OPEN LETTER TO SENATOR PAT TOOMEY

by Ruth A. Sheets

Hello Sen. Toomey. 

Well, you've got all the Republican talking points down related to your opposition to the voting rights act HR/S1.  One might think that since you are retiring you might want to leave a legacy of civil rights but alas, that is not in the cards, is it?

Your fake worries about not being able to remove voters who have died or moved is just that, fake.  Republican governors and secretaries of state are not purging roles just to get rid of folks who have died or moved.  They are working hard to target voters of color who maybe haven't voted in a while or don't get mail delivered to their homes and those who use P.O. boxes.  I am sorry, but purging over 200,000 in one state and 180,000 voters from roles in another is unacceptable.  Not that many voters have died or moved that have not been reported.    

Your worry that votes will be "harvested," another word to stir up the Republican base has happened so rarely there is only one case that anyone can cite and that was Republican cheating in North Carolina.  It was caught and corrected.  That is what would and has happened.  Then, claiming people signing to say who they are is a problem is another fearmongering tactic and you should know that.  But, if you are so concerned, put money in the bill that would help states to pay for and get state approved ID cards for everyone.  I suspect college ID cards are at least as good as gun licenses but look at the states that won't allow them but allow the other.  Your fears are nonsense!

Then you seem to be worried about integrity of the elections.  Sure you are!  Where were you when Arizona Republicans forced the state to allow a bunch of fools to recount votes, of course, from the county with the most people of color, sure those people had cheated when it was those allowed to recount the votes who were cheating.  And, now, the voting machines have been compromised and will have to be replaced, for a whole lot of money Arizona doesn't have.  I didn't hear you stand up and speak against that and realize that such nonsense will be taking place regularly without S1.  Would you be OK with that happening in our state?  Well another fool from a  nowhere county is trying to challenge the votes in Philadelphia, oh wait!  where a large population of voters of color live.  Are you noting a pattern here?

Then, there's campaign finance.  No Republicans nor the Supreme Court has been able to adequately explain how money is speech.  It isn't.  It's money and can be gotten in a whole lot of ways that are not above boards.  You know that, so why is it a person or corporation with lots of money should have more opportunity of speech than one of your poorest constituents.  You can't because this is America and is supposed to be a democracy where everyone should have equal say.  $400 million paid in elections as some Republican rich guys have done is far more speech than your poor and even middle class constituents can "speak."  How is that fair.  It isn't, but it allows lots of people to cheat and since that is the Republican MO lately, I guess it works for you.  That's a shame because you know it isn't fair but will go along because that is the party line. 

Then you are worried about 1.8 billion dollars as public support for candidates as a bad use of funds.  Are you kidding me!! You have ignored a lot of bills that would have helped people in need.  I know you always had an excuse, but you quibble over 1.8 billion to actually get more people involved in the election process.  Hmmm!

Then you just had to bring in state's rights!  Wow!  You really did get all the points.  States' rights is always used to protect states doing some kind of actions that would hurt some of their citizens, usually citizens of color.  That is what Republicans are doing right now, even in Pennsylvania, at least they are trying here, limiting the ability to vote of Black citizens and other citizens of color as well as young people, poor working people, disabled people, and others who can't run out and vote at the traditional times.  You know that's racist, but Republicans cling to their love of states' rights even with its dark history. 

I know this note will not reach you, but maybe one of your staffers might see that your positions are simply not reasonable.  Your positions and opposition to HR1/S1 may give you comfort as you stand against even discussing voting rights in the Senate, but as a Catholic, you should know that even lying to yourself could be considered a sin.      

Oh by the way, your positions on immigration are not fair either.  I get it you think your grandparents came here “the right way” but in reality, they were white and employers here wanted white folks from anywhere, even Ireland, before they wanted Black people even though Black people have been here for hundreds of years.  How is that more “right” than people coming here to escape violence and possible starvation?  I am sure you have an answer for that which works for you too.  

TYRANNY OF IGNORANCE

by Ruth A. Sheets

I recently read an article in “The New York Times” (nyts.com) “New Racism Won’t Solve the Old Racism” by Bret Stephens that stopped me cold.  It was an argument I don’t remember hearing before, but probably should have expected it. 

