Christmas Greetings!

Friends, your favorite Peasant has been pushed to the brink 

of exhaustion this month with a bunch of commitments,

projects, increased hours at my job (making some Christmas

cash!), and a few other activities too, so the upshot of it all 

is: I won't be posting anything until after Christmas Day

unless something monumentally huge happens. Right now

I just need to take things down a notch or two, but I'll be back

to be with you to welcome the new year and tackle the news 

of the day with you as always. And there will be lots to talk 

about, to be sure!

So everyone have a very Merry Christmas; get together with

family and friends, exchange presents, pleasantries, and love;

yes, this will fly in the face of some mayors and governors 

who suggest (and in some cases order) that we all stay home 

for the Holidays and limit the number of guests at our homes,

because these elected "leaders" know what's best for us stupid

peasants --- they say they want to save our lives. Gee, they didn't 

seem too concerned with our lives and keeping us safe when they let

radical left-wingers tear up their cities in their states; they claimed 

that these riots weren't riots but "peaceful protests" and so what 

if some people lost their homes or their businesses, or were 

assaulted during these celebrations of peace and love. So all gather

with those whom you love, and those who love you, sing some carols,

share stories of Christmastimes past, and enjoy a Christmas feast 

to beat the band! We'll gather here afterward and take care of business.

God rest ye merry gentlemen, ladies, and children! Love and Christmas

joy from the Peasant!

MEM

California Exercising Common Sense? What a Notion!

Long considered the nation's lunatic asylum, run by the inmates

to boot, Californians actually practiced a little common sense in

the recent election. True, they once again supported the Democrat

candidate for the presidency, but at the state level they did some-

thing astonishing which no one thought they would do: they said 

"no" --- in a loud and unmistakable voice --- to some of their 

political masters. They rejected a referendum which would have

allowed racial preferences in state hiring and college admissions,

eschewed a huge business property tax hike, and rescued tens of 

thousands of "gig economy" jobs, i.e. drivers for Uber and Lyft.

Robert Ripley, call your office.

California's 42-year-old Proposition 13 caps taxes on commercial

and residential property at 1% of their assessed value, and limits 

annual increases to 2%. Left-wingers, especially the public unions,

have wanted all these years to do away with it; looks like they will

have to wait for some more years to fulfill their cherished dream.

The unions claimed that the tax increase was necessary to support

education and public safety, even though progressives promoted 

deep cuts to law enforcement, and to make big corporations pay 

--- here comes that old familiar song! --- their "fair share".  Well,

the lefties put up Proposition 15, which would have required that

commercial property be reassessed at market value every three

years at the very least. The initiative was to jack up property taxes

by $8 billion to 12.5 billion annually by 2025. Notice that they 

didn't go after residential property taxes, as they thought that they

would bypass angering homeowners and instead go after the 

big businesses, always a popular political idea with those who

don't realize that all taxes and tax increases on businesses are 

always passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for

their goods and services. Well, enough Californians apparently

do realize this economic fact because they defeated the measure 

by 3.6%. Most non-coastal counties refused Prop. 15 by 20 or

more points.

Californians weren't through yet though, approving by a margin of 

58.5% to 41.5% Proposition 22, which will exempt gig workers

such as Uber drivers, GrubHub takeout delivery people, and 

Instacart shoppers from California's union-backed AB5 law,

which reclassified thousands of independent contractors, 

gig workers and all, as employees. The referendum also 

required that companies provide health insurance subsidies 

as well as occupational accident coverage, taking away a union

argument that Prop. 22 would enable firms like Uber to skirt

workplace protections (i.e. not provide the aforementioned 

occupational accident coverage)

California, in summation, may now be willing to rethink living

with an all-pervasive state government which, among other 

things, stifles business initiative and innovation and economic

growth as well as a broad and open playing field for job seekers 

and college student hopefuls. They still don't seem ready for 

giving up one-party rule in their state but give them time.

Once people get a taste of the less regulated, less mandated 

life they'll find it so sweet that they'll want more, to the 

consternation of the grandees in Sacramento.

MEM

 

Walter E. Williams, R.I.P.

Yesterday morning we lost a great champion for limited 

and affordable government, equality in the eyes of the law,

and our way of life as Americans; he was a fantastic econ-

omist, a fine wit, and was a happy warrior for all he held 

dear. Walter E. Williams, aged 84, passed away peacefully

after battling emphysema for some time.

A black conservatarian (a conservative with an even bigger 

bent for a lesser government presence in our lives), Dr.  

Williams set many white liberals' teeth on edge with his 

straight-to-the-heart-of-the-matter criticisms of liberal

ideas and policies concerning topics from taxes to 

affirmative action to identity politics to... so many topics 

I haven't the time nor the space to list them here. Your 

favorite Peasant enjoyed his appearances on many 

political talk shows over the years, as well as his articles

which were published in many political periodicals.

He often worked with and appeared with close friend,

ally, and fellow black conservatarian Dr. Thomas Sowell

on many of these shows. Both of these gentlemen make 

your grateful Peasant proud to be a conservatarian myself!

Thank you, Dr. Williams, for your books and articles, your 

lectures, your debates, your warmth and your wonderful wit. 

Rest well. R.I.P.

MEM

Happy Thanksgiving and a Major Development

Friends, your favorite Peasant wants to wish you

and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving,

and to give you a heads up about a development

concerning PWAP. 

As you, my fantastic readers know, I don't own a 

computer. I work from public access computers

at my local library. Well, my library here in

New Berlin has announced that due to the COVID-

19 making somewhat of a comeback here in 

Southeastern Wisconsin the library board decided to 

cut again the time allotted on their computers from

two hours (they cut the hours a few months ago from 

the pre-pandemic four hours) to one. Just one hour 

online per day. What with publishing this blog and 

other things I do online this puts your pinched Peasant

in a bind, so the upshot of it is that we'll still get together,

but it will be touch and go for a while. Some weeks I'll

be able to post, some I won't. 

Now I have done a little shopping for a second-hand 

computer in decent shape (saving money, you know)

but I haven't yet found the right one. I shall, of 

course, redouble my efforts, but for now this is the 

situation we are facing. I urge you to stay positive and 

be of good cheer, for I stress that we shall still get 

together; I shall do all I can to make this so.

