I am an expat in my own country, and I want to go home.
I’m sitting inside a beautiful snow globe and the events of 2020 are swirling around me and they are all I can see. But when it all settles, I look around, and everything is different…. and not in a good way.
You see, I have lived where we, as a country, are heading. You won’t like it. No one will.
I WAS an expat when I lived outside the United States. It is still fresh in my mind.
I loved Italy so much! Who doesn’t? I have dual citizenship with Italy and America. I moved there as a corporate transferee. I loved the people, the food, the geography, the wine, the charm! But over time, I grew sad. I missed the United States. I was learning that here in Italy, life was very difficult. Nothing worked. The word “efficient” could never be used to describe daily life.
To try to accomplish just one thing a day became the goal. Government agency phones were never answered, lines became more lines, employees were unhelpful and disgruntled. You would stand in line for hours at the post office, because hours were short, and employees were scarce. Most rules were so convoluted the Italians who tried to help me couldn’t explain them. Don’t send me mail or packages. They would never arrive.
If you needed something for your home, it often became a hunt. Products were scarce and shelves were oftentimes empty. Once in a while you hit gold, but that’s about what it cost to get that item—prices were often inflated while salaries were deflated.
The very generous benefit system for the unemployed youth as well as highly restrictive employment regulations had placed unthinkable strains on family life. I know this from firsthand experience. I have family in Italy.
The system was broken.
I loved to travel when I lived in foreign countries. The train system was highly touted and the interstate was fast and fierce. But the words “sciopero” (strike) stunned us way too often, and left us stranded and scratching our head “but why again, this time??” If not the trains, it would be the buses, or the taxis, or the airport workers, and one time it was the toll takers on the highway.
Customer service is not a phrase used in this country. In fact, they laugh at us crazy Americans to insinuate that we might have the upper hand as a customer. NO, this is not America. You may NOT get your money back, return an item or change it out for another size. There is no time to haggle with a customer. The mid-day break, (siesta) is minutes away.
The system was broken.
In Mexico, we learned very quickly to be afraid of the police. We were warned by our Mexican friends to be wary – they were not there to help us. We were robbed three times by the police.
One time we were in a traffic jam and they walked up to our car window and tapped on it. Then they held a gun to my husband’s head and said to hand over all our money and whatever was worth anything. I had my 2- and 3-year-old babies in the car. We would be in Mexico for 4 years.
To have a telephone, your name went on a list that was five years away. But I soon learned, again with advice from my Mexican friends, in a broken system, there are broken ways to do things. My friends trolled the neighborhoods and found an installer at another home. They had a “conversation” and the next day he was at our home. He seemed quite pleased to do the job.
A gaggle of teen to 20-year-old boys with assault rifles guarded the entrance to our neighborhood. You see, WE were safe, because the drug lords living in our neighborhood were safe.
The system was broken.
It is frightening to me that a very vocal and angry segment of Americans want to defund and demoralize our police forces and drive them to the ways of a third world country.
Yes, I loved living abroad. But we yearned for trips back to the US. Government agencies worked. You could call and talk to a person. You could get guidance on what your next steps would be.
Stores were open almost around the clock. Products were in great supply. There was actually price competition for the lowest price on things, and shopping was fun! People could come and go in stores and know that customer service was there to support them. I knew if I were in danger, our police would be there in a heartbeat to help our family.
I knew that we Americans were free thinkers and would never become a country of sheep that were led by fear and chaos — which was so evident in other countries I lived and visited. Today, I live in the US.
And just today, I needed a few groceries and paper goods. I stood in line for 45 minutes to get into a grocery store. The shelves were bare of what I was looking for and have been for days. No word on when they will have product.
I needed to get a check from my bank. After standing in line to get in the foyer, there were no employees, only a remote chat window. I was told I need an appointment and would have to come back because the appointment had to happen online.
I wanted a haircut. The first available appointment is a month away, mostly due to fear and management of optics that need to be instituted.
Remember how I said that to get one thing done a day in Italy was a goal? That very familiar feeling for me is back.
Our system is breaking.
We are heading down a very slippery slope. It’s insidious and will get woven into our country’s fabric before you even realize it. People who don’t appreciate what we have, need to move to another country and try that for a while.
And maybe this expat experience doesn’t resonate with you.
Think about the last time you traveled outside the US. How happy were you when you returned?
If people don’t stand up for our country and Constitution and secure the “Blessings of our Liberty”, it won’t be here for us when we want to return.
Our system is breaking, along with my heart.
You, the reader, don’t know my gender, my race, my religion or my sexual orientation. Believe it or not, contrary to today’s woke messages, that doesn’t really matter. The only thing you need to know is….. I am an American.
Susan Rosapepe is a co-founder and former Program Directorof a city-wide non-profit organization that mentors and recognizes young people in the journalistic and performing arts. She is the daughter of a United States Foreign Service Officer, World War II veteran, and sister of a Vietnam War veteran.
How could a smart girl like you go for a guy like Trump? Don’t you know that only uneducated racist white male hillbillies clinging to their guns and religion are Trump supporters? By this Democrat definition, I am the antithesis of the stereotypical Trumpster. However, as is so often the case with politics, this narrative has no bearing on reality. In my sphere, Trump supporters are women, men, college and high school educated, white, blue, pink collar, rich, poor and everything in between, every race and ethnic group.
The parties hope to direct the voters’ attention to the notable failings of their opposing candidate. This is superficial. In these times with these candidates, the critical thinker must set aside personality and examine each platform and candidate’s supporting cast. Which side most closely aligns with one’s world view, values and hopes for our country? This process has led me to unequivocally choose Trump. I have also asked others, why Trump. What follows is a compilation of my own views and those of these respondents.
The preamble of the Declaration of Independence is an excellent summary of our belief structure as it relates to our rights, their origin and government’s relationship to same. Government does not exist to grant or deny rights, it only exists to protect them. We stand with those politicians who will assist in the protection of our rights and stand firmly against any who would threaten them.
We have a fervent belief in America and its founding principles. As with all ideals we recognize that we must exert constant effort to both achieve and maintain these ideals. We believe our next phase should be more akin to the Renaissance than a regressive revolution based on victimology, fear and loathing.
