Thank you Heather! It’s been a coming and going year. I’m just not sure what is coming and what is going. As a front line nurse I have been fully vaccinated and yet feel bad that so many elderly have not been. I have a 91 year old mom in assisted living who is generally healthy but at her age Covid would most likely be her end. And yet we have a disagreement in our family about whether she should be vaccinated. And then I have the Covid deniers who have made health care workers their enemy. It breaks my heart after being an RN for 35 years with the goal of promoting and doing what we can to keep our community healthy.
No words. Hats off for what you do and for standing for the science that would save your mom. It would save the Covid deniers too, if they would listen. My wife and I are both retired scientists and, although my wife is a molecular geneticist with a Ph.D. in viral genetics and some of my work involved the ecology of emerging diseases, we have anti-vaccination people in our own families who will not listen to us. I often wonder how we came to this as a country.
I think in addition to bringing back civics classes we should implement required "science appreciation" classes. Light on math but heavy on grasping the power of the scientific method and critical thinking. I can dream... My wife and I received our 2nd Moderna vaccine yesterday and are feeling grateful. Yay science! Maybe anti-vaxers and covid deniers should have to do a bit of public service in a covid ward... might give Darwin a nudge?
I like your idea for "science appreciation" classes! As a science undergraduate, I was required to take music or art appreciation and classes in the humanities, all of which broadened my perspective. Science appreciation classes could could take a humanistic approach by laying out the path taken by the scientists that have discovered the biological and physical and processes underpinning how the world works, from how the human immune system functions to global climate regulation--more or less like a detective story. Trying to do our part, my wife and I give talks on these and related topics in the local high school, where our approach is very similar to what you envision. Let's hope that your idea catches on!
As a scientist and a kid who wanted to become a scientist, I really like your approach to this, Manuel! And that you and your wife are acting on it. I've done quite a lot of that, but with adults who were trying to learn to understand how science affects their world in order to make decisions on it. It was tough for some of them, and I like your sense of focusing on the path scientists use to try out ideas. I did that in my jobs as a practical matter, but as a child and teen, it was learning how people became scientists and the ideas that got them there that inspired me to keep trying until I made it. I still love science, and reading about why people do science. Even if a kid doesn't grow up to be a scientist, that kind of insight can help them understand how science is all about understanding how our world works, even (and sometimes especially) the world within our own bodies and minds. That kind of understanding helps build a way to connect with each other.
It is reassuring to hear that my approach resonates with your experience as a scientist and teacher of science to adults from outside of the sciences. Thank you! Like you, I decided that I wanted to become a scientist as a kid. I grew up on a family farm in northern California but decided that I wanted to become a scientist at age 6, when we got an amazing device that opened a window to, among other things, science. It was a TV and on it I remember to this day a narrator describing how these SCUBA diving "scientists" were studying undersea life. In spite of the incredulous adults in my life, 21 years later I was awarded my PhD, specializing in the ecology of reef fish. Ending up at an inland university, my subsequent research focused mostly on river and terrestrial ecosystems. I have also been giving talks to adults in the local community on the role of fire in forests in the wake of a massive fire that roared through our county in Colorado and my wife has given talks in community forums on human genomics. The responses have been positive, although the word has gotten out that I have done work on climate, which has generated some distrust. Sigh...
And doesn’t that just irritate you? But what can you do? Nothing but take care of yourselves. Unfortunately, there always going to be naysayers. It’s really too bad that they don’t want to listen to two people who have devoted their time to researching and helping others.
Their ignoring us is irritating but even more so, it is deeply disappointing. We are encouraged, however, by those members of our family who do think critically and engage in the world in a more reasoned and less rigid way. This group consists of the eldest and younger family members.
Glad to see that younger members of your family are critical thinkers. We have hope going forward. Teaching skills of critical thinking is essential to combating problems in the social-political-economic power structure.
Karen, you and all healthcare workers are essential heroes in the trenches of this horrific chapter. Please take good care of yourself. Thank you for all you do.
Thank you Karen. It’s gratifying to know that this community of Heather’s creation has been a safe harbor for you... May your mother et a vaccination soon.
Bravo for saving lives in the midst of such insanity! We are so grateful for the nurses and respiratory therapists and doctors who work impossible hours and under such stress. You are the best of us.
You, Karen, are an angel. I know this first-hand because my 97-year-old mom was an RN for 42 years. She was an angel too. Nurses and medical care people are special people. My mom was old school--something she lamented to no end when she was in the hospital last November. Much has changed from when she was walking the floors. But, what hasn't changed is the commitment to helping your fellow human beings. God bless you and give you strength and courage to soldier on. It is appreciated. My mom especially is rooting for you too!
I've so far not been able to get vaccinated--I just got added to the waiting list at one medical centre and am scheduled for July 3rd (!), but they expect everyone to move up once more vaccine is released. As the primary caregiver for my mom I feel it is essential I get the vaccine. I hope more is available soon. Like you, my concern is if my mom caught this it'd kill her in no time. My brother lives here in town and so far is resistant to getting vaccinated. Fortunately for all of us, none of us almost never go anywhere and we're always masked and take necessary measures if we do. So I keep hoping we can get through this. For what it's worth, I understand your conundrum. This area in Georgia has been one of the hot-spots for Covid for a while now, and a large segment of the population still defies any orders to wear masks. It's infuriating. Health-care workers here are beside themselves with frustration about it. Amazing how these "personal responsibility" Republicans here are anything BUT responsible.
Again, words can't express how much good you are doing. Keep on keepin' on!
I’ll be thinking of you and your mom, Bruce, and hope you get your vaccination soon. Please keep us informed. Here in CA, my husband and I have both had our first shots and hope to get our second in a few weeks. We still wear our N95 masks if we leave the house or if one of his caregivers comes by. But there are idiots among us. We took a drive down Colorado Blvd in Pasadena yesterday and were astounded by the number of people strolling along the streets, very close to one another on corners or in front of the outside-dining spots. Masks can do only so much and many don’t wear them properly.
It is beyond discouraging to see how people disregard the social distancing and mask requirements. I am sure you've all seen the pictures of this weekend in Tampa. While there are requirements for the actual Superbowl, including giving out N95 masks for attendees, the pictures of the bars and restaurants with many partying, maskless shoulder to shoulder people is disgusting.
You are so important, and your community is blessed to have you. All in the medical field who are battling Covid victims - from doctors to refuse workers - teachers, supermarket employees. All who are at risk. All. Deserve respect. Deserve priority. Deserve to be at the front of the line.
So appreciate your hard work! So sad that we’ve come to this with deniers and anti vaxxers. Try not to get discouraged. More people are with you than not! Thank you for all that you do! 💕
Oh yes. There are many anti-vaxxers in my workplace .. a public school district. Not all teachers are frantically searching for a vaccine. I mentioned here already that 900 school employees were offered the vaccine in early January. Only 30% opted in. We’re back in person 100% now and slowly transitioning children back.
Not everywhere is allowing teachers to be considered to be eligible for 1B classification. Here in NH, the Governor's family owns a ski area and has allowed Ski Patrol members to get vaccinated ahead of teachers! (GRRR!)
Your services are so badly needed and certainly appreciated by many! Thank you so much for what you and your colleagues do. Is your mom fairly lucid? If so, let her make that decision. My best to you.
Thank you Marlene. My mom has dementia. She still knows all of us but memory and cognition are progressively declining. When asked about getting the vaccine, she says whatever Karen thinks I should do (since I’m the nurse in the family) I have Medical Power of Attorney so plan on her getting it. The challenge is the doubt and pushback I’ve gotten from my brothers and sister in laws. Unfortunately they have been taken in by some misinformation about the vaccine.
You are an angel. I, fortunately, got my first vaccination two days ago. My heart goes out to the deniers, and I hope they change their minds in coming days and weeks.
Thank you for the work that you do. Not only helping those who are sick with Covid, but for trying to help people understand the breadth and depth of this virus. You can't be thanked enough
Thank you, Karen, for your dedication. I'm 75, have a vax appointment but, although trying to stay positive, am concerned our state will have run out of vaccine by the time that date comes around. I hope that this administration will reduce the dark stain that is over this country, and I ache for the people who have lost loved ones.
From the sounds of things, here in the NE the supplies will start going up- we have hopes for the coming week. Our gov is sounding more optimisitic. He was pretty angry about Trump's lies and dissembling about Trump claimed when the coffers were literally empty. He is reluctant now to make firm plans until he is certain we are getting what we need because he believes that people shouldn't be told one thing and given another.
I just got my first shot, and we are all awaiting the time we all have had our 2nd and can carefully gather as a family again. We have one elder member who is too sick right now (with another problem that requires surgery) to be vaccinated. We pray that she makes it.
It is hard for us to conceive that people are turning down the opportunity, because so many have already died - some out of misunderstanding facts, some because they were being deliberately manipulated, some like our family member because it may be too late because of the unnecessary delays. That is beyond sad.
Karen, my mom is also 91. She is lucky enough to have two unmarried children who live with her to keep her in her own home. They have done a wonderful job of keeping mom safe. She's in great shape and we all agree to do our best to keep her that way through the pandemic. Unlike you though, we have no Covid deniers in our immediate family. Mom, my brother and sister who live with her, got their first shot last Weds. My husband and I got our first shots almost 2 weeks ago. I know that just because we get the vaccine that doesn't mean we can let up on the Covid precautions. I'm lucky enough to be retired along with my husband so we have been able to "quarantine" for two weeks before visiting them. It's a terrible shame that the vaccine has become political. I hope you're able to convince the deniers that you know what you are talking about. Good luck!