In the meantime, enjoy Thanksgiving and while you 

are enjoying your holiday meal with your loved ones

give thanks for all that you have been blessed with in 

life, including being Americans, living in the prosperity,

comfort, and security, and enjoying all the blessings 

that come with being citizens of this magnificent country.

And don't let any politicians tell you that our best days

as a country are now behind us, that we have to accept a 

"new reality"! We have gotten through worse things than 

this Coronovirus pandemic, and we'll prevail once again!

And these pols can stick their "new reality" where the sun

doesn't shine!

God bless you all, and God bless America!

MEM

Veterans Day Thoughts and Reflections

While the presidential election results are still tied up in 

knots, let us not forget to reflect on the sacrifice, the

valor, the heroism of our veterans throughout our country's

history. From the Revolutionary War through the wars in

Afghanistan and Iraq, our Americans in uniform fought to

establish our country, to keep it free and sovereign, and 

to stand for righteousness and fair play in the world.

Our United States of America has made an incredible, 

indelible, and tremendous difference on this earth and

has been a beacon of the light of hope and freedom 

for oppressed people the world over. Let us contemplate

these gifts which came at a frightening cost, paid 

by the blood and toil of our brave Americans who have

served in the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force,

the Coast Guard and the Merchant Marines this Veterans 

Day tomorrow, every Veterans Day and every day.

As your grateful Peasant likes to say: if you enjoy your

freedom, thank a vet! 

MEM

Confusion Wins the 2020 Presidential Election

Your faithful Peasant stayed up until one in the morning

listening to the Election results, and things looked pretty 

good for President Trump as he was closing in on ex-
Vice President Joe Biden. The president had a 10,000

vote lead in the Badger State when I went to bed, and 

also had the lead in Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia,

and was neck-and-neck in Arizona after being declared

the winner in Florida. When I arose the next morning it

was a completely different landscape.

The lead President Trump had in my home state vanished

with the counting of the mail-in votes along with the 

early votes, and Biden is as of this posting is Wisconsin's

likely winner. North Carolina and Georgia had yet to 

announce their results, ditto Michigan but with Michigan

seeing a Dem vote surge with the addition of the votes from

Wayne County (where Detroit is located). Arizona had

declared Biden the winner but that may not last for the 

reasons given just up ahead. And Pennsylvania is 

a picture of bedlam with both parties already turning their 

lawyers loose in the Keystone State to check on the tallying

and Team Trump is looking to launch a lawsuit that will

be heard by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the Trump 

forces are calling into question the results in Arizona

where that state's results were taken down and the 

declaration of a winner now held in abeyance. 

Mail-in voting has always been a controversial idea, as it

has been criticized by some, chiefly Republicans, as 

being an invitation to ballot shenanigans. My state will

also be looked at closely by the Trumpians concerning

this, as it along with other states which allowed mail-in

voting this election are being viewed with a wary eye.

So we are not going to have an officially declared winner

of the presidential election for some days or weeks.

I can't say that I didn't expect this, although I had begun 

to believe that President Trump would win by a landslide

what with the voters flocking to his law and order 

statements in response to the riots and accompanying 

carnage in several cities across the country over some

incidents of possible police abuses of crime suspects.

People prefer safety and protection, and rely on the 

police and their elected leaders i.e. their mayors to

guarantee their safety and not side with the dangerous 

elements running wild in their communities, and Trump

understands this. In 1968 the Democrats' chances of

electing Sen. Hubert Humphrey president were seriously 

damaged by the anti-war riot which erupted nearby the 

site of the Dem's convention, and most Americans 

were appalled and frightened by what they saw on their 

televisions, many so much so that they elected Richard 

Nixon, and I thought that we'd see history repeat itself.

This could still happen, as Team Trump are fighting as 

best they can to win the election even if they have to fight 

in court. President Trump could still win. Let us hope and 

pray, my fabulous, indefatigable readers, that this ultimately

will happen. 

MEM

Four More Years!

Your favorite Peasant is making an endorsement for 

the presidency, and it is not a difficult choice to make.

President Donald J. Trump has compiled a record of 

accomplishments in one term than most presidents 

have been able to do in two. I know, I remember

when he was nominated by the GOP four years ago

I was shocked and filled with dread. Your then-

fretful Peasant was contemplating a pair of awful 

choices for the White House; a swaggering, ultra-

cocky, bragadaccio-spouting New York billionaire

or a former First Lady with an outsized ego and an 

even larger lust for power who would run over her 

own mother to gain even a smidgen of power.

I chose the least awful of the two awful choices,

figuring that Trump was a question mark while 

Hillary Clinton was without a doubt the epitome of 

elitism, corruption, and downright vileness. 

She was, and is, more crooked than a spine with 

scoliosis. 

Thank God that Donald Trump won that election,

one in which Clinton was favored by almost everyone

on both sides of the political divide to win (even by 

your faithful Peasant; I figured she'd win by some 

shenanigans such as electoral fraud, a' la John F. Kennedy

in 1960), but oh, the shock and horror exhibited by the

Democrats attending their victory parties (Gee, this wasn't

supposed to happen!) and the amazement mixed with joy 

at the Republicans' parties, including the one I attended

in downtown Milwaukee! As soon as Donald Trump 

was inaugurated he hit the ground running, and here

is but a few of his accomplishments in fulfillment of 

his campaign promises:

1) New Jobs

In the first two months of 2017, Trump's first two months

of his first term, President Trump helped create an economic 

climate which made possible the creation of 238,000 jobs

in the private sector. Wages grew during this time by an 

average of 2.8% while unemployment dipped to 4.7%.

Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians have all benefited from 

historic employment gains. People who lost their jobs

during the Obama years, many of whom had given up 

on finding new jobs returned to work in brand new jobs

at decent wages. 

2) Reduction in the National Debt

When Trump's predecessor Barack Obama left office he 

left the country a debt load of $19.947 trillion. President 

Trump cut that figure by $68 billion. It was the first time 

in decades that the nation's debt didn't increase under a new

president.

3) Manufacturing Jobs Come Back

U.S. manufacturing jobs made a comeback, according to the 

Philly Fed Index which measures how well manufacturers 

are doing. The index shows this field having its best numbers

since 1984 when President Ronald Reagan was in office.

If we re-elect President Trump we could very likely top that

mark in his second term.

4) Companies from abroad are planning or are already 

planning to or are already investing in U.S. production.

