No President can pass legislation. He can try to convince. He can bargain, he can negotiate. But he can't legislate. A President can enforce laws but he or she can't make them.
President Biden has been pressing for the passage of these laws for a very long time - he has been very vocal. Should he threaten violence? What else can he do, …
No President can pass legislation. He can try to convince. He can bargain, he can negotiate. But he can't legislate. A President can enforce laws but he or she can't make them.
President Biden has been pressing for the passage of these laws for a very long time - he has been very vocal. Should he threaten violence? What else can he do, pray tell, when the two Democratic Senators who CONTROL the Senate act like Radical Right Wingers? What?
There will be no legislative progress until Manchin and Sinema are convinced or replaced. Gaining a real Democratic Majority in Congress should be our focus.
Neither you, nor I know the full extent of Presidential power. People were astounded by the accomplishments of FDR and LBJ. We must act as the voting rights activists are in Georgia right now. May it not rest with them; the people may march to Washington, D.C. and in front of the offices of Manchin, Sinema, and any other holdouts to the passage of national voting rights acts. Free and Fair elections and democracy in the USA will not survive without such passage.
Fern, FDR had both houses of Congress as Democrat.
Reason: The consequences of 10 years of Republican Policy, from 1919 to 1929, generated poverty at an amazing pace called the Great Depression and everyone knew that Republican Policy had to go. So it did.
FDR had power because the people gave it to him through both houses of Congress.
“The 1964 election gave the Democratic majority the most lopsided plurality in history and created a Congress with the largest Democratic majority since 1936. Lyndon Johnson’s landslide win over Barry Goldwater, combined with a decidedly liberal Democratic Congress, set the stage for an ambitious legislative agenda. For the first time since the 1930s, the Democratic Party had enough seats to overcome the Southern conservative coalition that had continually blocked liberal legislation. Johnson was quick to seize the momentum and called his key legislative liaisons to the White House just 10 days after his inauguration. In this meeting, the president exhorted his charges to make haste with his ambitious plans”
Yep, we can celebrate having a Democrat in the White House, but with a 50/50 Senate, and conniving minority leader creating such a divisive atmosphere, monumental legislation like that of the past will, unfortunately, not be enacted, no matter how much it will benefit the country as a whole.
Both FDR and LBJ enjoyed huge Democratic majorities in Congress. Democrats held more than 60% of the seats in the Senate and the House during both FDR’s and LBJ’s terms in office. If Democrats held similar majorities today, we would not be having this discussion. BBB would be passed. For the People would be passed. Biden is accomplishing a great deal given the constraints of a 50-50 Senate.
With all due respect, because I know our concerns and values are aligned, I beg to differ. We do know exactly what the full extent of "Presidential powers" are. They are in the Constitution. And if there were ways that Biden could draw upon past relationships, don't you think he has been doing that every day since January 20, 2021?
FDR and LBJ accomplished a lot. But the Congress was of a different construction then.
And there was a LOT they did not do. FDR turned away a boatload of about 900 Jews fleeing Hitler. He had no support to save them and they died. LBJ was a civil rights hero because he wanted to be on the right side of history. He understood legacy. But he was historically a bigot. And he conducted a brutal and savage war against the Vietnamese.
I write to Biden about voting rights and other issues every week. But he is not a king.
Most knowledgeable citizens do not consider the president a 'king' or care to. We are familiar with the American Revolution. You may lean on the Constitution as the 'originalists' do, although, I gather from other comments of yours that you don't limit yourself to that persuasion. Speaking of persuasion, perhaps, Biden and others the administration have or will figure out what 'powers' may be used to bolster Biden's persuasive ability. Mobilization of the people is another form of persuasion. Faults in FDR and LBJ do not appear to me to have relevance in this consequential matter.
I agree Fern. IF we can somehow get this on the floor of the Senate and the administration uses the bully pulpit of the executive branch, the tarnishing of their records in broad daylight may change two or more votes and that is all we need. I felt that Biden timed his "calling out" of Trump well. May he do it a thousand times more in every way possible in the coming months. EVERY time the former president is mentioned his name should be preceded by and followed by LOSER. He is, was, and always will be a LOSER. (and a sore one at that.)
Fern I would give my eye teeth if Biden would look square in the Camera and call out his name and say “You’re Fired ! By the American Ppl ! “ What a Hoot ! that would be.
