1 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: Welcome back to a numbers Game with Ryan Gerdski. Thank 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: you guys for being here. Happy New Year everyone, first 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 1: episode of the New Year. Happy twenty twenty six. I'm 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: excited to be here, and it's actually the one year 5 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: anniversary of this podcast. We started this podcast January sixth, 6 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five, and here we are a full year later. 7 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 1: I didn't really know if this podcast would work, or 8 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: if there was an audience who want to hear about 9 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: nerdy number stuff with, you know, a nasally guy from Queens. 10 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:32,239 Speaker 1: I guess Ray Ramonald's not the only one who can 11 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: pull an audience off sounding like this, But I'm just kidding. 12 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: So I'm happy that this show has grown and that 13 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: you stayed with me for this entire year. And I 14 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: hope that I'm providing you with some interesting insight about 15 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: politics and the economy and the world at large that 16 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:49,919 Speaker 1: you're not getting from anywhere else. So thank you guys 17 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 1: for being here. I really appreciate it. Now I ring 18 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: in a new Year the old fashioned way of this year. 19 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty six, I had the flu, which is 20 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,279 Speaker 1: why we didn't have an episode four New Year's Day. 21 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: I was just honestly too sick. So I have a 22 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 1: little PSA a piece of advice for my audience. If 23 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: you are sick and not feeling well, or your child 24 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: is sick and not feeling well, do not bring them 25 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: to a crowded party full of people, even if it's Christmas, 26 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 1: which is apparently what some people in my own family 27 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 1: don't know. Influenza should not be your gift to everybody. 28 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: So that's my little piece of advice going into the 29 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: rest of the year. If you're not feeling well, stay home, 30 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,199 Speaker 1: take a nap, have a have some me time, maybe 31 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: listen to this podcast or some episodes you have missed, 32 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: but don't go out with large groups of people. So 33 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: that's why we didn't have a New Year's episode again. 34 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: But this this new year, this new podcast is going 35 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: to be now three days a week. We're every Monday, Wednesday, 36 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: and Friday, so please like and subscribe wherever you're listening 37 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: to this podcast to make sure you don't miss an episode. 38 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: I'm going to try to make sure we do like 39 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: a canid episode every Friday, maybe you're a Wednesday whenever 40 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: I can get a canon on to talk about specifically 41 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: one race because it's a big year with the midterms. 42 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: This year, we have a lot of important races, and 43 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: only for the House and the Senate, but also for 44 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: governorship and state legislatures too, So I think that's really 45 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: important to spend some time to actually dig deep into 46 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: these individual races and what's really making parts of our 47 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 1: country tick. I'm very excited about it. And if you're 48 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: really feeling generous and liking this, make sure it pleas 49 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: to like and subscribe and give me a five star 50 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: review if you have a chance. It's pretty easy, takes 51 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 1: a few minutes. All right, let's serve this podcast with 52 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: some breaking news, and that is that Venezuelan dictator Nicholas 53 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: Monduro was arrested over the weekend by special forces and 54 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: he's a waiting trial in the Southern District of New York. 55 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 1: He is my new neighbor. There goes the neighborhood. Now. 56 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: I was welcome to a few friends who are Venezuelan 57 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,839 Speaker 1: and Cuban and they couldn't be happier. It's a big 58 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: day for them, and I'm happy for them. But it 59 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: is feels like liberation for them. Right they have finally 60 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,920 Speaker 1: the dictator has been overthrown but before I go any further, 61 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 1: I want to remind my ownings of something very important 62 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:54,959 Speaker 1: that has been lost in this conversation that Maduro is 63 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 1: being arrested because we're talking about, you know, maybe if 64 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:00,639 Speaker 1: it was constitutional, or if it was over reach, or 65 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 1: you know what the ramifications are. It's important to remember Maduro, 66 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 1: who is the successor of Hugo Chavez, the other Venezuelan dictator, 67 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:16,079 Speaker 1: was elected by the people. The people voted for communism, 68 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 1: and the way that communism works is you can vote 69 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: for it, but you can never vote away from it. 70 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: You can never get out of it. You can't vote 71 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: your way