This time change always throws me for a loop. I'm going to go to bed and hope I have a clue what time it is when I wake up. Despite the time confusion, though, fall evenings are special....
We are so grateful you have continued these letters past the 100 days after the inauguration. You are giving clarity to major issues that some are trying to ignore.
After such a rollercoaster week, an extra hour is most welcome. I go to sleep dreaming that this provides President Biden an extra hour to get a social infrastructure bill through Congress and then the John Lewis voting rights bill, once Manchin and Sinema agree that voting is a right, not a Republican privilege.
History always has lessons. Still we are surprised and maddened by how humans can come up with new ways to ignore those lessons and repeat the sins of our past.
I read a covid19 story in the Washington Post last night that memorializes the state of our nation. A woman in Washington State wrote how she warned her
brother and sister to get vaccinated and then mourned their unnecessary deaths, even fighting their doctors as they died. They were good people, she said, just misled. The brother caring and considerate of others except for covid19. The sister, a successful military nurse veteran and business entrepreneur, just not successful with covid19 healthcare.
On the one hand, we have the medical ability to ascertain a pandemic and recommend proven methods to manage and minimize its spread. And then we have the scientific ability to quickly design effective vaccines and the manufacturing and distribution ability to make them available to our entire nation. This is only a small part of our ability to help mankind. My cousin in Idaho, who moved there for his "independence" and has been an anti covid19 masker and vaxxer is surviving pancreatic cancer, a disease that was fatal a few years ago, because of medical science. Meanwhile he puts himself, his 90 year old parents and family at risk. Kansas is reported to be generating 42% of its electric power with wind generation with easy potential to generate 100&, but the don't has the transmission capability to distribute it because distribution is tied up in private hands that operate independently of the generators and the public, unlike our 1950s interstate highway system born in an another age of good will and public participation.
On the other hand, we are living in an age of unimaginable political and commercial power and wealth forged in propaganda and cult worship for money and power. A condition that is even more dangerous than covid19, because it thwarts the application of all of our immense capabilities.
The world suffers from this plague of obstruction, indifference and out right destruction. But some countries, like Asian countries seem to be better at maintaining their cultural discipline, faculties and perseverance, powers that the US once displayed. They have worked their way through covid19 with far fewer hospitalizations and dealths.
When we look back at the most difficult times during the 20th Century, far more challenging than today, we couldn't possibly have survived the Great Depression, WWII, overcome small pox, polio and the many deadly childhood diseases with today's culture of politically and commercially induced ignorance and selfishness.
I look for metaphors to help me understand. It feels like we are in a washing machine spin cycle where one group has decided to pack their wet clothes on one side of the washing machine drum until the belt breaks, the motor burns out and the machine flies apart. Or are we experiencing an out of control autoimmune disease where our national and world bodies are killing themselves fighting diseases that don't exist while healthy organs are trying to figure out what went wrong and how to survive this senseless suicide?
Once Upon a Time, many years ago while taking in the beauty of Rock Creek Park, that 1700+ acres of "peaceful refuge" nestled between the Maryland suburbs and Washington, D.C., a hiker stopped to ask if I knew what time it was. "No," I replied. "Isn't that great?"
Nothing from HCR today? Chew on this. David Leonhardt's newsletter in today’s New York Times (Nov. 8) reported that In October, 25 out of every 100,000 residents of heavily Trump counties died from Covid, more than three times higher than the rate in heavily Biden counties (7.8 per 100,000). October was the fifth consecutive month that the percentage gap between the death rates in Trump counties and Biden counties widened. Could this be the direct effects of the politicization of vaccinations and masking, something which should never have happened.
Thank you for the reminder, Professor - I wonder if digital clocks will 'self-correct' ...
Since we have an open blog today, here is a list of most of Politics Girl's videos - there are more, and doubtless will be more to come ... just in case you don't have time to explore her site, these links will give you easy access ... enjoy!!
The woman in California Leigh McGowen, who calls herself politics girl with the kind of messaging a lot of Democrats might love to hear from the party chair, Speaker, Majority Leader perhaps the President himself.
