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Macron says about the ban of under 15's by social  media platforms-  the emotions of children and teenagers should not be "for sale or manipulated by American platforms and Chinese algorithms." The bad effects  on all adolescents of social media, especially on girls is seen in mental health issues for teenagers and the lack of focus for education in schools. It is a big price to pay for all countries to ruin the prospects in life of a new generation of children who are growing up in ways that no previous generation of children in the history of humanity was exposed to. This is no time for dangerous experiments with our children. It is an interesting comment on today that it is lobbyists (and donations) for platforms that are the problem. And that these lobbyists are from what is called Far Right, Right,  Left, Far Left, it makes no difference they all get paid for work, which shows that such labels have little meaning today- looking for common sense and what is right for (children's) health and education is the best approach not falling in line with Far Right, Right,  Far Left, Left, or Moderate or some such label or a Culture War label that is essentially meaningless when it comes to common sense. Good common sense, that much is sufficient. Many other important issues we face require the same approach. ...

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For the US to do a economic bailout of IRGC Iran now would be a betrayal of the US interest, and of the Iranian people who protested, says WSJ. This strongly worded WSJ editorial from the WSJ Editorial Board says Iran entered 2026 with an economic crisis, then a political crisis with widespread protests and suppression by the IRGC, leading to the Iran war to take out nuclear sites intending to produce nuclear weapons. The US air strikes destroyed Iran's military industrial complex. For the US to do a economic bailout of Iran now, when this is the only time with the naval blockade that Iran can be asked to remove all nuclear materials to a third country, would be a serious mistake. It says the only reason would be close to the midterms and high gas prices. Yet says WSJ letting Iran have its way would mean DJT could lose standing with the American public and see this in the midterms. The US naval blockade should not be lifted until Iran not by words but by actions sends out all the nuclear material out of the country, says WSJ. Lifting the naval blockade for 60 days of talks putting off the nuclear issue is the opposite of what the US has insisted on from the beginning- the nuclear issue is the only issue and it comes first is the US position. The mediation by Turkey and Pakistan, Qatar, has done just the opposite, and in this sense it has failed, according to this view in the WSJ. ...

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For the US to do a economic bailout of IRGC Iran now would be a betrayal of the US interest, and of the Iranian people who protested, says WSJ. This strongly worded WSJ editorial from the WSJ Editorial Board says Iran entered 2026 with an economic crisis, then a political crisis with widespread protests and suppression by the IRGC, leading to the Iran war to take out nuclear sites intending to produce nuclear weapons. The US air strikes destroyed Iran's military industrial complex. For the US to do a economic bailout of Iran now, when this is the only time with the naval blockade that Iran can be asked to remove all nuclear materials to a third country, would be a serious mistake. It says the only reason would be close to the midterms and high gas prices. Yet says WSJ letting Iran have its way would mean DJT could lose standing with the American public and see this in the midterms. The US naval blockade should not be lifted until Iran not by words but by actions sends out all the nuclear material out of the country, says WSJ. Lifting the naval blockade for 60 days of talks putting off the nuclear issue is the opposite of what the US has insisted on from the beginning- the nuclear issue is the only issue and it comes first is the US position. The mediation by Turkey and Pakistan, Qatar, has done just the opposite, and in this sense it has failed, according to this view in the WSJ. ...

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Bouganvillea, Pink Pouli, Gulmohar, and South American Bougainvillea flowers all in vibrant bloom in pre monsoon months of April and May in Bengaluru, shown here in The Indian Express.

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Fei Fei Lee and John Etchemendy co-founders of Stanford Univeristy's Institute for Human-centred Artificial Intelligence the public sector needs to lead AI development.  Acceptance and advocacy by the people at Stanford University that AI is too important to be left to the private sector. That like space exploration conducted by NASA and the Hoover Dam and Tennessee Valley Authority during the Depression, the Erie Canal in the mid nineteenth century, some work is better done by the public sector. For this to happen Stanford needs to accept its position as one of the many great educational and cultural institutions of this country not what Silicon Valley and the Reagan era hand it to being its preeminent beneficiary and representative. This marks a change at Stanford after thinking long and hard about the dangers to America that have emerged from the Reagan era thought that took in its fold Democrats like Clinton and Obama- the 2009 financial crisis fueled by deregulation and defunding of infrastructure and manufacturing, that laid the seeds for America's downward spiral.  ...

