Category: Opinion

Opinion

Dictatorships and Oligarchies are crooked and lousy

The Ukrainian offensive against the Russians (in a war that should have never been started in the first place) proves an old point all over again. Authoritarian governments are terrible ways to run any country. Corruption and lies in authoritarian governments destroy the interests of the people and lead to death and destruction. Biblically it was termed “without a vision the people perish”; but we see groups of people conspiring to create authoritarian movements in our country today. Republicans surround Trump and lie to keep him in power and relevant. The question is what do they think will happen when such a broken person has power? Voting in our near future (possibly as long as several elections) will be an exercise in purging those who love authoritarians out of government power. Republicans have allowed their party to be turned into a clear threat to democracy. Research the issues and vote like your life depends on it. Climate change has to be addressed in the near future (just like women’s rights, voting rights, and many other issues). The time for games and foolishness is over or humanity will face dire consequences.

Opinion

Trump versus America

Any casual observer of American current events and history sees we are in trouble. Friends and foes know that the American people face basic choices about the future. Trump tried a coup once and failed; if Republicans choose him again (as they seem to be ready to do); the rot will move to a dangerous stage of malignancy. People everywhere understand that some Americans hate the idea of America. Tribalism will triumph with Republican support as Nixon’s Southern Strategy morphs into Trumps fascist kleptocracy (related to Putin’s oligarchy?). Racism creates a tax on marginalized minorities that is winked and nodded at by those in on the conspiracy. Whites benefit while marginalized are harmed in the racist version of politics that has dominated our past. Whites will likely lead the way to whatever future we will have in America. If Whites decide to be evil and buy what Trump is selling we will all be in for nasty surprises that will end badly. When Jesus told us to know the truth if we wanted to be free it was a roadmap for life. No matter what your background be a seeker of wisdom and truth; then act accordingly.

Opinion

Climate Crisis Sprint time is here

We live in a time that demands action. Joe Biden and the Democrats have been pushing to address climate change for a long time (since Jimmy Carter) while Republicans have been pretending nothing is going on. It is abundantly clear to rational people that Earth’s climate is turning hostile to human civilization. Most scientist tell us that we have not been responsible in the last few decades and time is running out to avoid catastrophe in coming decades. Republicans want to play games and fool people into spying on their neighbors while never holding politicians accountable. A nightmare in our society, our climate, and in our economy is a real possibility for us if we do not act decisively in the 2022 elections. There are many reasons to vote Democrat in 2022. If you don’t like fascism and lies; vote Democrat. If you believe in women controlling their own bodies; vote Democrat. If you want to live in a world with any hope of a decent future; vote Democrat.

Opinion

Climate Emergency

The issue of our time is making its presence felt. Heat waves due to Climate Change are killing people in “first world” countries as well as the rest of humanity. There is no escape from the damage caused by fossil fuels. Joe Biden has taken on the challenge and is working to do all that he can. He needs help. It is up to the rest of us to vote for the survival of ourselves and our posterity. Republicans have made it clear they do not see fossil fuels or climate as major priorities; meanwhile the window for civilization (as we know it) surviving is closing. Vote and act to support Democrats and President Biden moving quickly to shift our country to less fossil fuel dependence.

Opinion

The Hits Keep Coming

Anyone who is interested in the truth about the Trump administration can find it; those who want lies can find plenty of those too. America’s enemies must be drinking champagne and doing back flips as they watch our continued division over an ignorant clown named Trump. Some Americans hold up the corrupt clown as some sort of hero while the world sees a conman taking advantage of our many fools fueled by ignorance, racism, and ego-centrism. The January 6th commission has revealed the attempted coup that was assisted by many Republicans during and after the fact. The Trump Attorney General and his daughter both said they believed he had lost the election as did most of his professional campaign staff; will this make any difference to Republicans who want to believe the lie? Probably not. Whether a heavily armed America will wind up in a civil war is anyone’s guess. The hardest part of our current events is how quickly we have turned on each other at the behest of an obvious evil clown named Trump. The January 6th committee is just getting started; it is already too much information about an attack on our country that should have been dealt with in a bipartisan fashion already. We are a weak democracy, and it could get worse.

Opinion

Is there more mental illness in America?

