Tag: marijuana

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Republican leader Bill Brady says state election about Illinois issues, not Trump; Pritzker spreads the wealth – Rick Pearson (DIERSEN: What percent of the voters in your precinct say that to punish Trump, they are going to vote for all the Democrats on the ballot?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-donald-trump-bill-brady-20180909-story.html
— Questions to ask before starting job hunt – Jill Schlesinger (DIERSEN: How many full-time jobs have you had since you earned your bachelor’s degree? I sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances for Firestone Stores 1970-1971; collected delinquent taxes for IRS 1971-1980; and audited federal agencies for GAO 1980-1997. I should write a book about transferring between federal agencies. I took a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.)
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20180910/281805694821732
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Changing careers is becoming the rule rather than the exception. According to a long-term study by the Labor Department, people born in the years 1957 to 1964 held an average of 11.7 jobs from ages 18 to 48.)
— More retirees filing for bankruptcy – Elliot Raphaelson (DIERSEN: If your retirement is financially secure, and your critics/opponents were asked what are the reasons for that, what would they say? For me, my critics/opponents would say a) that my parents, my grandparents, my great grandparents, and the rest of my ancestors discriminated against minorities and discriminated against females and that I directly benefitted from that discrimination, b) that I was born a healthy White male, c) that I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth and that I have always been privileged, d) that I avoided the draft, e) that the federal government grossly overpaid me, f) that I married someone who has lots of income and savings, g) that we gave up trying to have children, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents, h) that my federal retirement benefits are much too generous, and i) I have never given lots of money to churches like they do. In my defense, I have always spent less money on immediate pleasures than my peers, I have always put the maximum into IRAs and Roth IRAs, and I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/success/savingsgame/tca-more-retirees-filing-for-bankruptcy-20180831-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A new study from the Consumer Bankruptcy Project indicates that the rate of bankruptcy among Americans ages 65 and older has tripled since 1991. More people ages 55 to 65 also are filing for bankruptcy. I am not surprised. People are going into retirement with more debt, including much higher mortgage debt. For example, in 1995, only 22 percent of 65 year-olds had mortgage debt; now 38 percent do. The average mortgage debt in 1995 was $27,300; now it is $73,000. Those are scary numbers. The proportion of retirees who have defined-benefit pension plans has decreased substantially. According to the Pension Research Center, a mere 23 percent of U.S. workers have such a pension plan. Today’s retirees are more dependent on defined-contribution plans, such as 401(k)s. With a defined contribution plan, the retiree must manage the portfolio himself or herself or pay a financial planner to do so. Most retirees don’t have the financial expertise to manage their own portfolio. Our educational system is inadequate when it comes to teaching us how to effectively manage a portfolio. Another important factor is age of retirement. Many employees would like to work longer before retiring, but most corporations offer early retirement incentives so they can hire younger workers at lower salaries. When an early retiree looks for other work, he/she faces age discrimination, with practically no recourse, despite anti-discrimination laws. Most people who need to retire early are forced to accept Social Security at age 62, and their benefit is significantly reduced. Although it would be beneficial to wait until age 70, most retirees simply can’t afford to. Another factor is health-care costs. These costs increase at much higher rates than other costs. Many corporations have reduced the health-care benefits for retirees. For seniors, the costs of Medicare, supplemental health care and prescription drugs keep increasing at high rates. Congressional representatives talks a lot about controlling prescription drug costs, but they have been unsuccessful in doing so. Those who use Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage find that as drug costs keep increasing, they are in the bubble much earlier in the year, resulting in much greater costs. The drug companies have substantial lobbies in the U.S., which has resulted in higher drug prices for U.S. citizens than for those overseas. Dental costs increase also for seniors more than for the general population, and Medicare doesn’t cover these costs. Many companies have either no dental coverage or inadequate coverage for retirees. Another factor is longer expected life. Although it is great news that we are living longer, there are other implications. The longer we live, a larger the nest egg that is needed going into retirement to ensure that our money will last for as long as we live. It’s hard to build a larger asset base going into retirement if corporations want their workers to retire early. Moreover, as expected life expectancy increases, insurance companies reduce monthly payments for lifetime annuities. Another factor is required support for other family members. Because tuition costs have increased dramatically, most college graduates are graduating with high debt. As retirees assist their children with this debt, it puts more of a burden on their financial well-being. So, it is not surprising that older people are increasingly filing for bankruptcy.)

