Will the wealth of the top 0.1 percent pay off the national debt?

With a combined worth of $2.34 trillion, (click here) the Forbes 400 own more wealth than the bottom 61 percent of the country combined, a staggering 194 million people.

Not quite. The worth of the Forbes 400 is about one tenth of the USA national debt. That is about right when considering how much corporate welfare issued by the federal government.

December 3, 2015
By Joshua Holland

Charles Koch, CEO of Koch Industries Inc., is listed by Forbes as the fourth-richest person in the United States today.

The 400 richest Americans (click here) now have more wealth than the bottom 61 percent of the population, a report released on Wednesday by the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) reveals. According to “Billionaire Bonanza: The Forbes 400 and the Rest of Us,” just the twenty individuals at the top of the pile—a group that could fit into a Gulfstream G650 luxury jet, according to the study’s authors—now control more wealth than the bottom half of the population. That’s 152 million people living in 57 million households....

Luckily, the tax cut to the 0.1 percent is only $215,000 is ONLY 0.1 percent.

The American voters that thought there would be a tax rate of ZERO percent for earners under $50,000 was rolled for Trump's friends at the top of the income scale. I guess 10 percent of a dollar might begin to pay for a stamp for the USA government mail. The processing of a dime of tax costs more than that.

What kind of fine does an American get for not paying a tax burden of ten cents? Is there a jail sentence for that? Is there an age bracket for children that save them from the government?

I am sincerely worried about babysitters. Not only do they get decent money for their services, but, do they then get 1099s? Do they know what to do with 1099s? What if they don't file? Dear god, what happens then? Do they provide tutorial services from the local elementary school to those students ambitious enough to earn money but not savvy enough to file with Uncle Sam? Does it go on their permanent school record? 

May 9, 2017
By Howard Gleckman

...For example, (click here) with Trump’s campaign brackets, the average household would get a tax cut of about $1,000 or about 1.3 percent of after-tax income. The lowest income households would get no tax cut at all on average, and middle-income households would get about $730, also about 1.3 percent of after-tax income. The highest-income one percent of households would get a tax cut averaging $39,000 or 2.6 percent of after-tax income and the top 0.1 percent would get a tax cut of $215,000, boosting their after-tax income by 3 percent....

Chelsea Manning served her time. The military decided her sentence. This is outrageous.

Harvard has no right to continue her sentence. NO RIGHT!

Since when do major universities carry out social retribution? This is extremely dangerous and a policy of Harvard's that needs to be visited. Who else? Is this the first time Harvard has over stepped it's boundaries? This is just an amazing power play. Hatred is now a policy at Harvard.

September 15, 2017
By Andrew deGrandpre

Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (click here) rescinded a visiting fellowship offered to Chelsea Manning, the former military intelligence analyst who spent seven years in prison for leaking classified government secrets, after the university faced forceful backlash from CIA Director Mike Pompeo among others.

“I now think that designating Chelsea Manning as a Visiting Fellow was a mistake, for which I accept responsibility,” Douglas W. Elmendorf, the school’s dean, wrote in a 700-word statement released shortly after midnight Friday.

Manning was one of four visiting fellows announced two days earlier by the Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics. As part of the program, visiting fellows appear on Harvard’s campus for speaking engagements and events, interacting with undergraduate students on “topical issues of today,” the school’s initial announcement explained....

The politics of hate are now solidly anchored in America's institution. Quite frankly, I don't Pompeo has much to offer Harvard. Have they started clicking their heels at Harvard yet?

September 14, 2017
By Joseph A Wulfsohn

CIA Director Mike Pompeo (click here) has cancelled a speaking engagement at Harvard University in reaction to their decision of hiring convicted leaker Chelsea Manning as a “visiting fellow.”...

The Pompous Letter (click here)

I demand equal time for Chelsea Manning in the media!

I suppose this the major accomplishment of Mike Pompeo. I know the country is in trouble now. How many more transgender is under the CIA radar?

The Dean already wrote his resignation when he sent Chelsea Manning home. He has backbone. Harvard will tolerate a CIA Director that works for White Supremacists, but, turns away one of the most controversial military intelligence officer of our time. Idiot. There is no other word.

This act of hate and political preference casts a shadow over Harvard. Everyone say bye, bye to Douglas W. Elmendorf. Bye, bye.

