TheNextReport

Flim Flam 1.Nonsense; humbug. 2. A deception; a swindle. tr.v. flim·flammed , flim·flam·ming , flim·flams To swindle; cheat. "When you are given immunity, that means you've probably committed a crime."        -- Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn (Sept. 2016) Lieutenant General Michael Flynn was a sought-after speaker in Russia when he was nominated to be National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump. As a former military man, Flynn had knowledge of strategic matters that were of particular interest to his Russian audiences (and to the regime in Turkey), earning him in the neighborhood of $1.3 million per year.  Flynn was forced to resign as Trump's advisor after failing to disclose talks he had with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak about sanctions the U.S. had placed on Moscow and for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.  As the nation's leaders so often like to remind us, we live in an e

The attempt by the Republican party to repeal the Obamacare law has proven to be a failure. On the doorstep of a vote to replace Obama's healthcare program, the GOP bosses abruptly pulled the legislation from consideration rather than face the ignominious certainty of a legislative defeat. After more than 60 tries over a period of 8 years, the Republican attempt to diminish the legacy of the country's first African American president came to nothing. What happened? The representatives in the House went home to their districts and heard the voices of their constituents. Findings by the Congressional Budget Office were sobering to say the least: if adopted, the Republican health plan would not only result in higher premiums and deductables, but it would mean 24 million people being stripped of their healthcare entirely. In this era of frighteningly real television, the once-- and possibly future-- king of reality TV and his rightist minions had met their match in the American

What was that old axiom that describes the meaning of insanity? Obsessively repeating a clearly failed activity and expecting a different outcome. The Republican controlled Congress has its chance (again) to vote on repeal of the Affordable Care Act. During the Obama Administration, the legislative body voted unsuccessfully over 60 times to axe the law, which was the first meaningful move toward a system of universal healthcare in the United States.  Now, with the three branches of government in the hands of the GOP, the attempt to reject the ACA is set to be repeated with over twenty votes against repeal coming from dissatisfied radical Republicans. When President Trump was elected, Republican leaders scrambled to put together their own healthcare plan that utilized the party's free market-based philosophy, tax credits and health savings accounts as a means of financing. Most health authorities say the consequences of putting in place the Republican proposal--which would cut f

Republican Budget Director Mick Mulveney demonstrated his diseased arrogance while explaining without a touch of emotion that the budget plan he designed for the Republican party features cuts to  food aid for families in need, assistance for the disabled and support for the  National Endowment for the arts and humanities. Twenty-four million people would lose their healthcare coverage. All of this and a massive tax cut for the wealthy. How is the "greatness" of a nation measured? By its quality of life, the health and longevity of its people, the education level of its children, the cleanliness of its environment, the strength of its economy; all categories certain to diminish during President Trump's reign. How the heck did this happen? Stay tuned and hopefully the truth will come out.

The Tweeter-in-Chief is at it again. In  spite of all the evidence to the contrary, President Trump and press secretary Sean Spicer, continue to insist that former president Obama tapped the communications at the Trump Tower during the run-up to the 2016 election. Using Fox News as his source of information, the Emperor provoked a confrontation with the United Kingdom by claiming that the British intelligence agency participated in the covert surveillance. That statement seriously ruffled some English feathers with outraged UK officials issuing immediate denials and calling for an apology. One would think that those who demanded satisfaction would know better. Alienating our closest ally is all in a day's work for the Tweet-master. We should all, by this time, recognize the truth--the Donald doesn't do apologies. The trans-Atlantic dust-up did cause a reaction from our own National Security Agency, however. When asked for an opinion on the matter, a top NSA official calle

The GOP has presented a sales pitch for its version of healthcare reform.  Indications are that the Republican controlled Congress will try to ram it through the legislature in a few days without a score from the Congressional Budget Office; no one knows what it will cost or precisely how it will be paid for.  The country is in the hands of a group of unethical politicians led by a deluded demagogue who cares little for the truth. The fate of the country doesn't matter to these soldiers of the right-wing who care most about their own bottom line and their need to win at any cost. It is clear that the GOP plan will result in millions of dollars in tax breaks for those with higher incomes and damage the sick, elderly and disabled recipients of Medicaid.The Brookings Institute expects the CBO to estimate that at least 15 million people will lose coverage if the Republican plan passes Here's one way to resolve the healthcare debate: You create a multi-tiered structu

Since the election of Donald Trump, the emotional stability of American society has begun to deteriorate. Street demonstrations from both the left and the right are on the rise. Violence over the Trump administration's immigration ban is growing. Ongoing uncertainties about the Russian hacking scandal seem to grow with the hour; concern over the Republican assault on the Affordable Care Act and what it will mean to the stability of the healthcare system in the United States is spreading daily; volatility in the stock market has made some investors rich and wiped out others. The tremors appear in all directions with disturbing implications of what might come. What's the reaction of the nation's leaders to these troubling events? Put more guns in the hands of the mentally ill.  In the United States, a person with untreated schizophrenia and a history of violent behavior has the right to own firearms. Psychiatric disorders such as depression are often a factor in suicide

A Thought for the Month of March: What is the GOP response to Obamacare? Pay for healthcare with tax credits...so you better not miss the April 15 deadline or it could be fatal. And what do we do with the 43% of the population that don't pay taxes? Put them to work on building the wall and other infrastructure projects of course; so better get your shovels ready--the Republican war on the nation's poor is on the march!