out of communism, only your way in. And 72 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: that's a very important thing to be aware of in 73 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: this conversation. This would not have happened had the Venezuelan 74 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 1: people not voted for communism. Hugo Chavez, Maduro's predecessor in 75 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety eight campaign on the themes of tackling inequality 76 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: were distributed to economic policies and for a new constitution, 77 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: but also in the midst of this left wing economic populism, 78 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: he also covered racial identity throughout his entire campaign. It's 79 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: less talked about than just the social economic policies, because 80 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: that's the way the leftovers works. They don't like to 81 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: sit there and talk about racialism on the left. But 82 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 1: Chavez would often talk about how the fact that he 83 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: was ethnically mixed, he was probably part European, probably part Native, 84 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: probably part black, whatever, and because he was, he would 85 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 1: note how his hair was curly, how his nose looked different, 86 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: how his eyes were squintear. He would talk about how 87 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: the elites were white and talk about the whiteness of 88 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: the elites, the fact that they were the descendants of Europeans. 89 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: There's a lot of colorism in South America. His mixed 90 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:39,719 Speaker 1: racial identity was infused with left wing economic populism. You 91 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: could not separate them. Now, who does that sound like 92 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:48,479 Speaker 1: in America today? Remember Mandanni was there right after the 93 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: elections saying we're going to turn New York into Denmark 94 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: and Sweden, but for brown people. We've talked and we've 95 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 1: heard a number of times from prominent left wing politicians 96 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 1: about race and I identity. The left employees the same 97 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: type of tactics that we saw in the rise of 98 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: Hugo Chavez in Venezuela back in nineteen ninety eight in 99 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 1: America today. The lesson for Americans from this whole experience 100 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 1: that we're seeing right now shouldn't just be the future 101 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: of Venezuela, but also the past. You only vote into 102 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 1: socialism and into communism. You never vote your way out. 103 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 1: So how do voters feel about Trump and Venezuela? How 104 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: does he feel about the Apstina Maduro? There have been 105 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:37,039 Speaker 1: two poles. First in Natlas Intel Pole. They really got 106 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty five election incorrectly, but they've found voters 107 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: overwhelmingly in favor of how he was removed. Right, it 108 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,599 Speaker 1: was only six hours. It wasn't like this long ongoing war. 109 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: There were a number of polls ahead of time asking 110 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,239 Speaker 1: about a military conflict, and when people hear the words 111 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 1: military conflict, they're thinking of a rock, they're thinking of Afghanistan, 112 00:05:56,279 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: they're thinking of long occupations and nation building. So it's 113 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: very difficult when you're talking about this type of engagement 114 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: to get a pulse check ahead of time, because no 115 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: one's processing and saying a military engagement that means six 116 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: hours when no Americans die. There was also a you 117 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: gov poll that found that they asked in afterwards they 118 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: said okay, seeing how this was do you approve or 119 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: disapprove how Trump conducted this rate? Thirty four percent approved, 120 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 1: forty one percent disapproved. This was taken in the immediate aftermath, 121 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: so it's like only a nine hundred sample size. I 122 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: don't know if everyone even had all the information, all 123 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: the data. I'm going to have a grain of salt 124 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: when it comes to this poll, but it's the only 125 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: one I have going into this podcast. Is why I'm 126 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: going to bring it up first. I think one important 127 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,839 Speaker 1: piece of this poll, though, that seems very obvious and 128 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: very true, is twenty five percent of respondence didn't know 129 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 1: how they felt. Foreign policy is not a big deal 130 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 1: to most voters. I think that you can't over emphasize that, 131 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: even if you're like an America heck yeah, yeah, like 132 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:02,359 Speaker 1: this is great. We kicked asks and took names and 133 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: beat up a commie, even if you're feeling that kind 134 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: of excitement and enthusiasm. For most voters, foreign policy just 135 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: isn't a top priority right now. They really care what's 136 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 1: going on in this country. When asked they think military 137 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: intervention will make things better or worse. In Venezuela, a 138 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: thirty four percent said better. Thirty five percent said worse. 