Mr. Stephens claims that if our government or anyone else works to mitigate racism by targeting FOR ASSISTANCE the people who have been consistently discriminated against for hundreds of years, it is a new form of racism because race is the criterion used.  He claims that if there is a bill to help Black farmers specifically (You know, the farmers who had their land, what little there was allowed to be theirs, taken from them in a variety of violent “legal” and extra-legal ways, it would be discriminating against white farmers.  Also, if Mayor Lightfoot of Chicago proposed programs to specifically address the systemic problems of the Black community in Chicago, white Chicagoans would feel the sting of discrimination (racism, you know).

Wow!  The sheer ignorance of what racism is boggles the mind, or at least my mind.  Racism is the systematic discrimination through means such as segregation, inequality, abuse, etc., on the part of the race in power toward those of races not in power.  With that definition in mind, how is attempting to make up for past discrimination racist?  In a word or two, it’s not.  Mr. Stephens paraphrased Chief Justice John Roberts, not exactly a reliable source for knowledge and understanding of racism, “Thinking we can stop discrimination on the basis of race without discriminating on the basis of race” He doesn’t actually finish the thought because what Roberts and Stephens are trying to say or imply makes no sense.  Their “ignorance” of racism is what one might expect of people who know nothing of the law, BUT Roberts is supposed to be a legal expert. 

Such warped thinking generally accompanies those who see white as the superior race and maintaining that superiority as the most important thing.  They claim there might be a way to build up Black people at the same time they help white people, and that this is the only way to proceed.  Theoretically, it could happen, after all, Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid improved conditions for Black and white citizens, but due to job discrimination and other factors, the federal programs have never served all races equally.  That’s racism even if that was not the intent.  Also, tax breaks for the rich, mostly white folks rarely trickle down to anyone, particularly not to Black people, ever.

Whenever food stamps or other aid programs are expanded, the white base is carefully reminded that it is mostly going to Black people (which it isn’t) activating a racist response from white people who can’t imagine why funds are given to Black people who unlike them, are lazy, wasteful . . .  Again, white people are kept ignorant of the truth.

Ignorance reigns as a kind of tyrant in our society.  It probably always has, but lately, it seems to be deeply enshrined and gaining strength in the Republican party.   Members are quite proud of their ignorance, or at least the ignorance of their base which they have carefully cultivated with the tacit permission of that base.  All kinds of lies and conspiracy theories keep the ignorance alive and well and fully functioning.

Are Republicans really ignorant of what racism is and the levels of discrimination perpetrated upon people of color in this country?  Perhaps, but it is doubtful.  I believe They know perfectly well what racism is and know that what they are doing to their base is racist, telling vulnerable white people that they are the ones being discriminated against.  Their goal, make their base resentful enough to act as the leaders direct, too ignorant to even question.

Were Republican leaders ignorant of the probable impact of their anti-COVID vaccine stance or did they know exactly what they were doing?  If they knew, why did they encourage a whole lot of people to die of a disease we actually have a vaccine for, then vilify Anthony Fauci and others for telling the truth? 

Were Republicans ignorant of the lack of voter fraud in the 2020 election or did they use the Big Lie to manipulate the emotions of their base, speaking in hyperbole that incorrectly told them of a situation that didn’t actually exist?  Why did they need to produce (or share) over 400 bills in nearly every state to suppress the votes of vulnerable populations?  It is a plot to make sure the ongoing discrimination against people of color and the ignorance of the white base can continue unabated.  Republican leaders and their allies should have to prove without doubt  voter fraud is occurring and that their proposals will definitely improve people’s ability to vote in order to pass such laws , but they never seem to be held accountable for anything, and the conservative Supreme Court is right there with them.

Were Republicans ignorant of Russian interference in our elections of 2016 and 2020 or did they feel such a need to protect Donald Trump, they lied to promote the ignorance of a whole lot of people, while pretending their own ignorance of foreign interference?   

Are Democrats, including President Biden ignorant of Republican inability to work in a bipartisan way to help the American people or are they just willing to allow themselves to be manipulated to prove a point that anyone paying attention already knows, that Republicans can’t govern?  if so, why?  President Biden says that if the filibuster were gone, Congress would “be thrown into chaos and nothing would get done.”  OMG, nothing is getting done now because Republicans don’t know how to govern responsibly.  What is the difference?  And, without the filibuster, things would get done.  Mr. Biden should know better.

