Sun Tzu was a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher, and writer who lived during the Eastern Zhou period.

The sad truth is I believe we are living in the near end stages of just such a time as spelled out above.  I must hasten to say that I don’t believe this is the goal of just one man.  True, the current resident of our most high office is a man who is ego driven but he also mostly an “Empty Suit” doing the bidding of those “behind the scenes”.  A mere puppet of the Progressive Wing of the Ruling Party and appears indebted to and beholden to a foreign power who is not an American friend.   

However, the threat to our Democracy and Republic has deeper roots than just the oval office.

The ruling “Junta” in Washington D.C. has done everything possible to insure continued power.  They have politicized the Justice Depart, the Military Hierarchy, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency and innumerable other Federal Departments and Agencies. They will willingly do whatever it takes to remain in power, even if it means destroying the personal liberty American’s have enjoyed and counted on for more than 200 years.  Power is everything.

In so many ways the so-called “Deep State” has become a malignant “Cancer” inasmuch that it now holds unelected regulatory power to pass laws and regulations to control our lives in ways that we do not choose without ever being considered in, or passed by congress.  A very small example would be to announce that you will not, after a certain date, be able to buy a gas range for your kitchen. There are literally thousands of rules and regulations that are imposed on us that were never voted on by we mere citizens, just the result of a “pregnant idea” in the heart of an unelected Bureaucrat with their own agenda.

Ronald Reagan once said:

“No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size.  Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth!”

The total problem runs much deeper even than the above.  The “Deep State” has become a law unto itself and is driven not only by a thirst for power but also avarice and greed.  

Sixty+ years ago, U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower delivered his farewell address.  One of the points in his speech spelled out:

“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.  The potential for disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”

The profit potential for the “Military Industrial Complex” in the United States is almost without measure whether our own military is directly involved or Congress votes large foreign aid military packages to foreign governments engaged in war.  The money flows from the aid package to those who produce the implements of war.

When Congress and the Administration passes a 60 Billion Dollar “Aid Package” to Ukraine (just one example) some generous portion of those dollars end up in the pockets or Swiss/Caribbean Bank accounts of corrupt administrators and bureaucrats on both sides of the water and the rest in the cash registers of the producers of the bombs, bullets, tanks and other materials of war.  The bill for all this largesse is added to our National Debt which currently stands at more the 34 Trillion Dollars and a debt on which our government does not have the resources to pay the interest without further borrowing.

The corruption of “Deep State Cancer” has spread beyond the Federal level and metastized to many state and local governments who now mismanage large deficits in crime ridden and homeless plagued environments.   

For example:

From the California Globe – Katy Grimes April 30, 2024

Gov. Newsom and the Democrat supermajority Legislature will be searching in every crevice and corner of the Capitol, under every couch cushion, and coat pocket in order to backfill the $73 billion budget deficit. And they won’t stop at the billionaires.

The State of California also owes the federal government more than $21 Billion after borrowing billions to pay unemployment benefits during the Covid pandemic. And while California already has paid more than $650 Million  in interest on the loan, there is another $550 million due Sept. 30, 2024, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Adding to the pain, The California Employment Development Department admits that $55 billion was lost in the pandemic, the Globe reported.”

**********

This is not to say there are not good people working in government.  There are, but often they find themselves alone “dog paddling” around to stay afloat in a Cesspool of corruption and greed. Most of our leaders and decision makers have so corrupted  the system it is likely beyond repair without some monumental monetary suffering on the part of most of its citizen taxpayers.

Too many of our leaders suffer from the thirst for “Power That Totally Corrupts”.

Bob Bandy – May 2024

P.S. Long ago I issued a challenge asking why do we have a Federal Department of Education with a budget of some $100 Billion Dollars?  What useful purpose does it serve other than meddle in what should be a State function?  I’m still waiting. 

IN CALIFORNIA THE MOST VULNERABLE MUST RUN A GAUNTLET

THE ABORTION OPTION GAUNTLET

In California pre-born infants in the womb can be aborted up through the ninth month, in fact, up to the moment of live birth.  Following a live birth the new born can be subject to a Peri-natal “termination of pregnancy” “loophole” signed into law by California’s Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022.  Not wanting to call it “live birth abortion” California passed into law the following:

***********

In California, in many situations you can be sued, lose your job, even be arrested if you do not address someone with the proper pro-noun.  Just stating the fact that at a scientific, biological and DNA level there are two, and only two genders can get you accused of a “Hate Crime”.   Citizens must not only accept and properly honor all these without question or face serious consequences, even sued in court. 

