LyrArc Article Gist
It is not simply a given as the authors say. For the 2 million strong federal workforce what kinds of experts should be supported? What level of staffing is appropriate with what experts, liming it to the most useful and productive is desirable so that the funds can be diverted to use in better places or returned to the taxpayer. Budgeting based on justifying cost every year starting from zero and building it up for essential tasks is important to avoid waste in spending.

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In the US 30 states have designated English as their official language. The new Executive Order rescinds a Clinton era order that required federal agencies to use other languages.  “Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society,” the order says. This is essential as literacy levels have dropped and there is a proliferation of many languages in the simplest of communication from agencies. As the importance of learning even mastering the use of the English language diminishes it has pernicioius effects where the lack of English skills means people fall further behind in getting jobs that require both a minimum and a desirable higher level of language and math skills. It creates an underclass in society as one effect, and also prevents people from different immigrant backgrounds from being able to move ahead in careers and in work. ...

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Keir Starmer leads the summit of European leaders in London on March 2, 2025. This effort comes after a controversial breakdown in communication between DJT, vice president Vance with Zelensky in the Oval Office at the White House.

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The election of Merz in Germany as chancellor means a sharing of minds with Macron of France, the two leaders share the same approach, coming 3 years after the inertia under chancellor Scholz. It means the steps will be taken for European defense and for a European alternative to NATO. It also means efforts will be made for the French-German economic engine to be revived. 

UK's prime minister Starmer also supports this effort for a united Europe to tackle defense and economic challenges in 2025. Leyen, head of the European Union is also a member of CDU party of Merz and led the defense ministry under Merkel.

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  We show her the view from Europe on Ukraine in Feb 2025. Francois Hollande leader of the Socialists in France and former president says that the United Kingdom, France and Germany must be at the forefront of genuine European security. In this long interview he answers questions from Le Monde. He says US may withdraw its 80,000 troops from Europe in NATO. This will require European forces and European nuclear deterrent. In 1966 De Gaulle's successor president Pompidou said- "France must be returned to itself. Thus we are serving Europe and preparing the re-emergence of Europe so that it can play its part. Do not imagine that we are changing sides. We are against hegemony and so do not intend to favour Soviet hegemony, nor does our attitude towards the war in Vietnam encourage Chinese hegemony in that part of the world." Hollande says if this US withdrawal of troops from NATO happens will Article 5 will then apply to Europe? Hollande's answer is "it is upto us to prepare. Even without him."   On Merz's election as Germany's leader- Hollande says we will have to broaden the geographic scope of our deterrent force. Merz has expressed interest in nuclear deterrent from partners UK and France, France having proposed to Germany a mutual nuclear deterrent under president Pompidou, a successor to president De Gaulle in the 70's. ...

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 Lincoln's words in 1858 "political matters now bear a very mixed and incongruous aspect" as Douglas tried to be on the side of the free states in the North when he was actually with the South, can be used for what is happening now with DJT and Ukraine, as seen from Europe by European leaders.  Alain Frachon gives the French view in Le Monde. He cites the founder of the French Institute for International Relations Montbrial in his recent book that the problems started with the false hopes and chimeras about the fall of the Berlin Wall. It marked not just the fall of the Soviet Empire in Eastern Europe but also of the Russian Empire. And the fall of an Empire has repercussions that are being felt today. Franchon says the liberal order neglected to see in its naivette that peoples are driven not just by strategic and economic interests alone but by passions, that includes their sense of what they had lost in the Russian role in that past of Europe in history. ...

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DJT says on Truth Social site on Feb 27, 2025-

“Drugs are still pouring into our Country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels. Tariffs would go into effect until it stops, or is seriously limited."

Asked about military strikes to stop illegal fentanyl flows, Defense Secretary Hegseth says- "We’re taking nothing off the table. Nothing.” 

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DJT plans to sign an executive order making English the national language of the United States of America. It is move that the founding fathers, Lincoln, TR and FDR/Truman would consider basic to the cultural literacy of the Nation. Over the years under Republican administrations from Bush and Democratic administrations under Clinton, Obama, the US has drifted away from the national language to an extent that is incomprehensible and presents an attack on the national language by allowing the proliferation of languages to languages that people have never heard of. It is destroying the cultural literacy of the US that efforts were being made even in the 1980's to restore after it was felt that it was weakening at that time. “We have languages coming into our country. We don’t have one instructor in our entire nation that can speak that language. These are languages—it’s the craziest thing—they have languages that nobody in this country has ever heard of. It’s a very horrible thing.” JD Vance had introduced a bill with Senator Cramer of North Dakota in 2024 for the English Language Unity Act, for conducting all official business of the US government in English, and for a national testing standard for pathway to citizenship. This is parallel to and follows the effort in the 1980's to bring education in line with cultural literacy in schools and education in the Nation, that is becoming more and more relevant to today.     ...

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DJT tariffs are selective and reciprocality makes them fair. This also cushions the impact on consumers and countries. Countries who have blatantly unfair tariffs for decades can then decide as in EU, China, India, Japan, S. Korea, Mexico and Canada, can decide how they will respond by looking at what they need to do for fair trade. Some tariffs are intended also as domestic policy for failure to control of fentanyl into the US as with CMC countries Canada, Mexico and China. US producers will make goods sourced from these countries at home and as DJT says about autos from Mexico this will lead to American producers in Detroit picking up production and bringing manufacturing back home to USA. Most goods Americans use were made in the US in the postwar period from 1950-1980, American manufacturing will get the boost it so badly needs after unfair trade practices from other countries in the EU, Japan, Taiwan and China. By April this policy will be in place, by June in 6 months the policies will be fully operational at entry ports in the US including Los Angeles and Long Beach. All tariffs are selective, carefully evaluated for individual countries and products and regions based on reciprocality a principle that is fair to all countries and the principle on which the world trading system is founded. Individual companies and industries that gain this or that benefit may present it differently saying is good or bad based on their interest and profits- for the US and American people the principle of reciprocality provides a yardstick that is both fair and in the long term interest of bringing jobs and higher wages to the US. ...

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The iphone 16e 2025 for $599 more battery, more camera and larger screen offers more features at the lower end of the price range. One can see this as a phone that helps tackle the cost of living crisis that could hurt Apple sales from buyers with moderate incomes who are cutting back. It could also target a growing middle class buyer segment in India. The e in 16e could stand for economy buyers who want basics in the Apple and could attract upper income buyers of Xiaomi , Huawei and Samsung. Apple iphones have strengths in: seamless ecosytem navigation interface reliable and secure ios software higher resale value Apple discontinues support for older iphones after about 7 years. iPhone 13's can still be used in 2025 4 years old, a good time to change would be by 2026. iPhone 15 was introduced in 2023 which means a good time for changing it is 2028 using a 5 year change which balances the need to update and  update to have access to newer iphones. ...