Tag: Opinion

Opinion

Right to life?

There is a constant debate in America about the right to life and the Supreme Court will be taking up the issue again. People claim that there is a right to life and it should be protected; but the same people do not support healthcare for all. An impoverished person could be forced to have children, and those same children could later die due to lack of healthcare or COVID caused by a science denying “right to lifer”. Why aren’t people who are passionate about the “right to life” not passionate about preserving the lives of the living? Do the concerns for life of the “conservative religious” end when a person is born? It seems like this is the case for the “right to life” voters. Republicans and people claiming to be conservative have trouble with ethics and details. Maybe this is why they consistently use emotional appeals to sell their ideas. The house of cards that calls itself “conservative” has gotten away with a lot in the recent past; the continued success of this unstable political movement threatens our future.

Opinion

Waiting for the criminal justice system to work

When you observe continuous criminality and corruption it is much like observing a turd in a pool. Things are not the way they should be and each time you see it is distressing. Many people feel this way as we wait for the toilet to flush and Trump (and other corrupt Republicans) to be held accountable. America will not be what it should be until it demonstrates that no one is above the law. Support leaders who are respectful of all people, but most importantly US citizens, laws, and institutions. America is still a great country, but we face immediate peril that is an existential threat.

Opinion

Liz Cheney defending democracy in America

There is a lot of talk on the subject of the Republican meltdown over Trump and his lies. Liz Cheney was removed from Republican leadership in the US House of Representatives because she would not stop telling the truth about the 2020 election. Trump lost the election. Trump has led a fundamentally flawed organization over a cliff because their core values were a lie. White supremacy was the hidden cornerstone of the Republican party that led to a takeover by a cunning conman. A conman who recognized the fundamental weakness of a group pretending to be something it was not. America needs two parties that deal in facts and solutions to real problems; we don’t have that now. I am not a fan of Liz Cheney or her father, but she is playing the long game to save the country from lies and fascism.

Opinion

Asymmetric warfare

The United States has been hit with several types of asymmetric warfare in recent years from Russia. Russia has meddled in our politics with varying effect in 2016 and 2020 (and likely other elections). Many knowledgeable people claim that the asymmetric attacks have included useful idiot American citizens acting in the interest of Russia (Giuliani and Trump are the most known names). Now Colonial Pipeline which supplies most of the fuel to the east coast has been hacked by a Russian criminal group that does not attack within their own country. What is the difference between a Russian criminal organization and their intelligence agencies? America is in the crosshairs of ongoing attacks that are enjoying increasing success. Educate yourself and demand that your representatives do not cooperate with any enemy attack, and hold Russia accountable for damage to our country and it’s interests.

Opinion

Get vaccinated

If you are still waiting to see what happens to people who have received the vaccination for COVID; stop. Get vaccinated to protect all of the people that you care about. Remember that your friends and family do not want to go to your funeral because you didn’t believe the doctors or scientists. Your friends and family don’t want to get sick because you failed to get vaccinated. We are way past the time when you can claim ignorance about COVID or the vaccine. Every adult has passed the point where excuses for not getting vaccinated can be considered reasonable. The vaccines and COVID are not a political issue. Conspiracy theories should not cost normal people their lives. Protect yourself, your family, and your friends by getting vaccinated.

Opinion

Double whammies are a real threat due to climate change

The twin dangers of climate change and the failure to upgrade our power grids pose a large-scale lethal threat to Americans. Research has projected that American cities and power grids are not ready for heat waves that are increasingly common due to climate change. Heat waves have brought on rolling blackouts in cities that are not prepared to provide emergency cooling facilities for 98% of their populations. High temperatures without air conditioning lead to heat related deaths, and we could see them by the thousands in the near future. President Biden’s American Jobs Plan has provisions for upgrading out power grid. Make sure that you help to avoid thousands more American deaths (after more than 550,000 due to Trump foolishness) due to heat waves and inadequate power grids. Make sure that your representatives know where you stand on the American Jobs Plan.

Opinion

Investing in Americans

President Joe Biden is working to gain support for large investments (American Family Plan and the American Jobs Plan) in the American people after years of trickle down economics failing us. The president says that taxes on corporations and the top one percent will pay for the investments without driving up national debt (remember that the one percent have become much more wealthy in the last 50 years and can afford higher tax rates). Economist like Paul Krugman say that investments in Americans will actually increase GDP and make the United States a wealthier country. The other large impact of the Biden investments will be a healthier happier citizenry with more education, healthcare access, and job skills. I believe that President Biden’s proposal are the way to go for America, and the time for them is now. Research the Biden proposals and support Democrats if you believe the time for investment in the American people is now.

Opinion

Climate change and power grids

President Joe Biden is working to get an infrastructure bill passed that will create several hundred thousand good paying jobs. The passage of the bill will be timely because the window to eliminate carbon as a destructive force in our atmosphere is closing. Republicans may argue that the price tag for a multi-trillion dollar infrastructure bill is too high, but the cost of not getting the job done is the end of civilization as we know it. The good news is that we are already making important gains in clean energy. California spent several seconds at 94.5 percent renewable energy usage in late April of 2021. Operating at nearly 100 percent clean energy even on a good day is a big deal. This is great news because we are still in the early stages of renewable energy development and power grid updating. Clean energy costs are declining and are cheaper than fossil fuels for power generation companies. The infrastructure bill could push the United States into the fast lane of clean energy and efficient reliable power grids. No more Texas power grid nightmares and likely cheaper prices for electricity. Tell your representatives to get on board with the Biden infrastructure plan.

Opinion

Rosa Parks to Darnella Frazier; the struggle continues

Rosa Parks was a person who didn’t seek fame, but did not shrink from doing her part in the struggle for civil rights. After Mrs. Parks stood up for the civil rights of African-Americans on public transportation she was economically targeted, and had to leave Birmingham, Alabama. Darnella Frazier was not looking for recognition either, but she did the right thing when she saw evil. She held up a mirror not just to police behavior, but to America and what we allow in our public servants. Derek Chauvin would probably have gotten away with murder if Darnella had not stood up to his evil. With Darnella leading the way the Minneapolis community defined itself as people who would not tolerate clear evil. The struggle between those who will allow evil to triumph as long as it leaves them comfortable, and those who will not make a deal with the devil goes on. Hopefully new laws will protect decency for everyone and diminish opportunities for evil, but as the quote says “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty/“

Opinion

America remains the world’s best hope and potential greatest disaster

The United States offers so many strengths and so much hope that it cannot be ignored by people around the world. Americans seem to be stuck in repeating cycles of conspiracy theories, assault rifle mass murders, abusive police incidents, failing infrastructure events, and an ongoing cold civil war revolving around culture, race, and politics. Americans say they want change, but vote for the same politicians who deliver the same results and threaten worse. There is no way that people with integrity can continue to ignore the reality that what we say we are, and who we actually are during elections is different. People are known for being deceptive and conflicted (demanding morality in others while being ruthless and amoral in pursuit of selfish goals for instance), but we are capable of enlightenment and acting in our ultimate best interest. Make sure that you know the stakes in the events of our time and act for a better future. George Floyd’s trial is a milestone on our journey to somewhere; let’s hope and work so that it is not hell.