Marcia, Get skit idea for SNL, Saturday Night Live. I don't have any contacts there. You had a question for me much earlier in the day, but I was busy on three different fronts. Sorry that I didn't back back to you. Have a good night, butterfly.
Except we all just witnessed the Republicans then in control of the Senate to allow the then sitting President wholly negate the separation of powers and duties defined in the Constitution to take "the power of the purse" away from the House. The full extent of Presidential emergency powers, had they ever been invoked in full and equally supported by the Republicans, would have made Trump a dictator. Trump was too stupid to know how to do that, but the next Trump won't be.
I never heard about the FDR story. But LBJ and bigotry yes.From what little bit I’m catching onto the real ‘Steal ‘ will be the Redistricting . Not sure if that was one of the things already lost in 2013 ? I had to cut back on my Researching as my eyes are being effected.Maybe U could search it out ? It’s still in a fight in the Courts I believe.
Marcia, read Doris Kearns Goodwin's book "No Ordinary Time." Sadly, there was a great deal of antisemitism in the White House and the nation at large. My dear mother-in-law told me that, in the 1950s, living in Washington DC, she had to take her children to a much farther away beach than the Delaware beach closer to home. The signage at the beach: No Coloreds, No Jews, No Dogs." My father-in-law, who grew up in the Jewish Foster Home in DC, assisted Superintendent Floretta McKenzie in desegregating the DC schools in the 60s.
Fern I watch PBS. Think it was Thursdays ? They have the two guys that give opinions. I caught just the tail end of it. But the one guy said “ The problem won’t be so much in the Voting, or Counting. It will be the redistricting and how the Electoral College Votes ? And then he said “ from there Congress Cert. will prevail as normal. “It made sense to me because on 1/6 those that were ‘Debating ‘ the Election were just all about how “Special Rules “ were made because of CoVid. I don’t hear them gripping about CoVid ? But boy do they want that Redistricting. Wish I could give you more on it. As I said I came in late on the discussion. But I think it may still be on the PBS App ?
Brooks is also not entirely wrong about the Democrats. Why wasn't the Democrats' very first act--even before the stimulus--to change the Electoral Counting/Certification Act? Now Jamie Raskin is complaining it may not be worth doing anything because the next Congress can just change it back or ignore it--a Constitutional Amendment is needed. Yes, a Constitutional Amendment may be needed, but passing a law that can be taken to court to try to protect has great merit.
The real power resides in the needs, wants, and desires of the people. The Presidency is more than an administrative office. The needs and wants of a people can be known and unknown by the populace. While powers of the presidency can be limited by Constitutional structure, the leader that can recognize, connect with, and seek to fill those needs, has unlimited power as they seek to unleash human growth and potential. For good, this is leadership. So framed this way, what is the limit of leadership power when every individual is given equal opportunity of reaching their full potential and contributes their best for the benefit of all?
FDR struggled to assume the mantle of leadership, he was a gentleman, not a brawler (and not a very experienced politician when he took office). LBJ was a right dirty bastard - grabbed reluctant Congressmen (almost all men then) by their figurative family jewels and squeezed them until they caved. It’s misguided to compare Biden to either of them.Joe doesn’t have the reservoir of power from the huge Democratic majorities that both FDR and LBJ enjoyed.
Many confuse moral leadership with personal qualities. Every human has failings, but that’s not the same as a leader creating a moral vision, inspiring moral actions of their government to act on the behalf of the population for their protection and benefit. Through our history, many times the people are not aware of what is in their best interest. A moral leader is both a teacher, Counsleor, and a good family friend.
“The Presidency is not merely an administrative office. That’s the least of it. It is more than an engineering job, efficient or inefficient. It is pre-eminently a place of moral leadership. All our great Presidents were leaders of thought at times when certain historic ideas in the life of the nation had to be clarified.“- FDR
Over the last 20 years, states have put barriers in front of the ballot box — imposing strict voter ID laws, cutting voting times, restricting registration, and purging voter rolls. These efforts, which received a boost when the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act in 2013, have kept significant numbers of eligible voters from the polls, hitting all Americans, but placing special burdens on racial minorities, poor people, and young and old voters.