Partisan gerrymandering allows politicians to pick their voters rather than voters to pick their candidate. It’s drawing the lines so you can’t lose and the Republicans are in a prime position to win back the House in 2022 by just making impossible for Democrats to win.
Part of ‘The Importance of Voter Rights’ series. Part 3.
Knowing the Republicans can win back the house without actually winning more voters, what do we do? Hard Work & Passing Voter Protections. Including the For the People Act if we can get it.
They want the government in every part of our lives.
Lots of people think the Democrats are the big spenders. Turns out that might not be entirely true. In fact, over any length of comparison period (say, 25 years more), by pretty much any economic measure (job growth, debt, deficit), Democrats have outperformed Republicans for a century.
So, why do the Dems keep getting saddled with the big spender nametag?
_______
ARGUMENT #2: The Democrats want to get or give everything away for free.
They are in your pocket and live from cradle to Grave.
The image of the Welfare Queen living off the Government Dole is embedded into many Republican tropes but who is the biggest Welfare Queens in America if you look at the numbers? Dem or GOP the money is going to be spent. You have to ask yourself what do YOU think it should be spent ON?
This just has no basis in reality but where did the idea stem from and who benefits if people believe one party is law and order and the other is the party of the anarchists?
Can you respect the police and still ask more from them?
_______
ARGUMENT #4: Democrats want to release all prisoners and abolish jails.
Democrats definitely have far different ideas on immigration than Republicans but, open borders certainly aren’t one of them. We have a wonderful country but Democrats believe it’s important to also be a benevolent country. You can’t keep saying America is the best country on earth but giving the middle finger to anyone who wants to come here.
I’m not even sure where this one came from but, it seems to be a concern so, let’s address it.
What is freedom of religion?
What is the separation of church and state?
Do other faiths count or is it just Christianity?
Is is freedom if one religion gets to impose it’s laws on others? How would you feel if that religion wasn’t Christianity. If you had to conform to Muslim law or Buddhist law?
There is a big difference between having well funded, useful government social programs and being socialist. The idea of socialism is a boogyman the Republicans have been using for almost a century to scare voters away from social programs - including social security, medicare and unemployment insurance. Real socialism, where the government is authoritarian and runs the private economy is light years away from the responsible capitalism suggested by current Democrats or even the democratic socialism that Bernie Sanders and members of the “squad” favor.
_______
ARGUMENT #10: Democrats want to get rid of your Cars, Planes & Burgers
This idea is part of the current talking points of modern day Republicans to scare voters into thinking Democrats are nuts. The ideas come from cherry picking line items from the original ‘Green New Deal’ proposed in 2019. What needs to be noted is that particular bill wasn’t written to create legislation but, conversation. To point us in the direction the party believed we should be going if we wanted to really address climate change and economic inequality in America.
Democrats aren’t Anti-Military they’re just not Pro-War. I’d argue that Democrats are deeply patriotic but, it’s our love for the county that makes us question who we are and if we can be better. Self-improvement is one of the biggest indicators of self-love. You can’t improve without coming to terms with the fact that you need improvement. As Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
Thank you for your continued perseverance in writing such insightful and helpful posts as we navigate our way through these perilous times. Wishing you a wonderful autumn.
Beautiful image! I'm so grateful for your generosity of time and spirit in these Letters you publish regularly, and hope that you will never hesitate to take as much rest as you need. Yours is the quiet but eloquent voice of reason and sanity in these *interesting* times we live in. Thank you, Dr. Heather! 💜
Funny, in Florida our darkness happens incrementally, and we don’t experience the dramatic darkness that you do. That being said, what was light last night at happy hour time was dark tonight. Can you do some research on daylight savings time and get us straight? LOLOL. I vote to eliminate it.
We are so grateful you have continued these letters past the 100 days after the inauguration. You are giving clarity to major issues that some are trying to ignore.
After such a rollercoaster week, an extra hour is most welcome. I go to sleep dreaming that this provides President Biden an extra hour to get a social infrastructure bill through Congress and then the John Lewis voting rights bill, once Manchin and Sinema agree that voting is a right, not a Republican privilege.