As a teacher, it disturbs me that so many in our nation are standing for ignorance, even in our public schools, although in some disadvantaged communities, that has been a problem for a long time.  In 1925, a teacher, John Scopes was on trial in Tennessee for teaching evolution, an established scientific theory even at that time.  He lost in a crazy show trial where the ignorance on the winning side was fully evident.  Many supporters of state-approved ignorance are still trying to get some form of anti-evolution taught in our schools though our kids will be the losers.  Are those pushing for the anti-evolution programs ignorant of how evolution impacts our lives every day or are they employing their power to promote a set of thinking that they can weaponize, no matter how completely inaccurate and a crossing of the line between religion and state?

Ignorance has led states to make laws that “critical race theory” (CRT) can’t be taught in schools.  Do legislators even know what that is when they vote for the legislation?  I think not!  It has become a quick abbreviation (CRT) that communicates to their base that there must be some kind of  devious plot by people of color against white folks.  Again the base’s ignorance serves the Republican leadership well.  In reality, Critical Race Theory has until now mostly been a scholarly enterprise.  It attempts to look at the ways race has become and continues to be embedded in all aspects of our society and some ways to look at the challenges that presents to us today.  Some parts of that learning could be included in high school curricula, possibly government classes or sociology, not a kindergarten subject.  Children should learn our history in all its glory and tragedy as they are able to understand it, which is not critical race theory, just history.  Politicizing something one is completely ignorant about is disturbing and an ongoing challenge.  And, by the way, it’s also racist.

Trying to keep people ignorant through misinformation has been done before and continues to be part of life in many parts of the world.  It works because it stokes fear, anger and resentment that can be easily manipulated toward actions the manipulators choose.  January 6^th is an example of this.  We will be watching the trials of those who participated and their arguments, “Trump told us the election was stolen and we had to ‘stop the steal.’”  I always heard that “ignorance is no excuse in the law.”  I suspect despite their actions, most of the insurgents will be let off with a slap on the wrist because the powers that be are OK with ignorance, especially if it is white.

People have access to information if they know how to or choose to pursue it, even in many countries that promote ignorance.  That, of course, is what scares men in power.  The people may no longer want to wallow in ignorance.  It is human nature to want to discover things and learn what is real, what is true.  In response, the ignorance purveyors will employ even more sophisticated techniques and their judicial supporters will permit it because that is why they are in the positions they hold.

We are an open society.  Therefore, each of us has the responsibility to educate ourselves about what is going on, to acknowledge our ignorance, and to figure out how to acquire the knowledge to dispel that ignorance.  Our task is to help to lessen the ignorance of our children into the future.  Lying to them or allowing others to lie to them fearing they might feel some guilt and coddling them with comforting misinformation are a betrayal of our commitment to them.

We need to remove ignorance from its current throne and replace it with truth, knowledge, and understanding.  remember, ignorance is only bliss for the ones using it and benefiting from it. 

I Wonder

by Ruth A. Sheets

I’VE spent a lot of time THESE PAST 5 YEARS OR SO completing and signing petitions related to the issues I care about most.  One theme that comes up often lately in my responses is, “why am I begging for a right that all American citizens, all human beings should already have?”.  Recently, I realized there are a lot of things I am wondering about.

I remember back in my simpler days when I wondered why the sky is blue and what I would do over summer break.  Of course, today’s wonderings seem to me more complex because the answers can’t be found in a science text or resolved by my own choices.  These are some of my wonderings today.  Feel free to add to them with some of yours.

I wonder . . .   

- why we the people have to beg our representatives for the most basic right of being a citizen, the right to vote unimpeded by political partisanship so one party, (these days, the Republicans) can gather and consolidate power they have not earned. 

- How is it vote suppressors are allowed to get away with voter suppression.  I know part of it is that our Supreme Court  does not seem to be able to be trusted to do the right thing for anyone but rich white Christian (OK claiming to be Christian) men and their corporations.  I know that was not what the founders had in mind, but they who cry that they are originalists simply lie because what they are really deciding is what is comfortable for themselves and what gives themselves the most prestige with their masters, the rich white "Christian" men and corporations.  That doesn’t fully explain it, though, so I still wonder.

- how Republicans believe they should have power even though they have to cheat and lie to get it, and no one seems willing to stop them, even Democrats.

- why we the people haven't risen to vote out the representatives at all levels who regularly lie to constituents.  Oh wait, their cheating, lying, and voter suppression may be giving them edges in certain states, like maybe Texas, Iowa, others while they challenge votes in states that have actually proven their integrity related to the vote.  This does not explain this completely either.

