Tag: Opinion

Opinion

Are more Americans losing their moral compass?

Donald Trump won the 2016 election with a minority of the vote and a majority of the electoral college. Republicans are looking to 2022 to win a majority of gerrymandered districts to take over the House of Representatives (and state legislatures) despite not investigating or holding accountable any Trump followers for insurrection, criminality, or corruption. Elections have not taken place yet, but many political experts believe the Republican Party that has displayed no morality or accountability, will be placed in a position of power in America. Rewarding criminality, corruption, lies, and threats are evidence of evil and/or immorality. The questions for citizens of America is why are you allowing Republicans to continue on their path of inequity? What do supporters of Republicans believe they will get out of their bargain with the devil? For a person who is mentally capable to say they are unaware of the threat to decency or the constitution posed by Republicans is absurd. The truth would have to be in Evolutionary biology which is on the other side of morality; I want more for me and mine. Evolutionary biologists say that when things don’t make sense from a moral standpoint look to evolutionary biology; I seek an advantage is the short version. World War II and the Holocaust was the result of the last period of nations becoming amoral or immoral in their politics. Research, act, and vote your values to build a better world.

Opinion

Is the attack on Critical Race Theory really about handing off white supremacy to the next generation?

It has been said that the attack by Republicans and the right wing is really about blinding any analysis of systemic racism and white supremacist structures. Republicans lie and say that Critical Race Theory (CRT) is being taught in K-12 schools not to stop it from happening, but to demonize an analytical approach to understanding structural racism. If you make questioning evil a bad thing, then bad actors can continue the journey to hell unobstructed. Historians and academics are routinely warning us that we are on the road to authoritarianism because of the fascist playbook right wing politicians are using today. The right is increasingly desperate to limit democracy and intelligent discourse on the issues of the day. The goal of current Republicans is power; not improvement, or liberty and justice for all. Control the truth, control history, control the future. Research, act, and vote to preserve the American republic because white supremacy leads to authoritarianism.

Opinion

America cannot allow itself to become Wiley Coyote

The United States and it’s mass media outlets have a problem in identifying and reinforcing the truth. We have many manifestations of this problem: 1) Many Americans including highly educated and famous people do not believe in science and health professionals, or their vaccines despite over 700,000 deaths from COVID. 2) Many Americans believe more in a lying conman than the American voting system or the FBI; despite mountains of evidence of long term corruption by Trump. 3) Republican political strategy is increasingly reliant on comfortable lies like Critical Race Theory being taught in K-12 schools, or January 6th insurrectionists were just tourists. If Americans do not start to wake up to the truth and act on it we risk that Wiley Coyote moment realizing we are over a cliff about to fall.

Opinion

Watch Virginia

Virginia’s citizens elected Republican Glenn Youngkin as their new governor and it will be an interesting four years. How far will he go? Will he have the votes to start new culture wars and divide Virginia’s citizens? Will Republicans start to moderate their behavior and confront the true problems of Virginia? We will learn a lot about the true nature of politics in America. My question is what percentage of eligible adults in Virginia participated in the election. They say it was a record number of voters, but in America that could be percentages in the 40s of those eligible. Keep hope alive and encourage everyone you know to be active and participate in civic life.

Opinion

2022 and 2024 elections are about white fragility/supremacy (same thing)

Upcoming elections are really about white supremacy. Why is this the situation we are in? Republicans continue to lie and support the Big Lie to gain power and provide fascist sympathizers with an excuse if they cannot face the truth. Evidence: 1) Republicans refuse to hold Trump or his insurrectionists accountable for January 6, or an ongoing attack on the Rule of Law and the US Constitution. 2) Republicans claim that Critical Race Theory is taking over the schools as a racist trope to stage attacks on factual history (George Orwell said “who controls the past controls the future”) in the education system. 3) Republicans undermine the right to vote, ease of voting, and the primacy of the vote (if Republicans don’t win they seek the right to overturn or replace the election results). 4) Republicans consistently support welfare and government support for the rich while blocking any investments in working American citizens. The list of authoritarian and anti-democratic acts and behaviors by Republicans could continue, but the most important thing is for Americans to act and vote to stop the creeping disaster that is the Republican Party today.

Opinion

Will Republicans have the courage to save themselves from Trump?

The evidence of Trump being a criminal and potentially a useful idiot for Putin’s Russia continues to mount. The question is whether the Republican Party has the character and courage to break away from him before he does more damage to America. It does not look like there is any bravery or freedom left in the Republican Party. They have bet their souls on tribalism and idiocy winning the day. Ultimately American citizens will pass the verdict on Trump and the Republicans, or they won’t. There is no escape from the truth. American Republicans can creat a powerful version of reality, but they cannot work with evil intent to successfully steal reality. Don’t vote for comfortable lies and hatred. Research, act, and vote to create a positive future for America and the world.

Opinion

Build Back Better package could be a start

President Biden and the Democrats in Congress have a whittled down plan, but they must get it passed and then gather voters to support a 2nd plan in the 2022 midterm elections. Universal Pre-K is a big deal. Support for working class families to get healthcare is a big deal. Climate Crisis is accelerating and we must begin to make major changes immediately. These are just some elements of the Build Back Better framework that are more than we have now and are reasons for hope. I believe in hope not because I am a Democrat, but because it is more appealing than despair and provides fuel for action. Things are happening now even though corruption and dishonesty are apparent from politicians important to the process. Tell everyone you know who cares about the future to stay in the fight (gather the facts for decisions to act, and vote your values).

Opinion

Darkest before the dawn?

The saying that it is darkest before the dawn is hopefully true. We are living in a time of pessimism with good reason. Climate crisis, threats of authoritarianism, COVID and pandemics are a few examples of threats to our way of life. I think we have to stay hopeful and act to minimize the worst extinct of ourselves and others. It is hard to be positive at a time where the evidence says to prepare for the worst. Prepare for increasing threats to liberty and life, but work and hope for the better days ahead.

Opinion

Increase the pressure

Democrats in the congress and executive branch need to increase the urgency of getting the facts behind the attempted overthrow of the 2020 election. Criminals who openly defy congress (some after receiving pardons from Trump) should not be allowed to continue plotting with, and inspiring others to overthrow our republic. People like Steve Bannon should be compelled to tell the truth and accept accountability for their attack on the will of American citizens. When we vote for our leaders we convey the authority and power of our nation on them; not to convicts, conmen, and thugs who think they can impose their will through threats. Research, act, and vote to protect democracy and decency. Vote and act against Republicans until they support democracy.

Opinion

Is Don Winslow right about Joe Manchin?

Don Winslow’s video on Twitter titled “#Joe Manchin Senator for Sale” makes a lot of claims (with evidence) that Joe Manchin is playing the people of West Virginia and America for suckers. Senators who do not represent their constituents, or care about them, are nothing new. Many people claim the same is true with Senator Sinema in Arizona. The telling issue about Don Winslow’s video is the string of devastating facts laid out to support his claim. Is Joe Manchin a millionaire off of a family coal business that is paid by large carbon companies? Is the money from carbon companies the reason he opposes a clean energy grid that would save lives and strengthen America? The litany of charges backed by data against Joe Manchin is frightening because it shows the level of corrupt influence in our government. Trump’s cabinet was notorious for corrupt behavior. Is there justice for all in our country? Why do people at the upper levels of Congress (or Trump and his cabinet) behave in corrupt fashion and rarely held accountable? Research the issues and express your citizenship rights; demand the justice system hold everyone to the same standards of accountability.