Bucking Up

 Someone commenting on how concerned I and others were about recent events wanted to dismiss and ridicule our concern. They stated, "Buck up, Pal. All will be well. Trust me."

Really?

All is definitely not well. First, we had the egregious debate where all focus was on Biden's performance and little to nothing on the manic serial liar, condemning migrants, claiming the Democrats were killing babies after birth, and shouting one falsity after another. Biden talks too softly, and the media is ready to run him out of town, and the narcissistic misogynistic racist adjudicated sexual assaulter, adjudicated fraudster, convicted felon orange conman gets a pass. A man, who while President, wasn't available until noon, read no briefings, and wanted us to drink bleach. A man who, as a former President, slept and farted through his trial, can't complete a coherent thought, and wants to execute Liz Cheney, and the media shrugs its shoulders.

But, of course, that wasn't the only thing about last week. The Supreme Court, which has been making horrible decisions the last couple of decades, upped its game considerably with four democracy-ending positions.

They ruled that bribery is legal if it's done after the fact.

They ruled that federal agencies no longer have any actual authority. An expert who has spent his life learning about something can now be overruled by the courts, all the way to the Supreme Court. If a certain chemical is contaminating the water supply, who better to determine whether it needs to be regulated than our six far-right Supreme Court Justices? Corporations rule, and citizens drool (literally, depending on what containment is allowed).

They decided that the homeless could be thrown in prison for the crime of not having a home.

And the worst? They made Trump King by giving him immunity for "official acts." And who decides what an official act is? That's right - the Supreme Court.

Some of my like-minded friends have suggested that Biden can now commit criminal acts to advance his own national agenda. Au contraire, Pierre. You need to remember who decides what is or isn't an official act. That's right. It's the extremist six who are running roughshod over democracy.

After the opening paragraphs, our Declaration of Independence was all about not wanting to live under the rule of an authoritarian King who had immunity to do whatever he wanted to us.

And now, on July 1, 2024, we ended our rebellion against a King, and the Supreme Court decided to restore us to a Monarchy.

Buck up? No, this is a DEFCON red alert emergency.

But, trust me, we will be bucking up. Just not in the way my Facebook commenter wanted us to.

We will be bucking up to fight this coming darkness in any way we can.

We will be doubling down in our support of Biden/Harris. 

We will sound the alarm about the Supreme Court, MAGA, Christian Nationalism, and Project 2025.

We will stand up to those who want to take away our rights and freedoms - women's right to reproductive health care, voting rights, support for our lgbtq+ community, support our public schools and libraries, defend our commitment to NATO, fight to reduce income inequality, struggle to make education, healthcare, and housing more affordable, to raise wages and encourage unions, to extend our respective faiths through the power of love and inclusion, and not the power of hate and exclusion.

Yes, there may come a time when we can't fight back, but that time is not here yet.

Until then...

WE ARE BUCKING UP!!!

BIG TIME!

Boss-A-Man Finds the Ott-O-Man

 

How 'bout that doggy?

Our church was finally able to bring back one of our big fundraisers - the New to You sale.  Hundreds of gently used items sold for a song.

Unfortunately, my singing wasn't enough, and I add to add Ten Bucks to come away with this GIGANTIC ottoman that I could put in front of my reading chair.

And, yes. Boss-A-Man was the first of our four dogs to use it.  It's great because he can watch me while I'm on the computer.  I loves my retirement dog!

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I'm not going into great details about what I'm doing or not doing.  I'M RETIRED.  I'M DOING WHAT I WANT TO DO.  I don't want to be judged by the rat race anymore.

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If you must know, one of my big projects, organizing and promoting the sale of almost 9,000 comic books.  Well, I am happy to report that...

I HAVE A BUYER!

There is some work left to get the books shipped, but my first big retirement project is on its way to completion!

It's not a fortune - won't be able to buy a cottage near my grandchild, but it is more money than I would make working part-time in accounting.

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The Supreme Court news continues to dominate.  Remember when I said it wouldn't stop at abortion?  Well, it's happening now.  Some state legislatures are moving to ban contraception, including criminalizing the use of IUDs.  One Arizona Senate candidate even is talking about banning condoms.

The party of limited government wants to be in your bedrooms and in your doctor's office.

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Hope to go to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, put on by WACT.  Seeing the diverse cast for this show has renewed my enthusiasm to see it.  Everyone in the area should come out for this fantastic production.

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I guess that's enough for this Wednesday.  Got to move on to do whatever it is I'm doing in retirement!

T. M. Strait

Wednesday's Tale is Full of Woe

 

Today, as the news sinks in, it is truly a tale of woe.

