Introduction

Hi, my name is Gene. Welcome to: Toward a More Perfect Union.

Whenever I watch the news—whether it’s on TV, a webcast, or social media—it feels like I’m bombarded with the same cycle of noise: someone’s an A-hole, we’re drowning in debt, a foreign country is about to get nukes. But so often, the deeper issues get glossed over. Corruption by elected officials? Barely mentioned. Facts? Ignored. Instead, we hear so-called leaders offering “solutions” to problems they often created themselves, exaggerated or invented altogether. That’s why when they do offer evidence, it’s usually flimsy or outright false.

That’s why I started this podcast.

Here at Toward a More Perfect Union, we’ll cut through the noise and take a closer look at the issues that truly affect everyday people. We’ll focus on facts, consequences, and whether these so-called “problems” are even real. This isn’t just another political rant—we’re committed to backing our discussions with evidence. We’ll examine how public officials are actually responding to the big challenges, or whether they’re ignoring the most critical ones altogether.

Most importantly, we’ll talk about real solutions.

Our topics will range from economics, jobs, and wages, to climate change, evolution, and science. To kick things off, we’ll start with something that’s been in the headlines lately: tariffs. Everyone’s talking about them, but few people really understand what they are or how they affect us.

The President says tariffs will bring manufacturing jobs back to America. But has anyone stopped to ask: Do we even need—or want—those jobs back? Are we eager to revive industries like garment-making, toy production, or other jobs that create polluting factories and low wages?

Do we need more jobs? When Trump took office, unemployment was already under 4%—the lowest in over half a century. Economists generally agree that an unemployment rate below 3% can cause wage inflation due to worker shortages. That then creates a spiral where wage demand goes up and so do prices, which creates a feedback loop. P.S. There are ways to increase wages and avoid the price increase spiral, which we will discuss another time. Back to needing jobs, yes, we are always going to need to make sure our country has an adequate supply of jobs, but we should make sure they are high paying jobs.

Something few discuss is we import a massive amount of goods from countries like China. It takes about 10% of China’s entire workforce—roughly 100 million people—to produce the goods we buy. Globally, it likely takes over 200 million workers to manufacture the products we import. Compare that to our available U.S. labor force— which was about 12 million unemployed or underemployed people in early 2025—and you’ll see we simply don’t have the workforce to replace global manufacturing. So we can’t take back all of the jobs.

It’s not just jobs—it’s about supply chains. A single car part’s average lifespan might cross in and out the U.S., Mexico, and Canada six times before it installed in a vehicle. Every country brings something unique to the table—lower costs, better equipment, or specialized factories. Trying to bring all of that back here isn’t just impractical or cost effective.

Yet 80% of Americans believe we need to “bring back manufacturing.” Why? Because they're misinformed. That’s why this podcast exists: to help people make more intelligent, better-informed decisions by shining light on the full picture.

We’ll dive deeper into tariffs in coming episodes, and we’ll also expose who’s doing brainwashing, why, and how. From climate change to evolution to economic myths—we’ll explore it all. This podcast will be released as I have time (this isn’t my full-time gig), but the goal remains constant: to inform, to expose, and to propose real-world solutions—not just talk in circles.

We’ll also include helpful extras. For example, here’s a personal tip: if you or someone you know suffers from cold sores or fever blisters, try taking L-Lysine once a week. I dealt with outbreaks for over 50 years—even inside my nose—until I discovered Lysine. I haven’t had one since. I take one tablet weekly, two during seasonal changes. I is available most places you can get other supplements Try it. Experiment. Let me know if It works for you also so we can document its effectiveness.

Eventually, we’ll add to our website: resources, sponsor info, and even lists of stores to support or boycott.

Now finally Let me tell you a bit about myself:
I was born in the Midwest to an Irish father and a Polish mother. I’ve lived most of my life on the West Coast. I’m now pushing 70 and still working in construction. I’m not claiming to be an expert in every subject we’ll cover—but I’ve spent years observing, researching, and thinking critically. I believe I have insights that cut through the spin and will help us move forward—together.

Politically, I identify as a moderate. I’ve always followed politics since my teens, but about ten years ago, I started getting more involved—attending meetings, joining protests—because I saw things getting worse, fast. This podcast is my first attempt at speaking out publicly. But I believe we all have a duty to contribute what we can to help fix what’s broken in this country—and in the world.

So whether you’re left, right, or somewhere in between—I invite you to listen. Let’s examine the issues, question the narratives, and explore real solutions that serve all of us. We'll include reference lists in each episode and encourage you to dig deeper. After all, these issues affect your life, your future, and your rights.

Thanks for joining me.
Please subscribe. And I hope you’ll come back.

es. Our focus lies in providing reliable and innovative solutions, driven by a deep respect for quality and a genuine desire to exceed expectations.