Author: Gnerphk

I am The Gnerphk, writer extraordinaire, opinionated, radical, and extremely humble by nature.

The Not Fake News Update: 12 Nov 2019

The Not Fake News Update:
What you might have missed while impeachment is stealing the headlines…

– Wildfire season in California is right on schedule. Previous years were due to untended brushlands and the elimination of systems of seasonal lakes like Tulare Lake; this year, we’re told it’s climate change combined with an evil corporation. Meanwhile, the Trump White House has decided to cut California’s disaster funding while continuing to chip away at the Waters of the US policy that protects, among other things, seasonal lakes. Rolling blackouts (more…)

Raise The Minimum Wage — A Little

It’s time.  The wage hasn’t gone up since 2009, and a dollar is worth a lot less today.  $7.25 an hour in 2009 is $9.50 an hour adjusted for inflation, and add a quarter a year for a while just to stay even.

There’s people who couch their arguments in terms of a living wage.  Some talk of morality, of exploitation, of fairness.  There’s a big political movement out there supporting $15 and hour on these grounds; they’ve had some success in Seattle. (more…)

Refugees, Religion and Peter Pan Advice

angelikarust's avatarAngelika Rust

People have often told me that I’m too innocent, too naive. This post is probably going to prove them right, and more. The sad fact is that Billy Joel got it exactly right. People will tell you that you’re too naive the instant they figure out that you have not lost faith in the things you believe. (The link doesn’t work for Germany due to the usual GEMA issues. Hope you’ll have more luck in other countries.)

All over Europe and large parts of the rest of the world, people are talking about the refugee crisis. Recently, the topic swept into our household. I was talking to the kids about how they mistreat the way too many toys they have, and about appreciating what you’ve got. And as such discussions go, it led to talking about other kids in the world, who have absolutely nothing. My little boy asked…

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“But She Lied…”

Good Lord!  I am –so– bloody sick of this.  Senator Warren didn’t lie.  She didn’t use her Native American ancestry to get a job at Harvard.  And it’s insane that anyone needs to defend her on these grounds.

It started in (more…)

Wrong Way With Cuba

Our government needs to normalize relations with Cuba.

We have nothing to fear from Cuba.  Think about it:  The Cold War is over.  There is no more Supreme Soviet; there’s no risk the Socialists are going to come in from overseas to corrupt us.  Truth be told, they’re already here and running for president, and a lot of people think that’s a good thing.

And let’s face it:  Our southern (more…)

Mayor Pete Called It

“But is it helpful to have the 2016 nominee suggesting that a congresswoman is a Russian asset?”
– Jake Tapper

Yes and no.

Yes it’s helpful; it’s a marvelous distraction.  Clinton’s bizarre accusation draws criticism away from some of the more egregious flaws in the present nomination process.  It was also timed perfectly to coincide with the release of a State Department report that criticized the former Secretary of State (more…)

On The Art Of Political Suicide

A year ago, Maine’s Senator Susan Collins committed political suicide live in front of the nation.

It’s safe to say that wasn’t her intention.  But hers was the last, and deciding, swing vote in the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, and that’s what everyone remembers.  Most of the Senate made their decisions early, whether along party lines or for other causes — not the least of which being to avoid the limelight; there’s no way to win votes on something like this.  (Heck, even I recused myself.)  But Collins didn’t rush. (more…)

The War In Kurdistan

It’s all over the news, and every American politician (and French) seeking re-election is repeating it:  Trump has betrayed the Kurds to Turkey, set ISIS fighters free, and is actively running the U.S. military in a way that benefits only Russia.

The danger with facts everyone knows is that there’s no easy way to convince people they’re wrong.  Usually the problem boils down to oversimplification; it’s easy to be wrong when you don’t know anything.  In this case, it’s that — plus, everyone’s got a massive axe to grind and Trump’s a great target to score points off.

But some of it’s definitely true, so we’ll start there and move on. (more…)