Not for me, personally.  As far as my life goes, I have good health, a loving family, an open and friendly church, theatre if I want to participate, affectionate pets, and plenty of books and streaming apps.  Besides, at least for this immediate ruling, I guess I am part of the dominant patriarchy that this ruling favors.

But for this country - this is not very good news.  I probably should wait for a Saturday Political Soap Box for this, but some things are just too urgent.  So, for those who like my stuff, as long as I don't get too political - too bad, so sad.

My own position has been that I don't like abortion.  I have an early definition of the conception of life - once the DNA is zipped, a unique, one-of-kind entity is formed. This is worth protecting and cherishing.  This is my PERSONAL belief.  It has nothing to do with what I want to impose on other people.

An important fiat to my opinion - I'm a MAN, not a WOMAN.  

It does no good to criminalize or interfere with the decisions made between a woman and her doctor.  No one other than those two has any business in being involved.

Going hard at outlawing abortion does absolutely nothing to make it more rare.  It will continue.  Rich women will seek out states (or countries) where it is permitted. Poor women will find illegal and dangerous methods, maiming or killing both the unborn and the woman.  Yes.  Like everything in America, the poor and women of color will bear its brunt.

It is proven over and over again.  States where abortion is permitted. BUT have greater access to contraception, sex education, and support for mothers and children, see their abortion rates drop dramatically.  States and countries that restrict abortion and do not support young mothers see their abortions stay the same or climb.

It's almost like we've forgotten what being a Christian means.  Kindness, generosity, and support do a hundred times more than force, brutality, and hate.  Jesus says nothing about abortion (nor an even bigger problem of his time - infanticide).  But we know what he preached - love.  

I tell you this not as a pro-choice fanatic who wants to see abortion occurring as a primary form of birth control.  It is not a casual thing.  But it is not my decision to make.  Pro-life, as conducted by the far right in this country, isn't really about life - it's about control of women.  It's about putting them in their place.  It's about pro-birth, even at the cost of life and reason.  These same people are most often the ones who advocate capital punishment, guns unrestricted and everywhere, fossil fuels over renewables, oppose any human infrastructures spending (like health care and child care), oppose increases in the minimum wage, want to suppress the vote, rail against immigration - how is any of this pro-life?

I choose to reflect my opposition to abortion by making circumstances BETTER rather than worse.  The power of the sun and light is infinitely stronger than the power of the dark and hate.  I thought every person of faith knew this.  I guess I am wrong.

The destruction of the right to privacy (which, as currently worded, this opinion will do) will not stop at abortion.  Other rights we have taken for granted could be taken away under this theory - access to contraception, interracial marriage, same-sex marriage, and so much more.  Outlawing abortion is only the tip of the crapberg headed our way.

Those of you who have wished for this - important words of warning; be careful what you wish for.  This will not work out the way you think it will.

You are in for the biggest surprise of your life.

Backlash is a two-way street.

KIssing Health Care Goodbye In the Middle of a Pandemic: Saturday Political Soap Box 253

 

We're going to lose the Affordable Health Care Act.

Yes, this is just one of many things that will be lost under a 6-3 far-right court.  The most discussed is the reversal of Roe v. Wade, which I have addressed in other blog posts.  Suffice to say here that I believe the elimination of Roe v. Wade will NOT accomplish what either side thinks it will, and the result will be a RISING number of abortions in this country.

But the Affordable Care Act?  You can kiss that goodbye.  And the effect will be devastating, especially in a pandemic.

This is ironic* at a time when the Act is growing increasingly popular.  The Republicans initially insisted on calling it Obamacare.  What started out as derision is now a badge of honor.  

Why do Republicans insist on this act of political suicide?  They're not flexible enough to change, especially operating under a racist President who despises everything the black President did and wants to erase all his achievements from history.

Insurance companies could no longer discriminate based on pre-conditions.  You could keep your children on your insurance until they were 26.  People who couldn't rely on employer-based insurance had access to an insurance market, and it was subsidized based on income.  It opened up more to qualify for Medicare. That's just a few of its benefits.

Yes, Obamacare has its flaws.  So what?  All legislation does.  The President and his supporters thought that over time, like Social Security and Medicare and other programs, Obamacare would be corrected and improved in subsequent years.

That didn't happen.  That's because we had a Republican party that had decided it was more important to tear down Democratic achievements than solve problems either on their own or in conjunction with Democrats.  Having no solution was better than having a Democratic solution.

Usually, when legislation like this passes, that benefits so many, it gets accepted as a standard part of life, and it becomes tough to remove. And Obamacare was well on its way to doing this.  That is why there is going to be a huge political cost to Republicans for removing it.  It is why Supreme Court Justice John Roberts switched sides in the last Obamacare health care case and put a stop to its wanton destruction. With the addition of Amy "Aunt Lydia" Barrett, he won't be able to check the far-right justices' worst instincts.

