Tag: Biden/Harris Administration

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

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

Staying the course

Under President Biden’s leadership the United States is starting to heal and strengthen, but Republican victory in the 2022 congressional races can reverse that quickly. America is nowhere close to being out of danger. Until insurrectionists are held accountable and the truth informs the majority of American decisions; we face new horrors. Some politicians talk of bipartisanship at a time when one party (Republicans) is trying to create a one party state or autocracy. The pandemics (COVID, climate crisis, tribalism, increasing autocratic power, etc.) assaulting America and the world are not going away, only determined American leadership provides the best outcomes. The wisdom of the crowd comes out when the people have access to the truth; this has been America’s strength. Research and act to protect the vote for yourself and all citizens

Opinion

Risk Inflation or Oblivion?

Republicans are saying that the Biden Administration wants to spend too much money on human and societal infrastructure, but what is the alternative? The majority of people currently alive believe that the climate is changing rapidly for the worse. Do we wait for the point of no-return to act (have we already done so)? Inflation is a bad economic outcome that can be corrected, but a climate hostile to civilization is not. We have received more than enough warnings from nature to begin our response; the time to act is now. The situation with COVID19 attacking the unvaccinated in a new wave of destruction is an example for us to consider, multiplied exponentially to understand the risk of climate crisis. Once the climate turns against humanity it will not stop until modern society is destroyed. Research and act to prevent catastrophe. The planet will be here after we are gone, but our selfish and egotistical society will be gone if we do not change.

Opinion

Checks for families with kids – A Big Deal

Americans with middle and lower incomes received checks starting July 15 and this will reportedly lift up to half of the children living in poverty out of it. Children are expensive and our society has not shown that it values children after birth recently. President Biden’s administration and the Democrat congress have sent a message that the decline in child births is noticed. America’s identity has changed into that of a selfish and cruel nation both internationally and here at home after Trump. I am hopeful that Americans of conscious and goodwill will create a better future and reputation for our country. We have a lot to do but support for America’s children and future is an important step foreword. Research and act to build a better America.

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.