History always has lessons. Still we are surprised and maddened by how humans can come up with new ways to ignore those lessons and repeat the sins of our past.
I read a covid19 story in the Washington Post last night that memorializes the state of our nation. A woman in Washington State wrote how she warned her
brother and sister to get vaccinated and then mourned their unnecessary deaths, even fighting their doctors as they died. They were good people, she said, just misled. The brother caring and considerate of others except for covid19. The sister, a successful military nurse veteran and business entrepreneur, just not successful with covid19 healthcare.
On the one hand, we have the medical ability to ascertain a pandemic and recommend proven methods to manage and minimize its spread. And then we have the scientific ability to quickly design effective vaccines and the manufacturing and distribution ability to make them available to our entire nation. This is only a small part of our ability to help mankind. My cousin in Idaho, who moved there for his "independence" and has been an anti covid19 masker and vaxxer is surviving pancreatic cancer, a disease that was fatal a few years ago, because of medical science. Meanwhile he puts himself, his 90 year old parents and family at risk. Kansas is reported to be generating 42% of its electric power with wind generation with easy potential to generate 100&, but the don't has the transmission capability to distribute it because distribution is tied up in private hands that operate independently of the generators and the public, unlike our 1950s interstate highway system born in an another age of good will and public participation.
On the other hand, we are living in an age of unimaginable political and commercial power and wealth forged in propaganda and cult worship for money and power. A condition that is even more dangerous than covid19, because it thwarts the application of all of our immense capabilities.
The world suffers from this plague of obstruction, indifference and out right destruction. But some countries, like Asian countries seem to be better at maintaining their cultural discipline, faculties and perseverance, powers that the US once displayed. They have worked their way through covid19 with far fewer hospitalizations and dealths.
When we look back at the most difficult times during the 20th Century, far more challenging than today, we couldn't possibly have survived the Great Depression, WWII, overcome small pox, polio and the many deadly childhood diseases with today's culture of politically and commercially induced ignorance and selfishness.
I look for metaphors to help me understand. It feels like we are in a washing machine spin cycle where one group has decided to pack their wet clothes on one side of the washing machine drum until the belt breaks, the motor burns out and the machine flies apart. Or are we experiencing an out of control autoimmune disease where our national and world bodies are killing themselves fighting diseases that don't exist while healthy organs are trying to figure out what went wrong and how to survive this senseless suicide?
Funny - Fall back never bothers me. Spring forward leaves me in a daze for at least a week. Thanks for the beautiful fall colors!
Once Upon a Time, many years ago while taking in the beauty of Rock Creek Park, that 1700+ acres of "peaceful refuge" nestled between the Maryland suburbs and Washington, D.C., a hiker stopped to ask if I knew what time it was. "No," I replied. "Isn't that great?"
That said, many thanks, Dr. R, for YOUR time!
Thanks again for shepherding us through the craziness.
Nothing from HCR today? Chew on this. David Leonhardt's newsletter in today’s New York Times (Nov. 8) reported that In October, 25 out of every 100,000 residents of heavily Trump counties died from Covid, more than three times higher than the rate in heavily Biden counties (7.8 per 100,000). October was the fifth consecutive month that the percentage gap between the death rates in Trump counties and Biden counties widened. Could this be the direct effects of the politicization of vaccinations and masking, something which should never have happened.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/08/briefing/covid-death-toll-red-america.html
Thank you for the reminder, Professor - I wonder if digital clocks will 'self-correct' ...
Since we have an open blog today, here is a list of most of Politics Girl's videos - there are more, and doubtless will be more to come ... just in case you don't have time to explore her site, these links will give you easy access ... enjoy!!