139 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: Thirty one percent said they don't know. It looked like 140 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: this pole very much came down to partisanship about how 141 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: you feel about Trump, right over and over again they asked, 142 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: and basically, if you liked Trump, you said the thing 143 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: was great. If you didn't like Trump, you didn't feel 144 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: it was good. And then a whole slew of people 145 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 1: really had no clue. There were a clear divides on 146 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: three issues. The first was fifty one percent said America 147 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: will take over Venezuela's oilth industry. That seems like it's 148 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: a big goal of the Trump administration. Forty one percent 149 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: said Maduro should be found guilty of at least one 150 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: charge brought against him. There's Maduro is not a very 151 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: well liked figure. I think it's a broad level of 152 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: support across the board is that you know, there's no 153 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: love for Maduro except I guess of the hard left 154 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: communist type that loves starvation. And then, lastly, by a 155 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: nineteen point margin forty six to twenty seven, Americans want 156 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: their country to be a good neighbor and avoid interfering 157 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: in other countries' domestic affairs instead of trying to set 158 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 1: the right of other nations wrongdoings. We are still a 159 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: very war weary country, right. We are still a country 160 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: that has grappled with the effects of Iraq and Afghanistan. 161 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 1: And any time you talk and it is processed as 162 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:39,079 Speaker 1: a long military engagement, Americans are not really there now. 163 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 1: Seventy one percent of Democrats, forty four percent of Independence 164 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 1: and twenty four percent of Republicans out there and said, 165 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: we're really we just want to be good neighbors. We 166 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: don't want to sit there and try to right the 167 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: wrongest of every country. Fifty percent of Republicans said the opposite. 168 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: But I think it's important to realize that fifty percent 169 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: of Republicans were either I don't know, or we should 170 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,439 Speaker 1: just be good neighbors. That's the president's base. That should 171 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,959 Speaker 1: be where his numbers are strongest, and they're not that 172 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 1: strong even there. Americans really do want more me time 173 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:13,559 Speaker 1: as a country, and I think Iraq and Afghanistan just large, 174 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: you know, they loom large in our conscious and in 175 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: our head, especially when you consider how military service is 176 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: so heavily represented in just very few parts of this country, 177 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: right the South, the Midwest, and the Inland Empire, like California, Arizona, Nevada, 178 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: that whole area. That is the overwhelming number of people 179 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 1: who serve in our military. It's not the country as 180 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: a whole. You know, we don't force enlistment everywhere. And 181 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: there's you know, we live in a country where kids 182 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: in blue states wave foreign flags and kids in red 183 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: steaks to get American flags draped over their coffins from 184 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: these wars. And I just think there's a lot of 185 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: apprehension towards military intervention because of that. As for what 186 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: happens next to Venezuela, I have been trying to read 187 00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:00,120 Speaker 1: any tea leaves and it is no clear answer. They 188 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: very well could hampower the vice president for some time. 189 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 1: It doesn't look like the Nobel Peace Prize winner woman 190 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:12,839 Speaker 1: who is the opposition woman, is going to take over, 191 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: but who knows, maybe she will. My best bet is 192 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: that the Trump administration is going to provide certain types 193 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 1: of demands for whoever the next possible leader is, and 194 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 1: whoever that is will probably go along with quite a 195 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: few of them. One will obviously be about oil, but 196 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: the second one that no one's really talking about is 197 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 1: that Trump revoked temporary protective status of seven hundred thousand. 198 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 1: Well it's five hundred thousand and as well. And then 199 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 1: there's a secondary Biden humanitarian category that he offered that 200 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: would be another almost two hundred thousand. So almost seven 201 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: hundred thousand Venezuelans living in America really are going to 202 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 1: be without legal protections to be here. So part of 203 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:58,440 Speaker 1: that conversation with whoever the next leader is about who 204 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 1: can repatriate seven hundred thousand Venezuelans, not to mention the 205 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,959 Speaker 1: millions of Venezuelans living in South America who probably want 206 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:07,679 Speaker 1: to go home at some point. I think one thing 207 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 1: is really for certain them is that Trump cannot take 208 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 1: his eye off the ball when it comes to domestic policy. 