Wayne LaPierre the chief of the National Rifle Association, has a great job if you can get it. Spending other people’s donations to an organization (designed to uphold the 2nd amendment rights of citizens) on your own homes, clothes, and vacations is amazing if you can get away with it. I hope we have not become kind of country where you can take money for the protection of citizen’s rights, and then spend it on luxuries for an individual, but maybe we have. Citizens must seek the truth about our government, and organizations to hold leaders accountable for their behavior. Once the truth comes out we must make sure that no one is above the law to remain the free citizens of a republic.
Category: Opinion
Cultural, political, and philosophical ideas
For even the most determined supporter of Trump the moral arguments in favor of voting for him continue to vanish (if they ever existed). The world is increasingly complex and intertwined, but we have an administration stripping the government of experts of all kinds. The 45th president makes decisions based on opposing whatever his predecessor did, and does not seem to apply any kind of higher level thinking to problems or relationships. Lies are the most used tool of the President. The United States is dealing with increasing problems on a national, international, and planetary level, but we lack leadership that inspires respect of any sort. Who would vote for that?
Despite many distressing signs from the current political administration there are signs that Americans are paying attention to the world around them, and preparing to come back strong as the global leader. Survey data shows that more Americans than ever believe that humans are contributing to climate change, and want more done about it. 75% of Americans according to another survey believe that immigrants should be given a path to citizenship. Having a health care system now makes political sense, and it is hard to find someone arguing against Obamacare as a minimum. There is a lot of work to do, but maybe we are seeing the swamp for what it is and know we can do better.
The recent climate report issued by the UN has reason for hope in it. If humanity can plant 1.3 trillion more trees (enough to fill the space of the United States) the carbon in the atmosphere will be compensated for. This is good news in my mind because if we can quantify what it will take to help heal the planet then we can find a way to do it. Recent reports have been alarming in my mind, but this one stands out because while it says that things are dire; there are reasons for hope. Get together with family and friends and find places to plant some trees!
I think we must be somewhere near the bottom of a long national nightmare. Certainly things can get worse. The trade war with China threatens to increase pain and diminish our economy. White nationalist terror can strike at any time, and lead to violence in our cities and countryside. People in other countries see the United States on a level similar to Russia instead of a beacon democracy and human rights. Belief in our institutions continue to decline. Climate change seems to be accelerating the risk of a planet poorly fit for human civilizations as we know them. The free fall of the United States as we know it must end soon; and the signs are growing that the American people have had enough of the criminality, lies, and foolishness. I am hopeful.
Americans of all backgrounds must stand together to stop terrorists before they kill. There are many ways that we can work to diminish the threat. Our political leaders can show support for the 2nd amendment by placing reasonable limits on the weapons of war being on the street. Citizens who have family members who struggle with anger or reality can alert law enforcement when the person has access to an assault rifle. Citizens in public places will have to work to be vigilant and situationally aware; who is around me, where are the exits, where can I hide? We will all have to ask questions because our reality contains the threat of a hail of bullets from an angry disturbed person.
We live in frightening times. The Senate Majority Leader has done nothing to protect our electoral process, and he has blocked anyone who tries to. Reports are coming out that Senator McConnell and his friends have a lot of money coming from Russian interests. Dark money in our politics will allow other countries to funnel money to politicians like McConnell and Trump to gain influence. Citizens need to know the truth and determine if they want their votes to count.
It is always positive for important ideas to be debated in an honest and sincere way. Political debates are hard to follow if you do not stay informed on the facts underlying the ideas. Every American should keep up on the important ideas of our time so that they can select people who represent their beliefs, aspirations, and values. The debates of the last two days have been significant because they were focused on important ideas like climate change, health care, and wages for working people. I hope that when we select our next president we look at important ideas that will determine our future, and not emotions like fear.
Where are we as a country when the president calls a city disgusting and rat infested and the major newspaper of that city calls him a rat? What do young people growing up in this time think of dignity and respect for our institutions? How are we as mature members of this society supposed to explain this reality? The real question is how can anyone who is thoughtful and decent be okay with four more years of this?
We have entered a time where every summer (and other seasons as well) is a time of record breaking heat waves in several parts of the world. Scientist are more certain than ever that we are in a window where humanity can take action to stave off the very worst effects of climate change. The democratic candidates are discussing plans to address the issue of climate. The current administration fights with states to reduce environmental protections, and car companies who don’t want fuel efficiency standards lowered. We are in a strange place where the federal government is denying science while every indicator available tells us the emergency declared by science is real. We can all take actions to reduce the impact of climate change, but the most important thing we can do is vote!
Ethereal Bulwark 