Chelsea Manning is an American. Just that simple. She has a right to participate in events in the American experience and speaking at Harvard is completely appropriate. Her exposure is healthy for the country. CIA Directors like Pompeo only proves the government is floundering and politically charged rather than settling on national security. Pompeo is practicing inflammatory politics. THE FACT that in his letter he states he is personally uncomfortable is a problem. What else is he personally uncomfortable with? Since when are the policies of the CIA a personal preference of the Director? I don't think so.

CIA agents are focused on a Harvard forum to determine their behavior? That is a joke. That is a complete joke. It is also a lie. Pompeo is playing politics and lacks the ability to HONOR all Americans including those that have served a prison sentence and now has returned to civilian life. 

Maybe "Kremlin on the Charles" is an appropriate assessment of Harvard, but, not for the reasons Ted Cruz stated. 

If anyone was supposed to be our first woman President it was Hillary Clinton. She is more than amply prepared for the office. I wish her well and success in everything on her path. Personally, I believe the course of the USA has been altered by the 2016 elections and she needs to be around to be sure that breach into forever needs someone to mend it. I am counting on her and I sincerely believe the Democratic Party is ALLOWING their future to be altered by a false victory by the current President Trump in 2016. 

Russia. I am trying to decide at what point in our recent history, since "W" won 2000, when all this mess of propaganda started. It was long before 2016 that the poison of hate infiltrated our country and the turning point for me was when the Voting Rights Act of 1964 was dissolved.

President Obama and Attorney General Holder did magnificent work after that change in the law.

But, see, we actually do have a planet on melt down. Currently, there is a hurricane in the Atlantic that has a prolonged residence in the northern latitudes of the Hadley Cells near the jet stream. Today, the jet stream is markedly slower than 24 hours ago and far slower than 48 hours ago.

I have to get this right.

No matter how much I miss Secretary Clinton as our President, I have to maintain a focus on where my primary mission is; a mission I was assigned by the void over 17 years ago. I thought getting reciprocity for child support was a challenge, but, Earth is such a complicated beast. And reality about the ever increasing heat that is now upon us in a very overt way is important to note. I am not alone. I have friends. I wish Hillary had friends. Real friends. Friends that would ensure America knows the crime that happened. I don't think she should be telling it herself.

I am still concerned about the leverage Comey used and there is some profound misogyny that occurred there. If any fact of Comey's role is completely evident that is. I actually think Russia was not as successful as he. Some of my elder family members believe Trump, the Wackos Fanatics in Congress, McConnell or any combination there of threatened him with his job. Then again he simply might have a problem with women in authority.

But, as to Russia. There are stalwarts within the Russian government and people that long for Lenin. Seriously. Putin might have his issues, but, he was part of the change in Russia as much as Senator McCain believes he is a permanent KGB agent more than a Russian President. He followed Yeltsin. Putin was not hardened as he is today. He was at our side the very second the jets hit the first tower in Lower Manhattan. He wasn't scared to our side, he was a sincere leader that would provide minimally medical aid to the American soldiers yet to parachute in to Afghanistan.

I have little dislike for Russia. We have found ourselves together in battle more than anyone in history or otherwise cares to admit. That is because we care about our people. Putin has a problem with the way capitalism dominates the economy of the USA and the suffering the seething greed has created for so many Americans. The international problem as well that resulted in 2008. But, as to the Russia of today.

The USA put Vladimir in a corner. He isn't interested in war really. I do believe that. Ukraine was a surprise to him and his politics was about Crimea and the "Russian people within Crimea." When Yanukovich found it necessary to travel to Crimea to leave Ukraine, Putin was forced to face his politics. Those politics have forced the Crimea to pledge to Russia and then the border became an issue. He broke with treaties. Many treaties, not, just the one with Ukraine. He is a man with a problem. If anything was to change his reality it would be to have a President in the USA that not only shook hands with a Russian President, but, embraced him and wanted his business as the USA's own. Tillerson is a dead give away. Did Putin put him in office, too?

Vladimir Putin and the Russia people are scared of the fall of the USSR. It is just that simple. He crossed a line after Ukraine fell out of Russian control. He felt he had to make it all work for the people, including, his new economic union with surrounding countries that find it difficult to exist without Russia.

