Opinion

The Jim Crow Caucus

Several Republican Senators and representatives have shown their true colors and sought to undermine voters as the determining factor in our government. These Republicans believe that what they want matters more than what the people want, and they do not care about destroying the Republic. Citizens will have to display discipline as Trump and his minions threaten violence to overturn the election. The group of Republicans refusing to accept the certified results from the states will likely focus on diverse voting populations to nullify results they don’t like. Trump has not been a great president or even an average one. Trump has been a cruel racist president who wants to take the country to a previous time when minorities were subservient. Foolish people believe this is Trump’s gift to their whiteness, but intelligent people realize he wants everyone to be subservient to him and his empty soul. The Republicans in some cases are accepting their own results from the vote, but not those going to the other party. The vote is the greatest non-violent tool that we have to shape our future to paraphrase the late John Lewis. We are witnessing evil in our time and we must make sure every bad actors are held accountable in the media, at the ballot box, and in the courts. We are not going back deeper into Jim Crow, we will continue the fight to end it in all forms, and gain equal respect for all citizens.

Opinion

America in chaos leading to?

We have a large question hanging over our country and the answer will depend on the wisdom of the masses. Millions of voters in Georgia will decide on whether two Senators who have used their offices to corruptly enrich themselves will return to do it again. The Georgia vote will signal what Americans really care about, and if there is any moral failing that is too low for a Republican in a red state. Republicans seem to care about selfishness, greed, and power while not building a better country for working people. The COVID pandemic has been badly mishandled leading to lives cut short and economic distress across the country, but the current president and Republican politicians say nothing. Mitch McConnell and his friends say that we must now be concerned with the national debt after giving a large tax cut to the wealthy; while millions stare at disease with no healthcare, possible homelessness, and the mental duress that comes with life on the edge. The eighty plus million people who voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris wait to see if Donald Trump and his Republican political minions will destroy the constitution, while law enforcement is on the lookout for white supremacist terrorists who want to support the overthrow of our republic. I am hopeful that the republic will survive the current chaos, but democracy cannot last long if those who assault it are not held accountable. We are currently an unstable country dealing with multiple threats that have not all been mentioned in this post. Contact your representatives and let them know that you expect them to honor their oath of office and defend the constitution.

Books, Review

Book review: Deacon King Kong by James McBride

If you want to read what I would call a great and imaginative mystery; try Deacon King Kong by James McBride. The author succeeds with deep social commentary, rich imagery, all weaved into a provocative story. The book is set in a late 1960s Brooklyn project where Black people have migrated north to escape the racism of the south only to discover a new version of it. The main character known as Sports Coat struggles against overwhelming odds due to family neglect almost from birth, racist abuse, poverty, and finally alcoholism. Tragedy strikes early in the book, but Sports Coat despite his flaws is a deeply spiritual man who struggles to the end to make his life meaningful. Friendship and fellowship are major elements of this satisfying book where all of the characters struggle in their lives, but possess inner strength and character. The world can be a tough place and Deacon King Kong does not hide this reality, but author James McBride does a masterful job of portraying the human spirit shining through the darkness.

Opinion

Burning down the house?

Headlines for the last few days show a trend of increasing chaos by the current president. As Trump vetoes the bill to help Americans damaged by the pandemic; we have to realize he had months to make his desires known if he had any. Trump has not seemed even slightly interested in the well-being of the American citizenry. We may be entering a time where those who supported Trump while pretending not to notice his criminality will have to defend the Constitution. History will not be kind to the Republicans in congress if it is written by honest people. Republicans repeatedly denied accountability for a person who appears determined to do as much damage as he can to America. Trump has; pardoned men who murdered 14 people including children in Iraq, pardoned persons who likely obstructed investigations of the president, and repeatedly demolishing the appearance of a just pardon process. We will likely see more outrages coming until January 20. The question for America is who will protect the house from being burned down, and make sure that this does not happen again? Criminality is widespread in our politics and society today, if we do not control it; it will control us.

Opinion

Is there a bottom?