The Brennan Center fights vote suppression on every front. Our lawsuits have blocked or weakened some of the worst suppression schemes, including Texas’s strict voter ID law. And our groundbreaking research has helped win the battle for public opinion. We have shown that voter fraud and illegal voting — often cited to justify regressive voting laws— aren’t a systematic and widespread occurrence; racial minorities are much more likely than whites to lack accepted voter ID; and that there is a growing threat of voter roll purges, which risk disenfranchising large numbers of eligible voters.(Brennan Center for Justice)
Continuing Threats to Free and Fair Elections
Without dedicated and knowledgeable staff ready and willing to run elections, easy access to a secure ballot cannot be guaranteed for anyone.
I asked my daughter about ID in New York because you can’t do anything without a state ID and proof of vaccination. She said the state issues everyone an ID no matter your status. So if here in Texas you might be considered an immigrant or more likely an illegal immigrant, you would still get a state ID if you lived in New York. Can’t do that in Texas! Immigrants hide from the system. There are areas where they have like checkpoints to see if people have correct documentation for being in the US. And Immigration follows children home from school to try to catch their parents! Imagine if we could reach those newer Americans to get vaccinated and even vote.
I read something a couple days ago that said you have to prove proficiency in English to get a drivers license in Oklahoma. It was in sociology so I’m trusting that to be true. What I haven’t researched is if you have the same issue getting an ID and how that affects your ability to vote. This seems exactly like a method meant to suppress the vote.
Texas does have a bit of a problem with illegal immigration given its proximity to the border, the large inflow over that border, the limited physical and monetary extent of the Texas Public school system and the requirement that illegal kids be permitted to attend schools.
When I attended my rural school in East Texas my class size was probably 16 or so.
Now? Rural Texas public schools are overflowing with poor kids from illegal migrants that speak no English. This is bad for both the immigrants and the people who actually are paying property taxes to fund the schools.
1. There is not enough money to cover all the kids because less than half of the kids parents are paying property taxes.
2. There is not enough room in the classes for all the kids.
3. There are not enough teachers for all the kids even if they all spoke English.
4. The language barrier in the absence of giant English as a second language classes is significant and leave the migrant kids basically using the Public School system as babysitting.
So, where illegal migration is relevant, if YOUR child was in a Texas Public school, you might be pretty worked up about trying to limit the 80,000 to 200,000 migrants A MONTH down there.
I know a lot of young people who are citizens but whose parents live here in NY without papers. They are going to school and/or persuing trades. Anybody who pays rent is by default paying property taxes. Think about big cities where most people rent apartments - this is such a canard.
In Texas the farmers provide "high density housing" on their farms for the migrants.
So, the rural schools that were once sparsley attended, are packed with illegal migrant kids, and, yes, the land they are packed onto is taxed at the same rate as land where four people are living.
This is exactly why I don’t think a federal holiday to vote will be effective. The white collar workers already are allowed time to vote without loss of pay. But, our on the ground workers in grocery, retail, construction and other businesses that operate on an hourly or by-the-job basis will still have to work. If they don’t they won’t get paid. They’re the ones that need that pay just to survive.
“There will be no legislative progress until Manchin and Sinema are convinced or replaced. Gaining a real Democratic Majority in Congress should be our focus.”
Exactly. When Manchin was asked about passing progressive legislation he said the solution was to “Elect more liberals “.
But that's only the start since any legislation passed by Congress risks changes made by future Congresses' legislation. And any legislation can be negated by the SCOTUS. As I said elsewhere today, it's the Constitution, Baby! But that will take years to fix. Meanwhile, voting rights are the priority.
If Biden makes voting rights a top priority, he might see his popularity numbers go up. Once the people are behind him, Manchin & Sinema may be forced to vote Yea. This is all
I would think that if either Manchin or Sinema ran again as Dems, they might be primaried out, especially with Sinema. She has changed so dramatically in such a short time. From Green Party affiliation to Democracy obstructionist, such an ungrounded chameleon she is. Manchin is a known and predictable sort, and seems poised to ditch the Dem Party altogether.
Biden would do much better if he would stop threatening violence against other nations and turn his sabers into plowshares. I'm pretty sure you know where that comes from.
