“Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”– Polonius to his son Laertes in “Hamlet” It may be too late given the number of Americans who have willingly allowed themselves to become dependent on government more than themselves‚ but it’s worth trying. Our $34 trillion debt is unsustainable‚ according to most economists. If we don’t act soon‚ we will be worse off than we are now. Our economy could collapse. The economic future is not bright if we continue down our current path. According to Statista Research‚“ By 2034‚ the gross federal debt of the United States is projected to be about $54.39 trillion.” President Biden wants to raise taxes again on “the rich” and corporations without cutting spending. Revenue is not in short supply. Fiscal discipline is. A change in spending will require a change in attitude about what government should and should not do. The U.S. has experienced a fiscal year-end budget surplus five times in the last 50 years‚ most recently in 2001. Debt is bipartisan and it will take a bipartisan approach to reduce or eliminate it. During President Biden’s term‚ national debt has increased by $4.7 trillion (he wants to spend more)‚ a rise of 16.67 percent as of last September. During Donald Trump’s one- term presidency‚ the national debt increased by $8.18 trillion‚ a 40.43 percent boost. Part of that was spending to fight Covid-19‚ part was the fallout from tax cuts for the wealthy. Still‚ this was less of an increase than Barack Obama (69.98%) and George W. Bush (105.8%)‚ but each of them served two terms. Part of Bush’s spending was on Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/ 11. Only 14 of 45 American presidents have overseen a decrease in debt. Calvin Coolidge was the last one. That was 15 presidents ago. Coolidge said: “… a good many proposals are made by people that have very excellent things that they would like to have the Government do‚ but they come from people that have no responsibility for providing ways and means by which their proposals can be carried out. I don’t think in all my experience‚ which has been very large with people that come before me in and out of Government with proposals for spending money‚ I have ever had any proposal from anyone as to what could be done to save any money.” Why not form a group of consultants I would call a “what works coalition.” Invite historians‚ scientists‚ economists‚ people of good character and others who love America and ask them to examine government spending‚ separating the “wheat from the chaff‚” the necessary from the unnecessary. They could issue a report to the public and Congress ridiculing wasteful and needless spending and pressure our elected representatives to end those underperforming or nonperforming programs‚ earmarks and agencies as a patriotic gesture. And yes‚ Social Security and Medicare must be reformed to save it for the future. The media could help if they would. Weaning people from addiction to government will take time‚ though some have been able to go “cold turkey” when it comes to other addictions. Most importantly‚ what is needed is a change in attitude back to the view some previous presidents‚ the Founders and the public had toward government. Just as we don’t see a doctor when we are having car trouble‚ neither should we look to government to solve problems best dealt with individually. Government can encourage good choices and penalize bad ones (lower taxes on the successful is one reward and allowing people to suffer the consequences of bad choices – within reason — is another). Government should not subsidize bad choices‚ as if good and bad are equal. That will ensure more bad choices and fewer good ones. If we don’t start making good choices now and seriously reduce our debt there may be no way back. History teaches us that lesson. Look it up.

Three elected parent leaders are suing radical New York City education officials for allegedly "weaponizing their disdain" against those who refuse to embrace leftist beliefs and speech codes. The Institute of Free Speech filed a complaint in federal court last week on behalf of Deborah Alexander‚ Maud Maron‚ and Noah Harlan‚ stressing that the "First Amendment does not allow New York City's Department of Education to function as a Department of Conformity." The suit alleges that Community Educational Council for District 14 President Tajh Sutton and Vice President Marissa Manzanares have brought their political prejudices to bear in their official roles‚ adopting tyrannical tactics that adversely impact the plaintiffs' liberties. The leftist duo's campaign against dissenters has allegedly been helped along by New York Public Schools Chancellor David Banks and NYPS equity compliance offier Nina Mickens‚ also named as defendants. Sutton is a radical leftist and identitarian who has called for police to be defunded‚ has championed COVID-19 vaccines and masking for children‚ and serves as a steering committee member of Black Lives Matter at School NY. Manzanares is a fellow traveler‚ similarly censorious and hostile to dissenting views. Both have apparently turned CEC 14 into a vehicle for their respective ideological agendas. "Sutton and Manzanares exclude people affiliated with disfavored advocacy groups from the Council's public meetings‚ block critics from accessing the Council's social media pages‚ and impose a far-reaching political speech code on public debate‚" the complaint alleges. "And while New York City's Department of Education leaves Sutton and