Random Thoughts for St. Nicholas Day

It looks like Jared Kushner's job got a lot harder for Middle East Peace with the US declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.  What Palestinian citizen or leader would ever accept the United States to be a fair neutral broker of peace as the only country in the world to have their embassy in Jerusalem? Remember when 45 and his wife touched that orb in Saudi Arabia with the Kings and Princes decked out in their best Bisht money can buy?  I guess that orb did not have magical powers to bring peace to the Middle East.   This has nothing to do with the Middle East and is strictly a diversion from domestic problems narrowing on the White House.  This is to get the news off Michael Flynn and Donald Trump Jr. before Congress--nothing more and nothing less.  "Stop talking about Russia, Mueller and Roy Moore and instead look at this shiny object over here!"

Why can't we be the only one country to move our embassy to Jerusalem since it is obviously the capital of Israel? After all, their Prime Minister, courts and the Israeli seat of government are all located in Jerusalem so why not just recognize the obvious? There is one big reason: History!  Those who won World War II created Israel and specifically declared Jerusalem as a UN protectorate because all three major religions claim it as holy site. It was like the District of Columbia in the holy lands.  This was an attempt to keep the peace among all the residents in the region.  It was a delicate balance that was not respected or accepted on either side.  Why is this such a big deal?  Would Canada be different if Montreal were not the capital (Just kidding)?  Why can't the most important religious city in the world not be owned by any one group and not be a capital to any country?   The USA just threw a grenade into the peace process, the balance of power, and all sense of hope for the average Palestinians.  Donald Trump has sealed another generations of martyrs angry with the United States for putting a foot on the scales of justice. 

I have been looking for employment, which sucks by the way.  I keep having to answer the question "Reason for Leaving" for my last job.  For the jobs that I have very little chance of getting, I say, "Because of the election of Donald Trump."  If they give extra space, I add, "I could not watch more shelters close, more people dying from an opioid overdose and the divisiveness on local homeless policy in light of the anticipated Ben Carson led HUD office."  It is honest, but probably not the best thing to tell a stranger deciding on the value of your resume.

I did apply to help oversee ethics for one of the major banks.  Based on the housing crisis in 2008 and their continued lack of offering mortgages to most borrowers, I had no idea the banks had ethics offices.  I would have thought that if there were staff assigned to monitoring ethics then the banks would be following the Community Re-Investment Act a little closer. I would have thought an ethics department would urge the bank to invest in housing, minority owned businesses, and supportive services to help people into housing.  For example, you would think an ethics officer would mandate this bank to support the local housing website in order to help people get into a home.  Anyway, I did not get the job and the bank was one of the few that actually sent a rejection letter.  Most places just ignore you now and you are just stuck wondering.  This bank's letter was even well crafted. 

There was a good story on the blue roofs on CNN here.  I sure hope that guy who secured the previous contract spends some time in jail for not delivering plastic tarps to the island.  There was also a one hour piece on Weekend Marketplace all about the recent disasters and the economic impacts.  I usually can't stand Marketplace radio program because who would dedicate radio time to the world of corporations and the financial industry?  It is a crazy concept when there is not a show about poverty, the state of education in America or healthcare which all touch a higher portion of the population than the Stock Market.  But this show this weekend was really good.  They talked to people who are actually trying to survive and those who are relocating to the States because conditions are so bad.  I would recommend downloading a copy and listening when you get a chance. Here is the description for the 12/1/2017

From hurricanes to wildfires to earthquakes, we've dealt with a lot in 2017. As communities recover, there's a trail of money behind it all. This week, we give you an hourlong special on the economics of disaster. We head to Puerto Rico to examine life on the ground following Hurricane Maria. We look at the debt situation, the realities of life when the lights stay out and what it takes to bring power back. Plus, Puerto Rico's dairy farmers and a surprising boom in renewable energy. Also, recovery in Texas and how Florida is handling an influx of Puerto Ricans fleeing the damage from Hurricane Maria.

Finally, the inept Department of Housing and Urban Development released their report on homelessness which showed an increase.  I wrote often about this when I worked at NEOCH.  This year HUD reported an increase, but they are blaming the increase on Los Angeles and New York City taking down the whole country.  This is a horrible report that means nothing.  They call it a complete count, but it is only on one day and every city does the count with volunteers and do not have one standard procedure.  It is a useless document that means nothing. 

by Brian Davis