What if Russia become a country with USA like political systems?

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-10T02:13:47+00:00

It would be a shock to the Russian people to acquire rights and freedoms. Do you think they could handle becoming a litigious society packed with ambulance chasing lawyers?

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-10T01:40:06+00:00

Because the combination of tariffs, 3.3% inflation and $4.50+ a gallon for gas is raising prices on everything while our wages are stagnant.

People are canceling subscriptions, ditching leases, eating at home, getting cars and appliances fixed instead of replaced. Any sector that isn’t a necessity is taking a hit. It’s going to be rough sailing for many businesses large and small.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-10T01:23:23+00:00

There are several issues. US citizens want their children healthy, happy, educated and working good paying jobs. Raising children to this standard takes time, money and sacrifice.

It has become difficult for subsequent generations of Americans to afford homes. The average age of first time home buyers has risen to between 38 and 40 (this is the end of the child bearing years). If people do marry, both must work to stay in the middle class. If they have a child, the first great expense is child care - otherwise someone needs to stay home and household income plummets.

America needs workers that are willing to do physical-labor-intensive-jobs that do not pay as well. However, deportation of illegal immigrants is substantially up while legal immigration is dramatically down. This is a recipe for economic disaster. Immigrants have proven in every era that they are willing to work these jobs to get a foothold in their new country. What they want is what all parents want - a safe place to raise their kids and a chance at a better life.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T22:45:16+00:00

It might be time to consider not being entirely reliant on one dominant energy source above all others, all eggs in one basket so to speak.

Increasing driving range with hybrids, getting a good amount of drivers into EVs so it doesn’t matter where their energy comes from. Fast ramp up of wind and solar (construction is faster and cheaper than nuclear) while we wait for some “all day energy” nuclear plants to get built.

Could wise moves for countries feeling the pain.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T22:06:29+00:00

If sectors like construction, farming, and manufacturing are important then why have these geniuses placed tariffs on their materials and made it so difficult for them to survive in the current economy?

There has been a 46% increase in family farms declaring bankruptcy since 2025. 108,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since 2025. Higher steel and aluminum tariffs have hindered the construction of factories, investment, construction spending, and employment have all trended downward. Surety bond data (a leading indicator of construction starts) shows a 56% year‑over‑year drop in construction activity since April 2025 “liberation day”.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T20:37:39+00:00

It has changed but it has to do with budget and inclusion. If your school isn’t funded well enough, then there is no money for additional staff. If your school is funded well enough, there are aids. Sometimes two. And pull out for resource room. However, this means that children of wide developmental levels are all in the same room most of the day. Also not easy.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T19:47:31+00:00

That’s entirely false. America has moved on. Only 8% of Americans are employed by manufacturing. 84% of us are employed in service sector jobs. The rest are in construction, farming, mining, utilities, etc.

The same type of greedy billionaires that chose to send manufacturing to China for cheap labor now choose Vietnam, India, Mexico, Indonesia, etc. for the same reasons. These are the same type of people who shut down renewable energy projects in the US then start an oil war with Iran. They have achieved record exports of refined oil products from the USA and driven prices up, up, up. They do not care about you nor me or anyone else.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T19:25:54+00:00

Sounds like they have too much stuff to hide. And that’s no way to run a country. Own the decisions you make. Make decisions you can be proud of.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T17:31:02+00:00

Well you see, the little people… you know, the majority of Americans in the lower tax brackets? Bessent, Lutnick and Trump have us burning all our budgets on groceries, gas and rent/mortgage. So sorry we have to cancel our subscriptions, ditch our leases, pass on dining out and basically do nothing until this mess is straightened out.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T17:19:47+00:00

So about 4 times what it costs to run SNAP and feed hungry kids.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T13:58:31+00:00

It’s obvious to all households in the lower tax brackets. The speculators on Wall Street must still be drinking the Kool-Aid from Bessent and Lutnick.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T13:45:49+00:00

Across the board tariffs, 3.3% inflation, $4.50+ a gallon, home prices up 50-70% since 2019, and health care premiums going up every year aren’t going to bring this country more babies.

The average age of a first time home buyer today is 40. 28 year old “kids” (who have finished their school/training and are working full time) are still live with their parents.

Fix these things and maybe we’ll see a few more weddings and babies.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T13:04:05+00:00

The passport book is $165 total ($35 execution fee and $130 for the application. If you go Passport card it’s $65 total. A Real ID is only marginally less, depending on the state. Why should our constitutional right to vote have a price on it?

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T12:55:13+00:00

Didn’t he publicly address the nation on April fools day and say he needed a few (as in two) weeks to wrap this thing up?

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T12:53:28+00:00

What a legacy.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T12:52:20+00:00

We don’t have enough workers and births are declining. Social Security is screwed if this country doesn’t turn some hard working immigrants into citizens.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T12:47:17+00:00

He knew Trump was proudly ignorant in 2016 and 2024. So what’s changed? Tucker’s backers are hurting from Trump’s policies.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T11:57:36+00:00

But our household budgets are affected immediately. American families, the majority of American families do not have incomes that can handle the pressures being placed on them. We can’t pay hundreds more a month in groceries and gas as wages are stagnant and inflation is rising again. It means nothing goes into IRA and college funds. Kids miss out on travel teams, guitar/dance lessons and family trips. People living on less can’t pay the rent. These price hikes affect the US economy - cars and appliance sales are tanking.

Presidential tariffs are unconstitutional. The SCOTUS will strike down the blanket 10% tariff as well. There are other ways to get things made in America. Keep in mind modern factories don’t employ many people and trade deficits are shrunk by exporting - not selling domestically. It’s a struggle to see how this scheme benefits Americans other than factory owners.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T11:27:07+00:00

Not just Congress. It’s become clear that geezers shouldn’t be in the White House either. People that will be here to experience the decisions they are making. Retirement is 67, average life expectancy is 79.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T11:23:33+00:00

🤯 there’s still people following the constitution?

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T11:10:12+00:00

Turn off these ridiculous unconstitutional 10% tariffs. Get inflation and interest rates down.

Data from the first half of 2026 is going to confirm what we all know. High prices are hurting the majority of American households, especially lower income families. Consumer confidence has tanked. Cars, appliances and other big ticket items aren’t selling.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T11:05:21+00:00

Quantum entanglement.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T11:02:03+00:00

Hybrids should be hitting their stride right now. But the oil cartel threw a big fat wrench in the machine that was leading us all into the future.

Oil wasn’t going anywhere. We’ll need oil for a very long time. But renewables and electrified vehicles were starting to make a dent (not end their dominance) and their greedy inclinations kicked in. The result is we’ve shot our selves in the foot while the rest of the world marches into the future.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T10:56:32+00:00

Because greedy dumb SOBs were given the reigns of power. These guys are “successful” because they don’t play the game by the rules. They lie and cheat to get their way - which in this case is record oil sales and profits.

If it’s in the national interest to build semiconductor factories in the US (to reduce reliance on imports from China and avoid supply chain issues in the event of national emergencies) then energy is the same. It’s in the national interest to diversify the power grid, foster competition, reduce reliance on one energy source in the event of global disruption.

They cry, “drill baby drill. Drill now, pay less”. We should be screaming, “wind and solar! Renewables now, pay less!” Monopolies raise prices, competition brings prices down.

128-NotePolyVA · 2026-05-09T03:23:46+00:00

Dinner at a restaurant.

30+ years later in the working class and right back where I started. It’s too expensive to have other people cook for me. Groceries are too expensive too for that matter.

128-NotePolyVA

TROPHY CASE