Some things could have passed with the original Affordable Health Care Act that would have made it be accepted faster and thereby harder to remove. The most significant of these would have been a public option, allowing people to buy into a government plan in state marketplaces. Instead of a squirming and squallering private insurer, you could have a competitive public plan to choose from.  Another that almost passed was making an option where people 55 and older could buy into Medicare. Joe Lieberman single-handedly stopped that, even though that proposal was part of his 2004 Presidential-run platform.  People like Joe Lieberman and Joe Manchin are why we can't have nice things, even when Democrats control things.

Speaking of controlling things, when the election is over, and we have Biden as President, and a Senate Democratic majority, they will need to repair what they can of the Affordable Care Act.  They will have to vote through something that addresses whatever challenges the Supreme Court leaves in the wake of its destruction of the Act.  My fondest wish is that they just chuck it and go to Medicare For All (universal health care, single-payer - I don't care what you call it as long as it happens).  Failing that, you absolutely have to have a public option and/or greater buy-in capacity to Medicare. A redo will be worthless without that.  

Unfortunately, we couldn't get a public option or Medicare buy-in when the Democrats had a 60-vote technically veto-proof majority. My most optimistic predictions would be for a Democratic caucus of about 54. Sadly, Joe Manchin and a handful of conservative/corporate Democrats will have more power than ever.  We also will have a President who has stated that he opposes Medicare For All.

So, if we don't want to leave millions without health insurance, if we don't want to see millions excluded from coverage for pre-existing conditions (I'm sorry, Sir, your heart condition was caused by your bout with COVID, so, too bad so sad - here's your bill for $350,000 to cover your heart attack), if you don't want to see uncontrolled insurance costs skyrocket**, then it will be up to us to organize and protest as loudly as we can.  We need to let wavering Democrats know that our support for them depends on their willingness to restore our right to decent, affordable health care.

This is only one of the things we will lose when Aunt Lydia steps onto the Supreme Court.  It's a biggie, though.

Millions will lose health care.  Hundreds of thousands will go bankrupt or be forced to its edge.  Tens of thousands will die.

As Biden told Obama when the passing of the Affordable Care Act was announced, "This is a big f--ing deal."

This time, however, it won't be in a good way.

*am I using ironic in the right way?  I don't know.  Language and its use change all the time. Deal. 

**think Trump's political ploy of an executive order about pre-existing conditions means anything at all?  No, it's unenforceable trash.  Even if private insurers cover pre-existing conditions, it will be without limits on how much they can charge.  "You have diabetes, Sir?  Sure we'll cover it!  That'll be an extra 40 Grand a year, please."

Laid Low Monday Musings

 

I am laid low.  No,  Not COVID.  At least, I don't think so.  It's just the usual foot/leg arthritis-related thing I get once a year or so.  I'd actually been on a pretty good streak - usually get in May/June, around the time we try to take a trip.  

Well, I fooled my body by not having a vacation, but it eventually caught up with me. Hopefully, a day home with the dogs will be the rest I need.

It is difficult to write with the pain sensors firing, but I'll do my best.

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As with anybody who is not on the right-wing fringes, I am much disturbed and stressed by the news of the passing of RBG. It's not fair to her, but the truth is that she was the one with her finger plugging the damn of right-wing nonsense that we are now going to be flooded with.

We've had two Republican Senators, Murkowski and Collins, commit to not voting for a nominee until the inauguration of the next President.  Is that significant, or is that just the usual Hall Pass he gives out to one or two Senators who need to pretend they're independent in order to cater to their home state?

Does anyone know of any other Republican Senators who have publicly committed to delaying until there's a new President?  This would have to be commitments they made after RBG passed.

Most of the Republicans have no shame in contradicting the stance they took on delay in 2016. Republicans, thy middle name is HYPOCRISY.

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Benjamin is back at college in Milledgeville.  THeir COVID numbers have been high, but Benjamin has used an abundance of caution, and at least ON CAMPUS, most students are cooperating.

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Big Brother 22 is having its worse season ever.  The assault on minority players, including one with a mild form of autism, has been shocking and repulsive.  Will I keep watching it?  Probably as long as Kevin, Day'Vonne, and David are still playing, but I am fast-forwarding through chunks.

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The Emmys were awsome.  More Emmys went to shows Alison and I watch and like more than any other year than I can remember.  Schitt's Creek is phenomenal, and we watched ALL the seasons this last year.  Now Alison wants to see them again.  Watchmen was brilliant, and I was glad to see it win.  And Succesion is a favorite of ours as well.  Oh, and can't forget Last Week with John Oliver.  I like HBO.  It's my favorite premium service.  I just wish ROKU and HBO MAX would get their Shitt's Creek together so I can watch all the HBO MAX shows on our big TV.