209 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:18,439 Speaker 1: Americans want to present focus more on domestic agenda, especially 210 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 1: on the economy and affordability, and not just making a 211 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: legacy with foreign policy wins, which the President has done 212 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: a very good job of so far, from Middle East 213 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: to what he's trying to do in Ukraine to Venezuela. 214 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:35,559 Speaker 1: That's fantastic for your presidential library, but Americans at home 215 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: need to know you're caring about the homeland and there's 216 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: a lot to celebrate going into this new year, right 217 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 1: I was looking and digging at some data, and I 218 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 1: think it's lost very easily because you focus on bad 219 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: news more than good. But I wanted to spend a 220 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: second just thinking about all the good news that we 221 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: have going this year. There's a positive sign at the 222 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: BINN of twenty twenty six that we've really turned a 223 00:11:56,240 --> 00:12:00,559 Speaker 1: corner on the rise of BLM induced violence, Black Lives 224 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 1: Matter induced violence that's swept over our country for the 225 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 1: last decade from twenty fifteen to twenty twenty three. Really 226 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, we're at the lowest levels of mass 227 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:12,960 Speaker 1: shooting since two thousand and six, the lowest levels of 228 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 1: homicide since the nineteen fifties, in part because our medical 229 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,679 Speaker 1: equipment is so good, we've managed to avoid deaths from homicides, 230 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: but nonetheless lowest since nineteen fifties. Teenage pregnancy is at 231 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: a record low. Suicides are lowest since twenty twenty, road 232 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: fatalities lowest since twenty nineteen, drug overdose deaths lowest since 233 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen. Alcohol consumption is at the lowest and recorded history. 234 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: Inflation is at the most stable since twenty twenty. There's 235 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: a lot to celebrate. Americans need to be reminded of that, 236 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: like we are. Nothing's perfect, but we're not headed in 237 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 1: a bad direction right now. Things could be better, but 238 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 1: things are not. The world is not ending, things are 239 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: not catastrophic, And any person who is sitting there and 240 00:12:57,559 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 1: saying this is just a bad there's no worse time 241 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 1: in the world to live in is really kind of 242 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 1: missing missing the missing the moment, because it's a pretty 243 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: good time to live in this country right now, and 244 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: there's a lot of good things happening. Not perfect, a 245 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: lot more could be improved upon, but things have been 246 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 1: heading in a positive step and you should just know 247 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 1: that and chewing that as you start this new year. 248 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 1: There is a lot of great things happening for America. 249 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 1: So for this episode, I wanted to catch up on 250 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 1: all the ask Me Any things that I missed from 251 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 1: last year. We are you going to go into that 252 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:35,320 Speaker 1: next So because of the flu, I'm behind them asked 253 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: Me Anything, and I wanted to make sure that I 254 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,839 Speaker 1: answered all my twenty twenty five questions. Really start off 255 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 1: twenty twenty six Fresh All New Asked Me Any Things 256 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: starting at the beginning of the year. If you only 257 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: part of the ask Me Anything segment, EMU me Ryan 258 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 1: at numbers Game podcast dot com. That's Ryan at numbers 259 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:53,559 Speaker 1: Plural gamepodcast dot com. It's such become such an great 260 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 1: part of the show. I feel like I'm actually having 261 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: a dialogue with so many different people from across the country. 262 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: I really love this. It adds a lot to the show. 263 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 1: So please, by all means, I am completely free. I've 264 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: answered all the questions as of this episode, So shoot 265 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:07,679 Speaker 1: me an email on literally anything, and I will try 266 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: to get you the data and the information in my 267 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 1: perspective whenever I can. This first question comes from Mary. 268 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,679 Speaker 1: She says, I think there is something you are missing 269 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: from what has caused normal people to be squeezed. And 270 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: I think the message Republicans need to focus solutions The 271 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: area of the economy that are way out of line 272 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: even with today's inflation rates, are where government has socialized 273 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 1: some of the industry. That is true. Health insurance, not 274 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: just the ACA, but Medicaid and Medicare are driving of 275 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 1: costs for everyone. So yes, healthcare costs are up. The 276 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: Kaiser Family Foundation founds that private health insurance in the 277 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: last five years of twenty four percent way past you know, 278 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 1: people's earning rates, but I don't believe that it's Medicare 279 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 1: Medicaid that are responsible. I was trying to figure out 280 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: how you meant that, and I was showing a blank. 