Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

KS Toronado

(23,727 posts)
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 11:07 AM Mar 22

At the cancer center last Wed.

The Kristi Noem hearing was on the TV, two gentlemen are discussing the proceedings, the Liberal
attacking and making fun of her answers and MAGA guy defending her. No raised voices just polite
conversation between two guys I assumed were good acquaintances. During a commercial the Liberal
asked MAGA if he ever figured out how trickle down economics put money in his pocket? Well he hee
hawed around talking but not really saying anything when I spoke up that I knew how it works in theory.

"Remember Reagan said those getting the tax breaks were the job creators and how do they create jobs?
Our economy is based on supply & demand, more demand requires companies to hire more workers to
keep production flowing. Reagan's plan was quite simple."

"Those getting huge tax breaks were supposed to use that money to buy thousands & thousands of say
new toasters, washers & dryers, bicycles, anything American made in their State and give it away to the
poor and needy. And the guys getting the largest tax breaks in the billions were supposed to buy thousands
and thousands of new cars and give them away to the homeless."

By now everybody but MAGA is laughing but even he had a small grin.

"In reality every huge tax break for the wealthy leaves our Treasury short of money so we have to go
borrow money and guess what? The wealthy loan us back the money we just gave them with interest,
so there's the trickle down Reagan talked about, it trickles down only for the rich."

Health update.......doing my best to stay away from all the terrible news which is hard to do. It's getting
difficult to eat, my jaw and throat hurts 24/7. Dropped down to 198 lbs, now up to 203 lbs which is a good
sign. Doc keeps saying a feeding tube is in my future, hope I can continue swallowing so I don't need one.

Had 2 chemo treatments so far with 5 more scheduled once a week plus radiation Mon thur Fri.
Tired all the time, be glad when I beat this and get back to posting the daily toons.

Remember to mention VOTING RIGHTS at the upcoming No Kings rallies.

55 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
At the cancer center last Wed. (Original Post) KS Toronado Mar 22 OP
Hang in there, dear KS Toronado UpInArms Mar 22 #1
Ditto that! erronis Mar 22 #5
Great response on 'trickle down'! Spazito Mar 22 #2
Chemo is no picnic! I went through it about 15 years ago. Diamond_Dog Mar 22 #3
Hang in there, KS. sheshe2 Mar 22 #4
K and R PCIntern Mar 22 #6
Rooting for you KS Toronado malaise Mar 22 #7
Nicely done Easterncedar Mar 22 #8
I went through daily chemo and radiation all last spring. 10 Turtle Day Mar 22 #9
Good news malaise Mar 22 #34
Sending hugs as you work your way through this livetohike Mar 22 #10
Is there any cheese left? Marthe48 Mar 22 #11
Way back in the day Henry Ford paid his workers $5 a day. Theroy was if the workers had money they would buy the cars. Srkdqltr Mar 22 #12
Thank you very much for the update on your health. My husband has Malignant Cancer of the prostrate. He had radiation debm55 Mar 22 #13
Good luck 🫂🍀 mwmisses4289 Mar 22 #14
Wonderful you can make people laugh there! people Mar 22 #15
Keeping your sense of humor is a great sign...👍 MiHale Mar 22 #16
Sending hugs and best wishes to you, KS Toronado Grim Chieftain Mar 22 #17
I will also be glad when you beat that beast. bluescribbler Mar 22 #18
Continuing vibes for full recovery and healing. niyad Mar 22 #19
I'm glad to see you haven't lost a step KS ... you're just as sharp as ever FakeNoose Mar 22 #20
So good to hear from you. wnylib Mar 22 #21
Miss the cartoons and your experience on the MIR Team! surfered Mar 22 #22
I'm hoping for the best. We all are! mt Exp Mar 22 #23
Keep em laughing, right now the people around you are your best friends. 1WorldHope Mar 22 #24
Thinking of you today and always. We love you, KS Toronado. littlemissmartypants Mar 22 #25
Your sense of humor is good medicine Wild blueberry Mar 22 #26
Stay in good spirits! MeNotThatKindOfOrc Mar 22 #27
Great post KS Toronado. Keep up the good spirit. Best. c-rational Mar 22 #28
More prayers and healing vibes, and I hope you won't need a feeding tube. My mother suffered from a swallowing highplainsdem Mar 22 #29
We're rooting for you! pandr32 Mar 22 #30
Sending hugs and healing vibes as you continue to fight MIButterfly Mar 22 #31
I will also be glad WHEN you beat this. LoisB Mar 22 #32
Here's to putting maga BaronChocula Mar 22 #33
Thanks for the update, KS Toronado! calimary Mar 22 #35
Good to hear from you, KS! 70sEraVet Mar 22 #36
Even when life has introduced you to new harsh variables. Prairie_Seagull Mar 22 #37
You induced a small grin in a MAGA! planetc Mar 22 #38
tinkle-down gave us nothing but deficits + higher FEES. sooooooWHOOOOOO!!! pansypoo53219 Mar 22 #39
Thanks for being so thoughtful. SleeplessinSoCal Mar 22 #40
Great to hear from you! SergeStorms Mar 22 #41
Thanks for checking in! nt TBF Mar 22 #42
Smiled seeing your post KST!! Billsdaughter Mar 22 #43
Get well soon IbogaProject Mar 22 #44
Glad to see you back Toronado jfz9580m Mar 22 #45
Well done KS, professor emeritus of fickle, trickle economics! MLAA Mar 23 #46
Keep on keepin' on democrank Mar 23 #47
Thanks so much for checking in, my friend! Rhiannon12866 Mar 23 #48
LOVE LOVE LOVE quaint Mar 23 #49
Voodoo Economics Johnny2X2X Mar 23 #50
K&R spanone Mar 23 #51
My best wishes to you and your family. riversedge Mar 23 #52
Nice explanation of how trickle down doesn't really work! Good vibes on your recovery ✨️ Devilsun Mar 23 #53
Take care, KS Tornado Laurelin Mar 23 #54
Vibes to you. And thanks for speaking up. applegrove Mar 23 #55

