But first I’ll start with the BONUS:
Forget the court’s immunity decision – Trump faces criminal charges for January 6. And for hiding documents from the FBI. Of course, that can occur long after the election, and if he wins, never, but it surely’s entirely possible that justice will prevail. Isn’t that considered one of the nice things about our country? That everyone seems to be presumed innocent until proven guilty – but that nobody is above the law?
And now — what is that this? Christmas? — a BONUS:
Steve Ratner’s charts far outperform Trump on economic and crime issues. Facts that ought to be widely disseminated.
BERNIE.
We are all inundated with appeals. This one from Senator Sanders yesterday actually made me click:
Dear friend,
As you’re probably aware, this just isn’t a traditional election.
It just isn’t a traditional election after we are competing against someone who’s a pathological liar.
It just isn’t a traditional election after we are running against someone who has been convicted of 34 crimes.
It just isn’t a traditional election when our opponent is a convicted sex offender who, as a non-public businessman, has been involved in 4,000 court cases – which suggests utter implausibility.
But it’s even worse.
When Donald Trump claims that “nobody” showed up at a ten,000-person Harris-Walz rally in Michigan that was live-streamed and widely covered by the media, that it was all because of artificial intelligence, and that Democrats are always cheating, there may be a technique behind his madness.
Trump’s actions clearly and dangerously undermine American democracy and lay the groundwork for rejection of the election leads to the event of defeat.
If you’ll be able to persuade your supporters that the 1000’s of people that attended a televised rally don’t exist, it won’t be hard to persuade them that the election leads to Pennsylvania, Michigan, and elsewhere are “fake” and “fraudulent.”
It ought to be no secret to anyone. Trump’s goal is to destroy trust in American institutions and the rule of law and lead us toward an authoritarian society.
But it just isn’t just Trump’s dishonesty and authoritarianism that have to be defeated.
We cannot elect anyone who believes that girls haven’t any right to regulate their very own bodies in 2024. For the sake of our youngsters and future generations, we cannot elect anyone who believes that climate change is a “hoax.”
That’s why we must do every little thing we are able to to defeat Trump and make Kamala Harris our next president.
But we must do more.
We must not only defeat Trump, but construct a robust grassroots movement that may confront the big greed of the large money interests that hold a lot power over the economic and political lifetime of our country. Our goal: a government that works for everybody, not only the few.
Yes. We must overturn the Supreme Court’s disastrous Citizens United ruling and support public financing of elections. Billionaires shouldn’t have the opportunity to purchase elections.
Yes. We must join the remaining of the industrialized world in guaranteeing healthcare for all as a human right, not a privilege.
Yes. We need to boost the minimum wage to a living wage and make it easier for employees to affix unions.
Yes. We must address unprecedented income and wealth inequality and demand that the wealthy and large corporations finally pay their justifiable share of taxes.
Yes. We must create hundreds of thousands of low-income and reasonably priced housing units and limit rent increases.
Yes. We must put an end to the absurdity of getting the very best child poverty rate of all major countries, introduce a robust child tax allowance on a everlasting basis and invest massively in childcare.
Yes. We must strengthen public education in America, pay teachers the salaries they deserve, and be sure that all and sundry, no matter income, gets the upper education they need to attain their dreams.
Bottom line: We are at a turning point in American history. Over the following three months, let’s roll up our sleeves, come together, and do the labor that should be done to defeat Trump and elect Kamala Harris president.
And we must also realize that there will likely be no progress on these and all other issues that matter to the working people of this country if Republicans control the House or the Senate.
So not only do we want to win the presidential election, but it surely is crucial that we fight and win in all ballots.
But nobody can do that alone – not Kamala Harris, not Tim Walz, not every other candidate across the country. We all should do our part.
Therefore, I ask you once more in your financial support:
Our task is obvious. Let’s do every little thing we are able to over the following 81 days to assist the Harris-Walz team win big. And the day after that win, let’s proceed our fight to vary our country and create the type of nation we imagine we are able to grow to be.
