Things seem to be getting a little tense in Venezuela. Trump has accused Madura a strongman who has pushed Venezuela deeper into dictatorship and economic decline, of waging war on the U.S. through “narco-terrorism.” Shooting the supposedly drug carrying boats like shooting at a carnival shooting gallery. “They can't shoot back” stretches the ethics a bit. Trump puts a no-fly zone over Venezuela, but not over Ukraine. Trump pardons the ex-president of Honduras who was in jail for smuggling in 400 tons of cocaine. Could it be Trump is after Venezuela's oil since Venezuela is the largest oil exporter in South America. As the U.S. isolates itself economically and politically, the Chinese are taking a victory lap. Other trading partners are replacing the U.S. for China's exports. While China's shipments to the U.S. were 33% lower than a year earlier, its exports rose 23% to the 10-nation Southeast Asian trading bloc, and 10% to the European Union. China's surplus just cleared one trillion. 10% of the thousands the Gestapo ICE picks are criminals. The border patrol is acting out of their jurisdiction which is a 100 mile swarth along the border. We're not yet Portugal under Salazar or Spain under Fransico Franco. But Trump has sent armed soldiers, masked agents, and Black Hawk helicopters to multiple American cities. It's become clear that our belief in American exceptionalism was naïve, and that the world's oldest democracy is not immune to a populist demagogue or to the violent convulsions of a nation descending into lawless, one-man rule. On the lighter side on my hikes up the hill I would usually come across this buck after a while he got pretty used to me strolling past, watching him growing into a mighty fine buck I was thinking about venison. I was having reservations about shooting him since we were somewhat like acquaintance, but I thought if I labeled him as a terrorist it would be no problem, bottom line I am having beef instead.
Duane Vander Veen
Graeagle
