Opinion

Manchin and Sinema

Senators Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema are openly asking us to believe that they cannot recognize that America is in crisis. They feel the filibuster as it now exists is more important than the votes of citizens. The Republican threat to voting rights and vote counting is a crisis for our system of government. As politicians and “leaders” if Manchin and Sinema cannot recognize a system in crisis there is a problem. The problem is the electorate that allows these two senators [and any others that agree with them] to be considered representatives of their will. Call your representatives and let them know that you support HR-1 and HR-4 as non-negotiable bills to be passed into law. If citizens are not electing our representatives we are no longer a republic. Research and act to protect your future and that of your posterity.

Opinion

Richard Branson shows us how we should be

Richard Branson is a wealthy man who continually seeks growth and new experiences as he tries to make the most of his life. Too many Americans lazily spread lies and attack fellow citizens in pathetic attempts to gain power as they diminish others. These people seek power to minimize and disrespect others to continue the lie of white supremacy. The first casualty of war is the truth and by that measure we may be in for a second civil war. I hope that the majority of Americans recognize the great evil seeking power and live up to their better selves. We must reject QAnon, Trumpism, and Republican liars claiming Trump won. We must reject those who do not believe in the right to vote for all citizens, have the votes counted, and the majority of votes represent the will of the people in running our government. Research and act to save our republic.

Opinion

Haiti in crisis gives us a chance to be good neighbors.

The Haitian president was assassinated last night and we don’t know what that will mean for the USA and our interests. An unstable Haiti usually means desperate people trying to reach the United States rather than face imminent death for themselves or family. Haiti has been victimized by a racist western world from the beginning of it’s nationhood when soon after a successful slave revolt they began to pay reparations to the French. We don’t know if the Haitian negotiator who accepted reparations was paid under the table by the French, but Haiti has been an impoverished nation from it’s beginning. The United States should send resources to Haiti including advisors and security forces with orders to help Haiti reach specific goals in set timelines. Any Americans sent to assist should have a specific agreed mission and leave upon completion. We should go there to help the Haitian people and leave when we are done with our stated objectives. America should use this opportunity to help Haiti and other nations in our hemisphere as a way to help neighbors help themselves. If we are good neighbors we will occupy a nice home in a good neighborhood.

Opinion

Dangerous days

The United States is in a period of danger that will likely continue until at least the 2025 inauguration. I say the inauguration because of ongoing efforts to overturn vote results through lies, threats, and violence. If the American people make wise choices and maintain democracy through active participation in the electoral process success is likely, but not guaranteed. Competitive nations can see that we are on the edge of serious instability with Russia openly pushing to increase strife in the US. Politics is central to solving climate change, inequality, public safety, health care, etc. American politics is hobbled by corruption and demagoguery dominating the Republican Party. Keep hope alive by donating time or money to causes and candidates you believe in after researching the issues.

Opinion

Critical Race Theory

Professor Timothy Snyder wrote a brilliant article titled “The War on History is a War on Democracy” for the New York Times (June 29,2021). He did the public service of defining Critical Race Theory – a set of decades-old arguments about how racism works in law and society that has recently become a fixation of Republican politicians. Associated with the U.C.L.A. and Columbia Law School professor Kimberlé Crenshaw and other African American scholars, Critical Race Theory asks why discrimination did not end with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and recommends critical scrutiny of laws focusing on their consequences rather than upon the avowed intentions of their authors.

Professor Snyder also wrote how authoritarian regimes (and now Republicans in several states) try to control what people know and think about so that they can maintain power or control society. Here is an example from the article of how Florida is making the teaching of facts illegal while attempting to confuse the issue with Holocaust denial:

the Florida Department of Education’s new policy states, “include the denial or minimization of the Holocaust, and the teaching of Critical Race Theory, meaning the theory that racism is not merely the product of prejudice, but that racism is embedded in American society and its legal systems in order to uphold the supremacy of white persons.” Professor Snyder reminds us all that truth and liberty are under attack. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance and the will to act on the truth.

Opinion

January 6 coup a success?

The attempted overthrow of the American republic that started January 6, 2021 is not over. The Republican Party continues to push changes in election law that would enable the loser to be installed as president. Trump could be back in 2024 with voter suppression, corrupt political control of the election, and recounts tilted in his favor. It is horrific that a terrible president has brought on so much support for reinstalling his chaos at the cost of democracy. Real Americans of good will must rise up to defend truth, justice, and freedom. Push for your representatives to support the right to vote and defend the results.

Opinion

Juneteenth is a big deal

President Biden signed the bill into law creating a new federal holiday to recognize the end of legal slavery in the United States. The Juneteenth Federal holiday is a big deal. It is not the reparations that are owed to African-American citizens targeted for disrespect mixed with social and economic warfare; but it is something. America has benefited from free labor, underpayment, and theft targeting Black people. The truth must come out before justice can be strengthened in America. Sadly an American political party (Republicans), and a percentage of citizens are fine with lying and injustice targeting their fellow citizens. How this all turns out is yet to be determined. Research and act to make the moral arc of the universe bend towards justice!

Opinion

Is America based on fear?

Is the American way of life based on fear of poverty and failure? For many people born into the right families poverty is not a possibility, but for others it is a daily threat. America is rated low for social mobility because the rich get richer and the rest remain anxious. No healthcare, universal pre-school, family leave for essential workers (or people in the gig economy) in our country. Many Americans live with the threat of missing a few checks leading to homelessness and poverty. Most school-aged children before the Biden tax plan lived in poverty. America is reputedly the richest country in the world but desperation is everywhere. Untreated mental illness leads the headlines on a daily basis. Are we going to do anything about the death and mayhem that are regular features of American life? Research, vote, and act to build a better future.

Opinion

The time for hearings and trials is here

Reports emerged yesterday that the Trump Justice Department pursued perceived enemies in media and the Democratic Party. Survey data shows that people around the world lost confidence in the United States and it’s leadership to do the right thing. Trump yesterday (June 10) attacked President Biden while supporting Putin. Evidence of corruption and criminality on top of an effort to overthrow the 2020 election is more than enough for a strong effort to discover the truth and hold persons in responsible positions accountable. I hope trials and public investigations begin soon, so that citizens in our country, and those who care about democracy around the world see justice in action. Contact your representatives and let them know that they need to act to defend our republic.