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A Clown Scarier Than Pennywise
omething is seriously
wrong with Donald Trump. And I'm not speak- ing figuratively. There is something clinically, mentally and emotionally not right with the person elected as the 45th president of the United States.
How else can you explain the behavior of a 71-year-old man, tasked to lead the most powerful country on the planet, who wakes up on a Saturday morning with his main concern being disinvit- ing The Golden State Warriors basketball team from attend- ing the traditional NBA cham- pions White House visit? This is especially puzzling consid- ering several players on the squad already expressed no interest in participating in the activity two months ago over their disapproval of Trump's politics.
In Trump's funhouse- mirror view of the world, this is the most pressing issue of the moment. Forget about the three hurricanes that devas- tated two states and a U. S. territory (Puerto Rico) over the last 30 days.
Never mind the two major earthquakes that took hun- dreds of lives in Mexico or the
statement from North Korea warning of an "inevitable" nu- clear strike on the U. S. main- land after Trump blatantly disrespected their leader, Kim Jung Un, by calling him "little rocket man." Trump's first order of busi- ness over the weekend was to save face against an NBA team that already dissed him. That and calling NFL players, who protest the national anthem, "sons of bitches" who need to be "fired" from their jobs.
I don't care how much Trump's supporters attempt to defend his actions, the fact of the matter is, what we're witnessing isn't normal. An Individual who has the poten- tial to start World War III isn't supposed to act this emotion- ally unbalanced and display this kind of erratic and irra- tional behavior.
I don't know if his socio- pathic ways are the result of his father not playing catch with him as a child or his mother dressing him in girls clothing (at this point it does- n't even matter) but, whatever the cause, Trump's sour dis- position and disconnection with reality make him a dan- ger not only to himself but to
everyone around him. And, as much as I want to laugh at his idiocy, the truth is, the joke is no longer funny.
In the midst of everything we have going on right now, increasingly hostile weather, maniac led regimes, violent religious fanaticism, poverty, hunger and a growing cultural divide, the last thing any of us need is a clown calling the shots who's so caught up in his own B.S. that he can't make good sound decisions for the hundreds of millions of people under his charge.
The real craziness of it all is that, even though Trump's madness becomes more evi- dent every time he opens his mouth (or uses his thumbs), there are still plenty of indi- viduals out there (mainly un- educated, rebel flag-waving, inbred, hillbillies) who are cool with Trump's unstable- ness as long as he keeps spew- ing the things they like to hear. And, unfortunately for the rest of us, that means con- stantly being reminded by the most powerful person in the country that he's going to con- tinue to do everything he can to make our lives a living hell.
And, for those who hope to survive until the next election, I don't think there's anything more terrifying.
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bul- letin Publishing Com- pany. You can write to Mr. Barr at: Clarence Barr 43110-018, Oakdale F. C. I., P. O. BOX 5000, Oakdale, LA 71463.
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GOP Plans Cuts To Mortgage Interest Deductions
ell, they were at it again. While our attention
was focused on hurricanes Irma, Jose, Maria, and Trump, Congressional Republicans were hard at work planning on sticking it to homeowners to fund one trillion dollar tax cuts for businesses and the wealthy. Indeed, as we prayed and watched 100 plus mile an hour winds topple trees, crush roofs, and crip- ple power lines, Republicans were busy trying to find out how they could kill two popular income tax deduc- tions that middle class Americans have enjoyed for more than a century: mortgage interest and state and local taxes.
Talk about back-stabbing voters who are homeown- ers . . . but Republicans, we aren’t mad at you. Like the scorpion and the frog, we should know you by now.
Nevertheless, nearly 30 million fellow Americans deduct mortgage interest from their taxes, while 44 million Americans deduct state and local taxes. In an effort to overhaul America’s tax code and reduce the 35% tax rate (a rate few of the Fortune 500 companies actually pay after numerous deductions), Republicans are considering abolishing the two most popular tax deductions for average Americans.
In truth, the average corporate tax rate on profits from new investments made in the United States is 24% compared to 21% for industrialized democratic coun- tries with similar economies.
Therefore, though quietly kept, Capitol Hill Repub- licans’ trickle down “economy theory” does not work as proven time and again by noted economists. Yet, the GOP continues to hype the idea of tax cuts stimulating the economy.
Instead, the only thing the theory really does is helps the rich get richer and the poor stay status quo. If Re- publican scorpions keep stinging, there will be no need to purchase homes if deductions are repealed. And why would Republicans change? Would a leopard change his spots?
5 G.R.E.A.T. Ways To Success
“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”
Vincent Van Gogh
Empowered Greetings. Many people aspire to achieve greatness in their life. The definition of greatness will represent something dif- ferent for each person. There- fore you should never be intimidated about what some- one else is achieving.
Get your eyes off others and redirect your focus to you. Keep your eyes on your prize. Your prize will be the things that are important to you. Here are five ways to achieve great success in your life.
G = Go after S.M.A.R.T. goals. Goals should be spe- cific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. Pursue your goals ...
R = Relentlessly: Do not yield, do not slow down and don’t stop. It’s time to get it, get it. Get serious about mov- ing into your place of great- ness. Your relentless attitude will...
E = Excite others about what you want to do. There may be someone in your path that can help you execute the strategies you need to get to where you want to be.
A = Align your thoughts, your words and your actions with what you want to achieve. When these three are
in synchronization your suc- cess will be inevitable.
T = Totally commit and efficiently utilize your time, energy and resources toward the accomplishment of your life goals. If something is not relevant to your goal don’t do it.
According to author Samuel Johnson, “Great works are performed, not by strength but by persever- ance.”
In other words, nothing happens overnight. Small steps over time will result in BIG success. Now go out and create a GREAT life.
Stay connected to Selphenia for more tips, tools and strategies for your success. Follow her on Social Media. Facebook: Selphenia Nichols Success Coach To Women Instagram: @selphenia; Twitter: @queenofsuccess1.
Call: 813-603-0088 to request Selphenia to speak, MC or train at your next event.
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