Did Putin effect the elections of 2016? You betcha he did. I don't care how many hackers he authorized or didn't authorize, he was the motivating factor and within that was his goals for propaganda with Trump under his control. He thought for sure Trump would be able to lift the sanctions. He wants out of his corner and no one is throwing in the towel to let it happen. The USA has hardliners, too. Right, Senator McCain? I love Senator McCain. If there was ever a time when his service was needed it is now. And to think cancer wants him more.

It is a darn shame Trump brought all that corruption with him. His loyalty to the USA is really in question. Maybe he wants his own country. An island nation in servitude to him. But. Hey, he always treats them right.

Hillary Clinton. The President that never was. I hate it. There is no doubt she loves this country. I never questioned that. Former Director Mueller's work will go a long way to right the ship. But, the USA is such a big ship and right now it is floundering. Russia would love for the USA to break up into little countries with a billionaire stricken with greed as President for each slice of the pie. That won't happen no matter how much Russians wish it.

Right now every American has to be thinking to get out of the Paris Accords was a HUGE mistake. If they aren't, then they aren't thinking and they lack the will to move into the future. Irma devastated an entire state and Florida is not a small state. I really think the American people need to realize what is happening to them by the will of Earth.

I am sorry Hillary Clinton is not President for all the right reasons. We all need to get the future right and we need to get it right soon.

A very clear example of how "Trickle Down" fails the USA was exhibited during the BP Deepwater Disaster.

The south is heavily invested in "Trickle Down." It shows. Kindly remember the south of the USA has the highest maternal death rates, rates of impoverishment and highest drop out rates.

When the Deepwater sunk, it killed eleven people, but, it also destroyed the 'service industry' that went along with it. The so called companies that serviced the petroleum industry in the Gulf of Mexico are primarily impoverished people. These folks were barking at the heels of the Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal to open the waters again so they could go back to work and not just in collecting oil, but, in service to other oil rigs.

We got a first hand look at the petroleum service industry run by independent companies of the USA. They were on food stamps and Medicaid. Just so the southern Governors realize what successful independent companies are, THAT AIN'T IT.

Trickle Down Economics create abject poverty. Trickle Down Economics is corporate welfare. No different than Walmart and it's pay rates to employees.

Here is the difference between the north and the south. In the north it is hard to break into a new independent business. It takes investment and meeting all kinds of regulations to protect the public. There are sometimes bonds that have to be filed. 

But, in the south, all anyone needs is a vacuum cleaner, a broom (preferably Swiffer), some clean rags and a can of Pledge. The ads on Craigslist are free.

A word to the wise. When stockholders look for a CEO, be sure the bonus is based on market share and the number of jobs the business supports, not simply pocket change on stock prices.

Oh, there is the issue of "Too Big to Fail," too. The only example that clearly illustrates that idea is "The London Whale." The investment profile was far to large to be managed. JP Morgan should have sold off investments to reduce it's management footprint.

There should be tax incentives to begin to break up oversized banks that have exotic instruments that can crash an economy overnight.

Ask how helpful that would be to stabilize the investment portfolio of universities and even USA treasury bonds. I think the USA is still downgraded, right?

United States | Credit Rating (click here)

Most if not all USA allies enjoy the same ratings. It is just a shame about Russia and its return to the old world of invasions. I always thought the reason the USA had such a great brain trust was because of hybrid vigor. But, that is just silly. Isn't it?

Let me help President Trump. There is no us and them. There is no wealthy and middle class. There are people with income. 

WHEN THE MIDDLE CLASS does well, the wealthy does well IF THEY ARE WORKING EXECUTIVES and/or ARE INVESTORS.

I would think President Trump would have a far clearer understanding that the wealthy are DEPENDENT on the Middle Class. As a hotel owner and an owner of casinos, his customers are the Middle Class in many instances. I would say in most instances.

If Governor Christi wants to revitalize Atlantic City or Former Senator Reid and Senator Cortez Mastro want to revitalize Las Vegas there needs to be a far stronger Middle Class. The major resort cities know their most numerous customers are family people that work for a living. There is no separation between Americans. They all benefit when the Middle Class is strong and well paid.

Let me make this perfectly clear. When the Republicans seek to lower tax rates on the wealthy and/or companies they are increasing the income at the top and impoverishing the rest of us. It is how the 1 percent was founded. The idea there is TRICKLE DOWN is completely bogus. It was a stupid concept that created the 10 percent and 1 percent. It is the very concept that caused Romney to disdain the 47 percent. THERE IS NO US AND THEM, there is only America.