- why a president we just elected to right the wrongs of the previous administration has done so little, even in the areas where he has power.

- how it is that Donald Trump is never held accountable for anything he does.  This has led to a lot of likeminded people trying to follow his game plan, whatever that is to keep themselves from accountability too.

- how 74 million people voted for an impeached president who clearly committed the crime the Republicans in the Senate refused to acknowledge.

- why we, an enormously wealthy nation allow children to be raised in poverty, a condition that warps the spirit as well as the abilities of those who live it, then, we blame them for their condition.

- why medical care is not available to every person in this country.  Not covering everyone ends up costing more than if we did in work days lost to illness, and pro bono coverage by hospitals of those who are not covered.

- why we have allowed tech corporations to become huge and able to control all areas of life, nearly unregulated and with little evidence of any kind of positive ethics related to the people who use their services or are employed by them.

- why so little is being done related to the size and complexity of global warming, to stop its progress and reverse its effects, even in the face of massive wildfires, storms, and flooding.

- how it is we the American nation have not fallen under the weight of our own divisiveness, selfishness, and nationalistic foolishness.

- why so many people refuse to get vaccinated when it is clear that is the best way to protect oneself and others from a destructive disease.  They whine that they should have control over their own body and should be able to decide what happens to it.  OMG, isn’t that what women have claimed for generations about their bodies and reproductive freedom?  Perhaps that “right” only goes for men and conservatives, not those pesky women.  

- why white people are so afraid of everyone who is not white, so persist in trying to limit the rights and opportunities of people of color and won’t acknowledge that is what they are doing.

- why gaslighting (telling people they are not experiencing what they are experiencing) is so popular among leaders these days.  I am guessing it’s because it works, but I don’t understand why we let it work.  Republicans now claim the January 6^th insurrection was just some loving peaceful tourists visiting the Capitol (OK, even if that were true, due to COVID, tourists were not permitted in the capital building).  Can they not see what is in the videos taken even by their own attackers? 

- How Republicans get away with calling bills in Congress  and their PACs and organizations opposite of what the bill or organization actually does. (e.g., the “Freedom to Vote” bill was really the freedom to exclude people of color, young people, and students from voting act).

- how Christians can claim to be Christian while supporting leaders who don’t follow any of the teachings of Jesus:  do unto others . . ., welcome the stranger, give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, do good to those who hurt you, care for the orphans and widow (not deport them), love your neighbor as yourself, and so on.  They even support candidates who don’t even begin to follow the Ten Commandments which Evangelical Christians claim to love so dearly.

- why so many white men believe they need guns, not only in their homes to “protect their castle,” but also in their car, and in their pocket, but don’t want other groups to have the same privilege and are OK when police kill a Black man for having a registered gun.

- police officers believe they should be immune from responsibility for whatever they do on duty.  People in most other jobs don’t have that privilege, except maybe Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and the people who got pardoned by Donald Trump.  The police are supposed to be our employees, not our intimidators and killers.

- why so many white people claim they don’t have a racist bone in their bodies, then do or support racist actions, like voter suppression and denying funds to stop poverty.  I am thinking maybe it’s because they actually don’t have “a” racist bone, but a whole racist skeleton, and it is hidden inside, but I am not sure.

- why I am a chocoholic and don’t want to be relieved of my addiction.

I’ll keep wondering and hope you will too so we can bring our wonderings to our people in power.  I will not apologize for my biases in this set of wonderings because that is where I am right now and want change that will make a difference for all, not just the privileged few.

PROGRESSIVE STANCE (a poem)

by Ruth Sheets

Go forward not backward, the progressive theme

We hang with reality, don’t stay caught in a dream

Appreciate others, what they have to say

Believe men and women should get equal pay 

Working hard forty hours should let one live well

And one’s working conditions should not be a hell

High minimum wage is the right thing to do

And supporting more unions would help us all too

Know science is key to the progress we make  

Our earth is worth saving, our lives are at stake. 

Your rights must end where my rights begin

Choose what’s best for my body, it isn’t a sin 

One should not be judged by condition of birth

Race, age, or gender should not mark one’s worth.

A fact is a fact and a lie is a lie

They can be distinguished but you’ll have to try.