Manzanares free to impose their viewpoints on everyone else‚ it subjects Community Education Council and Citywide Council members who dissent from official orthodoxy to investigation and removal." Alexander and Harlan have apparently been ousted from CEC 14 meetings "owing to their political views." Maron refrains from attending meetings because she is both a co-founder of Parent Leaders for Accelerated Curriculum and Education NYC and a member of Moms for Liberty‚ both of "which are evidently the prime targets of CEC 14's discriminatory exclusion policy." "Even if they could gain admission‚ anything that Plaintiffs might say at CEC 14 meetings would likely be prohibited under CEC 14's speech code‚" adds the complaint. The New York Post reported last year that CEC 14‚ under Sutton and Manzanares' lead‚ promoted a Nov. 9 student walkout and corresponding anti-Israel rally where kids yelled "f**k the Jews!" At a meeting concerning the CEC 14 promotion of the protest‚ a concerned father questioned the radical groups CEC 14 had partnered with‚ including Youth for Palestine. Manzanares reportedly told him‚ "Redirect yourself or you will be removed." A Jewish father expressed concerns over the safety of his children in light of the council's anti-Israel posts and accusations of "apartheid‚" but he too was apparently silenced and castigated. Raving anti-Semites were‚ alternatively‚ permitted to speak their minds. "After the CEC D14 meeting on Wednesday night‚ it feels clear to me: The inmates are running the asylum‚" Brooklyn mother Lisa Liss‚ who pulled her kids out of District 14‚ told the Post. "The unchecked‚ outrageous anti-Semitic abuse hurled at D14 community members can only be described as insane." The CEC 14 Instagram page is loaded with identitarian‚ anti-Israel‚ and other leftist content. Weeks after Hamas terrorists slaughtered thousands of Israelis and scores of Americans‚ the council under Sutton stated‚ "We condemn settler colonialism‚ militarized violence in furtherance of the continued occupation of Palestinians‚ and always condemn innocent people being murdered. We condemn any acts by the U.S. government to escalate the current situation by further militarizing Israel and we reject the statements of various leaders describing the ongoing human rights violations in Gaza as 'self defense.'" The council further demanded a ceasefire and the "liberation of the Palestinian people." The mothers' lawsuit‚ filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York‚ makes clear that Sutton and Manzanares are not alone in clamping down on the elected parent leaders' rights. The New York City Department of Education‚ named as a defendant in the suit‚ apparently also bears blame for its regulation D-210‚ "a vague‚ overbroad‚ and viewpoint-discriminatory speech code." D-210 has apparently been used to great effect by DOE ideologues. For instance‚ Maron faces multiple D-210 investigations over private speech at odds with the favored viewpoints of the powers that be. Maron's offending speech appears to have been her condemnation of Hamas propaganda‚ her suggestion that the "anti-racists are so racist‚" and her concerns over the subjection of children to mutilating sex-change procedures. When some of the messages under investigation were brought to Banks' attention‚ he allegedy threatened her position. The suit underscores that the regulation used to clamp down on the speech of Maron and others is "unconstitutionally vague. No reasonably intelligent person can guess at what speech Defendants might find to constitute 'frequent verbal abuse' or unnecessary aggresive speech.'" "Regulation D-210's prohibition of 'disrespect' is likewise unconstitutionally vague‚ as is its prohibtion of speech that is 'derogatory' or 'offensive.' These are all subjective values‚" continued the suit. The enforcement of the regulation allegedly "deprive[s] Plaintiffs of the rights to free speech and due process in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendmends to the United States Constitution." The mothers are not looking for a payday as a result of their legal action. Rather they only want nominal damages of $17.91 each. Their ultimate aim is the neutralizing of D-210 and an end to the discriminatory practices they've become familiar with in District 14. "The First Amendment guarantees the right to criticize public officials and speak freely on matters of public concern. Yet‚ CEC 14 leaders have used school resources to promote their own extreme political views while excluding critics from public meetings and blocking them on social media‚" said Alan Gura‚ vice president for litigation at the Institute for Free Speech. "Meanwhile‚ the DOE’s Regulation D-210 subjects elected parent leaders to inquisitorial investigations and threats of removal from office for 'wrongthink‚'" continued Gura. "We're asking the court to put a stop to these unconstitutional actions and protect the free speech rights of all New Yorkers." The New York Post indicated that CEC 14 had yet to respond to its request for comment. "We Are Not Your Props" May Day Rally in Harlem‚ Parent‚ CEC 14 President Tajh Sutton Speaks! youtu.be Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Dan Rather — the former CBS News anchor who fell from grace over a story about former President George W. Bush that relied on forged documents — doesn't seem to be quietly riding off into the sunset at age 92.In a span of six hours Wednesday‚ Rather dropped two bombs on social media — one post about