We believe the concept of personal responsibility is a critical hallmark of a free society as is the free expression of critical thought necessary to exercise it. Those who embrace personal responsibility give themselves the beautiful gift of failure and success, the ability to learn, grow and overcome fear as one strives to develop their God given talents. A dedication to personal responsibility leaves no room for dependence which stifles growth and creativity. Politicians who peddle ideas that foster dependence do so in an attempt tamp down our potential and solidify their own power. They will never have our vote.
We recognize and support that the United States of America is a representative democracy or republic. It is not a direct democracy. As such, we are committed to limited central government, the electoral college and the ability of each State to craft individual detailed policies. We oppose political platforms that wish to transition us towards a direct democracy.
We are patriots.
Ideology
We are in an ideological battle between individualism and collectivism. Collectivism is defined as “the political principle of centralized social and economic control, especially of all means of production”. In a collectivist society the “individual is subordinate to a group, recognizing no rights without the consent of authority”. Socialism, Communism, Fascism, Nazism, Authoritarianism are examples of collectivism.
Individualism is “a social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control”. Individualism is a system of inherent liberties known as unalienable natural rights, rights that cannot be given or taken away by man or government although “one can forfeit their enjoyment through one’s actions, such as by violating someone else’s rights”. The Declaration of Independence embodies individualism.
We believe the choice in this election is simple. A vote for Biden is a vote to transition towards collectivism. A vote for Trump is a vote for individualism and the principles upon which our constitution is based. We base this opinion on the left’s clear attempt to erode our inalienable rights and nationalize large segments of our economy.
COVID
It is my personal belief that the data will ultimately demonstrate that strict, extended lockdowns did not contain the virus and caused serious, unnecessary harm to this nation and its citizens. In addition the politization of COVID is reprehensible. Rather than a review of the indefensible talking points, our goal is to question which candidate will best manage COVID as of January 20, 2021. As therapeutics and vaccines become available and fear mongering is no longer needed to influence the election, will COVID be the issue that dominates the country in 3 months? Doubtful. More likely we will be focused on repairing the damage to our country from both the virus and lockdowns.
Generally, the Democratic politicians tended toward extended lockdowns, mandates and enforcement and had little faith in the individual to manage their own risk and protect those around them. Republican politicians tended to reopen earlier, were more likely to balance COVID and the negative impacts of the lockdowns and exhibited more trust in the individual. Eight states never issued stay at home orders: North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Utah. All have Republican governors. All were thoroughly criticized. All managed COVID as well or better than lockdown states. All experienced less economic trauma than lockdown states.
Biden recommended a nationwide mask mandate and a national response to the virus. He also said that he would lock the country down again if the scientists told him to. Perhaps someone should remind Biden that the President does not have the constitutional authority to implement a national mask mandate, force a State to lockdown or force it to open. Regardless, his statements reflect his attitude. He wants the federal government firmly in control, not the State and certainly not the individual.
Regardless of the rhetoric to the contrary, Trump listened to the scientists and took COVID seriously enough to recommend a 6 week shutdown of our economy. I believe Trump was late in an attempt to balance the risk of COVID against the risk from the lockdowns. He did so, however, far earlier than any Democrat and was heavily criticized for his position. He was right. They were wrong. It is interesting to note that the WHO now agrees and recommends against lockdowns stating “Lockdowns just have one consequence that you must never ever belittle, and that is making poor people an awful lot poorer.”
Should the COVID hit the fan again, we believe that Biden would respond with far more damaging, draconian measures. We choose the Republican COVID philosophy and vote Trump on COVID.
Health Care
Healthcare is a mess and neither side has put forth a satisfactory solution. We will vote Republican because we believe they are more likely to pursue a solution based on free market principles resulting in greater choice. Market based strategies are also more likely to rein in the cost of care and drugs.
Democrats are moving in the opposite direction towards national health care. Given the government’s inability to manage anything efficiently, we believe this will lead to mediocrity and reduced quality of care over the long term as has happened in other countries. The cost of government run healthcare will exceed the cost of a properly designed market based system. The citizens will pay this increase one way or the other. Nothing is free.
Economy
We believe conservative policies of limited regulation, lower taxes and reduced spending serve our free market economy the best and will result in the shortest recovery from the lockdowns. It seems incredibly unwise to saddle our COVID weakened economy with the Democratic platform which promises tax increases “on day one”, increased regulation, increased government intervention in our economy and unprecedented spending. Neither party has displayed any fiscal discipline regarding spending yet there is at least a chance the Republican party will come to their senses and return to their core principles. A serious reduction in spending is essential after the debt generated by the COVID recovery bills.
The First Amendment and Cancel Culture
The First Amendment to the Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The free exchange of ideas is under attack in our society. This is evident in our schools, corporations and social media platforms. The increasingly aggressive behavior to control our speech is exceedingly disturbing. Below are a few examples among many.
On some college campuses, conservative speakers are heckled and prohibited from speaking. Others simply ban conservative speakers. Expressing an opinion on social media can lead to dismissal. A highschool student voiced her disproval on Instagram of her school’s decision to hire the speaker Ibram X Kendi. “She posted “Absolutely DISGUSTING that @episcopalhs let this man speak at our school. Unbelievable.” Along with the words, Mackenzie shared a screenshot from Fox News of a Kendi tweet in which he accuses federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett of being a racist for adopting two black children from Haiti. For expressing her opinion, the school has begun proceedings to dismiss her.”
Corporate cancel culture is rampant. For example, Facebook employees demanded an officer be fired for supporting Brett Kavanaugh. Trader Joe’s was attacked for racism. Their crime? They named products Trader Giotto’s, Trader Mings and Trader Jose for Italian, Chines and Mexican foods. Trader Joe’s initially signaled they would succumb to the pressure, but instead, with a rare show of corporate backbone, chose to ignore the cancel culture mob.
Big Tech practices censorship on a daily basis. This is most dramatically demonstrated by Twitter’s censorship of the New York Post article on the Bidens’ corruption. Did they censor the fictional Steele dossier? The constant claims that Trump was a Russian operative? Would Facebook and Twitter censor an October surprise involving Trump regardless of how questionable it might be?
