Rita's Spur to Action

Once more into the breach

Category Archives: Political Action

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Attention must be paid.

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Everything happening in the Senate and White House requires daily attention from all of us. President Trump, in his State of the Union address, gave a great speech. If everything that he said in his speech would have been true, one could have concluded that he is truly a great president. 

However, the truth is that everything he said was a lie. When Nancy Pelosi tore up the copy of his speech, all she was saying was that this speech has no worth for the United States. It is a package of lies, presented as truth.

He has reduced Medicare and the costs have gone up. He has reduced coverage for pre-existing conditions. He has not dealt with the pharmaceutical companies, and he will not, so the price of pharmaceuticals is out of reach for most people.  He has not dealt with education except to further destroy the education system in America by appointing someone who has no experience in education and has never held any relevant positions in her life. 

It’s true that the wealthiest Americans are benefitting from unnecessary tax cuts while the rest of the country is basically struggling for survival. It may be that there is little unemployment – not to say that this is a bad thing – but it is a bad thing when two members of the family are employed full time and still can’t pay for school, rent, medical expenses, and have no fallback or savings for an emergency. 

And in the meanwhile, we have a Republican Senate locked in the grip of a dictator.  Instead of acting as the individuals representing their individual sectors, or doing what is right for the country, all that they are doing is supporting and enabling a lying, untruthful president. 

It has brought me to the conclusion that we must have a constitutional amendment to change the status of the Senate.  This cannot be a lifetime career with a lifetime pension. If their seats were not lifetime, then they wouldn’t be so afraid of losing their seats. There must be limits on the number of terms they may serve. 

It should be an honor to serve, at a decent salary while you serve. I also do not think that people should serve for more than two terms at the most. They would be more likely to want to take their place in history and do what is really truly best for the country. That would protect the country from exactly the kind of dictatorship condition that we are in right now. 

History will remember Mitt Romney as a man of courage and decency. The rest of the Republican party, faced with clear evidence against the president, would not even allow witnesses or evidence to be brought to bear. Obviously, they were afraid to allow the truth to be brought to light. But only Romney had the courage to deny Trump that unanimous Republican support.

This failure on the part of the Republican senate is such a clear and evident crime against our Democratic state and the American people.

And if this is allowed to persist further, and if Trump remains president for another 4 years, this country and all of its values and everything that has made America great will be totally destroyed and will never be able to be rebuilt again. It will never recover. 

The impossible will have happened. Donald Trump is not only incapable of integrity, honesty, empathy, or humanity; he is a total destroyer and dictator, and his language on television is absolutely despicable. It is embarrassing for a nation to be represented by an illiterate person, whose use of four letter words on national public broadcasting is despicable, vulgar, and unacceptable beyond description.

The Republican Party is no longer the Republican party. It has allowed itself to become the destructive arm of Donald Trump and his supporters. 

This is not a question of Republicans versus Democrats, or Democrats versus Republicans. And if the Republicans had a grain or an ounce of decency they would put up another candidate. They would back another candidate. There is no law that says the party HAS to support an unqualified, undesirable, unethical, delusional dictator. 

Pay attention, America. Please pay attention. Please go and hit the streets. Get the vote out. Whether a Republican or a Democrat is elected in 2020, IT MUST NOT BE TRUMP.

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What you do onto others may in turn be done onto you.

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Two years ago, I wrote a blog about immigration in the United States and the lack of an immigration policy. I am reposting this here for you to read today because I think it still applies, and absolutely nothing has been done to change the conditions under which people come to find safety in the United States.

Instead, we seem to have taken a step backwards, and for the second time in American history, we are shamefully isolating and imprisoning people who have the misfortune of having to leave their homes and uproot their lives to seek asylum.

Nobody does this for pleasure. 

I cannot believe that two years later, we still have not dealt with the immigration problems at our borders. We as a nation should not be repeating the shameful behavior of America during WWII, when we imprisoned and isolated the Japanese-Americans and other nationalities. This even included people from Finland whose homeland had been invaded by Russia and were trying to escape to America. They were arrested at sea and sent to the immigration camps. 

This was not America’s shining hour, and neither is our lack of policy today at the borders. 

Reposted from 7/14/2018

Today there are more displaced people in the world than there have ever been at any time in history. According to the United Nations, 67 million people are desperately seeking refuge somewhere. This vast displacement of people has caused a major crisis, and a growing crisis, to every nation in the developed world. 

Huge numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers are being forced to live under unacceptable conditions while they desperately try to gain legal admission to any country that will accept them. The current systems are not solving the problem of massive immigration. It is incumbent upon the governments of all nations, the United Nations, the European community, and even the World Economic Forum to redefine immigration programs. It is also imperative that all of us, worldwide, find ways to aid refugees facing extraordinary challenges.

There is a sense of destabilization that occurs when a large population of different races, religions, and customs overwhelm an existing culture. As The United States does not have any viable immigration plan, these fears have empowered this administration and its tyrannical zero immigration policy. This policy has led to cruel and inhumane treatment of desperate people.