former President Donald Trump and a second post about pro-lifers.Around 11 a.m. he let loose with this:Then around 5 p.m. Rather got this in his head:As you might guess‚ Rather's comments attracted quite a bit of attention.While he boasts a bevy of fans on social media who replied to his posts like happy lapdogs‚ not everybody was on Rather's frequency.'You are fake news'Rather also posted his Trump takedown on X‚ and some notable users took issue with him:"You are fake news‚ Dan. Everyone knows‚" political commentator Gunther Eagleman reacted.NewsBusters — focusing on Rather's "it's not about politics" line — asked‚ "How dumb do they think we are?"Comedian Jimmy Dore wrote‚ "He says this to distract you from the fact that Biden &; the establishment are currently torturing &; killing Julian Assange &; Obama used the Espionage Act to prosecute journalists more times than all previous presidents combined. F*** @DanRather &; the corporate media he loves‚ they are the enemy of the people."Others echoed those sentiments:"Dan Rather is against Trump? Well all the more reason I support Trump then‚" one commenter said."Dan Rather is an unhinged left wing nutter propagandist‚" another user declared."Dan Rather is the godfather of fake news and misinformation‚" another commenter opined. "Rather is a cheerleader for democrats.""Dan Rather is a liar. It's a proven fact. It cost him his job‚" another user stated.'You are just lining your pockets' In reaction to Rather's post skewering pro-lifers for supposedly not stepping up as foster parents‚ while it appears most commenters gleefully agreed with him‚ a number of others didn't see things Rather's way:"I know multiple pro life couples who have not only fostered kids‚ but I’ve known pro-life couples who adopted children‚ too‚" one commenter stated."Disagree. Most of the foster parents I know are pro-life. It’s part of why they feel called to love those children‚" another commenter wrote."Mr. Rather‚ respectfully‚ there are more pro-life evangelicals lining up at adoption &; foster care centers than any other group in the country‚" another commenter pointed out. "I have 6 families in my little church alone who have adopted or are serving through foster care and am personally in the process with my wife right now. While there are certainly those who are pro-life in name only‚ for the vast majority of evangelicals‚ I don’t think your take is either fair or accurate.""You are just lining your pockets with this engagement on this page‚" another commenter fired back. "I would say that most people that foster and adopt are pro-life! Good grief! ...""Ah‚ so the logic for all you peeps is if the baby isn't wanted‚ its a burden‚ kill it‚ then blame the peeps who are pointing out the obvious for not offering to take care of the baby you want to kill‚" another commenter replied with just a tad of sarcasm. "It's their fault you believe killing the baby is the solution... wow.. you are all so virtuous. Who would have thought..."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Dennis Quaid has long been a familiar face in Hollywood‚ starring in hits and cult classics such as "Traffic‚" "Parent Trap‚" and "Innerspace." While he continues to appear on celluloid‚ lately he has also been mounting stages to sing God's praises. Shortly after releasing his gospel record "Fallen" in June 2023 — which landed in the top 15 on Billboard's Top 200 Christian/Gospel chart — Quaid provided BlazeTV's "Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey" incredible insights into his renewal of faith and road back to an intimate relationship with God. Quaid‚ a 69-year-old Houston native‚ recently expounded on some details of his spiritual revival while promoting a new television special‚ telling the Christian Post how after a period of disillusionment with his inherited Baptist faith‚ he "started asking questions that didn't have answers." The Emmy Award-winning actor apparently looked to the Orient in search of understanding‚ consulting the Buddhist Dhammapada‚ the Bhagavad Gita‚ as well as the Quran. Evidently‚ he was left unsatisfied. Quaid revisited the Bible‚ but he remained spiritually obstinate. "I read the Bible cover to cover as well‚ back then‚ and I got hung up in the Old Testament‚ how violent it was. God seemed like a punishing God back then to me‚" Quaid told the Post. "A lot of it just didn't make sense." Rather than embrace what then appeared to be an omniscient disciplinarian‚ the actor apparently turned to pleasure and lawlessness‚ experimenting with drugs. The road well traveled left Quaid addicted to cocaine. In 2002‚ the New York Times characterized this period of Quaid's life as his "decade in the Hollywood wilderness." Quaid hinted at the seed of a return to faith at the time‚ telling the paper‚ "Mostly‚ I was mad at God‚ you know? Why was I in this predicament? I knew it was all my own fault‚ but at the same time I wasn't thinking straight. I was caught in a place‚ living a life that I didn't want to live but couldn't escape." When speaking last year to Allie Beth Stuckey‚ Quaid recalled his realization at the time: "I saw myself as either dead or in jail or losing everything I had ... so‚ I did get myself straight with that‚ but that still didn't fill the hole that was there — in fact‚ it was a very deep hole after that." The actor recently underscored to ChristianHeadlines that to get out of this hole‚ he had to once again crack open the Bible. "I got clean in 1990 of cocaine‚ and I read the Bible