TAXES and SERVING THE PUBLIC

Posted on April 26, 2017 Updated on April 9, 2017

The Trumpsters are ever so elated about DT’s leaked (self-leaked?) 2005 taxes.  He actually paid about 25% on declared income!  I find it interesting that this so-called billionaire’s rate is significantly lower than that of most folks in the middle class.  I know a retired school teacher whose rate is higher.  Ya gotta hand it to those who know how to work the system.  And we do!  Hand it to them, that is.

Most public servants pay lip service to serving the public.  And yes, 45 talks about service and what great things he wants for America, but his real interest—and that of his adult family members—appears to be in using the U.S. Treasury as his own personal piggy bank as he golfs his way through every weekend at his own venues—where we taxpayers are picking up the tab for his entourage (secret service, et. al.) to stay at his hostelries.  Wonder if the prices are jacked up on weekends?

Public service indeed!—as he proceeds to put in power people bent on destroying agencies that serve public interests.  Witness what he is doing or trying to do in term of national parks and federal land, or the environment, or public education, to name only the most obvious.  I have little doubt there is ample room for improvement in the way government serves public interests in these matters, but I also doubt that repeatedly “throwing the baby out with the bath water” is quite the way to do it.

SUGGESTED READING

Posted on April 19, 2017 Updated on April 9, 2017

The March edition of The Atlantic magazine has a must read article for those of us who are less than ecstatic about the current regime in Washington.

In “How to Build an Autocracy” David Frum discusses the destruction of traditional safeguards in a government that has served us well for over two hundred years.  He first targets a legislature that abrogates its oversight responsibilities to the point that it becomes subservient to the executive branch.  And this was written before we saw the chairman of a House investigative committee go running to the President to report on evidence brought before his committee!

Frum also points out that Presidents have tremendous powers of appointment, removal, and pardon.  Ordinarily the President’s own ethics and desire to “promote the common welfare” serve as a check on those powers. But, Frum asks point-blank: “What happens if somebody comes to high office lacking those qualities?”  One might add: what if that someone is a person who just sneers at restraints?  “I am the President and you are not.”

The Atlantic author also cites subtle and not-so-subtle encouragement of civil unrest to inflame emotional rather than rational reactions to issues and problems.  We saw this at work repeatedly in DT’s campaign strategy—thus “ratifying [his] apocalyptic vision” and providing excuses for repression of protests.  Paradoxically, we also have a large segment of the electorate that simply doesn’t care.  DT and his ilk count on public indifference.  Remember when he famously said he could get away with murder in broad daylight and no one would object?  Well?  Where are the protests about the Russian involvement?  About the dismantling of public education?  About the rape of the environment?  About the gross expenditures for his golfing trips?  About . . .

Frum does not dwell on DT’s relationship but with the press, but I would argue that DT’s attempts to weaken “the Fourth Estate” is yet another technique in undermining American democracy.  The media, per se, is not the enemy, but it is incumbent on citizens that we remain informed—to seek balance in our sources—to at least TRY to sort out what the truth may be in given issues.  Otherwise, we leave ourselves ripe for autocracy.

SEPARATION. NO, NOT “SEPARATE BUT EQUAL”—SEPARATE AND BALANCED

Posted on April 12, 2017 Updated on March 5, 2017

In some instances, I suppose, the word separation could be viewed as negative.  However, when it comes to the Constitution of the United States, it most definitely is NOT.  The Constitution, along with its amendments, lays out very clearly two specific areas of separation in our democracy.

The separation of church and state—of religion and government—is laid out in the First Amendment and has been reinforced repeatedly by court decisions.  The principle is directed at religion—not A religion.  Tempting as it is for “true believers” of any sect to try to impose their views on the rest us—that just is not the American way.  Whether it is Sharia law or the Beatitudes, the Torah or the Koran—political policy is not to be shaped by religious doctrine.  This is a basic principle that certain evangelicals need to relearn—Mike Pence comes immediately to mind.  Bottom line: Keep your religion out of the government we share.

Another “separation” principle that is currently being trampled upon is the Separation of Powers.  The Constitution draws distinct lines in terms of the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government.  These distinctions give us the “checks and balances” which have, heretofore, served us so well.  But when one branch overreaches in defining its own powers—as in Nixon’s “imperial Presidency”—the balance is severely disrupted.  Likewise, when one branch refuses to do its job—as the Republican-controlled Congress has done for years—chaos threatens.  Occasionally, even the judiciary—that bastion of objectivity and fairness—is open to accusations of “legislating from the bench.”  Maybe that’s why the Court reverses itself every twenty years or so.