281 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: I don't think it's involved in raising premium rates unless 282 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 1: you're talking about the cost of and whatnot, because the 283 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 1: government's paying for part of that. Maybe it's a met mayor. 284 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 1: I was trying to figure out. I really couldn't. I 285 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 1: couldn't do it. It's not directly related to on Medicare 286 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 1: and Medicaid. Secondly, housing, local, locally zoning and rent controls, 287 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: national immigration policy, fanning Man and Freddie mac Immigration obviously 288 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: matters a lot towards housing. It's not just supply, it 289 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: is demand. You have a lot more people come in 290 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: the country, a lot more housing is needed. And then 291 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 1: there's that's obvious with zoning. Here's the thing. I don't 292 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: hate zoning laws. I know that it is the biggest, 293 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: biggest thing that everyone's jumping on. It's like, oh, let's 294 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: end zoning laws and zoning laws of the problem. There 295 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: is an apartment building near where I grew up in 296 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: Queens and it's it's not built yet. There's two coming up. 297 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 1: There's and have eight hundred and fifty apartment units, no parking. 298 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 1: They're not building any parking for eight hundred and fifty units. 299 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 1: It is not near subway, it is not near public transportation, 300 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 1: and the road are singular single street roads. Do you 301 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: understand what a calamity you're building for that local neighborhood. 302 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: It is certain zoning laws are built to make communities function, 303 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: and I think people just need to realize that a 304 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: lot of what our housing issue is is because one 305 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: mass immigration bring in all these new people, and to 306 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: the hollowing out of so many regions of our country, 307 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 1: especially like rural regions where these people are moved. There's 308 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 1: more people living in more concentrated areas. Right, so you 309 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: have all these people wanted to live in the same 310 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: thirty five forty metropolitan areas. They have to try to 311 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: accommodate millions upon millions of Americans plus foreigners. And the 312 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 1: government is responsible for the infrastructure, but these private corporations 313 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 1: are profiting off of building as much as quickly as 314 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: they possibly can, and in many cases the infrastructure has 315 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: not met up with the rising population, and it causes 316 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:08,919 Speaker 1: an overall decline in people's quality of life and I 317 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: just wish that that was a perspective that people had 318 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: when they talked about you know, the when I talk 319 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: about growth, I think that they should really evaluate in 320 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 1: the perspective of, let's grow, but let's do it in 321 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: a smart way where everyone's lives are miserable because traffic 322 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: is too large, because there's not enough schools, enough police, 323 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 1: there's not enough civil service. Things like that drive me crazy. 324 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:33,239 Speaker 1: I'm not anti zoning laws like it's it's it is 325 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: one of the things I very much disagree with my 326 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: party overall on, but immigration, I'm one hundred percent with you. 327 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: And lastly, education, you say student loans have driven up 328 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: the cost of education. That's one hundred percent true. Student 329 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 1: loans are the reason that colleges keep going up and 330 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 1: up and up, and more you guarantee student loans, the 331 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: more the colleges will increase their numbers. If you bring 332 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:54,359 Speaker 1: down student loan guarantees or limit them, you will have 333 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 1: whole areas where the numbers will decline. I will say 334 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: with education, with the popular change, especially less children, a 335 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:04,879 Speaker 1: trend you will start seeing in the next decade is 336 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: school schools being consolidated and closing, especially primary schools. Something 337 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 1: to look out for. Next question comes from Michael from California, 338 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:16,160 Speaker 1: says I'm looking forward to your upcoming episodes on campaigns 339 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: and getting started in politics. I'm so excited I listen 340 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 1: and watch on YouTube. Thank you so much, Michael. I'm very, 341 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: very honored that you listen to make my ask me anything. 