Reviewing a Common Sense point from the Arizona Eagletarian post earlier on Friday (February 28),
According to Common Sense, Thomas Paine's essay that sparked the American Revolution, Liz Warren is exactly THE kind of candidate we should want as president.
But as the Colony encreases, the public concerns will encrease likewise, and the distance at which the members may be separated, will render it too inconvenient for all of them to meet on every occasion as at first, when their number was small, their habitations near, and the public concerns few and trifling. This will point out the convenience of their consenting to leave the legislative part to be managed by a select number chosen from the whole body, who are supposed to have the same concerns at stake which those have who appointed them, and ... and that the ELECTED might never form to themselves an interest separate from the ELECTORS, prudence will point out the propriety of having elections often: because as the ELECTED might by that means return and mix again with the general body of the ELECTORS in a few months, their fidelity to the public will be secured by the prudent reflection of not making a rod for themselves. And as this frequent interchange will establish a common interest with every part of the community, they will mutually and naturally support each other, and on this, (not on the unmeaning name of king,) depends the STRENGTH OF GOVERNMENT, AND THE HAPPINESS OF THE GOVERNED.Comes now the Washington Post (Style section) telling us about Bloomer's lifestyle,
By Sarah Ellison and Roxanne Roberts
Feb. 28, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. MST
NEW YORK — When Mike Bloomberg ran the city of New York, he ate hot dogs on the street, was a regular at Knicks games and rode the subway, as a relatable mayor should.
But his billionaire lifestyle lifted off at helipads around the city, and he sometimes used one on the East River at 34th Street, where Bloomberg piloted his own helicopter out of Manhattan during hours the city declared off-limits.
Irked by the din of the helicopter engine and the odor of its fuel, a disgruntled neighbor recorded Bloomberg’s comings and goings in 2012 and gave the video to a local [* see below] ABC news station.
The New York press corps pounced. When asked about the illicit weekend travel, Bloomberg said he would no longer use that particular helipad, but his irritation was clear: “Don’t know why it’s such a big deal,” he told reporters. “If that’s the news that’s fit to print in this day and age, it’s a sad day.” (continued)What are we to make of Bloomer's lifestyle? Well, I believe him when he says he wants to be president. Also when he says he'll spend however much money it takes to defeat the Orange Menace even if he (Bloomer) is NOT the Democratic nominee.
That's commendable. But what does he bring to the table that Liz Warren doesn't?
(Perhaps on the plus side), $60Billion that he alone has a say over on what it will be spent. That's NOT equivalent to $60Billion in the general fund of the federal government, which a Congress elected by the people say what programs or projects it must fund.
On the minus side of the ledger, he brings the possibility (probability) that he could go on doing much of the same kind of heavy handedness that the Orange Menace does on a daily basis.
Sure Bloomer will start off aiming to fulfill campaign promises. His passion for gun safety, addressing the climate crisis, and such are certainly authentic.
But as a rich guy, and as WaPo (quoted above) demonstrated, he has no patience for playing by the rules if he doesn't like the rules. That is, if the rules limit his ability to be a nuisance to his neighbors or if he deems opaque business practices to be more convenient.
I will grant that Bloomer now says he has issued a blanket release so women silenced by NDAs involving him or his company are free to tell their side of whatever stories. But we don't know whether there are any hidden inducements that still might make any of them reluctant to spill the beans.
Recently, I re-read the text of a lecture Bertrand Russell gave in 1922 (98 years ago). Several passages highlighted the significance of taking what a rich guy with unlimited resources says without a hearty dose of doubt.
Credulity [willingness to believe or trust too readily, especially without proper or adequate evidence; gullibility.] is a greater evil in the present day than it ever was before, because, owing to the growth of education, it is much easier than it used to be to spread misinformation, and, owing to democracy, the spread of misinformation is more important than in former times to the holders of power.
Russell, Bertrand. Free Thought and Official Propaganda (p. 20). Transcript. Kindle Edition.Concerned American citizens now face a governmental crisis greater than any other in my lifetime. I argue that 98 years after Russell delivered that speech, the problem of gullibility is even worse now than it was then.
Therefore, in this primary election season, it is of the utmost importance and urgency that voters thank Bloomer for his governmental service and hold him to his promise to defeat the Orange Menace but not as a candidate himself for the most powerful elected office in the world.
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* from the linked ABC7NYC website
Two Billionaires: One, the Mayor of a large city. The other is owner of a huge industrial empire. Both seem to fly by their own set of rules when using the East 34th Street Heliport.
"Helicopter landing before 8:00 a.m.," Amy Sticco said.
Billionaire Ira Rennert's huge helicopter breaks an early morning curfew, it's massive engines and rotor blades whipping up noise and fumes before the heliport's 8:00 a.m. opening.
"It's humongous. And when it lands, it shakes the windows the noise is just unbelievable," Ron Sticco said.
The Sticcos have had it with wealthy helicopter owners violating the noise curfew. In an earlier investigation, we showed how the city's billionaire Mayor repeatedly ignores the weekend curfew. On weekdays, though, it is Rennert's chopper violating the rules and rattling residents.
"30 minutes before the heliport opens," Amy said.
The Sticcos have captured Rennert's helicopter breaking curfew at least 9 times. On video, the silver-haired Billionaire is seen getting into his huge chopper 30 minutes before the heliport opens. Perhaps he's headed to his home in the Hamptons, believed to be the largest residential compound in the nation:
"Invariably, it's before the opening hours of the heliport and the worst part about that it's the loudest helicopter we've seen land on this heliport and the biggest," Amy said.
But back to the other billionaire, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who seems to think the heliport is his own private landing pad, especially on weekends. The Sticcos captured him violating the weekend noise curfew 16 times, often with his girlfriend and dogs along for the ride.
"My understanding, it's not closed on the weekends," Bloomberg said.
How could the Mayor be so misinformed about a city-imposed curfew that's spelled out in the heliport's own chart to pilots. [He knows it's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission. Why would anyone reasonably expect the former mayor, if made president, to not do as he pleases and express his defiance in such passive-aggressive manor repeatedly?]
"I've been using it and I have a lot of things to do. I'm trying like everyone else. The heliport is there. It's available to land and to take off from," Mayor Bloomberg said.
"We've seen him bend rules more than once. This is for his own convenience. It's not for the residents," Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio said.
DeBlasio says the Mayor needs to follow the rules.
"For the mayor to act like he can be held to a different standard whenever it's convenient for him and use the heliport when no one can is ridiculous," he said.
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