Usually a “rogue branch” that overreaches itself is quickly brought back into line by one or both of the others.  Separation of Powers.  Checks and Balances.  These are good things—no?  It remains to be seen how that works when one party is more or less in control of all three branches.

HUMILITY—THE MISSING INGREDIENT

Posted on April 5, 2017 Updated on March 5, 2017

Have you noticed that DT and his ilk regularly talk down to us—as though fellow American citizens are merely ignorant children who must have things explained “properly.”  Is this arrogance—or what?  I may not “know more than the generals do” as the current occupant of the oval office claims to do, but—by God!—I am a reasonably well-read American citizen and I am as capable of understanding and coming to logical conclusions on matters as the orange man is.

So, just tell me the truth and let me decide.  That is the collective “me”—the one Walt Whitman wrote of all the time—and I want the real truth, not an alternative version.  If there is more than one way of viewing a given matter, tell me.  I’m a grown up.  I can figure it out.  Again: the collective “I” there.  Just don’t hide information from the folks you are supposed to be serving.

Truth.  A rare commodity in government circles these days.  More’s the pity.

Nor is it just ordinary citizens that DT and his treat as far less perceptive than they.  Did you see that so-called news conference?  (Has there been more than one yet?)  I was surprised those reporters did not just gather their notebooks and walk out.  What the world needs now—well, what the White House Press Room needs—is another Helen Thomas.  At least Morning Joe’s Mika Brezinski got it right in calling out Kellyanne—mouthpiece extraordinaire—for her lack of credibility.  Good on ya, Mika!

So now—in another stroke of sheer arrogance—certain journalists are to be denied access to White House briefings.  DT seeks to control the very information we receive in order to ensure that nothing negative leaks out.  It is a blatant attempt to control the media, which as any historian will inform you, is the action of the worst of history’s dictators.

“Doing the job” may be more difficult for those “banned” journalists, but I have confidence that they will, indeed, keep at it and try to ensure that we have solid information on which to form our conclusions.

Now—if we could just get all those so-called “leaders” in government to heed those town hall chants and DO THEIR JOBS.

STRONG WOMEN

Posted on March 29, 2017 Updated on March 5, 2017

What is it that makes some conservative men react so negatively to strong women?  One is inclined to think only extreme hate—or fear—could produce such contempt and belittling of women who dare to assert themselves.  Or, maybe their attitude is merely an outgrowth of ignorance and insecurity due to inevitable changes in culture as history moves on.

Case in point: Mitch McConnell’s truly deplorable silencing of Elizabeth Warren on the floor of the Senate as she tried to read into the record a letter written by a (female) civil rights icon.  He then showed his true colors as he said not a word when several male senators read into the record that exact same letter!

Does the word hypocrisy come to mind at all?

The Republican Party is not without its share of strong women.  Susan Collins and Nicole Wallace, for instance.  But mostly Republican men seem to honor only strong women who assume a “proper” female role: supporting a man from a clearly subordinate position.  Women like Nancy Reagan and Ann Romney—proper students of Phyllis Schaffly.

The usual attack leveled at a woman who dares to take a stand on some social or political issue is to belittle, to disparage with contempt.  They hold up to ridicule some aspect of her appearance (her preference for pantsuits) or use a silly nickname (Pocahontas) to demean her as a person.  These are the tactics of weak men, of bullies.

Such men would, if they could, turn us back the 1950s—if not, indeed, to the 19^th Century.  The 1950s.  That’s when Rosie the Riveter was told to put down her wrench, go back to the kitchen, and let the big, brave man handle things again.  Trouble was Rosie would not—or could not—just go back to the bad old days.

Few would want her to now.  After all, women account for a huge percentage of the America’s work force today.  It is highly unlikely that those “persistent” women will just sit down and shut up.

THE LIVES OF OTHERS

Posted on March 8, 2017 Updated on March 5, 2017

Recently, I watched—again—the award-winning German film The Lives of Others.  I was struck—again—by what a great movie it is.  Although this was the third time I had seen it (maybe the fourth), I was very interested in how the people joining me–who had not seen it–might view it ten years down the road.  I have to tell you: it held up very well for both them and me!  It continues to resonate even though it is still presented in the original German language with subtitles—the acting and the cinematography is that good!