again. I'd read it as a kid‚ and I read it again. And this time‚ I was really struck by the red words of Jesus‚" said the actor. "And that's really what started‚ I think‚ what I've been looking for all along — and which‚ you know‚ my mother told me and other people [told me]‚ but I never really understood‚ which is having a personal relationship with Jesus. And‚ of course‚ that has grown over the years. But I never really understood it until then." "I lean on God. I talk to Him every day‚" added Quaid. "I talk to God about problems. ... And gratitude for the blessings that I have." Quaid made expressly clear that drugs could never satisfy and comfort the way that faith does. "Everybody has that [void] — they try to fill that with relationships or with drugs or with money or with whatever it is‚ you know‚ our heart's desire‚" said Quaid. "What we're really looking for is to fill that ... God-sized hole." Quaid told the Post that after reading the Bible through multiple times‚ he is now particularly fond of the book of Ecclesiastes for its insights into life and morality. The Gospel of John‚ however‚ appears to be the actor's favorite biblical text‚ not least because it underscores Christ is the Logos. "I think John brings together physics and the Spirit and explains it in a timeless way‚" said Quaid. "He points to a bigger truth that we have no words for." Extra to the DVD special for his gospel album‚ the prayerful actor is set to appear in "Reagan‚" a feature film about the 40th U.S. president‚ which will reportedly hit theaters in late August. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey coined herself as the greatest fighter of all time‚ along with claims that she wasn't promoted very much by the UFC.Rousey became the UFC bantamweight champion in December 2012 after fight promotion Strikeforce was absorbed by the UFC. She remained champion for over 1‚000 days and had six title defenses before suffering her first loss in a fight to Holly Holm in November 2015.It was more than 13 months before Rousey fought again‚ losing to title holder Amanda Nunes‚ who remained champion for nearly 2‚000 days and won seven title fights over two tenures.During an interview with podcaster Valeria Lipovetsky‚ Rousey explained why she felt she lost her final two bouts and attributed much of her poor performance to neurological issues from concussions.At the same time she said that she had "never been so much better than everybody else‚" but unfortunately her concussions stood in her way."I had taken punishment and taken punishment until I couldn't take it any more‚" she continued. "I know that I'm the greatest fighter that has ever lived‚ but when it got to a point where I'd just taken so much neurological damage that I couldn't take it any more ... suddenly everything that I accomplished meant nothing." Ronda Rousey: I know‚ that like‚ I'm the greatest fighter that has ever lived. — (@) "I was so done fighting after that [first] loss. I'd had so many concussions I literally couldn't take a jab without getting a concussion at that point‚" Rousey explained. "My body and mind started to fall apart‚ and when I couldn't give anything any more‚ they hated me for it‚ but you couldn't even tell them why."Rousey also told the host that her "mouth guard was bad" during her first loss and that she had recently suffered a concussion from "slipping down some stairs." This‚ coupled with a "terrible weight cut" meant she was out on her feet the entire fight‚ she claimed‚ which lasted a total of five minutes and 59 seconds against Holm.For her return fight against Nunes‚ Rousey said she "owed it to the fans" and perhaps needed to "give them an example of overcoming diversity."She lost that fight by TKO in 48 seconds. Ronda Rousey on how #concussions ended her career. \n"Your brain doesn't callus. It doesn't heal back stronger after a break." \n"I had taken so much neurological damage‚ I couldn't take it anymore. Suddenly everything I accomplished meant nothing." — (@) The Californian also discussed how she tried to use sex appeal to her advantage "as much as possible.""I got to start putting an effort out there‚ and I just figured that the guys didn't have sex appeal to sell their fights‚ but the women could; at least the women that had something to sell‚" she joked. "I tried cleaning up a bit and ... when I came into MMA‚ I was like‚ all right‚ I need to try my best to look gorgeous."Rousey noted that she has felt that when others complain about lack of promotion from the UFC‚ she didn't get that privilege either."I promoted! I was doing the promoting! It wasn't them paying for commercials; I was working to promote those fights as hard as I was working to train for them."The perfect scenario‚ Rousey described‚ was like the reality television shows about housewives. She tried to emulate this when she coached on "The Ultimate Fighter" against rival Miesha Tate."Gorgeous women that are bickering with each other. What if there was a fight at the end of the season?""These gorgeous women that are creating drama and there's a fight at the end. Everyone would buy that‚" she explained. "That was what I was trying to create."Despite all her injuries at the time‚ Rousey still signed with the WWE in 2017 and continued wrestling outside the organization through 2023.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

In a letter to the HHS secretary‚ obtained by NR‚ Comer accuses the administration of violating federal law in the development of new alcohol guidelines.