When you do something wrong you must answer for it

If you claim lies are true, let your punishment fit 

Criminal justice is rare if you’re black

Cops maintain law and order, a knee on your back

Police should be serving not ruling the town

Not immune for their actions toward Black, Gold, and Brown

President Trump should be out of the way.

He lost fair and square last Election Day

Insurgents invaded the Capitol ground

They need to be jailed; there was video found

Our Government’s size lets it do lots of good

Taking care of our people, it’s right that it should

Learning to compromise, to negotiate

Make a positive deal then go celebrate

Conservatives claim that money is speech

Which adds to corruption, extending their reach  

Easy voting should be each American’s right

So stopping suppression is everyone’s fight

If we’re fair, the Electoral college is through  

‘Twas designed to give slavery states more than their due

Your religion should never be foisted on me

Not its laws nor exclusions, indefinitely  

It’s time we grow up and put war aside

Stop making more weapons, that’s just suicide

The “War on Drugs” was a disaster you know

‘cause destruction and drugs continue to flow

Guns are a bad habit for folks on the Right

Concealed, open carry, but just if you’re white

Our climate is warming that’s not what we need 

We’ve let fossil fuelers destroy with their greed

Ecosystems collapsing and more species die

We humans have done this, too much wet too much dry 

Wildfires and floods are now stalking our land

Depriving our kids of the future they planned

So we must step up, precious planet to save

Or we’ll have created an unending  grave

L-G-B-T-Q have plenty to say

So do women, disabled, and kids, by the way  

Race is a challenge America faces

And Conservatives like to prioritize races

They don’t want our schools to discuss our dark past

They want their position above all to last 

But excluding non-whites can’t go on any longer

We all know diversity makes us much stronger

Let’s call a patriot, one who can see

That the goal we should strive for is equality 

So with empathy, integrity, and care we stand tall

Progressives!  Work toward a great future for all!

CONSERVATIVE & PROGRESSIVE CONTRASTS PART 2

by Ruth A. Sheets

Last week I expanded on a friend’s idea of contrasting Conservatives and Progressives and realized there was a lot more to say on the subject.  Here is the next set of contrasts, equally disturbing but thought-provoking.

PROGRESSIVES

- will try to negotiate so that everyone can win at least some points even when what Conservatives want is often not good for anyone but themselves in the name of bipartisanship.

- know that facts are facts and lies are lies and it is wrong to pretend lies are facts no matter who puts them out there

- believe Religion is personal and often spurs believers to action on behalf of others, living one’s faith

- believe the death penalty is just plain wrong

- are fully aware of the racist nature of our criminal justice system and know it must be changed

- know the “War on Drugs” has been a disaster for everyone involved and most want it stopped

- know that the second amendment to the Constitution is not talking about hand guns, automatic and semi-automatic weapons, and large magazines, so believe these should be well-regulated

- believe every citizen should be able to vote and arbitrary voting rules should be dropped everywhere (For example, a person can’t vote until after an outrageously long parole is completed or no one can give food or water to people waiting in huge long lines to vote – in minority communities, of course) 

- know and have proof that the former president lost the 2020 election by a significant margin in both popular votes and in the outdated, racist Electoral College

- believe police have the job of serving not ruling over or intimidating the people they are serving

- believe police need to be held accountable for all of their actions and interactions with the people they are supposed to serve

- know education is the path to successful adulthood

- believe a wide range of literature is essential for a well-rounded education

- believe learning about race in history is essential if our nation will recover from the systemic racism that engulfs nearly every aspect of modern society as it has always done

- believe in including a wide range of people in decision-making because diversity is our strength

- understand and acknowledge that global warming is human generated and want to do what is necessary to stop it before it is too late

- understand that ecosystems are a balance among many species, each one contributing something to it which will be lost if species become extinct

- understand that no one’s rights should be more valuable than those of other people and money is not speech because it gives the rich more rights and influence than they deserve

- know that attacking the US Capitol is insurrection and the attackers should be treated and prosecuted as insurrectionists even though they were white

CONSERVATIVES:

- Decide that If they don’t get what they want at first, they will manipulate things to try to get what they want no matter what is right, fair, or actually needed.  If they go back on a deal, they consider it a victory.

