Time to Remember the "Forgotten Man"

The quizzical who cannot understand the popularity of Donald Trump needs to think of the “forgotten man,” representative person left behind.

When President Franklin D. Roosevelt used the term in a radio chat more than 80 years ago, the federal government was not what it is today. There was no Social Security, any degree of health care or poverty programs. Worse, there weren’t even jobs.

Since then America addressed many of its social ills with programs and spending, yet the “forgotten man” remains with us, only politicians don’t recognize him.

Although he is healthier and has a roof over his head and a full refrigerator, he still remains forgotten by his government, as evidenced by his discontent with the people who represent him.

Enter Trump, a man campaigning to the “forgotten man.” Trump doesn’t talk about the doldrums as FDR did. Trump speaks of the failure of government to work in the best interests of all residents, not select groups who pay to play in the political arena.

This is what the 21st century of the “forgotten man” wants. He wants the pride in our nation restored, the competency of government and confidence the people elected will live up to campaign promises; it’s that simple. So simple, even a billionaire can understand what the “forgotten man” yearns for.

Anthony Bruno
Cary

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article64099832.html#storylink=cpy

$2 billion NC "infrastructure" bond, do we need it?

On March 15th NC voters will decide whether or not to approve a bond
touted as an 'investment' in our states infrastructure citing years of neglect.

Center stage in a persuasive argument using UNC medical school which
reports it has been unable to keep up with the demand for doctors in
America's ninth largest state.

The case being made is compelling, illuminating an upside hard to resist,
with little downside when we see the cross section of our state supporting
this bond; until you think about it!

Notably, we see adversaries on most issues coming together, the two
major state newspapers and the McCrory Administration.  Both agree
passage of this bond is essential to meet the future needs of our state.

When I find the left leaning media and right leaning politicians in agreement
I want to dig a little deeper.

First, the neglect. Why did this happen? Didn't anyone see at UNC see the
problem on the horizon? If so, what steps were taken?

Why did UNC fail to address this concern as it addressed the rising cost
of education with tuition increases and the fight for quality educators with
higher salaries, even for the most inane positions?

And if other infrastructure projects requires funding shouldn't the  public
first be told where the money sent to Raleigh for such project was spent
in the past?

To learn why the NC Infrastructure bond is good, pick up any newspaper.
To learn why it is not, go to this link:   http://againstthebond.com/

Its up to us!

Foreign diplomats voice alarm to U.S. about Trump

This subject is interesting to say the least.  World leaders are troubled Donald Trump
could become our next president!

But, what could be the reason Trump has "alarmed" them? Are they fearful 'Uncle Sap'
would derail the gravy train most of our allies have been riding since World War II?

Could they be concerned that Trump would refuse to remain the 'moral authority',
a seduction description to pick the pockets of American taxpayers?

Maybe the reason is as far-fetched as Trump saying he would "kick the shit out of ISIS".
If only the French govt. spoke this strongly to its people!

And, when you consider the terrorist threat in France you would think its political leaders
would welcome someone who boldly states what he would do to defeat terrorism.

The United States don't need to even concern ourselves what other world leaders of who
we choose, its the responsibility of the American people.

We concern should be that the person selected is not done by the political establishment,
donors, lobbyists, media or other nations.

Swing and a miss by Donald Trump on H1 Visas

At the last debate Donald Trump wisely reached across party lines
to show he can change his mind on issues. Unlike politicians Trump
does not run away from issues.

However, there was a moment Trump crossed a line, on an element
of the issue of immigration, H1 visas. He could have addressed
the topic with a better solution than just expanding the program.

Trump stated America does not have enough highly skilled IT workers
so we must increase the number, bringing in more foreign workers
to meet the demand.

On the surface this seems reasonable, as reasonable as Angela Merkel
saying Germany needs foreign workers to offset its aging population.

When this subject comes up I'm confounded. Consider Bill Gates, Paul
Allen and Steve Jobs. Gates and Allen created Microsoft while Jobs
created Apple. All became millionaires in the 80s and parlayed their
companies success in the 90s to become billionaires.