342 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: Question is what path would you suggest for a person 343 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 1: who's interested in career change from educational politics. I'm a 344 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:33,120 Speaker 1: teacher from public in private high schools with thirty years 345 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: of classroom experience. I teach advanced place in US government politics, 346 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 1: and my spare time for entertainment I consume with national 347 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: and California political news. I know I'm sick, but I 348 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 1: love this and I'm fairly wonky. My point is, as 349 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 1: I transition away from education and the classroom, I love 350 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: to redirect my time and passion in politics. I'm not 351 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: the type to run for office. I guess you must 352 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 1: have worked on campaigns or for an elected official, or 353 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,439 Speaker 1: somewhere in the media covering political issues. Okay, so, first 354 00:18:56,440 --> 00:19:01,120 Speaker 1: of all, if you want, those are all very different careers, Michael, right, 355 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 1: Working in the media is not working on a campaign. 356 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: Working on a campaign is not working in an office, right, 357 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: so you have to kind of pick a lane. And 358 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,439 Speaker 1: I would say, as you're still working in education, to 359 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 1: start kind of dipping your toes in different things to 360 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 1: see if you like them. This is twenty twenty six. 361 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 1: We have a big election coming up in California, the governorship, 362 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: you have, you have the state legislative elections going on there. Volunteer, 363 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:29,959 Speaker 1: be an active member of a campaign, and see what 364 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: that is like being really part of a campaign. It 365 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: is thrilling. It is like a drug. I've done it 366 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: for so long, I don't know if I can even 367 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 1: get out of it because it's like a drug. But 368 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:43,159 Speaker 1: see if you like that. It's not for everybody. So 369 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: I would say try that. Just try that in this 370 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 1: year while you're still there, if you and you volunteer 371 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: or host a fundraiser, or if you want to, you 372 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 1: can even try to organize people to sit there and 373 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 1: make sure they get out a vote. Figure out me 374 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: and which which one you want to tap into. This 375 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 1: is a super string year in California because there's two 376 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 1: main Republicans running for governor. In California's then called a 377 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: jungle primary, so basically everybody Republican Independent Green Party. Everybody 378 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:14,119 Speaker 1: runs together in one election and then the top two 379 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:17,160 Speaker 1: run in November. Well, a couple of years ago there 380 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:20,360 Speaker 1: was one congressional district, District thirty one right in LA, 381 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 1: where the two Republicans came in first and second and 382 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: locked all the Democrats out of a Democratic district. This year, 383 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 1: Republicans have two candidates that are right now polling in 384 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 1: first and second. In the last open election, there was 385 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:38,160 Speaker 1: not a was not incumbent, so Nott Gavenusom was twenty 386 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 1: eighteen and the Republicans got a combined thirty six percent 387 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 1: of the vote. If they can get thirty seven thirty 388 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 1: eight to thirty nine percent this time, there are nine 389 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 1: main Democrats running, there is a possibility up by a 390 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: small possibility, but possibly for Republicans if they organize and 391 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: if they turn up in big numbers in this primary 392 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,920 Speaker 1: and Democrats Day splintered that they could lock the Democrats 393 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: out of the November election and pick up the California governorship. 394 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 1: It is worth spending your interest and your time volunteering 395 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 1: for that kind of campaign. If you don't want to 396 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 1: do campaign work, you want to work for an office. 397 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:14,720 Speaker 1: I don't know how close short to Sacramento, but there's 398 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 1: obviously all these local offices. You could sit there and 399 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 1: apply for a job for figuring out it's not as sexy, 400 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,159 Speaker 1: not as glamorous. A lot of constituent service stuff. A 401 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: lot of people are arguing over trees or things overgrown. 402 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,439 Speaker 1: If that's what you like, God love you. It's a 403 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:32,119 Speaker 1: very important service they do. And media is an entirely 404 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:34,920 Speaker 1: different aspect, and there's a million different kinds of jobs. 405 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:36,920 Speaker 1: Media is a tough industry, but there's like the La 406 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: Post is coming up there and to cover California politics. 