- believe blustering white men (and occasionally women) must be telling the truth because they are loud and blustering

- buy into the patriarchal idea that God is male and males are superior and what they pronounce at whatever level is somehow worthy of becoming law.  (for example, government gets into women’s personal decisions regarding what women can and can’t do while there is no equivalent interference with men)

- believe the Bible should be the source of our laws and punishments, except the ones they like to break 

- think the death penalty is necessary despite the fact that innocent people have been executed and it has never been a deterrent

- believe people of color are more likely to be criminals, so arresting them for small acts will keep them from committing larger ones later

- think white people use and abuse different drugs and so it is OK to arrest and convict white people significantly less often than Black and Latino users

- believe the “War on Drugs” has been a success

- believe or claim to believe anyone who wants a gun should have one – even concealed and open carry are perfectly acceptable and should be permitted everywhere

- feel it is acceptable to jail people of color for voting mistakes while letting white people go with a warning who voted for their dead relative

- believe or claim to believe “The Big Lie” that the former president won the election and it is only not acknowledged because of voter fraud – the former president will get back in power soon

- believe it is OK for police to have qualified immunity which police sometimes see as a license to kill, particularly Black and Latino men

- believe only conservative values (whatever they are) should be taught in school and rich white men with no teaching experience or real knowledge of history should determine what those are and how teachers should teach them

- fear teaching about race in American history - it might make white kids feel guilty – for what, the privilege their skin color still gives them?

- feel there is a specific set of books that all students should read, by white authors, of course, maybe one Black author’s poem or short story if it doesn’t challenge white beliefs

- believe or say they believe global warming is a hoax and began calling it “climate change” so it wouldn’t seem as serious as it is because denying its existence means nothing has to be done about it

- care little for species that don’t bring in wealth or that cause discomfort or impede their business no matter the value to its ecosystem

- believe money is speech and people with lots of money should be able to speak more loudly and more often than those poor folks who have no money, even to the point of corrupting our elections (Oh wait, they don’t call it corrupting, do they?) 

- claim to believe the events of January 6, 2021 were like “tourists visiting the Capitol” despite all the videos and bragging by the insurrectionists to the contrary

- those who participated in the events of January 6th should not be prosecuted – they did nothing wrong, not really

I do think there are good folks among the Conservatives though it is hard to know that from their silence.  Conservative media does not include their voices because they don’t hype the controversial party line, are usually not loud and overbearing, constantly wearing their anger and fear on their sleeves.

Some Progressives are sure some kind of violence is going to be necessary to make significant change in our society toward improving things.  Fortunately, this group is not a majority because violence just gets more violence and always has.

I do wonder sometimes if Conservatives actually sit down and think about what they are listening to and ultimately agreeing to.  It has been said that when one is privileged, equality seems like oppression and right now, Conservative white people are being told over and over that they are the ones being oppressed and losing their rights.  They can’t see the flaw in such thinking.

One way to slightly impact one’s thinking could be that in counties where there is allowed only one or a very small number of drop boxes for ballots, they should be in the poorest neighborhoods in the county.  The rich have the means to get there to drop off their ballot while poor people can’t afford to travel far, and, maybe, the rich could have a tiny peak at what life is like for the non-privileged, those they believe have caused their own poverty.  They can note their own racism as they quickly rush to deliver their ballot and dash off in their shiny car that no one in that neighborhood could ever afford.  OK, it could also keep them thinking they are superior, but it would be worth it just to see what would happen.  In either case, the poor would get the chance to vote. 

In our society where news is available in all its forms all day, every day, Conservatives as well as the rest of us are exposed to people other than ourselves.  Even Conservatives, if they took a moment to consider, know deep down that Black people and other people of color are treated differently even if they can’t admit or verbalize it.  Maybe they know many of their beliefs are hollow but cling to them because doing anything else would mean discarding thoughts and behaviors that have sustained them and their families for generations.  Believing one’s Black or Latina housekeeper, lawn service workers, or nanny are equal to themselves would be terrifying, so they faithfully watch Fox “News” and continue to absorb the lies because it has worked for them and keeps them from being overwhelmed by the swiftly-changing world around them.

As I read through these lists of contrasts, I see that changing one’s mind in just a few areas could massively impact one’s perspective and actions.  I hope Conservatives will take that to heart and rethink some of the ways they look at what is going on in our nation.