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Sports is...discouraging.  Atlanta United (MLS) is having the franchise's worst season, the Detroit Tigers are not showing a playoff quality level of play, and don't get me started on the Falcons and the Lions.

Maybe I should drop my favorites and just pick whoever's winning, become a fair-weather fan.

Nah.  Can't do it.  Just not in my DNA.

I haven't decided about college football yet.  I don't think they should be playing - the risk is too significant.  But I seem to be in the minority on this.

At least keep the stadiums empty.  For God's sake, money is not as important as human lives.  I know that is a radical philosophy to hold in the Age of Trump, but hold to it I do.

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I have achieved all I can in my semi-coherent state.

Musingly Yours,

T. M. Strait

On the Basis of Justice: Saturday Political Soap Box 252

 

This is not what I wanted to write about this morning.

In a more perfect reality, Ruth Bader Ginsberg would have retired at the beginning of the Biden Presidency and spent the remainder of her days with loved ones.

But that's not how it worked out.  When Hillary Clinton lost narrowly in the Electoral College, RBG bravely stuck it out, determined to work through the Trump Presidency.  Whatever her health issues, her mind never lost a step, writing some of the most brilliant briefs in the history of the court.  They were particularly telling in her dissenting opinions, defending everything that made this country great.

She started her stellar career as an advocate for gender equality and women's rights, successfully arguing landmark cases before the Supreme Court.   In 1993, in one of Bill Clinton's best decisions, he nominated her to the Supreme Court.

Her record of both leading the court in opinions, both when in the majority or her fiery dissents, puts her at the forefront of being one of the most significant Supreme Court Justices of all time.  In Heaven's All-Star team of Supreme Court justices, she may very well be the Chief Justice.

It cannot be ignored how well she got along with her peers.  She had good relationships, even with her fierce opponents, including Scalia and Kavanaugh.

I would love for this post to just be a tribute to her amazing record.  It deserves to be.  But we are at a crucial time in our democratic republic, and the forces bringing us to our knees will not wait.

Next to the horror of a Trump re-election, the thing I feared the most was the death of RBG.  The balance of the Supreme Court could overturn Progressive legislation for the next two decades, even if the Progressives took over the Presidency and Congress.

In a matter of just a few hours, Mitch McConnell had already announced that Trump's nominee, when known, would be voted on post-haste.  And you thought they were serious about what they did to Obama and Merrick Garland, that it was based on any kind of principle that the Republicans should apply?  After all, isn't 46 days much closer than nine months?

No.  It wasn't about principle.  It was and always has been about sheer political power.  He controls the Senate.  He will do whatever the ef he wants.

That was bad enough.  Also ghoulishly pouncing was Georgia US Senate candidate, Doug Collins, declaring RBG a murderer because of her stance on anti-abortion cases.  He is gleeful, and that is probably only the start of the monstrous responses. The sad thing is, I feel like Collins will win and become US Senator.

I am so sick of the hypocrisy on the abortion issue.  You think ending Roe v. Wade will end abortion?  No, it will not.  It will accelerate it.  It's about giving states permission to discriminate against abortion in their home states.  Not every state is going to do that.  Many states will decide to keep pro-choice options.  People who can afford it will just go to those states.  The poor will suffer, but they've always suffered under our system.

You can't legislate this away, any more than alcohol was eliminated by Prohibition.  

I won't go into all of it here, but as someone who doesn't like abortion, I'm smart enough to know that education, support, and birth control are the better ways to go.  The dirty secret is that abortion rates have declined sharply under Democratic Presidents.  I would rather that continue than for us to go to Civil War.

As the morning after pill and other quick remedies become more prominent, it is clear that we are trying to burn the country down over a 20th-century procedure, one that is rapidly being replaced by other solutions.

But it is not only Roe v. Wade we will lose if the Supreme Court is taken over by right-wing extremists.

We will also lose -

Voting Rights

LGBTQ Rights

Other Gender Equality Issues

Environmental Protections

Any check on the power of Corporations and the Wealthy

Any check on an Imperial Presidency

Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)

Future Healthcare legislation

Worker Protections

Minimum Wages

Unions

And those are just a few I can think of off the top of my head.

I love RBG.  I love her record of achievement, her fundamental decency, and kindness.  I want to celebrate and honor all that and more.

But I am also in fear right now.  Fear for our country and future.  Fear for the moral arc of the universe.

But I know one thing.

She would not want us to quit.  She would not want us to surrender. No matter the odds.

The windmill tilting will continue.