Harvard offered segregated graduation ceremonies last year but this year added a Jewish ceremony to the mix.

First Do No Harm: Landmark Study Shows 'Gender-Confused' Kids Outgrow Trans Phase

We're in an Election Year‚ and Joe Biden Has Decided to Cut Medicare Advantage Benefits

A new report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) sheds some interesting light on how popular Apple Music is relative to Spotify. The report specifically focuses on iOS users. The report is especially interesting in light of the DOJ’s recent antitrust lawsuit against Apple for allegedly enjoying an illegal monopoly over the smartphone market. The lawsuit claims‚ in part‚ that Apple leverages its monopoly power to the detriment of competitors like Spotify. We’ll get to the DOJ suit in a bit‚ but for now‚ let’s take a closer look at CIRP’s findings. The report reveals that 41% of iOS users are currently subscribed to Apple Music. This compares to about 30% of users who are Spotify subscribers. And trailing far behind is Pandora One‚ with a user base of 10%. Spotify‚ of course‚ has been outspoken about Apple’s App Store practices for years. Just last month‚ for instance‚ the Swedish-based music company enthusiastically cheered when the EU handed Apple a $2 billion fine for allegedly favoring its own music service over those of competitors. The EU decision articulated that Apple has been stifling competition in the music space. Spotify and Apple's heated rivalry Spotify specifically takes umbrage with the fact that Apple prevented rival apps from telling users that they could sign up for a subscription outside of the App Store. In doing so‚ Spotify and others would have been able to avoid the 30% fee Apple charges developers for purchases. Apple‚ interestingly enough‚ issued a press release last month where it was unusually vocal and effusive about its squabble with Spotify. Apple noted‚ among other things‚ that Spotify has been downloaded or updated more than 119 billion times across Apple devices: Today‚ Spotify has a 56 percent share of Europe’s music streaming market — more than double their closest competitor’s — and pays Apple nothing for the services that have helped make them one of the most recognizable brands in the world. A large part of their success is due to the App Store‚ along with all the tools and technology that Spotify uses to build‚ update‚ and share their app with Apple users around the world. … But that’s just part of the picture‚ because Europe’s digital music market has absolutely exploded. Companies compete for new customers. Consumers have many options to choose from. And last year‚ there were nearly 160 million subscribers — up from 25 million in 2015 — a staggering 27 percent growth rate per year. Companies like Google‚ Amazon‚ Deezer‚ SoundCloud‚ and Apple compete for customers every day — but Spotify stands at the top. The CIRP report is interesting because it arguably calls into question allegations of Apple stifling innovation. After all‚ Apple doesn't even enjoy a 50% market share of streaming music apps on its own platform. And Spotify‚ meanwhile‚ seems to be doing just fine on the iOS platform. Incidentally‚ there are reports that Spotify may increase its monthly subscription rate by $1-$2 by the end of the month. Don't Miss: Today’s deals: Free Samsung 65″ TV‚ $6 Kasa smart LED bulbs‚ $299 3D printer‚ Dyson V11 stick vacuum‚ more The post Report comparing Apple Music to Spotify subs makes antitrust suit seem like nonsense appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $170 Roomba‚ LG OLED TVs‚ $498 Apple Watch Ultra‚ $14 Govee LED light strip‚ more Today’s deals: $19 AirTags‚ solar eclipse glasses‚ $199 AirPods Pro 2‚ Keurig coffee makers‚ more Dreo ChefMaker was a game-changer in my kitchen – find out why I’m obsessed Today’s deals: $20 Amazon credit‚ $199 Meta Quest 2‚ $3.75 smart plugs‚ Braun electric razors‚ more