Wow, Richard. I don't "know where that comes from". Did you not notice that Biden decided to end military involvement in a bogus 20 year war? Did you not notice that in his communications with Putin he "threatened" economic penalties for an invasion of the Ukraine - NOT military intervention? Is there an instance of "threatening violence" that we have missed?
Thanks, Bill. But I must tell you that he and recent U.S. presidents are now using what is known as hybrid war. That is drones, and sanctions, in particular. Both of which caused a different kind of violence, the former that often misses targets and kills innocent people, and the latter which kills by starving folks. Also, Biden and his predecessors continue to load up on nuclear weapons, which could kill us all.
Yes. But Biden perhaps less with the drones and more with the sanctions which do indeed hurt the vulnerable in many cases.
The types of sanctions currently threatened by Biden and company are focused on Putin himself as well as his inner circle of Oligarchs.
There is a world of people who wish to undermine our legitimacy as a democracy. Putin is but one. How do we respond to those threats? How do we deal with Xi and his genocide? I don't know. I am a peacenik by nature but am a defender of what fragile democracy we have. I think Biden is doing the best he can with what he has to work with. But I am open to new ideas.
No President can pass legislation. He can try to convince. He can bargain, he can negotiate. But he can't legislate. A President can enforce laws but he or she can't make them.
President Biden has been pressing for the passage of these laws for a very long time - he has been very vocal. Should he threaten violence? What else can he do, pray tell, when the two Democratic Senators who CONTROL the Senate act like Radical Right Wingers? What?
There will be no legislative progress until Manchin and Sinema are convinced or replaced. Gaining a real Democratic Majority in Congress should be our focus.
Neither you, nor I know the full extent of Presidential power. People were astounded by the accomplishments of FDR and LBJ. We must act as the voting rights activists are in Georgia right now. May it not rest with them; the people may march to Washington, D.C. and in front of the offices of Manchin, Sinema, and any other holdouts to the passage of national voting rights acts. Free and Fair elections and democracy in the USA will not survive without such passage.
Fern, FDR had both houses of Congress as Democrat.
Reason: The consequences of 10 years of Republican Policy, from 1919 to 1929, generated poverty at an amazing pace called the Great Depression and everyone knew that Republican Policy had to go. So it did.
FDR had power because the people gave it to him through both houses of Congress.
Biden has no such power.
Ditto with LBJ.
“The 1964 election gave the Democratic majority the most lopsided plurality in history and created a Congress with the largest Democratic majority since 1936. Lyndon Johnson’s landslide win over Barry Goldwater, combined with a decidedly liberal Democratic Congress, set the stage for an ambitious legislative agenda. For the first time since the 1930s, the Democratic Party had enough seats to overcome the Southern conservative coalition that had continually blocked liberal legislation. Johnson was quick to seize the momentum and called his key legislative liaisons to the White House just 10 days after his inauguration. In this meeting, the president exhorted his charges to make haste with his ambitious plans”
http://acsc.lib.udel.edu/exhibits/show/89th-congress/democratic-majority
He kicked arse just in time.
Rose, thank you.
Yep, we can celebrate having a Democrat in the White House, but with a 50/50 Senate, and conniving minority leader creating such a divisive atmosphere, monumental legislation like that of the past will, unfortunately, not be enacted, no matter how much it will benefit the country as a whole.
And some of the Democrats vote like Republicans.
Both FDR and LBJ enjoyed huge Democratic majorities in Congress. Democrats held more than 60% of the seats in the Senate and the House during both FDR’s and LBJ’s terms in office. If Democrats held similar majorities today, we would not be having this discussion. BBB would be passed. For the People would be passed. Biden is accomplishing a great deal given the constraints of a 50-50 Senate.
And even then, FDR and LBJ had to twist lots of arms and cut deals. It was and still is a brutal process.
Blame the two trojan horses
With all due respect, because I know our concerns and values are aligned, I beg to differ. We do know exactly what the full extent of "Presidential powers" are. They are in the Constitution. And if there were ways that Biden could draw upon past relationships, don't you think he has been doing that every day since January 20, 2021?
FDR and LBJ accomplished a lot. But the Congress was of a different construction then.
And there was a LOT they did not do. FDR turned away a boatload of about 900 Jews fleeing Hitler. He had no support to save them and they died. LBJ was a civil rights hero because he wanted to be on the right side of history. He understood legacy. But he was historically a bigot. And he conducted a brutal and savage war against the Vietnamese.