Samsung, for one, will be among those overseas firms which

will be hiring and/or transferring production to our country.

What a nice change from having our companies and our jobs

moving from our country to companies in other countries!

5) The Stock Market Sets New Record Highs With 

Astonishing Regularity

With the growing confidence of businesses big, medium and

small, it's no wonder that stocks are on a rocket ride.

6) Trump Saved the Coal Industry from Being Regulated Out 

of Business

President Trump rid this industry of the crushing regulations 

imposed upon it by President Obama, who had it in mind to

eliminate coal as an energy source and therefore the very

industry itself. Hillary Clinton promised to continue this 

terrible policy if elected. Trump saved many jobs and 

kept an option for the American people's energy.

7) The Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership is Gone

President Trump removed the U.S. from a trade pact which 

was of no real benefit to the county while giving other 

countries in the pact an upper hand over us, causing the 

loss of many jobs.

8) The Repeal and Replacement of Obamacare is Underway

The so-called Affordable Care Act (ACA), an Obama creation,

with its Individual Mandate and Obama's and the Dems' con job

in selling it to the American people ("If you like your doctor, 

you can keep your doctor. If you like your health care plan ...")

is going away thanks to President Trump, who is working on 

creating a replacement which will be truly affordable and 

will be market-based rather than bureaucratic and intractable.

9) The Appointment of Conservative Supreme Court Justices

Three new justices, all conservatives, are now on the United States

Supreme Court, and will be a strong bulwark against the liberal

justices and their judicial activist mischief against the Constitution.

All chosen by President Trump.

10) President Trump is the Most Pro-Life President Since 

Ronald Reagan

President Trump also chose the conservative justices for SCOTUS

for their being pro-life regarding an unborn baby's right to live and not 

be hideously killed via abortion. This raises the bar of respect and 

reverence for human life in our country, especially within its govern-

mental functions and operations.

And although the economy had taken a hit in March from the 

Coronovirus pandemic, sending it into recession, it came storming

back, breaking out of the recession while registering a historic increase 

in GDP (7.4% for the 3rd quarter of 2020; 33.1% for 2020 so far!)

Nothing like this had ever happened in our nation's history. Your joyful

Peasant could go on with mentioning still more of President Trump's 

accomplishments --- all made during one single four-year term --- 

but I would well be at it until Saint Patrick's Day. Suffice to say, 

my wonderful readers, that this most unlikely of people, this 

true political outsider, this fantastically wealthy fellow who could

simply have opted to continue to run his real estate empire and

gradually wind down his career, lolling around in his money and

his opulence had taken it upon himself to seek the highest office

in the land with the goal of rebuilding our economy and revitalizing

our country --- at a frightful cost. The hate thrown at him like 

sacks of burning excrement, the brickbats coming at him, 

his family, and his administration from many places including

but not limited to the media, the Democrats, the radical feminists,

even people in his own party does not make for a peaceful life.

This endless torrent of hatred bedeviled President Trump 

ever since he was elected, let alone inaugurated. But there 

are many, many, many of us who appreciate what he has done 

for us in repairing our country, and we must, and we shall,

vote for our courageous president on November 3 (that is,

those of us who were able to vote early in their states.

Your eager Peasant voted on the first day of early voting

here in Wisconsin!). Many people have said that this 

election is the most important election yet, but all of our 

past elections have been important. How could an election

NOT be important, for your vote is your voice in how we

are to be governed and by whom. But this election is going

to determine more than that, much more. Our election

is going to be not just the choice between which presidential

candidate, the choice between which party is to control

the House and the Senate, but also will be the choice between

which kind of country we shall have; will we continue to 

have the country that our Founding Fathers meant for us to

have --- toiling and sacrificing so much, including fighting 

a long and especially bloody war against a then world power

to gain our independence and to live as free people without

the diktats of a huge, overbearing government micromanaging

all that we say and do, or will we have exactly that type of

government which our Founding Fathers wanted to avoid,

where we will be intimidated into censoring ourselves when-

ever we want to speak our minds about what we see is lacking

in our government and our society; to be expected to adjust

our day-to-day lives to fit the rules and regulations mandated

by our government officials on high (elimination of "Hate 

Speech", the Green New Deal, etc.), to have "Open Borders"

coupled with "Sanctuary" laws across the country

allowing all to enter our country without following our 

longtime laws regarding immigration, even especially

violent criminals and international terrorists who would then

wreak havoc and make mayhem against us with impunity;

to have welfare programs the likes and scope not yet created

and implemented, all of which would crush anyone and every

entity (especially businesses) who pays taxes with taxation

beyond anything our country has ever had. And as for the

respect and sanctity of human life, forget it folks because 

we'll all be expendable and devalued in Orwellian ways.

And there will not be another opportunity to take back

and restore our country as we've always known it for a 

horribly long time. Want to know what would happen to any

dissidents who would try to begin that process? Just look

at China to see what they do with their dissidents. Open a

history book and see what Russia, in their Soviet Union days,

did with their dissidents. Do you know that the CPUSA

(Communist Party USA) has not nominated a candidate for

President in recent years, this year included? That's because

they have publicly announced that their stands on the issues

of the day are so much in allignment with the Democrats

that they are simply recommending to their comrades that

they vote Democrat. They found political commonalities with

Barack Obama and with this year's Democrat nominee

Joe Biden, and with the Democrat platform. This illustrates 

how far the Dems have sailed leftward, they are now that 

extreme in their politics and therefore cannot any longer be 

trusted with power. 

Your serious Peasant is not going to offer any Halloween

bromides, no such humor, this Halloween day, as there are

so many serious issues for us to deal with. Let us pray that

we can once again engage in levity and laughter after

November 3.

So, there's plenty of reasons and plenty of motivation to 

vote in this election. Vote as if your country, your freedom,

and your lives depend on it. Because they do. 

Vote Trump. Vote Republican. Vote freedom.

MEM

Thoughts on My Second Trump Rally

Your joyful Peasant received a call on Saturday from a longtime friend

and fellow conservative, inviting me at the eleventh hour to join him,

two of his brothers and his nephew to attend the Trump Make America

Great Again Rally to be held that afternoon in Waukesha. Having 

attended a Trump bash in Milwaukee last winter just before the 

Coronovirus pandemic got underway and nearly everything was 

shuttered, with this same friend and the two of us having the time of 

our lives, how could I resist? 

