Although not surprised by the Rittenhouse verdict with a blatant white supremacist judge who influenced the trial, I am more concerned about our democracy than ever. I see the gerrymandering and the voter suppression laws being passed by the gerrymandered Republican states. We are definitely at a crossroads and I want to help however I c…
Although not surprised by the Rittenhouse verdict with a blatant white supremacist judge who influenced the trial, I am more concerned about our democracy than ever. I see the gerrymandering and the voter suppression laws being passed by the gerrymandered Republican states. We are definitely at a crossroads and I want to help however I can to protect our democracy from the violence promoting fascists that are threatening it. Like many I was already exhausted from 4 years of Trump. Then came Covid exhaustion. We (nurses) are still being threatened by Covid deniers/ anti vaxers. We are exhausted! Sorry I just had to vent. I know I’m safe venting to this community. Thank you Heather and all.
Karen: Because I, too, “want to help however I can to protect our democracy…,” I continually persist, first, in noting that the Freedom to Vote Act is the only federal legislation currently in play whose provisions would supersede state law in conflict with any of its stipulations, and that includes state laws that already have passed. Additionally, because neither abolishing the Senate filibuster nor exempting it to pass bills protective even of our most basic rights presently has support from 50 Senators, I repeatedly have pressed for a Senate rule change, initially crafted by Congressional scholar Norm Ornstein, that, in all likelihood, would pass. The rule change would replace the 60-vote threshold required to end debate with a 41-vote threshold to continue debate, thus shifting the burden from the majority to the minority, 41 of whom would have to be present, speaking nonstop about the issue at hand, to sustain a filibuster. I don’t imagine any Senator (we only need 50 to enact a rule change) could mount a credible opposition in defiance of this reform. Thoughts? Anyone?
Barbara Jo, I will leave the details to the scholars and political experts, but in my mind a powerful voting rights bill is absolutely critical. More important to our democracy than all the ballyhooed spending bills already passed, excellent and praiseworthy as they are. I love Biden’s FDR agenda and installing women and POC everywhere, but without a national voting bill that nullifies the anti-democratic crap legislation passing everywhere, who cares.
I totally agree. As great as they are, the other bills passed won’t matter in a few years if we don’t have the voting rights and a transparent and democratic election. And I believe that is on the chopping block by the wanna be fascist trumpublicans
Is there truly a substantive difference between the members of the NSDAP Party and the current members of the Republican Party? Between Trump and Hitler? Not really.
Roland: Because I couldn’t agree more with your closing remark, watching and waiting to see what the experts will do just makes me more anxious. Thus, I choose to acquire the knowledge (see my latest reply to Karen) that gives me a shot at not merely having to look through the window but, instead, to come through the door.
Is a powerful voting rights bill going to do anything other than make us feel better though? The rabid parts of the country have demonstrated that they will only "obey" laws they like and they will NOT like a law that makes it easier for "them" to vote. We may have passed the point in our society where "law" means anything.
Sorry for the gloom but I think we are really in for a very dark and violent winter
Thank you Barbara. I am in complete support of the Voting Rights Act. My concern is that it doesn’t include the changes made by the Republican state legislatures to shift the state electoral certification from the Secretary of State to the legislature. Giving them the power to decide who is counted
Karen: Though I can’t be sure, I believe you might be conflating the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which is not preemptive and, therefore, cannot overturn state policy that will already have passed, with the Freedom to Vote Act that Manchin helped draft after the more comprehensive H.R.1/S.1 For the People Act was filibustered. Presuming I understand correctly, passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would ensure (1) that all eligible voters easily could register to vote and stay enrolled and (2) that eligible votes would be cast, counted correctly, and certified without interference and without their being diluted through partisan gerrymandering. Here I would note that the enthusiastic endorsements from such notables as Stacey Abrams leads me to believe that my grasp is likely solid.
The freedom to vote act. And am relieved it includes prohibiting state legislatures from taking away the people’s vote. Because if it doesn’t pass the people will not have a vote.
Sarah, I agree, but, because VRAA’s protections would not extend to state laws that already have passed, we must prioritize passage of the Freedom to Vote Act whose provisions, as previously mentioned, would supersede already-passed state laws in conflict with any of its stipulations.
we may be at the point where the Senators and Congress officials return to duels at ten paces. After all, when censured, Paul Gosar compared himself to Alexander Hamilton. then rebroadcast the anime video showing him assassinating a woman, a person of color, a colleague, then attempting to assassinate the President of the United States.