There is a lot of evidence to suggest that the American population has more mental illness than other countries around the world. We are known for having a high usage of illicit drugs with more people locked up than anywhere else in the world. American culture has a built-in deceptive current of racism that caused the Association of Black Psychologists to state that if you are Black and not paranoid; there is something wrong with you. Politicians and media networks regularly declare that our greatest enemies are our fellow countrymen, and Trump stated that he trusted the Russian intelligence agencies more than American ones while he was president (receiving a lot of support after saying this). Americans are so distrustful of each other that we have more firearms than people in our country. It is valid to assume that a nation with so much conflict has more people suffering mental distress and illness. America has had a lot of success and much to be proud of; but selfishness and out of control egos make truth illusive. We need a new social contract that strengthens values like belief in a common good, individual work ethic, accountability, and integrity. Research and vote to keep liars and sociopaths out of power in our government, and to preserve our republic.

Opinion

Texas Fabulist

Governor Greg Abbott of Texas has been lying about the school shootings in Uvalde from the beginning. He initially talked about the shooter using a handgun and we later found out he had no handgun. Abbott continued to lie about school resource officers and other events because he wanted to shift the narrative away from an eighteen year old murder buying assault rifles legally after his birthday. Abbott clearly understands his liability in the death of 21 people and he does not want the citizens of Texas to think about the policies he pursues. I am sure that Abbott enjoys the support of some Texans who feel that he is delivering what they want; but I hope that most people actually love life more than they favor bullying and harassment to return to the 1950s. The human brain is not fully formed until after the mid 20s. People who want assault weapons in their lives between the ages of 18 to 25 can join the military, reserves, or national guard. Research and support candidates who are in favor of sensible gun laws that reduce the death toll in America.

Opinion

The Media has a problem

Watching Governor Greg Abbott of Texas hold a press conference in Uvalde, TX made it plain that no one takes the media seriously. Abbott said that eighteen year olds in Texas have been able to buy “long guns” for the last 60 years. No journalist asked about assault rifles or the period of the ban on them (from 1994 to 2004) and mass shootings in Texas during that period. Governor Abbott and the Texas media initially after the shooting said the shooter had a handgun, it was only late in the day of primary elections that the true murder weapons were revealed. Journalists never asked Governor Abbott about the delay in identifying the weapons, or if there were a political reason for this. Abbott said the murderer had no adult record, but there was no discussion that his eighteenth birthday was only a week before the shooting. An obvious question for the Governor and legislators is whether they believe that eighteen year olds need weapons of war like assault rifles; no journalist asked about this. It is reported that most mass shootings are committed by young men between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four; if this is a fact it was never brought up by journalists. Governor Abbott said that mental health is a problem in the Uvalde, Texas area; he was not asked why he would not expand Medicaid to get more dollars from the federal government for healthcare. Journalists in America have a problem; they seem to have limited mental capacity, courage, or character. Greg Abbott, Republicans, and other politicians regularly get away with ridiculous lies, misdirection, or spin to the detriment of American institutions and citizenry. If journalists are record keepers they need to use it to ask questions that matter.

Opinion

Pro-Life?

America has a problem. We love to destroy one another. We take issues and divide ourselves over them with a lot of lies thrown in to rationalize our positions; meanwhile reality tells us to stop lying. Deaths due to cigarette smoking continued for years while politicians and corporations lied. Pollution and Climate Crisis kill thousands in America and we still avoid the truth about the depth of knowingly caused destruction. QAnon and White Supremacist lie in a systemic way to point the heavily armed mentally ill at minorities or people they don’t like. Republicans claim to be pro-life but don’t support health care for all, or gun control to stop mentally ill 18 year olds with assault rifles. America is big into death and personal destruction. It is said that courtesy is the lubricant of society, but the “Pro Life” party uses personal attack on any who disagree with them. The January 6 coup attempt should have been enough. The children murdered in Uvalde, Texas are an atrocity that happens because we value the ability to kill and destroy more than the lives of children.

Opinion

Joe Biden is doing a good job

President Joe Biden is doing a good job (not great yet) in leading America to it’s traditional world leadership roles in economic, military, cultural, and geo-political affairs. Donald Trump and the Republicans root against America and democracy in their craven lust for power. President Biden looks out for average Americans in areas from healthcare, to student loans, to baby formula. Republicans talk about inflation and invaders from south of the border; real problems that require thoughtful solutions not victimization. Our problem is that we have a party that is good at attacking others, but has no solutions for anyone but themselves and their rich donors. American are at a sink or swim series of elections in 2022 and 2024. Voting for Republican talking points and anger will mean autocracy and rapid decline as climate change accelerates negative pressure on our civilization. We can approach existential challenges as the best version of ourselves, or a rats blindly eating one another alive. From all appearances President Biden believes in America, while Trump and the Republicans believe in controlling and fleecing the public. Research and vote like your life depended on it; it likely does.