POLITICS GIRL - Leigh McGowen
http://www.politicsgirl.com
https://incaseimgone.com
_______
WHAT IS POLITICS GIRL?
http://www.politicsgirl.com/what-is-this-1
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cUt6rTail6g&feature=emb_logo
_______
POLITICS GIRL - How To Vote
http://www.politicsgirl.com/how-to-vote-2
https://iwillvote.com
_______
POLITICS GIRL - About/Contact
http://www.politicsgirl.com/contact
leigh@politicsgirl.com
_______
The woman in California Leigh McGowen, who calls herself politics girl with the kind of messaging a lot of Democrats might love to hear from the party chair, Speaker, Majority Leader perhaps the President himself.
https://www.nbc.com/the-11th-hour-with-brian-williams/video/the-11th-hour-11321/9000191920
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2vrvzE8mbbs
_______
_______
POLITICS GIRL - YouTube
https://m.youtube.com/c/PoliticsGirl
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC0VTA6PQH7nKKgRO8ptMatQ
_______
POLITICS GIRL - Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/breakfastrant/
_______
POLITICS GIRL - Facebook
https://m.facebook.com/IAmPoliticsGirl/videos/vive-la-france/561604018544375/
_______
POLITICS GIRL - TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@breakfastrant
_______
POLITICS GIRL - Twitter
https://mobile.twitter.com/iampoliticsgirl
_______
_______
Tails we win. Heads you cheated.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GNTsA71LhIQ
“They cheated! Unless we won, then never mind.”
Republicans are like the boy who cried wolf but, if they’re so concerned about election integrity why do they keep voting against election integrity?
_______
Republicans Can Win Without Winning
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=naGl4ZCLi4g
Part of ‘The Importance of Voter Rights’ series. Post Census Redistricting & Partisan Gerrymandering.
#Redistricting #Gerrymandering #census #voter #voterrights
_______
Republican Power Forever
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KK5EoFE8oV0
Part of ‘The Importance of Voter Rights’ series.
Partisan gerrymandering allows politicians to pick their voters rather than voters to pick their candidate. It’s drawing the lines so you can’t lose and the Republicans are in a prime position to win back the House in 2022 by just making impossible for Democrats to win.
#gerrymandering #republicans #cheating #politics
_______
So, How Do We Fix It?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt9Z_KDLIk4
Part of ‘The Importance of Voter Rights’ series. Part 3.
Knowing the Republicans can win back the house without actually winning more voters, what do we do? Hard Work & Passing Voter Protections. Including the For the People Act if we can get it.
#Indivisible #ForThePeopleAct #VoterProtections #democracy #politics
_______
_______
Political Cheating - TikTok 1
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hs56Y9xaFag
This is the stuff I think about as soon as I wake up. www.politicsgirl.com
#politics #trump #biden #vote #census2020 #gerrymandering #cheating
_______
COURT PACKING- TikTok 2
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TBn1YEDwxKg
Stop asking Joe Biden if he’s going to pack the courts. The courts are packed. www.politicsgirl.com
#politics #SCOTUS
_______
NEW SCOTUS PICK - TikTok 3
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z87Oz82UiOM
This SCOTUS hearing is a sham for many reasons.
#politics #scotus #trump #ACB #vote #Roe
_______
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POLITICS GIRL - Election 2020 Series: The Argument Against Democrats
_______
ARGUMENT #1: Democrats spend too much money
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bQhsTwtSauE
They want the government in every part of our lives.
Lots of people think the Democrats are the big spenders. Turns out that might not be entirely true. In fact, over any length of comparison period (say, 25 years more), by pretty much any economic measure (job growth, debt, deficit), Democrats have outperformed Republicans for a century.
So, why do the Dems keep getting saddled with the big spender nametag?
_______
ARGUMENT #2: The Democrats want to get or give everything away for free.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=biF2V78pUAs
They are in your pocket and live from cradle to Grave.
The image of the Welfare Queen living off the Government Dole is embedded into many Republican tropes but who is the biggest Welfare Queens in America if you look at the numbers? Dem or GOP the money is going to be spent. You have to ask yourself what do YOU think it should be spent ON?
_______
ARGUMENT #3: Democrats want to defund the police.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NoKlF2gKNEE
They hate the police and want them abolished.