Spazito

(55,541 posts)
2. Great response on 'trickle down'!
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 11:11 AM
Mar 22

and to you, I'm thinking only positive thoughts for your recovery.

Diamond_Dog

(40,595 posts)
3. Chemo is no picnic! I went through it about 15 years ago.
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 11:13 AM
Mar 22

You’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel before you know it. Ask your healthcare provider for remedies for the side effects. I had a sore throat and mouth too, they gave me a mouthwash that helped. Don’t feel guilty for resting and sleeping a lot. Hugs and prayers for good health and strength…..

Easterncedar

(6,281 posts)
8. Nicely done
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 11:24 AM
Mar 22

I am going to try to keep your argument in mind for my next discussion. I usually just find myself at a loss for words.

10 Turtle Day

(1,228 posts)
9. I went through daily chemo and radiation all last spring.
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 11:25 AM
Mar 22

Not fun, but as one friend reminded me, “Keep your eyes on the prize… being cancer free.” Every time I’d get down or sick or feeling sorry for myself or feeling guilty for nothing getting done, I’d use that saying like a mantra and it helped me focus on the goal. One day at a time, just like with my sobriety. The only way to that end is to go through it without any shortcuts. I am now cancer free. I wish the same for you in your near future!

Marthe48

(23,183 posts)
11. Is there any cheese left?
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 11:38 AM
Mar 22

The raygun cheese would be a hit at food pantries

Some things that might ease side affects. Use plastic utensils with your food and you might avoid the metallic taste. Jello usually tastes okay. If the chemo is really hard on you, see if you can get hydration via IV the day after. During the treatment, a warmed blanket might be soothing. My husband liked Fiji bottled water the best, said it was least metallic.

Sending lifting thoughts every day!

Srkdqltr

(9,767 posts)
12. Way back in the day Henry Ford paid his workers $5 a day. Theroy was if the workers had money they would buy the cars.
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 11:41 AM
Mar 22

Family and friends saw cars and bought. cars were a hit.
At some time earlier this century Ford and other car companies had massive lay offs.
10,000 layoffs are 20,000 cars not purchased. Friends and family hold off buying because the car companies did family dirty. Many more cars not sold. Car companies almost went bankrupt. Simple.
That's how it works. People buy when they have steady money and everyone is doing well. When jobs are uncertain people don't buy. It's simple.
The rich cannot buy enough to keep the economy safe.

debm55

(60,665 posts)
13. Thank you very much for the update on your health. My husband has Malignant Cancer of the prostrate. He had radiation
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 12:16 PM
Mar 22

for the whole month. He is doing better but is still very tired. Keep up with the weight gain. Love, Debbie.

people

(844 posts)
15. Wonderful you can make people laugh there!
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 12:28 PM
Mar 22

All the best to you. Thank you for your communication.

Grim Chieftain

(1,743 posts)
17. Sending hugs and best wishes to you, KS Toronado
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 12:36 PM
Mar 22

Good to see you posting again, but please take care. The news is difficult to take even on a good day.

FakeNoose

(41,666 posts)
20. I'm glad to see you haven't lost a step KS ... you're just as sharp as ever
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 12:47 PM
Mar 22

Permit me to post one of my favorite images regarding "trickle-down" economics.

I admit it's not new, and I've posted it several times on DU, but the concept is something everyone gets ...



wnylib

(26,037 posts)
21. So good to hear from you.
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 01:01 PM
Mar 22

I have had a few relatives who went through chemo and radiation. Not pleasant, but they did come through on the other side, cancer free.

Good to see you keeping up your humor. Humor gets us through rough times.