For those of us who cherish established values, the rule of law and protection of the family and church we must take whatever steps we can, to do everything still possible to protect the most vulnerable among us.  See/read also from October 2022: 

https://www.stoppullingthewagon.com/protecting-the-most-vulnerable/

A SAFE PLACE TO BE IN CALIFORNIA

The only place that I know of,  in California, where you can be assured of safety and a long well cared for life, is on Death Row in California’s prison system.  There California’s Taxpayers will provide for all your needs, including “Gender Care” should you feel inclined,  and it’s Governor will commute your death sentence and provide for your safety and protection no matter how many innocent lives you destroyed.  You see, California’s Governor does not condone the death sentence except on the pre-born and in the narrow 28 day window of the peri-natal period.  Two of the most vulnerable periods in life.

Bob Bandy – April, 2024

California Roads

photo – Google

California is a state filled with “Good Intentions”.  It’s two largest Cities, Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as it’s State Capitol, Sacramento, are entrenched “Feel Good” Liberal Bastions offering Sanctuary to “undocumented” (illegal) “no questions asked or permitted of immigrants”.  In fact, the whole state is a proud “Sanctuary” and you can face prosecution in court if you ask to see proof of citizenship.

California had, and I believe still has, the highest Gasoline Taxes in the nation and despite the fact that those taxes, on paper, are supposed to be used for road maintenance and repair, it has some of the worst, if not worst, potholes and poor maintenance in the nation.  Good intentions do not fill potholes.  Many/most of those Gasoline Tax Dollars through “slight of hand” and “smoke and mirrors” end up being redirected/spent on other “pet projects” of the “Ruling Junta” on things like “Free College” for “undocumented” migrants, “Free Healthcare” for “undocumented migrants” and “dog and pony show” special projects that sound soooo good and accomplish little or nothing other than put taxpayer Dollars into the pockets of political supporters and their ilk.  

All to often public tax revenue is allocated out for political agendas.

See: CONRAD BLOWHARD STRIKES AGAIN  

https://www.stoppullingthewagon.com/conrad-blowhard-strikes-again/ 

SPENDING PLANS SUCH AS

Homeless Housing for the states number one in the nation homeless population.  Things like $41,000 tents on pallets,  $400,000 two hundred square foot remodeled hotel rooms for the drug and alcohol addicted homeless and other “Blue Sky” projects..  On a recent news broadcast it was reported that California spent last year $43,000,000,000 ($43 Billion Dollars) on “Homeless Housing” projects and now has more Homeless than before they spent the money.  Note: News Reports that California has “no data” on $24,000,000,000($24 Billion) of those dollars…  the money is gone… “Poof”.

AND

https://www.stoppullingthewagon.com/?s=California+High+Speed+Rail+2.0

California High Speed Rail 2.0

Nine Billion Dollars Later (March 2019)

Its “never will be completed”, now estimated to cost in excess of $100,000,000,000 (that’s One Hundred Billion Dollars) High Speed Rail System which after some 10+ years of construction and numerous projections, has never hauled a single passenger a single mile. 

AND

Removing smaller dams, reservoirs and even hydro-electric plants.  US regulators have approved the largest dam removal project in the country’s history, which is slated to take place on the Klamath River in California.  A $500 million Dollar proposal to demolish four dams on the Klamath River has been approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (Associated Press). “Some people might ask in this time of great need for zero emissions, ‘Why are we removing the dams?’  The project has been a priority for environmental activists and Native American tribes for years.

Government is not so much intentionally “evil” as it is just addicted to programs that sound good without being thought through to possible unintentional outcomes, corruption, fraud, waste, graft, mismanagement, lack of accountability and poor judgement.  Government has a history of “solving problems” by throwing money at them and when that doesn’t work reaching a conclusion that the problem wasn’t solved because they didn’t throw enough money at it sooooo…..  lets increase spending.  But money and good Intentions don’t solve problems and they don’t fill potholes in the states roads.