We arrived at the location for the event around four o'clock, and for the

next four hours we had the delight of listening to a mix of patriotic, 

country, classic rock and pop music while also getting to see the 

campaign ad commercials that have been airing on TV around the 

country, promoting President Trump's achievements while showing 

Joe Biden to be the cavalier, uncaring, babbling elitist we have come 

to know him to be. One must realize that politics is not a game of 

patty-cake; it's a tough, uncompromising field.

We also heard speeches from some local GOP office holders and office 

seekers, as well as former Ambassador Richard Grenell who 

currently serves as the Special Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace

Negotiations. Grenell, in my estimation, was the most exciting and

truly riveting speaker of a very esteemed group of speakers who 

addressed us that afternoon. He is a man of great scholarly and 

career accomplishments, and is a rising star in the Republican Party.

Although he arrived an hour late, having been travelling about

Wisconsin speaking at other rallies, President Trump made his 

entrance around eight and he was as exciting, as informal, as

much energy and fun as he was at the first rally I attended.

The rally was every bit as grand, exhilarating, and as much 

fun as the other one and the people there in attendance were

friendly, open, and a delight to be with. I took a misstep going

up to the seats my friends and fell, but was helped by a couple

of attendees, one of whom gave me his arm to grasp as I righted

myself and made my way to my party. I thanked them heartily

and declared "This is the difference between us and the Biden

Democrats!". Conservatives truly care about their fellow man,

and they always step forward to help someone who is in a 

tricky situation, as I was at that moment (my ageing knees are

not what they used to be). 

A nice little extra was when we discovered that we were, at least

briefly, on TV; one of our party was texted by a relative who sent 

a picture from her TV showing the five of us in a shot that wound

up on NBC-TV, whether it was the national network or our local

affiliate I don't know but it was a great image. I shall try to get the 

link so I can post it for you; it is a fine picture!

President Trump came to visit Wisconsin to bolster his support 

here in the Badger State, as some polls as of this posting showed

Biden with a lead here. I'd say that, if the other rallies held for

our president were as exciting and thrilling as this one then

any lead Biden has or may have should melt away like a 

snowflake in the sun. And that will help our president to 

once again carry Wisconsin and storm to victory on 

November 3.

MEM

Prayers for Rush

As you, my fantastic readers know, especially those of you 

who are longtime "Dittoheads" --- the nickname for Rush 

Limbaugh's radio show audience --- Rush has been battling

lung cancer for several months. This week, Rush announced

that his cancer is in Stage 4, which means that the cancer has 

grown and metastasized (spread to other areas heretofore not 

yet affected). and remission is much less likely. 

A talk radio staple for over thirty years, Rush has over time 

become the top rated talk show host among all talk radio 

shows, and still holds that distinction today. In February,

Rush revealed on his show that he had advanced lung cancer

but promised to stay on the radio while battling the Big C.

However, on Monday of this week he informed his audience

(yes, the Peasant was tuned in to Rush's show that very day)

that after halting the growth of the cancer, it began making 

progress again, and the long-term prognosis is not good.

"From the moment you get the diagnosis, there's a part of 

you every day (that says) OK, that's it. Life's over. You just

don't know when. But when you get that diagnosis, I mean, 

that's ... So, during the period of time after the diagnosis, 

you do what you can to prolong life, do what you can to 

prolong a happy life. You measure a happy life against 

whatever medication it takes. 

"And at some point you can decide, you know, this medication

may be working, but I hate the way I feel every day. I'm not 

there yet. But it is part and parcel of this. It's tough to realize 

that the days where I don't think I am under a death sentence

are over."

So Rush's treatment regimen is being adjusted "in hopes of 

keeping additional progression at bay for as long as possible."

In the meantime, Rush's preternatural good cheer has not 

diminished one iota, even on days when Rush cannot be on

the air because of his feeling weak and/or nauseous. He has

profusely thanked audience members who had sent get well

wishes to him online as well as through the mail, and has 

kept his show as upbeat and cheerful as Rush himself

when on the air.  A more happy warrior one cannot find!

Even while talking about the seriousness of his condition,

Rush more than balanced it out with discussing his blessings.

"You know, I wake up every day and thank God that I did.

I go to bed every day praying that I'm going to wake up.

I don't know how many of you do that, those who are not sick,

... But it's a blessing when you wake up. It's a stop-everything-

and-thank-God moment."

Rush has helped we conservatives through politically challenging

times: The elections and re-elections of Presidents Clinton and 

Obama, the changing of control of one or both chambers of 

Congress, recessions, the current Coronovirus pandemic and the 

attempts to use it to make political hay by power-hungry poli-

ticians and government officials, the radicalization of college

campuses, and the spread of political correctness and the advent

of "woke" to name but a few such examples. And Rush has plenty

of positivity, faith, and cheer to keep his spirits and ours high 

during this tense and critical time regarding Rush's health and 

whatever remaining time he will have to be with us. As Rush is 

being strong, let us too be strong and keep Rush in our thoughts 

and prayers each and every day. And let us be thankful for the 

blessing of having Rush in our lives, our visits with Rush over 

the airwaves, and for some of us the further blessing of meeting 

Rush at a book signing stop hosted by bookstores near us 

whenever Rush wrote one of his wonderful books in which

he shared even more of his thoughts and observations of the

news items from the realm of politics. And let us also remember

that Rush is still with us as this post gets published. Let us 

praise Rush while he is still present to receive and appreciate 

our praise, and to bask in our love, for too often we wait too 

long to praise someone dear to us, then we end up giving our 

praises at the wake and funeral or memorial service.

And, for as long as Rush can be with us hosting his show, let us

continue to tune in to enjoy our visits with this happy warrior 

and champion of conservatism!

MEM

Yet Another Reason Not to Vote for Biden

Remember when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 

during President Obama and the Democrats'

efforts to ram Obamacare through Congress 

and hasten its course to the president's desk,

haughtily answered Republican demands to first

discuss what was in the bill saying "We have to 

pass the bill to see what's in it!". She was coyly 

keeping the contents of the bill to herself and her

fellow Dems, trying to sneak one over on the 

American people. Well, Democrat presidential 

candidate Joe Biden is employing his own 

version of this shameful stratagem by not 

answering the question on the minds of many 

people as to whether if elected he would pack 

the Supreme Court with left-wing justices,

increasing the number of justices from the present 

nine to ... how many? All for the purpose of

assuring a long lasting lefty majority which,

if his party also retains the House and wins the

Senate, will dominate American politics for 

a long time --- and even though the presidency 

and Congress will change hands at some point

the Supreme Court will have a lefty tilt which 

will last for decades.