The present anti-immigration policies of The United States, such as the deportation of people who have lived here for many years and the separation of children from their parents at the border, is absolutely not acceptable. It is not in any way a plan or solution to the massive refugee problem, nor is it a solution to immigration. It is tyrannical, unacceptable and totally short-sided for The United States.

America should welcome immigrants. We have almost full employment and we are an aging population with an historically low birth-rate. This confluence of circumstances can bring development and growth to a halt in The United States. Immigration is an important way of reversing the tide. In order to grow the economy we will need skilled workers to fill future jobs in farming, building infrastructure, and other trades.

It is often costly and usually takes an inordinately long time for people to apply and gain legal entry into The United States. There should be more entry ports and consulates so that this process could be shortened, and so that asylum-seekers could be dealt with more quickly and humanely.

Legal entry into The United States should have certain requirements. Obviously no criminal record, but also English should be required. Instead of having internment camps at the border, there should be English language schools. 

No one should be allowed a green-card until they have a working knowledge of English. After all, English is the language of the country and it is what binds Americans together along with the social contract, the laws of the land, and the culture. English must be the primary language. Without it we lose the ability to take on jobs, assimilate, or feel a sense of patriotic love of country. 

We as a nation have lost our moral compass. We must re-establish our own social and moral values in order to be able to impart them with impunity to the new arrivals. This should be done even as they are learning to speak English. 

Another problem facing host countries receiving an overwhelmingly large number of refugees is that these people tend to seek their own kind. In turn they set up their own enclaves within the existing communities. Unless immigrants have families to go to, it would make sense to spread them out and direct them to areas of the country where they are needed and would be welcomed. For a period of years, their choice of settlement should be restricted. This would prevent them from forming separate and often dissonant communities.

Most communities have activities for all age-groups in which everybody can participate regardless of race, creed, or religion. It is simply easier and less threatening for communities to accept newcomers if they arrive as individuals.

It is abundantly clear that The United States nor other nations of the world can any longer run immigration systems with antiquated methodologies and concepts. This seems to be a time when America has to redefine itself just as we did at the time of the American Revolution and again during the Civil War. 

White supremacists and religious fanatics cannot be allowed to shape the world in their own image. We, as Americans, must not allow it. These extremists are only a small part of our country, but they are powerful and have taken over the Republican party. 

Our values are not, should not, and must not be so narrowly defined as they would have them be.

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Trump’s Crime Against Humanity

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While gun-control is an important focus for the American public, we must not lose track of the crimes that are being perpetrated by this administration and the members of congress.

The United States fought a bloody civil war from 1861-1865 to free the slaves. Now Trump has dragged this country back to pre-civil war behavior. He is creating a whole new level of servitude, otherwise known as slavery.

“At least five lawsuits have been filed against private prisons, including GEO and CoreCivic, over detainee pay and other issues. The lawsuits allege that the private prison giants use voluntary work programs to violate state minimum wage laws, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, unjust enrichment and other labor statutes…

Inmates in Colorado and California have also sued the Boca Raton, Fla.-based company, alleging that they were forced to work for $1 per day to pay for necessities like food, water and hygiene products. Detainees performed janitorial work such as scrubbing floors and cleaning windows, as well as clerical work, washing laundry, even cutting hair. Detainees who objected were punished by “disciplinary segregation or solitary confinement” or referred for criminal prosecution, one suit alleged.” – Tracy Jan, Washington Post

Now these poor impoverished congressman are crying out to Trump for help to save them from lawsuits by immigrant prisoners.

During WW2 the United States committed the sinful detention of Japanese and other nationals who were deemed to be potential enemies of the people. We are now repeating this shameful detention policy with immigrants.

This congress wants to be supported against lawsuits, which they damn well deserve. They should be sued! Both for the conditions under which they are forcing these people to live, and they should be sued again for their failure to create a proper decent immigration policy for the United States. They should be put in prison for their failure to serve the people of the United States of America with decency and honor.

Trump tweets, but he never experiences. He has never gone hungry, never served in any capacity (army, public office, etc.), he’s never been out in the mud, he’s never been out in the rain, and he’s never taken a bullet. He should spend a few days in lock-up with these immigrants, so that he can experience first-hand the cause and effects of his mean-hearted and thoughtless tweets.

His supporters in congress looking to be saved from the lawsuits, should instead be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. They should be forced to taste their own medicine.

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A New Start

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It seems that today’s political fashion is either to blame the poor or the rich for all the problems of the Nation. If you are a Republican,then,you have to blame the poor for being uneducated,lazy,and living off the land on welfare. If you are a Democrat you have to take from the rich, penalize them for their success and give it away to the poor.  There really must be another way .

The other day on Roosevelt Island, Hillary Clinton announced her bid for the Presidential nomination, obviously by the Democrats. She gave a very good speech. She was in control of the media. She was not strident as I have heard her on other occasions. She looked really good and she has my support. However, even she, seemed to feel that there was something wrong with some people being very wealthy and others being very poor. I agree with her to some extent. I simply[ly don’t believe that the way to cure the situation is to penalize the rich. After all most of the time people become exceedingly wealthy in a system that permits and encourages wealth. Everyone wants it.