Heather, I have lived a very long time; fought a purposeless and violent war. We have much to be proud of and much to be ashamed of. But the Republican Party and especially those who desecrate their oaths of office in the Congress seem more vile and cowardly than anything I have experienced. I am not a person of faith, but God help us.
I have such gratitude EVERY SINGLE DAY for your letters. It’s a gift of sanity which helps ground me in the day of chaos these past several years. And in moving forward I so appreciate all the historical perspective you shine upon our past and present.....which is so needed in our country especially for our young but really all of us too!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Just when we thought “it was safe to go back in the water” .....trump will once again dominate the news cycle. We will be reliving the horrors of January 6th with the anticipated unbelievable ending that republican senators won’t convict trump. For the near term, when it comes to politics, I will only watch or listen to the WH press conferences (which have been fabulous) and read Heather’s letter. My brain is still in recovery from the damage of the past 4 years!
I feel the same. Yet I hope the news is brutal next week showing every single thing, timelines, people, planning, and the devastating outcomes. Then after the senate votes, I hope every single newspaper and newscast around the nation, and world for that matter, plasters names and pictures of those who vote nay for all to see. And we use ALL of this information for the midterm elections.
Would love to bold-face your entire post Tricia, huge letters in bright red including what Janet says about being in recovery. If Shit-for-Brains has to dominate the news cycle one last time, may it be for his crimes.
There is much healing that comes from just consequences to harmful behaviors. I have much respect for experts whether they’re historians, scientists, or psychiatrists. https://worldmhc.org/the-imperative-to-convict-trump/
Where and when do you watch them? The one time I tried, I found what seemed like the right web page but it must have been the wrong one, or the briefing was at a different time that day, or something.
I watch live the press conferences on TV (when I catch them) or try to remember to record (either CNN or MSNBC). Whitehouse.gov has written transcripts (ugh - too long and can’t be read while working out!). https://m.facebook.com/WhiteHouse/videos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0 videos also can be found on YouTube (not sure if those are live).
I so appreciate you Dr Richardson; thank you and have a pleasant “weekend”. (Well .... do you remember the Lady Dowager ask, “WHAT is a weekend?” (circa 1920). Now, I can ask the same question, but to rephrase, “What day is today?” I digress ....
In lieu of perhaps others wanting something to weighty to digest, since we have a light menu tonight here at the ‘HCR Cafe’, I thought I would offer some elemental economics in this Biden era, courtesy of Huffington Post
Basically, we have been deluded to think that conservative economics can offer us a stable country and community, by REFUSING to tax and spend! W T ? ? ? This is simply called delusional thinking! But somehow, this has been the narrative since Goldwater (1960s). Now, today, with a barren cupboard, where are the ingredients for our 1) health care system, 1A) ability to simply take care of a pandemic, 2) public schools, rural and urban, 3) stable infrastructure, 4) universally accessible internet network for ALL Americans, 5) etc and etc.
How in the world have we bought the notion of a ‘limited government’ to provide for a stable society? Free market corporations like Exxon, General Motors, General Dynamic and General Mills have NEVER been in the business of anything but making profit for themselves!
In other words, give me a good old fashioned “TAX-AND-SPEND-LIBERAL!” A good old fashioned liberal , like Joe Biden, and a youthful Californian tax-and-spend liberal like Kamala Harris!! Or in other words, in good old fashioned economics, “if you want the very best, ya gotta pony-up, cowboy and cowgirl!"
And I have a good old fashioned, warm-bodied-thinkin’ that Joe Knows where to go for some dough!
I have at least begun to live in hope once again after over four long years and many miserable mornings, waking in apprehension, only to have the nightmares confirmed.
With great appreciation for your daily briefings bringing clarity and insight, Heather, so wish you a much deserved rest. Thank you.
Great comments, Frederick, all around. Love being at the "HCR Cafe," a perfect moniker IMHO. To quote Dolly Levi: “Money, pardon the expression, is like manure. It's not worth a thing unless it's spread around, encouraging young things to grow.”
So very true. Over 50% of current US federal spending goes to the military: so-called defense, operating endless wars overseas, maintaining over EIGHT HUNDRED military bases across the world, interfering in the elections of other countries.....Taking those funds (manure) and using them for composted fertilizer on small growing things would be an brilliant and marvelous environment-saving venture.
The Republican economic system gets to be stable for a long time as the end point is the abolition of democracy and the reinstitution of minimum wage quasi-slavery with a rich elite enjoying the spoils untrammeled by annoyances such as the wishes of the people and their welfare....without the costs of maintaining "their work force". Fortunately popular opposition keeps this system in its highly unstable early phase as the join together in rebellion.
A little light entertainment on the subject of removing by force a autocratic, elitist system from the French Revolution......the "Sans Culottes" version of the revolutionary anthem...... "Ca ira"...
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
aristocrats to the lamp-post
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
the aristocrats, we'll hang them!
If we don't hang them
We'll break them
If we don't break them
We'll burn them
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
aristocrats to the lamp-post
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
the aristocrats, we'll hang them!
We shall have no more nobles nor priests
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
Equality will reign everywhere
The Austrian slave shall follow him
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
And their infernal clique
Shall go to hell
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
aristocrats to the lamp-post
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
the aristocrats, we'll hang them!
And when we'll have hung them all
We'll stick a shovel up their arse.
(Translation to English supplied by Wikipedia...with my abject apology for any shock that it might engender in the most sensitive of hearts)
Very nice prose. Can we get some more shovels over here? I have a list of places to plant them. Maybe we can get Amazon to do a drone drop. I think I need more coffee.
Exactly!!! Sometimes, throwing money at a problem IS the solution, if you have people who know how to spend it wisely. I hope (and am trying my very best to believe) that we are in the process of getting a passle of people confirmed in the Biden administration who do know how.
Ah, Lanita and Frederick, what a succinct and perfectly formed analysis you both have made about what the underlying problem is: people who believe to the utmost degree that capitalistic monetization is the essence of our nation, and yet refuse to apply that concept to the needs of the citizens of that very nation (unless they already have lots). Something wonky about that reasoning. I have long believed that not only is economics not a science (by any definition), but a philosophy. And like any philosophy, its tenets are based on a priori assumptions about the nature of human beings. It may be that by changing some of those assumptions, capitalization *could* become a positive force at a small scale. But as long as there is the belief that capitalism IS economics, period, as our society tends to do, that will not happen. I regularly see so-called "economists" and "economic experts" being interviewed or writing articles in which that most basic premise is not even recognized, when it should be the beginning of the discussion.
Yes indeed. Imagine, in a capitalist society, that of course money is required to pay people to deal with problems in a society where EVERYTHING is monetized. Welcome to the era of Good Government
A Heart-Felt Thank You to All of You, and of course Heather
This is a turning point week for me. A big part of my joy is directly attributable to success with my destiny work.
My life’s work, my calling, is producing a story in the form of a book and a movie. I call this eventual book and movie my “story project.”
This week, a complete picture of my story project has emerged. I also have a name for it; that name, or a very close variant, will likely grace the book cover (and the movie poster, if it comes to that).
My science fiction story project is a vision of a society which has a healthy and balanced relationship with the Earth, our Home.
That vision of a healthy society has story lines, what I call my various “Plots,“ which would or could make up a book series or movie series or series of TV episodes.
The core concept is a team of characters who are made up of representatives from all over the world. The team comes together: a whole set of early chapters in the book is devoted to that process. After they bond, the team is faced with challenges which they must resolve in order to bring harmony back to their relationship with the planet. Each of the characters contributes their special talents, their knowledge and experience, to the resolution of a special social issue.
It’s an allegory for humankind on this planet.
Readers (viewers) are invited to contribute their own social solutions and story perspective. All of human civilization has a part to play in the eventual outcome of the story that is our developing history in this world, i.e. world history.
Here in this forum, we give a lot of attention to problems. The story project is devoted to solutions. What makes it “science fiction,“ or “social fiction“ might be a better label, is the fact that we are inventing the future together. That future doesn’t exist yet, it’s being created, hence it’s fictional.
Until this week, I was fuzzy about the overall, overarching mission of the crew of characters. No more.
I want to thank each and every one of you for your contribution to my work. These discussions here in Heather’s living room have been invaluable. Whether you have provided stimulus in the form of a post, whether you have responded to one of my posts, or whether you have just read and considered my words, you have been an integral and vital part of my arriving at a clear awareness of my story project. Special thanks to Judith Jordet and to the participants in the discussion of The Fifth Sacred Thing.
Primary thanks, of course, to Heather for the incredible hard work of producing her historical synopsis every day.
This message is intended as an announcement of gratitude only. I purposely left out names and details about my characters and Plots.
Rowland good project. I have been a closet writer all of my life. The process of publishing has gotten easier but selling not so much for me. A big personality like I imagine yours to be has a better chance.
That said, into the meat just for fun. Perhaps my largest frustration in observing the US in our time is the precarious balance that always seems to be present between those that think independently and those that follow. The followers will always find someone to follow and that individual will be a leader but not often a thinker. In our time these two groups have been balanced, opposed and fairly stable as such. What then eventuates is that the tiebreaker falls to a tiny minority of individuals that are impressionable and blown by minute forces first one way and then the other. Because these individuals are not strong in themselves they are easier to sway with fear than with hope although either works better than facts.
In Science fiction, or future social fiction that is not dystopian we get to escape from this governing ‘fact’ of our real world but in doing so we can get into a place that doesn’t correspond to reality. It is Ok for fiction to do this but it looses some of the power for social commentary.