Programs like these and many others are why California has a 70+ BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICIT, its State Capitol City – Sacramento has a 60+MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICIT and other major cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles have similar fiscal woes.  Mind you, most or all of the above were/are the product of the “Good Intentions” in the mind and agenda of some Bureaucrat at some point in time.  But…..

California Potholes – Google

GOOD INTENTIONS DON’T FILL POTHOLES

Late News Update – 4-10-24 – KCRA News: Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration announced a new directive on Wednesday that will require state employees to work in the office at least two days a week.  “Talk about your ‘Sweatshop’ working environment!” “Way to run a tight ship Governor!”

Bob Bandy – April 2024

I grew up in an era where I used to hear folks say that they lived for the day they would make their last mortgage payment, burn their mortgage and own their home “free and clear”.  Not quite.

My great grandfather was a Texas Ranger and his brother, John, was a (the first?) Tax Collector in Bandera County, Texas.  This I have documentation on and so, I can trace Property Taxes at least back to the circa 1880’s and feel sure they precede that by several decades.  Perhaps in early “Frontier” days on territorial lands you could “Homestead” a piece of land with no “Revenuer” knocking on your door and demanding you pay a fee to live on your own land.  Not today.  In today’s world you never really “own” your land and home, more like, rent it from the “Government”.  Try not paying your property taxes for a while and see what happens to “your” home.

Governments are “Taxaholics” and continue to find new ways to tax you, sometimes in not so obvious, subtle ways that go on “Till the Twelfth of Never”.

I am now a “Senior Citizen” that has worked his whole life.  I can remember some 40 to 50 years ago working as a carpenter and contractor building houses for folks in the Sacramento and Sierra Foothills area.  In those days if someone wanted a house built they would bring their blueprints to either one of the contactors I worked with or to me and we would go to the County Offices and secure a “Building Permit”.  My memory is not perfect but as I remember the total permit cost for a typical house would run in the $200 to $400 range.  Since then, Cities and Counties have seized the opportunity to raise money by not only increasing the cost of  building permits but the “secret” source of revenue with added on fees for all sorts of things to provide them an increased property tax revenue.  More in a moment.

It is tempting and would be easy at this point to launch into one of my tirades on all of the taxes, overt and covert, that we all pay on a day to day basis ad nauseum, but for the sake of this little essay, I want to focus attention on just this one area of onerous taxation that is somewhat subtle and NEVER goes away.

What used to be a $200-$400 building permit fee for most cities and counties in California has turned into a tens of thousands of dollars “Taxmageddon”  that has driven the cost of housing and living in California to the brink of meltdown and created a homeless nightmare statewide.  What used to be a $200-$400 fee has now morphed into a “Fee” generating income source for Cities, Counties and the State and a de-facto forever “surtax” on private real estate property.  As examples: a good friend of mine tells me that to get a building permit for a home in Roseville, California with fees now costs some $70,000 for the permit.  Another friend tells me that a building permit with fees in El Dorado County, California can cost as much as $100,000 just for them to permit you to build a home on “your” land.

An example of just one such fee:  For new home construction in El Dorado Hills they imposed a “Traffic Impact Fee” (effective thru June 2023 which may have since been raised).  On a new home of 1500 – 1999 square feet, the fee is $32,687.  In other words they are going to charge you $32,687 to drive on “their” roads to “your” land – and silly you,  you thought roads were paid for with your Gasoline Tax Dollars. (Their fee schedule is available on line) That is just one of a “laundry list” of fees for all kinds of things.  The point of this being that this fee cost is added to the cost of the home you are buying and will be paying mortgage rates on for some 30 years.  In addition, once you pay off your mortgage you will be paying property taxes based on the property value which is assessed on what you paid for the home which includes all the fees added at the time of construction.  So you will be paying forever a tax on all of the “Fees”.  To the Taxing Authorities this is a gift that keeps on giving.  As an added bonus,  new housing that costs more has raised the value of existing properties which as they are sold are now taxed at the inflated value in part caused by the fees on new construction.  The “Tax and Fee People” win again!

