Unsold Clothing Buries Retailers —a  WSJ headline and article in early April and The death of the department store: ‘Very few are likely to survive’ from the NY Times present a warning and a dangerous reality regarding American society that warrants a closer look. Department Stores may just be the best barometer for how the American Economy is really doing.

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveter after, they have erred from the faith, and pieced themselves through with many sorrows.”

1Timothy 6:10

KJV

How Private Equity is Ruining American Health Care by Heather Pearlberg Businessweek May 2020

Investors have been buying up doctor’s offices, cutting costs, and, critics say, putting pressure on physicians in ways that hurt patients. The pandemic could make things even worse.

An objective, competitive, decentralized and independent press is important in a democracy so citizens can readily be informed of issues of concern by multiple means or sources. In the United States, News is a business. Most news and news vehicles, historically and currently, are supported by advertising revenue. 

Having News that is diverse, competitive, honest, balanced, accessible, objective and where the privacy of the viewer is protected is in the public interest.  An objective and independent press is important in a democracy so citizens can readily be informed of issues of concern.

As we get ready for Super Tuesday, things may start to become clearer as to who will be the Democratic Party’s nominee. This 2020 for 2020 newsletter has been sent to some in the running. I pray they read it and read the previous newsletters on Healthcare, China, Leadership and Guiding Principles.

This is the fifth newsletter and it will provide constructs for charitable and just thinking about social issues. It is an overview and summary of Catholic Social Teaching. This newsletter is a summation of teachings presented in a course on Catholic Social Teaching by Father Robert Altier in the Fall of 2018.

According to the National Institute for Mental Health, mental illness accounts for more disability hours than any other cause and over 41,000 people commit suicide each year, more than double the rate of homicide and aids combined. In additional, conservative estimates put the direct and indirect cost of mental illness at over $300 billion annually, placing it third in cost behind heart conditions and trauma injury.

I recently heard a Priest give a talk on General Robert E. Lee and it inspired me and I decided to research it. It involved a church service shortly after the Civil War. 

I have found an article on it with two versions of the story. The following is quoted from The Civil War Monitor, “Fantasizing Lee as a Civil Rights Pioneer” by Andy Hall posted 7/23/2012. Please read.

This is the third issue of 20 for 2020 and the subject is poorly defined decision criteria for government agencies and how it can result in calamity and harm: The FDA 

When the government starts altering its decisions criteria in a way that strays from its mission to protect, we all suffer and it dilutes the benefit of government, that of a protector.