Whether you accept it as true or not the model of souls that have specific developmental stages such as is presented in many places but pretty clearly in Michaelteaching.com. has some traction. Here we see that we have mature souls balanced in numbers with young souls, about 34% each. Mature souls are people concerned with the future and with responsible behavior that leads to preservation of the environment both social and physical; basically things that are larger than self. But, these are also individualists because they have developed strong self identities and they are no longer looking for a leader to pull strength from. These souls have graduated from being young souls, but they were young souls once.
Young souls are tasked with stabilizing themselves. As such they are concerned with self not others, they are looking for a strong leader to identify with and it doesn’t matter what that leader says or does. These leaders are also young souls but a bit further along such that they’re seeking of self has led to power, money, self-aggrandizement and firmly held self-appreciation. To expect different behavior from these young souls is not valid under the system.
So, about 68% (not as accurate as that number implies probably) of populations are fixed into these two opposing roles leaving infant souls, baby souls and old souls to make up the other 32%. Some Old souls continue to be involved enough to vote but a lot have moved beyond desiring to be involved in physical life enough to be motivated perhaps 10%. Infant souls have enough to do to just stay alive ~ 7% (I’m doing these numbers from memory) leaving 15% Baby souls.
It is this 15% that forms the swing vote. These are people who will go vote if you help them to do it but aren’t likely to vote if left to themselves. This is the GOTV process. Unfortunately, it has to be done every time and it requires the same amount of mature soul effort every time.
Having brought all this out in theory, it is real to add that these lines are not so black and white of course. Individuals are on a spectrum of development that doesn’t have clear dividing lines but the system does track with what happens.
Your cadre of representatives will have to be mostly Mature souls a few old ones and some Young ones who are just in it for the experience of influencing others. This can help a plot along demonizing these Young power hungry characters but that has kind of been done a lot. We would certainly like to do it to Trump clearly a middle young soul. We liked FDR perhaps a newish mature soul who garnered a following of young souls and moved a mature soul agenda along. We’d like to see that again.
There is an idea that baby souls are no longer coming to the Earth implying that as time goes on the soul age will begin to move upward and eventually mature souls will outnumber young souls. This would be an interesting time setting. I hope the earth as we know it survives that long.
Soul ages are more proportionately mixed here in the US but unevenly mixed in different areas of the world. For instance old souls and late mature souls in Northern Europe are currently balancing young souls and baby souls in the Middle East.
It is just something to think about as you form your plot outline and characters. Maybe useful maybe not. Maybe welcome... maybe not. Lol!
I love this so much! Thank you. Have you read ‘Life is in the Transitions’ by Bruce Feiler? It’s an extraordinary look at the way we have been accustomed to think that life is linear and things are suppose to happen in a certain way and when they don’t that brings much of the negativity and angst we experience in our lives.
His website is an excellent information site for the life stories he collected for over a decade in gathering the research for his book. What he finds is that if we can lean into and find the good and the joy and the miraculous lessons in what life presents to us we can experience more joy. More happiness and peace from day to day. I’m oversimplifying just work but it was brought to mind after reading your comment.
My plan was to avoid discussion about the story concept, but you leave me no choice, I have to at least respond to you for the lengthy and thoughtful reply. For the rest of you, if you manage to find this note, thank you so much for your messages of love and support. I am so grateful.
Patrick, this is the first time in over 30 years anybody has ever discussed this material with me. At the end of your post, you said something like “maybe helpful, maybe not.“ You must be joking. Of course this is helpful. You are bringing up a subject that I discovered 30 years ago. Before the internet, before Zoom calls and Substack forums, decades ago. I have never, repeat never, had conversations with anybody knowledgeable about the subject. Your analysis is EXCELLENT. I repeat, EXCELLENT. *Absolutely* I want to consider old and mature and young soul mix in my characters and in my readership-viewership-audience. Not to mention including the concept of soul age in the narrative, as a teaching point. I have already developed a specific character specifically because he is a young soul and in the military, which are both demographics I want represented in the character mix. What good is it if I write a book for only old souls. Pah! I will be reading your words and thinking about them over the course of the next few weeks. THANK YOU Patrick‼️🙏🙏
This reply leaves me with a dilemma. We are in Heather’s living room, the HCR Café as somebody noted today. I am mindful of the fact that my book and story project is not the subject of discussion in this forum. So at some point soon I may post A Request for Comment. I would email Heather herself if I could, but I don’t have access to her. I don’t feel the freedom to just come right out and start using this forum selfishly and transparently for my own purposes. We’ll see.
Brilliant. Simply brilliant. The little bits you share are right up my alley. Life is nonlinear. A thought you have or a decision you make can have miraculous consequences years later, or maybe years earlier. Life is like the ripples of a stone dropped into a pond, moving out in all directions and both backward and forward in time. A decision you make can have consequences earlier in life, reaching out to a younger version of you, and of course, as is generally accepted, to future selves.
Also Tricia your comment about finding joy is brilliant as well. It goes to the heart of some of the “science fiction” component of my philosophy and story universe, Jane Roberts-type stuff.
Yes, Roland. I so agree. After I read Bruce's work (and it took me a while because I had to set the book down and really digest the deepness of it) I studied the way he collected his research and since have followed his life story project. His work really brought a peace to my life. The concept that life is not linear can be a foreign thought for many .. especially since our culture really pushes so much at us that makes us believe we must follow a certain path.
Wonderful, Roland! Learning and sharing with all of you is the double blessing of Heather’s letters. I used to have a twinge of disappointment on the mornings when there was “only” a gorgeous photo from HRC. Then I discovered there was a treasure trove of sanity, support, and often humor in all of your comments. God speed with your book, Roland.
"That future doesn’t exist yet, it’s being created, hence it’s fictional." I feel that tomorrow is predictable hence we can sleep well, something we have not had the last 4 years.
Take two days off. We on this list serv are not as important as the Oregon Historical Society presentation. You need to inspire other Historians to take up the responsibility as safe keepers of the story of the first democratic republic. We will wait for you until next Tuesday.
Rest before this next battle of understanding. Our love will still be here waiting for you. You must stay healthy and build your strength to be the witness to History as it unfolds before our eyes. You are the one who sees among the crowd who are blind to the meaning of our times.
WHAT a year it's been...it's enough to make one want to sleep for weeks. SO many people gone...SO much suffering...SO many prayers to be offered up for lives lost...SO much is owed to the people on the front lines of this tragedy. God give them strength to carry on. Sleep the good sleep of a job well done for this past year, Heather, and may all our dreams come to pass of a better year ahead.
Professor, you reminded me of Adam Schiff's impassioned closing argument during the first Trump impeachment, a harbinger of darkness and loss we couldn't have imagined: "He has compromised our elections, and he will do so again. You will not change him. You cannot constrain him. He is who he is."
Schiff also said, "Truth matters little to him. What's right matters even less, and decency matters not at all."
If only the Senate Republicans had been persuaded. Will they now atone for their grievous error the second time around after all that's happened? And send a signal that enough is enough? Never.
We are still struggling to manage this coronavirus . In Maine our teachers who are front line workers still can not get a vaccine. Not only is the vaccine unavailable the Governor and Dr. Jha are supporting varsity sports to start. This means teams will compete with each other across the state. I am at a complete loss to understand how this takes priority over focusing on stopping the spread of this deadly disease. Twenty four states are prioritizing vaccinating teachers. We need a National plan to end this spread. Countries who have done this are fairing much better than we are.
In Texas, it seems to be very random which teachers get the vaccine and who doesn’t. I’ve been on the list since December and still no appointment. I have coworkers, who by the way live in a more affluent area, that got the vaccine just a few days after registering. Some school districts went to great lengths to inform their teachers how to get the vaccine and some actually got the vaccine for all their employees. This week our district finally put out a letter of how to register. And sports had been full speed ahead all the while. Hybrid teaching with the majority of students face to face. One parent has passed away. Each day we quarantine more students as the virus spreads. And I see more and more super spreader events. Pictures on social media, no masks. It’s all infuriating!
Heather gives me the only sense of sanity and intelligence I have!
Came home Friday to a jury summons in the mail. I think I’ll take a Dr Richardson book with me for the wait! Good luck and good health!
Vaccine is slow walked to areas black and brown people live. Lack of internet to sign up, cars for drive through sites, etc hinders the distribution to these areas. Keep the faith and keep searching for a site near you.
A teacher friend in Los Angeles found a way around by working as a volunteer at a county vaccination site, because at the end of the day, the volunteers were offered the vaccine.
It does seem like teachers all over the nation are running around trying to find a vaccine .. like some weird episode of the Hunger Games. But that’s not the reality of where I work. I work in public education and my small school district offered it (and through the local clinic) to all 900 employees (lots of GOP and Trump supporters in my district). Only 30% opted in. There are teachers and school employees who are anti-vax’rs. I was not going to get the vaccine. Because of my lifestyle and careful living. The only reason I did was because I have had to return to my work in public schools full time. No more online work. And I took it because I knew I would be returning to work with anti-vax’rs and who do NOT follow safety protocol from socializing in their classrooms to not wearing masks appropriately to talking and laughing and shouting loudly in close proximity.
Good morning Heather and dear subscribers. Tears are pushed back, so that I may properly thank you for being friends of care, thought, participation and learning. Letters from an American brings me to you, and Heather centers my mind as an active citizen. Today's Letter, bookended the year from early February 2020 to early February 2021, It was a call for me of mourning, sadness and turmoil. Its cover is a sunrise, so on this Sunday we absorb the year past and look to the light of a new day.
