Tag: 2024 elections

Opinion

Republican assault on America

The assault on America and it’s values by Republicans who have always falsely sold themselves as super patriots is increasingly dangerous. Republicans lie and cheat at levels far above Democrats, but still regularly claim “both sides do it”, America has become so unbalanced by ethnic-centric self-deception and absorption that we may lose our republic. Conspiracies of lies and criminal acts are supported by the Republican establishment, media groups, and a sizable percentage of Americans. Voltaire said “if they can make you believe absurdities, they can make you commit atrocities”. Darkness and evil are a gathering threat to America and the world. Putin has his cult in Russia, and Trump has his in the United States. Every believer in truth and decency must be prepared to spread truth and counter evil. Climate change and other threats are accelerating the challenge to humanity; our behaviors in this time will define us going forward. Will we act as spiritual beings in this time of challenge, or fleshly creatures absorbed with our own power and survival? Research and plan your communications and your vote to stop attacks on truth and decency in our country and our world.

Opinion

Home of the free and the brave?

America has long seen itself as the home of the fee and the brave, but we have been clearly slipping in the last six years or so. The Trump campaign and presidency were built on lies and grievance, but he was in the White House thanks to the electoral college. Free and brave people do not elect or tolerate low character criminals. Even though the majority of American voters have never chosen Trump; his long-term ability to influence our politics are an indictment of us all. Why do I say this? Jesus said that we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free. Truth is the basis for freedom in the world; access to, and reliance on the truth are protected ferociously by intelligent free people. Trump attempted to overthrow an election after an apparent crime spree during his administration; yet Republicans continue to support him. In private Republicans reported;y claim that they are fearful for their political and personal survival if they cross Trump. Is large-scale fear and cowardice indicative of a free and brave people? Most of the press and political elite today seems focused on safety and acquisition of personal status or power. The coming elections in 2022 and 2024 will be a referendum on the character and decency of the American people. Act to make sure that good triumphs in America and vote against Republicans who do not stand up to Trump. We live in interesting times./

Opinion

Lost Opportunities

We are living in a time when good leadership is critical to avoid disaster. Former Trump administration official Miles Taylor said that Trump has responsibility for the invasion of Ukraine because he showed consistent reverence for Putin over NATO, or his own intelligence agencies. Joe Biden now has to respond to the horror of a dictator lying to his people to justify needless death and destruction on a large scale. The leaders of coming decades will face a FAR WORSE scenario if we do not confront climate change as a society. The worst case scenarios of the climate crisis (read or listen to “The Uninhabitable Earth” by David Walllace-Wells) are a vision of hell for all of human civilization; and yet we do nothing as time runs out (estimates about the window to avoid the worst-case climate scenarios are in the next 5 -10 year range). “The Uninhabitable Earth” lays out that the worst damage to our climate has been done in the last 30 years, a time we have known about the impact of carbon in our atmosphere. Trump did nothing to combat climate change, and Biden is being hampered by Republicans (with Joe Manchin and Kirsten Sinema). America will not be able to solve the climate crisis alone, but we are doing too little towards improvement as things get noticeably worse. We watch in horror as the citizens of Ukraine deal with needless death and destruction due to human cruelty and delusion; far worse is coming for all humankind if we do not act to reduce carbon released into our atmosphere.

Opinion

Warriors against Evil

A core characteristic of evil is the belief that what one person desires is more important than what others want. Putin and his followers in Russia believe that what they want matters more than what the people of Ukraine want. Ukrainian refugees who abuse persons of color also attempting to escape war are guilty of exhibiting the same characteristic. I am not saying the evil acts are the same. I want to point out and clarify that evil can easily exist in any human being. The way that we can fight evil is to be clear about what it is. Rabbi Hillel described the Old Testament as telling us to ‘treat others as we would wish to be treated’; but modern life is full of examples and prompts that lead us to diminish others to maximize ourselves. Prompts for evil can be subtle or overt; a real estate commercial with testimonials from customers who all happen to NOT be Black or Asian people (are they too different or not transact real estate?), A presidential candidate telling police to handle suspects roughly, a political party denying accountability for criminal behavior while constantly lying and then saying “both sides do it”, state legislatures reducing the rights of women to control their bodies. Jesus told us “you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”. Liars attack decency and reality because they want to set up a world that puts them at the top of a hierarchy with EVERYONE else diminished. Do not buy the fascist idea that your group or tribe will be elevated over others, ultimately liars play everyone else for pawns in their delusional pursuit of power. Real power comes from controlling ourselves, not stealing it from others. Demand the truth and hold liars who damage reality to undermine others and aggrandize themselves accountable. Having a decent world depends on us being warriors against evil in all of it’s forms.