Yes, my biases are showing again and I still hope an honest Conservative will update my understanding of Conservatism.  That would require ditching the mis and dis information, the lies, the made-up stuff because I did say “honest.”  Then, the person responding needs to use a voice that is moderated and shows they understand what is real.  I know, that’s such difficult criteria for Conservatives/Republicans these days 

Progressives mess up too, and may be too idealistic and believe anyone can change and do better, but I would rather believe that than that I am inherently better than someone else just because I was born white or with some other arbitrary characteristic.

Oh, by the way, I am still looking for more positive comparisons.  Got any?

STARK CONTRASTS – PERMANENT?

by Ruth A. Sheets 

A friend was considering the juxtaposition of Progressives and Conservatives as to their world view.  It got me thinking too.  I compiled the following list of contrasts.  It is clear where my biases lie and I must admit I am OK with them.  We just got past 5 years of a blustering ignorant would-be autocrat whom Conservatives love, four of those years with him as president.  I’m thinking it’s time to move on. 

During those years, I felt Conservatives had taken over the airwaves and did a pretty good job of demonizing Progressives as OMG, Socialists, Communists, reverse racists, unpatriotic traitors, whiners, and more.  When questioned, on the rare occasion when they were, they couldn’t explain what they meant by these terms except to point to Bernie Sanders or members of “The Squad.”  

The following are the contrasts Conservative America has helped me to identify based on current and recent actions and speeches.  I would be interested to see a Conservative’S juxtaposition and how it differs from mine.   

PROGRESSIVES

- have empathy

- think about and plan for the future

- Are usually willing to hear other people’s ideas even if they don’t agree with them

- generally have thinking firmly based in reality

- Appreciate the contributions of science and think science and technology can make life better for all if employed effectively

- understand that a reasonable minimum wage is essential for fairness ($15 per hour at least)

- workers keep our economy strong and should be treated well, and unions can help with this

- see the government as a source of positive help for the people of the country

- believe people should be held accountable for what they do

- think groups should not be judged as a whole, even Conservatives

- know that racism exists and is systemic in our nation and want to do something to end it

- believe there are inalienable rights each person has including the right to choose. 

- believe their rights end where another person’s begin, therefore, for example, one gets vaccinated to protect themselves and others

- see patriotism as working to see that everyone in this country is treated equitably.

- think everyone is responsible to work to protect the earth in whatever ways they can

- believe men and women are equally valuable and should not be judged because of their gender or condition of birth

- see voting as critical for every citizen and that it should be easy for every citizen to do it

- feel public spending should be mostly for programs that serve the American people directly with defense and the military a much smaller part of the budget than it is now

- believe one’s personal integrity and how things are done matter 

CONSERVATIVES

- consider only what works for themselves and those like them

- Think the past was so much better than what is happening now, even though there is little to no evidence to support that thinking.

- Are so sure of their own ideas others’ ideas are rarely entertained

- often find themselves going along with words and actions that are not based in reality but keep telling themselves they are the ones living in reality

- like what science has brought to them to make their lives comfortable but don’t want science if accepting its findings makes them uncomfortable

- are OK with the minimum wage as it is now because if workers were really worth it, they would be paid more, in fact, for many workers, minimum wage is too high

- see workers as just tools to get a particular job done

- see the boss as king and workers are essentially slaves while on the job - if they don’t like it, they can leave and move on. (Amazon workers are subject to this thinking all the time)

- believe Reagan’s saying the “I’m from the government and I’m here to help” is the most frightening thing for an American to hear. 

- believe only certain people should be held accountable because true conservatives are always acting in the best interest of “the people.”

- think Black people are scary, “except for the ones I know”

- believe they are not racist, ever – Progressives are the racist ones and it is white people who are the real targets.

- believe they should decide what rights people have and those rights will be ones they are comfortable with and those other people may not even deserve those rights

- see a fetus is more valuable than any living woman or child

- believe if they don’t want to be vaccinated, no one should even try to encourage them to do it for the good of the people or any other reason

- believe patriotism is waving the flag and covering your heart when singing “The National Anthem,” and, of course, not “taking a knee” during a sporting event

- believe that since they pay for public services and utilities they can use as much as they want to and no one can stop them or even ask them to limit their use

- believe men in general and white men in particular should rule the home and pretty much everything else.

