Brandon Regime Trots Out Plan B For Student Loan Relief

By William Teach July 1, 2023 – 10:30 am

It’s not forgiveness: it’s relief, since it only did away with $10K for most and $20K for Pell Grants, leaving people who took out loans they wouldn’t be able to easily repay based on their degrees with lots of debt

(Fox News) In the opinion, Roberts cited then-Speaker Pelosi’s words saying the president did not have the power to cancel federal student loan debt.

“As then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi explained: ‘People think that the President of the United States has the power for debt forgiveness. He does not,’” Roberts quoted Pelosi’s July 28, 2021, press conference. “‘He can postpone. He can delay. But he does not have that power. That has to be an act of Congress.’”

So, sure, why not try plan b, which they had ready to go, knowing that plan a wouldn’t survive because it was un-Constitutional. Do they think plan b will survive? They would have used it first

Biden reveals Plan B for student debt forgiveness

The Supreme Court on Friday dealt a fatal blow to President Joe Biden’s plan to cancel student debt for tens of millions of Americans.

But Biden student debt relief isn’t dead yet.

Just hours after the court’s conservative majority rejected his loan forgiveness program as a drastic overreach of executive authority, Biden moved swiftly to resuscitate his efforts to cancel debt by invoking a different legal authority. (snip)

But Biden’s second attempt will face a range of major challenges, both practical and legal, as he embarks on what’s going to be a lengthy regulatory process that’s likely to stretch well into next year ahead of the presidential election.

For starters, the White House is barreling toward a deadline this fall as it prepares to resume collecting monthly payments from tens of millions of borrowers who have had their debt frozen since March 2020.

So, what is it?

Biden administration officials acknowledged Friday that their Plan B option — the Higher Education Act path — would involve far more bureaucratic hoops and regulatory minutia than the administration’s first plan, which was quickly implemented once Biden announced it last August.

“This new path is legally sound,” Biden said. “It’s going to take longer, but, in my view, it’s the best path that remains to providing for as many borrowers as possible with debt relief.

It’s a convoluted measure that will be difficult to implement and even start. Which will not survive judicial review, most likely. I slightly feel for these folks in that the government has bailed out many banks and businesses, but, then, I do not think they should have been bailed out. You take the risk, and other people really shouldn’t have to pay for your risky behavior. If you invest a boatload of money in a business venture and it goes bust, no one is helping those individuals. Nor should they. If you put your money in a shaky bank operating on principles like DEI rather than sound, established, safe principles, well, you can get your FDI insured $150K, and that’s it. You made the poor decision to keep your money in that bank. If you take out $100K in student loans for a degree in Medieval Art History or Feminist Studies, or heck, get a law degree but aren’t that good, that’s on you. Pay your bills

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona announced Friday that student loan repayment would continue as planned this fall. But he said the administration was taking new steps to ease the resumption of payments, which will include the tens of millions of Americans who were promised relief under the now-defunct program.

The Education Department said it would create an “on-ramp” 12-month transition period in which borrowers won’t get dinged on their credit reports for missing payments, though interest will continue to accrue. Department officials had earlier this month told loan servicers to develop an initial 90-day period of what they internally call a “safety net” period and to be prepared for subsequent extensions.

Those people should have been saving since the Wuhan Flu pandemic started, since 1) the relief of a portion of their loans might not happen and 2) they would still be left with debt that had to be paid regardless. If one owed $40K and had $10K lopped off, they still had to pay on the $30K, right? These folks should have been saving for the resumption of payments. I wonder how many did, and how many pissed it away while taking lots of fossil fueled travel to take selfies and TikTok vids, along with having all their food delivered? And, really, they shouldn’t have taken out loans they couldn’t pay.

I’m personally OK with not killing them on their credit reports (though, it’s already there and doesn’t usually help, with loan companies seeing what they already owe as debt). I’m also fine with doing something like reducing interest, since Democratic Party run colleges are essentially over-charging because it’s so easy for the kiddies to get loans.

Read: Brandon Regime Trots Out Plan B For Student Loan Relief »

Posted in Democrats, Joe Biden | 6 Comments | Trackback URL

UN Praises China On ‘Climate Change’ Investment

By William Teach July 1, 2023 – 7:00 am

No mention on all those human rights abuses in China, or that they use what is essentially slave labor, and child labor, to build all that green energy stuff

UN deputy chief praises China’s investment in tackling climate change, forging ‘new development pathway’

“The challenges are many and they are serious”, Amina Mohammed said, highlighting the plight of the planet.