Thank you Barbara, I will reach out to my senators with this suggestion and forward to folks I know who might not be aware of this option to enact effective change - it's a really good idea - a ray of hope!!
I especially like the requirements that the 41 be present and that they must actually address the topic at hand. Apparently McCarthy managed to spend over 8 hours talking about anything but why he objected to the BBB.
Please accept my thanks for being on the front line, and dealing with those Covid deniers and anti vaxers as you labor to save the lives of their loved ones (and their own). Please also take care of yourself. Covid exhaustion is a real thing and is impacting everyone, no one more so than nurses.
I will share my dismay at what my community of law enforcement friends are doing in the wake of this verdict (along with their responses to Mr. Black's initial shooting that prompted these demonstrations in the first place, and every other BLM protest) and express my frustration with what has become of my former profession. I can GUARENTEE that had Mr. Rittenhouse been Black, there would be no trial because the officers on scene would have "observed a male with an assault rifle in the area where the shooting had occurred; he posed an imminent threat and I shot him."
My daughter, a nurse, would agree with your assessment. I, as one who was constantly appalled by the white supremacist judge, feels that there must be some way to protest his blatant bias.
What evidence do you have for saying the judge was a white supremacist? Did you know that when he has run for office it was as a Democrat? On the one side we have right wing nuts embracing Rittenhouse, and on the other we have people saying the judge is a white supremacist because they don't like the outcome. The jury was presented with all of the evidence and this is the conclusion they came to. Biden was right in his initial statement (subsequently undermined by the longer White House statement). As long as everyone continues to jump into their partisan corners on every issue, we'll never get out of our current mess.
I understand what you’re saying Mike. And believe me, that idea has certainly crossed many of our minds while going through this very sad and frustrating experience. That being said we are committed to providing care for the sick. And where would we be able to draw the line. Would we refuse care to an accident victim who was driving drunk? Refuse care to a lung cancer patient because they smoked a pack a day for 40 years? There are many self inflicted and preventable conditions that we treat without a second thought. I think we are all feeling less tolerant of the unvaccinated Covid patients now because so many are politically influenced and continue in denial, and even angry with the healthcare providers trying to help them. That said it’s who we are, and what we do.
"That being said we are committed to providing care for the sick."
I understand your commitment and am heartened folks like you exist.
However, Covid and any future pandemic is different from the small number of drunk drivers, and accident victims.
Covid, with a death rate of only 2% relative to all infected people, pushed Emergency room and ICU staff to the limit in many states and towns with above 90% occupancy rates for the first time in a long time.
Karen, just imagine if the death rate were 20% and 40% of the folks refused to get vaccinated?
Your hospitial parking lot would be full of dead bodies and you would be a walking dead body.
So, hospitals NEED to come up with plans for pandemics that DO NOT include throwing their staff at death day after day until their staff is all dead.
Because, this is not the last pandemic. And, this was pandemic LIGHT.
I’ve pondered the idea of creating a split-hospital system. One side for covid patients and one for non-covid patients. We’re losing too many non-covid patients from there not being any room for them and from people being made to delay all non-covid medical care. That’s not right. Surely there’s a workable solution for this problem.
Right ... the insurance companies do that picking and choosing - to be sure their profit margins are well funded ... heaven forbid we might invite government oversight - So much better to have a trustworthy insurance executive between us and our health care providers than some corrupt government agency ... right ...?
Although not surprised by the Rittenhouse verdict with a blatant white supremacist judge who influenced the trial, I am more concerned about our democracy than ever. I see the gerrymandering and the voter suppression laws being passed by the gerrymandered Republican states. We are definitely at a crossroads and I want to help however I can to protect our democracy from the violence promoting fascists that are threatening it. Like many I was already exhausted from 4 years of Trump. Then came Covid exhaustion. We (nurses) are still being threatened by Covid deniers/ anti vaxers. We are exhausted! Sorry I just had to vent. I know I’m safe venting to this community. Thank you Heather and all.
Karen: Because I, too, “want to help however I can to protect our democracy…,” I continually persist, first, in noting that the Freedom to Vote Act is the only federal legislation currently in play whose provisions would supersede state law in conflict with any of its stipulations, and that includes state laws that already have passed. Additionally, because neither abolishing the Senate filibuster nor exempting it to pass bills protective even of our most basic rights presently has support from 50 Senators, I repeatedly have pressed for a Senate rule change, initially crafted by Congressional scholar Norm Ornstein, that, in all likelihood, would pass. The rule change would replace the 60-vote threshold required to end debate with a 41-vote threshold to continue debate, thus shifting the burden from the majority to the minority, 41 of whom would have to be present, speaking nonstop about the issue at hand, to sustain a filibuster. I don’t imagine any Senator (we only need 50 to enact a rule change) could mount a credible opposition in defiance of this reform. Thoughts? Anyone?
