My bet’s on a hard-way 4

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How do we change the direction of our government from a plutocratic dictatorship back to the democracy that was making great strides during some of the Obama years? Due to the ignorant inattention of the public, the former America may fall to the arrogant self-importance, lies and cheating of Donald Trump once again come Nov. 3.

Republicans gained two Senate seats in the 2018 general elections, bringing their majority up to 53. Democrats held 45 seats following the election, and independents who caucus with Democrats held two.

So Democrats must at least “shoot 4 the hard way“ in the coming election. (A 50-50 tie vote would serve them only if Trump loses the presidential race, as the vice-president votes to break ties.)

Vox reported in Nov 2018: “On Tuesday, Democrats won control of the House of Representatives — and, with it, the ability to check President Trump’s power.

“Republicans, however, performed strongly among the group of Senate seats up that were on the ballot, and expanded their majority in the chamber . . . Now that Democrats have won the House, Republicans will no longer be able to pass legislation with GOP votes alone — instead, to get any bills through Congress, Trump will have to spar with Democrats. The new Democratic majority will also have subpoena power, which will help them investigate the Trump administration far more aggressively.

“But since Democrats did not take the Senate, they did not gain the power to block Trump’s Supreme Court, Cabinet, and other nominees for the next two years. So Trump will continue to have the upper hand in confirming judges to lifetime posts.”

As the NewYork Times reported last November: Gov. Matt Bevin of Kentucky conceded after a re-canvass of votes showed clearly that the Democrat Andy Beshear would be the state’s next governor.

“Mr. Bevin had alienated many in both parties, describing some of those who protested his policies as ‘ignorant’ and ‘selfish,’ and leaving even political allies feeling insulted and bullied. Public school teachers, who were particularly angered by his approach, said openly that they had knocked on thousands of doors across the state to defeat Mr. Bevin.”

So the race between Democratic challenger Amy McGrath and long-time U.S. senator and aging Trump lap-dog Mitch McConnell (current majority leader) will be of special interest.

MEANWHILE—The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that large budget deficits over the next 30 years will drive federal debt held by the public from 78% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to unprecedented levels such as 144% by 2049. In the CBO’s central projection of 144 percent of GDP, the government would spend more on interest payments than the entire discretionary budget, which includes defense and all domestic programs, by 2046.

The U.S. already has the largest external debt in the world. The annual budget deficit increased from $585 billion (3.2% GDP) in 2016 to 984 billion (4.7 GDP) in 2019. The budget deficit (relative to a CBO forecast prior to Trump’s inauguration) roughly doubled from 2017 to 2019, due to Trump tax cuts and other spending legislation.

Trump’s recent $4.8-trillion budget release includes his familiar list of heavy cuts to student-loan assistance, affordable housing efforts, food stamps, Medicaid and other continued shrinkage of the federal safety net, ($1,000,000,000,000 or more to Medicaid and changes in Medicare and the Affordable Care Act).

An across-the-board 2% cut for all discretionary programs such as education, 26% cut for the EPA. A10-year extension tax cuts due to expire in 2025.

Where does it all go? The same budget includes major spending for the military (again), national defense, border enforcement, His wall, His Space Force, etc.

As Donald’s remains will be 103 years old by 2049, he obviously doesn’t care—just as long as he has his picture on the wall and his name on enough things. But I will have a number of grandkids only in their 50s by 2049 . . . and I seriously care, Present interest on the national debt is over $378,550,000,000 a year.

How do we change the direction of our government from plutocratic dictatorship back to the democracy that has flourished since its founding? Take back the current Trump-serving Senate even though we vote only in the Washington State? We can talk to friends in other states via facebook. etc.; express ourselves elsewhere on the Internet; send cash campaign donations.

I’m waiting eagerly for Super Tuesday March 3, when some dozen states (headed by California) will allot more delegates to the presidential nominating conventions than any other single day. I have ny fingers crossed for Amy Klobuchar