U.S. Continues to Go Downhill

You think the jackass in the White House and the Republicans in congress can't go any lower, but every day they prove us wrong.

I know Michelle Obama said we're supposed to go high when they go low, but come on. How high can we get?

The recent circus around the confirmation of that blustering pig, Brett Kavanaugh, to the now right wing Supreme Court set me on course to yet another depression about the direction of this country.

I grieved, along with more than half of the rest of the U.S., and the rest of the civilized world, about President Dumb Ass's election two years ago and all of the implications of that. Now some of the worst implications are coming to pass with the confirmation of said blustering pig. Added to that, this week's stark news that we have a decade, more or less, to change our ways before global warming is completely irreversible. Meanwhile Donald Dumbo and the Republicants are actually throwing any progress we've made into reverse.

We look with hope to the rest of the world to take the lead on climate. But things are pretty grim out there too. Brexit is a huge distraction for the UK and was brought about by the same problems that brought us President Turd. And Brexit is more irreversible. Germany, a leader in green, is dealing with a growing right wing. The most environmental progress in the world today is being made in, wait, it can't be, China?

Don't think I've spent the past two years just wallowing in depression. I've redirected more of my energy to social justice. We've all but stopped eating red meat. I got myself appointed to my employer's diversity committee. I give to the ACLU. I'm better about speaking up when I see bigotry in action. I'm more aware of my white privilege. I'm not sure how that helps, but it seems important. I'm doing the best I can.

The country is so divided. And one side is so obviously right and the other so clearly wrong. Even after Dumbo is gone, we will still be a divided nation. With a hot world to live in.

There is one thing that can make a big difference. Now. One thing. And that is to change the direction of the congress, and send a message to state and local governments that we the people have had enough. We are in charge. If this is going to be a democracy, then this is how we take our government back. The way to do it is to vote. Vote. Vote. Vote. I can't say it enough.

A lot of damage has been done, but we can reverse the red tide. A blue congress can put the brakes on the dump administration and even make some good things happen. Let's make a difference now. Let's vote.

And in case you're wondering, I endorse the Democrat side of the ticket.

With Gay Rights, It's Personal

I didn't realize just how invested I was in the Supreme Court's rulings until I learned that they had struck down key components of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and effectively killed California's Proposition 8 which outlawed LGBT marriage. While I have always been in favor of equal marriage rights for everyone, it wasn't something I thought I was personally invested in.

But whenever these gay rights battles rage, I take it personally. Most straight white people in this country probably haven't suffered the indignity of having their basic civil liberties voted on. But the "tyranny of the majority" is no academic matter when your neighbors can take your rights away, be it related to legalized marriage, hate crime legislation, immigration, voter identification, and so on. When nine people in Washington get to decide on whether you are entitled to something that most people take for granted, it's hard not to feel like you are under attack even in this free country of ours.

Today, things went our way. But there are still people out there who hate us enough to wish us second class status or worse. I have just a few things to say to them:

1. My right to freedom and equality outweighs your right to the "freedom of religion" you are claiming. What you really want is the freedom to impose your religious beliefs on me. That's not freedom. That's what the Taliban does.

2. GAY MARRIAGE IS TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE. Or, proponents of same sex marriage are fighting for access to traditional marriage. It's really not very radical to want what everyone else has. Early in the gay rights movement, it was common for LGBTs to claim that they didn't want to emulate marriage, that alternative models of partnership should be considered. Now that was radical. How times have changed.

3. Isn't it illogical that the people who condemn us for being unable to sustain committed relationships are the same ones who go out of their way to prevent us from having access to the institution which enshrines commitment? Marriage contributes to stability to society. There is little doubt that the 1,000 or so rights that automatically come with marriage strengthen a family, regardless of the parents' genders.

4. My gay marriage (if I ever get to have one) is no threat whatsoever to any straight marriage anywhere. Divorce, domestic violence, the economy - all are more of a threat to a straight marriage than whether two dudes or two chicks down the street are joined in matrimony.

We aren't there yet. There are still states, including Colorado, where gay marriage is illegal.

But, as a result of today's rulings, more than ever before, my boyfriend and I, while not making any commitments just yet, can consider the very concrete possibility that we may someday have the federally recognized option of actually getting legally and officially married.

Corporations are Not People

The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned a century of precedent and ruled that corporations have the same free speech rights as human beings. The primary effect of this revolutionary decision is to allow businesses to support any candidate or political cause without limitation.

The supremes have basically granted personhood to big companies, unleashing them to, for all practical purposes, control the nation.

What's it called when business runs the country: corpocracy?

In any case, prepare for big changes. Little guys running for office won't stand a chance. Only those at the beck and call of big business will serve in legislatures across the country. That $10 you donated to Obama? It won’t make much difference next time. The president will be too busy courting Wall Street to ask for your puny contribution. In fact, what you think about anything matters much less now than ever before.

Don't think local politics won't be affected. When the neighborhood association resists the building of a new McDonalds with a drive through, increasing trash, traffic, and danger to playing children, who do you think will best be funded in the next city council election? The candidate who, in exchange for corporate money, favors the easing of zoning laws. It will take a lot of bake sales to compete with that.

Thanks to those five Republican appointed justices, politics might now go the way of sports.

Debates will be sponsored by, “Kraft Macaroni – it’s cheesier!” Campaign ads will be shamelessly paid for by, “Dupont - for without chemicals, life itself will be impossible.” Look for a Bank of America logo next to the presidential seal when the Commander in Chief addresses the nation. Watch for Nancy Pelosi to be wearing a Pepsi ball cap while doing press conferences on the capitol steps. Will Harry Reed have to do commercials portraying himself running from the senate to the White House with a bill in hand to be signed by the President – wearing Nike shoes?

Do you think John Hickenlooper, mayor of Denver now running for governor and one of the first successful microbrewers in the nation, will be able to tolerate having to be sponsored by Coors in the election?

Do you think I’m joking?

Corporations are not people. They have no moral compass, no shame, no soul. Their only reason for existence is to make a profit. If they can get away with their logo next to the presidential seal, why wouldn’t they? Our elected leaders, those charged with keeping our cities, states, and country working, are at the mercy of big money and there is nothing to stand in the way of the corpocracy taking over.