Ronald Reagan attacked unions and the Middle Class has never been the same and the deterioration of the USA's economy was insured. The cheap labor policy of Wall Street brought cheap goods to the USA because it is the biggest consumer market in the world. IT HAD TO BE CHEAP because the majority of Americans were making minimum wage in a service economy EXCEPT for the professions. Correction, the professions and the car industry and other places where the unions were still alive, namely IN EDUCATION!

If the Republicans are convinced, as I am not, that the USA GDP has to be 3 percent in order to pay off the National Debt, they first have to close the National Deficit. So far, the 3 percent GDP hasn't done squat. President Obama closed the National Deficit with 2 percent or a little more than 2 percent GDP. 

The real elephant in the room within the USA budget is the forever wars and the US military budget. As long as we are the world's police there will be hideous needs for a bloated military budget. And the real reality is the USA Navy is easily defeated by Chinese Container ships colliding with missile ships. 

No one wants a hostile USA, but, that means every country supports a strong military that protects its borders and is an ally with like minded countries that share commerce and trade in cultural and educational opportunities as well as items sold for monies.

An ally is supposed to mean something and not just, "Oh, the USA will do that."

But, back to the Middle Class. Wall Street isn't supposed to be a place for gamblers. Gamblers belong in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Wall Street's relationship with the Middle Class is easily identified when investors actually have an income from their stocks because a product is selling well.

Between Reagan and the GOP Trickle Down Economy the Middle Class was destroyed, and along with them, their unions.

I have a suggestion for Congress in drafting TAX REFORM. Eliminate corruption as the FIRST priority. Then strengthen the Middle Class and stop attacking unions in the taxes they pay. Strengthen the incentive to infuse pensions as a place where investors can be found to help Wall Street grow better products and services and not just financial services either. Unions should have an incentive to grow their own manufacturing base and hire Americans. Wouldn't that be interesting? Unions having a management interest as well as a member interest. I think that was part of the idea at Volkswagen in Tennessee. It was Tennesee where Corker lied and made a fool of himself? When he should have been rejoying at the opportunity to strengthen employee representation at the management table, he instead decided to demonize decent men looking to improve the quality of "work life" and "home life."

1. Eliminate corruption at every turn.

2. Strengthen the Middle Class with fair tax rates for the level of income they earn or save.

3. Strengthen Unions to support quality of life in the USA.

4. End the ZERO tax rate for the wealthiest Americans and corporations. I don't care if those corporations leave the country, they weren't doing anything except enjoy the quality of life we and our ancestors worked hard to build without paying a damn dime in taxes to maintain it. Those that pay ZERO TAXES at the top are adding to the National Debt while they covet our military.

5. Provide incentives for entrepreneurship and the rebirth of family farms.

Start there and we will see where we are in five years.

Just to clarify something about Michael Flynn, He is a traitor. Just that simple. He took "W"s plans for nuclear proliferation and went to Russia to finance it.

He used USA intelligence to become a million-billionaire.

I think Manafort was his inspiration.

It seems to me all the people, including Trump, involved in this paradigm has latched onto the coat tails of Russia for their fortune. There is a reason Trump wants a relationship with Russia and it has nothing to do with national security.

Unfortunately, the American people were coveted to facilitate their greater wealth and Russia was more than happy to attach it's agenda to the effort. These are very dangerous people. They have no LOYALTY to the USA. They have only greed and manipulation for their own idea of happiness.

The American people are no body to them. They don't care about policy and they much rather than a populous agenda for their ambitions. The populous agenda is completely a distraction for the country.

Paul Manafort had Viktor Yanyokovich as a good friend. That man ran Trump's campaign and you aren't going to tell me Trump didn't know Manafort well. This is the BILLIONAIRE political paradigm Americans face. Who is the next one? What's his name from Facebook? The CEO from Goldman-Sachs? Who's next? Who is going to purchase the next election? The Koch Brothers have been riding the train of power since "W." How long does the American people sacrifice for the wealthy and an agenda that is alienating and victimizing? Stop being stupid. Stop sending American soldiers into Wall Street wars.

How many billionaire wannabees live in the USA military industrial complex? Then what happens?

Another stationary system.

September 14, 2017
0930.18z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

Jose is slowly moving east, but, likes the warm waters below the horse latitudes.