This just has no basis in reality but where did the idea stem from and who benefits if people believe one party is law and order and the other is the party of the anarchists?
Can you respect the police and still ask more from them?
_______
ARGUMENT #4: Democrats want to release all prisoners and abolish jails.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EVTk43sBdtQ
Again, no basis in actual reality. How much sense would that make?
But, should prisons be reformed? Do people profit from prisons? If so, who? And who do they support and why?
_______
ARGUMENT #5: Democrats want open borders.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VnFQOMS_RZ4
Democrats definitely have far different ideas on immigration than Republicans but, open borders certainly aren’t one of them. We have a wonderful country but Democrats believe it’s important to also be a benevolent country. You can’t keep saying America is the best country on earth but giving the middle finger to anyone who wants to come here.
_______
ARGUMENT #6: Democrats want to take your guns.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SbSfvzSq-fk
Nope. Well, for the most part…nope. But should we have stricter laws? Maybe.
Can we have guns and a safe society? Democrats think so.
_______
ARGUMENT #7: Democrats are anti-Christian.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hbnD1qvoMQ4
I’m not even sure where this one came from but, it seems to be a concern so, let’s address it.
What is freedom of religion?
What is the separation of church and state?
Do other faiths count or is it just Christianity?
Is is freedom if one religion gets to impose it’s laws on others? How would you feel if that religion wasn’t Christianity. If you had to conform to Muslim law or Buddhist law?
_______
ARGUMENT #8: Democrats are pro-abortion.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pZG9Nm3SQs8
Democrats are pro-choice not pro-abortion. What’s the difference? Shouldn’t wanting to protect the unborn be without question?
How can anyone argue against that?
_______
ARGUMENT #9: Democrats are Socialists
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8U8CcJ5TGTg&pp=QAFIAQ%3D%3D
There is a big difference between having well funded, useful government social programs and being socialist. The idea of socialism is a boogyman the Republicans have been using for almost a century to scare voters away from social programs - including social security, medicare and unemployment insurance. Real socialism, where the government is authoritarian and runs the private economy is light years away from the responsible capitalism suggested by current Democrats or even the democratic socialism that Bernie Sanders and members of the “squad” favor.
_______
ARGUMENT #10: Democrats want to get rid of your Cars, Planes & Burgers
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CoyjlwLRFks
This idea is part of the current talking points of modern day Republicans to scare voters into thinking Democrats are nuts. The ideas come from cherry picking line items from the original ‘Green New Deal’ proposed in 2019. What needs to be noted is that particular bill wasn’t written to create legislation but, conversation. To point us in the direction the party believed we should be going if we wanted to really address climate change and economic inequality in America.
#politics #greennewdeal #AOC #GOP #EdMarkey #Democrats #Biden2020
_______
ARGUMENT #11: Democrats are Unpatriotic & Anti-Military
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_bWWV2Y9nCo
Democrats aren’t Anti-Military they’re just not Pro-War. I’d argue that Democrats are deeply patriotic but, it’s our love for the county that makes us question who we are and if we can be better. Self-improvement is one of the biggest indicators of self-love. You can’t improve without coming to terms with the fact that you need improvement. As Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
Thank you for your continued perseverance in writing such insightful and helpful posts as we navigate our way through these perilous times. Wishing you a wonderful autumn.
I turned my clocks back to 1992!
Beautiful image! I'm so grateful for your generosity of time and spirit in these Letters you publish regularly, and hope that you will never hesitate to take as much rest as you need. Yours is the quiet but eloquent voice of reason and sanity in these *interesting* times we live in. Thank you, Dr. Heather! 💜
Fall evenings are special indeed! Sleep well, and thank you for all your research and letters. They are a lifeline to sanity.
Funny, in Florida our darkness happens incrementally, and we don’t experience the dramatic darkness that you do. That being said, what was light last night at happy hour time was dark tonight. Can you do some research on daylight savings time and get us straight? LOLOL. I vote to eliminate it.
Heather, thank you again for giving us so much of yourself.
Thanks for staying with us this week.
Yours is a much needed voice of clarity and context.