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— UIC jumps in U.S. News rankings Northwestern moved up a notch to tenth place and U of C kept its No. 3 spot, but the big change in this year’s U.S. News rankings came for the University of Illinois at Chicago. – LYNNE MAREK (DIERSEN: I attended UIC 1966-1968)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/education/uic-jumps-us-news-rankings

NPR ILLINOIS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps promote Bob Woodward.
http://www.nprillinois.org/post/bob-woodward-has-written-about-presidencies-trump-book-his-1st-indictment#stream/0

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Americans promote anti-Americans.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/sports/trump-tweets-2-players-kneel-for-anthem-on-opening-sunday/1429460218

WBEZ
— Chicago Mayoral Hopefuls March In Mexican Independence Parade – Claudia Morell, Becky Vevea (DIERSEN: Do you promote the countries that your ancestors came from? I do not. What communities are you a member of? I am a member of the following communities: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, married, old (I am almost 70), non-poor, gun owners, draft avoiders, German Americans, those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time, former union member, retired federal employee, American nameplate car owner, childless, pet-less, Wheaton resident since 1978, etc.)
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/chicago-mayoral-hopefuls-march-in-mexican-independence-parade/5d63ece4-12f3-40d2-a101-2e3c842cb487
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In addition to all the buzz around the mayor’s race, the November election for Illinois governor looms. Both incumbent Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic Challenger J.B. Pritzker were there. Rauner spoke about the importance of the Mexican American community in Illinois. “We are very proud in Illinois, we have one of the largest, most vibrant Mexican-American communities anywhere in the world. We are very proud here,” said Rauner, who has attended the parade every year since he’s been governor. The Republican governor made clear his position on immigrant communities is not in line with that of President Donald Trump. “We are a welcoming state built by immigrants, we welcome immigrants from around the world.”)

CIVIC FEDERATION
— An Examination of Counties in Illinois
https://www.civicfed.org/civic-federation/blog/examination-counties-illinois#new_tab

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Good Monday morning, Illinois, and a special hello to former Gov. Jim Edgar who gave a shout-out to Playbook while offering analysis of Barack Obama’s speech last week (he liked it). Thanks for reading, governor! – Shia Kapos (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes do everything that they can to stop the following from reading GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails: past and present a) Republican U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives, b) Republican statewide office holders, c) Republican state senators and representatives, d) Republican county officials, e) Republican township/ward officials, f) Republican municipal officials, g) Republican Precinct Committeemen/Captains, h) Republican township/ward party officials, i) Republican county party officials, j) Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee members, officers, and the IRP National Committeeman and Committeewoman, k) Republican candidates for the aforesaid positions, l) Republican etc.)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/09/10/mendoza-takes-the-mayors-seat-preckwinkles-numbers-lightfoots-policy-move-303109
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Government is nasty. Politics is nasty. Democrats bring up that Peter Lee, the GOP candidate for District 17 of the state House of Representatives, was sanctioned in 2003 by the state Supreme Court for failing to use client funds appropriately. What would your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes bring up if you ran for an office? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes in the Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC), DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce (WCC), Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC), American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) Midwest Chapter (MC), GAO, IRS, and Post Office would bring up a) that my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, gave me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take an $19,203 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980; b) that my Democrat IRS superiors not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, got rid of my mentor in 1975, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974; c) that my Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968; and d) that I am no longer a TAPROOT chairman, WCC Government Affairs Committee member, MTRCC webmaster, ICRC Steering Committee member, AAPC MC board member, GAO employee, IRS employee, or Post Office employee.)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/09/10/mendoza-takes-the-mayors-seat-preckwinkles-numbers-lightfoots-policy-move-303109

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Leftists Redefine Bullying – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamily.org/media/leftists-redefine-bullying/

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Democrat Who Compared Trump to Bin Laden Also Said ‘Nazis’ Work in White House VIDEO: Illinois Democrat Sean Casten twice referred to ‘Nazis and racists’ working in White House – Brent Scher
https://freebeacon.com/politics/guy-compared-trump-bin-laden-also-said-nazis-work-white-house/

FOX NEWS
— Angry Obama still doesn’t get it as he hits the campaign trail – Liz Peek
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/09/10/liz-peek-angry-obama-still-doesnt-get-it-as-hits-campaign-trail.html

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Don’t Exaggerate the Effects on Immigrant Admissions of Tightening the Public-Charge Rule – REIHAN SALAM (DIERSEN: How many millions of public charges are there in America, in your county, in your township/ward, and in your municipality? In Illinois, Democrats focus on sending public charges to DuPage County, to Milton Township, and to Wheaton.)
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/immigration-public-charge-rule-tightening/
— In Sweden, the Elite Lost Touch with the People – JOHN FUND (DIERSEN: Who are the elite in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? Have they lost touch with you?)
https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/09/sweden-election-results-populist-pattern-elites-lost-touch/
— FROM THE ARTICLE: FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: “More educated workers, on the other hand, are paid substantially less than private-sector equivalents.”
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/paul-krugman-federal-employee-pay-statistic-misleading/

TOWNHALL
— Obama’s Return May Energize Republicans More Than Democrats – Mark Davis (DIERSEN: Speaking for myself, the nastier that Democrats are to me, the more motivated that I am to help elect Republicans.)
https://townhall.com/columnists/markdavis/2018/09/10/obamas-return-may-energize-republicans-more-than-democrats-n2517385
— More Than 200 ‘Resistance’ Protesters Arrested During Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings – Timothy Meads
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/timothymeads/2018/09/09/more-than-200-resistance-protesters-arrested-during-kavanaugh-confirmation-hearings-n2517342