“Almost all our indicators on the climate and ecological crises are pointing in the wrong direction.”

She praised China’s role in being an innovator and believer in the power of multilateralism to overcome challenges through collection action, pointing out that over half of the world’s new renewables are projected to be in China, both this year and next.

“This gives you a flavour of just how critical China is to tackling climate change and protecting nature”.

As one of the world’s largest economies and a major emitter of greenhouse gases as well as a major investor in renewables, she said China had an opportunity “to set the example of a new development pathway that decouples growth from emissions. One that ensures a renewable energy and climate-resilient future we strive for that is equitable, just and balanced.”

Good thing she didn’t take a long, fossil fueled flight to China to say this….oh, wait, she did. Anyhow, China is really just dumping all those solar panels and wind turbines in markets around the world, especially 3rd world nations to win their favor. And making lots of investments in those nations to woo them away from the US, Canada, Australia, and the EU. And Russia. It’s an economic scam for power and control and influence. China could care less about the climate cult.

Back in Beijing yesterday, the Deputy Secretary-General held meetings with Government officials, which included the Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, the Executive Vice Foreign Minister, the Minister of Environment, and China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change.

She outlined the benefits of financing and aligning China’s development objectives with the SDGs. Ms. Mohammed also expressed the urgent need for all leaders to embrace a just transition amid the climate crisis.

She further expressed the importance of an ambitious and action-oriented dialogue among leaders at the UN General Assembly in September at this crucial midpoint of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris climate accord.

This is all simply falling into China’s trap.

Read: UN Praises China On ‘Climate Change’ Investment »

Posted in AGW Socialism, Global Warming | 5 Comments | Trackback URL

Michigan Looking To Make It A Felony To Misgender Someone

By William Teach July 1, 2023 – 6:45 am

See, the Rainbow Alphabet cult doesn’t want to force their beliefs on everyone, so I’ve been reliably told

Michigan residents could be charged with a felony, face up to five years in prison and get a $10,000 fine for using the wrong pronouns under ‘unconstitutional’ new bill

Michigan’s House of Representatives has passed a hate speech bill, known as HB 4474, which criminalizes causing someone to feel threatened by words, including the misusing of their pronouns, with the possibility of a hefty fine or even jail time.

The bill introduces hate crime penalties for causing someone to ‘feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened,’ with ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity or expression’ included as protected classes.

Offenders could face up to five years in prison for such a felony offense or a $10,000 fine.

It is part of a continues effort by Democrats in the state to advance a pro-LGBTQ+ agenda in their first months in power.

The proposed legislation aims to replace the existing Ethnic Intimidation Act and extends protection against intimidation.

No, they do not want to force it on people

Critics argue that the bill poses a threat to First Amendment rights and lacks clarity in defining ‘harassment’, leaving it open to subjective interpretation.

The bill reads as follows: ‘Intimidate’ means a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual that would cause a reasonable individual to feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened, and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened.’

If passed, penalties would be based on how the supposed victim and court ‘feel’ about a particular matter.

I’m not sure how this possibly survives judicial review, but, how left leaning is the Minnesota Supreme Court? How long will it take to wind its way to the Supreme Court? How many citizens will leave Michigan, taking their businesses and money with them?

Meanwhile, Republican Representative Angela Rigas shared her concerns about the bill targeting conservatives who speak against radical gender ideology.

‘The state of Michigan is now explicitly allowing the gender delusion issue to be used as a ‘protected class.’ This opens up numerous issues when it comes to the courts and the continued weaponization of the system against conservatives,’ Rigas said.

‘We saw similar concerns when they wanted to pass blocks on ‘conversion’ therapy. It seems Dems want to be in the business of telling people how to think. We are determined to keep choice and opinion a free choice despite those efforts.’

Really, it’s not just pronouns, any criticism of the gender confused could get you in criminal trouble. But, don’t call the Democrats Fascists or something.

Read: Michigan Looking To Make It A Felony To Misgender Someone »

Posted in Unhinged Tools | 7 Comments | Trackback URL

Psychology Needed To Combat ‘Climate Change’ And Capitalism Or Something

By William Teach June 30, 2023 – 3:00 pm

I’ve been reliably told by Warmists that this is all about science, and has absolutely nothing to do with politics

Critical Psychology Needed to Combat Capitalism and Climate Change

In our current era of intensifying climate change, the fields of psychology and climate justice may seem an unlikely pairing. However, a new article in the Review of General Psychology argues that the two are deeply intertwined. Its authors contend that critical psychology — a branch of psychology that challenges mainstream, individual-focused approaches — could be instrumental in our fight against climate change.