The defenders of Donald Trump are going to argue that the Constitution does not include the impeachment of a “former” president. That may be so, but Trump, by his own admission is not a “former” president. In fact, even his own letterhead states the it comes from the “Office of the 45th President.” In that semantic reckoning, he can be impeached as the 45th President of the United States. There is no need to argue or even conceive of a former president, he is still the 45th president of the United States. He even occupies an office that displays the emblem of the President of the United States.
I write this to you because, thankfully, you have a bigger megaphone than I.
Good point. The Senate is not impeaching 45 as he has already been impeached. The Senate is going to hold the trial to convict or not based on the evidence presented.
I saw somewhere that some of the REAL Trumpanistas--and possibly him too, who knows?--believe he's "still" the President and will be "sworn in" on March 4th in some weird way. I try not to dwell too much on their "kookery" in case it's contagious...
Yes, it's a last-ditch QAnon bunker, taking off from the fact that before FDR, presidents were inaugerated on March 4th. Tr***p himself seems to be taking the tack that he is still president - insisting his lawyers refer to him as "the 45th president" and apparently continuing to show himself with the presidential seal.
The thing that I appreciate most about the impeachment trial is that there is no “double jeopardy” defense to a criminal proceeding for the same conduct.
Good point, Ally. Even an impeached-convicted-removed president still might avoid prison. It's all hypothetical or, more precis,ly yet more uncharted seas into which Trumpsky steered us.
Unfortunately, a basic principle in law is that ignorance of the law is not a defense. Ignoring the law when you know it and don't agree with it neither!
Nice idea, Kmk, but it doesn't matter what he thinks. Joe Biden is the president. (Wow, it's so great to say that. Once more, for effect: President Joe Biden!)
The law is the law, and either way, it looks like Trump is digging himself in deeper. It really does not matter what his fantasies are. What matters is that he lost the election, period, and the new President has been inaugurated and is in office. Trump is not. What also matter is that he was impeached (indicted) while still in office of offenses committed while in office.
I am hoping the “Letter from an American” will find its way to his office. If any readers know how to reach Congressman Ruskin, I ask them to share my note with him.
202-225-5341 Call his office and talk to his staff. Time is of the essence. Would hope it is a point they already plan to make BUT you should call them
So IF he is convicted by the Senate does that mean he can no longer represent himself as the 45th POTUS? What comes with conviction other than losing $$$ and the obvious in terms of health of our democracy?
I was wondering that too. I read that if he is convicted he can’t run for any office. But then additional votes have to happen to strip him of his lifelong yearly pension, healthcare benefits, secret service detail and yearly travel allowance. But is he still referenced as a former POTUS? Hmmmm.
And maybe someone is way ahead of us on these thoughts and that's why they're contesting the impeachment........not only trying to hold on to his voter base, but garner favor by protecting his 45th benefits.
Christy, unfortunately, the fact that he was sworn in and served as the 45th President of the USA would not be erased by a conviction. Nor should we allow it. It is a lesson we need to remember and be reminded of, and study to remember that this thing happened and somehow we let it. We need to recognize the cost to our nation, both in terms of cost in lives and resources, and, above all, the threat to the health of our democracy. We NEED to remember.
On a different subject - with all the hand wringing about extreme views of Republicans, no one has mentioned gerrymandering as the cause of this change in our political landscape. If you make a district safe for Republicans, they will be challenged, as in any election, but not by Democrats. This forces the dialogue ever rightward, and Ms Greene is the logical result. There have been lots of schemes for mandating cohesive districts. MIT put out one that rewarded districts that were symmetrical by using a mathematical formula.
Wouldn’t it be possible to create a law saying that all districts had to conform to a certain standard, but within that parameter the States set their districts, as always. I’d love your opinion on this apparently easy and elegant solution to voter suppression, and the rightward swing of our politics.
* Redistricting reform is addressed in HR 1, the "For the People Act of 2021".
"To expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and implement other anti-corruption measures for the purpose of fortifying our democracy, and for other purposes."
Here is a fun and heartwarming exercise! Simply scroll, slowly, and look at the problems being addressed by this Congress. I am actually excited, by this act in Congress!
Apropo nothing, Frederick, except that I think you are the Bright Star who keeps insisting in these pages that we consider "Democratic Capitalism", I wrote the following (too long) reply to a (non-trumper) friend who posted a meme that said "It is wrong to tax a working person almost to the breaking point, then give it to a person who is capable of working but refuses to." Thank you for your thoughts on this reply:
"This statement is what many of the very rich want you to believe. Our taxes pay for infrastructure including roads, bridges, airports, oil extraction (Biden plans to end that), and more that industry (and Amazon, and tech companies and real estate magnates and...) rely on to make their big bucks. Proportionally, thanks to many business write-offs (I run a business, I know) and fancy accounting, and off-shore banks and lower rates on capital gains than on earned wages, the working folks pay more. More than they should have to.
In Democratic Capitalism, we would all pay our FAIR share to assure that every household can meet basic needs (including healthcare and education), have the infrastructure (and snowplows) society and companies need, and to create and enforce fair rules and regulations so that businesses can't cheat us - or get cheated by other companies (they benefit from the regulations, too).
The top 1% in this country now are as rich as former kings and emperors (and Vladimir Putin) since Reagan's "trickle-down" theory trickled a larger amount of the hardworking middle and lower class earnings UP, which also meant less spendable income which would have, in turn, supported local stores and restaurants and realtors and such.
We now have an Autocratic Capitalism. And their greatest art is deception - convincing you that, for example, the reason you only have 3 cookies is because that bum (often of a different color) who has 1 cookie stole it (via taxes) from you, while the rich kept 328,000 cookies instead of paying you a living wage, or contributing to their fair share to "fix the damn roads."
In a Democractic Capitalism, these inequities would be balanced and everyone would benefit (and the rich could still be rich, but who needs a billion dollars anyway?).
And, in my 46 years as a public health nurse, and after serving 8 years on our county social services board, I gotta tell you - there are not that many lazy folks out there, and very few that get any cash from the government. And, if those folks had been given access to a good education (especially in the trades - why doesn't our country value the trades? Grrrrrrr) and decent healthcare, they might have become hardworking folks, too.
Sorry it took me way too long to say that I can't agree with this statement. But I encourage all of us to look up the economic ladder, not down, and you'll probably find that you paid more taxes last year than Donald J. Trump did."
It has been mentioned, and repeatedly. It does need to be addressed at the national level, and a truly level “playing field” is absolutely required. Part and parcel of that is equal access to voting sites, the ability to register to vote, and a paper trail of ballots so that vagaries of electronic devices become a non-issue.
Look at Michigan's new "tri-partisan" (4 Democrats, 4 Republicans, 4 Independents) Redistricting Commission after the state proposal was passed in 2018. Love to see it nationwide. Can the feds require it?
They did rally over the crazy Teabaggers choosing to reject the "I am not a witch" candidate and then running institutional Republicans against them in primaries. Unfortunately, they never cleaned their house of the ones who made it in.
Thank you Heather! It’s been a coming and going year. I’m just not sure what is coming and what is going. As a front line nurse I have been fully vaccinated and yet feel bad that so many elderly have not been. I have a 91 year old mom in assisted living who is generally healthy but at her age Covid would most likely be her end. And yet we have a disagreement in our family about whether she should be vaccinated. And then I have the Covid deniers who have made health care workers their enemy. It breaks my heart after being an RN for 35 years with the goal of promoting and doing what we can to keep our community healthy.
You are an American hero. Thank you and good health to you and your mom.
Thank you! Thank you! It means so much. Words are weak right now. I am overwhelmed with feeling
Keep up the good work, Karen. That includes setting the right example by masking in your photo.
And another hug.🤗
I can only imagine your pain and others like you in the front lines. Know how grateful most of us are.
No words. Hats off for what you do and for standing for the science that would save your mom. It would save the Covid deniers too, if they would listen. My wife and I are both retired scientists and, although my wife is a molecular geneticist with a Ph.D. in viral genetics and some of my work involved the ecology of emerging diseases, we have anti-vaccination people in our own families who will not listen to us. I often wonder how we came to this as a country.
I think in addition to bringing back civics classes we should implement required "science appreciation" classes. Light on math but heavy on grasping the power of the scientific method and critical thinking. I can dream... My wife and I received our 2nd Moderna vaccine yesterday and are feeling grateful. Yay science! Maybe anti-vaxers and covid deniers should have to do a bit of public service in a covid ward... might give Darwin a nudge?
:~)
I like your idea for "science appreciation" classes! As a science undergraduate, I was required to take music or art appreciation and classes in the humanities, all of which broadened my perspective. Science appreciation classes could could take a humanistic approach by laying out the path taken by the scientists that have discovered the biological and physical and processes underpinning how the world works, from how the human immune system functions to global climate regulation--more or less like a detective story. Trying to do our part, my wife and I give talks on these and related topics in the local high school, where our approach is very similar to what you envision. Let's hope that your idea catches on!
As a scientist and a kid who wanted to become a scientist, I really like your approach to this, Manuel! And that you and your wife are acting on it. I've done quite a lot of that, but with adults who were trying to learn to understand how science affects their world in order to make decisions on it. It was tough for some of them, and I like your sense of focusing on the path scientists use to try out ideas. I did that in my jobs as a practical matter, but as a child and teen, it was learning how people became scientists and the ideas that got them there that inspired me to keep trying until I made it. I still love science, and reading about why people do science. Even if a kid doesn't grow up to be a scientist, that kind of insight can help them understand how science is all about understanding how our world works, even (and sometimes especially) the world within our own bodies and minds. That kind of understanding helps build a way to connect with each other.