407 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 1: So there's a lot of stuff that's going on that's 408 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: happening right now in California. So there's spots, but they're 409 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 1: very different careers. So I would say try one of 410 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 1: the other end, see what you like best. Don't if 411 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:54,000 Speaker 1: you don't have to do a career, because you sound 412 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:56,440 Speaker 1: like you've worked in education for thirty years, do something 413 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 1: you really really are passionate about, and just figure out 414 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,919 Speaker 1: the lane. Is my first piece of advice, Okay. Brian 415 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,000 Speaker 1: Fox writes to me, ponder me, this what the European 416 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 1: continent would look like had World War Two not taken 417 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:10,440 Speaker 1: an entire generation of men and women. How might both 418 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:14,479 Speaker 1: political economic conditions have been impacted? And do you believe 419 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 1: this would change the attitudes towards economic migration today? Oh 420 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,679 Speaker 1: my gosh, Brian, this is a great question because I 421 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: think about this so often. Can I tell you The 422 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 1: other day, I'm sitting there and I'm all quiet, and 423 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:28,679 Speaker 1: a family member of mine looks over me. What are 424 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 1: you thinking about? I was like, I'm thinking about the 425 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:32,119 Speaker 1: reign of terror from the French Revolution? What are you 426 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: thinking about? Like, of course thinking about this. I think 427 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 1: about things like this all the time. So I've been thinking, like, so, yeah, 428 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: if the World War World War two or World War one, 429 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 1: World one and worl War two had not happened, there 430 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: would be If both world wars had not happened, which 431 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 1: I know you said world War two, but both had 432 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:53,440 Speaker 1: not happened, there would be one hundred and ninety million 433 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 1: more Europeans alive today than there are right. There'd be 434 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 1: forty million plus more Germans and Russians, thirty eight million 435 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:05,119 Speaker 1: more Poles, There'd be fifteen to twenty five million more Brits, 436 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 1: Italian and French combined. It would just there be tens 437 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 1: of millions of more people. Right, That means more GDP, 438 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:16,679 Speaker 1: more economic prosperity, more people, but also the functionality. What 439 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:19,400 Speaker 1: World War One and World War Two did was they 440 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:25,400 Speaker 1: broke colonialism. Right. The British Empire fundamentally died because all 441 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 1: their men died fighting Germany. The German Empire. All the 442 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 1: great empires of the West except for the United States 443 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: ended because of those two wars because they killed everybody. 444 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:38,400 Speaker 1: The Russian Empire, Austro Hungarian, Ottom and all those empires 445 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 1: are just gone because of that. So those empires would 446 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 1: have lasted, Colonialism would have lasted for decades afterwards. Who 447 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:51,359 Speaker 1: knows what the conditions would have been in the Third World, 448 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: what they could have done, because remember, I mean, I 449 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 1: know colonialism is bad, bad, bad, but the colonial colonization 450 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 1: builds most of the infrastructure that many of the places 451 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:05,880 Speaker 1: enjoyed to get their first you know, irrigation, to get plumbing, 452 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: to get you know anything. If you look at like 453 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: a place like Somalia, almost all that was built by 454 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 1: the Italians back in like the nineteen tens and twenties. 455 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:17,480 Speaker 1: So maybe had that continued for several decades, the impoverishment 456 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: wouldn't have been so severe on the part of the 457 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: Third World, and possibly the independent movements would have been 458 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:33,120 Speaker 1: a little bit less haphazardly done. They were pretty much 459 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:38,719 Speaker 1: carved up seventeen different ways because of because of just 460 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 1: people breaking up. Also, I mean, there were no Israel. 461 00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 1: Think about that. If there was no there was no 462 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:45,479 Speaker 1: World War two and no World War One, especially if 463 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 1: we're no War one, the British would have never taken 464 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: the region and no World War two, and it's likely 465 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:54,400 Speaker 1: that they would have not gotten nationhood. So it would 466 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 1: just be a different world. It's fascinating to think about, 467 00:24:56,560 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 1: but it's it's so hard to answer. Okay, last question, 468 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:03,400 Speaker 1: this one, and I've received this from multiple people. This 469 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:06,480 Speaker 1: question is what do you do and when you're not 470 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 1: on board with the vek Ramaswami for governor? This is 471 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: the question, given the current lay of the land in Ohio, 472 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: where is the primary is effective effectively the election? What's 473 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,119 Speaker 1: the best strategic play for conservatives who aren't fully on 474 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 1: board with the vak Ramaswami should be looking for a 475 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:26,160 Speaker 1: viable primary challenger, supporting a strong independent conservative with values 476 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:28,919 Speaker 1: or is it better to stay unified even if the 477 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: candidate isn't ideal? Just to avoid fragmentation. Okay, I really 478 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:35,680 Speaker 1: don't like the Vekaramaswami. I don't know if I made 479 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 1: that clear in that one episode. And by the way, 480 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:39,400 Speaker 1: to the ARNS member who said I was a little 481 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 1: too hot under the collar, I apologize. I am Italian. 