Dems should hop aboard U.S. German troop withdrawal train

WWII ended 75 years ago. The Soviet Union imploded 29 years ago. In return for Russia, a shell of the former Soviet behemoth, agreeing not to oppose  

German reunification, the U.S. agreed not to expand NATO up to Russia's doorstep. Russia kept their pledge. The U.S. didn't. That has soured U.S.-Russian relations for three decades, continuing to today. The U.S., not Russia, is more responsible for the new Chilly, if not full-blown Cold War between the two former WWII allies. 

Withdrawing just 12,000 of the 36,000 U.S. troops in Germany is a good first step. It should inspire a re-evaluation of the 150,000 plus U.S. military in 150 countries worldwide. Democrats should be leading on the issue of the bloated U.S. worldwide presence gobbling up precious treasure that could be utilized to address a myriad of seemingly intractable problems here at home. Pandemic, requiring trillions to combat both the health and economic fallout, is being vastly underfund to our detriment. 

Sadly, the Democrats have seized upon the meager German troop withdrawal to conger up the ghost of the former Russian Bear who left the scene decades ago. Democrats are framing a sensible first step troop withdrawal to paint Trump as soft on Russia and endangering European and U.S. security. Democrats don't need to promote endless U.S. troop occupation of Germany and the other 149 countries currently housing over 150,000 military personnel to defeat an irresponsible, wannabee tyrant worsening pandemic and every other critical domestic issue. . 

Reducing America's worldwide military footprint, ending our perpetual wars and crippling economic sanctions killing tens, if not hundreds of thousands yearly, requires bi-partisan support freed from electoral partisanship. Step up Democrats and take the lead. 

Quote of the Day

"It's a bitter day. Unfortunately, this decision by the U.S. administration will mean a loss of German jobs. The German employees don't deserve this".
-- German politician Roger Lewentz commenting on U.S. plans to withdraw 12,000 of 36,000 troops currently protecting Germany against imagined Russian aggression.

Clearly, Germany more worried about a drawdown of the U.S. job creation program in Germany than the Russian bear, a shadow of its former threat following WWII seventy-five years ago.

John Kass demotion and the need to add value to the public debate

After 37 years with the Chicago Tribune, including 23 as main Page 2 columnist, the Mike Royko slot, John Kass has been demoted down to opinion section. His recent column on Chicago lawlessness prompted David Goldenberg, Midwest Regional Director of the Chicago Anti-Defamation League, to charge it perpetuates anti-Jewish conspiracy theories. He’s referring to Kass using an alleged anti-Semitic trope regarding Jewish billionaire and progressive cause donator George Soros. Kass’ column puts the blame for increased lawlessness in Chicago and other big cities on Democrats, especially Soros’s contributions to prosecutorial candidates focusing on criminal justice reform.

To me, the problem with the Kass column is not alleged anti-Semitism. As a public figure contributing to causes that offend conservatives like Kass, Jewish Soros is just as subject to be criticized as the Christian Koch brothers are subject to be criticized by progressives for contributing to conservative causes. The true issue is that Kass’ column adds no value to alleviating the vast areas of near third world poverty, hopelessness and crime infesting all American urban centers. They are the sad legacy of centuries of institutional racism that has denied investment, jobs, peace and hope for the millions locked into their despair. Laying the blame on Democratic mayors, prosecutors and one wealthy political donor is nonsense. It furthers an agenda of demonizing Democrats and any on the ‘left’ who keep their focus on reform and progress.

John Kass is a gifted wordsmith. Unfortunately, he uses his gift to distract from serious discussion of critical social issues. If George Soros went bankrupt and Republicans magically became Chicago’s mayor and chief prosecutor, crime would continue to surge in areas with little opportunity but unlimited guns. And for twenty-three years John Kass still hasn’t figured out how to add value to alleviating those problems.

Head coach should go to head of line

“If you can’t respect our national anthem, get the hell out of the country".

