Religion, Nations, and Geopolitical Review: SATURDAY, AUGUST 24

by A. Joseph Lynch

I. PRESIDENT TRUMP AND AMERICA

TRUMP IS IN THE LEAD: A new poll shows Trump ahead in the race against Biden, Sanders, Harris, and Warren. The lead is tenuous based on Trump's great trade war gamble with China. Meanwhile, Trump is breaking fundraising records as Democrats look for money from ex-pats in Mexico.

DAVID KOCH (1940-2019): David Koch, younger brother to Charles Koch of the billionaire Koch brothers, has died. The Koch's generally offer financial support to Republicans but had a tense relationship with the populist President Trump, whose trade deals favoring American workers threatened their wealth. See our previous R&G from last August regarding the Koch brothers versus the American farmer.

TRUMP & VETERAN LOANS: President Trump did the right thing in honoring our disabled veterans by eliminating their student loan debts.

BUYING GREENLAND: President Trump put out feelers regarding a potential purchase of Greenland. Critics have forgotten that America has made cash purchases for territories before. Alaska was bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million and the Louisiana Purchase (13 states worth of property) in 1803 from France for $15 million. And don't forget that the U.S. Virgin Islands were purchased from Denmark - the current owner of Greenland - in 1917 for $25 million. Greenland's proximity to the arctic, and its natural resources of zinc, lead, gold, iron ore, heavy and light rare earth elements, copper and oil, would make it a great acquisition if the Danes - who subsidize $600 million a year for it - are willing to sell.

II. THE NATIONS

FIRES IN BRAZIL'S RAIN FORESTS: Forest fires are up 83% this year in Brazil, and President Bolsonaro plans to use the military to assist in putting them out. While environmentalists fear the damage caused to the forest that produces 20% of the world's oxygen, we remember that there are times when forest fires are a good thing for nature. And Jordan Peterson notes that the same is true in psychology.

NO ENTRANCE TO ISRAEL: The vehemently anti-Israel representatives, Omar and Tlaib, both Muslim, have been denied entry to Israel. According to Netanyahu: "As a vibrant and free democracy, Israel is open to any visitor and to any criticism, with one exception: The law in Israel forbids the entry of people calling for and acting to placing a boycott on Israel, as is the norm in other democracies that prevent the entry of people whom they see as harming the country."

III. CULTURE OF LIFE, CULTURE OF PROTECTION

EPSTEIN'S BROKEN NECK: Although billionaire Jeffrey Epstein's death has been ruled a suicide, reports have surfaced that his neck was broken in places that suggest strangulation. Other irregularities were also at play. Many important and powerful world leaders have been linked to Epstein - how likely is it that any of them were involved?

GILLETTE - GET WOKE, GO BROKE: After losing $8 billion, Gillette has given up on it's woke support for toxic masculinity.

PROUD BOYS VS. ANTIFA: The Proud Boys are claiming success in Portland as liberal city leaders wasted limited resources to prevent violence from the group who came with the express intention of being non-violent while watching Antifa, the "anti-fascist" left-wing counter-protesters, wreaked havoc, shattered bus windows, and lost more credibility.

FELONS NO MORE: San Francisco is doing away with "labels" like felon, offender, and convict. Instead, those released from prison will now be referred to as a “justice-involved” person or a “returning resident.” While compassion is needed, so is language sanity.