482 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 1: I do get too passionate. But I will sit there 483 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:51,200 Speaker 1: and say this your I think everyone who's going to 484 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 1: be in the field is in the field, right So 485 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:54,920 Speaker 1: if you don't like the VAC there's all the Republicans running. 486 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 1: They have a very small chance of getting winning, but hey, 487 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 1: throwing your support, that's who you want to do. You 488 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:02,439 Speaker 1: have the right conscience to sit there and do it 489 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 1: if you really can't. Even if that happens, right, there 490 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,879 Speaker 1: hasn't been a Democrat elected to the governorship of Ohio 491 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:12,880 Speaker 1: since Ted Strickland, which was, like I guess, maybe sixteen 492 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 1: years ago, and he was a one term Democrat. If 493 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 1: you sit there and say v VEX our nominee, I 494 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:23,199 Speaker 1: don't want to vote for him. And we live in 495 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 1: a red enough state already, what should I do? I 496 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 1: say this, support whoever you won the primary, and then 497 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 1: spend your time and energy voting for the Republicans. For 498 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,760 Speaker 1: the state legislature. Remember, the Republican Ohio State Senate is 499 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 1: seventy three percent Republican, the State Senate of Ohios for 500 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 1: seventy percent Republican, and the State House is sixty six 501 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 1: percent Republican. Even if you don't like the VEC, and 502 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: even if the VEC VVEX somehow loses because he is 503 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:56,399 Speaker 1: an extraordinarily unlikable candidate and the Democrat wins, it is 504 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:59,160 Speaker 1: not the end of the world. Because the Ohio State 505 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:04,240 Speaker 1: Legislature is super majority of Republican. The Democratic governor will 506 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 1: get be able to get very very very little done 507 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:11,840 Speaker 1: with how Republican the state legislature is. So I say, 508 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:14,199 Speaker 1: focus your time and energy on a race, on a 509 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: local race that matters. Vote for whoever you want on 510 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:19,239 Speaker 1: the top of the ticket. Don't vote at all, you know, 511 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:23,879 Speaker 1: vote your conscience. I don't believe that in the case 512 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:27,080 Speaker 1: of where you really don't like somebody. OKAYL says I 513 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: did not vote for Mitt Romney in twenty twelve, I 514 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:32,439 Speaker 1: really really And this is in twenty twelve, this is 515 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:35,359 Speaker 1: before it became popular. Says I really didn't like Paul Ryan. 516 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 1: I thought he was full of it. I mean, I 517 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:38,960 Speaker 1: just thought he was full of it. I thought he 518 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:41,399 Speaker 1: was a liar. I thought they were propping him up 519 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:43,199 Speaker 1: as leader of the party. I didn't buy into his 520 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 1: plans for the budget. I just thought that he was awful. 521 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:49,879 Speaker 1: I didn't hate Mitt Romney. I really did not like 522 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:52,120 Speaker 1: Paul Ryan with every fiberund body, and I didn't vote 523 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 1: for him. And in the end of the day, I 524 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 1: vote didn't make a difference. But I didn't have to 525 00:27:57,160 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 1: vote for him. And that's kind of my logic behind things. 526 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:03,960 Speaker 1: If you really don't like somebody, like really have a 527 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 1: very difficult time voting for them. Yeah, skip it, skip it, 528 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:10,440 Speaker 1: vote independent, vote for whoever you want. Don't vote with 529 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:12,120 Speaker 1: the Democrat. I wouldn't vote for the Democrat, but vote 530 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:14,320 Speaker 1: for somebody else who you believe in, and if they lose, 531 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:17,040 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter because that one vote didn't change the 532 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:20,639 Speaker 1: entire election. And as long as there's a Republican state legislature, 533 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:22,920 Speaker 1: oh hi, that was going to be fine, right, super 534 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:25,480 Speaker 1: majority of the state legislature. Doesn't matter who's governor, They're 535 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:29,160 Speaker 1: going to run the show. That's my episode. Happy New Years, guys, 536 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:30,960 Speaker 1: I am so happy to be back. I am so 537 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 1: happy to be able to talk again, and I am 538 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:36,400 Speaker 1: so happy with you guys. I'll be here every Monday, 539 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 1: Wednesday and Friday, so please like and subscribe and I 540 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 1: will be seeing you guys on Wednesday