The mob not only wishes to silence us but would like to cancel our history as well. They have gone far beyond ripping down statues of confederate soldiers. Our founding fathers are being canceled and schools renamed that mention them. A mob even destroyed a statue of Frederick Douglas. Assuming this was not ignorance, we should all examine motives of the mob and their masters.
What ideology drives cancel culture? The vast majority of incidents are fueled by leftists. While leftist rhetoric suggests conservatives are intolerant, their behavior reveals who the truly intolerant people are. Cancel culture is a notable cause of division in this country. If the left wins, will censorship and cancel culture increase or decrease? Our bet is it will increase, maybe dramatically. We vote Trump in support of the 1st Amendment.
Be Very Afraid of Public Shaming
What do Cubans, Venezuelans and Vietnamese have in common that would lead many to support Trump? The shaming tactics of the left are eerily familiar. They want no part of them in this country and are voting for Trump as a result. This video by Paul Joseph Watson draws the comparisons between ritual public shaming in America to communist tactics. While there are obvious differences between communist China and America, we believe the objectives of public shaming wherever and however it occurs are the same – humiliation, conformity, indoctrination and control.
We should all be concerned that the cancel culture mob has left their keyboards and taken to the streets. What’s their next trick? Which ideology motivates this group? Leftist. Once again the party that preaches tolerance practices intolerance and intimidation demanding conformity. We will vote Trump in the hope this unsettling movement will cease.
Protests and Riots
Protests in support of racial justice are good and represent a fundamental American right. Violence, looting and riots are not.
The left accuses the right of conflating protests and violence and the right accuses the left of downplaying the violence. Which talking point is closer to the truth? Michele Obama’s own words answer this question. In her “Closing Argument” for Joe Biden, Michele Obama said “they’re stoking fears about Black and Brown Americans, lying about how minorities will destroy the suburbs, whipping up violence and intimidation and they’re pinning it all on what’s been an overwhelmingly peaceful movement for racial solidarity. It’s true, research backs it up. Only a tiny fraction of demonstrations have had any violence at all.” How incredibly disingenuous. The violence resulted in more than 19 deaths, an unknown number of injuries including approximately 700 police officers, upwards of $2 billion in damages, countless lives and businesses destroyed and communities setback for years.
Of course the violence has been “pinned” on the protests. The events were interdependent. Many more would have supported Michele Obama had she said, we support all those who march for justice and will prosecute all those who diminished their efforts with violence. Instead she “pins” the violence on Trump. Is she suggesting that Trump sent Antifa and BLM acolytes to loot, kill and burn? If that is the case why are left leaning organizations supported by the likes of Kamala Harris bailing out those arrested during the riots? How can she “pin” the violence on Trump when it was Democratically controlled cities that allowed it to continue unabated? Did Trump create CHAS/CHOP? Is Trump responsible for the young man who was killed during the “occupation”? Did Trump cause leftists to destroy Portland? Did Trump vote to defund police? No. Michele Obama’s argument is nonsense.
Why? The Obamas and other leftists encourage identity politics, a political movement that promotes division and victimology, weakening our society. A more insidious motive is that chaos breeds distrust in our systems leading people to accept massive change they would never consider otherwise.
Organized, bussed in agitators lead us to believe the chaos and violence was strategic not a spontaneous eruption. This is a serious warning for all Americans. Anyone that uses death and destruction strategically will do anything to advance their agenda. They must be ousted.
Racism
To repeat from an earlier article “Good humans reject racism in any form, uplift fellow humans with compassion and understanding and always offer a hand to those who start short of the starting line. It is always the right thing to do.” The vast majority of Americans believe this statement. Ironically the very success of the BLM organization is a testament to the goodness in America.
Do we have an inherently racist, evil country that routinely kills black people and prohibits their advancement? No. Nor does the data support this growing chant among leftists designed to promote identity politics. While the institution of slavery was evil, we do not believe our country is evil and stand firmly against all those who would have us believe that.
We support Martin Luther King’s statement “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” We are disturbed by the clear efforts to promote racism against white people, especially white men. Racism is evil regardless of who it is directed against. People and corporations who support racism in order to avoid being called a racist are cowards.
One of the terrible consequences of colormongering and identity politics is the creation of groups who now believe they are victims. Please consider the following question carefully. How many successful people view themselves as victims? We stand against any who promote victimology and support those who encourage citizens through all means possible to reach their full potential.
Which candidate addresses the question of racism the best? Both candidates verbalize their views poorly. Our only option is to evaluate their actions. Trump’s plan is to lift minorities via overall economic success and targeted initiatives such as Opportunity Zones. Biden recommends a long list of government handouts. Which strategy created the lowest level of unemployment among minorities preCOVID? Trump’s. Biden had 8 years to prove his strategy was effective for disadvantaged communities and it was unsuccessful. In fact we believe certain government programs have caused more harm than good in these communities.
Is BLM the answer? A previous article addresses my views on this subject. Suffice it to say that BLM is a self-avowed Marxist organization that supports the elimination of the traditional family. One of the major factors contributing to the failure of disadvantaged minority communities is the dissolution of the family structure. Why should BLM even have a seat at the table much less lead the movement since they advocate policies that would harm our people more? For a broader understanding of racism, poverty and those who profit from it please watch the “Black Wisdom Matters” series by Thomas Sowell and other notable intellects.
And finally is Trump or Biden a racist? Anyone with a modicum of historical perspective knows the Democrats have successfully tanked opponents by tagging them as racist. Why change a successful strategy? We do not believe either candidate is a racist although Biden has certainly said many racist things. If he were anyone else, the mob would have canceled him long ago.
2nd Amendment
The 2nd Amendment states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Cancel culture, censorship and shaming are ongoing strategies to limit our most effective weapon, free speech. Is it any surprise that these same folks are attempting to separate us from our actual weapons? Gun violence is a notable problem in America. We believe it is a cultural failure and forced “assault weapon” buybacks will do nothing but begin the process of disarming Americans. Phrases such as Biden’s “weapons of war” are designed to engage people’s emotions and turn off their brains. We implore Americans to resist this emotional appeal and remember that the ability to defend ourselves is an inalienable right. We vote Republican on 2A.