In a rare occasion of actual journalism from the 

press, Biden was asked why he won't answer a 

straight-forward question as to whether or not 

he would increase the Supreme Court by adding

liberal justices to it for a solid, long-lasting 

left-majority. Biden's answer? That voters will

"know my opinion on (Packing SCOTUS) when

the election is over." The former Vice President

then added: "Now, look, I know it's a great question,

and y'all --- and I don't blame you for asking it.

But you know the moment I answer that question,

the headline in every one of your papers will be 

about that." Uh, Joe, that's called news. 

Not long after that exchange Biden was asked by

a reporter in Las Vegas, where Biden was making

a campaign visit, "Don't the voters have a right to

know where you stand on" Court packing? Like 

a true elitist jerk Biden shot back with "No, they 

don't deserve, ... I'm not going to play his 

(President Trump's) game."

Ah, but this is no game, Joe. This is an election which 

will have far-reaching consequences over the coming

years. This is much more serious than any game.

Never mind that the question is key to American 

self-government. The Democrats on the ever-lurching

left think that the Supreme Court is, and should be, 

a backup legislature to pass policies that don't pass 

in Congress. The Constitution be hanged; no more

separate branches of government with checks 

and balances to keep any and all of the branches 

from grabbing power, and no letting the peasants in

on the plan or any other governance plans by Biden 

and the Democrats. The peasants shouldn't worry their 

empty little heads about such things, all they need to do 

is vote Democrat on November 3 and leave it to the 

hyper-elite smartypants of the party to deal with the details.

All the more reason to vote for President Trump

and the Republicans. 

MEM

How to End an Endless Emergency

Michigan's Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer, like many

Democrat governors, has been having a field day with the 

Coronovirus pandemic. Since the outbreak became news 

she has placed her state under a lockdown more tight and 

restrictive than that which my state's governor, Tony Evers,

did with Wisconsin. Gov. Whitmer had ordered retailers to 

cordon off parts of their stores deemed, no doubt by Her 

Majesty to be "nonessential". She also mandated that buying 

a lottery ticket in a store is OK but not, for instance, cans of

paint nor gardening supplies. And she cracked down on the 

ability of landscapers to provide service to their clientele,

all in the name of protecting Michiganders from contracting 

Coronovirus. Your quizzical Peasant thinks perhaps Whitmer

is a nonessential governor for Michigan; she certainly is a 

nonessential dictator.

In an opinion issued last Friday the Michigan Supreme Court

quoted Montesquieu: "When the legislative and executive 

powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of 

magistrates, there can be no liberty." Gov. Whitmer had issued

a state of emergency in Michigan, then recently extended it 

through October 27, WITHOUT authorization from the state

legislature (the Republicans currently control both chambers),

as is required under Michigan's constitution as part of their 

"checks and balances" between the three branches of their

government. 

Gov. Whitmer acted under two state laws: the Emergency 

Management Act allows a governor to declare a disaster,

but just for 28 days. Now, if a longer period is approved 

by the legislature the governor can then extend the state

of emergency, but only under these conditions. The GOP

-controlled legislature declined to give such an extension, 

so Gov. Whitmer extended her emergency order unilaterally,

and was promptly sued by the legislature. She argued in court 

that the aforementioned law said that the Governor "shall"

declare an emergency "if he or she finds that an emergency 

has occurred," and Gov. Whitmer stated that she "had no choice

here but to redeclare a state of emergency" since she claimed 

to have found an emergency still existing in Michigan. 

However, Justice Stephen Markman wrote for the court

in their unanimous decision, "To allow such a redeclaration

would effectively render the 28-day limitation a nullity."

In other words, Justice Markman stated that the Governor's

unilateral redeclaration would zero out the law regarding 

this situation and would also weaken, if not dissolve, 

a check on the scope of the Executive branch of the state

government. 

The second state law which Gov. Whitmer cited for her actions,

the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act which says the 

governor can take "reasonable" action as needed "to protect 

life and property or to bring the emergency situation within 

the affected area under control." The court said that these orders

had, among other things, mandated residents to stay home;

mandatory masks; forced closure of houses of worship, eateries,

schools, libraries, and gyms; prohibited nonessential travel;

and barred private gatherings between people from different 

households. This law, unlike the other one, includes no 

specific time limitation, meaning that in theory the Governor's 

emergency powers could continue indefinitely (!). This sounds

like how governance in communist-ruled countries function,

in that their governments suspend civil liberties such as free 

speech where one may openly criticize the government without

fear of punishment, with the rulers explaining that all civil 

liberties will be restored once the revolution is permanently 

secured --- and that the comrades would inform the people 

when that would be. Except that they never say when the 

revolution is secure, so a lockdown on said liberties remains 

in force. As British statesman Lord Acton put it those many 

years ago, "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Justice Markman once again wrote for the majority,

"no individual in the history of this state has ever been vested with 

as much concentrated and standardless power to regulate the lives

of our people, free of the inconvenience of having to act in accord

with other accountable branches of government." In a 4-3 vote,

the Michigan Supremes struck down the statute as "an unlawful

delegation of legislative power' under Michigan's constitution."

Gov. Whitmer went 0-for-2 before the state's high court as a result.

What's next, then? The Detroit News stated in an editorial following

the decisions "Representative democracy should not go away in a 

crisis --- that's exactly when it's needed most." Your favorite 
Peasant couldn't agree more. May this truth become more contagious

around the country than the Coronovirus.

MEM

The Presidential Brawl (er, Debate)

Your bemused Peasant listened intently to the first 

Presidential Debate on the radio, and although I 

have long known that President Trump has limited 

debating skills he can still get his points across

and also dismantle those of his opponents. But the 

debate I heard was more like a world championship

boxing match without the gloves and the physical

blows and sounded like it should have been refereed

by a boxing ref or a UFC official rather than moderated

by Chris Wallace, who was overwhelmed by the 

savagery on the part of both candidates.