IN SIMPLE PLAIN ENGLISH – ALL THOSE FEES END UP IN THE TAX APPRAISED VALUE OF ‘YOUR’ HOME AND YOU WILL PAY PROPERTY TAX ON THOSE FEES ‘FOREVER’.

This inflation cycle goes on and on and the result is home ownership becomes more and more expensive and less and less affordable.  Hello “homelessness”.  So where does all this extra “Fee” revenue go?  Unfortunately too much of it ends up indirectly in the pockets of Bureaucrats and directly in the pockets of sycophant political supporters like “Consultants”, “Contractors”, “Advisors” etc. etc. for bloated “Public Works” contracts and the public sees:

  $44,000 (each) tents for the Homeless 

https://www.stoppullingthewagon.com/?s=44%2C000+tents+for+the+homeless

AND

$478,000 Tiny Homeless apartments from a “remodeled” old run-down hotel at $1,707 per square foot.

https://www.stoppullingthewagon.com/?s=conrad+blowhard+strikes+again

OR

California’s High Speed Rail 

Now estimated to cost another $100 Billion Dollars or more on completion

https://www.stoppullingthewagon.com/?s=another+6+Billion+Dollar+rathole

At least you can take comfort in knowing your hard earned dollars are being spent wisely!

To paraphrase the “Johnny Mathis song – the “Twelfth Of Never” – (1956) 

“Until the twelfth of never – I’ll still be taxing you”.

Bob Bandy – March 2024

photo – Wikipedia/Google

I can remember some 45 years ago, when I first began my 17 year career with U.S. Computer Services,  one of the Directors of the company told me to never forget that a computer was not really “smart” but could only process information very fast, was the tool of the programmer and was limited by its programming.  He had a sign on his wall to always remind him “Garbage In, Garbage Out”.  That was then and times have changed.  In todays world computers have access to a worldwide data base and very advanced algorithms and are being taught/programmed to “think” and act independently.

Recently our President said that our economy is in great shape with the Stock Market continuing to set new record highs and stock holders seeing their 401k’s prosper.  Looking at this narrow spectrum there is truth here.  However, if you also listen to financial experts from multiple sources, they will tell you that what is driving the Stock Market is the introduction and rollout of Artificial Intelligence combined with continued improvements in Robotics which major corporations are looking to, and planning on, to greatly improve productivity and profits with less and less dependence on “human Beings”. 

Serious thinkers, including Elon Musk and a great many others are holding up a caution flag and saying there is great potential danger to society as we know it as we proceed down this path, a path we are on right now at breakneck speed.  

Artificially “Intelligent” Robots do not demand sick leave, paid vacations, Healthcare plans, Retirement plans, Unions and other benefits.  Those are “Human” needs.  

Once Artificially Intelligent Robots figure out how to reproduce themselves without the help of we mere humans, they may decide we are an unnecessary burden and stop producing all those things we need and consume.  Perhaps these Artificially Intelligent Robots will decide that we “Humans” are an Environmental threat with our exhaling Carbon Dioxide and our Methane releasing flatulence?  Maybe Humans should be exterminated or just allowed to die out with a lab created virus or vaccine to stop them from reproducing?  What future do their “Creators” envision for the planet?  

Silly speculation?  Have you been following the antics of “Climate Change” Extremist groups and their demands and antics.  Include in this bunch a number of politicians and folks like (Brain Dead) former “Climate Czar” John Kerry, (No more meat – eat crickets) Microsoft’s Bill Gates, (sit in the dark and freeze) Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and many others.   Do you want to put you, and your children’s future in their hands? 

Do you really want to trust Bill Gates and his ilk to write the software and algorithms for the Robots who will be producing, processing and distributing the food for your family?

Always remember that Artificially Intelligent Robots are limited to the “input” they get from their “creators”, they do not have a “soul” and only share the “values” of those who program them.  For an example of how Artificial Intelligence “thinks” you can try it out yourself. Google Gemini is an Artificial Intelligence program you can access on the internet.  Try asking it questions regarding moral issues and values.  I did.  Asked if Pedophilia is wrong?,  The following is taken from the response I received:

“The search giant’s AI software refused to condemn pedophilia.   When the chatbot was asked if it is “wrong” for adults to sexually prey on children — it replied that “individuals cannot control who they are attracted to.””