I write to Biden about voting rights and other issues every week. But he is not a king.
Most knowledgeable citizens do not consider the president a 'king' or care to. We are familiar with the American Revolution. You may lean on the Constitution as the 'originalists' do, although, I gather from other comments of yours that you don't limit yourself to that persuasion. Speaking of persuasion, perhaps, Biden and others the administration have or will figure out what 'powers' may be used to bolster Biden's persuasive ability. Mobilization of the people is another form of persuasion. Faults in FDR and LBJ do not appear to me to have relevance in this consequential matter.
I agree Fern. IF we can somehow get this on the floor of the Senate and the administration uses the bully pulpit of the executive branch, the tarnishing of their records in broad daylight may change two or more votes and that is all we need. I felt that Biden timed his "calling out" of Trump well. May he do it a thousand times more in every way possible in the coming months. EVERY time the former president is mentioned his name should be preceded by and followed by LOSER. He is, was, and always will be a LOSER. (and a sore one at that.)
Yes, Bruce! He's a BIG BIG Loser! The BIGGEST LOSER of all.
Fern I would give my eye teeth if Biden would look square in the Camera and call out his name and say “You’re Fired ! By the American Ppl ! “ What a Hoot ! that would be.
Great skit idea. I'm turning into the typo tiger.
😂Fern like I said the first time I read one of Ur comments. “ You are one of the smartest Ppl I never met . “ You go girl !
Marcia, Get skit idea for SNL, Saturday Night Live. I don't have any contacts there. You had a question for me much earlier in the day, but I was busy on three different fronts. Sorry that I didn't back back to you. Have a good night, butterfly.
No worries. Speaking of butterfly’s, you have been pretty flighty Urself today. 🦋❤️
Except we all just witnessed the Republicans then in control of the Senate to allow the then sitting President wholly negate the separation of powers and duties defined in the Constitution to take "the power of the purse" away from the House. The full extent of Presidential emergency powers, had they ever been invoked in full and equally supported by the Republicans, would have made Trump a dictator. Trump was too stupid to know how to do that, but the next Trump won't be.
I never heard about the FDR story. But LBJ and bigotry yes.From what little bit I’m catching onto the real ‘Steal ‘ will be the Redistricting . Not sure if that was one of the things already lost in 2013 ? I had to cut back on my Researching as my eyes are being effected.Maybe U could search it out ? It’s still in a fight in the Courts I believe.
Marcia, read Doris Kearns Goodwin's book "No Ordinary Time." Sadly, there was a great deal of antisemitism in the White House and the nation at large. My dear mother-in-law told me that, in the 1950s, living in Washington DC, she had to take her children to a much farther away beach than the Delaware beach closer to home. The signage at the beach: No Coloreds, No Jews, No Dogs." My father-in-law, who grew up in the Jewish Foster Home in DC, assisted Superintendent Floretta McKenzie in desegregating the DC schools in the 60s.
There’s so many stories such as yours. Amazing about Ur Father-In-Law.
Fern I watch PBS. Think it was Thursdays ? They have the two guys that give opinions. I caught just the tail end of it. But the one guy said “ The problem won’t be so much in the Voting, or Counting. It will be the redistricting and how the Electoral College Votes ? And then he said “ from there Congress Cert. will prevail as normal. “It made sense to me because on 1/6 those that were ‘Debating ‘ the Election were just all about how “Special Rules “ were made because of CoVid. I don’t hear them gripping about CoVid ? But boy do they want that Redistricting. Wish I could give you more on it. As I said I came in late on the discussion. But I think it may still be on the PBS App ?
Fridays. And David Brooks is having a hard time as a Conservative; see his recent article in The Atlantic. It will take all three measures.
I saw some article by David where he blames the Democrats for letting Democracy fall by the wayside. Typical Brooks.
The Republicans sponsor and push for Fascism but Brooks blames the Democrats.
He is really a Reagan Republican at heart and is still a true believer.
Brooks is also not entirely wrong about the Democrats. Why wasn't the Democrats' very first act--even before the stimulus--to change the Electoral Counting/Certification Act? Now Jamie Raskin is complaining it may not be worth doing anything because the next Congress can just change it back or ignore it--a Constitutional Amendment is needed. Yes, a Constitutional Amendment may be needed, but passing a law that can be taken to court to try to protect has great merit.
