Peter G. Peterson Foundation: 'Why The National Debt Matters'

Source:Peter G. Peterson Foundation- Americans who will be paying for the national debt for the rest of their lives .

Source:The New Democrat

"At $22 trillion and rising, the national debt threatens America’s economic future. Here are some of the reasons why the national debt matters."

From the Peter G. Peterson Foundation

For anyone who tries to tell you that deficits and the national debt don't matter, whether they're Socialists on the Left or supply Neoconservatives on the Right, ask them one question: "then why do we need taxes if we we have unlimited borrowing power?" If deficits and debt doesn't matter and you have unlimited borrowing power, you wouldn't need taxes. If you want government to do something or increase spending, since you have unlimited borrowing power like someone who has their own printing machine and just print money every time they want to spend money, you can just print the money you need and want to spend.

Source:Retirement Income Journal- You still believe the national debt doesn't matter?

This is a ridiculous question, because of course deficits and debt matter. So don't let the Dick Cheney's of the world or these leftist Democrats ( whether they call themselves Socialists or not ) running for President who will promise any single new government program that they can think of in order to win the Democratic nomination and who'll call their programs and services free, even though they're at least smart enough to know that their services won't be free and perhaps are just plain dishonest about it. Because they'll either be paid for in new taxes on the middle class by the way and not people who live in Manhattan, or the Hamptons, or in Georgetown, or in Beverly Hills, but by people who work hard everyday and live in middle class communities in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, and other places. Because the wealthy are smart enough to move their money oversees anytime they get wind of a new tax coming down the pike for them.

Source:Slide Player- The photo says it all 

As it says in the video American taxpayers of all incomes every year pay about 390 billion dollars in interest payments on the debt. Which is just one example of what can happen when you have a national debt that's the size of your entire gross national product. Just think of what Uncle Sam could do with 390 billion dollars a year that he doesn't have to tax his nephews and nieces every year to raise that revenue. 390 billion would repair, replace, and create a helluva lot of public infrastructure in America. Lots of roads and new schools in middle class and low-income communities. Money that could also be used to for adult education so people who are struggling to pay their bills and don't have enough education. We could be investing new funds for people who are uneducated and currently not working so they can finish and further their education, enter the workforce and join the middle class in America.

If you call yourself a Progressive, these are just some of the investments that America could be making for their people to improve their lives. But we can't do these things and a country and do other public investments when we're giving out 390 billion dollars a year ( and growing ) simply because we're not adult and responsible enough as citizens and public officials to pay for the things that we want our government to do for us every year. Of course deficits and debt matters and they don't go way simply by saying, "we'll just tax the rich" especially when even if your IRS actually gets that money would just be spent on new programs or put into additional government programs.

History: American Pickers- Danielle C. Cushman

Source:Esinalca- Danielle C. Cushman, on American Pickers. 

Source:The Action Blog

"Falta muy poco para el momento que estabas esperando: el #DanyIntimo da el gran salto de internet a la televisión, y no te lo puedes perder.  Google  Mientras tanto, disfruta un adelanto exclusivo con lo mejor de Danielle Colby."

Source:History- Danielle and Mike Wolfe 

From History

Source:Flickr via Bert Franklin- Danielle C. Cushman 

To be completely honest with you for a minute, ( and after that anything can happen ) I only watch American Pickers because of Danielle Colby Cushman. I'm a big fan of history and I'm very interested in it and read a lot about it and watch a lot of docs about it, I'm just not a collector when it comes to history other than DVD's and books.

Source:The Joplin Globe- Danielle C. Cushman 

The show is fairly entertaining and to see how hard these people in Iowa work and how far they travel to keep their business going. Both Mike and Frank bring a lot of knowledge, hard work, and humor to their jobs. And I kind of like Frank Fritz reminds me a lot of the TV PI Frank Cannon from back in the 70s both in personality and appearance. And Mike Wolfe, reminds me a lot of the former NFL head coach Mike Shananhan physically. But Danielle, is the main event and main reason for me to watch this show, I just wish she had a bigger role and more airtime.