It is reassuring to hear that my approach resonates with your experience as a scientist and teacher of science to adults from outside of the sciences. Thank you! Like you, I decided that I wanted to become a scientist as a kid. I grew up on a family farm in northern California but decided that I wanted to become a scientist at age 6, when we got an amazing device that opened a window to, among other things, science. It was a TV and on it I remember to this day a narrator describing how these SCUBA diving "scientists" were studying undersea life. In spite of the incredulous adults in my life, 21 years later I was awarded my PhD, specializing in the ecology of reef fish. Ending up at an inland university, my subsequent research focused mostly on river and terrestrial ecosystems. I have also been giving talks to adults in the local community on the role of fire in forests in the wake of a massive fire that roared through our county in Colorado and my wife has given talks in community forums on human genomics. The responses have been positive, although the word has gotten out that I have done work on climate, which has generated some distrust. Sigh...
And doesn’t that just irritate you? But what can you do? Nothing but take care of yourselves. Unfortunately, there always going to be naysayers. It’s really too bad that they don’t want to listen to two people who have devoted their time to researching and helping others.
Their ignoring us is irritating but even more so, it is deeply disappointing. We are encouraged, however, by those members of our family who do think critically and engage in the world in a more reasoned and less rigid way. This group consists of the eldest and younger family members.
Glad to see that younger members of your family are critical thinkers. We have hope going forward. Teaching skills of critical thinking is essential to combating problems in the social-political-economic power structure.
Karen, you and all healthcare workers are essential heroes in the trenches of this horrific chapter. Please take good care of yourself. Thank you for all you do.
Thank you Karen. It’s gratifying to know that this community of Heather’s creation has been a safe harbor for you... May your mother et a vaccination soon.
Thank you so much for caring. Heather’s community has been my lifeline. And it’s people like all of you that give me hope!
I think we may be the only sane people in the country. Right here. 🤔
Not true, just fortunate to have found HCR.
Yes! My lifeline as well. Thanks to HRC and all who are gathered here!
😚🤗
Bravo for saving lives in the midst of such insanity! We are so grateful for the nurses and respiratory therapists and doctors who work impossible hours and under such stress. You are the best of us.
You, Karen, are an angel. I know this first-hand because my 97-year-old mom was an RN for 42 years. She was an angel too. Nurses and medical care people are special people. My mom was old school--something she lamented to no end when she was in the hospital last November. Much has changed from when she was walking the floors. But, what hasn't changed is the commitment to helping your fellow human beings. God bless you and give you strength and courage to soldier on. It is appreciated. My mom especially is rooting for you too!
I've so far not been able to get vaccinated--I just got added to the waiting list at one medical centre and am scheduled for July 3rd (!), but they expect everyone to move up once more vaccine is released. As the primary caregiver for my mom I feel it is essential I get the vaccine. I hope more is available soon. Like you, my concern is if my mom caught this it'd kill her in no time. My brother lives here in town and so far is resistant to getting vaccinated. Fortunately for all of us, none of us almost never go anywhere and we're always masked and take necessary measures if we do. So I keep hoping we can get through this. For what it's worth, I understand your conundrum. This area in Georgia has been one of the hot-spots for Covid for a while now, and a large segment of the population still defies any orders to wear masks. It's infuriating. Health-care workers here are beside themselves with frustration about it. Amazing how these "personal responsibility" Republicans here are anything BUT responsible.
Again, words can't express how much good you are doing. Keep on keepin' on!
Blessings.
And to you for taking care of your dear old mom! Hang in there.
I’ll be thinking of you and your mom, Bruce, and hope you get your vaccination soon. Please keep us informed. Here in CA, my husband and I have both had our first shots and hope to get our second in a few weeks. We still wear our N95 masks if we leave the house or if one of his caregivers comes by. But there are idiots among us. We took a drive down Colorado Blvd in Pasadena yesterday and were astounded by the number of people strolling along the streets, very close to one another on corners or in front of the outside-dining spots. Masks can do only so much and many don’t wear them properly.
Take care, everyone.
It is beyond discouraging to see how people disregard the social distancing and mask requirements. I am sure you've all seen the pictures of this weekend in Tampa. While there are requirements for the actual Superbowl, including giving out N95 masks for attendees, the pictures of the bars and restaurants with many partying, maskless shoulder to shoulder people is disgusting.
You are so important, and your community is blessed to have you. All in the medical field who are battling Covid victims - from doctors to refuse workers - teachers, supermarket employees. All who are at risk. All. Deserve respect. Deserve priority. Deserve to be at the front of the line.
So appreciate your hard work! So sad that we’ve come to this with deniers and anti vaxxers. Try not to get discouraged. More people are with you than not! Thank you for all that you do! 💕
Oh yes. There are many anti-vaxxers in my workplace .. a public school district. Not all teachers are frantically searching for a vaccine. I mentioned here already that 900 school employees were offered the vaccine in early January. Only 30% opted in. We’re back in person 100% now and slowly transitioning children back.
Not everywhere is allowing teachers to be considered to be eligible for 1B classification. Here in NH, the Governor's family owns a ski area and has allowed Ski Patrol members to get vaccinated ahead of teachers! (GRRR!)
Right now within my state (WA) Kaiser is working with Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to set up vaccinations stations for public school employees all over the state. It just coordinates the process but does not move them up in the classification system. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/washington-kaiser-team-up-to-vaccinate-educators-more-efficiently-with-no-change-to-queue/
Your services are so badly needed and certainly appreciated by many! Thank you so much for what you and your colleagues do. Is your mom fairly lucid? If so, let her make that decision. My best to you.
Thank you Marlene. My mom has dementia. She still knows all of us but memory and cognition are progressively declining. When asked about getting the vaccine, she says whatever Karen thinks I should do (since I’m the nurse in the family) I have Medical Power of Attorney so plan on her getting it. The challenge is the doubt and pushback I’ve gotten from my brothers and sister in laws. Unfortunately they have been taken in by some misinformation about the vaccine.
You are an angel. I, fortunately, got my first vaccination two days ago. My heart goes out to the deniers, and I hope they change their minds in coming days and weeks.
I am sending you a virtual hug 🤗
Thank you Karen - for sharing your story and for all you do as a health care worker. 🙏🏻💜. Take care of yourself.
Karen, I think what you do is amazing. Thank you for caring.
Thank you for the work that you do. Not only helping those who are sick with Covid, but for trying to help people understand the breadth and depth of this virus. You can't be thanked enough
Thank you, Karen, for your dedication. I'm 75, have a vax appointment but, although trying to stay positive, am concerned our state will have run out of vaccine by the time that date comes around. I hope that this administration will reduce the dark stain that is over this country, and I ache for the people who have lost loved ones.
From the sounds of things, here in the NE the supplies will start going up- we have hopes for the coming week. Our gov is sounding more optimisitic. He was pretty angry about Trump's lies and dissembling about Trump claimed when the coffers were literally empty. He is reluctant now to make firm plans until he is certain we are getting what we need because he believes that people shouldn't be told one thing and given another.
I just got my first shot, and we are all awaiting the time we all have had our 2nd and can carefully gather as a family again. We have one elder member who is too sick right now (with another problem that requires surgery) to be vaccinated. We pray that she makes it.
It is hard for us to conceive that people are turning down the opportunity, because so many have already died - some out of misunderstanding facts, some because they were being deliberately manipulated, some like our family member because it may be too late because of the unnecessary delays. That is beyond sad.
Karen, my mom is also 91. She is lucky enough to have two unmarried children who live with her to keep her in her own home. They have done a wonderful job of keeping mom safe. She's in great shape and we all agree to do our best to keep her that way through the pandemic. Unlike you though, we have no Covid deniers in our immediate family. Mom, my brother and sister who live with her, got their first shot last Weds. My husband and I got our first shots almost 2 weeks ago. I know that just because we get the vaccine that doesn't mean we can let up on the Covid precautions. I'm lucky enough to be retired along with my husband so we have been able to "quarantine" for two weeks before visiting them. It's a terrible shame that the vaccine has become political. I hope you're able to convince the deniers that you know what you are talking about. Good luck!
God bless you for your work.
Heather, I have lived a very long time; fought a purposeless and violent war. We have much to be proud of and much to be ashamed of. But the Republican Party and especially those who desecrate their oaths of office in the Congress seem more vile and cowardly than anything I have experienced. I am not a person of faith, but God help us.
I have such gratitude EVERY SINGLE DAY for your letters. It’s a gift of sanity which helps ground me in the day of chaos these past several years. And in moving forward I so appreciate all the historical perspective you shine upon our past and present.....which is so needed in our country especially for our young but really all of us too!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Just when we thought “it was safe to go back in the water” .....trump will once again dominate the news cycle. We will be reliving the horrors of January 6th with the anticipated unbelievable ending that republican senators won’t convict trump. For the near term, when it comes to politics, I will only watch or listen to the WH press conferences (which have been fabulous) and read Heather’s letter. My brain is still in recovery from the damage of the past 4 years!
I feel the same. Yet I hope the news is brutal next week showing every single thing, timelines, people, planning, and the devastating outcomes. Then after the senate votes, I hope every single newspaper and newscast around the nation, and world for that matter, plasters names and pictures of those who vote nay for all to see. And we use ALL of this information for the midterm elections.
Tricia, It was wonderful to see your name today. In the circle with a mix of experiences and much feeling, here's to our mutual support.