- see war and conflict in general as ways men can prove their manhood, and women have no right in the military

- believe if religious groups don’t like a particular type of person they should be allowed to “exclude them” from their businesses and their presence

- believe voting should be hard except for conservative white people who will vote the right way

- believe most of our government spending should be on the military and defense with service programs for the people, a minor part of the budget (except when they need something)

- believe the ends justify the means, even if it means lying, cheating, and making things up (like voter fraud)

I have been working to think of what Conservatives and Progressives have in common.  It was hard, but here are a couple of things.

- Family is important (at least one’s own family).

- The United States is a good place to live.

- People should be able to make a decent living.

- Utilities should be reliable.

- People should have the opportunity to advance in their career.

- people should be safe.

Even if we just started with these six points, we could perhaps find other commonalities.  I am only slightly hopeful because attitudes of each group toward the other right now are so negative it is hard to even get discussions going, let alone agreements of any kind.

That does not mean we should give up and let the chaos break out.  Conservatives had their four years.  It’s time for Progressives to have ours.  It will be interesting to see where our nation will be after four years with Progressives supplying the ideas and working to make them a reality.  We’ll see. 

MAY BE SUPREME, BUT FAIR?

by Ruth A. Sheets

The Supreme Court ended its 2020-2021 session with a bombshell.  It was dropped on July 1^st and essentially told Arizona it can make restrictive voting laws if it chooses and there will be ways to claim they are not discriminating against Black Americans and other people of color.  The Court essentially told Arizona and any other state that is interested, that voting restriction can be a viable means of keeping unwanted votes from entering the election, and the Court will approve if the law doesn’t specifically say “to keep Black people from voting.”

I was not surprised at this ruling.  I knew when the Court’s conservatives let the Affordable Care Act (ACA) stand there would be a destructive decision to come.  I was not sure exactly which it would be, but it was a guarantee.  When I realized that voting rights were among the final rulings to be handed down, I was pretty sure it would not be good for those who are against voter suppression.

The Court conservatives for the past few decades have done what they can to represent the interests OF white, male, wealthy individuals and corporations.  They have done a pretty good job of it too. 

To seem to be “non-partisan” one or two members will occasionally rule against the desires of their constituency, in ways that don’t usually directly impact them.  Acknowledging same-sex marriage is an example of this.  In exchange, they gutted the Voting Rights Act despite its recertification by nearly everyone in Congress.  They ruled that it is acceptable to discriminate against people you don’t like on religious grounds (Christian, of course).  They claimed money is speech and said it does not matter how much money people put into a campaign it is acceptable.  They even told California this year that it doesn’t matter what they want.  Corporations, rich individuals, PACs, and anyone else with lots of money can contribute to anyone they want and no one has the right to know.  So much for state’s rights.

The conservatives on the Court claim to mostly be originalists which means, somehow, they know the minds of the founders who didn’t even know their own minds on many of the issues they were voting on in the Constitutional Convention in 1787.  That’s pretty amazing!  It’s almost as good as having the ear of God.

Who are these conservatives?  Clarence Thomas was George H.W. Bush’s slap in the face to Thurgood Marshall, the man he would replace as well as Black Americans in general.  Two of the conservatives, Thomas and Kavanaugh  have credibly been accused of sexual misconduct, but that’s OK as long as they are guaranteed votes on most, if not all, rulings that benefit rich white males and are against women’s rights.

The conservative test to be approved for the Court has been anti-abortion which means, anti-Rowe v Wade.  Why this should in any way concern men who will never be pregnant is unclear.  Amy Barrett was the slap in the face for women who support women’s rights and Ruth Bader Ginsberg whom she was carefully picked to replace.  Just as Thomas is the token Black man who will stand against the rights of Black people, Barrett will do the same to women.  Misogyny is alive and well among all six of the conservatives and maybe racism is sneaking around that group too.

One way the Court can be brought to a more balanced place, perhaps, is to expand it.  I am thinking 4 additional seats would be a good start.  I would also like to see the terms limited to 18 years, then the justices can either retire or move to one of the other Federal courts to finish serving their lifetime terms.  These changes are worth a try since the trick now with Republicans is to stack the Court so they will get the rulings they want/need to help keep themselves in power.   

The Court’s current “liberals” seem to be standing for people’s rights but that may not always be the case.  Therefore, more members of the Court and limited terms may help justices to think about the fact that there is life after the Court and maybe better decisions will be handed down that positively impact citizens, not just citizens of one race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, region, etc.  Will that be fair?  It’s worth a try to find out because right now, it’s not.