I have watched the first episode of The Great Migration (PBS series) on YouTube and was amazed. The story of America cannot be told without understanding the story of Black people in this country. Watching this will make you a better person if you are open to it.
https://youtu.be/J8rtuX4M6OA?si=ABF_MPx1mhGK0n3U
The YouTube video “Why the US South is Insanely Poor” never mentions race, but details how and why it works in America. Too many people don’t try to understand what others have experienced, but we all need to learn more for our mutual benefit.
Anyone but Biden for your 2024 election vote is likely high risk and low reward. A vote for an alternative candidate either helps Trump or is a waste. To help Trump or the Republicans who enable him and support oligarchs (whether Russian or American) is a massive mistake. To maintain our Republic there is only one candidate who is a rational choice: Joe Biden. Protect your rights and citizenship; vote Democrat up and down the ballot every time until we have two parties who bow to the will of the people. Research and act to protect a decent country and future.
State and local governments controlled by Republicans are increasingly passing laws and removing opposition to take absolute control. Whether through gerrymandering or pandering to favored media outlets a full press is taking place to control thought. Media and education are targets for culture war attacks and takeovers targeted to leave people with no knowledge contrary to party orthodox propaganda. Truth is the target and mind control appears to be the goal. The project of culture war as the guise to seize power by Republicans is starting local, but will spring to the federal level as soon the GOP regains control. America will likely lose democracy if we do not recognize that our differences do not represent a threat but opportunities to learn and grow. The dangerous ‘them’ that represent such a large threat that we must give all power to politicians is a hoax. Research what Governors like DeSantis in Florida, Abbott in Texas, and others are doing to impose their will and their beliefs on other Americans. Become active in the effort to protect democracy at the ballot and in your community.
The Ukrainian offensive against the Russians (in a war that should have never been started in the first place) proves an old point all over again. Authoritarian governments are terrible ways to run any country. Corruption and lies in authoritarian governments destroy the interests of the people and lead to death and destruction. Biblically it was termed “without a vision the people perish”; but we see groups of people conspiring to create authoritarian movements in our country today. Republicans surround Trump and lie to keep him in power and relevant. The question is what do they think will happen when such a broken person has power? Voting in our near future (possibly as long as several elections) will be an exercise in purging those who love authoritarians out of government power. Republicans have allowed their party to be turned into a clear threat to democracy. Research the issues and vote like your life depends on it. Climate change has to be addressed in the near future (just like women’s rights, voting rights, and many other issues). The time for games and foolishness is over or humanity will face dire consequences.
We live in a time that demands action. Joe Biden and the Democrats have been pushing to address climate change for a long time (since Jimmy Carter) while Republicans have been pretending nothing is going on. It is abundantly clear to rational people that Earth’s climate is turning hostile to human civilization. Most scientist tell us that we have not been responsible in the last few decades and time is running out to avoid catastrophe in coming decades. Republicans want to play games and fool people into spying on their neighbors while never holding politicians accountable. A nightmare in our society, our climate, and in our economy is a real possibility for us if we do not act decisively in the 2022 elections. There are many reasons to vote Democrat in 2022. If you don’t like fascism and lies; vote Democrat. If you believe in women controlling their own bodies; vote Democrat. If you want to live in a world with any hope of a decent future; vote Democrat.
One of our two major political parties is crumbling before our eyes and taking the country with it. Republicans lie to the point where they cannot stand for anything consistently. Examples: Republicans used to say keep government small and leave choice to citizens; now they want excessive meddling in women’s reproductive decisions with large prison systems and reduced voting/protest rights. Trump asks Putin for help in attacking President Biden and is not condemned by other Republicans; while those elected Republicans are not held accountable by the press. Republicans like Josh Hawley talked to NBC news reporter Garrett Haake about getting information on Hunter Biden while not being questioned about his January 6 insurrection behavior, or Trump asking a foreign dictator for help against an American president. A republic like the United States cannot last without facts and justice. Republican and media cowardice are an existential threat to America because of their persistent failure to hold the powerful accountable.
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.
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.
Have you noticed how many times you watch the news and you get a lot of perceptions and feelings about an issue, but not details that are important? Why are there so many lies swirling around but no truth? Is the truth unaccessible or are media outlets not interested in you having the major facts to make a decision? I hear a lot of talk about voting rights bills, but rarely any facts about what is in the bills. Why don’t we start with the facts of the bills and then ask politicians (who work for us) what is their opinion and vote on the bills? Mass media outlets are so involved in the politics of the major events of our times because they have their own angle: access to decision-makers, and ownership’s interests in outcomes. Every story about voting rights should begin with what the major pieces of the bills are; but we never hear that because that might sway us one way or the other. It is clear that citizens or viewers are not the bottom line; it is the interests of the elites. America is dying a slow death because truth and facts are relegated to the sidelines. Ask your favorite network or channel to display the major facts about bills, acts, proposals, and any events they cover; if they get something wrong or leave it out they can always update and revise. What our media is doing is dumbing down content to the point where consumers have no idea what is in their interest, and lies make as much sense as facts.
Ethereal Bulwark 