What a nice comment. Thank you!
Would love to bold-face your entire post Tricia, huge letters in bright red including what Janet says about being in recovery. If Shit-for-Brains has to dominate the news cycle one last time, may it be for his crimes.
There is much healing that comes from just consequences to harmful behaviors. I have much respect for experts whether they’re historians, scientists, or psychiatrists. https://worldmhc.org/the-imperative-to-convict-trump/
Where and when do you watch them? The one time I tried, I found what seemed like the right web page but it must have been the wrong one, or the briefing was at a different time that day, or something.
I watch live the press conferences on TV (when I catch them) or try to remember to record (either CNN or MSNBC). Whitehouse.gov has written transcripts (ugh - too long and can’t be read while working out!). https://m.facebook.com/WhiteHouse/videos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0 videos also can be found on YouTube (not sure if those are live).
I so appreciate you Dr Richardson; thank you and have a pleasant “weekend”. (Well .... do you remember the Lady Dowager ask, “WHAT is a weekend?” (circa 1920). Now, I can ask the same question, but to rephrase, “What day is today?” I digress ....
In lieu of perhaps others wanting something to weighty to digest, since we have a light menu tonight here at the ‘HCR Cafe’, I thought I would offer some elemental economics in this Biden era, courtesy of Huffington Post
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-beats-back-the-austerians-at-the-gates_n_601dc729c5b6d78d444666ec
Basically, we have been deluded to think that conservative economics can offer us a stable country and community, by REFUSING to tax and spend! W T ? ? ? This is simply called delusional thinking! But somehow, this has been the narrative since Goldwater (1960s). Now, today, with a barren cupboard, where are the ingredients for our 1) health care system, 1A) ability to simply take care of a pandemic, 2) public schools, rural and urban, 3) stable infrastructure, 4) universally accessible internet network for ALL Americans, 5) etc and etc.
How in the world have we bought the notion of a ‘limited government’ to provide for a stable society? Free market corporations like Exxon, General Motors, General Dynamic and General Mills have NEVER been in the business of anything but making profit for themselves!
In other words, give me a good old fashioned “TAX-AND-SPEND-LIBERAL!” A good old fashioned liberal , like Joe Biden, and a youthful Californian tax-and-spend liberal like Kamala Harris!! Or in other words, in good old fashioned economics, “if you want the very best, ya gotta pony-up, cowboy and cowgirl!"
And I have a good old fashioned, warm-bodied-thinkin’ that Joe Knows where to go for some dough!
"What day is it?" asked Pooh.
"It's today," squeaked Piglet.
"My favorite day." said Pooh.
I have at least begun to live in hope once again after over four long years and many miserable mornings, waking in apprehension, only to have the nightmares confirmed.
With great appreciation for your daily briefings bringing clarity and insight, Heather, so wish you a much deserved rest. Thank you.
Yes I agree that you deserve your rest and we so appreciate you and your lovely photos of Maine.
So we'll put!!! Thank you Mary.
And Most of All,
THANK YOU Heather!!!😊💓
Great comments, Frederick, all around. Love being at the "HCR Cafe," a perfect moniker IMHO. To quote Dolly Levi: “Money, pardon the expression, is like manure. It's not worth a thing unless it's spread around, encouraging young things to grow.”
One of my favorite quotes of all time.
Me too Jennifer, and I just ‘heard’ it now for the first time. I love it, Lynell!
Yes!
Dolly Levi’s quote needs a qualifier. Koch money helped QAnon and disinformation grow.
Defund the military industrial complex and there will be enough money for ALL our goals.
That brings back old peace rally calls in 67
So very true. Over 50% of current US federal spending goes to the military: so-called defense, operating endless wars overseas, maintaining over EIGHT HUNDRED military bases across the world, interfering in the elections of other countries.....Taking those funds (manure) and using them for composted fertilizer on small growing things would be an brilliant and marvelous environment-saving venture.
The Republican economic system gets to be stable for a long time as the end point is the abolition of democracy and the reinstitution of minimum wage quasi-slavery with a rich elite enjoying the spoils untrammeled by annoyances such as the wishes of the people and their welfare....without the costs of maintaining "their work force". Fortunately popular opposition keeps this system in its highly unstable early phase as the join together in rebellion.
A little light entertainment on the subject of removing by force a autocratic, elitist system from the French Revolution......the "Sans Culottes" version of the revolutionary anthem...... "Ca ira"...
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
aristocrats to the lamp-post
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
the aristocrats, we'll hang them!
If we don't hang them
We'll break them
If we don't break them
We'll burn them
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
aristocrats to the lamp-post
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
the aristocrats, we'll hang them!
We shall have no more nobles nor priests
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
Equality will reign everywhere
The Austrian slave shall follow him
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
And their infernal clique
Shall go to hell
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
aristocrats to the lamp-post
Ah! It'll be fine, It'll be fine, It'll be fine
the aristocrats, we'll hang them!
And when we'll have hung them all
We'll stick a shovel up their arse.
(Translation to English supplied by Wikipedia...with my abject apology for any shock that it might engender in the most sensitive of hearts)
Have a great day!
Very nice prose. Can we get some more shovels over here? I have a list of places to plant them. Maybe we can get Amazon to do a drone drop. I think I need more coffee.
I admire the spirit of the French Revolution, but struggle to reconcile its excesses with nonviolent pacifism.
One can admire the spirit but unfortunately the reality had great difficulty in reflecting it
Exactly!!! Sometimes, throwing money at a problem IS the solution, if you have people who know how to spend it wisely. I hope (and am trying my very best to believe) that we are in the process of getting a passle of people confirmed in the Biden administration who do know how.
Ah, Lanita and Frederick, what a succinct and perfectly formed analysis you both have made about what the underlying problem is: people who believe to the utmost degree that capitalistic monetization is the essence of our nation, and yet refuse to apply that concept to the needs of the citizens of that very nation (unless they already have lots). Something wonky about that reasoning. I have long believed that not only is economics not a science (by any definition), but a philosophy. And like any philosophy, its tenets are based on a priori assumptions about the nature of human beings. It may be that by changing some of those assumptions, capitalization *could* become a positive force at a small scale. But as long as there is the belief that capitalism IS economics, period, as our society tends to do, that will not happen. I regularly see so-called "economists" and "economic experts" being interviewed or writing articles in which that most basic premise is not even recognized, when it should be the beginning of the discussion.
Yes indeed. Imagine, in a capitalist society, that of course money is required to pay people to deal with problems in a society where EVERYTHING is monetized. Welcome to the era of Good Government
A Heart-Felt Thank You to All of You, and of course Heather
This is a turning point week for me. A big part of my joy is directly attributable to success with my destiny work.
My life’s work, my calling, is producing a story in the form of a book and a movie. I call this eventual book and movie my “story project.”
This week, a complete picture of my story project has emerged. I also have a name for it; that name, or a very close variant, will likely grace the book cover (and the movie poster, if it comes to that).
My science fiction story project is a vision of a society which has a healthy and balanced relationship with the Earth, our Home.
That vision of a healthy society has story lines, what I call my various “Plots,“ which would or could make up a book series or movie series or series of TV episodes.
The core concept is a team of characters who are made up of representatives from all over the world. The team comes together: a whole set of early chapters in the book is devoted to that process. After they bond, the team is faced with challenges which they must resolve in order to bring harmony back to their relationship with the planet. Each of the characters contributes their special talents, their knowledge and experience, to the resolution of a special social issue.
It’s an allegory for humankind on this planet.
Readers (viewers) are invited to contribute their own social solutions and story perspective. All of human civilization has a part to play in the eventual outcome of the story that is our developing history in this world, i.e. world history.
Here in this forum, we give a lot of attention to problems. The story project is devoted to solutions. What makes it “science fiction,“ or “social fiction“ might be a better label, is the fact that we are inventing the future together. That future doesn’t exist yet, it’s being created, hence it’s fictional.
Until this week, I was fuzzy about the overall, overarching mission of the crew of characters. No more.
I want to thank each and every one of you for your contribution to my work. These discussions here in Heather’s living room have been invaluable. Whether you have provided stimulus in the form of a post, whether you have responded to one of my posts, or whether you have just read and considered my words, you have been an integral and vital part of my arriving at a clear awareness of my story project. Special thanks to Judith Jordet and to the participants in the discussion of The Fifth Sacred Thing.
Primary thanks, of course, to Heather for the incredible hard work of producing her historical synopsis every day.
This message is intended as an announcement of gratitude only. I purposely left out names and details about my characters and Plots.
We are with you all the way on your journey.
Wow, Roland!! This is such great news and I cannot wait for the final reveal!!
Smooth sailing, Roland, as your project finds its destiny!
Rowland good project. I have been a closet writer all of my life. The process of publishing has gotten easier but selling not so much for me. A big personality like I imagine yours to be has a better chance.
That said, into the meat just for fun. Perhaps my largest frustration in observing the US in our time is the precarious balance that always seems to be present between those that think independently and those that follow. The followers will always find someone to follow and that individual will be a leader but not often a thinker. In our time these two groups have been balanced, opposed and fairly stable as such. What then eventuates is that the tiebreaker falls to a tiny minority of individuals that are impressionable and blown by minute forces first one way and then the other. Because these individuals are not strong in themselves they are easier to sway with fear than with hope although either works better than facts.
In Science fiction, or future social fiction that is not dystopian we get to escape from this governing ‘fact’ of our real world but in doing so we can get into a place that doesn’t correspond to reality. It is Ok for fiction to do this but it looses some of the power for social commentary.
