Unpopular

What do you think of nepotism and should it be prohibited in business or government? The college admissions scandal got me thinking. There's a lot of people out there on their high horse about how wrong it was for two rich celebrities, and other rich parents, to pay money to get their kids into good colleges. But how is that any different than Trump's children becoming executives at his company right off the bat, or even being appointed to government positions? 

Some people with family connections have experience and insight that makes them qualified for the job, but the Trumps are one famous example, though obviously they are everywhere, where someone gets where they are solely for family connections and money. Would the Obamas daughter have gotten into those ivy league schools if not for her famous father?

Of course, there is a difference between nepotism and fraud, which is what the college admissions scandal was where they fabricated qualifications and went to lengths to lie and cheat. But it doesn't feel as bad as Jared Kushner being in his thirties with no political experience negotiating foreign affairs in the Middle East and Asia. Should legal lines be drawn in the sand, and if so, where? I don't think there is much you can do with private companies, especially ones not publicly traded, but should we be shaming this more? Do you think the college admissions scandal was that bad? I don't, though I am glad rich people got held accountable to the law for a change. 

Yala drama school is  now tuition free thanks to a $150 million donation by billionaire David Geffen. Not to be one to criticize a good deed, but is this the best way you could spend $150 million? He did not choose to spend it on the poor, he chose to spend it on people who can already afford to go to Yale. The people who attend Yale are going to be successful regardless if they major in drama, acting, or what have you, and they already have so many connections just by being there. 

He didn't donate it to public colleges, he didn't donate it to underfunded youth, or inner city schools. He did not donate to arts programs for kids who can't afford to attend acting classes, but to adults who already have enough talent to get into Yale drama. 

If he wanted to donate $150 million, what about $25 million to Yale drama and maybe 125 million split for kids with cancer or kids without parents? Firefighters, cops, and others who have died on the job, maybe their kids might need money for college? Or if you feel like donating to Yale in particular, maybe the science department or other programs could use some help too? 

Forgive me, I know I should be happy about this donation (even if it was likely done for tax purposes) but if you are going to donate for tax purposes or charity, I can't help but feeling like the money could have been better spent. Billionaires throwing $150 million at elite private drama programs, just speaks so much about what's wrong with our society and government in one gesture some could interpret as kindness, but I interpret as something negative, almost like a cruel slap in the face. 

According to the Pew Center, 43% of republicans in 2019 believed that presidents could operate more effectively if they did not have to worry so much about congress and the courts. That number has increased from 14% when Trump took office. That means under Trump, 30% of republicans which is  almost 1/3 of the party changed their view on the roles of the branches of government.  Huh.

Of course when Trump is in power, democrats were opposed to so much executive privilege, and such partisanship is to be expected. But what I found interesting is that it is the most conservative republicans that supported expanded power. 52% of conservatives agree that many of the country's problems could be dealt with more better if U.S. presidents didn't have to worry so much about congress or the courts, and 68% of liberal to moderate republicans say it would be too risky, so it is the more moderate republicans that want to put a check on executive power.

If republicans and democrats were polled today, would these numbers look the same? Do 43% of republicans still believe that a president should be able to bypass congress and the court to carry out their agenda? Why is it the conservatives who most believe in the consolidation of power to be under one man, one authority, rather than support separation of powers? It looks like the far right wants to live under some type of communism, with economic populism and one superior head of state, where anybody who challenges the supreme ruler is an automatic lemming because supporters of the supreme leader are the only ones you can trust. The republican party has gone to shite, along with the dems. But congress has become so ineffective, and the courts so partisan, there's no wonder so many people have little faith in them. What is the solution? 

With the Olympics qualifiers on tv, it got me thinking what is the best country in the world today,  and what is that based on? 

If Hillary Clinton had won the 2016 presidential election, how would things be different today, and would society or you personally be worse off than you are now?