President Trump did some things in the course of the

debate which, if a high school or college student 

on his school's debate team did same he would have

been disqualified, or at least would have cost his team

some points. In a debate it is absolutely forbidden to 

interrupt your opponent when he is getting his allotted

time to speak; Trump did this several times to former

Vice President Joe Biden, and Chris Wallace could not

get him to stop. This went on throughout almost the

entire debate, almost resulting in a three-way battle!

Our president also has to learn that it is prudent to let

your opponent babble on, making mistakes which will

trap him like quicksand; it will not serve you well if you 

stop or interrupt him, just let him trap himself in his own

hogwash. But the ex-VP interrupted many times himself,

merely mirroring the president.

Now, Chris Wallace gave many admonishments and warnings

to President Trump regarding interruptions but not as many 

to Biden, and no, it wasn't because Biden interrupted fewer

times; I didn't tally the number of times that either participant

interrupted the other but it was certainly noticeable that 

Wallace had taken Trump to task more so than he did Biden.

At one point the former VP barked "Shut up, man!" to the 

president and also called him a liar, all without any warnings

from Wallace (!). Trump zinged Wallace, saying "I guess

I'm debating you, not him!", in retaliation for Wallace

letting Biden get away with his interruptions and his 

ad hominem attack. It is no secret in media circles, nor 

to those who closely follow national politics that Chris Wallace,

who hosts FOX News Sunday, has no love for President Trump.

It would have been better had those who arranged the debate

chosen someone who either dislikes both candidates roughly

equally or has enough professionalism to enforce the rules of

the debate equally without regard to political preference or

personal feelings for either participant. 

In addition, many in the media --- liberal as well as conservative

--- were openly critical of Chris Wallace's performance as debate 

moderator, even more than they were for that of both of the 

debaters (!!). In summation, your flabbergasted Peasant makes it 

that the debate was a three-for-all free-for-all, and all three of 

the combatants were carrying on more like bar room brawlers

than debaters and a moderator. But, through it all, President Trump

refuted and shot down Joe Biden's fallacious claims as to his 

law school education, his performance as a United States senator,

and the programs of President Obama's (especially Obamacare),

as well as Biden's statements regarding the waves of race-based 

violence in several American cities (i.e., Black Lives Matter being

"an idea" rather than an organization; never mind that this particular

idea burned businesses, government buildings and police precincts,

looted businesses, and shot, stabbed, and ran down people in the 

streets). And this was enough to give President Trump the win

in a very ugly donnybrook of a debate. 

President Trump is no Ronald Reagan when it comes to debating

skills. He is no John F. Kennedy regarding clarity and smoothness

of delivery. But he gets results as the top government executive and

head of state. The miraculous economic rebounds (following 

shockingly weak Obama economy, then after the Coronovirus 

outbreak), getting Israel and some of her regional enemies to 

sit at the negotiating table and create a bond of cooperation and

comity, revamping and re-energizing our military, especially at 

a time when China is preparing to challenge us for the top world

superpower status, and standing with the people of the beleaguered,

violence-torn cities whose Democrat mayors and Democrat state

governors refused to intervene to restore order, peace, and 

protection all made believers out of people who either didn't 

and/or wouldn't vote for him four years ago, making supporters 

of his in this election year as President Trump vies for a second

term. 

And this spells big trouble ahead for the Democrats. 

MEM

An Anniversary and a Passing

Friends, today is a special day for us: this day,  September 23,

is the eleventh anniversary of the day in 2009 when I debuted 

this blog, "Peasant With A Pitchfork". This blog is a passion

for me, and a great source of joy, for I get to share my thoughts 

and observations on the political and economic news of the day

with you, my grand and fantastic readers! Your grateful and joyful

Peasant is thankful to you all for for your readership, encouragement,

and friendship. Although I publish this blog for a conservative 

readership, as I want to give my political brethren some ideas as

well as encouragement and good cheer, I welcome readers of any

and all political persuasions to read its content. One liberal reader

even entered words of praise for me and this blog (!); I just wish

he would have given his name or at least an online moniker.

I reckon he didn't want his political brethren to find out that

A) he was reading my conservative/libertarian blog and B)

was actually enjoying it. Politics are so polarized these days that

such an admission would bring much opprobrium and ostracization

to one from his own on his side of the political spectrum, be it 

a liberal enjoying a conservative publication or a conservative 

enjoying a liberal one. I thanked and complimented that reader

most wholeheartedly. And I thank and compliment each one of 

you, my fellow conservatives who enjoy PWAP. You are the reason

I keep going, posting and publishing articles supporting the cause 

of limited government and abundant liberty. 

And in this small space of time here at the beginning of Autumn, 

a longtime member of the United States Supreme Court has passed;

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the most liberal member of our top

court, died at 87 on Friday September 19 at her home surrounded by

her family, losing a long, on-again off-again battle with cancer.

An archliberal ideologue, she bore no malice for those with whom

she disagreed; she had a warm friendship with the late Supreme Court

Justice and ideological opposite Antonin Scalia. They even shared an 

elephant ride in India (!!) a few years back, your favorite Peasant 

doesn't know the occasion which brought the justices to India, but 

they had a lot of fun. Although I of course rarely agreed with her ideas

and her rulings, I respect her for having the door open to people of

differing viewpoints on law and politics, always willing to discuss 

the differences between them in an amicable manner. A rarity in

a person of the Left today. R.I.P, Madam Justice. 

MEM

 

Blaming America First and Always

A few months ago, President Trump ordered our
military to eradicate Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani,
who was said to be a bigger terrorist than
Osama Bin Laden. Our military people
made good on their order from the Commander-
in-Chief, and in so doing has made Americans
safer, not just in that part of the world but in
many other places as well. This could, just could,
prove to be a turning point in the war in the
Middle East benefiting the U.S. So why is
one of our two major political parties so unhappy
with this turn of events?

This successful effort deserves more bipartisan
support and congratulations to the president and
the soldiers who were involved. But the Democrats
are raising questions while the Republicans are
giving all the congratulations. Now, the president's
move was both bold and unconventional, to be sure.
Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of hundreds
of Americans, both military and civilian, and was
planning to kill a great deal more. And the Dems are
all bent out of shape. What gives?