Whether you accept it as true or not the model of souls that have specific developmental stages such as is presented in many places but pretty clearly in Michaelteaching.com. has some traction. Here we see that we have mature souls balanced in numbers with young souls, about 34% each. Mature souls are people concerned with the future and with responsible behavior that leads to preservation of the environment both social and physical; basically things that are larger than self. But, these are also individualists because they have developed strong self identities and they are no longer looking for a leader to pull strength from. These souls have graduated from being young souls, but they were young souls once.
Young souls are tasked with stabilizing themselves. As such they are concerned with self not others, they are looking for a strong leader to identify with and it doesn’t matter what that leader says or does. These leaders are also young souls but a bit further along such that they’re seeking of self has led to power, money, self-aggrandizement and firmly held self-appreciation. To expect different behavior from these young souls is not valid under the system.
So, about 68% (not as accurate as that number implies probably) of populations are fixed into these two opposing roles leaving infant souls, baby souls and old souls to make up the other 32%. Some Old souls continue to be involved enough to vote but a lot have moved beyond desiring to be involved in physical life enough to be motivated perhaps 10%. Infant souls have enough to do to just stay alive ~ 7% (I’m doing these numbers from memory) leaving 15% Baby souls.
It is this 15% that forms the swing vote. These are people who will go vote if you help them to do it but aren’t likely to vote if left to themselves. This is the GOTV process. Unfortunately, it has to be done every time and it requires the same amount of mature soul effort every time.
Having brought all this out in theory, it is real to add that these lines are not so black and white of course. Individuals are on a spectrum of development that doesn’t have clear dividing lines but the system does track with what happens.
Your cadre of representatives will have to be mostly Mature souls a few old ones and some Young ones who are just in it for the experience of influencing others. This can help a plot along demonizing these Young power hungry characters but that has kind of been done a lot. We would certainly like to do it to Trump clearly a middle young soul. We liked FDR perhaps a newish mature soul who garnered a following of young souls and moved a mature soul agenda along. We’d like to see that again.
There is an idea that baby souls are no longer coming to the Earth implying that as time goes on the soul age will begin to move upward and eventually mature souls will outnumber young souls. This would be an interesting time setting. I hope the earth as we know it survives that long.
Soul ages are more proportionately mixed here in the US but unevenly mixed in different areas of the world. For instance old souls and late mature souls in Northern Europe are currently balancing young souls and baby souls in the Middle East.
It is just something to think about as you form your plot outline and characters. Maybe useful maybe not. Maybe welcome... maybe not. Lol!
I love this so much! Thank you. Have you read ‘Life is in the Transitions’ by Bruce Feiler? It’s an extraordinary look at the way we have been accustomed to think that life is linear and things are suppose to happen in a certain way and when they don’t that brings much of the negativity and angst we experience in our lives.
His website is an excellent information site for the life stories he collected for over a decade in gathering the research for his book. What he finds is that if we can lean into and find the good and the joy and the miraculous lessons in what life presents to us we can experience more joy. More happiness and peace from day to day. I’m oversimplifying just work but it was brought to mind after reading your comment.
Thank you again.
I will check it out. Thanks!
My dear Patrick!
My plan was to avoid discussion about the story concept, but you leave me no choice, I have to at least respond to you for the lengthy and thoughtful reply. For the rest of you, if you manage to find this note, thank you so much for your messages of love and support. I am so grateful.
Patrick, this is the first time in over 30 years anybody has ever discussed this material with me. At the end of your post, you said something like “maybe helpful, maybe not.“ You must be joking. Of course this is helpful. You are bringing up a subject that I discovered 30 years ago. Before the internet, before Zoom calls and Substack forums, decades ago. I have never, repeat never, had conversations with anybody knowledgeable about the subject. Your analysis is EXCELLENT. I repeat, EXCELLENT. *Absolutely* I want to consider old and mature and young soul mix in my characters and in my readership-viewership-audience. Not to mention including the concept of soul age in the narrative, as a teaching point. I have already developed a specific character specifically because he is a young soul and in the military, which are both demographics I want represented in the character mix. What good is it if I write a book for only old souls. Pah! I will be reading your words and thinking about them over the course of the next few weeks. THANK YOU Patrick‼️🙏🙏
This reply leaves me with a dilemma. We are in Heather’s living room, the HCR Café as somebody noted today. I am mindful of the fact that my book and story project is not the subject of discussion in this forum. So at some point soon I may post A Request for Comment. I would email Heather herself if I could, but I don’t have access to her. I don’t feel the freedom to just come right out and start using this forum selfishly and transparently for my own purposes. We’ll see.
Brilliant. Simply brilliant. The little bits you share are right up my alley. Life is nonlinear. A thought you have or a decision you make can have miraculous consequences years later, or maybe years earlier. Life is like the ripples of a stone dropped into a pond, moving out in all directions and both backward and forward in time. A decision you make can have consequences earlier in life, reaching out to a younger version of you, and of course, as is generally accepted, to future selves.
Also Tricia your comment about finding joy is brilliant as well. It goes to the heart of some of the “science fiction” component of my philosophy and story universe, Jane Roberts-type stuff.
Oh my. I hadn’t planned on doing this.
Yes, Roland. I so agree. After I read Bruce's work (and it took me a while because I had to set the book down and really digest the deepness of it) I studied the way he collected his research and since have followed his life story project. His work really brought a peace to my life. The concept that life is not linear can be a foreign thought for many .. especially since our culture really pushes so much at us that makes us believe we must follow a certain path.
Wonderful, Roland! Learning and sharing with all of you is the double blessing of Heather’s letters. I used to have a twinge of disappointment on the mornings when there was “only” a gorgeous photo from HRC. Then I discovered there was a treasure trove of sanity, support, and often humor in all of your comments. God speed with your book, Roland.
That’s really exciting! I hope you have great success!
"That future doesn’t exist yet, it’s being created, hence it’s fictional." I feel that tomorrow is predictable hence we can sleep well, something we have not had the last 4 years.
Roland, you're amazing. So happy you have found the full story line, and can now move ahead with lightning speed. Can't wait to read it.
There is beauty simplicity and truth in your prose. A powerful combination.
Take two days off. We on this list serv are not as important as the Oregon Historical Society presentation. You need to inspire other Historians to take up the responsibility as safe keepers of the story of the first democratic republic. We will wait for you until next Tuesday.
Rest before this next battle of understanding. Our love will still be here waiting for you. You must stay healthy and build your strength to be the witness to History as it unfolds before our eyes. You are the one who sees among the crowd who are blind to the meaning of our times.
Can I like this message more than once? Heather, let your light shine, the world needs you.
Really looking forward to seeing that!
WHAT a year it's been...it's enough to make one want to sleep for weeks. SO many people gone...SO much suffering...SO many prayers to be offered up for lives lost...SO much is owed to the people on the front lines of this tragedy. God give them strength to carry on. Sleep the good sleep of a job well done for this past year, Heather, and may all our dreams come to pass of a better year ahead.
A year? Feels like a century 😢
Bless all those who have been lost to COVID.
Rest up, Heather...it’s going to be a busy week ❤️
Professor, you reminded me of Adam Schiff's impassioned closing argument during the first Trump impeachment, a harbinger of darkness and loss we couldn't have imagined: "He has compromised our elections, and he will do so again. You will not change him. You cannot constrain him. He is who he is."
Schiff also said, "Truth matters little to him. What's right matters even less, and decency matters not at all."
If only the Senate Republicans had been persuaded. Will they now atone for their grievous error the second time around after all that's happened? And send a signal that enough is enough? Never.
We are still struggling to manage this coronavirus . In Maine our teachers who are front line workers still can not get a vaccine. Not only is the vaccine unavailable the Governor and Dr. Jha are supporting varsity sports to start. This means teams will compete with each other across the state. I am at a complete loss to understand how this takes priority over focusing on stopping the spread of this deadly disease. Twenty four states are prioritizing vaccinating teachers. We need a National plan to end this spread. Countries who have done this are fairing much better than we are.
In Texas, it seems to be very random which teachers get the vaccine and who doesn’t. I’ve been on the list since December and still no appointment. I have coworkers, who by the way live in a more affluent area, that got the vaccine just a few days after registering. Some school districts went to great lengths to inform their teachers how to get the vaccine and some actually got the vaccine for all their employees. This week our district finally put out a letter of how to register. And sports had been full speed ahead all the while. Hybrid teaching with the majority of students face to face. One parent has passed away. Each day we quarantine more students as the virus spreads. And I see more and more super spreader events. Pictures on social media, no masks. It’s all infuriating!
Heather gives me the only sense of sanity and intelligence I have!
Came home Friday to a jury summons in the mail. I think I’ll take a Dr Richardson book with me for the wait! Good luck and good health!
Vaccine is slow walked to areas black and brown people live. Lack of internet to sign up, cars for drive through sites, etc hinders the distribution to these areas. Keep the faith and keep searching for a site near you.
A teacher friend in Los Angeles found a way around by working as a volunteer at a county vaccination site, because at the end of the day, the volunteers were offered the vaccine.
It does seem like teachers all over the nation are running around trying to find a vaccine .. like some weird episode of the Hunger Games. But that’s not the reality of where I work. I work in public education and my small school district offered it (and through the local clinic) to all 900 employees (lots of GOP and Trump supporters in my district). Only 30% opted in. There are teachers and school employees who are anti-vax’rs. I was not going to get the vaccine. Because of my lifestyle and careful living. The only reason I did was because I have had to return to my work in public schools full time. No more online work. And I took it because I knew I would be returning to work with anti-vax’rs and who do NOT follow safety protocol from socializing in their classrooms to not wearing masks appropriately to talking and laughing and shouting loudly in close proximity.
