“Jesus Didn’t . . .

. . . have electricity either and he did just fine.”

The Orange One—President Donald Trump—promised extensive tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking.  For our allies, Canada and Mexico, the tariff is 25%; for our adversary China it is a 10% tariff.  Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, responded to this threat by saying Canada might cut off energy to the United States.  If you were not aware, Canada is the largest source of energy imports to the United States.  This “tit for tat” could significantly affect both countries’ economy.  Prices will go up despite the promises of lowering prices of the president when he was elected.

 

But don’t worry!  White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt tells us not to panic.  In reassuring words she proclaimed, “They want you to panic, but President Trump wants you to remember Jesus didn’t have electricity either and he did just fine.”  Whoa!  What a relief.  If Jesus could handle it . . . well, so can we.

 

I must have missed that class while in seminary . . . you know the one . . . Jesus and electricity.  I wonder why the writers of the Gospels never mentioned it.   It didn’t show up on my ordination exam.  It just never occurred to me that Jesus never had electricity and that he did just fine.

 

If Jesus could do without electricity so can all of us who claim to be his followers.  WWJD?  Suck it up and shut up.  At least that is what the Donald would like.

 

How profane . . . bordering on the blasphemous.  Of course, Jesus did without electricity.  There was no such thing in Jesus’ time.  Maybe a little static electricity, but no electricity.  I know this because I have seen a picture of Jesus and his buddies at a dinner party.  I think they call the picture the Last Supper.  There were no electric lights or lamps or devices anywhere in the picture . . . nada!  Nothing!  We have the picture.  Myth has it that the last words that Jesus said at the dinner were: “All you guys who want in the picture get on this side of the table.”  The president’s argument is baloney . . . a cheap trick to sway those who can’t see the ploy to manipulate the faithful with pious nonsense.

 

If you buy that nonsense, then you are giving the green light to the more damning issue . . . which is tariffs.  Tariffs that will do more harm than they will ever help.  People are going to get whammed.  Life will get tougher for a lot of folks.  It won’t just be a few, it will be for many.  With that Jesus would not be okay. 

 

Tariffs are taxes imposed by a government of a country on imports or exports of goods.  Trump is imposing these taxes on imports . . . stuff we bring into our country and buy.  That is his target.  They look good on paper and in theory, but realistically they cause more negative problems and issues than they solve.  For example, a trade war and rising prices.  The Orange One’s desire to pound Canada, China, and Mexico into submission is going to hurt the majority of Americans—you and me.  Prices are going to go up . . . up . . . and away.

 

Like your fresh vegetables and fruit?  Most are imported from Mexico—especially avocados . . . and tequila.  Gone will be the days of free-flowing Margaritas.  The price of gas will go up.  Some say by as much as 70 cents a gallon over the current rising prices.  Why?  Because we get 70% of our oil imports from Canada and Mexico.  Cheap car parts—Mexico.  Cheap electronics and technology—China.  The bigger issue is that it would be difficult for the nation to replace all these goods imported under tariffs with domestic production.  This would create rising prices significantly.  Throw in inflation . . . well it could end up being a fiscal apocalypse.  It won’t be pretty, nor will it be good.

 

Despite the Orange One’s assurance of having “common sense” and that Jesus survived life without electricity, this is not going to turn out well.  Maybe Trump knows something we don’t know, after all he has “common sense” which he constantly reminds us that “a lot of people don’t.”  He knows better than everyone else.

 

Come on . . . really?  Jesus and electricity?  Why do we allow the Orange One and his cronies to keep insulting our intelligence and common sense?  We are better and smarter than that.  I heard through the grapevine that Jesus just rolled his eyes and laughed when he caught wind of this silliness.  Even he knows when he is being fed a crock of baloney.  He knows it.  We should know it too.  Wish more Americans would get it because if they did, we would be fine . . . just like Jesus.

 

Looney Tunes

Really!

During the presidential campaign, specifically August 2024, pledged to the American people that he would bring food prices down starting on Day One of his term if elected.  Specifically, he stated, “When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on Day One.”  A week beyond Day One of his second term the price of eggs has not gone down.  Nope, they are getting more expensive than ever.  Promises, promises, promises.

 

But hold your horses—or maybe chickens, the press secretary for the president had a good explanation.  White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed soaring egg prices on former President Joe Biden’s administration.  She proclaimed with certainty: “As far as the egg shortage ... the Biden administration and the Department of Agriculture directed the mass killing of more than 100 million chickens which has led to a lack of chicken supply in this country. Therefore, a lack of egg supply ... is leading to the shortage.”  Tell me it ain’t so, Joe!

 

I can’t believe that Joe sent out chicken hit squads to round up 100 million birds and kill them thus curbing the availability of affordable eggs to the American people.  The cruelty of it all!  What a meanie!