Barbara Jo, I will leave the details to the scholars and political experts, but in my mind a powerful voting rights bill is absolutely critical. More important to our democracy than all the ballyhooed spending bills already passed, excellent and praiseworthy as they are. I love Biden’s FDR agenda and installing women and POC everywhere, but without a national voting bill that nullifies the anti-democratic crap legislation passing everywhere, who cares.
I totally agree. As great as they are, the other bills passed won’t matter in a few years if we don’t have the voting rights and a transparent and democratic election. And I believe that is on the chopping block by the wanna be fascist trumpublicans
Is there truly a substantive difference between the members of the NSDAP Party and the current members of the Republican Party? Between Trump and Hitler? Not really.
Not really - that's what makes us over here in Germany fearful of what's going on in the US.
As is on my mind 24/7. The parallels are stunning.
NO. The republicans followed Nazis as the Nazis followed Jim Crow.
Roland: Because I couldn’t agree more with your closing remark, watching and waiting to see what the experts will do just makes me more anxious. Thus, I choose to acquire the knowledge (see my latest reply to Karen) that gives me a shot at not merely having to look through the window but, instead, to come through the door.
I agree, Roland. Without protection for voting, we're toast.
Is a powerful voting rights bill going to do anything other than make us feel better though? The rabid parts of the country have demonstrated that they will only "obey" laws they like and they will NOT like a law that makes it easier for "them" to vote. We may have passed the point in our society where "law" means anything.
Sorry for the gloom but I think we are really in for a very dark and violent winter
Afraid I agree with you, Molly.
Yes, I think the states realize, from the unpunished actions of Donald Trump, that ignoring the law is not just possible, but, the way to go.
The rule of law in the United States was broken by a half wit con man named Donald Trump. Of all people.
EXACTLY, Roland (and others on this forum who call for this regularly). Without voting protections there IS nothing else.
Thank you Barbara. I am in complete support of the Voting Rights Act. My concern is that it doesn’t include the changes made by the Republican state legislatures to shift the state electoral certification from the Secretary of State to the legislature. Giving them the power to decide who is counted
Karen: Though I can’t be sure, I believe you might be conflating the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which is not preemptive and, therefore, cannot overturn state policy that will already have passed, with the Freedom to Vote Act that Manchin helped draft after the more comprehensive H.R.1/S.1 For the People Act was filibustered. Presuming I understand correctly, passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would ensure (1) that all eligible voters easily could register to vote and stay enrolled and (2) that eligible votes would be cast, counted correctly, and certified without interference and without their being diluted through partisan gerrymandering. Here I would note that the enthusiastic endorsements from such notables as Stacey Abrams leads me to believe that my grasp is likely solid.
Thank You for clarifying Barbara. My hope is to pass th
The freedom to vote act. And am relieved it includes prohibiting state legislatures from taking away the people’s vote. Because if it doesn’t pass the people will not have a vote.
Don't you hate the "no edit" aspect of Substack? I shall now copy you here when I hit "enter" instead of whatever key I intended to hit.
This is my understanding as well, Barbara. But you said it better than I can!
One of my concerns as well. We must pass this and the John Lewis Act as soon as possible.
Sarah, I agree, but, because VRAA’s protections would not extend to state laws that already have passed, we must prioritize passage of the Freedom to Vote Act whose provisions, as previously mentioned, would supersede already-passed state laws in conflict with any of its stipulations.
Then it won’t matter, as Stalin said. What matters is who counts the votes
yes, that will be the lasting legacy of that half wit con man Donald Trump.
The breaking point of the rule of law in the US.
Who knew a mentally ill, half wit con man could make so much difference?
we may be at the point where the Senators and Congress officials return to duels at ten paces. After all, when censured, Paul Gosar compared himself to Alexander Hamilton. then rebroadcast the anime video showing him assassinating a woman, a person of color, a colleague, then attempting to assassinate the President of the United States.
Well, those guys probably cannot shoot straight enough to kill each other, but, they probably can accidently shoot an innocent gawker.
Yet, his colleagues remained silent. Mostly.
Thank you Barbara, I will reach out to my senators with this suggestion and forward to folks I know who might not be aware of this option to enact effective change - it's a really good idea - a ray of hope!!
Time to write my senators again.