Opinion

Threats and harassment in a war against truth

Far-right Republicans (who are rarely rebuked by other Republicans with Trump never held accountable) and Fascists around the world have adopted a strategy of lies and threats to shape their version of self-centered reality. Everything that does not elevate the disturbed people who are filled with self-hate and repression is attacked. If you are different that is attacked with the victim portrayed as less than human. The fascist typically slip up and reveal the truth – there is not a threat from others driving their behavior; it is a profound disturbance inside themselves that they lack the courage to face. Every person who dreams of better days for humanity and the world must first seek the truth while fighting indecency, disrespect for others, and violence. Humankind is facing the increasing threat of climate crisis that will reveal our true nature; we will learn to work and live together as brothers, or die as fools. Act and prepare now to resist the power of hatred, greed, and deception. Ukrainians are seen on the front line of the battle against fascism now, but it is really all of us.

Opinion

Oligarchs on the offensive

Vladimir Putin and the Russian oligarchs appear to be set for an attack on Ukraine despite warnings from a united NATO. Putin does not seem to be concerned about the long-term consequences because he has allies. American right-wing media buy the fascist tribal rationales that Putin and the oligarchs use to obscure their theft and greed. The Russian oligarchs have heavily invested in western businesses and have made a lot more headway than the communists ever did. Money and power are desired by amoral opportunists everywhere. Republicans are attacking the right to vote and the impact of the vote in America; just like Putin and the oligarchs in Russia. Russians are not free and they will be distracted by Putin’s war in Ukraine as he solidifies himself as ruler for life. Are we headed for a similar fate in America? Americans need to be ready to defend freedom and democracy over here, and over there. Support President Biden and the Democrats until Republicans cease their support of Trump’s attacks on truth and democracy.

Opinion

Are Republicans the fascist party?

Questions are being asked about whether one of the two major political parties is dedicated to America’s democratic experiment. Here are some of the reasons that Republicans are considered to be an anti-democratic force right now: 1) Republicans have adopted the big lie sold by Donald Trump that the 2020 election was fixed, or hacked, or stolen; with no evidence. 2) Republicans have not rebuked Donald Trump for his assault on the 2020 election or his encouragement of the January 6th insurrection. 3) Republicans do not want to investigate what took place at the US Capitol on January 6th or the events leading up to the assault. 4) Republicans are implicated in spreading the Big Lie before the assault on the Capitol and have politicized it to make voting more difficult for US citizens. 5) Republicans are gerrymandering voting districts to create imbalance in legislative bodies at the state and federal levels; removing representation from US citizens. 6) Republicans will not identify policies that they are in favor of as a party for the second time after the 2020 elections when they also had no party platform. The idea seems to be selling whatever fear works for the weeks during elections without a direction or theme. There are more reasons that today’s Republican Party represents a threat to democracy. Research and act to protect your rights as a citizen. Authoritarians and oligarchs reward those who sell themselves for status and power, but they have no interest in the common good. Voting against the current Republicans until they rebuild themselves as responsible leaders with new principled candidates committed to government that represents the American people.

Opinion

Pulling the US together

Americans have been divided over everything from the January 6th attack on the US Capitol to Climate Crisis and COVID, but the forces that threaten our society are relentless. The carbon build-up in the atmosphere is causing changes to the climate that are clear to anyone paying attention, and the scientist are saying these changes are accelerating beyond previous estimates. COVID deaths in the United States are over 900,000 but we appear to be moving toward a more normal future of living with the virus. The January 6th committee in Congress and Justice Department are looking into Trump and his Allies in the insurrection as they would any criminal organization. While all of these issues continue in as public concerns we have a Russian threat to Ukraine and potentially US allies in Europe. America as usual faces a range of very real threats, but we do so with a president who puts this country (it’s people and it’s interests) first. Time is not a friend to our country or humanity for these issues except maybe COVID. President Biden and his executive branch have their work cut out for them, they will need all the support and votes we can give them

Opinion

Trump is Putin’s partner in American flank of Ukraine threat?

The Russian leader and his oligarch henchmen currently menacing Ukraine and NATO’s eastern border are counting on a weakened United States and Western Europe. Putin’s primary tools in weakening his foes are cyber warfare, white supremacist fascism, and propaganda spread by right wing mass and social media. The Russians know America is divided and that they have allies who openly champion the cause of the oligarchs under the cover of racism and grievance. We don’t know who the new oligarchs will be in America, or if they are already members of the club. We have a lot of evidence of strange behavior by people in power who seem not to care about democracy or truth. Every American should make themselves aware of clear and present dangers that have factual basis. Conspiracy theories can typically not be proven, but we have evidence piling up of internal and external threats to freedom and democracy. Act and vote to defend your rights and freedoms.

Opinion

Time to focus

The great NFL wide receiver Michael Irvin is quoted as saying “Pressure makes the good fold, and the great focus.” Americans who believe in democracy and the rule of law need to focus right now to maintain and improve what we have as a country. What we must defend is our constitutional republic. Freedom loving people cannot turn away from the hot mess that is America. Donald Trump and Republicans want to create a country where they have overwhelming power and no accountability. The reality of Republican overreach does not mean that Democrats can do no wrong, but it does mean that we must factor in the threat posed by Republicans and their media echo chamber when voting or participating in civic life. Right now Republican lying and coverup for crimes and attempted coups are the major threat to the American way of life. Research and act to protect the future of decency and democracy.