In his recent article he attempts to show us the error of his ways. Lots of folks not accepting. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/01/brooks-true-conservatism-dead-fox-news-voter-suppression/620853/
And a Pollyanna.
That was it Kathy. Thanks !❤️🦋
Yes!
"Neither you, nor I know the full extent of Presidential power."
Yes, yes we do. They are inumerated in the US Constitution.
The real power resides in the needs, wants, and desires of the people. The Presidency is more than an administrative office. The needs and wants of a people can be known and unknown by the populace. While powers of the presidency can be limited by Constitutional structure, the leader that can recognize, connect with, and seek to fill those needs, has unlimited power as they seek to unleash human growth and potential. For good, this is leadership. So framed this way, what is the limit of leadership power when every individual is given equal opportunity of reaching their full potential and contributes their best for the benefit of all?
Both FDR, and LBJ understood The fine art of moral leadership.
FDR struggled to assume the mantle of leadership, he was a gentleman, not a brawler (and not a very experienced politician when he took office). LBJ was a right dirty bastard - grabbed reluctant Congressmen (almost all men then) by their figurative family jewels and squeezed them until they caved. It’s misguided to compare Biden to either of them.Joe doesn’t have the reservoir of power from the huge Democratic majorities that both FDR and LBJ enjoyed.
Many confuse moral leadership with personal qualities. Every human has failings, but that’s not the same as a leader creating a moral vision, inspiring moral actions of their government to act on the behalf of the population for their protection and benefit. Through our history, many times the people are not aware of what is in their best interest. A moral leader is both a teacher, Counsleor, and a good family friend.
I think Joe knows this:
“The Presidency is not merely an administrative office. That’s the least of it. It is more than an engineering job, efficient or inefficient. It is pre-eminently a place of moral leadership. All our great Presidents were leaders of thought at times when certain historic ideas in the life of the nation had to be clarified.“- FDR
https://www.jstor.org/stable/1028577
President Joe, I mean. Not Joe Manchin.
Over the last 20 years, states have put barriers in front of the ballot box — imposing strict voter ID laws, cutting voting times, restricting registration, and purging voter rolls. These efforts, which received a boost when the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act in 2013, have kept significant numbers of eligible voters from the polls, hitting all Americans, but placing special burdens on racial minorities, poor people, and young and old voters.
The Brennan Center fights vote suppression on every front. Our lawsuits have blocked or weakened some of the worst suppression schemes, including Texas’s strict voter ID law. And our groundbreaking research has helped win the battle for public opinion. We have shown that voter fraud and illegal voting — often cited to justify regressive voting laws— aren’t a systematic and widespread occurrence; racial minorities are much more likely than whites to lack accepted voter ID; and that there is a growing threat of voter roll purges, which risk disenfranchising large numbers of eligible voters.(Brennan Center for Justice)
Continuing Threats to Free and Fair Elections
Without dedicated and knowledgeable staff ready and willing to run elections, easy access to a secure ballot cannot be guaranteed for anyone.
https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/ensure-every-american-can-vote/vote-suppression
https://billmoyers.com/story/voting-rights-under-threat/
https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/ensure-every-american-can-vote/vote-suppression
I asked my daughter about ID in New York because you can’t do anything without a state ID and proof of vaccination. She said the state issues everyone an ID no matter your status. So if here in Texas you might be considered an immigrant or more likely an illegal immigrant, you would still get a state ID if you lived in New York. Can’t do that in Texas! Immigrants hide from the system. There are areas where they have like checkpoints to see if people have correct documentation for being in the US. And Immigration follows children home from school to try to catch their parents! Imagine if we could reach those newer Americans to get vaccinated and even vote.
There is a majority that does not vote. This is where we need to work, as Stacy Abrams has showed us.
I read something a couple days ago that said you have to prove proficiency in English to get a drivers license in Oklahoma. It was in sociology so I’m trusting that to be true. What I haven’t researched is if you have the same issue getting an ID and how that affects your ability to vote. This seems exactly like a method meant to suppress the vote.
Denise,
Texas does have a bit of a problem with illegal immigration given its proximity to the border, the large inflow over that border, the limited physical and monetary extent of the Texas Public school system and the requirement that illegal kids be permitted to attend schools.