Once there was bipartisanship in our foreign policy
and our military decision-making. After the Second
World War, Republican U.S. Sen. Arthur Vandenberg
from Michigan formed a bipartisan partnership with
Democrat President Harry Truman which was instru-
mental in securing the postwar peace and greatly
strengthened America's position in the subsequent
Cold War. Sen. Vandenberg stated "Politics stops at
the water's edge," when he was questioned as to why
he worked so closely with a president from the other
party. He went on to say that "if we can keep partisan
politics out of foreign foreign affairs, it is entirely
obvious that we shall speak with infinitely greater
authority abroad." But fast-forward about seventy years
later and you'll find nothing of Vandenberg's standard;
the Democrats are loathe to give any credit to a president
whom they hate with an unbelievable passion and have
been trying without letup to get him removed from office.

No one in the United States can dispute that Soleimani
created and directed a terrorist network that spread
bloodshed over the Middle East; in Syria, Soleimani
enabled the Assad regime to violently respond to the
Syrian people's demands for freedom. Over half a
million Syrians have been killed since 2011 by Assad
with the Iranian thug's support.

During the war in Iraq, Soleimani ran three camps in
Iran where his elite soldiers, the Quds Force trained and
armed Iraqi militias. U.S. government figures state that
these Quds fighters have killed over 600 American
soldiers since 2003.

Considering American values and interests one cannot
see how any Americans can mourn the death of such a
bloodthirsty monster. The Dems haven't gone that far,
but they have taken a questioning tack regarding this
action. They have even opined that Iran will seek
revenge by going after any Americans they can find.
But President Trump understands something that the
Democrats do not; that if we succumb to fear of a self-
declared enemy to determine our actions in response to
their threats, then said enemy will be emboldened to
the point of attacking us and our allies with greater
aggression. It is summed up by the truth that if one
does not stand up to a bully, then that bully will become
an even more dangerous bully, but if one does make a stand
then the bully will back down and slink away. As your
favorite Peasant avers, show me a bully and I'll show you
a coward. And these Iranian terrorists are cowards of the
lowest order. Remember how quickly so many of Iran's
elite soldiers (of that time) surrendered in the six-week
Gulf War nearly twenty years ago? Not much has changed.

And, as so often when the U.S. has any contretemps with
a hostile nation, regardless of whether any bullets or bombs
were fired, the Democrats and many of the lefties blame
America first. It's become an all too predictable pattern of
behavior with them. And your angry Peasant for one wishes
that they would give it a permanent rest.


MEM

Wisconsin's Unemployment Follies

Upon the shutdown of many schools, churches, and businesses
in our country due to the Coronovirus pandemic which sent our
most vibrant, bustling economy into a sudden reversal, many
of our work force have suddenly found themselves out of a job
and without further paychecks. While the economy has made
remarkable progress in regaining ground, there are still many
Americans out of work, particularly here in Wisconsin, where
Gov. Tony Evers had locked down much of the state before the
Republican majorities in both chambers of the state legislature
sued the Evers Administration in the Wisconsin State Supreme
Court to stop the widespread closure. While successful, the
defeat for Evers and company has not brought back all of the
economic activity which gave the Badger State her economic
strength.

One sign of this is the still astounding number of workers who
filed for unemployment compensation upon getting furloughed
or permanently released from their jobs by their employers.
While Evers and his people have been swift in shutting down
many businesses, especially small businesses such as restaurants,
bars, bookstores, clothing boutiques and such they have been
shockingly negligent in preparing Wisconsin's unemployment
offices for the mass of people scrambling to get that particular
relief so that they could pay their rent, mortgages, car payments,
electricity bills, buy their groceries and such; many who have
applied in March have yet to receive a single check, including
your furloughed Peasant --- I was working for the local Goodwill
store near my home after suspending operation of my handyman
business due to some health challenges. Early on, it was difficult to
even reach their local unemployment offices online due to their
constantly crashing from the onslaught of displaced workers trying
to apply; telephoning did nothing either, as the offices had too few
lines and too few staff to receive and handle the crush of calls.

Now, Gov. Evers must have known that there would be a huge rush
of people trying to apply for unemployment due to the lockdown; 
One would think he would have arranged for more phone lines for
the unemployment offices and to hire more staff to take the calls and
assist the applicants in accessing their rightful benefits. But nothing
of the sort was done. Thousands of Wisconsites are in increasingly
dire circumstances, having been evicted from their homes, having
cars and other items repossessed, having the lights shut off, and
having their lives turned upside down. All by the inertia (or worse)
on the part of a governor who belongs to the political party which
claims to care about the Little Guy and Gal.

As of August 29 the Department of Workforce Development, which
handles the unemployment claims, received 6.15 million weekly
claims and paid 5.46 million of these claims, according to a recent
release by the department and reported in the Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel. More than 685,000 claims still have not been paid out and
are in adjudication. The department finally did hire extra staff to help
with the sea of claims, calls, and online inquiries, but the process
took months to complete. They did not give any indication, not even
a ballpark estimate, as to when the backlog of claims would be all
taken care of. And not a peep from our governor.

Many Wisconsin residents in the meantime lost the extra $600
provided by the CARES Act at the end of July because they couldn't
contact the unemployment offices in time. President Trump, along 
with Congressional Republicans and Democrats crafted this provision,
and it's being blocked by a Democrat governor who may be inert but
may be deliberately causing pain in order to attempt to con
Wisconsin's hurting workers into believing that President Trump
and the GOP do not care about their plight, that they are only
looking out for the interests of wealthy supporters, thereby angering
them into turning out at the polls for their candidate Joe Biden in
November. Similar things have been said about other Democrat
governors around the country.

Your resilient Peasant has since been recalled by the New Berlin
Goodwill store, and with receiving President Trump's arranged
$1,200 stimulus check in May, in addition to a very generous
income tax refund and some passive incomes I have been receiving
for some time, I have not had to face the hardships which many of
my fellow Wisconsinites waiting in vain for their unemployment
checks have suffered. I count myself lucky, and I pray for those
who have not been so fortunate. I also pray for a second term for
our president in November, and for the election of a Republican
governor for our state in 2022. May my fellow Badgers not be
inert two months from now when President Trump vies for 

re-election (yes!) nor two years from now when Governor Evers 

makes his re-election bid (NO!!!!!)

MEM

When Might Makes Right

 As the long hot summer, made even hotter by the violence 

ravaging many of our cities mercifully winds down, the tide 

is beginning to turn in the direction of order and safety

with the actions taken by President Trump offering to send

federal troops to the afflicted cities, some of whose mayors 

having (after initially strenuously refusing) accepted his offer.