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Woman and better educated suburban people supported Nikki Haley. By contrast rural less educated went to the former president. What happens to these Haley supporters is important in 2024. Many are conservatives yet they are not finding a home in the new Republican party that has shifted from what it was before to look very different from before the 2009 financial crisis. The gradual disappearance of manufacturing in America as it was shipped overseas and the damage to communities built around it, the neglect of rural areas, the spiralling cost of healthcare, were already ripping apart the social fabric, only to be hit with the 2009 financial crisis from banking mismanagement and greed. The social and economic fabric which was next hit by the pandemic is only now recovering under president Biden. The Trump one term with all its good intentions failed to deliver on infrastructure and rebuilding manufacturing. The Biden work is a work in progress yet of a scale that America did in the 1950's to become the dominant nation after World War II through Truman, Ike and JFK. ...

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If Zambia can put in almost a billion dollars to make primary and secondary schooling free should not an affluent nation like the US make K-12 schooling free and support a big part of college and university fees. Zambia coming out of a IMF bailout during the pandemic is supporting it knowing that it is the best way to take the nation forward, not leaving millions without education behind. Instead America has chosen to let capitalist flaws such as capital allocation to unworthy projects waste capital. This last week alone about $1 billion in capital was shown to be wasted- $100 million for a new golf ball and $700 million for a new beauty business incorporating herbals. Every month wasted capital is shown in Lyrarc.com showing that the capital allocation process in America is deeply flawed and leaves little for education and healthcare because of its distortions and poor allocation serving the interests of a few, and not even that as the money gets wasted entirely to no one's benefit and a complete loss to the Nation. ...

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Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute, gives an eloquent tribute to James Q. Wilson, by saying that he gave America social science with a soul. Brooks says of Wilson's book "The Moral Sense," that it truly ranks with Adam Smith's book 'Theory of Moral Sentiments,' as the most significant thinking on this subject. It synthesizes the work of hundreds of scholars in many fields to conclude that man is in his essence a moral creature. In all of creation and man's world there is this profound sense of man grounded in his moral being. It inspired most of his own work as it did for Adam Smith in his time.

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Tim Cook and 25 years of shipping overseas America's industrial base 2000-2025. A pivotal moment arrives in May 2025 when for the second time after 2016 Cook fails to understand that America's industrial base, it's manufacturing knowhow, is one of the pillars of the free world without which America can no longer lead the Free World as we know it.

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The stimulus checks in government pandemic aid packages are being spent prudently in the US. Government aid checks were sent out in the first wave since March 2020 and now again in the second wave in 2021. The stimulus pandemic checks are being allocated wisely. A Federal Reserve Bank of New York study shows that Americans saved about 36% of the first stimulus payment checks, 29% was spent, and 35% was used to pay down debt. For the second stimulus payment underway in 2021 this survey also shows Americans are expected to spend even less and use even more to pay down debts. With stores mostly closed, travel restricted, and consumers not having the opportunities to spend, and the sense of insecurity, additional income from unemployment checks, saving has increased. Americans saved $1.4 trillion in the first 9 months of 2020 compared to half that in the same period in 2019, according to analysis by Berenberg Economics. That amount is about 10% of household spending. The tight spending during 2020 means, say economic researchers, that spending will jump in 2021 after the vaccination drive. The trend is positive in that Americans tended not to save enough. People in China and India, tend to save more giving government a larger pool of savings to draw from in national infrastructure spending. In November 2020 Commerce Department estimate is that saving in the U.S. was 12.9%, up from 7.5% in November 2019. Anecdotal evidence shows U.S. savings accounts for people at the lower end of incomes have been depleted for years, hit by the unemployment of the 2009 recession. This was caused by errors by the banking community and business. To this is added people in arts and culture, people in professions involving contact, travel and leisure, food, during this pandemic ten years later. National priorities need to be set to bolster this part of American society and its core social fabric. The steps to bring home manufacturing jobs under Mr. Trump and the "Buy American" initiative under Mr. Biden is just the first step. More steps are needed and the resources, implementation and drive to bring America back to the healthy society of social cohesion and upward mobility aspirations under presidents Truman and Eisenhower in the 1950's. ...

