Tag: COVID19

Opinion

2020 has been a bad year

The passing of Judge Ruth Badger Ginsburg adds to a year of anxiety, catastrophe, and loss. We must learn the lessons of this year and work to make the future better. Too many voters were not enthusiastic about Hillary Clinton leading to the election of Donald Trump, and now almost 200, 000 are dead with no leadership on the way forward against the pandemic. We cannot even get consistent messages on wearing a mask from Trump. Trump says he does not believe that humans contribute to climate change and jokes about it, meanwhile millions see that the climate is more threatening with drought, fires, storms, and changes in nature. The United States will vote this year on long-term and short-term existential issues. Trump will likely be the worst president in US history, or the last democratically elected president. The Republican Party has gotten away with a lot of lying and now find themselves in a rut of corruption and filth. Vote Democrat to save the republic and create a new Conservative party!

Opinion

Surprised?

The saga of the evil orange clown grows to an astounding level as he admits to knowing that COVID19 is deadlier than flu months ago. Tens of thousands of Americans have died due to lack of leadership on this pandemic, and no one who has been paying attention is surprised. We are living in a horrific time with the western United States suffering climate crisis events and COVID19 widespread throughout the country. We have no leader at a time when threats are accelerating and leadership is required to avoid existential catastrophe. Republicans seem to think this is all a political game and do not seem to have any sense of urgency. The ethics of the Republicans have been nonexistent when it comes to Trump. Please pay attention and vote like the future depends on it because it does.

Opinion, Words to ponder

“The cost of Liberty is less than the price of Repression.” – WEB DuBois

What does DuBois mean when he says that the cost of liberty is less than the price of Repression? I think he is saying that we must act quickly to protect our freedoms because once they are lost it is costlier to regain them. Wise citizens are vigilant in protecting their freedoms because they know the price of failure is very high. Ferguson, Missouri was an example of DuBois’ quote. Black citizens wee the majority of the city, but did not vote in large numbers until after the killing of Michael Brown and the protests that followed. The Department of Justice found that Black citizens were targeted for tickets and fines by Ferguson police to raise revenue for the city. Ferguson represents an example of the high price of repression for Black citizens who did not pay the cost of liberty by organizing and voting in their city. Every American citizen is now witnessing scientific organizations like the CDC being overruled by Trump, and lies costing lives. Repression warps and degrades people and systems. We have to educate ourselves and act to pay the cost of liberty. As Jesus said “you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”. We are paying a price for the current repression taking place, and worse days are coming if Trump is re-elected. Plan your vote to end the Trump chaos; restore truth and liberty!

Opinion

Is Trump good on the economy?

The current president polls higher on the economy than his challenger Joe Biden, but what has he done to deserve support? Trump has let the COVID19 pandemic grow out of control and gross domestic product (GDP) crashed because of it. Trump gives the wealthy and business whatever they want for short-term success with no investment in infrastructure for the long-term. The deficit for US government spending is at new highs, and our debt has ballooned with nothing gained for the majority of citizens. More money to people who don’t need it, and increased anxiety for working people whose healthcare and other benefits are shrinking. The stock markets are moving up because there is more money for the wealthy to invest while companies are becoming more efficient with fewer employees. The US is coming to a point where short-term thinking and greed on the economy may lead to a market crash. The stakes of the 2020 election are massive. Everyone needs to search for the truth and plan your vote in 2020!

Opinion

Essential workers and other heroes

Many Americans are still at work putting themselves and their families at risk for COVID-19. We call them names like essential workers, but they are just people who want to do their part and make a living, The president and others are pushing for things to quickly get back to normal with as many businesses as possible open. The only problem with the complete re-opening of the economy (that everyone wants) is we have no plan to combat COVID-19 being implemented. American leadership has failed on a massive scale. We live in an America with many heroes but Republican political leaders display cowardice while pushing for others to pay the price. Teachers, store clerks, bus drivers, and others should not have everything placed at risk while being treated like canon fodder by Trump and McConnell with no health insurance. Our country is facing pandemics of privilege, greed, corruption, racism, and COVID-19. Most of these pandemics have been with us for awhile and periodically erupt threatening to consume us. Our sense of decency and fairness should push us to value and protect our fellow citizens. Nature is pushing us to adapt to challenges such as climate change and COVID-19. We must begin to build a better America before time runs out.

