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Tim Grover's avatar

Well written & clearly explained. I bet you have a few more Chicago mob tales!

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Mike's avatar
May 7Edited

Maybe I'm the oddball out here, but I have never been attracted to the concept of the mob boss. I have enjoyed the movies, books, etc., but I haven't ever been enamored of the "Boss" figure. I find it illuminating that TFG has always been referred to as the "Boss" in his so-called business dealings.

He has told us what he aspires to be from the git-go.

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Ralph Rosenberg's avatar

no, you’re not an oddball I was generalizing. I was trying to capture why millions of Americans appreciate Trump or if nothing else are entertained by Trump. I was hoping to stimulate ideas for the ‘family’ of Americans opposed to Trump, Democrats, no parties or even Republicans.

I do believe opposition to Trump need to tell stories of how it’s hurting every day Americans, and not intellectualize political theory or economics. People don’t understand tariffs as a rule. They understand how they can’t feed their kids. People don’t understand Medicaid rules or Medicaid bureaucracy. People, especially in our rural Iowa, will understand where rule medical care and rural hospitals start closing down because of Medicaid cuts.

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Mike's avatar

Being on SS and Medicare and watching my 401k investment fall, I understand personally the hurt coming our way. Will Floyd Valley hospital in LeMars be there in 2 years? Who knows?

Even more however, will my 2 grandchildren in their 20's ever be able to buy their own homes? They have no credit whatsoever as of now, and with low paying service jobs it is unlikely they can grow their prospects in the foreseeable future.

There is also the immigrants, both legal and illegal. These folks are well and truly *ucked as of right now, no matter what they do. Their children born here in the US were automatically a citizen a short time ago, but no more apparently soon.

People of color? Marginalized already. There's a reason Ice Barbie Kristi Noem is forbidden to set foot on any of the nine federal Indian reservations in the state she was born and raised in and once was the governor of.

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Ralph Rosenberg's avatar

Mike, you are speaking the truth..and from your heart. I have been volunteering with ProIowa 24 and other groups trying to raise issues and concerns about what is happening (for several years, we have been pushing state and federal elect-eds to do more on everything from OB/GYN to rural hospitals). I don’t get why it has not been a campaign issue in rural states, like our own.

We have 2 sons in their 30’. One does not believe he will be able to buy a home. Both do not believe SS will be around for them.

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Mike's avatar

Thanks for the reply Ralph. It's right on point.

My son in his 30's also doesn't believe SS will be there for him. Buy a home? Nope.

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