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A native of Cincinnati, Ted Turner, built one of the largest landholdings in the US. He bought 2 million acres which makes him 4th largest landholder in the US when he died this year in 2026 at the age of 87 years. One ranch alone cost him $100 million in New Mexico made up of 586,000 acres, which is now worth $500 million. Turner bought early when land prices were low in New Mexico and Montana. Much of this wilderness was turned into conservation areas. In this sense he will be remembered more for this public land and conservation than for a 24 hour news channel. Much of the audio and video media can be accessed over 24 hours anytime of one's choosing on the internet by 2026, which makes CNN redundant today. CNN and Fox News are more of a distraction today at best and a flawed presentation of the News because of their tendency to take advantage of the audiences and reinforce their bias for profit, CNN and Fox New on opposite sides. CNN has been acquired by Paramount CBS and is about to undergo major changes under the Ellison family. And the Murdoch family is split on how to run Fox News. Both television channels will likely dissipate in influence and viewers as Americans grow out of their biased and often incorrect interpretations of current news events. There is little they do that cannot be done by diligent effort to present the news in alternatives such as Lyrarc.com on the internet that present a range of views from major world newspapers and sites. And yet see America as a beacon of hope in the world and Europe as the place where the scientific and industrial revolutions that changed all our lives for the better started, giving the younger generation of Americans reason for hope in the future. ...

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After a period when Democrats let the narrative be shaped by "the entitlements crisis" and questioning the legacy of president Roosevelt- who many including Mr. Trump believe setup the groundwork for the prosperity of the early postwar years in America- the vision of the New Deal and FDR is back, says Glickman in the Washington Post. He says the New Deal order lasted from 1932 to 1980 when president Reagan was elected. Conservatives were skeptical about the New Deal, and Democrats such as Al Gore joined the Conservatives with their faith in limited government and unregulated or less regulated markets. To this was added the faith Democrats such as Mr. Clinton put in a new policy of openness in trade with China that ultimately led to todays $ 1 billion a day deficit with China. There is a new sense says Glickman that the tide is reversing and that FDR is now seen as the new ideal for a fairer and better America, and better investment in the people of America. ...

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Some Republicans are saying that it is time to give up the conceit that increasing the incomes of the upper classes will bring benefits to all Americans, and whether making individual tax cuts the priority is a policy that no longer works and can even bring disaster as it did for British prime minister Liz Truss recently. In this camp are Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri and think tank American Compass. Others including Marc Rubio no longer favor globalization and see it important for the US to bring back American manufacturing at every opportunity with incentives and government action as the Biden administration is currently doing. This is creating new faultlines in the Republican party between the people who support the party of Reagan and its priorities and others who are questioning whether Reagan is relevant anymore. The fight that delayed the election of Speaker McCarthy also brought out some of these fissures as a subsection of the party felt strongly that it was important to go after entitlement programs and other social spending by the Biden administration. This is creating a new situation in American politics and in world trade and economics as the Biden Administration is not meekly accepting the detours of so called Third Way Democratic and Labour politicians of the US and Britain such as Tony Blair, Clinton and Obama who let the traditional backing of the Democratic Party in the working class wither with ties to Big Tech and acceptance of Reagan type free trade policies for manufacturing that ignored American working class communities. Biden's recent success in fighting for railway trade unions in restoring fairness in vacation and sick leave is only one of the battles that Biden has shown he can fight for American workers. Republicans now face the prospect of appearing divided and ambiguous in their support of working class, and overdependent on cultural issues for working class support. A recent British study on Labour's prospects showed that a slight shift on cultural issues can create a strong shift and have a large impact in Labour forming a new government with a secure majority in parliament.   ...