Opinion

Economic malpractice or malfeasance?

The Republican controlled senate has a decision to make on stimulus for our wounded economy, but they are in no hurry. They have gone on a long weekend break while leaving jobless Americans in desperation during a pandemic. Do we provide support for the millions of Americans left unemployed due to the pandemic, or allow more families to be thrown into desperation? Desperate families are bad news for our society and economy. Reports of Republicans wanting to cease unemployment benefits are increasingly widespread. Many of the same Republicans would have sent us into a 2nd Great Depression after the 2008 market crash. Thankfully President Obama and the Democrats took over and revived the economy. If the Republicans and Trump allow the economy to be further damaged it will be much harder for it to recover. Contact your representatives and let them know that we need to support those thrown out of work for reasons beyond their control. America is great because of its people and our belief in the social contract that binds us together. The best money we can spend right now (outside of a vaccine or cure for COVID19) is enhanced funding for the unemployed to pay their bills and keep the economy out of free fall. The Republicans own the COVID-19 pandemic and response; do they care what happens to Americans?

Opinion

What happens to the unemployed of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Millions of people in the United States are staring at financial ruin as their federal unemployment support runs out. Republicans believe the added $600/week was too much and discourages people from looking for work. Democrats see the funds as important to preventing the spread of COVID-19 by allowing the recipients to shelter at home, while also propping up the economy during a downturn. Many are also threatened with eviction if there is no extension of the moratorium. More desperate people looking for work during a pandemic induced economic downturn will not be good for anyone. Increased homelessness, crime, COVID-19 spread, and the economy plunging over a cliff all at the same time is a horrific possibility. Research this issue and contact your representatives to address the issue of COVID-19 unemployment. There is a lot at stake for all of us.

Opinion

Defeating foolishness and selfishness

America is a world leading country in the worst way right now. Why are we failing so badly? Americans are no longer comfortable with the truth. We feed ourselves comforting lies that feed our selfishness and usually we get away without any consequences, but now the virus has shown us who we really are. We survived three years of a lying president and only our reputation was noticeably damaged. Covid19 is likely our final warning before climate change takes the stage to show mankind what an existential catastrophe looks like. We need to listen to the science and care about each other while resisting foolish selfishness, or the worst will happen. Dr. Martin Luther King said that ‘we must learn to live together as brothers or we will die as fools’. Under the Trump administration we are living as fools with increasing death among us. Wake up and vote like your life depends on it; because it does.

Opinion

How the mighty fall

The United States is believed by many people around the world to be the greatest nation in history. Considering military, cultural, economic, scientific, and political influence the US is widely considered first in all areas. Since 2016 however the view of America has changed. Rising numbers of foreign students don’t want to come to American schools. Around the world American culture is increasingly seen as divided over race and class. American troops are targeted by Russian agents with bounties and nothing happens. The US healthcare system is unable to deal with COVID19 effectively due to a lack of leadership; creating a very negative impact on the economy. Politically, the United States is isolated as Trump attacks allies while stating love and admiration for dictators. Across the globe respect for America has declined and it shows in every poll on the subject. Trump cannot be allowed to sell hatred and division to win the White House; he must lose for America to win. We have fallen, but we can get up.

Opinion

Divide and Conquer?

The current president is trying to run a campaign for re-election using divide and conquer tactics on the American people. He uses racism and fear to stoke division to get votes, or make our society too chaotic for an election. He has already allowed the COVID19 pandemic to dominate America like it has in no other country. He has said nothing about Russians putting bounties on the lives of US troops in Afghanistan. He has not shared his tax records despite compelling claims that he is afraid of Putin because he owes Russian oligarchs money. He has asked other countries for help in the upcoming election, while making it riskier and harder for Americans to vote. He lies and spreads hatred daily as if he were a demonic agent. He fights his own scientists, intelligence officials, doctors, generals, and American experts of any sort. Trump has made it crystal clear that for him to win re-election, America must die. Maybe there is a bonus in it for him.