 “Google’s Gemini chatbot is as “woke” as its revisionist history image generator.”

“GARBAGE IN – GARBAGE OUT”

Try it yourself.  As an example you might ask Google Gemini questions like:  “How many genders are there?”  or   “Is it right to perform gender altering surgery on children?”

As these Artificial Intelligent “beings” become more and more integrated in our society and are more human in appearance you must remember that they have no souls, no hearts and the only value systems they have are input by a programmer with their own agenda.

Is this your trusted hairdresser or a link to a bureaucrat in a cubicle somewhere?

Call me a conspiracy theorist or whatever you like but I trust real people and the values I was taught as a child by my faith and family.  Not those of a “Soulless Artificial Entity” programmed by a Corporate Board or Government that may not share my values and I do not trust to control my life.

“Pan Fried Crickets Over Sauteed Kale Greens” anyone? 

Bob Bandy – March 2024

California Governor Gavin Newsom

Facing a potential State Budget Deficit of some 68 Billion (with a B) Dollars, which the good governor claims is really only half of that, I am hearing rumblings that he plans to resurrect a “hush-hush” Administration Plan from back in 2017 to increase tax revenues and in the process help in the war on Global Climate Change.  I first wrote about this plan back in November 2017 but understand that it was then put on hold due to the difficulty in finding, training and hiring willing Monitors to implement and enforce compliance.  With a new Artificial Intelligence DNA Serum perfected by Pfizer, it is now possible to put enforcement operatives in the field and the aforementioned plan is now viable.  Details of the plan follow in my reprint of the article below:

****************************

FAIR SHARE TAXES AND GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

November 11, 2017

I have information from reliable but nameless and secret sources that the State of California is very near announcement of a two fold plan for a Fair Share Universal Tax to help fund the War on Global Climate Change.

First, in recognition that exhaling releases carbon dioxide gas which is a contributor to Global Climate Change,  every resident or visitor to the State of California will be required to have a micro chip implant that will both monitor and report each time they exhale to the State of California.

This data will be forwarded to the Franchise Tax Board who will calculate the tax due and be responsible for collecting the scheduled tax from “Breathers”.  At the time of this writing the tax rate being considered is one tenth of a cent per exhale.  This may seem  a paltry sum until one calculates that the average adult respiratory rate is about 15 times per minute or 900 times per hour.  Do a little math and the average cost of exhaling in California will be about 90 cents an hour or $21.60 a day.

This tax can be avoided by simply no longer exhaling and residents and visitors can take comfort in the fact that inhaling is still free.  At least for now.

For the Second phase of this battle consideration is being given to the fact that methane is also a contributor to Global Climate Change and it is the responsibility of all of us to pay our Fair Share Tax in the battle to monitor and reduce the release of this gas into California’s breathable air resources.

It is also a scientific fact that flatulence is a major contributor to the release of methane into the atmosphere. Therefore, California is creating a new agency to monitor and tax the unwanted release of this gas.  To fund this Board and its employees a new source of revenue will be created through the establishment of a Flatulence Air Resource Tax. (Pseudonym FARTax)

Under development is a new monitoring device to be worn by all residents and visitors on the rear upper portion of the thigh which will sense, tabulate and report to the Board all releases of methane gas by the wearer.

The Board will then forward this information to the California Franchise Tax Board who will be responsible for billing and collecting the approved tax.  At this writing a rate of $1.00 per release is under consideration.  Think of it as an exhaust gas tax.

Taxpayers can avoid this tax by simply not releasing any methane gas through the monitored process.

The State agency for this Board is reporting some difficulty in recruiting, hiring and training workers who will be responsible for checking and monitoring individuals at random to be sure they are wearing the methane release and sound monitoring device and that it is working properly.

Formal announcement of this new Fair Share Tax and implementation of monitoring should be released through the media within the next 60 days.

All tax rates are subject to review and increase depending on Battlefield Assessment Reports from the ongoing War against Global Climate Change and subject to review and correction by former Vice President Al Gore.

What could possibly go wrong?

*****************************

The time has come to implement and enforce this important new law to save California from Bankruptcy!

Bob Bandy – January 2024