When I attended my rural school in East Texas my class size was probably 16 or so.
Now? Rural Texas public schools are overflowing with poor kids from illegal migrants that speak no English. This is bad for both the immigrants and the people who actually are paying property taxes to fund the schools.
1. There is not enough money to cover all the kids because less than half of the kids parents are paying property taxes.
2. There is not enough room in the classes for all the kids.
3. There are not enough teachers for all the kids even if they all spoke English.
4. The language barrier in the absence of giant English as a second language classes is significant and leave the migrant kids basically using the Public School system as babysitting.
So, where illegal migration is relevant, if YOUR child was in a Texas Public school, you might be pretty worked up about trying to limit the 80,000 to 200,000 migrants A MONTH down there.
I know a lot of young people who are citizens but whose parents live here in NY without papers. They are going to school and/or persuing trades. Anybody who pays rent is by default paying property taxes. Think about big cities where most people rent apartments - this is such a canard.
Grace,
In Texas the farmers provide "high density housing" on their farms for the migrants.
So, the rural schools that were once sparsley attended, are packed with illegal migrant kids, and, yes, the land they are packed onto is taxed at the same rate as land where four people are living.
That is a real problem.
This is exactly why I don’t think a federal holiday to vote will be effective. The white collar workers already are allowed time to vote without loss of pay. But, our on the ground workers in grocery, retail, construction and other businesses that operate on an hourly or by-the-job basis will still have to work. If they don’t they won’t get paid. They’re the ones that need that pay just to survive.
This is why we need universal mail-in voting.
The Oregon way.
Completely agree Fern.
“There will be no legislative progress until Manchin and Sinema are convinced or replaced. Gaining a real Democratic Majority in Congress should be our focus.”
Exactly. When Manchin was asked about passing progressive legislation he said the solution was to “Elect more liberals “.
...and H.A. that is why we need to see that the national voting acts are passed.
But that's only the start since any legislation passed by Congress risks changes made by future Congresses' legislation. And any legislation can be negated by the SCOTUS. As I said elsewhere today, it's the Constitution, Baby! But that will take years to fix. Meanwhile, voting rights are the priority.
Exactly!
Meanwhile, GLOBAL WARMING. . .But of course he isn’t concerned about that.
Manchin ain't a liberal!
If Biden makes voting rights a top priority, he might see his popularity numbers go up. Once the people are behind him, Manchin & Sinema may be forced to vote Yea. This is all
a political calculation for them.
...and perhaps MONEY.
I would think that if either Manchin or Sinema ran again as Dems, they might be primaried out, especially with Sinema. She has changed so dramatically in such a short time. From Green Party affiliation to Democracy obstructionist, such an ungrounded chameleon she is. Manchin is a known and predictable sort, and seems poised to ditch the Dem Party altogether.
You mean the magnets for campaign contributions from Republicans? https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/11/manchin-sinema-campaign-contributions-republican-donors.html
Jeff, you are so correct!
Biden would do much better if he would stop threatening violence against other nations and turn his sabers into plowshares. I'm pretty sure you know where that comes from.
Wow, Richard. I don't "know where that comes from". Did you not notice that Biden decided to end military involvement in a bogus 20 year war? Did you not notice that in his communications with Putin he "threatened" economic penalties for an invasion of the Ukraine - NOT military intervention? Is there an instance of "threatening violence" that we have missed?
Thanks, Bill. But I must tell you that he and recent U.S. presidents are now using what is known as hybrid war. That is drones, and sanctions, in particular. Both of which caused a different kind of violence, the former that often misses targets and kills innocent people, and the latter which kills by starving folks. Also, Biden and his predecessors continue to load up on nuclear weapons, which could kill us all.
Yes. But Biden perhaps less with the drones and more with the sanctions which do indeed hurt the vulnerable in many cases.
The types of sanctions currently threatened by Biden and company are focused on Putin himself as well as his inner circle of Oligarchs.
There is a world of people who wish to undermine our legitimacy as a democracy. Putin is but one. How do we respond to those threats? How do we deal with Xi and his genocide? I don't know. I am a peacenik by nature but am a defender of what fragile democracy we have. I think Biden is doing the best he can with what he has to work with. But I am open to new ideas.