Energy
I wish politicians would say: “The climate is changing. We need an open and free discussion of disparate scientific views in order to estimate which and to what degree manmade and natural factors contribute to this change. The proposed path forward must consider these factors with a simultaneous dedication to the environment, energy independence, national and economic security.” But of course that is a far cry from what we do hear.
The left utilizes an emotional appeal predicting the world will end “as we know it” in 10 years unless we adopt the Green New Deal, a program that cannot possibly satisfy current energy demand thereby weakening us financially and threatening our national security. Is a pattern becoming obvious yet? The right generally dodges the discussion, also unacceptable.
Contrary to the rhetoric, there is not a scientific consensus on the extent and cause of climate change and there is an attempt to silence those who do not agree with the prevailing end of days narrative. An open debate is essential for a successful climate, energy and environmental policy.
A single pronged approach, ie fossil fuels, will fail as surely as do other single focused approaches that neglect to examine contributing factors.
Emotional triggers are being used to drive voters to accept a plan to restructure the economy and increased government control of energy use and production.
We have learned from COVID that incorrect modeling can result in global hysteria leading to the adoption of destructive policy, ie extended lockdowns. We must avoid this grave error with energy policy which is the backbone of our economic and national security.
Carbon emissions have declined in the US while increasing dramatically in China.
America achieved energy independence for the first time in 2019 since 1957. This is a significant achievement that must be maintained in future energy and climate policy.
We believe the right will be more likely to approach energy and climate solutions with the commitment to protect energy independence, the economy and national security. The proposals of the left offer no such commitment and in fact seem to ignore the need to have a homegrown supply of energy before turning off the fossil fuel faucet. The Green New Deal, which Kamala Harris cosigned, also contemplates government control of energy use and production. Simply put, I will not vote for a platform that will irrevocably undermine our country.
Supreme Court
I support constitutionalists on the supreme court whose focus is interpreting the law. I do not support judicial activism and the politicization of the courts. A true constitutionalist will at times anger the left and right. This is as it should be.
There is a more important question. Why has the court become politicized? There is a simple answer, Congress is not doing its job. We implore both parties to work together to pass laws that address issues such as abortion that tear this country apart. Their inability to do so subverts the purpose of the courts. Congress blames divisiveness on everyone else but themselves. Their lack of courage to tackle the tough issues is a significant contributor to the deep divide in our country. Both parties are at fault and sadly neither candidate is capable of bridging the divide.
Voting
The current discussion is synonymous with a descent into the twilight zone. Both sides are hurling accusations of vote tampering. Why is mass vote by mail necessary? Is it unsafe for the vast majority of Americans to vote in person due to COVID? Wouldn’t the current absentee ballot process suffice for those who are at risk from COVID? Do picture ID requirements constitute voter suppression considering picture IDs are required for many less critical activities? Why are some states legally attempting to count mail in ballots postmarked after the election? Are bureaucracies typically capable of implementing new complex systems in a short period of time without incident? Why would either party reduce the number of in person voting locations? Why do we hear complaints that volunteers for in person voting cannot be found yet those who attempt to volunteer are never contacted? Why do banks have vaults for their cash? Why are IDs required to fly?
Character
Trump’s character is a matter of significant debate. We will leave that debate to rage among others. We can agree he generally does what he says he is going to do. He is a patriot and loves this Country. While he refuses to pick his battles, he will stand against the insanity and take the fight to those who perpetrate it. We greatly appreciate that he is politically incorrect and refuses to be canceled. One said “even though Trump is a narcisstic maniac, he is authentic and we know where he stands.” Trump makes it easy for people to hate him and the left has used that to great advantage. He is the greatest red herring of all time.
Biden’s character is a matter of significant debate. Biden’s positions change with such regularity we have no idea where he stands on important issues. Regardless of whatever skills he used to possess, it is clear he has cognitive issues. This makes his choice of VP incredibly important. Many of us became acquainted with Kamala Harris during the Kavanaugh hearings. She did not make a good first impression and has done nothing to redeem herself. She is a committed leftist as her voting record confirms. Nancy Pelosi recently recommended a commission to assist in the application of the 25th amendment. While some thought this was another attempt to remove Trump, I believe this was about Biden. If I am correct, imagine the stunning deceit of a party that would install a President the people rejected.
The stakes are high. In previous elections we chose between conservative and liberal policies to achieve a common goal. We are now choosing between disparate goals for the governance of our country. Do we want to sacrifice our inalienable rights further in a transition towards a collectivist form of government? Or will we remain a capitalist society based on the principles of individualism embodied in our constitution? Please choose wisely. Our future depends on it.
The sky is blue. Trump is a liar. OK then, the sky is pink. Trump is a liar. Let’s not talk about the sky. I got a beautiful shot of an osprey this morning. Trump is a liar. What are your thoughts on the riots? Trump caused the riots because he is a liar. Do you support the BLM organization knowing the cofounders are self-admitted Marxists? LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA. Biden has been spending ample time at the liars table himself. Biden good, orange man bad. I can’t wait for the debates, how about you? Biden should cancel because Trump is a liar.
How did we get to the point that conversation devolves quickly into heated Trump bashing sessions? It’s simple. After licking their wounds in 2016, Democrats realized they had a special gift in Trump. With his questionable reputation, unscripted knee jerk reactions and bombastic, narcissistic behavior, it was child’s play to spark a visceral Trump hate. Nothing like hate to short circuit the ability to think. His politically incorrect words (which many love) have been easy to twist (if necessary) into a relentless drumbeat declaring Trump whatever “ist” would anger the target audience. This would have been impossible without a compliant media happy to lie repeatedly and a populace already steeped in identity politics. And of course we cannot forget the biggest liars of them all, those in Congress who will do absolutely anything to regain power. Once the hate train got rolling, the echo chamber echoed loud and often. It wasn’t long before folks were drowning in Trump hate willing to cancel all Trump supporters literally and figuratively. The Democrats must be giddy with delight. A job well done. Perhaps one day Trump will stop helping them.
