President Donald Trump

Summary of Chapters 1-15, published in RAIS, August 2020; and ResearchLEAP, February 2021.

Summary of Chapters 16 - 30, published in RAIS, October, 2020, and ResearchLEAP, April 2021.

 

Synthisophy - Integrating the wisdoms of history into present culture

Roots – Synthesis/History/Sophy

Synthesis - the integration of separate material or abstract entities into a single  
or unified whole

History - what has happened in the past; a detailed description of past events as
relating to a particular people, country, period, etc…

Sophy - Greek root: wisdom, knowledge; an intellectual system embracing
knowledge and truth; study of the real world based on fact and truth, science

As you know, the USA today is a very polarized society. Technology in the Digital Age can be challenging. It can also be an avenue for us to interact despite differences in viewpoints and geography. That is the role of Synthisophy, integrating the wisdoms of history based on fact and truth into present culture. To foster an understanding of the real world, it’s important to learn about points of view which don’t match your own.

Citizens are the crux of democracy, an educated and well informed citizenry is vital for the survival of a democratic republic. As Benjamin Franklin said after exiting the Constitutional Convention and was asked what sort of government the delegates had created, his answer was, “We’ve given you a Republic, can you keep it?” With synthisophy in mind the answer to his question is “Yes, we can.”

Synthisophy
Synthisophy
Synthisophy

"We've given you a Republic, can
you keep it?" Ben Franklin after
the 
Constitutional Convention

"If we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed
ourselves." Abraham Linclon

"United we stand, divided
we fall." John F. Kennedy
Inaugural speech

"I believe, as I always have, 
that America's strength is in
'We the People.'" Ronald Reagan

Here are the latest discussions:

What do you think of the recent bank crashes?

Remember the Great Recession back in 2007-2008 that was generated by the sub-prime mortgage crisis? Lax regulations led to extremely risky lending practices, which caused a housing sector bubble that ultimately burst that drove the global crisis, the need for public bailouts of financial institutions, and the recession. As a result, the Republican controlled House and Democratic controlled Senate passed the Dodd-Frank Act that targeted financial system sectors that caused the 2007–2008 financial crisis. All major lending institutions needed to keep a large amount of money set aside in case of a bank run, the level of risk in investments was limited, and the bank had to undergo periodic stress tests to assure that they could handle a downturn. The Dodd-Frank act became law in 2010. Eight years later in 2018 after relentless lobbying by banks and the financial industry, the Democratic controlled House and Republican controlled Senate decided it was time to remove those safeguards.  Here’s a quote from president Trump: “The legislation I’m signing today rolls back the crippling Dodd-Frank regulation.” Huge banks were now allowed to function without those Dodd-Frank  regulations. And guess what happened?         

Silicon Valley bank crashed, the second largest in US history. Signature Bank crashed, the 3rd largest in US history, known as a crypto lender. Silvergate Bank crashed, also a crypto lender. Greg Becker, the CEO of Silicon Valley Bank was one of the many high powered executives that lobbied congress to reduce regulation and gut the Dodd-Frank Act.  He paid himself a bonus along with other executives before the Bank was taken over by the Feds.  Silicon Valley Bank top bosses sold $4.5 million worth of shares before the collapse.

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Sources: CNBC, MSNBC

 

What do you think?

New York law enforcement may be preparing for possible Trump indictment in porn star payoff case. Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in New York are reportedly preparing for the possibility that ex-President Donald Trump will be criminally charged as early as next week. Trump is being investigated by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in connection with a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. (CNBC, 3.17.23)

Trump on Saturday said he expects to be arrested on Tuesday as prosecutors consider charges over a hush money payment to a porn star, and called on his supporters to protest. (Reuters, 3.18.23)

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What do you think?

U.S. lawmakers on Thursday (3.23.23) battered TikTok's chief executive about potential Chinese influence over the platform and said its short videos were damaging children's mental health, reflecting bipartisan concerns over the app's power over Americans. CEO Shou Zi Chew's testimony before Congress did little to assuage U.S. worries over TikTok's China-based parent company ByteDance and added fresh momentum to lawmakers' calls to ban the platform nationwide.

Over five hours of testimony, Chew repeatedly denied the app shares data or has connections with the Chinese Communist Party and argued the platform was doing everything to ensure safety for its 150 million American users. But not a single lawmaker offered support for TikTok or sympathy for Chew's reassurances, as they deemed his answers on China evasive and aired concerns over the power the app holds over U.S. children. Others accused TikTok of promoting content that encourages eating disorders among children, illegal drug sales and sexual exploitation.

"TikTok could be designed to minimize the harm to kids, but a decision was made to aggressively addict kids in the name of profits," said Representative Kathy Castor, a Democrat, at the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce committee hearing. Chew responded to many pointed questions by saying the issues were "complex" and not unique to TikTok.

Some 20 U.S. senators - 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans - have backed bipartisan legislation giving President Joe Biden's administration a path to ban TikTok, and the app's fate has added a new element to tensions between Washington and Beijing.

It is not clear how lawmakers will proceed after the hearing or how quickly they might move to pass legislation to strengthen the Biden administration's legal powers to ban TikTok.

TikTok last week said the Biden administration demanded its Chinese owners divest their stakes or face a potential ban.

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Sources: Reuters and AP

What do you think?

Here is a chart of the number of mass shootings per year in the USA since 1982.  At the current rate so far, the number for 2023 would be 16.

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What do you think?

Trump indicted by grand jury in Stormy Daniels hush money case

Former President Donald Trump faces more than 30 counts related to business fraud in an indictment from a Manhattan grand jury. The Manhattan district attorney's office has been investigating Trump in connection with his alleged role in a hush money payment scheme and cover-up involving adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. It marks the first time in US history that a current or former president will face criminal charges.

Trump is expected to appear in court Tuesday for his arraignment.

Trump released a defiant statement, calling it "Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history."

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Source: CNN