Good morning Heather and dear subscribers. Tears are pushed back, so that I may properly thank you for being friends of care, thought, participation and learning. Letters from an American brings me to you, and Heather centers my mind as an active citizen. Today's Letter, bookended the year from early February 2020 to early February 2021, It was a call for me of mourning, sadness and turmoil. Its cover is a sunrise, so on this Sunday we absorb the year past and look to the light of a new day.
Heather,
Please consider this concept:
The defenders of Donald Trump are going to argue that the Constitution does not include the impeachment of a “former” president. That may be so, but Trump, by his own admission is not a “former” president. In fact, even his own letterhead states the it comes from the “Office of the 45th President.” In that semantic reckoning, he can be impeached as the 45th President of the United States. There is no need to argue or even conceive of a former president, he is still the 45th president of the United States. He even occupies an office that displays the emblem of the President of the United States.
I write this to you because, thankfully, you have a bigger megaphone than I.
The House impeached him while he was IN office, and the trial was postponed in the Senate for the new administration to deal with.
Good point. The Senate is not impeaching 45 as he has already been impeached. The Senate is going to hold the trial to convict or not based on the evidence presented.
The Constitution doesn't say he can't be tried after leaving office.
And isn't displaying the emblem of the President by someone who is not the President illegal??
I saw somewhere that some of the REAL Trumpanistas--and possibly him too, who knows?--believe he's "still" the President and will be "sworn in" on March 4th in some weird way. I try not to dwell too much on their "kookery" in case it's contagious...
Yes, it's a last-ditch QAnon bunker, taking off from the fact that before FDR, presidents were inaugerated on March 4th. Tr***p himself seems to be taking the tack that he is still president - insisting his lawyers refer to him as "the 45th president" and apparently continuing to show himself with the presidential seal.
Yes. Punishable by a substantial fine and up to 6 months in prison.
Donald Tr**p doing something illegal? I am shocked,shocked!
Good use of a classic line from "Casablanca." Now, if Trumpsky did something LEGAL, I'd be shocked, shocked! But as the French say, "Ca n'existe pas."
The thing that I appreciate most about the impeachment trial is that there is no “double jeopardy” defense to a criminal proceeding for the same conduct.
That is good news!
The concept of double jeopardy doesn't really apply because each of the two impeachments was for different charges.
As well as no threat of imprisonment or fine (via the 5th amendment).
Good point, Ally. Even an impeached-convicted-removed president still might avoid prison. It's all hypothetical or, more precis,ly yet more uncharted seas into which Trumpsky steered us.
I've been thinking this exact same thing! If he himself thinks he's still president, then he can absolutely be impeached.
Unfortunately, a basic principle in law is that ignorance of the law is not a defense. Ignoring the law when you know it and don't agree with it neither!
I would argue it’s a lie rather than ignorance, making him an imposter.
Amen, Christy! He has always been one.
I rely on that principle for trying all the insurgents on Jan 6. And for Green too, her FaceBook defense. Ignorance is not a defense.
Nice idea, Kmk, but it doesn't matter what he thinks. Joe Biden is the president. (Wow, it's so great to say that. Once more, for effect: President Joe Biden!)
The law is the law, and either way, it looks like Trump is digging himself in deeper. It really does not matter what his fantasies are. What matters is that he lost the election, period, and the new President has been inaugurated and is in office. Trump is not. What also matter is that he was impeached (indicted) while still in office of offenses committed while in office.
That’s an excellent point. Perhaps making sure Congressman Raskin includes it next week would provide the biggest megaphone????
I am hoping the “Letter from an American” will find its way to his office. If any readers know how to reach Congressman Ruskin, I ask them to share my note with him.
202-225-5341 Call his office and talk to his staff. Time is of the essence. Would hope it is a point they already plan to make BUT you should call them
I will do so. If we all do it it should make a bigger impression. Let’s roll!
Email him.
What is his email?
The last time I emailed him, I emailed a staffer in his office: martha.sanchez2@mail.house.gov. His DC office number is 202 225-5341.
See Stuart Attewell’s post one hour after Les Klein’s. Ignoring or not knowing the law is not a defense.
Martha.sanchez2@mail.house.gov. His D.C. office number is 202 225-5341.
And/or send a tweet!
So IF he is convicted by the Senate does that mean he can no longer represent himself as the 45th POTUS? What comes with conviction other than losing $$$ and the obvious in terms of health of our democracy?
Let him be "released to the secular arm."
I was wondering that too. I read that if he is convicted he can’t run for any office. But then additional votes have to happen to strip him of his lifelong yearly pension, healthcare benefits, secret service detail and yearly travel allowance. But is he still referenced as a former POTUS? Hmmmm.
And maybe someone is way ahead of us on these thoughts and that's why they're contesting the impeachment........not only trying to hold on to his voter base, but garner favor by protecting his 45th benefits.
I am certain they have the most brilliant think tanks tackling every issue. We, The People, can still be a voice!
Christy, unfortunately, the fact that he was sworn in and served as the 45th President of the USA would not be erased by a conviction. Nor should we allow it. It is a lesson we need to remember and be reminded of, and study to remember that this thing happened and somehow we let it. We need to recognize the cost to our nation, both in terms of cost in lives and resources, and, above all, the threat to the health of our democracy. We NEED to remember.
What a great concept!
Love you Heather.
On a different subject - with all the hand wringing about extreme views of Republicans, no one has mentioned gerrymandering as the cause of this change in our political landscape. If you make a district safe for Republicans, they will be challenged, as in any election, but not by Democrats. This forces the dialogue ever rightward, and Ms Greene is the logical result. There have been lots of schemes for mandating cohesive districts. MIT put out one that rewarded districts that were symmetrical by using a mathematical formula.
Wouldn’t it be possible to create a law saying that all districts had to conform to a certain standard, but within that parameter the States set their districts, as always. I’d love your opinion on this apparently easy and elegant solution to voter suppression, and the rightward swing of our politics.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1/text
* Redistricting reform is addressed in HR 1, the "For the People Act of 2021".
"To expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and implement other anti-corruption measures for the purpose of fortifying our democracy, and for other purposes."
Here is a fun and heartwarming exercise! Simply scroll, slowly, and look at the problems being addressed by this Congress. I am actually excited, by this act in Congress!
Apropo nothing, Frederick, except that I think you are the Bright Star who keeps insisting in these pages that we consider "Democratic Capitalism", I wrote the following (too long) reply to a (non-trumper) friend who posted a meme that said "It is wrong to tax a working person almost to the breaking point, then give it to a person who is capable of working but refuses to." Thank you for your thoughts on this reply:
"This statement is what many of the very rich want you to believe. Our taxes pay for infrastructure including roads, bridges, airports, oil extraction (Biden plans to end that), and more that industry (and Amazon, and tech companies and real estate magnates and...) rely on to make their big bucks. Proportionally, thanks to many business write-offs (I run a business, I know) and fancy accounting, and off-shore banks and lower rates on capital gains than on earned wages, the working folks pay more. More than they should have to.
In Democratic Capitalism, we would all pay our FAIR share to assure that every household can meet basic needs (including healthcare and education), have the infrastructure (and snowplows) society and companies need, and to create and enforce fair rules and regulations so that businesses can't cheat us - or get cheated by other companies (they benefit from the regulations, too).
The top 1% in this country now are as rich as former kings and emperors (and Vladimir Putin) since Reagan's "trickle-down" theory trickled a larger amount of the hardworking middle and lower class earnings UP, which also meant less spendable income which would have, in turn, supported local stores and restaurants and realtors and such.
We now have an Autocratic Capitalism. And their greatest art is deception - convincing you that, for example, the reason you only have 3 cookies is because that bum (often of a different color) who has 1 cookie stole it (via taxes) from you, while the rich kept 328,000 cookies instead of paying you a living wage, or contributing to their fair share to "fix the damn roads."
In a Democractic Capitalism, these inequities would be balanced and everyone would benefit (and the rich could still be rich, but who needs a billion dollars anyway?).
And, in my 46 years as a public health nurse, and after serving 8 years on our county social services board, I gotta tell you - there are not that many lazy folks out there, and very few that get any cash from the government. And, if those folks had been given access to a good education (especially in the trades - why doesn't our country value the trades? Grrrrrrr) and decent healthcare, they might have become hardworking folks, too.
Sorry it took me way too long to say that I can't agree with this statement. But I encourage all of us to look up the economic ladder, not down, and you'll probably find that you paid more taxes last year than Donald J. Trump did."
Very thorough! Very very long and packed full of super important issues!!! Thanks
Excellent! Frederick, may I copy and post with your comnents and give you full credit?
It has been mentioned, and repeatedly. It does need to be addressed at the national level, and a truly level “playing field” is absolutely required. Part and parcel of that is equal access to voting sites, the ability to register to vote, and a paper trail of ballots so that vagaries of electronic devices become a non-issue.
YES!
See Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's recent proposal for all of the above and more.
Look at Michigan's new "tri-partisan" (4 Democrats, 4 Republicans, 4 Independents) Redistricting Commission after the state proposal was passed in 2018. Love to see it nationwide. Can the feds require it?
They did rally over the crazy Teabaggers choosing to reject the "I am not a witch" candidate and then running institutional Republicans against them in primaries. Unfortunately, they never cleaned their house of the ones who made it in.