Danielle C. Cushman, ( or perhaps Danielle Colby at this point ) is so cute, so sexy, pretty funny, and just a pleasure to check out on the show. Every time Mike or Frank bring her on one of their trips to actually work with them, the guys they visit in order to buy historical items the men they encounter and are doing business with automatically like her and want to be around her. I believe just her presence alone brings in action and money for their business. And it's just not just her physical appearance and personality that people like about her on the show, she also knows what she's talking about and isn't some bimbo along for the ride like you might see on a game show or talk show. She's a professional collector as well which is why Mike and Frank hired her.

Not that History Channel and American Pickers listens to me anyway, but if they want me to watch this show more and perhaps guys who aren't let's say junkies ( pun intended ) when it comes to historical collections to watch their show more, give Danielle Colby a bigger role on the show. Instead of just getting a few minutes each week or however often the show is seeing her at the office answering the phone and then calling Mike and Frank in their truck on the road to tell them about a new potential customer for them. Put her on the road more and let's see her doing some actual collecting herself.

Politics & Prose: Dr. Eric Motley & Elaine Pagels: 'Why Religion'

Source:Politics & Prose- Dr. Eric Motley, interviewing author Elaine Pagels at Politics and Prose in Washington. 

Source:The Daily Review

"Elaine Pagels discusses her book, "Why Religion?", at Politics and Prose on 11/30/18.

When Pagels, author of groundbreaking studies of the Gnostic Gospels, was asked, “Why religion?" she found that her own life illuminates both why she’s made a career of studying religious texts as well as why religion itself still exists in the supposedly secular 21st-century. The daughter and wife of scientists, Pagels was taught to trust the rational, but she found herself attracted to religious music and rituals for how they engaged the imagination. After the loss of her five-year-old son in 1987, followed by her husband’s death in an accident in 1988, Pagels turned to religion for help in facing her grief and anger. Interweaving the fascinating scholarship behind books such The Origin of Satan and Revelations with her own experiences, Pagels’s memoir is as emotionally affecting as it is thought-provoking.

Pagels is in conversation with Dr. Eric Motley, executive vice president at the Aspen Institute and author of the memoir Madison Park."

From Politics & Prose

As someone who is Agnostic and proud of it who believes in reason, science, facts, and only has faith in people, things, institutions that I trust based on the evidence that I've seen from being around them and talking to them, I can actually see why people would be attracted in religion. 

As someone who believes in the First Amendment which includes the Freedom of Religion in America, ( sorry Hippies, I'm not spiritualist and I'm not a Communist either ) I can see why people would want religion, be involved in America, and even need it. I guess this is difference between an Agnostic and an Atheist, especially a fundamentalist Atheist. (And yes, there is such a thing) 

This is not an official definition, but that might only be because there isn't any official definition of religion, but my personal definition of religion is basically basic set of moral values that people believe and follow, as well as the belief in God. Now, depending on what religion you are a member of determines what moral values that you believe in and follow that helps you in your life. 

I can easily see how people can get positive benefits from being a part of a religion and get positive benefits from attending church and listening to their religious leader every week give a sermon, especially when they're going through rough times and need help getting through those tough times. Even though religion is not for me and I prefer to use evidence and reason to get through those tough times in our lives. 

Elaine Pagels, lost both her son and husband in the span of a year back in 1987-88, apparently wasn't very religious before those tragedies in her life, but found religion after that and I can understand someone who goes through those tragedies especially in such a short period of time would feel the need to get help from religion and learn about that and try to figure out for themselves why they're being put through those tragedies one following by another.

Religion, has been used by alcoholics to get over their alcoholism. It's been used to help career criminals who are doing long-term prison sentences get their life going on a positive track so once they're finally out of prison they can become positive members of their community once they're free. As much as I might hate religious fundamentalism in all forms, ( and trust me, I do ) people should also understand and beware of the positive aspects of religious life as well.