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— How Facebook Policy Hinders Political Speech – Ruth Papazian
https://amgreatness.com/2018/09/10/how-facebook-policy-hinders-political-speech/

POLITICO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “GOP attacks Obama, but doesn’t defend Trump Leading Republicans took issue with the former president’s scathing speech, but none disputed that Trump has threatened core American institutions.”
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/09/gop-attacks-obama-trump-813443

NBC NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats shout at women that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/women-watched-trump-toss-political-playbook-now-they-re-setting-n907346

NEW YORK TIMES
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON CHICAGO TIGHTENS: Can You Win an Election by Talking About Segregation? The next mayor of Chicago should find out. – Natalie Y. Moore (DIERSEN: Democrats used to promote integration, but now they promote segregation.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/09/opinion/rahm-emanuel-chicago-mayor-election-segregation.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Republicans promote Obama.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/09/opinion/obamas-back.html
— Trump’s Justice Department Redefines Whose Civil Rights to Protect – Katie Benner (DIERSEN: Ever-increasing, Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that members of the following groups are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things who the federal government should get rid of: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older people, rich people, gun owners, German Americans, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/03/us/politics/civil-rights-justice-department.html
— Why It’s So Hard to Put ‘Future You’ Ahead of ‘Present You’ – Tim Herrera (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes always put their self-interests ahead of all else. If I did that, because I am a federal retiree, I would focus on promoting the National Active & Retired Federal Employees Association DuPage Chapter 1771.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/10/smarter-living/why-its-so-hard-to-put-future-you-ahead-of-present-you.html
— Russian Police Detain Over 800 People Protesting Pension Changes – Reuters (DIERSEN: If Trump proposed the following “up-or-out” policy, what percent of the voters in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois would support it: Federal employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran will be immediately terminated and lose all retirement benefits if they do not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40. In your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois, how strong is the hatred against federal employees and federal retirees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make the aforesaid promotions?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/09/world/europe/russia-pension-protests.html

USA TODAY
— How the Woman’s March organizers used the Kavanaugh hearings to further their war on Trump – Christal Hayes and Kristen Jordan Shamus
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/09/09/womens-march-protests-donald-trump-kavanaugh-hearings/1214364002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Can CEOs Get Away With Smoking Pot? – Vanessa Fuhrmans (DIERSEN: If you smoke pot, you shout at everyone a) that you have extremely severe mental and/or physical health problems, b) that soon, if not already, you will bring down everyone and everything around you, c) that soon, if not already you will be a ward of the state, and d) that your days are numbered.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/marijuana-legalization-loosens-constraints-on-ceos-to-an-extent-1536422426
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC, IMMORAL: Ever-increasingly, Democrats promote gender dysphoria.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/peer-pressure-and-transgender-teens-1536524718
— ‘The Coddling of the American Mind’ Review: Fragile, Fearful, Feeling Aggrieved Thanks to well-meaning, if misguided, parents and educators, students can’t see nuance, and they don’t feel tough enough to handle debate. – Laura Vanderkam (DIERSEN: Democrat run public education. Ever-increasingly, those Democrats crank out troubled “good little Democrats.”
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-coddling-of-the-american-mind-review-fragile-fearful-feeling-aggrieved-1536524139

FORBES
— How To Find Your Customers On Social Media – Rebecca Kowalewicz (DIERSEN: Democrats run social media. They use social media to promote the Democrat Party platform.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2018/09/10/how-to-find-your-customers-on-social-media/#67b6011e4df5

GALLUP
— How to Reduce Bias and Hire the Best Candidate – RYAN PENDELL (DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
https://www.gallup.com/workplace/241955/reduce-bias-hire-best-candidate.aspx

SARASOTA HERALD TRIBUNE
— Identity politics are a double-edged sword – Froma Harrop (DIERSEN: Identity politics is extremely divisive and everyone should be against it. Democrats shout at recent immigrants that they should see themselves as being recent immigrants before all else. Democrats shout at non-German Americans that they should see themselves as being non-German Americans before all else. Democrats shout at minorities that they should see themselves as being minorities before all else. Democrats shout at women that they should see themselves as being women before all else. Democrats shout at young people that they should see themselves as being young people before all else. Democrats shout at poor people that they should see themselves as being poor people before all else. Democrats shout at non-Protestants that they should see themselves as being non-Protestants before all else. Democrats shout at veterans that they should see themselves as being veterans before all else.)
http://www.heraldtribune.com/opinion/20180910/harrop-identity-politics-are-double-edged-sword

SALON
— Ted Cruz says Beto O’Rourke wants Texas to be “like California.”
https://www.salon.com/2018/09/09/ted-cruz-says-beto-orourke-wants-texas-to-be-like-california-tofu-silicone-and-dyed-hair/