Introduction

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

Currently, I see our country going in many wrong directions. The strange thing is that I don’t believe that the people of this country want the country to go in these wrong directions. Some of the actions that our enforcement personnel are doing are unconscionable. Many of the actions and decisions of our elected officials are based on pseudoscience. MOST of these decisions are hurting our country, our economy, and the rest of the world. We have this disparity because much of the information Americans are receiving is convoluted and distorted. We are not getting what we want because most of the people in charge are lying.  Whenever you watch the news—whether it’s on TV, a webcast, or social media— you`re 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 (I realize the people doing the corruption aren’t going to bring it up). Facts? Ignored. Instead, we hear so-called leaders offering “solutions” to problems they often created themselves, exaggerating. That’s why when they do offer evidence, it’s usually flimsy or outright false.

I started this podcast partly because I am frustrated with the state of affairs. I love the country and want it to succeed. I also want to inform people and to disseminate information that’s not bought or funded by the rich or powerful.

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. We also ask the public to comment to add their wants and desires to the mix.

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. Those shortages create a spiral in which wage demand rises, and prices go up, creating 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 will always need to ensure our country has an adequate supply of jobs, but we should make sure they are high-paying jobs.

Something few discuss is that 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 see we simply don’t have the workforce to replace the global manufacturing of what we consume. So, we can’t take back all of the jobs.

It’s not just the labor force—it’s about supply chains. A single car part’s average lifespan might cross back and forth between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada six times before it is installed in a vehicle. Each country brings something unique to the table—lower costs, better equipment, or specialized factories. Trying to bring all of that back here it's not practical or cost-effective. The agreement creates jobs for all three countries. There will never be an agreement that helps only the US; it can't be. Mexico and Canada want to help their countries, too. Come on, let's be practical, they have to do what’s best for them just as we are doing what is best for us. So, let's take a deeper look at that. But instead of evaluating the benefits and disadvantages of the agreement, Americans are told BS by candidates, and the media lets that propagate, and now 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 upcoming episodes and expose who’s doing the 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. It is available in most places where you can get other supplements. Try it. Experiment. Let me know if it works for you as well, 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.
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