I especially like the requirements that the 41 be present and that they must actually address the topic at hand. Apparently McCarthy managed to spend over 8 hours talking about anything but why he objected to the BBB.
Time to put a little sanity back in government. This is a start
Oh please, is there a faint hope? Do it Dems.
You are doing heroic work. Do take care of yourself! You are not alone carrying the load. ❤️
Thank You Ellie. Your support means so much.
Please accept my thanks for being on the front line, and dealing with those Covid deniers and anti vaxers as you labor to save the lives of their loved ones (and their own). Please also take care of yourself. Covid exhaustion is a real thing and is impacting everyone, no one more so than nurses.
I will share my dismay at what my community of law enforcement friends are doing in the wake of this verdict (along with their responses to Mr. Black's initial shooting that prompted these demonstrations in the first place, and every other BLM protest) and express my frustration with what has become of my former profession. I can GUARENTEE that had Mr. Rittenhouse been Black, there would be no trial because the officers on scene would have "observed a male with an assault rifle in the area where the shooting had occurred; he posed an imminent threat and I shot him."
Ally, glad to hear you are not giving up, willing to be a pest to your law enforcement friends!
Vent away‼️ We love you ❤️❤️
My daughter, a nurse, would agree with your assessment. I, as one who was constantly appalled by the white supremacist judge, feels that there must be some way to protest his blatant bias.
Jeri,
His blatant bias is what the majority of Americans feel.
Hence, I don't recommend protest.
Mike S, I sincere believe it is NOT the majority of Americans. (If only they’d all speak up.)
What evidence do you have for saying the judge was a white supremacist? Did you know that when he has run for office it was as a Democrat? On the one side we have right wing nuts embracing Rittenhouse, and on the other we have people saying the judge is a white supremacist because they don't like the outcome. The jury was presented with all of the evidence and this is the conclusion they came to. Biden was right in his initial statement (subsequently undermined by the longer White House statement). As long as everyone continues to jump into their partisan corners on every issue, we'll never get out of our current mess.
I watched enough to see that he was partisan, in fact, I think that was why the result was as it was. Pissy Democrat, like two more that come to mind.
Karen,
I remain puzzled why hospitals are still accepting non-vaccinated folks into the ER?
Seems like that is just dumb.
Hospitals are private property for the most part, so, they can put out a sign saying:
NO UNVACCINATED PEOPLE WILL BE ADMITTED. IF YOU STEP INSIDE YOU WILL BE ARRESTED.
Medicine does not work that way. That's why nurses, as a group, remain the most trusted professionals in America.
I understand what you’re saying Mike. And believe me, that idea has certainly crossed many of our minds while going through this very sad and frustrating experience. That being said we are committed to providing care for the sick. And where would we be able to draw the line. Would we refuse care to an accident victim who was driving drunk? Refuse care to a lung cancer patient because they smoked a pack a day for 40 years? There are many self inflicted and preventable conditions that we treat without a second thought. I think we are all feeling less tolerant of the unvaccinated Covid patients now because so many are politically influenced and continue in denial, and even angry with the healthcare providers trying to help them. That said it’s who we are, and what we do.
"That being said we are committed to providing care for the sick."
I understand your commitment and am heartened folks like you exist.
However, Covid and any future pandemic is different from the small number of drunk drivers, and accident victims.
Covid, with a death rate of only 2% relative to all infected people, pushed Emergency room and ICU staff to the limit in many states and towns with above 90% occupancy rates for the first time in a long time.
Karen, just imagine if the death rate were 20% and 40% of the folks refused to get vaccinated?
Your hospitial parking lot would be full of dead bodies and you would be a walking dead body.
So, hospitals NEED to come up with plans for pandemics that DO NOT include throwing their staff at death day after day until their staff is all dead.
Because, this is not the last pandemic. And, this was pandemic LIGHT.
2% is nothing.
I’ve pondered the idea of creating a split-hospital system. One side for covid patients and one for non-covid patients. We’re losing too many non-covid patients from there not being any room for them and from people being made to delay all non-covid medical care. That’s not right. Surely there’s a workable solution for this problem.
Mandated vaccination was a good start. The disaster of TFG is going to be a long time healing from. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/11/the-mass-exodus-of-americas-health-care-workers/620713/
They receive a huge chuck of their revenue from publicly funded Medicare and Medicaid and are not allowed to pick and choose the patients they accept.
This can and should change.
Right ... the insurance companies do that picking and choosing - to be sure their profit margins are well funded ... heaven forbid we might invite government oversight - So much better to have a trustworthy insurance executive between us and our health care providers than some corrupt government agency ... right ...?