Jose is caught in the northeast trade winds.

Jose

27.60 -67.40 09/12/18Z 65 987 HURRICANE-1

26.50 -66.40 09/13/00Z 65 985 HURRICANE-1

26.10 -66.00 09/13/06Z 65 985 HURRICANE-1

25.50 -65.60 09/13/12Z 65 985 HURRICANE-1

25.30 -65.60 09/13/18Z 65 988 HURRICANE-1

25.20 -66.00 09/14/00Z 70 985 HURRICANE-1

25.10 -66.50 09/14/06Z 65 986 HURRICANE-1 

Military sales require a bill from Congress. I am unclear about any USA of nuclear energy.

I am not an advocate for Michael Flynn. I believe he likes power and money and has positioned himself to use the power of the USA to become wealthy.

However, the leaders of Saudi Arabia are not mindless morons that are lead around by the nose by Michael Flynn.

Nuclear proliferation was a priority of the "W" administration, including Saudi Arabia. I believe the Saudi policy is to exploit nuclear energy to relieve the country's need for oil energy, but, they stop at nuclear weapons and any type of nuclear arsenal UNLESS Iran insists on destabilizing the power balance of the Middle East.

Of little interest to most Americans, Saudi Arabia is opening itself up to a 'working class' economy. The country is moving away from a mono-economic structure, namely petroleum. The new leadership of which some are young and inspired to change the quality of life of all the Saudi people. These new leaders want a country that is not dependent on the sale of petroleum.

Saudi Arabia has a big kick-off campaign to begin the movement of a diverse economy whereby citizens have options to their earning power. 

I am not surprised Flynn was pushing for a nuclear arsenal. It is good for the USA military-industrial complex.

May 31, 2017
By Samuel Stebbins and Thomas C. Frohlich

National security and warfare are big business. (click here) The U.S. government spent $598.5 billion, over half of its discretionary budget, on military and weapons technology in 2015. The 100 largest arms-producing and military services companies across the globe sold an estimated $370.7 billion worth of arms that year.

In its latest annual report, Top 100 Arms-Producing and Military Services Companies, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimated arms sales for companies around the world using financial documents and reports of sales to national ministries and departments of defense. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 20 companies with the largest arms sales in 2015.

U.S.-based companies continue to dominate the defense market, a trend that is unlikely to change meaningfully any time soon. Virginia-based Lockheed Martin's arms sales totaled $36.44 billion in 2015, by far the most of any company. Booz Allen Hamilton rounds out the list of 20, with $3.9 billion in military-related sales that year. U.S.- and Western Europe-based companies account for 82.4% of arms sales by the 100 largest military procurement companies....

Most major countries have some kind of military industrial complex. The USA will offer loans to countries to insure the purchase of military equipment goes to American companies. Sometimes there are grants, too. It should give every American pause to realize the monies lent to foreign governments to increase the military footprint of the USA military industrial complex around the world. But, as to Michael Flynn, it is obvious he was well invested to the sale of military hardware and under "W" nuclear capacity.

The USA military has a life of it's own. Michael Flynn's dreamscape for making money is all part of that as well.

Here we go:

..Another issue (click here) is that of licensing reactor designs. Emerging countries generally do not have the expertise for this, and must initially rely on design licensing by countries such as the UK, USA, France, Russia and China while they focus on building competence to license the actual operation of plants.

State-owned nuclear companies in Russia and China have taken the lead in offering nuclear power plants to emerging countries, usually with finance and fuel services. The following table charts the main influence in countries with various agreements but not yet any plants under construction (see also the relevant tables in the information papers on Nuclear Power in China and Nuclear Power in Russia):...

That is interesting. Considering the penetration Russia has in the foreign nuclear market, Michael Flynn might find it helpful to have a good relationship with Russia. Wow.

Having a good relationship with Russian banks would be helpful for those that want to broker nuclear energy and/or arsenals.

It is a bribe for those that are the focus of the investigation. The Russian government and banks were more than willing to cooperate AND PRETEND to be willing to make billionaires.

It would require some real money. A few $10,000s or even $100,000s is nothing if it meant having a Russian friendly administration in the Whtie House that could leverage power to change the face of the USA.

Those greedy little bastards are as guilty as sin.

Vladimir should be ashamed of himself. GET OUT OF THE UKRAINE! Russia actually believes Americans can be lead by the nose to turn against the free world?

