Je ne suis pas d'accord

When a teacher catches two kids passing notes back and forth, he/she does not send the whole class to detention study hall.  Only the two kids who broke the rules are punished. 

If a supervisor finds out that three employees have called in sick so they can go play golf, the three employees get disciplined or fired, not the whole unit where they work.  It is a matter of fair treatment. 

Investigations are uncovering fraud in welfare programs that help pay for child care.  It is not fair to cut off federal funding for child care in all 50 states as a result.  The temporary suspension of funding to the offending states or counties involved is justified until the offenders are caught and punished.  It is reasonable and fair. 

I usually agree with President Trump.  Not this time.  Poor people sometimes do not actively seek employment because the jobs they have the skills for do not pay enough to offset the cost of child care.  They actually can get more money every month from public assistance programs and getting their medical expenses paid for by Medicaid than they can by going to work.  Sometimes help with child care can enable the poor to afford gainful employment. 

By threatening to withhold federal funds for child care programs in all 50 states, President Trump is overreacting.  Let’s not “throw the baby out with the bathwater.”

The 13th Annual Potato Drop in Boise, ID

The new year was ushered in by the 13^th Annual Potato Drop in front of the state capital in Boise, Idaho last night.  You can view it on KTVB.com. 

A huge model of a potato is lowered from a crane and is accompanied by fireworks and the national anthem.  If you get tired of watching huge, ostentatious celebrations in the big cities of the world, the Potato Drop is a refreshing chance to experience a taste of Middle America.  It's the real deal.  It is one of the reasons why I enjoy Idaho so much.

Try it.  You will like it.

 

The Cost of the Minnesota Fraud Scandal

The estimated population of the United States was 343,050,600 as of 12:59 am on New Year’s Day, 2026. [1]

The Heritage Foundation reports that the annual expenditure for US welfare programs exceeds $1 trillion annually. [2] 

The amount of fraud being reported in the current Minnesota fraud scandal varies. It has been estimated at $9 billion. [3]  A number of other states have also had significant welfare fraud. [4] 

According to the American way of reconning, one billion is 1,000 million. Now, please forgive me because math is probably my weakest subject, and story problems drive me nuts.  The way the math comes out for me, if you distribute $9 billion evenly to every person in America, each man, woman, and child would get about $26.24. (revised)

The investigations are still in progress, and $9 billion may only be the tip of the iceberg. 

Please “do the math,” and crunch some numbers for yourself.  See what you come up with. 

We hear about millions, billions, and trillions of dollars being spent by the government all the time.  We have become inured to it.  The numbers lose their meaning.  The purpose of this exercise is to give some sort of meaning to the average American of what $9 billion in stolen public money means.  I support providing help to the poor, and that is why I vehemently oppose the abuse of those funds. 

If the cashier at the grocery store shortchanged you by $26 and kept the money, would you object?  Would you demand to see the manager?

By the way, please understand that I sincerely wish everyone a Happy New Year.

 

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[1] https://www.census.gov/popclock/

[2] https://www.heritage.org/welfare/commentary/taxpayer-cash-zero-accountability-minnesota-fraud-proves-welfare-broken

[3] https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/18/u-s-attorney-fraud-likely-exceeds-9-billion-in-minnesota-run-medicaid-services/

[4] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/minnesota-fraud-case-biggest-pandemic-scams/

 

Toward a Happy New Year in 2026

It is the time of year when lots of people make New Year’s resolutions.  I normally don’t, however, this year has been a difficult one, and I am hopeful that 2026 will be better.  The best path to happiness is to try to be more like Jesus (Romans 8:28-30, 35-37), so I hope that this old hymn will help to keep me mindful of that: 

Just a Closer Walk With Thee

(Anonymous)

 

1.    I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee. 

Refrain:
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

 

2.    Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee 

                        Refrain 

3.    When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore. [1]

 

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[1] https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Just_a_Closer_Walk_with_Thee/