In their paper, “Climate Justice, Capitalism, and the Political Role of the Psychological Professions,” Abiodun Omotayo Oladejo, Nick Malherbe, and Ashley van Niekerk, from the University of South Africa, offer an incisive critique of mainstream psychological approaches to climate change, arguing they risk perpetuating the very factors driving the crisis.

“There is overwhelming empirical evidence that climate change is a product of the capitalist mode of production,” they write, citing multiple sources. 

They assert that mainstream responses to the climate crisis, including those from the psychological professions, have largely failed to acknowledge these capitalist origins. They argue this blind spot contributes to an oversimplified and depoliticized understanding of climate change, focusing primarily on individual behavior and ‘responsible consumerism.’ This approach, they argue, inadvertently props up the very system causing the crisis. (snip)

The authors begin the paper by exposing the intimate links between capitalism and climate change, underlining capitalism’s role in exacerbating our global climate crisis. While empirical evidence affirms that climate change results from human activity, labeling this period as ‘the Anthropocene’ risks downplaying the real culprit: the capitalist mode of production. The authors stress that not all humans share equal blame; industries driven by capitalist interests disproportionately contribute to carbon emissions.

You get the point: Warmists tend to be far left wackos, more similar to Socialists/Communists (in practice. Theory is quite different) who hate capitalism (for Other People), and want the Government in full charge of economies. The exact main point of the Socialist theory in the Democracy Model (political science 101) is that the government is heavily involved in all matters economic, including owning the means of production. Of course, that theory also states low governmental involvement in citizen’s lives, which is why it’s on the left. These Warmists are really way to the Right, into the Authoritarian models.

Read: Psychology Needed To Combat ‘Climate Change’ And Capitalism Or Something »

Posted in AGW Socialism, Global Warming | 2 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach June 30, 2023 – 1:00 pm

…is wine which will soon be destroyed by ‘climate change’, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Common Cents Blog, with a post on Kamala Harris being the Bud Light of Veeps.

Read: If All You See… »

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Cost Of Illegal Aliens In NYC? $1.4 Billion

By William Teach June 30, 2023 – 10:30 am

People always wonder what the exact monetary number is to deal with all the illegals/migrants crossing the border. NYC puts it in the budget

NYC Mayor Adams touts $107B budget deal: $1.4B to pay for migrant crisis

New York City officials touted a $107 billion budget agreement even as it faced a $1.4 billion hole for sheltering tens of thousands of migrants. (snip)

Hizzoner said the city had saved $4.7 billion over the past two fiscal years “without cutting services, laying off employees or raising taxes” due to higher-than-expected revenues but warned the city could be in financial trouble in future years.

“I’m sure there are many things we could’ve poured out money into if we had that $1.4 billion and the money we are going to lose in the outyears,” Adams complained, blaming the migrant crisis for adding to the city’s future financial woes.

“This comes out of New Yorker’s [pockets] and we are not getting the help we deserve and this is really wrong for asylum seekers,” Adams said.

“They only ask one thing: ‘let us work.’ They say, ‘we want to work. We want to pay into your tax base. We don’t want your free food. We don’t want your free clothing. We don’t want you washing our clothing. We want to work,’” he continued.

Of course, the $1.4 billion is simply to support the known ones shipped into NYC, and don’t forget about the hundreds of folks shipped from NYC to other NY counties, to other states, and even other countries. Remember, NYC asked for this by declaring themselves a sanctuary city. They say they love illegals, so, citizens should be happy to pay for them, and to have all that money diverted to pay for the illegals rather than city services. And those illegals/migrants were promised free food, clothing, housing, medical, educations, money, and citizenship if they came to the U.S. by all the Democrats.

And what does it cost for this?

Over 2,000 NY Guard members have been on migrant support mission in New York

Over 2,000 New York State Military Forces members have taken part in Operation Asylum Seeker, the New York National Guard participation in the state’s response to the migrant upsurge into New York City since the mission launched in October, 2022.

As of June 18, according to New York City Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom, the head of the city’s health and human services, New York City has taken in over 78,700 migrants since the spring of 2022. Many of these migrants have been bussed to the city by border state governors.

About 2,200 undocumented migrants had arrived in the city in the prior week, and 48,700 people were being housed in 174 sites, she said during a weekly briefing.