After recent rioting and destruction in Kenosha, a small city

in my home state of Wisconsin, over the shooting by local 

police of a black crime suspect who lunged into his car

(perhaps to get a weapon? The matter is under investigation

as your faithful Peasant types this post) using seven bullets

to bring him down, city officials begged Gov. Tony Evers to

send the state's National Guard troops to aid in the quelling 

of the mayhem; asking for 750 troops, Gov. Evers sent just

150. After pleading for more troops, Evers sent another 100 

troops; still not enough to get the job done. All the while,

Evers tried his damndest to publicly downplay the situation

and its seriousness. Meanwhile in Portland, Oregon, where

there were riots for almost 100 consecutive days (!), that 

state's governor, no conservative by any stretch, allowed 

for the federal deputizing of Portland's police so that they

could make federal charges stick to those whom they would 

arrest. And this strategy has proved effective in reducing

the violence in that torn and tattered city.

President Trump, upon learning of the trouble while making 

public safety a central theme of his campaign for re-election,

planned a visit to Kenosha to view the carnage and visit the

people who lost businesses and other property, city officials,

and law enforcement officials. Gov. Evers and Kenosha Mayor

John Antaramian, both Democrats, wrote to President Trump

asking him not to come to Kenosha due to their worries of

"exacerbating tensions" in that city. Big joke; they seemed to 

have no problem with the tensions which boiled over into 

rage, followed by full-blown violence after the shooting of

the aforementioned crime suspect. They seemed rather hesitant 

to have the National Guard come to help. But they didn't want

the president to come to town to assess the aftermath and 

offer $1 million to Kenosha law enforcement, $4 million to 

aid small businesses with their losses, and $2 million to aid 

public safety in Wisconsin? 

Here, politics played a key role: both the Democrat governor and

mayor didn't want the Republican president to come to town

just two months out from the election, and with the latter 

gaining momentum in polls around the country, largely because

of his open support for the restoration of good old fashioned 

law and order as opposed to left-wing Democrat mayors and

governors refusing to publicly acknowledge the bloody out-

breaks for what they are. And with President Trump having 

won the Badger State four years earlier, Evers and Antaramian 

didn't want to risk having a presidential appearance tilt this 

Battleground state toward the GOP again. However, this 

time they are likely too late to stem that particular tide.

The American people want these few, simple, yet important

things from their government, especially from their president:

A strong economy with many jobs and few (and low!) taxes; 

Strong, effective defense of our shores, and strong, effective

preservation of law, order, and safety. They know that they can

rely on President Trump to deliver these goods, whereas they

are leery of former Vice President Joe Biden's willingness and

ability to do likewise if elected. And this sentiment holds for

their respective political parties as well. Additionally, the 

Lamestream Media has been unable to sway enough voters 

to support their candidate Biden, and this is likely to affect

the Democrat Party down their ticket as well. 

The Dems certainly haven't learned from history, especially

their own. In 1968, riots over the Vietnam War and urban

poverty broke out in Chicago during the Democrats' conven-

tion there; this made many Americans, Democrat voters as 

well, rethink voting Democratic that year, resulting in 

Republican Richard Nixon's election over Democrat Hubert

Humphrey. Message to the Dems: It's about law, order, and

public safety, stupid! And the one thing, and likely only

thing that these radical left-wing thugs understand is the 

presence of well-armed police and national guardsmen

with the means to subdue them coupled with the will to 

do so.

Gee, your confident Peasant can't wait for November.

MEM

Olivia de Havilland, R.I.P.

Olivia de Havilland, a very beloved actress from the Golden Age
of Film, appearing in classics such as Captain Blood,
Gone With The Wind, To Each His Own, The Heiress,
The Adventures of Robin Hood, and They Died With Their
Boots On, and the last surviving film luminary of her era,
went to join her friends and colleagues shortly after her 104th
birthday in July. Best known for her role as Melanie Wilkes
in the second of these aforementioned films, in which she
played a physically unimposing yet indomitable woman
with a blend of graciousness and quiet strength, and a
dash of courage. In real life, de Havilland exhibited these
same qualities during some tense times in the film industry.

In the 1940s de Havilland played a key role in thwarting the
Communist subversion of Hollywood. After having met
President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940 as a 24-year-old
actress, she became an ardent supporter. Four years later
she joined the pro-FDR Independent Citizens' Committee
of the Arts, Sciences, and Professions, which had for its
members famous actors such as Humphrey Bogart, Gregory
Peck, and Bette Davis. British-born and having recently
become a U.S. citizen, she thought this a fine thing to do.
She would soon get more than she bargained for; the
ICCASP's membership had more than a few Communists
in its numbers. Its leader, Hannah Dorner, was a secret
member of the Communist Party. De Havilland soon
discovered that the Executive Committee of the group
always sided with the Soviet Union in foreign policy
matters and was always critical of the United States.
This was a dead giveaway to de Havilland; wondering
why this was so, some investigating on her part revealed
a small cadre of people controlling the organization made
these decisions without the knowledge of the majority
of the general membership.

De Havilland took immediate action by inviting a small
group of actors, writers, and producers to her home to
discuss what course of action to take to wrest control of
the ICCASP from the reds. One of the actors present was
a friend who would go on to have quite a career in politics,
future U.S. President Ronald Reagan. They drafted a
declaration to oppose the Communist control of the
group, with the latter using the FDR-supporting organiza-
tion as a front group. The declaration was roundly rejected,
and de Havilland soon after resigned her membership, followed
by Reagan and other Hollywood figures. But not much later on,
de Havilland and her allies would win out, as the
ICCASP consequentially folded and the communist threat to
the U.S. film industry would dissipate in the 1950s. She made
her Hollywood colleagues choose between being
advocates for liberal democracy and being stooges for the
Communism, spreading Soviet propaganda through the
industry and onto movie screens around the country;
for this Olivia de Havilland should be praised and
remembered for her courage and her patriotism even
more than for her wonderful acting and the films she
appeared in.

Oh, and she fought the Hollywood studios and their powerful
moguls for actors' rights; she won that battle, too.

Requiescat in pace, courageous lady. You have set both an example
and a standard on the silver screen, and more importantly,
in life. Thank you for your legacy.



MEM