barnes#tva loki#2012 loki#loki series#loki#thunderbolts#thunderbolts movie#darth maul#lord maul#maul opress#james buchanan barnes#bucky x reader#bucky barns x reader#loki x reader#darth maul x reader#marchion ro#joker x reader#yeah my type is probs 'can't be fixed'
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#hayden christensen#anakin skywalker#aesthetic#girlblogger#girlblogging#girlcore#im just a girl#just girly things#lana del rey#coquette#this is what makes us girls#i love you#cinnamon girl#star wars#paul mescal#model girl#new york#beauty#vintage aesthetic#i love him#heath ledger#kate moss#kpop#jake gyllenhaal#fleabag#madeline argy#model off duty#outfit#uk#y2k
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Heath Ledger, 2002
#heath ledger#00s icons#movie star#camera#photography#aesthetic#vintage#old school cool#style#shoot film
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mr cold feet
#hsredit#honkaiedit#honkai star rail#honkai: star rail#sampo koski#1.1 galactic roaming#everwinter city museum ledger of curiosities - opportunity makes the thief (part 4)#hsr spoilers#long post#*yd
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Making a prequel that takes place five years prior to the events of the film six years after the film’s release is actually very difficult.
Luckily for the creators of ‘Andor’ Diego Luna does not age.
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Its unholy o'clock and im having normal thoughts like about how Bruce and his family were fans of Velvet and Veneer as popstars. Like yes of course he loved their performances, they were using Floyd's talent. Floyd, his little brother with an angelic voice, sensitive star of their band at a young age.
Of course he connected with their music, it was like hearing Floyd's own voice singing after all those years.
Beneath all that glitz and glam, Bruce felt his brother's melody and loved it just as much.
#i am so sleepy and these vouchers and journals and ledgers wont let me sleep#and all i can think of is Bruce wondering why listening to Velvet and Veneer makes him want to harmonize as well#he doesn't want to harmonize with their voices no not really#but there's something#SOMETHING beneath it all that pulls his heart and makes him feel like singing#also throwaway thought but the fact that they're a 'Veneer household'#Veneer. the non-leading twin. the more sensitive twin. the one who sings back up most the time.#yada yada yada Veneer singing lesser but giving off more Floyd vibes yada#oh stars im slepy#trolls#troll band together#trolls bruce#trolls spruce#bruce trolls#spruce trolls#troll veneer#trolls velvet#velvet and veneer#veneer trolls#velvet trolls#floyd#floyd trolls#trolls floyd#brozone
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Buckley's haunting songs are mesmerizing by Ben Horowitz
The Star Ledger - Newark, New Jersey February 28, 1994
Thanks to Terrin Joseph on FB
#jeff buckley#jeffbuckley#terin joseph#newspaper article#ephemera#Buckley's haunting songs are mesmerizing#The Star Ledger - Newark#New Jersey February 28#1994
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#a knight's tale#favourites#movie quotes#gifset#this movie is so good#love#this scene makes me cry#a man can change his stars#heath ledger#alan tudyk#paul bettany#mark addy#laura fraser#shannyn sossamon
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Heath Ledger, 1995
#heath ledger#photoshoot#fashion#magazine#90s#girlblogging#1995#90s movies#film#movie gifs#letterboxd#movie stars#90s film#film photography#cinema#movies#90s actors
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sooooo....
who do y'all think is the dark-haired movie star that jack has a picture of pinned up in his childhood bedroom? 👀
PERSONALLY, I think it's either James Dean or Ricky Nelson. I think the more realistic of the two options is Ricky Nelson, though. I'd love for it to have been James Dean just because a lot of people compare Heath as Ennis to James Dean as Jett Rink in Giant. I'm not so sure if that's based on the performance they give, or if it's based purely on their aesthetics alone, but like. Heath really did have that James Dean cool down as Ennis (if only a slighttt bit more awkward). And I mean...c'mon, look at this picture and tell me that Jack wouldn't, at least for a moment, see Ennis standing outside of Aguirre's office and think immediately of his boyhood crush
No wonder Jack was pulling at any excuse to eye him up lol!!
The only reason I don't think it could realistically be James is bc he was a dirty blond, just like Heath was c': and the short story specifically says it was a dark-haired movie star!
#i have never actually seen this get discussed on the old brokeback forums and i am eager to hear opinions#altho...i'm not sure how many ppl are familiar w hollywood starlets of the 50s and 60s lol 😭#brokeback mountain#ennis del mar#heath ledger#jack twist#jake gyllenhaal#james dean#yes jimmy you get your own tag on this post too...#still brokeback posting#anyways i have a whole like ficlet idea ive been playing w in my head surrounding the dark haired movie star photo besides jacks bed n#i just got curious
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[Anyhow, I sat by your side, by the water. You taught me the names of the stars overhead that I wrote down in my ledger. Though all I knew of the rote universe were those Pleiades loosed in December. I promised you I'd set them to verse so I'd always remember.]
#s14e03 crankin' up the classics#guy fieri#guyfieri#diners drive-ins and dives#rote universe#side#water#names#stars#ledger#pleiades#december
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Dark But Just A Game
#brittany murphy#whitney houston#ruslana korshunova#heath ledger#marilyn monroe#anna nicole smith#michael jackson#kurt cobain#grace kelly#princess diana#river phoenix#make this go viral#viral photo#viral video#viralpage#viral#27 club#hollywood stars#Hollywood#old hollywood#actor#actress#singer#music#lana is our queen#lana is god#lana del rey#fame#whisper girl#girlblogger
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#more notable lookers#peter x olivia#blackbonnet#allison x patty#jonah simms#emisue#hot priest#poe dameron#aziraphale#heath ledger#ben wyatt#fringe#ofmd#kcfh#superstore#dickinson#star wars#10 things i hate about you#parks and rec#good omens
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“Your old buddy Sampo is a model citizen, these days.”
#hsredit#honkaiedit#honkai star rail#honkai: star rail#sampo koski#stelle#trailblazer#1.1 galactic roaming#everwinter city museum ledger of curiosities - opportunity makes the thief (part 4)#hsr spoilers#*yd
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