On October 4, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she was activating members of the New York National Guard to assist New York City officials dealing with the unexpected flow of migrants seeking asylum who were arriving in the city.

That’s not cheap.

Read: Cost Of Illegal Aliens In NYC? $1.4 Billion »

Posted in Democrats, Illegal Immigration | 7 Comments | Trackback URL

Your Fault: Remaining Calm About Climate Crisis (scam) Will Doom Us All

By William Teach June 30, 2023 – 7:00 am

There have been some climate cultists who have stated that all the fearmongering needs to stop, since it really doesn’t help. Other than those heavily into the climate cult, does it bring anyone into the cult? Does it sway them? Motivate them? Or do the base level Warmists and non-Warmists think these people are as wacko as the ancient aliens folks, the 9/11 Truthers, and Scientologists? Warmists will never give up their fearmongering, even as it makes Warmists wacko

Remaining “Calm” About Climate Change Will Kill Us

The “calm down” set fancy themselves as professional and sober-minded, a tasteful levee protecting the marvel of our civilization from the uninformed and hysterical masses.

The “calm down” person’s business is the business as usual.

They defend the status quo with a practiced rueful resignation: “Believe me, I wish things were different too, but it’s just the way things are.” Only “the way things are” is on an historic and murderous losing streak.

This line of wackadoodle continues on for quite a bit, and, it’s not just going after Skeptics, but, Warmists who refuse to dive deep into the climate cult, like Scientology members buying the books, paying to move up, and disconnecting from their friends and family. Or drinking the Koolaid in Jonestown

A world climate plan that after hundreds of forums, treaties, and “net-zero pledges” still saw emissions reach their highest levels ever this past year?

Yet, the computer models which predict doom for these emissions do not accord with the actual minor trajectory of warming, which is nothing abnormal for a Holocene warm period.

“A troubling look into our climate future.” The “calm down” expert intones vague ideas of a three-part series and maybe an award comes to mind.

“But it’s all happening right now,” you say, scratching your head with an almost manic fervency.

“It’s happened before. Winter tornados, El Niño, droughts. Let’s not overreact,” he says or posts or op-edifies. “Calm down.”

And it is then that you realize this perfectly smooth stone of a person will kill us all.

So, give up your money and freedom or we all die.

Read: Your Fault: Remaining Calm About Climate Crisis (scam) Will Doom Us All »

Posted in AGW Scaremongering, Climate Cult, Global Warming | 3 Comments | Trackback URL

What Does SCOTUS Decision On Affirmative Action Mean For Workplaces?

By William Teach June 30, 2023 – 6:45 am

Boy howdy, the USA Today was ready to start spreading the subject out toot sweet

Supreme Court just reversed affirmative action. What that means for workplace diversity.

For years, Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, has crusaded for stakeholder capitalism, the idea that business leaders should value the well-being of people and the planet along with the interests of shareholders.

These “woke” beliefs – Salesforce offered to relocate employees concerned about being able to get an abortion in Texas, stopped selling software to retailers that stock military-style rifles and Benioff spoke out against Georgia and North Carolina for passing laws that would allow LGBTQ+  discrimination – have gotten this activist CEO in hot water with conservatives who say he’s sacrificing profits for politics.

But Benioff hasn’t backed off. Last fall, Salesforce sided with Harvard University and the University of North Carolina in a pair of cases before the Supreme Court challenging the practice of considering race in admissions to build diversity on college campuses.

In a 6-3 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the high court on Thursday struck down affirmative action in college admissions.

The decision is limited to higher education and won’t directly affect employers like Salesforce, which are governed by a different statute. But the ripple effects from the ruling could come quickly, starting with a decline in college graduates from underrepresented backgrounds, meaning the loss of “a pipeline of highly qualified future workers and business leaders,” companies from Google to General Electric warned the Supreme Court.

That seems rather…..racist. Liberals really do think that minorities, mostly meaning blacks and Latinos, because they couldn’t care less about Asians, since that’s what brought on the suit and decision, cannot succeed without discriminatory policies that put them in line for college. Here’s a question: if they are highly qualified future workers and business leaders, then why would they need to be given special consideration for education? Why can they not earn it? And, if liberals would stop thinking that blacks and Latinos, and, especially blacks, aren’t capable, they would be forced to compete.

In reality, schools will graduate the same number of people, and, if people can compete they will. It will be based on capabilities, forcing the kids to work hard and learn. If people cannot compete, they shouldn’t be considered qualified. And, now maybe Democrats will stop telling blacks that they cannot succeed without Government.