OMG! There is no way. No way. The Free World wanted Russia to be a part of that paradigm and then Vladimir and the old communists felt Ukraine slipping out of it's influence along with it's politics. There are Ukrainians that have died for those politics. You lousy bastards.

The UK is not alone in it's negligence of city's sewage systems.

The first paragraph of any USA infrastructure bill needs to make sewage pipes the top priority before all requested monies are to be released to the city. A grant can be provided without question to address the sewage systems, but, all other monies are contingent upon completion of a clear sewage system. This is not about rust or any other sign that pipes need to be replaced, it is about clogged pipes and the need for moving stagnant water in the year 2017. I can't see infrastructure improvements when they are compromised from the beginning by clogged sewage systems facilitating flooding waters.

September 12, 2017
By Mindy Weisberger

Writer Neil Gaiman's (click here) 1997 urban fantasy novel "Neverwhere" imagined sewers underneath large cities as magical shadow worlds, each a home to a host of peculiar individuals and monstrous beasts. However, the reality of what lies below cities in their waste networks is much more disgusting, as a team of Thames Water engineers in the United Kingdom recently found out.

In a sewer region located about 11 feet (4 meters) under the Whitechapel neighborhood in London, workers are just beginning to dismantle an inanimate but uniquely revolting inhabitant — a vast and rock-solid plug of oily waste charmingly known as a "fatberg."

Composed of stinking garbage and grease and weighing in at 143 tons (130,000 kilograms), the Whitechapel fatberg sprawls for 820 feet (250 m) — about the length of two English football fields. This means the blob is more than twice as long as the nefarious iceberg responsible for sinking the Titanic, which was estimated to measure a mere 200 to 400 feet (61 to 122 m) long....

Jose, the meandering storm.

September 13, 2017

0030.12z

UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

It started it's recroded trip on September 5, 2017 at 1200 with a wind speed of 35 knots per hour (approx. 40 mph) and a central pressure of 1008 millibars.

12.30 -39.10 09/05/12Z 35 1008 TROPICAL STORM

Then Jose became a Cat.1 hurricane on September 6, 2017 at 1800 with a wind speed of 65 knots per hour (74 mph) with a central pressure of 994 millibars.

13.90 -45.80 09/06/18Z 65 994 HURRICANE-1

15.50 -52.40 09/07/18Z 105 966 HURRICANE-3

When Jose achieved Cat. 4 velocity it maintained it for 2 days.

16.30 -57.10 09/08/12Z 130 942 HURRICANE-4

16.60 -58.30 09/08/18Z 130 940 HURRICANE-4

16.90 -59.30 09/09/11Z 135 938 HURRICANE-4

17.50 -60.30 09/09/20Z 130 940 HURRICANE-4

18.30 -61.30 09/10/01Z 125 945 HURRICANE-4

19.20 -62.40 09/09/18Z 125 945 HURRICANE-4

19.80 -63.40 09/10/00Z 115 944 HURRICANE-4

20.80 -64.50 09/10/06Z 115 944 HURRICANE-4

21.70 -65.80 09/10/12Z 115 944 HURRICANE-4

The current position of -66.00 09 longitude today, September 13, 2017 was visited previously on September 10, 2017, at 1200 as a Cat. 4 hurricane.

The current position of 26.10 latitude, on September 13, 2017, was visited previously on September 11, 2017, at 1800 as a Cat. 2 hurricane.

26.40 -69.20 09/11/18Z 85 973 HURRICANE-2

27.10 -69.50 09/12/00Z 75 982 HURRICANE-1

26.10 -66.00 09/13/06Z 65 985 HURRICANE-1

September 13, 2017
1230.18z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite 

The last two readings show a storm capable of extensive travel across Earth in a short period of time. Jose traveled a full degree latitude and three and a half degrees longitude in 18 hours. While in the open ocean that seems insignificant, but, when approaching or over land, it is extremely significant. Currently, Jose has a central pressure of 985 millibars which is an increase of 12 millibars in 18 hours. Jose has winds speeds currently of 65 knots (74 mph). That is a drop of 20 knots per hour (23 mph) in 18 hours.

As a Cat. 1 hurricane I am not willing to state Jose is dissipating. This Cat. 1 hurricane has an extensive feeder system from the equator reaching up to the Arctic. Jose is rebalancing after the resolve of Irma. I remain interested.

