Reality

 I'm not trying to let the Repubs off the hook. They are definitely part of the problem of Congress letting the Executive branch have more power. But I think the Dems are causing the shutdown to keep going.

The health premium subsidies they are holding out for are the enhanced subsidies put in place during the pandemic. A family of four making under $120,000/year is still going to get subsidies. Seems like the Dems are holding out for people making big money and shouldn't be closing down the government for. 

As for inflation, sure, if you shop at ritzy stores like Whole Foods or New Seasons market, you are paying big bucks, but if you shop at WinCo in Portland things aren't bad.

Seems like most Dems and Repubs and the media, too, aren't getting out and talking to everyday people. 

Inflation

 I'm not trying to let Trump off the hook. He did say he'd bring down the price of eggs.

But I haven't really seen big increases in prices. Today I stopped in a Starbucks in Gresham OR. I got a 12 oz cup of coffee and a biscotti for $4.60 and they give you a free refill. That's a good deal.

A couple weeks ago, we bought chicken breasts for $2.60/lb. Generic cereal is still $2.00/box. Peanut butter is still around $2.50 for 16 oz. Half gallon milk is around $2.20. 2 lb cheese is $6.48. All these prices in the Portland metro area.

No law says you have to buy eggs or beef. No one says you have to buy brand names. No on says you have to spend $200/mo on cable, Internet and streaming. We use our phone for Internet and a $50 antenna to get over the air TV.

And we're supposed to get a 2.8% Social Security raise. I can't complain.

Canada

 There are a million reasons why Trump will go down as one of the evil ones in history. But his tirades and actions against Canada lower him into a category of evil way below anyone else. 

It's bad enough we attacked them in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812. But they put that aside and we're faithful allies in the two World Wars. And the citizens of Gander, Newfoundland gave Americans sanctuary in the aftermath of 9/11.

Trump should be banished to St. Helena if for nothing else than how bad he treats Canada. He really is a despicable blowhard.

Richelieu

 My wife told me that actor Tim Curry had his autobiography out. I said the only part I always see him in is as Cardinal Richelieu in the Three Musketeers. And I think the real Cardinal was a real tough, Machiavelli type of person. But he was a great advisor to Louis the XIV, the Sun King, and made France a world super power and developed the idea of the powerful nation-state. And a great leader always walks a fine line between a personal ego and the ego of the country, and the great ones always pull the country up with them. You have to think that at the time of the Sun King, the lowliest beggar in France thought himself higher than the King of England.

Which makes me think of Trump. Some people think Trump's an idiot, but I don't think so. He's got a great ego and a manipulative mind but he will never be greater than the sum of his parts. He gets his money from selling his luxury condos to sleazy Eastern European and Middle Eastern oligarchs and he surrounds himself with idiots. He will never raise the USA to greatness as all he cares about is increasing the bottom line of his bank account. 

Most presidents haven't raised the country up. The closest probably was FDR who surrounded himself with good advisors like Labor Secretary Frances Perkins, who truly cared about people of the country. It makes you wonder what Trump could do if he had an unselfish bone in his body.

Groups

 Saw an article today about a sex scandal in the Anglican Church of North America and there is the ongoing scandal in the Catholic Church. Then there are various lobbying groups and corporations. Why do people feel they need to be in groups? I'm retired now and just volunteer, but don't feel any loyalty to any any organization. When I was working, I had jobs to pay the bills, but didn't have any loyalty to the company or any educational institutions. I didn't get high up anywhere, but my integrity is intact. Institutions over time, tend to lose sight of their customers and just care about keeping the institution going.

About the only thing people need to come together on is building bridges or going to outer space. SpaceX has proven free enterprise can do better than NASA on space. 

As for as bridges: they want to spend billions on building a new I-5 bridge between Oregon and Washington. But who needs it but trucking traffic. People like going across in cars but should the taxpayer pay for that? And trucking companies should pay for any bridge or they can start a truck ferry and companies can start car and passenger ferries.

I was once on a Coast Guard icebreaker that kept the Great Lakes shipping lanes open on winter for the shipping companies. Why is the taxpayer paying for that? Why don't the shipping companies pool their money to run an icebreaker?

I don't mind being in with people but people in groups get weird and take on bad tendencies keeping a group going when it no longer serves any redeeming social value.

Rooting interest

 The Blazers coach was indicted along with many others in a betting scandal. I don't totally blame Chauncey as all the sports leagues have been promoting gambling for years. They look the other way on on gambling or drugs until it hurts their bottom line and this has been going on since the nineteenth century.

I'll probably still watch sports, but won't be rooting for any one team. You don't know anymore who is tanking. I will now just watch and enjoy great plays, no matter what team. If Mariners or Seahawks win, great, but if they don't I won't lose sleep over it. I kind of do it now anyway. The other team makes a great play and I find myself cheering. 

And I won't pay to see a high level game in-person or on TV. I'm going to see Portland State in November and sometimes I go to Western Oregon games. 

Gambling is crazy business, but I don't have to be party to it.

Filibuster

 All the Senate has to do to end the shutdown is get rid of the filibuster. That's crazy that the minority can dictate what the majority can do. It doesn't make sense that the Senate has anything to do with the budget anyway. It is an archaic institution like the House of Lords in England .

We need a new constitution. Ditch the President and Senate. Have a 700 member House that elects a prime minister and cabinet from the members to run the government.