The time for concern about current political events is AFTER you come through on the other side of this. Health is first priority above all else.

Know that we are all pulling for you.







Wild blueberry

(8,298 posts)
26. Your sense of humor is good medicine
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 01:18 PM
Mar 22

We are all sending healing thoughts, prayers, vibes, in whichever way you wish to receive them.
You got this. One day. One day. One day.
Big gentle hug

highplainsdem

(62,193 posts)
29. More prayers and healing vibes, and I hope you won't need a feeding tube. My mother suffered from a swallowing
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 01:38 PM
Mar 22

disorder the last ten years of her life - achalasia, which the pamphlet the doctor gave us said affects only one in 120,000 people - and I had to use food processors for almost everything she ate (salads of romaine lettuce plus an apple, ground up with mayo added, for instance), and it still helped to have her drink a bit of warm water throughout meals, to help wash the food down. Her gastroenterologist said she was the only person with achalasia he'd ever seen who gained a bit of weight (she'd been underweight) instead of losing.

A relative of mine who won a battle with breast cancer ten years ago just had a suspicious lung nodule found on a CT scan and will now need a PET scan. She hated the chemo she needed to beat the breast cancer and is saying she doesn't want to do it again, but I told her that if it is cancer and her doctors say she needs chemo, she should have it. I'm a huge believer in using diet, supplements and exercise to maintain health as much as possible, rather than relying on allopathic (traditional) medicine entirely, but when allopathic treatment is needed I'm very grateful it's there.

And cancer treatment is so much better than it was when we were young.

Hoping you're feeling much better soon, as you fight this.

pandr32

(14,276 posts)
30. We're rooting for you!
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 01:54 PM
Mar 22

Thanks for relaying that conversation. I hope it made an impact with that guy.
Hugs for you.

MIButterfly

(2,702 posts)
31. Sending hugs and healing vibes as you continue to fight
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 01:56 PM
Mar 22

Hang in there, KS Toronado. We're all pulling for you. Take good care of yourself.

Much love,
MIButterfly



calimary

(90,067 posts)
35. Thanks for the update, KS Toronado!
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 02:01 PM
Mar 22

Gaining some weight is a good sign.

We’re all pulling for you! Sometimes moral support can work magic!

planetc

(8,924 posts)
38. You induced a small grin in a MAGA!
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 03:30 PM
Mar 22

Congratulations on your progress, and keep on keeping on.

SergeStorms

(20,599 posts)
41. Great to hear from you!
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 07:52 PM
Mar 22

We certainly miss you.

Keep those MAGAts in line out there, OK?

Sorry about the pain and discomfort, but "stay the course, a thousand points of light," and all that. Just kick cancers ass and and get back to the business of kicking MAGAt ass. We need you around here. Stay 💪 strong.

Billsdaughter

(149 posts)
43. Smiled seeing your post KST!!
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 08:44 PM
Mar 22

So great to hear from you and that you're getting the treatment and weapons required to fight. Hold the line and don't stop kicking.

IbogaProject

(5,916 posts)
44. Get well soon
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 08:48 PM
Mar 22

Until then take it easy. Thank you for still speaking up when needed. The reason we should tax the Rich & Wealthy more isn't to take it from them but due to their not being able to spend fast or local. A grandma on a fixed income will spend extra quickly. Yes she might get a gift early and hold the gift but she moved the money quickly. A wealthy person might only eventually buy something already there like art or a luxury property from another already wealthy person.

MLAA

(19,748 posts)
46. Well done KS, professor emeritus of fickle, trickle economics!
Mon Mar 23, 2026, 12:12 AM
Mar 23

Please take care of yourself, you got this!

Rhiannon12866

(255,679 posts)
48. Thanks so much for checking in, my friend!
Mon Mar 23, 2026, 07:36 AM
Mar 23

And I know how tough it must be to stay away from breaking news right now. Kudos on how you handled that situation, humor always helps and you're the best at that. Know that DU is still sending you those powerful DU healing vibes and we miss your humor so much in these stressful days... Please continue taking care of yourself and following doctors orders...

Johnny2X2X

(24,212 posts)
50. Voodoo Economics
Mon Mar 23, 2026, 08:58 AM
Mar 23

Voodoo Economics was a very effective term for Supply Side Economics. Republicans haven't relented. It's trickle Down economics and Trump has amped it up.

"Supply-side economics is a theory positioning that economic growth is most effectively created by lowering taxes and decreasing regulation, which encourages producers to supply goods and services. Often called "trickle-down economics," this model suggests that benefiting the wealthy and corporations drives investment, fostering job creation, increased productivity, and, eventually, benefits for all income levels"

It's completely backwards to reality. The reality is, jobs are only created from the other direction, when regular people have money to spend, they demand goods and services and everything that drives the economy follows.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»At the cancer center last...