Opinion

What is Journalism?

It is Labor Day 2021 and many Americans are concerned about a NY Times front-page article attacking Joe Biden. We call it journalism because they are supposed to keep a record of what is taking place, but for what; are they journalists or scribes? You rarely see “journalist” hold people accountable for the truth, so do they look at their journals after the fact, or just write and agree with what they are told? Many Americans noticed when Trump lied regularly and “journalists” moved on to the next question with a lie for an answer. The media was cowardly with Trump, and now they demonstrate anger as they question the Biden Administration about issues that have little impact on average Americans. We need good journalists who pursue and defend the truth, while pushing back on lies. We, as citizens, have to demand journalism be held to a high standard and not just defend their tribe or class. Do high-paid journalists attack Biden because he wants to raise taxes on those making more than 400k (to pay for the Build Back Better plan)? Do they overlook Trump’s madness and massive criminality because he offered tax cuts with renewed systemic white supremacy? Why don’t we know the names and faces of the persons who wrote and introduced the Texas bounty on women pursuing reproductive rights? Research and demand journalism that informs and respects American citizens.

Opinion

Has America lost it’s way?

Many are wondering if America has lost it’s way in the middle of COVID, insurrection, attacks on women’s rights, civil rights, voting rights, and Climate Crisis. American media focuses on Afghanistan while American rights are under assault and citizen’s health consistently threatened. It is hard to understand what Republicans want for America besides fascism and white supremacy, while the republic is threatened with many institutions seemingly oblivious. President Biden will not be able to build a better future for America by himself, as other politicians play a political game that is based on the past rather than the future. Contact your representatives and tell them to quit playing games and plotting for their individual success over American prosperity. Krysten Sinema, Joe Manchin, and other politicians (Republican and Democrat) must be held accountable for their actions. Act, vote, and work to get America working for a brighter future.

Opinion

Women in Afghanistan? What about women in Texas?

The American Taliban has struck in Texas. Not only are masks to fight COVID a bad idea, but there should be a bounty on anyone helping a woman seeking an abortion for any reason. Grandpa rapes his 13 year old granddaughter; it doesn’t matter – don’t you dare help her. The American Taliban is not about decency, or logic, or anything but power. Selling your soul to feel good about yourself is nothing new, but we are living in a time where running away, or avoiding reality is not rational. Whether it is killing children with COVID, not allowing people to vote, denying healthcare, or trying to overthrow elections; Republicans represent a threat to democracy and decency. The evil is growing and there is no escaping what is taking place. Research and act to hold Republicans and Trumps accountable.

Opinion

Leaving Afghanistan

The last flight left Kabul, Afghanistan today and we will hopefully win the fight against terrorism and fascism here at home. The American Taliban (most current Republicans) will try to impose it’s will on freedom loving Americans, but must be defeated here. As with any fight against terrorism we must win the hearts and minds of the people, and get Americans to commit to democracy. Democracy gives us the chance to enjoy the wisdom of the crowd if the people have access to the truth. The American Taliban have been lying or using deception regularly to avoid accountability and gain power. The next big fight for the American republic is right here at home and it is for the continued existence of a multicultural democracy, not a tribal autocratic police state. Every citizen will have to stop hiding, or pretending, and stand up for what they really believe in. The future of America is not certain; vote and act to protect our republic.

Opinion

Payback

President Biden recently made it real clear that the US has a variety of tools and leverage to use against it’s enemies. On August 27, 2021 the US military showed the capability to attack and destroy bad actors who are enemies of the republic. The next move for the US government is to track down and hold accountable those who seek to undermine and destroy our way of life at home. The insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol, and those who sent them, must be dealt with in the near future with clear determined consequences. The Republican partisans who seek to steal the civil rights of citizens must be defeated and shown the error of their ways. The only way we can reach the potential of our republic is to tap into the wisdom of the crowd, and empower all of our citizens. Trump and his cronies must be held as accountable as ISIS. or any other threat to the republic. Payback should be just and transparent; so that any persons who want to believe lies are obvious, and have no place to hide from the truth.

Opinion

Afghan opportunity

Americans are rallying to support the Afghans who helped our country during the 20 year struggle with the Taliban. Like so many immigrants before them the Afghans provide the US an opportunity to become stronger. We need to start by taking better care of citizens already here and making sure the Biden Build Back Better agenda becomes reality (with voting rights). The new immigrants matter, but if we don’t become more effective at developing and helping all our citizens we are doomed. Our society is in a time of “all hands on deck” challenges that require us to stop throwing our people away, and lying to ourselves.

Opinion

Dumping on Joe

President Joe Biden is taking a lot of hits on the withdrawal from Afghanistan. What has taken place does not look good for the United States, but we do not have a fortune-teller on the payroll. The collapse of the Afghan government was a surprise to most professional military and American policy makers. We are a Burger King nation that wants to have it our way and reality does not comply with that desire. Our future will contain more devastating shocks and surprises especially if we do not attack the climate crisis aggressively. President Biden obviously made some mistakes because he could not predict the future, but we have to make sure that America stays focused on the bigger picture of voting rights, climate crisis, human dignity, and respect for work.

Opinion

The Afghanistan land mine

The United States government has a series of incredibly important issues to deal with right now that I will prioritize. 1) Planning and fighting the COVID pandemic worldwide. 2) Legislating the right of citizens to vote in free and fair elections. 3) Planning and funding infrastructure for the climate crisis. 4) Making sure no one is above the law. 5) Expanding human and healthcare infrastructure so that no American is left hopeless. The list goes on but the Afghanistan issue is front and center because the previous President betrayed the Afghan government supported by the United States, and negotiated with the Taliban behind their backs. Then the current president was surprised when the Afghan government we supported refused to fight, but made their own deals with the Taliban. We will continue to suffer humiliation as a country until we confront the evil perpetrated by the 45th president and his sycophants completely, and in full. Research and act to protect our republic and a decent future for the people of this country.

Opinion

Afghanistan today

The pictures from Afghanistan are terrible and the stories are heartbreaking. As usual the 20 year story of how we got here has plenty of blame to go around. We start a war to get the person who attacked us after finding out the Taliban would protect him. The war morphed into wanting to build a modern nation to keep all terrorists from having a base in a failed state. Making other countries into the US has not worked before and did not this time. Trump negotiated a deal with the Taliban leaving the US-backed government out of the negotiations creating massive distrust. A lot of people died fighting the Taliban’s cruelty, but killing more will not solve Afghanistan’s problems. Hopefully President Biden, with help from our allies, will be able to get people out who want to go. Republican finger-pointing should be disregarded as the continued recklessness that it is, but ideas for solutions should be welcomed. Let’s remember that Afghanistan’s refugees represent an opportunity for America, and keep our eyes on the larger problems we continue to face.

Opinion

The US senate may control the fate of the republic

Joe Manchin, Krysten Sinema and any other waffling Democrats need to make sure that they recognize the gravity of the moment. The Human Infrastructure bill and a strong version of the For the People Act need to pass the senate by any means possible. If the senate cannot confront the climate crisis, voting rights, holding Trump insurrectionists accountable, immigration, and civil rights we may be in for dictatorship. Republicans have shown they are unafraid of accountability from voters with their consistent outrageous statements and actions. This is not the time to try and change the spots on the leopard with talk of bipartisanship at all costs. This is the time to act decisively to protect democracy, decency, and human dignity. Research and act to defend your values, and I hope the evil of white supremacy is not at the top of your list.