by John Schneeberger, Hamilton
I get many sales pitches tinged with the conspiratorial “what they don’t want you to know”. The “they” being variously big pharma, the insurance industry, the medical establishment, or “the government”. Well, here is something that is a verifiable fact and the “they” that doesn’t want you to know about it is unambiguously the Republicans, especially MAGA Republicans. You have probably noticed lately that there is a lot of fiber optic cable being laid right up to your doorstep, providing a service that I think most want and employing a lot of skilled and probably well-paid people. The Biden Administration’s ARPA recovery bill and the BEAD infrastructure bill is responsible for making this happen. Both bills were adamantly opposed by most Republicans in the US House and Senate. Our entire Montana US Congressional delegation voted “no” on both. I doubt you knew that and few are going to tell you, especially those who don’t want you to know.
Cav says
Biden and Tester also gave $600 BILLION to Ukraine of which over 2/3 is unaccounted for.
I also could have just bought Elon Musk’s Starlink, and received better internet service if not for Biden’s 9% inflation.
Nice effort though John
WMA says
Money well spent. I don’t want the Russians to win. Do you?
John Schneeberger says
Sounded like a lot, but had to check anyway. As of March of this year, 195 billion in economic assistance, and 130 billion in military aid, including replenishment of US stock piles and expanded US military presence in Europe. Not sure where you’re getting your figures from, but I can imagine.
Tracy says
LOL You have part of the facts there. Montana Legislators worked heavily on infrastructure legislation from 2023 through 2025 and fiber optics networks were part of that. Of course you would leave that out. Typical.
WMA says
Hats off to them, Tracy. They worked really hard to spend the money provided to Montana by Biden and Tester, those guys you hate and I admire,
Kevin says
So you admitting Biden and Tester caused inflation? Really two years later your finally getting it!
WMA says
Covid era inflation was a worldwide problem caused by a variety of macroeconomic issues. Are you seriously suggesting Biden caused 42 percent inflation in Argentina or 37 percent in Iran? He really had a grudge against Zimbabwe where inflation exploded to 500 percent. The truth is that, thanks to Biden and steps the Federal Reserve took, the US brought inflation down faster than almost any other industrialized nation.
John Schneeberger says
Practically none of the Biden money reached the economy until after the Covid caused inflation ended, like this infrastructure money. How could Biden spending have caused inflation when it hadn’t even entered the economy? The inflation was caused by demand pull Inflation caused by pent up demand from people stuck at home, buying things on the Internet with money provided by relief passed during the Trump administration, and by cost push inflation caused by the fact that factories worldwide were shut down. Sorry for the inconvenient facts.
WMA says
True. Montana is the beneficiary of billions of dollars thanks to the mature leadership of Joe Biden and Jon Tester. Of course, Republicans opposed every dollar, but now take credit for the progress.
Kevin says
True. Montana is the beneficiary of billions of dollars thanks to the mature leadership of Joe Biden and Jon Tester. Now watch the Trillions we spend to fix Tester and Biden’s OPEN BORDER policies. Mature as a Junior high happy hands club!
WMA says
Trillions? I shudder to think where that figure came from.
Kevin says
You often shudder in your thinking.
WMA says
Opinions disguised as facts are pretty shudder worthy, don’t you think.
SRK says
Funny how you don’t talk about where the billions came from or tax consequences to future generations for the distribution of those funds. I don’t really see all the fiber projects as beneficial. Have you seen some of the places that are getting fiber installed in the valley? Pretty much no oversight. Just spend spend spend.
Kevin says
Oversight on Spending?? NONE!! Seems were getting transparency televised in some fashion with the Trump Administration. Hard to uncover everything after the $$$ gets sent to states and funneled through USAID.
WMA says
USAID doesn’t exist in any functional way anymore, and up to 14 million people will die, including 4.5 million children because of that, according to international aid groups. Doesn’t that bother you, Kevin?