What is gained from such pure hate? Lots. When the hate monger speaks, those consumed by hate believe without question. Gotta feed that monster. The most recent example is the blind acceptance that Trump is responsible for the violence. Huh? We can all agree that Trump is anything but a Uniter in Chief but how is Trump causing the violence in cities run by left wing Democrats who have hamstrung their own police departments, many declining to prosecute vandals, refusing assistance to stop the violence, allowing wholesale destruction of property and business, destroying many lives. Mobs roam DC harassing restaurant patrons who won’t give the BLM fist, attacking republicans in the street. Are the haters suggesting that Trump is secretly funding BLM and Antifa? Or is this the “Trump made me do it” defense? If Trump’s America is present in Portland, Seattle and Chicago, whose America is found in the rest of the country? Cities where there is no violence, no movement to shift funds away from the police, where racial equity is an everyday goal, where politicians take a stand against violence before the polls tell them to. Is this Trump’s America too?
There is another insidious consequence of hate. Hate’s laser focus renders all else invisible. This makes the Democrats so very happy. It is impossible to see anything positive that Trump has accomplished. And riding in under Trump hate is a progressive agenda that would have been unthinkable even a few years ago. Yes, Trump is the greatest red herring of all time. One of many examples is Biden’s position on healthcare. He wants to institute a public option. Are folks so blinded by Trump hate that they don’t realize that a public option will likely destroy private insurance resulting in 100% government run health care? Government can’t manage their way out of a paper bag regardless of who is president. Do you really trust them to manage the health care system without tremendous fraud and inefficiency? To make this bad idea worse, the likely president, Kamala Harris, clearly stated she is in favor of giving free health care to illegal immigrants. Genius. And who knows what the candidate for shadow president believes.
We must set Trump hate aside and deeply question each platform. Country changing concepts are in play. An informed public motivated by knowledge, not emotion, is essential to our future.
I am in receipt of today’s email reiterating your reasons for closing public and private schools. I quote: “We are doing better because of the steps we have taken—all done with public health in the forefront of our decisions. We still need to reduce community transmission of the virus. When the State first shut down businesses and other organizations in March, we were averaging about four positive tests per day. Right now we are averaging about 70 cases each day, which is lower than the peak we experienced for daily positive tests–but still too high to take further steps in reopening.” Please answer the following questions at your earliest convenience. The ramifications of your decisions have significant negative consequences for our children and the community at large. Your words alone are no longer sufficient. We require facts.
What positivity rate is acceptable for opening especially considering the CDC references 5% as a benchmark. Please also note Governor Coumo gave jurisdictions approval today to open all schools also citing 5% as the benchmark.
Please stipulate what specific scientific studies upon which you have based your positivity benchmark.
Do you agree or disagree with these CDC statements that suggest the harm to students from closing schools outweighs the risk from covid. If you disagree please cite the specific scientific studies supporting your position.
You stated in the press conference Wednesday that the studies regarding transmission among children “are getting worse not better”. Please cite the specific studies which are guiding your decisions. There are studies throughout the world that contradict your words.
The Montgomery County Education Association encouraged union members to attend the National Day of Resistance on August 3, 2020. Demands of this well organized nationwide resistance movement are stated here. Please outline which of these demands you support. It is clear the teacher’s unions is opposed to charter schools, voucher programs and private schools.
We look forward to your responses and to the determination as to whether you have the legal right to close private schools. Meanwhile please consider “A Teacher’s Perspective”. If our leaders focused on all covid data rather than stoking fear with select, aggregate data, perhaps more of our teachers would follow their vocation instead of their fear.
In those couple days where it seemed my school may be closed, I felt like a major opportunity was stripped from me and all of the teachers at my school. Teaching is a vocation – not a job – and to be stripped of the opportunity in a time when it is needed most would be quite literally robbing me and others like me one of our rare opportunities to fully realize the purpose of our vocation. More importantly, it would have been robbing our students and families the opportunity to see so tangibly that we will fight for them even in foul weather. Teaching this year, no matter what we do, is going to suck in so many different ways but 5, 10, 20 years from now the kids who grow up will remember what its like for the adults in their lives to actually care. I personally remember very well when my own teachers volunteered to form human shields for us to walk to our cars during the DC sniper situation while many others in different schools complained that they shouldn’t be in school at all. Teaching typically isn’t a life or death profession and for the vast majority of the population, it still isn’t. But even it were – this is the hand we were dealt. Our vocation hasn’t changed just because it suddenly became more dangerous.
OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR LARRY HOGAN, COUNTY EXECUTIVE MARC ELRICH AND DR TRAVIS GAYLES
I have had the opportunity to read your recent self-congratulatory missives regarding covid management. Several questions came to mind. Are the covid heroes the leaders who use the actual data to open to the maximum extent possible while protecting the vulnerable? The leaders who balance the fatalities and devastation caused by the lockdowns and school closures against covid risks? Or are the heroes the leaders who sit on the sidelines, opening to the minimum extent politically possible, waiting for the science to be determined by others? Those who delegate many of the critical decisions to others who are ill equipped to make these decisions? Those who cater to a fear soaked populace rather than leading them out of fear with facts? As the health, emotional and economic ramifications of the shutdown become clear, comprehensive covid data emerges and state and local budgets collapse, it is my belief that the real heroes will be those leaders who pushed to return their communities to normalcy as soon as possible regardless of the harping criticism from the media.
Evidence of true leadership would be public discussions of the pros and cons at each step, encouraging perspective not fear. Sadly we have seen none of that. Instead we have been served a steady diet of selective aggregate data designed to manipulate. Edicts are always accompanied by the now repellent phrase “based on science”. Which science? For example, the CDC strongly recommended schools open in September due to the increased risk associated with staying closed. Do you disagree with the science outlined by the CDC? Do you agree or disagree that suicides and drug overdoses have eclipsed covid deaths in high school age students? Is your science supplied by the teacher’s union?
Dr. Gayles, yesterday after Governor Hogan thankfully issued an order overriding your closure of MoCo private schools, you stated you had based the decision to close on recent statements by Dr. Birx. Did you accidentally misspeak or assume the citizens were not familiar with the source material? You stated that Dr. Birx suggested that schools should consider staying closed until community transmission has reduced but you failed to mention that the measure of reduced community transmission is a positivity rate under 5%. The positivity rate in MoCo and the State is 2.8% and 4.4%% respectively. The parents of those children who will OD or commit suicide as a result of your decision demand the real reason. All parents should revolt against the County’s incredible abuse of power regarding school closures and demand the State force the County to also open public schools.