- ‘Da Coach’ Mike Ditka to TMZ Sports

Peaceful protest, even during the national anthem, is as American as Ditka’s beloved football. Methinks ‘Da Coach’ is the one showing disrespect and should be the first to leave.

How institutional racism fuels urban violence

In 1935, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB) directed the Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) to look at 239 cities, including Chicago, to develop ‘Residential Security Maps’ identifying levels of security for real estate investment. HOLC came up with a 4 color scheme. Green was for affluent suburbs and outer city areas, blue for ‘still desirable city neighborhoods, yellow for declining neighborhoods and red for areas too dilapidated for loans. Thus was born America's infamous 'Redlining'. These ‘redlined’ areas were virtually all poor minority communities. Private banking and home loan institutions took their cue from the Fed, resulting in nine decades of disinvestment which turned Chicago’s South and West Sides into violent urban wastelands. Whites living there also took the Fed’s cue, moving west toward green and blue lined areas where housing loans were readily available to those with the right color.

American capitalism had a couple more surprises for the residents left behind. Virtually no jobs or vital community resources but unlimited guns. There’s no Constitutional Amendment guaranteeing employment, a decent food store or nearby hospital, but there is one allowing guns galore to flood into the hands of dispossessed youngsters and confirmed criminals to ignite a daily shooting gallery claiming over 2,000 annual victims in Chicago alone.

Institutional racism that fuels a slaughter on 7th Avenue and every other street for that matter in Chicago and elsewhere, is not hard to discover. It’s been written into federal legislation; indeed, enshrined in Constitution. It remains at the heart of the protests, mostly peaceful, but occasionally destructive, aimed at addressing that scourge. All of us of good will must take note and act.

Trump alters clarion call to America

Now it's "Are you tired of dying yet"?

Taft death recalls cartoonist weatherman P.J. Hoff

Tributes abound for longtime Chicago weatherperson Jerry Taft who died Thursday at 77. Tho not a big fan of weather reports which drone on endlessly with overwhelming high tech graphics, I did avidly follow Chicago's first weather superstar P.J. Hoff, who gave us the weather straight with whimsical humor during the Golden Age of Television. Hoff was primarily a cartoonist who peppered his five minute reports (that's all anyone needs) with hilarious cartoons. When it came to next day's weather, Hoff drew his alter ego, the Vice President In Charge of Looking Out The Window (below left). If the VPICOLOTW eyeballed raindrops, one knew to to pack an umbrella tomorrow. Upset by bad weather? Hoff congered up another foil, Mr. Yell-and-Cuss to vent our frustration. I'm up for the wonders of technology half way thru my eighth decade. But for weather I all ever needed was P.J. Hoff and his daffy drawings.

Harris, Duckworth cave to war party to secure VP nod

Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) and my own Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth voted to defeat Bernie Sanders’ proposal to reduce the defense budget by 10% in the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act. They joined 21 other Democratic Senators and all Republicans to keep $74 billion of a gargantuan $740 billion from being used instead to fund pandemic relief, infrastructure, health care, education, clean energy and a host of other human priorities being shortchanged in our war obsessed nation.

Why would they do that? Simple. Both are on Biden’s short list for VP. Both realize you cannot mount a serious campaign for president or vice president by promoting any reduction in military spending or abandoning near total support of the defense industry. With tens of billions at stake, the defense industry wing of the U.S. war party pours millions into presidential and congressional campaigns. Without that dough drenched in the blood of the thousands of innocents our war juggernaut inflicts each year, election to any high office is problematical.

Harris and Duckworth learned that lesson early and adhere to it like virtually every other person seeing high office. Both likely breathed a sigh of relief when senatorial colleague Bernie Sanders failed again to achieve the defense reduction he’s been championing for years as well as the Democratic presidential nomination. They know you can support most progressive policies except ending perpetual wars and transferring horrendous military spending to humane priorities. There is no electoral upside to that position since perpetual war and runaway defense spending is off the table of presidential debate.

But they ignore the upside that counts: humanity.