Ten years ago it won the Academy Award as best foreign film.  Set in the 1980s, it tells the story of a Stasi man (think Gestapo or KGB) in East Germany who is required to spy on the life of a playwright.  The film focuses on the needs of totalitarians to suppress the work of artists in a culture and the lengths to which such people will go to dictate and control the lives of others in order to achieve their own private ends.  But it also shows the amazing resilience of the human spirit.

The most memorable line comes late in the movie, after the fall of the Berlin Wall: “And to think people like you once ran a country.”  Of course, having witnessed what is happening and may happen in our own government under the current leadership, I found the film even more powerful this time around.

In their denigration of the press and of artists who not only disagree with them, but also have the courage to call them out for errors in judgement, DT and his cohorts are already at cross-purposes with two of the four freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment: Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Speech. Nor are they especially respectful of the other two: Freedom to Assemble and Freedom of Religion.

Scary times ahead.

We must never forget that the price of liberty is constant vigilance.

Bottom line: If you have never seen The Lives of Others, hie thee to Netflix (or whatever) and see it.  If you saw it before, see it again.  ‘Tis well worth it.

IS THIS WHAT YOU BARGAINED FOR?

Posted on November 30, 2016 Updated on November 27, 2016

Questions for my Republican friends (yes—believe it or not—I do still have a few!) and other Trump supporters:

Is this really what you had in mind?  Is this what you envisioned for America?

–Putin’s puppet in the White House?

–Our government to be run like the Russian oligarchy, with DT  and his billionaire buddies raking in the spoils?  (Ronald Reagan must be spinning in his grave!)

–The weakening of alliances with other countries by threatening to abandon NATO and attacking other individual nations?

–Ties with neo-Nazis, the KKK, and others of that ilk?

–An administration clogged with rank amateurs in terms of governing experience?

–People in power who are on record as despising specific minority groups?

–Subtle and not-so-subtle threats against folk who refuse to make nice with your man in the WH, who will not become sycophants in praising him or printing only flattering images of him?

Is this really what you thought you were voting for?  If so congratulations.  You got it.  And in the process you have weakened democracy egregiously and you are in the process of reducing this once truly great nation to a satellite of Russia—wittingly or not.  (Again RR must be whirling in his grave!)  I prefer to think it was NOT done wittingly, for I still have hope.

But I have to tell you: it hard to hang onto that hope when we see such things as:

–a racist/misogynist running things in the White House for a President who has already announced that he will be only a part-time resident there;

–an Attorney General with a reputation of suppressing civil rights (wonder how vigorously he will pursue hate crimes?);

–a Secretary of Education who does not believe in public education (the very foundation of democracy!);

–threats against Medicare and Social Security.

Are we entering the “let them eat cake” phase of our republic?

PTSD—DEPRESSION—SUICIDE

Posted on November 2, 2016 Updated on October 22, 2016

You know how Facebook always asks “What’s on your mind?”

Well, I’ll tell you what is on my mind:

SUICIDE.

It has been on my mind for weeks.

No, not in the way you might think.

In July, I lost a very dear friend to suicide.

Marilee Swirczek was the founder and the guiding light of my writing group, Lone Mountain Writers in Carson City, Nevada.  She was a terrific teacher and loved the academic world, but beyond that she had a strong sense of duty to the community at large.  Besides spearheading the “Always Lost” tribute to military men and women lost in the Afghan-Iraq wars, she wrote op-ed pieces for the local newspaper.  She also wrote some very moving poetry.  As a teacher, as a writer, as a friend, Marilee always encouraged and inspired others to exceed their expectation of themselves.

But in the last months of her life, she fell into a deep depression and could not seem to pull herself out of it, despite consulting all the usual sources for physical and emotional help. The truth is she suffered PTSD from events dating back to long before she came to Carson City and made a new life for herself.

You see, it is not only veterans who suffer PTSD.

And those who suffer it are NOT weak people.

I think they are often people who do more and who care more than the rest of us.  But I have to tell you: when Donald Trump made his crass statement about soldiers who suffer PTSD being “weak,” I was just furious.  As Americans we owe it to our returning soldiers (from any conflict!) to try to understand what they are going through.  Depression is an insidious disease.

Marilee’s daughter, Stephanie Swart, wrote a beautiful op-ed piece, “For Mom” in the Sept. 10 edition of the Nevada Appeal about her mother’s battle with depression.  Google it.  It is well written and contains a very helpful list of symptoms of depression and what others can do to help those suffering.

We lose 22 veterans every day to suicide.  (That is a group only slightly smaller than the size of one of my English classes!)  That number—22/day—is appalling, but suicide affects many others in our society as well. It behooves all of us to aware!  Read Stephanie’s article!