It’s nice to see the Supreme Court say it was wrong to treat people differently because of their skin color or ethnicity. They effectually said racism is wrong. Good for them and us. People will be treated according to their individual merits.Now, if only Benioff, a white male, would put his beliefs into practice and step down, giving his position to a minority. Because, you know liberals love affirmative action as long as it doesn’t mess with their own positions, be it college or the workplace.

Read: What Does SCOTUS Decision On Affirmative Action Mean For Workplaces? »

Posted in Constitution | 25 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach June 29, 2023 – 8:31 pm

…is

The blog of the day is Cold Fury, with a post stating to know thine enemy.

Whoops, forgot to hit post earlier. My bad

Read: If All You See… »

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Buried: 60% Of Americans Are Against (Forced) Phasing Out Fossil Fueled Vehicles

By William Teach June 29, 2023 – 3:45 pm

Pew Research and Warmists are super excited about some of the results of this poll

Majorities of Americans Prioritize Renewable Energy, Back Steps to Address Climate Change

A new Pew Research Center survey finds large shares of Americans support the United States taking steps to address global climate change and back an energy landscape that prioritizes renewable sources like wind and solar. At the same time, the findings illustrate ongoing public reluctance to make sweeping changes to American life to cut carbon emissions. Most Americans oppose ending the production of gas-powered vehicles by 2035 and there’s limited support for steps like eliminating gas lines from new buildings.

This report comes about a year after the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act introduced policies and incentives meant to dramatically reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels, a signature part of the Biden administration’s efforts on climate change. The survey takes stock of how Americans feel about related questions on climate, energy and environmental policy, including proposed changes to how Americans power their homes and cars and what to do about the impacts communities face from extreme weather.

The Pew Research Center survey of 10,329 U.S. adults conducted May 30 to June 4, 2023, finds:

74% of Americans say they support the country’s participation in international efforts to reduce the effects of climate change.

67% of U.S. adults prioritize the development of alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and hydrogen power over increasing the production of fossil fuel energy sources.

By sizable margins, Americans support a number of specific policy proposals aimed at reducing the effects of climate change through targeting greenhouse gas emissions and carbon in the atmosphere:

Look, I’ve written numerous times that I’m just fine with alternatives, as long as they are dependable and affordable, and would very much support 5th and 6th generation nuclear. If they want to replace coal and gas (again, I’m not a fan of coal and gas, and it has everything to do with real environmental concerns, not CO2), the replacements have to make financial senses. But, way down

Only 31% of Americans currently support phasing out the use of fossil fuel energy sources altogether. Another 32% say the U.S. should eventually stop using fossil fuels, but don’t believe the country is ready now. And 35% think the U.S. should never stop using fossil fuels to meet its energy needs.

Less than half of the public (40%) favors phasing out the production of gas-powered cars and trucks. Support for this policy is 7 percentage points lower than it was two years ago. And underscoring the strong feelings big changes to American life can engender, 45% say they would feel upset if gas-powered cars were phased out; fewer than half as many (21%) would feel excited.

I’m fine with phasing out fossil fuels eventually. The interesting part is fewer people want to phase out gas powered cars and trucks, because 2 years ago it was more about being in theory, now they’re seeing it in practice, and they do not want this for themselves. Heck, even among Democrats 51% are against a full phase out of fossil fuels

Overall, 45% of Americans say the Biden administration’s policies on climate change are taking the country in the right direction, while slightly more (50%) say they have the country headed in the wrong direction. This overall rating reflects a sharp partisan divide: 76% of Democrats see President Joe Biden’s climate policies as heading in the right direction; by contrast, 82% of Republicans say they’re taking the country in the wrong direction.

I’d like to know who the 24% of Republicans who approve of Biden are. They’re morons, of course.

What’s truly missing are questions on what people will do themselves, what they’re willing to do. There is one on purchasing an EV, where, when it comes to “not at all likely” it has gone up 5 points from 2021, from 23% to 28%. And fewer who are “somewhat likely.” Most are not interesting in installing solar panels, heatpumps, or replacing a gas water heater or stove.

The very first question asked is “Do you favor or oppose EXPANDING each of the following sources of energy in our country?” There really should be a question “Do you favor or oppose EXPANDING each of the following sources of energy near where you live?” Also, “how much are you willing to spend of your own money to expand alternatives?”

Read: Buried: 60% Of Americans Are Against (Forced) Phasing Out Fossil Fueled Vehicles »

Posted in Energy, Global Warming | 6 Comments | Trackback URL
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