"Single Payer" is the only method to bring down and control health care costs. After the Affordable Care Act was passed and health care insurance companies, hospitals and doctors were provided more patients with far better care possible. A health care system that allows physicians and surgeons the opportunity to see their patients healthier with better longevity with a new health care insurance; as it worked out it wasn't enough.

Physicians assisted their patients in California to purchase insurance on the exchanges rather than accepting the Medicaid they already had. Then with all those sicker patients on the exchanges the insurance rates went up because of the infusion of chronic health conditions.

The country learned while physicians and major hospitals were advocates for their patients to pass the ACA, it turned into a place to be exploited with increasing health care costs. It wasn't enough the physicians, surgeons and hospitals had less patients coming to the ER when all they needed was a doctor's office; they had to take it further and increase the cost of health care.

The ONLY way to stop this hideous "capitalism based" health care is to issue "Medicare for All" and rein in the costs and allow reasonable profits to health care systems that are suppose to be non-profits.

It is about the costs. The costs of American health care is out of control. We tried it their way and they bank rolled a system that was to be ethical and compassionate. Enough. 

0.09 President-Elect Donald Trump "We'll get your taxes down, don't worry."

Tax cuts are not possible. There is far to many people left homeless in this hurricane season so far. There is devastation throughout the south. There is no possibility to cut taxes. 

What has occurred in the south may very well be only the beginning.

I don't think so. If President Donald Trump wants his increase in GDP, it needs to be a reduction in Middle Class taxes. Considering there are many tonight without jobs and homes, it makes sense to relieve their burden. President Obama turned to the Middle Class in cutting their SSI taxes when recovering a crashed global economy. We know it works. No reason to do anything else.

COMPUTER MODELS ARE NOT CLIMATOLOGISTS!

Are you for real? Computer models?

The climate crisis is not a political issue.

There was a mass GLOBAL extinction event of corals in 2016 that dropped the amount of atmospheric oxygen.

THE CONCLUSION IS OVER. 

The President's Voter Fraud Panel is wasting money. This task can easily be conducted with far less potential for fraud and opining by asking the people that work the polls to answer questionnaires and supply statistics and demographics.

I also question whether demographics need to be addressed so much as the number of voters vs. non-voters. Once there is an understanding of the percentage of non-voters is known, the reasons that might be obstructing the vote can then be examined. 

I think each voter should be anonymous rather than exploited to prejudice the vote.

Public Comment can be collected in the same manner it is collected for any other issue before it.

The questionnaires, statistics and public comment can be compiled into a comprehensive report that reflects the understanding and concern of voter fraud in the country.

The current President Panel has no recognizable methodology, is invalid and easily litigated. 

The US Congress needs to address gerrymandering, BEFORE, it is an issue yet again at the time of balloting.

Florida cities and towns need to consider putting their power lines underground. The long term investment will pay off, especially considering this is Florida.

Quality of life increases with underground power lines. I don't want to hear about how these power lines cause heating underground that has to be cooled. That is an idiots statement. Underground is hotter than above ground? Really?

When was that electric failure in NYC? It was August 15, 2003. (click here)

August 13, 2008
By JR Minkel

On August 14, 2003, (click here) shortly after 2 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, a high-voltage power line in northern Ohio brushed against some overgrown trees and shut down—a fault, as it's known in the power industry. The line had softened under the heat of the high current coursing through it. Normally, the problem would have tripped an alarm in the control room of FirstEnergy Corporation, an Ohio-based utility company, but the alarm system failed....

That line was above ground. It was exposed to the sun's rays. The lines are black in color and black absorbs heat. There is absolutely no reason to put electric power lines above ground, except it is cheap. 

There needs to be a methodology in examining the reconstruction of Florida. I strongly suggest surveying the land and finding 'high ground' and restore structures there first. Large cities should have priority because they have a higher capacity of providing an economic base to a large number of people. Cites throughout the USA need to consider growing up and not out into the future.

The suburbs are a hideous idea. Resources are better used with higher quality of life for more people in cities. The more people in a square mile, the strong the economy. When people become invested in their local economies, the longevity and stability of these economies become obvious.

I strongly suggest Americans stop living below sea level.