Then there are Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who started Google in the
90s and almost immediately became billionaires. Also the success of
companies such as Facebook, Twitter and countless in the IT field
exploded over the last three decades.

Now, if the future could be seen in the 80s why did higher education
fail to do more to meet the need?

Two years ago I attended a presentation by Duke Prof. Jacob Vigdor,
"Solving America's Math Problem", found at link: bit.ly/21fqXwz

How could America be so blind not to prepare our nation for the boom
as equal to any in our history?  And, equally important why are other
nations doing this and we are not, meeting the demand for IT talent?

The answer is right in front of us, public education has failed for
decades to prepare more students for the best and highest paid jobs.

Public education is doing such a poor job in preparing students for
the rigor to successfully complete IT related courses most college
students don't even take them!  Thus, the drought of qualified
graduates.

The education system from K-12 through higher education has been
Shanghaied by social education promoters who prefer ideological
desires and has led to the failure to produce graduates equal to
the demand.

The question of H1 visas gave Donald Trump and others a "hanging
curve ball" any of them could have hit for a home run. None did!

Our country is already awash in IT workers, tens of thousands of
them who were and still are jettisoned from companies long before
retirement age, most who had to take jobs paying much less than
they previously earned.

These workers can fill the gap until public education once again
provides the same quality math education that led our country to
land man on the moon nearly fifty years ago.

Older IT workers only need training in IT protocols in demand.
They are already proven and probably had a superior education
than students currently coming into the marketplace.

Add to this the business experience they bring and its  easy to
see this is a viable solution until the education industry does
what is expected of them.

Perhaps one of the candidate will take another swing



Comments welcome, ajbuno14 gmail   Welcome to pass along to others

Some views about CPAC

Earlier I wrote about Donald Trump deciding not to speak at
'Conservative Political Action Conference', CPAC, the annual
conference of the American Conservative Union.

I also offered my view that CPAC may not be as influential
as supporters think or even want public to believe it is.

But CPAC and its parent, the American Conservative Union,
are very popular among conservatives.

I did receive some replies which were less than complementary
and is troublesome. These opinions come as far away as Hawaii
and California but are similar.

Opinions about CPAC:

We attended CPAC for many years until the old guard Republicans 
threw out David Keane and replaced him with a RINO.  It was going 
to pieces the last few years before that.  I'd say that this is a big plus 
for Donald Trump

Originally, CPAC was strictly Conservative - Reagan was an active 
participant in the beginning and attended ALL while he was President.  
Bush 41 attended ZERO!  
  
David Keane was/is a staunch Conservative and he and his entire 
staff was thrown out and replaced by a whole crowd of RINO's.  
I know David  and many of his staff .  When he left, Wayne Lapier
- NRA - put him to work there until he retired.


----------------------------------------

I think Trump made a good decision.  This useless bunch of idiots has 
accomplished  nothing in the time they have had control.  After Mitt's 
ridiculous spectacle yesterday,  I am mad as hell with the establishment 
and they have pretty much taken over CPAC by  labeling themselves 
"conservatives".  Baloney!

Seems to me CPAC hasn't accomplished very much for the country - 
they  seem to be just another political class org. with no big stick.

------------------------------------------

 You hit the nail on the head again Tony - CPAC was infiltrated by the 
RNC a long time ago and is irrelevant today.

Glen Beck, who has been merciless with his slandering of Trump, is 
heavily involved in the CPAC and was probably planning a political 
assassination 

 Once again, Trump shows his political savvy.   Rove must be losing his 
mind over this.

-----------------------------------------



Good comments. When it’s all said and done, establishment would rather 

see Hillary win than Cruz or Trump: their comfy coalitions with Kasich

End of story....

email ajbruno14  gmail...welcome to retweet or pass along to others

The only constituencies that matter

If you follow the political news you learn of constituencies that must be wooed each election
cycle. We are told they are distinct groups based on race, gender, faith and whatever else the
media decides to include.