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There are about 2.4 million workers on American farms. 44% of them are undocumented workers says the Department of Labor.  They do jobs such as picking the fruits and vegetables that are part of the food supply. Deporting them all will increase prices of farm products as harvesting fruits and vegetables will be difficult. During the Eisenhower administration in 1953 deportation plan large growers in California and New Mexico used seasonal agricultural labor from Mexico, and the nation's food supply of vegetables and fruits depended on these workers. These companies lobbied hard for ways to keep these workers. On the other side were smaller farm owners who used fewer migrant workers. The complication this time 2024 is that unlike in 1953 under Eisenhower mass deportation when the border was otherwise peaceful, in 2024 the US has faced a decade unprecedented in its history of flows of fentanyl and drugs across the southern border. The deportation is about migrants who are not easily integrated culturally into the US, about the dangers of illegal entry in such large numbers that it disturbs the quiet life of the small towns and cities in the US. The US needs immigrants but in a planned way with legal entry, and no flows of drugs across the Border, that protects the American people and serves America's interests.    ...

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The Bernanke Fed's low interest rates are hurting seniors and savers who are earning very little on their savings. This is taking money away from millions of savers and reducing consumption spending by seniors and savers. According to the Labor Department average annual investment income for 24.6 million American households headed by seniors over the age of 65 was $2,564 in 2009. This is down significantly from prior years. A survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute shows that one in three retirees have had to dig deeper into their savings to cover basic necessities in 2010. With inflation at an annualized rate of 5.6% in the first quarter 2011, interest rates of 0.24% on savings accounts do little to cover inflation. There is a sense that this is hurting retirees who have lived prudently and worked hard and on savers of different ages. This actually discourages healthy savings that would protect Americans from job losses and build a safer future. American contributions to bank and 401 (k) accounts is only 4% of disposable income in 2010, according to the Fed. Another danger is that the smaller 401 (k) accounts of the average American family after losses in earlier stock market declines, will again be exposed to the fluctuations and risk in the stock market. This could happen as money is shifted to the stock market in the hope of earning better returns. Seniors are an active voting group, and voting patterns show a shift to Congressional candidates who question Fed policy....

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Pope Francis and Cardinal Parolin have an intimate knowledge of the situation in Latin America and Cuba. This made it possible for the Vatican to host the meeting of the U.S. and Cuban sides in October, to set the stage for the restoration of diplomatic relations in Dec. 2014.

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Hilsenrath cites Robert Hall, a Stanford University professor whose research shows three fourths of American households do not have two months worth of income put away as cash or other liquid assets. The Federal Reserve researcher Karen Pence says 41% of households can borrow less than $3000 on their credit cards and 23% have been turned down or discouraged from applying for credit. This shows the general financial weakness of overly indebted American households and the overlayed effects of the housing crisis, and higher unemployment. It suggests the margin for consumers to weather difficulties and increase spending is thin.

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The Washington Post gives the green light to most of the nominees of DJT except Pete Hegseth at Defense, RFK Jr. at Health and Human Services, Tulsi Gabbard for National Intelligence, and Russell Vought for Office of Management and the Budget (OMB). RFK Jr has support for his stand on obesity and drug costs, if he convinces the Senate on vaccines. Jamieson Greer was Deputy Trade Representative under USTR Robert Lighthizer, Greer and Stephen Miran at Council of Economic Advisers give DJT the resources to create a level playing field for America in world trade, business and manufacturing at home, to reverse the lack of government support of three decades that destroyed much of American manufacturing. Elise Stefankik is a good choice of young Congresswoman from upstate NY who has potential to put America's position before the world.  Kristi Noem brings good experience at Homeland Security as 2 term governor of South Dakota, and experience in Congress. Dough Borghum is a two term governor of North Dakota and is a good choice for Interior Secretary. Tom Homan as Border Security Head complements Noem and Borghum as a Border Patrol Agent who has worked, the WSJ says, under 6 administrations including the Obama administration and is likely to combine immigration goals of DJT with realism. Homan would focus on getting immigration right so that the migration issue is resolved cutting out crime, illegal migration, and restoring the southern border.    ...