August 29, 2011
Host: Robert Siegel

...KURY: (click here) Certainly the cost is going to depend on the geography and the density of the region. A rule of thumb that we use down here in Florida is roughly a million dollars per mile.

SIEGEL: A million dollars per mile underground. And, say, above ground?

KURY: Well, that would be roughly the incremental cost.

SIEGEL: The incremental cost. I've heard the ratio 10 to 1 tossed around. That it's ten times more expensive to bury power lines than to run them above ground.

KURY: Ten to one is probably not a bad back in the envelope number.

SIEGEL: So it costs a great deal more to bury cables, but then again you don't routinely lose service in snow storms or hurricanes. Don't the costs of maintaining above ground lines start to add up?

I thank the First Lady for her gracious and solemn involvement in the country's painful days.

The military is probably the only people that can reach the Florida Keys.

There may be missing people as well. The estimates for this storm is probably higher than any scientist estimated in the past. Irma decimated a state.

This picture is on the New York Times e-page of this article. This is NOT the Florida Keys. Vilano Beach is just south of Jacksonville. It was within the northeast quadrant of Irma. The estimates of the damage of Irma will be a nightmare scenario.

It is long overdue for Americans to address the climate crisis. These are the lives of fellow Americans. Whether the country wants their lives returned fully or not, it will never be the same. It isn't possible to return Florida to past integrity. It just isn't. Flooding has to be taken seriously when it costs lives. Continuing in the same way as the past is pure foolishness.

The skyscrapers have to be assessed for structural integrity. They received forces of wind AND water that pushed them around and attempted to twist their integrity.

Wind is a singular force that carries brevity in insulting structural integrity. Add to that force the WEIGHT of water and wind turns into a far worse destructive force. The weight of water per square inch/mm^2 of Irma's wind was structurally higher than hurricanes of the past. When people use the words "pummeling winds" it is because it feels like rocks pelting them. The rocks Irma threw at structures were more numerous than hurricanes of the past. 

September 12, 2017
0813
(Live Updates)

A home destroyed by Hurricane Irma on Vilano Beach, Fla. Credit

...In the Florida Keys, (click here) an estimated 25 percent of homes were destroyed when Irma hit there as a Category 4 hurricane on Sunday, while another 65 percent suffered “major damage,” the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Brock Long, said at a news conference on Tuesday morning.

“Basically every house in the Keys was impacted in some way or another,” he said.

An aircraft carrier and other Navy ships were headed to the Keys, and parts of the chain were being reopened to residents from 7 a.m....

It is a very different picture today.

September 12, 2017
1130.20z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of the north and west hemisphere (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

Except for the devastation Irma left behind, it is history.

Irma

27.50 -81.90 09/11/00Z 85 952 HURRICANE-2
28.90 -82.60 09/11/06Z 65 965 HURRICANE-1
30.30 -83.10 09/11/12Z 55 975 TROPICAL STORM
31.50 -84.00 09/11/18Z 45 985 TROPICAL STORM
32.40 -84.90 09/12/00Z 30 988 TROPICAL DEPRESSION

Jose has dropped considerably as well. Wow. Irma was churning up so much hot water out of the oceans it supplied another storm. Wow. Jose may reorganize, but, most likely not. It isn't as though Irma did not but cause wind damage and flooding, it was redistributing heat from the troposphere into the oceans. At least that is what it was supposed to do. I think an argument can be made that the waters and any redistribution of heat are at an equilibrium. Considering the nature of Harvey and the prolonged velocities of Irma, hurricanes may not be cooling the troposphere at all.

Irma was an enormous hurricane that was supported by a hot troposphere and hot water. I have to question the ability of Earth to solve it's own heat imbalance.

Jose

23.70 -68.10 09/11/00Z 100 962 HURRICANE-3
24.40 -68.60 09/11/06Z 90 968 HURRICANE-2
25.50 -69.10 09/11/12Z 90 968 HURRICANE-2
26.40 -69.20 09/11/18Z 85 973 HURRICANE-2
27.10 -69.50 09/12/00Z 75 982 HURRICANE-1
27.50 -69.00 09/12/06Z 65 987 HURRICANE-1

The arctic air was homogenized into a cool picture today. The Autumnal Equinox in Northern Hemisphere will be at 4:02 PM or 2002 on September 22, 2017.

Intellicast Temperature Map
September 12, 2017
0700

Intellicast Temperature Departure Map
September 12, 2017