If you have been thinking, as I have, about why Central Americans need so desperately to escape their home countries; here’s a clue.

UPDATE:  Could the NRA Lose Nonprofit Status?  PBS/OPB

Bye, bye Ollie!

How the Hell does the NRA qualify as a Nonprofit?  At best, they are industry lobbyist.

“Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity.  Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes. ”

Source:  IRS

Below is a link to Form 990 for the NRA for Tax Year 2016.  Go get ’em lawyers!

NRA2016-990

When I reflect on immigrants, my mind always goes to Lazo of Lazo’s Restaurant in Chicago.  http://lazosrestaurant.com/  (I think it was orginially Lazo’s Tacos)  When I first moved to Chicago, in 1981, I found Lazo’s to be a convenient place to pick up an affordable burrito on my way home from the El stop on Western.  This was especially welcome on the freezing cold nights when there was just no food in the house.  To this day, you can still get an awesome Steak Burrito for $6.25.

Over the years, Lazo expanded his restaurant from one storefront wide, to two wide, then three.  It became a landmark and went from Lazo being the sole cook and bottle washer, to a neighborhood family restaurant, which employed many young people, keeping them out of gangs and on the path to completing their education and perhaps college.  It became a gathering place where people celebrated and live bands performed mariachi and other music.

If immigration brings us more Lazos, I’m all for it.

This is a really excellent report.  Please find time to watch the whole thing.

This is important!  Senator Sheldon Whitehouse delivers a fiery speech on the corrupting influence of “creepy billionaires!