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Delta Airlines is switching its frequent flyer program entirely to spending on its American Express Card. No miles for flights. Delta gets an astounding $7 billion from American Express from sales of miles, ancillary fees and brand fees. Its goal is $10 billion which would be what it made from tickets for flights in 2022. Delta's CEO says it may have gone too far with these changes which are unpopular with its flyer base except for the high end flyers who disliked crowded lounges. Were there other ways to tackle that problem? Delta appears to have shifted attention to a small fraction of its customers.

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Kamala Harris stands by her values in her positions on fracking which she says can be combined for transition with a clear timely pursued climate change strategy Biden-Harris has pursued. The investments in climate change action are being made in a way that will protect us from climate change. On immigration she repeated her pledge that she will get the Biden Lankford immigration legislation that closes the Border to her desk and will sign it into law. She pointed out that Biden has served the interests of the American people with the large investments in manufacturing, in climate change action, and in infrastructure, child care, that will be remembered by the American people.

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The English translation of the PM's speech at the Ayodya Temple is shown here from the Press Information Bureau of India. It covers the ancient paths and ancient traditions that were given to the lands south of the Himalayas on which the basis of a Just Society that serves the needs of all the peoples of the region can be laid down. Through the concept of Ram Rajya which in the Treta Yuga formed the social concept of a good and Just Society akin to what Abraham Lincoln laid down for America in the words "for the people, of the people, by the people." A reminder of what the peoples of Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe are striving for after the pandemic. The task of modernity was done through modernization and Empire by Japan and failed yet now revived without Empire, through Communist leadership against the Empire of Japan in China which is in its current formation with an embrace of modernity and science. And now in India and Indonesia, all of South East Asia of over 2 billion people marking out a path to modernity and embrace of science and technology with the united efforts of the whole people with everyone's efforts, of Sabka Prayas- into the future for new generations venturing out, to today's children setting out on this journey. ...

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Some of the memorable parts of president Biden's speech at the AFL-CIO campaign rally today June 17 that will go with the best of FDR and Lincoln about what America stands for were: "This is America we can do any damn thing we put our minds to. And guess what? We are not going back to the false promises of trickle down economics.  We are going forward. We are going forward." "I really mean. this. I know I'm called a cockeyed optimist, but this is based on history. We're the most unique country in history. We are organized on one notion. Every other country is based on ethnicity, religion, geography. But the United States is based on an idea. The only country in the world based on an idea. Think about it." "Why are we doing it. Because we said, "We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal" (applause)  "endowed by their Creator with some inalienable rights, and among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." "We've never met the goal. But we've never- other than the Trump administration- tried to walk away from that goal. And it gets better every time we push." ...

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Romney promises to focus on everyday concerns of jobs, family, and budget deficits with his 5 step plan to revive the economy. He says he will not raise taxes on the middle class. The 5 step plan is to make America energy independent by making full use of domestic oil and gas resources, create jobs and provide skills for new jobs, make trade work for America, support small businesses with fewer regulations and smaller tax burden and smaller burden of healthcare, and reduce the deficit. His plan he says will create 12 million new jobs.

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This WSJ editorial says this will be a long war. As in the early stages NATO training made a difference for Ukraine's defense this should continue with America's complete and rapid support so that the immense destruction that is taking place can be prevented. It says moral denunciations are not going to make a difference, that timely support on the ground is needed.

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Plans of the Biden administration to bring back workers to the workforce in 2023 by increasing worker benefits. The place seen where America is lacking is participation of younger women in the workforce and older people who chose to retire during Covid. Increasing child care and benefits for child care is one line of action. Other approaches are being explored by Brian Deese of Biden's National Economic Council.