Donald Trump continues to show that he has no belief system or soul; there is no bottom for him. People who support him show that they are ignorant or evil. The question is what will we do about it as citizens who possess souls, a sense of dignity, respect for life, or whatever you want to call it. Trump works overtime to make it clear that current American politics are aimed squarely at our fellow citizens, and we as citizens need to make ourselves more aware of what we are doing. I do not believe that being in the opposite party makes you evil or hateful of America. Believing in lies or not taking time to seek the truth makes you a threat to America and enough threats equals catastrophe. We have corporations dedicated to making money on the backs of angry Americans while lying and distorting for the bottom line. We have foreign enemies who want to assist our hatred of fellow Americans. We must take the time to study the issues that impact our daily lives and make sure that we look out for more than our own interests; we must put America and the hope for a better day first. The threat of the collapse of the American dream is real, and we must make sure that we use our votes as ballast against hitting the bottom, and destroying the dream of America.

Books, Review

Book Review: BloodLands by Timothy Snyder

“BloodLands: Europe between Hitler and Stalin” by Timothy Snyder is a story of the death and destruction wrought by two twisted criminals. Both Hitler and Stalin dealt in lies and conspiracies designed to heighten their power and bend reality to their liking. Unlike our current situation in the USA (so far) the criminals took complete control, and the result is history. Millions murdered and life cheapened for everyone was the price of allowing the truth to become flexible. Timothy Snyder tells a compelling story using historical documents, statistics, and first-hand accounts to drive home the creation of hell on earth by the two dictators. If we survive as a republic our education system will have to strengthen courses on civics, and effective history that relates the reality of humanity’s story. BloodLands is a book worth your time if you want to understand human darkness and the price of lies.

Opinion

A threat to our country

The largest threat to the vision and hope of the American republic is not White people or Black people, it is ignorant people who want others to think for them. Thomas Jefferson said “if a nation expects to be ignorant & free, in a state of civilisation, it expects what never was & never will be.”. America is under threat from liars and corrupt politicians who have no regard for their sheepish voters who continuously support them for vague reasons. The reasons people support liars and crooks are vague most likely because they do not want to state they are based on controlling and disrespecting others. The ignorant, lazy, and modestly entitled must learn that there is a better life possible when everyone can rise to their potential, and not be systematically repressed or terrorized. Freedom is not free, but it is cheaper than tyranny and injustice. Research and vote in every election!

Opinion

Change and hope in the air

We are living through dark times and of that there is no doubt. The assault on our democracy is fueled by a portion of our fellow citizens, but the majority of the voters spoke clearly that they wanted a change and it appears we will get it. Front line health workers were the first to receive the vaccine in our country at the same time that we are smashing new records for infection rate. Lies have gotten us to a point where America’s strengths were turned against it and chaos became a daily feature of life. We have observed that IT CAN HAPPEN HERE. Going forward I am hopeful that more Americans will stay involved because they realize that there is not someone else who will take care of things. We have got to make sure that the wisdom of the crowd is able to come forth by protecting and expanding the right to vote, and the ease of voting. Americans cannot allow a super citizenship to emerge and create an oligarchy or dictatorship. I hope this is the last time we come so close to losing our republic for another hundred years, but I know that each election brings the possibility of new peril. Research and vote in every election!

Opinion

What price for treason?

Republican congress people and attorney generals have signed on to a lawsuit that seeks to nullify the votes of millions of Americans and reinstall Trump. The lawsuit has been rejected by the Supreme Court, but the attempt has been officially made to disregard the votes of American citizens by elected officials. What price should elected officials pay for trying to insert their wishes over the votes of citizens? This is a treacherous attack on our constitutional republic. I think that it is important for any citizen who votes in the district of a traitor to organize for their removal. The lists of the representatives and attorney generals is available online. Find and review the names of these disrespectful cowards to Trump, and make sure they are never allowed to hold public office again to protect our republic!

Opinion

Be prepared to stand up against hate and insecurity

In an excellent New York Times opinion piece titled The Resentment That Never Sleeps, Thomas B. Edsall boiled down the facts of our current politics. Voters support Trump against our constitution because they are afraid of losing status and need their fellow citizens diminished to feel good about themselves. It is appalling that people are so empty inside that they want a dictator to attack women and minorities to feel good. Our current situation is that dark and we must face this darkness directly to defeat it. A quote from the article: Building on psychological research on status-seeking, we argue that at the core of extreme political discontent are motivations to achieve status via dominance, i.e., through the use of fear and intimidation. Essentially, extreme political behavior reflects discontent with one’s own personal standing and a desire to actively rectify this through aggression. – source “Beyond Populism” research paper. Lyndon B. Johnson said it more simply: “If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he wont notice your picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.” It is time for Americans to embrace our constitution and the truth to defend the dignity of all people, and hope.