With a virus as contagious as covid, everyone knew that cases would surge upon increased testing and relaxation of lockdowns. Why are you acting so surprised? Remember the original goal was to flatten the curve so hospitals would not be overwhelmed? Are you really so arrogant that you believe you can eliminate this virus with continued closures, roving bands of enforcers and enhanced mask guidelines in the absence of herd immunity achieved naturally or from a vaccine? Meanwhile you freely admit that the greatest transmission occurs at family and other private gatherings, things which you cannot control. Does anybody else see the flaw in governance? Ineffective overreach where covid does not spread easily and lack of personal responsibility where it does. It’s time we learn how to live with covid and protect ourselves.
Government can assist individuals assume responsibility through honest conversation on risk and avoidance strategies, not fear tactics and obvious manipulation supported by the media. As we have discovered, the citizens are likely to throw the baby out with the bath water when leaders engage in hypocritical behavior or when their motives are questionable. There have been countless examples of covid hypocrisy on the national and local stage. The latest national example is the attendance at John Lewis’s funeral which far exceeded 1 person or household per 200 sf. Which science on gatherings do you believe Mr. Elrich? Locally and nationally the politicians’ pandering response to the protests undermined everything they said subsequently. And the height of hypocrisy was the determination of what businesses and employees were essential and which were not. Who takes a hypocrite seriously? Nobody. It is never too late to be honest with the people, show respect for their intelligence and proceed to Phase 3. That is the only way we will be “in this together”.
MoCo does not have the data to evaluate risk effectively and the data they do have supports following the State’s guidelines. For example, many of the new cases are among young people. I asked MoCo what the hospitalization rate is by age. Because this is essential data to craft covid policy, I was shocked to learn MoCo does not have this data. People wait in food lines yet County decides to implement more stringent lockdowns than the State? Why? Is this public policy based on feelings or fact? Let’s review the data.
State positivity trended downward after going to Phase 2 in early June and has been reasonably consistent since mid-June. As of today, August 4, 2020, the positivity ratio is 4.44% at the State level and 2.82% in MoCo.
Even though case numbers have increased, daily fatalities have remained low and consistent since early July. Since transition to Phase 2, 83% of the folks in the State who have sadly died are over 60. This percentage is consistent with death rates throughout the pandemic.
While hospitalizations have increased slightly, ICU occupancy has remained relatively consistent since early July. Prior to early July, ICU usage was downtrending.
Approximately 60% of deaths in both the State and MoCo have occurred in nursing homes.
1.51% of Maryland residents have a confirmed positive test and 0.055% have died from covid. 1.68% of MoCo residents have a confirmed positive test and 0.071% have died from the disease. Data suggests that approximately 0.014% of folks 64 and under in Maryland have died from covid and 0.015% in MoCo. Does the media or any government official ever provide these numbers?
In summary, we should proceed to Phase 3, open public and private schools safely and assume personal responsibility for our own health. Anything else amounts to continued government malfeasance. If masks, physical distance and good hygiene are effective, there should be no impediment to fully opening. Each individual manages their own risk and elects whether to engage in an activity or not. As the courts ruled in Ohio, it is the consumer’s responsibility to decide whether to patronize an establishment, not the government’s. If young people, who since time immemorial believe they are invincible, ignore the edicts and catch covid, the risk of serious illness in this group is extremely low. Safety in multigenerational households will require more effort but it is those individuals’ responsibility to manage their households, not society at large. Vulnerable nursing home patients should continue to be protected and other at-risk individuals must remain vigilant. All counties should follow the State except in the case of an extreme local outbreak that overburdens the hospital system. Yes, some of us will still catch covid. We take risks every day. Open fully.
The above words represent the ideal upon which this country was founded. Will the BLM organization support our centuries long effort to make these words a reality? It is unlikely. This opinion is based on the notable discrepancies between BLM’s stated goals and the actual results of their actions. For example, while decrying racism BLM antiwhite rhetoric embodies the very essence of racism. We learn from BLM that only white folks are capable of racism. Think this statement through please. Equally divisive is the belief that all whites are racists whether they know it or not. Is the reality that some people of every color are racist and many are not?
Another BLM mandate that has the opposite result of the stated intention is the desire to defund the police. BLM wants to “take funds away from systems that don’t work and provide money to systems that do work”. According to BLM, the systems that don’t work are the police and criminal justice system and the ones that do are community based programs. What are the actual consequences as acolytes and colormongers respond to the clarion call to defund or otherwise hamstring police? More black people are dying. When confronted with this reality, how does BLM respond. They don’t, instead cops and those who support them are being discriminated against in incidents all over the country. BLM acolytes, are you OK with that?
What about funding community programs? Isn’t that an admirable goal? Yes, however a casual examination of history reveals that money alone is ineffective if all factors contributing to the failures in these communities remain unaddressed. Police brutality and systemic racism are not the only impediments to advancement in poor black communities. Are they even the primary influences at this point in history? I don’t know but am 100% certain others of equal importance exist. Ignoring these factors will ensure continued suffering in these communities regardless of how much money is spent on community programs.
The hypocrisy does not stop there. A colormonger on the city council in Seattle actually suggested that only white cops be fired as Seattle moves forward to defund the police. Black people risked their lives to fight for civil rights. Colormongers believe it is OK to disregard the Civil Rights Act of 1964? BLM acolytes are demanding more “black only spaces” in colleges. While not a new trend, neo-segregation in our colleges is a disturbingly divisive one. I would love to ask Rosa Parks how she feels about this. BLM and any good human is against cruelty to black people yet the BLM riots resulted in tremendous cruelty when businesses and lives were destroyed in black communities. And what about the murders that occurred during the riots? The cruelty continues with the rampant cancel culture. People’s lives are callously destroyed if anyone of any color challenges the BLM narrative. BLM, acolytes and colormongers are in a frenzied race to label historical figures, living people, statues, phrases, etc. racist. In this absurd contest, even phrases as innocuous as “low hanging fruit” are deemed racist. Does this make sense to you?