The public accepts this for the silliest reason, people who fall into any of these groups must think
alike. Guess, they never bothered to ask the people directly.

Nor, do politicians factor the individual desires of the people. Not everyone of the same race,
gender or faith thinks alike, or have the same degree of interest in politics.  Yet, this is never part
of the reasoning.  Guess its too hard to allow thoughtful analysis to replace political "bean counting".

It is also the reason Trump is the most successful when engaging audiences. He does not view
people as politicians do, treating them differently based on consultant research.

He speaks directly to what is hurting them, does not change what he says depending on the
audience he addresses. Trump may not even know this but he is bringing to light the flaw in political
research.

The white farmer in Kansas does not view the world as the White accountant in New York.

The women banker in Atlanta does not think about housing as the women sales rep. in San Francisco.

The Christian truck drivers does not think about immigration as the Christian lawyer in Los Angeles.

The Black minister in Alabama does not look at drug use as the Black plumber in North Carolina.

I think you get the point, now if only politicians would..

ajbruno14 gmail  comment, replies welcome

Thomas Sowell's "Last Chance for America".....

In Thomas Sowell's "Last Chance for America", townta.lk/1Ru9XgT , he writes
of the peril if we choose the wrong person as our next president.

It takes a lot of thoughtful analysis to find fault with the opinions of
Thomas Sowell. but there are some points I want to address.

First, his opening line took me back, "worst political blunder", the self
imposed isolation by China's emperor in 1433.

When I read this I immediately thought of Teddy Roosevelt who send vice-
president Taft to Japan, well documented in "The Imperial Cruise". Roosevelt
interceded on the side of Japan in its battle with China. In hindsight, this
could be viewed as the major blunder of the twentieth century as it set the
groundwork for what was to happen over the next one hundred years!

Throughout history there have been many blunders but the gravity of one over
another can depend on the measuring stick being used, the best being the cost
n lives.

We can  also look to the failure of the US to lend support to Europe in the
1930s that would have prevented Hitler from amassing a military behemoth! Or,
the tens of million killed in Russia.

Nor should we forget two "non wars", Korea and Vietnam which cost American
lives 36,000 and 58,000 respectively, and also cost China even more lives,
that most Americans are unaware.  Perhaps, it was Roosevelt's "blunder" which
changed history beyond his or our understanding.


Coming forward to the immediate , Sowell cites a political "blunder", his
concern over the most likely person who will be our next president. I don't
see this as something which can destroy our nation.


Sowell is right to warn us, but at least this will be the decision made by the
American electorate, who have made 'mistakes' time again through our history.
But, they also got it right with Lincoln and other less known successes!


The American people had no say before we went to war in Korea and Vietnam,
Congress never declared war.  But, we do have a say on who the next president
will be.


Is the peril Sowell fears something we cannot overcome?  Of course it is.To
steal a line, we can "make America great again" with the wonder of free market
capitalism driven by Americans who have the freedom and liberty to overcome
the mistakes of the people they elect.


There is an elasticity in free market capitalism, most do not appreciate. Like
nature, it self corrects as its superior governing principles drive our country
to greater heights!

Sowell may be giving President Obama too much create for this decline. The
American people preferred him, twice, so cast blame on them!

Poorly educated Americans are easily persuaded, unable to understand today's
issues which are more complicated than in the past. And powerful political
forces are driven by their self-interests which often conflict with what is
best for our country.

Most Americans do not see what Sowell sees.  They only see as far as their
education allows them. We can thank poor public education for electing Barack
Obama and  a complicit Congress for not stopping his abuses of power.

Lastly, I am not convinced this is the 'last chance'.  No matter who the next
president is the nation will go on. Maybe I don't have Sowell clarity and in
this case I'm glad.

One thing I am certain of, America needs a "game changer" someone who will
go to Washington and deliver a simple message, the American people once again
govern the country, not insiders or their financial backers.


Only two meet my litmus test, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump. I believe either man
will  end what Obama began and allow the independent states and their citizens
to govern, not Washington.