In solidarity,
Bernie
There are just a few policy positions I disagree with – capping rents, for instance, destroys the inducement to create recent housing, which ultimately makes housing dearer – but on the entire, Bernie has hit the nail on the pinnacle, as usual.
One of you sent me an extended list of stocks and asked if he should still hold on to them (and may I?).
Almost all of them have fallen for 2 reasons:
> First, I made plenty of bad – or at the very least terribly inconvenient – suggestions.
> Second (as he explains it): “The ones that went up went into my DAF, so there is a high equity component here.” [DAF = Donor Advised Fund. The two biggest are at Fidelty and Schwab.]
“I really appreciate your portfolio,” he writes. “I have made a lot of money thanks to you.”
When you read his list, it’s hard to assume how this might have happened.
ANIX — $3.19. One of my smart guys thinks the drug trials will fail – the stock drops to zero. Another thinks they’ll succeed – the stock soars. How can I resist?
FAN – $1.40. Ages ago the value was suggested at around $6, but we sold at around $20 and $35… not because I knew the value would keep falling, but just because the upside had been reached and it was time to search out higher values. Like for instance…
CNF – $1… a separate Chinese consumer finance company by some means connected to FANH, which the identical friend thought (when it was still price $4) is likely to be a repeat of FANH that quintupled. Instead, it was a disaster. If the numbers are to be believed (an excellent greater “if” than usual for a Chinese company), the stock is trading at 3 times earnings! My friend owns plenty of it and believes we’ll reap our rewards in the future. I do not know anything – but it surely actually doesn’t appear like we’ll reap a reward. And yet, I’m far too stubborn to sell.
GLDD — $9. Many of us have bought it at much lower prices. I still have a bit bit. It can be an excellent infrastructure investment, but I would not rush into it here. Maybe it can be at $15 in some unspecified time in the future?
SUPPORT – $3.13 One of my favorite moonshots for individuals who have money they will really afford to lose.
SQNS — $0.55. They were presupposed to be bought at $3.03, and plenty of of us took at the very least a part of our modest profit of about $2.80 — the cash for the acquisition was in escrow! I used to be holding back quite confidently! — after which all of it collapsed because of French tax regulations or something I didn’t understand. Now it could go all the way down to zero. But at 55 cents I purchased more.
OUTSIDE — $1.34. There are plenty of Indians, they usually travel. If the stock ever went back to $4 or $5, I’d probably sell.
BKUTK — $367.50. Oh, look! A very grown-up stock (albeit a tiny, very illiquid one) that… wait for it… pays a dividend! It’s a really conservatively managed community bank that might probably be price twice its selling price if management cared concerning the stock price, but it surely really doesn’t. So I collect my 5% dividend and am type of stuck.
BOREF — $1.75. My original folly. WheelTug continues to be happening. If so, drinks are on me.
HYMC — $2.24. Has not modified my opinion. Still valid. (Note the 1:10 reverse split, since I paid 22 cents; at today’s price, it is not up 10x, but essentially unchanged.)
KLTR – $1.23. Still in hand. As with all of the others, you should use the search box to read every little thing I’ve written about these old cars prior to now.
PRKR — $0.16. Could the legal system ever give this company a likelihood? If so, even with a ton of shares currently in circulation, the stock could double or triple in value. Or it could simply disappear one after the other, one other nail within the coffin of the U.S. patent system.
RECAF — $0.77. I hope renewable energy grows so fast that we’ll never need the fossil fuels this company might be sitting on. But I’m way too stubborn to sell.
RNGE – $0.30. High hopes – like every little thing above, only with money we are able to afford to lose.
VNRX — $0.57. Don’t people deal with their pets??? This company is presupposed to be making a fortune by now! The friend who suggested them at greater than double today’s price says he doesn’t understand why they are not doing higher. I have never sold any stock, but I’m not particularly optimistic.
Have a pleasant weekend.
Joy and hope are back.
The Money And Support keep flowing!
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on August 16, 2024 on www.andrewtobias.comsyndicated with permission.