 

The truth is that the government did no such thing.  There were no chicken hit squads.  Blame the farmers with all the chickens.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Inspection Service states that when a crisis like an outbreak of H5N1 (a highly transmissible and fatal strain of avian influenza) happens, egg producers are forced to cull their flocks according to policy.  This has affected more than 147 million birds since the outbreak in 2022.  To compensate these egg producers the Department of Agriculture has spend at least $1.14 billion for the birds they have had to kill. 

 

Whatever the case, a promise is a promise . . . and we ain’t seen it delivered yet. 

 

The communication and responses we are hearing from the administration and president are completely looney tunes.  I feel like that Looney Tunes soundtrack should be softly playing behind every press conference that is held by the Orange One and his administration.  The only thing that is missing is Porky Pig adding the benediction at the end . . . “That’s all folks!”

 

Unfortunately, it is not only the cartoon characters doling out these sadly comic responses.  Even the big guy is picking up this outlandish excuse and blaming behavior . . . he never misses an opportunity to insert his foot into his mouth.  Take for example his response to the plane crash that happened in Washington, D.C. in which 67 people tragically died.  Minimal empathy and a whole lot of ridiculousness, finger pointing, and blaming.

 

Though there is no official statement about the cause of the crash, it did not stop the Orange One from sharing his thoughts.  He variously pointed the finger at the helicopter’s pilot, air traffic control, Joe Biden, and other Democrats—including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.  He said, "We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas.”  Which, of course, he freely shared.

 

The biggest culprit is DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion).  “I put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first," he stated. "The FAA's website states they include hearing, vision, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability, and dwarfism." Ever the intellectual giant that he is, he was basically spewing out echoes of a “false news” story about FAA policy to recruit people with disabilities from Fox News after the problem with the Alaska Airlines that had a door blow off during flight last year.  The story basically stated that the accident was due to unqualified people with disabilities hired to do jobs like air traffic controllers.  This was a false accusation.  When questioned how he could make such a claim, he responded, “Because I have common sense, OK, and unfortunately a lot of people don’t."

 

Common sense would dictate that he actually read what it takes to be an air traffic controller.  It has nothing to do with diversity, equity, or inclusion . . . it has to do with standards that the federal government determined.  Standards that are tougher than those placed upon the individuals flying the planes.  Those include:

• Be a United States citizen
• Be under the age of 31
• Pass a medical examination
• Pass a security investigation
• Pass the FAA air traffic pre-employment tests, including the Air Traffic Controller Specialists Skills Assessment Battery (ATSA)
• Speak English clearly enough to be understood over communications equipment
• Have three years of progressively responsible work experience, or a Bachelor's degree, or a combination of post-secondary education and work experience that totals three years

Then they must complete the required training courses and attend the FAA Academy.  Once this is done individuals must gain two to three years’ additional training in the classroom and on the job site—before being certified as a professional controller.  It is open to anyone who can do the job regardless of diversity, equity, or inclusion status.

Not enough evidence of the craziness and looney tunes being shared?  How about the one about Jesus and electricity?  As impending tariffs are being threatened against Canada, Mexico, and China, it comes as no surprise that those countries are pushing back with their own retribution.  The prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, has stated that his country might cut off energy to the United States.  The ever-eloquent press secretary for the White House responded with assurance that it was okay because “Jesus didn’t have electricity either and he did just fine.”  WHAT!!

I am sure that Ms. Leavitt was just attempting to be assuring to the American people that everything would be fine . . . because, you know, “Jesus didn’t have electricity he did just fine.”   Duh!  In the times of Jesus no one had electricity!  Nowhere in the scriptures does it mention electricity.  Maybe it was in those writings that the Church rejected as being a part of the holy tomb.  I don’t know, but I get her point.  If Jesus can do without electricity, so can we . . . after all, this is a solidly Christian nation . . . right?  I roll my eyes and wonder where in the world the Orange One gets these people. 

If you have been keeping up with the Senate confirmation hearings . . . well, you have been witnessing even more looney tunes.  The president of common sense has picked some real winners to take on the responsibility of leading our nation.  People who are not even aware of what the job is they are being asked to do and what it means to the people of this country.  They give ridiculous answers that echo the words of the one who nominated them . . . they cannot think for themselves . . . cannot think beyond their loyalty to the Orange One.  Plus, we are witnessing that they are willing to say whatever it takes to get the job and then do a 180 when they assume the job.  It is just crazy.  For entertainment’s sake, it is better than Saturday morning cartoons.

How can we take these people serious when they keep spewing out these crazy communications?  How can we trust these people when they tell us these looney tune answers to serious situations?  We know that our president has a difficult time with the truth, remembering things, and shooting off at the mouth before putting his brain in gear.  It might be because he is getting OLD.  But still . . . come on.  What we are witnessing . . . what the world is witnessing . . . makes us all look like dolts.  We are not idiots nor are we lacking common sense despite what the Donald says.  We recognize a comedy of errors when we see it.  Let’s call it what it is . . . cue the music . . . it’s Looney Tunes.