BLM says they oppose state-sanctioned violence and anti-Black racism. The result of their actions has been an increase in racism, death, violence, segregation, identity politics, victimhood and cruelty. Any red flags popping up yet? Are they ultimately helping black people, hurting them or using them? Are they encouraging self-reliance or only anger, division and chaos? A truism comes to mind: “Where there is confusion, there is opportunity”.
What opportunity might the BLM organization be after? The BLM website clearly indicates that they are a political organization dedicated to driving acolytes and colormongers to vote in the 2020 presidential election and we all know political operatives love chaos and a good crisis to advance their positions. What is their platform? While defunding the police is a primary mandate, they have other goals worth understanding. A few have been listed in the details section below. I agree with some, a couple require more explanation and I strongly disagree with others, one of which is the desire to “disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure”. Many folks of great intellect believe the disruption of the nuclear family in poor black communities is directly linked to difficulties inherent in these communities. BLM wants to disrupt the family further? Why?
Before plastering one’s yard with BLM signs, it might be a good idea to determine BLM’s actual ideology. Acolytes, have you done the research? If not, please note that two of the co-founders make no secret of the fact that they are Marxists. Some may think this is a “right wing talking point”. Watch the video to disabuse yourself of that notion. Patrisse Cullor said during an interview, “We do actually have an ideological frame. Myself and Alicia are trained organizers. We are trained Marxists. We are super versed in ideological theories.” Inquiring minds want to know, where were you trained, who trained you and who paid for it? If you don’t want to wait for a future article on this subject, I would recommend research into which regimes they support. Are you OK marching alongside and donating your hard-earned money to Marxists? Is it possible that BLM is using your compassion as a hook to advance their Marxist agenda?
If the BLM induced cancel culture did not viciously discourage discourse at every opportunity, this movement would be an excellent opportunity to move the cause forward. But alas, comprehensive dialogue is necessary for actual progress and this is no longer allowed on the national stage, only insipid pandering. I believe it is our duty as individuals to attempt to understand the suffering of fellow humans. The old adage “before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes” is relevant. It is difficult for any modern day American, black, white or magenta, to truly grasp the betrayal of being sold into slavery by your own countrymen or the horror of being born and living in slavery. After US slavery was abolished, figurative slavery continued in the form of Jim Crow laws, segregation, redlining and other policies borne of an ugly racism. Approximate 20% of black folks are currently enslaved by poverty, violence and a culture of dependence. While racism has diminished significantly over the last 50 years, it has been a long hard road and it is still alive and well in some quarters. Good humans reject racism in any form, uplift fellow humans with compassion and understanding and always offer a hand to those who start short of the starting line. It is always the right thing to do. If indeed BLM’s goals include uplifting anyone but themselves, we do agree on this point.
DETAILS
For additional perspective please watch the Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams series Black Wisdom Matters. Here is part 1.
Thanks to Anna for her help editing and supplying the wonderful phrase that reminds us of the “importance of lending a helping hand to anyone starting short of the start line”.
Please note that the BLM website has changed significantly in the last few weeks. Originally “Defund the Police” had a very high profile on the site, now it is soft pedaled. Below is a sampling of BLM goals as indicated on the website as of July 23,2020:
We are unapologetically Black in our positioning. In affirming that Black Lives Matter, we need not qualify our position. To love and desire freedom and justice for ourselves is a prerequisite for wanting the same for others.
We are guided by the fact that all Black lives matter, regardless of actual or perceived sexual identity, gender identity, gender expression, economic status, ability, disability, religious beliefs or disbeliefs, immigration status, or location.
We make space for transgender brothers and sisters to participate and lead.
We are self-reflexive and do the work required to dismantle cisgender privilege and uplift Black trans folk, especially Black trans women who continue to be disproportionately impacted by trans-antagonistic violence.
We build a space that affirms Black women and is free from sexism, misogyny, and environments in which men are centered. We make our spaces family-friendly and enable parents to fully participate with their children. We dismantle the patriarchal practice that requires mothers to work “double shifts” so that they can mother in private even as they participate in public justice work.
We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable.
We foster a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking
We cultivate an intergenerational and communal network free from ageism. We believe that all people, regardless of age, show up with the capacity to lead and learn.
We need to see what you see. Black Lives Matter is a central target of disinformation and you are a key line of defense. Report suspicious sites, stories, ads, social accounts, and posts about BLM.
“I respect your opinion, but really not interested in having an older White woman teach me about racism.” Whoaaaa. Moi? Older? One thing us “older” folks know is that everything is bullshit before the but. We also have perspective gained from years of personal experience and observation. Is that no longer relevant to BLM acolytes? Isn’t that age discrimination?
White? It’s questionable what color I am. Generally I am a bit tan with brown spots and other times my face is decidedly red almost purple. Am I dappled? Red? Purple? How about magenta? YES. I am Magenta. In the future, I will check “other” for race and fill in “Magenta” when asked. But the more interesting facet of her color labeling is the message that my thoughts and questions are invalid because of my skin color. Isn’t it ironic that someone who is fighting against racism would judge someone strictly on the color of their skin? Isn’t that the very definition of racism? Of course she had no idea I am Magenta.
Teach? I asked this presumably young person a number of questions after she posted an overly simplistic video describing systemic racism and the oppression of Black folks. The goal was debate. With debate, the opportunity exists for both parties to learn, a win/win. As demonstrated in this attempt at an old White lady verbal smack down, debate is no longer desirable for many. Blind obedience is now the “in” thing. And if someone dares step out of line via a probing question, the new rules require insulting them into submission. Never been good at blind obedience and I am downright horrible at cowering. This incident and others propelled me to the key board.
Let’s start with my own perspective. My first experience with blatant racism occurred when I was 14 in 1972, soon after starting a catholic high school located in a multiracial city. The majority of students were White but the student body included a notable number of other colors due to its location. My mother dropped me off at a friend’s house and her head promptly exploded when she realized my friend was Black. I was appalled that she was appalled. The colors of people in our group were not a factor in our friendships. Every color person who attended this school was privileged to do so (other than run ins with the prejudices of some of the nuns, racial and otherwise.) We received a rigorous, quality education that paved the way for the future.
