An interesting item today, by Elliot Smilowitz @thehill.com, shows that Donald Trump leads Hillary Clinton head-to-head, according to a new SurveyUSA poll released Friday. Matched up directly, Trump garners 45 percent to Clinton’s 40 percent.
At first glance, one’s reaction might be: “So what?” Because, at this point, with the election still over a year away, the poll results don’t mean very much. In fact, in the Trump/Clinton case, they might equate to Bozo the Clown outpolling bank robber, Willie Sutton.
However, when you look at reader’s comments there might actually be some substance to Trump’s attraction on the Republican side.
Reader Sue Anne wrote: “If Trump can seal the borders and evict all illegal aliens, he will have accomplished more good for the citizens of our nation than the DNC and RNC combined have done in six years.”
Mournblade added: “On the one hand we have the Democrats handing nukes to 7th century savages who have relegated women, gays, and minorities to a lesser status than that of farm animals. These same Democrats celebrate the murder of the unborn for convenience and then sell their body parts. Then you have the old guard GOP who sit idly by with a goofy grin on their faces and condone this barbaric behavior. And people call Trump crazy?”
All of which indicates that the truly qualified Republican politicos, such as Bush, Walker, Kasich and perhaps, even a return by Mitt Romney, better get their act together on their platforms quickly. If not, as hard as it is to believe, a blustering Trump might actually upstage them in November 2016.
Another subject, often mentioned here, regards complacent, out of date politicians, ignoring reality. However, additional information today illustrates the reality's of the nation's labor force in the very near future.
Thomas G. Donlan @barrons.com, writes that “In 1950, 488,000 Americans worked in coal mines and produced 560 million tons of coal—1,150 tons per miner. In 2013, 80,000 people operated machines that dug 982 million tons of coal; a sixth of the former work force produced almost twice as much coal, 12,000 tons per miner. The symbol of the new economy in coal is the giant power shovel, whose skilled operator has replaced hundreds of men with shovels.”
The same reality exists in the nation’s farmlands where, “the few remaining farmers feed the larger nation with greater abundance and variety, at lower prices for most food.”
Another business, more familiar to most citizens, is going through a similar metamorphosis where: “What happened to the family farm can and will happen to the family fast-food franchise and perhaps the family three-star restaurant, as well.”
“Machines for taking food orders, for frying potatoes to perfection, and yes, for flipping burgers, are taking jobs in the fast-food hamburger chains, where several generations of young people have learned the basic labor skills of showing up on time and following instructions to the letter. They will have to be better prepared for their first real jobs in some other way, and it doesn’t look like public schools are ready to do it.”
And even more ominous, “The higher the minimum wage is raised, the faster the [automation] trend will be fulfilled.”
Mr.Donlan then makes the most important point, that “It won’t be long before a robot with vision and soft hands can clear a restaurant table, carry a tray, and load the dish-washing machine, at a price that beats a minimum-wage busboy, legal immigrant or not. Only the fanciest restaurants with the highest prices will have flesh-and-blood busboys—not for efficiency but for prestige—and waiters will be the next horses in line for replacement.
Yet, in spite of the crystal clear evidence to the contrary: “To celebrate Labor Day, the Obama administration would like to reverse all threatening trends in the labor market. The president and his Labor Department seem to believe there’s only one appropriate kind of labor market, and that’s one regimented by the federal government for the ostensible benefit of workers.
“So-called basic workplace protections, such as minimum wages, overtime pay for work beyond 40 hours a week, and, of course, government’s thumb on the scale of unionization, have been going out of fashion everywhere but in Washington and a dozen or so state capitals.
“But this government rejects the gig economy, which features independent contractors working task by task at rates and hours reflecting supply and demand.”
Mr. Donlan then poses the question the administration should really be considering by suggesting that: “We should ask how America’s displaced laborers will provide for themselves at the end of the age of labor.”
Which brings us to today’s update on Bill Clinton’s wife.
According to Betsy Klein, @cnn.com, “Sanders thinks Clinton campaign is 'getting nervous”
Ms Klein reports that Sander’s said, “Don't tell anybody. I think what they know is that four months ago, when I entered this race, if you look at the polls, I was in 3 to 4%. Vast majority of the American people didn't know who Bernie Sanders was, they didn't know what my ideas were, and in last few months, we have amassed huge amounts of enthusiasm and huge amounts of energy. So obviously, I think the secretary's people are getting nervous about the kind of energy and enthusiasm our campaign is bringing forth."
What was most interesting, though, is that after Sanders laid out a very clear explanation of the status of his increasingly successful campaign, Bill’s wife retorted: “I think you can come with your own ideas and you can wave your arms and give a speech. But are you connecting with and really hearing what people are either saying to you or wishing that you would say to them?" Which is complete, and utter, meaningless gibberish from her, and the voting public knows it. As evidenced by Sander’s ever-increasing poll results.
Which leads to the ongoing question: “Joe Biden, Mayor Bloomberg, Jerry Brown, and Starbuck’s chairman and CEO, Howard Schultz, are you reading this?
That’s it for today folks.
Adios
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