Socialism? No, common sense.

It is not socialism when an open, democratically-elected government acts to protect its citizens from harm caused by businesses and institutions whose decision-making is not subject to public scrutiny. It is what it takes in a complex society in order to assure every one of us an opportunity to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

If Trump wins, we won’t have to vote any more

 Tonight, speaking to Christians at the Turning Point Action Believers’ Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump made his plans to become a strongman clear: “Get out and vote. Just this time. You won’t have to do it anymore. Four more years, you know what: it’ll be fixed, it’ll be fine. You won’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians…. Get out, you’ve got to get out and vote. In four years, you don’t have to vote again, we’ll have it fixed so good you’re not going to have to vote.”

As reported today by Heather Cox Richardson

An Ohio State Senator calls for civil war to save our country, but he didn't mean it.

Yesterday Ohio State Senator George Lang said this at a rally for Republican Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance:

"I believe wholeheartedly, Donald Trump and Butler County's JD Vance are the last chance to save our country. Politically, I'm afraid if we lose this one, it's going to take a civil war to save the country and it will be saved. It's the greatest experiment in the history of mankind."

Of course, he later tried to distance himself from his own words:

"Remarks I made earlier today at a rally in Middletown do not accurately reflect my views. I regret the divisive remarks in the excitement of the moment on stage. Especially in light of the assassination attempt to President Trump last week, we should all be mindful of what is said at political events, myself included."

Notice that he did not say, "if we are cheated out of this (election)," or some other nonsense about it being "stolen" from them. He said, "if we lose (it)." He may be the last person on earth to know that there's nothing new about a minority employing violence to thwart the will of a majority. Nothing experimental about it.

I would like to accept his attempt to retract what he said. But it's incomplete, and I suspect insincere. He is a seasoned politician, and he knows the power of words. He knows how to choose them to fit the moment.  His call to arms against democracy has been heard, as intended.

Mr. Lang should resign.

For Donald and Kamala and all the rest...

The following words from the letter of Paul to the Colossian church (3:5-15) are directed toward Jesus-followers, but may resonate with people who follow other faiths as well. Could the recommendations they offer lead to success in politics? Which candidates for public office dare measure their words and attitudes by them? Be watchful both for what they say and for how they say it. Listen for truth beneath their words.

"Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

"As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful."

The truth about young, white, American-born men

 

I'm thinking of organizing a program about young, white, American-born men, the featured speakers being family members of victims of mass shootings.

Silence in the presence of evil?

We talk, we talk, we talk…but we allow no time to listen, expend no energy to hear.

Donald Trump gets shot in his ear in an assassination attempt, and instantly words tumble from our mouths and leap off our keyboards. A candidate for president of the United States is nearly killed in the midst of a campaign, and millions blabber, blather, and bleat.

We do not—because we cannot and we dare not—sit silent even for a moment and let it sink in under our skin and into our psyches.

We simply cannot allow time for others to respond on their own to a terrifying event we’ve all witnessed. We must assure they come to the conclusions we’ve come to in our split second, conclusions based upon our political views, our beloved conspiracy theories, our personal desires for influence and power.

Some even make up and spread outlandish lies, knowing there is an unthinking multitude who will believe them.

Both parties call for toning down the rhetoric, claiming they want us to get along better. A lot of such talk is a tactic to silence “the other side” long enough for “my side” to be sure to get our word in. Clearly, it’s not right nor fair to name every contrary opinion a threat to public order, but there are no “rules of war” in this battle of words.

The older I get, the more certain I am that the Hebrew prophets got most things right. Amos, for example, spoke fearlessly against a corrupt king, judicial system, and society. But in Amos 5:10-13, he came to a conclusion that is good advice, not only for TV’s talking heads but for all of us…

They hate the one who reproves in the gate (where justice is dispensed),
   and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.
Therefore, because you trample on the poor
   and take from them levies of grain,
you have built houses of hewn stone,
   but you shall not live in them;
you have planted pleasant vineyards,
   but you shall not drink their wine.
For I know how many are your transgressions,
   and how great are your sins—
you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe,
   and push aside the needy in the gate.
Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time;
   for it is an evil time.

In an evil time, we cannot be silent for ever. But a lot of us would do well to shut up for a few precious moments. It’s the wise thing to do.

A choice we can still make

Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, and has transformed his inability to accept that fact into a national crisis of confidence.  Remember, his inability to accept facts does not have to become yours. His disconnect from reality does not have to become our nation's.

NO ONE is above the law!

 

The Supreme Court continues to disappoint and frustrate me. It’s as ideologically divided as the rest of the government, and its majority gives little sign of interest in the welfare of our people or nation. Narrow legalism leads to death.