I shared a bus stop with kids from a nearby public school comprised of predominantly Black kids from a lower socioeconomic neighborhood with a less than demanding education. I still remember with striking clarity the first time I saw girls literally rolling on the ground in a knockdown, drag out fist fight. I was punched a couple times by black boys. I ran after them to punch back but sadly Magenta girls can’t run (that’s not systemic racism against Magenta people, it’s just true). The contrast between my classmates and the kids at the bus stop coupled with my mother’s reaction taught me important lessons at a young age. Skin color is not a predictor of character or friendship, social circumstances and upbringing can have a huge impact on behavior and opportunity and racism in both directions was alive and well.
This country has come a long way regarding racial bias since 1972. Are we there yet? For some, apparently not. There are disparities between ethnic groups that deserve our national attention. I suggest turning off the relentless talking heads and review the raw data. Here are a few statistics.
When reviewing population breakdowns keep in mind that the concept of race is separate from the concept of Hispanic origin. 2019 census estimates of racial breakdown of population is 76.3% White, 13.4% black, 5.9% Asian, 4.4% other. White non Hispanic is 60.1% and Hispanic is 18.5%. This data is based on self identification.
In 2018, the US poverty rate was 11.8%. This rate has been fairly static over the past 30 years with an average of 13.4%. The poverty rate for non Hispanic Whites was 8.1%, Asians 10.1%, Hispanics of any race 17.6% and Blacks 20.8%.
Overall 9.0% of American families are in poverty. Families headed by a single mother have a whopping poverty rate of 24.9% compared to 4.7% for families headed by a married couple.
66% of Black families are headed by single parents followed by 41% Hispanic, 33% White and 20% Asian.
Median income in 2016 according to Pew, was highest among Asians, followed by Whites, Blacks and Hispanics.
Home ownership rates by race is highest among non Hispanic Whites followed by other non Hispanics races, Hispanics and Blacks. For all groups home ownership declined in 2007 and began climbing again in 2016. Rate of growth since 2016 has been lowest for Blacks. No group has achieved pre 2007 levels.
Black and Hispanic males are the only race or ethnic group that include homicide as one of the top ten leading causes of death, 2017 CDC.
In 2019 370 White, 235 Black, 158 Hispanics, 39 other races and 202 people of unidentified race were shot to death by police.
While it is clear Americans of any color or creed are able to succeed in America, the statistics above confirm racial inequalities still exist. And it is not just Black folks who suffer, every color is represented in the poverty cycle. Over the last several decades, countless billions have been spent in an attempt to level the playing field. Innumerable public and private programs are geared to help minorities succeed. Every politician has talking points and campaign promises geared to minorities. Investment and mortgage opportunities are directly targeted to and available in many disadvantaged areas.
Like others who base their relationships on character rather than skin color and are disgusted by the current literal and figurative violence, I have an endless list of basic questions. With decades of committed effort to eliminate inequality, why do we still have it? Will the bizarre hyper focus on skin color help or hurt? Has a successful solution ever been achieved by addressing only the tiniest sliver of the problem while simultaneously declaring a blanket cause? How much racial bias exists now compared to 1972 and where racial bias is still prevalent, what are the specific ways bias prohibits advancement? What concrete steps, other than gratuitous violence and pandering, can citizens take to help? Is it possible the unintended consequences of decades of bad public policy have impacted minorities negatively? Is the opioid and drug epidemic a force of oppression and impediment to advancement? What impact does the drug culture have on Black folks killing each other? Is the shift towards a victim mentality helpful to anyone of any color? Is the Black community getting used and abused once again to advance someone else’s political agenda? Is it possible to achieve actual progress when the difficult but necessary introspection is forbidden? If no, then why is the cancel culture rampant? What damage does that do to our multicolor nation? Hmmm….
What to the American citizen is your 4th of July? I answer: a day above all others that honors a nation founded on the principle “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” A nation of opportunity where an individual of any creed or color can succeed with dedication, hard work and self-reliance, where free speech is guaranteed and excellence is encouraged. A nation that is capable of reflection and strives to improve upon its flaws. A nation that is stronger than the ever present forces that wish to divide and conquer. A nation of beautiful humans with diverse beliefs spread over an equally varied and inspiring landscape. As we reflect on the blessings of being an American let us remember that progress is achieved when we stand united, optimistically focused on a better future.
The above is loosely follows Frederick Douglass’s excellent July 4 speech.
Continued protests are self-serving and will cause more damage to race relations. Yup I dared to say that. Continued protests have put our communities at risk. Yup I said that too. And I mean it.
The peaceful protestors provided cover for violent looters to destroy our communities already suffering from the lockdowns. A thinking protestor might put their neighborhoods above their overwhelming need to virtue signal and realize if they stopped so would the looters. But no, they blindly kept at it and the violence piled up.
Even worse are the politicians and talking heads who suggest this violence is justified rage. What pathetic drivel. How about telling that to the family of the retired sheriff who was murdered in St Louis by these vicious criminals. Or the folks of every color whose lives have been destroyed by gratuitous violence.
Those who suggest we need violence to open everyone’s eyes to racial disparities in this country are seriously misguided or worse. This will open everyone’s eyes for sure but not in the way they think. Our eyes are open to the fact that government either can’t or won’t protect us. Our eyes are open to the incredible stupidity of extended lockdowns. Our eyes are open to how quickly a mob can destroy everything that is good. Our eyes are open to the fact that we must be armed in case that mob comes our way. Our eyes are open to the twisted desire of those who seek to enflame race relations in this country rather than heal.
Sit down, watch the videos of the violence and consider if those images will help or hurt race relations. Just maybe your eyes will open and realize that you have been manipulated. Great job everyone. Really appreciate your lack of critical thought. As an aside, I am infinitely curious if the same folks who continued to protest knowing their message had been coopted are also the same folks who support the continued lockdowns. Newsflash, you are too selfish to be taken seriously.
So use your brains instead of allowing your emotions to be whipsawed by others. Stop taking to the streets until the thugs crawl back under their rocks. You are only making things worse.