In the 1930’s when Roosevelt was elected President, he was faced with the worst depression the country had ever known. He created the WPA, built dams and bridges and roads and created jobs by building the infra structure of the country. He did this with the help of the wealthy people who understood that he was saving the Nation.  He won their personal support because they understood what he was doing and where the money was going. They were willing to help him to rebuild the country. Instead of penalizing  them for their wealth, he asked them for their help. They understood where their money was going and they supported him. Don’t you believe that today, there are wealthy people who would support the same kind of effort, if they actually believed in what was being done. It seems to me that the real thrust of the next administration should be to restore the confidence in this Nation and the possibility that we can all help and that our vote again counts.

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The Great Divide

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The Founding Fathers concept of the Supreme Court was that these nine people would be able to rise above the Politics of  Political Parties. It is their job to see that this country, it’s Politicians, the wealthiest  and the poorest are all represented equally. These nine people are appointed to the Supreme court for life. They should not owe allegiance to any party,any interest or any individual. Their job is simply to opine on those issues which  give equal rights to all citizens and justice for all. This court has failed  this country on one issue after another. It is a court divided within itself. The women against the men. The Liberals versus the conservatives. They are Politically , ethnically and sexually divided., This does not fit the mandate of the Supreme Court. The recent ruling by this court in the Hobby Lobby case gives corporations and  their owners, the power to deny their female employees their right to birth control options under the Corporate insurance policies. This, under the guise of religious Freedom. The Founding fathers of this country never conceived of Religious freedom becoming the tool with which the Society would be controlled. Each person has the right to practice his or her Religion . Religion is a  personal and private matter. However, it was never conceived by the Founding fathers that this right would become the controlling power over the electorate, the people or the Government of this country.  Girls, Boys, Men Women Hit the streets. Impeach this supreme Court.

 

Has condoned the shutting down of abortion clinics by their ruling

Has not just infiltrated the hobby lobby but Roe versus Wade

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Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust!

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After 9/11, it appeared that most of the terrorists who had attacked and destroyed the World Trade Center turned out to be from Saudi Arabia. I didn’t hear any outcry at that time from Muslims all over the world or even in America or New York City for that matter. If the Muslim world would rise up and attack ISIS, or whatever they call themselves, these barbarians would soon be starved out. The fact of the matter is that the only Muslim group that seems to have reacted to the beheadings of truly innocent people, appears to be in France. When you look at the number of Muslims in the world they are one of the largest religious populations on the globe and I believe that in around 2020 there will be approximately 17 million in America. Why have we not seen some concerted activity anywhere? These barbarians must not be allowed to carry the banner for Islam.

I understand and certainly believe that not all Islamists are terrorists or cut throats but I think that the world of Islam needs to make its presence felt on this issue or risk everyone being tarred by the same feathers. ISIS is collecting millions of dollars a day from the oil wells that they have illegally taken over, and the ransom money that is being paid to them for the lives of the innocent people whom they have kidnapped and are prepared to behead.

The Imams and the people of Islam need to be allied with the rest of the world to fight terrorism. They need to speak out against and root out the terrorists who live amongst them and who lay claim to being their brothers because they are all Muslims. In his letter written from his jail cell in Birmingham Alabama in 1963 Martin Luther King demanded the very same thing of his Christian ministers when he urged them to rise up against the Klu Klux Klan.

Yes, there are individual voices now and then, but there is no sense of community action by those who simply do not and will not accept ISIS and their barbaric executions of innocent people.

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Please note: Your power is in your vote

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Sunday, September 21st, thousands of people, men, women, boys, girls, gays, straights and celebrities all hit the streets to raise awareness of the imperative need to change our attitudes, habits, and actions regarding climate change.

My dear people, the biggest change you can make right now is to go to the polls and vote. Your vote is all that is needed to draw the attention of the nation and to force the Congress to make the necessary changes in the laws. In this country only about 1/3 of the population votes. They vote for Senators like Mitch McConnell. Who will never ever support any bill requiring changes which may help to save our planet. He and the Tea Party are more interested in shutting down the government, destroying the country and the President rather than saving the planet.

In a few weeks, you will have the opportunity to go to the polls and vote. A democratic majority in the Senate and the House would  enable the President of the United States to have the support to effect the very changes that you were demanding  last Sunday on the streets.

Even if you never vote for a Democrat again,  do it this time. That will kick-start the passage of the kind of laws that you called for on Sunday. We need a democratic majority in order to pass the very bills that thousands of you were demanding.

In Australia people who do not vote are fined. And in Brazil, if  there are three elections for which you do not vote, you are not only fined, but your passport is taken away from you. It is your obligation as well as your privilege as a citizen of the United States to vote. Hopefully you will vote for a democratic  majority of Senators who in turn will effect the changes you are demanding.

You and your vote matter.

 

 

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The rape of America by the Supreme Court

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This supreme court in its wisdom now has decided that American women have no rights regarding their most personal selves. Men may receive Viagra under their insurance claims. Men may rape women and then claim impotence as in the recent case of the college girl, a seventeen year old f Freshman at Hobart and William Smith College who reported being gang raped.This Court has ruled that American women need not be permitted under their company health insurance to be covered for contraception. College girls and women need to have that protection.  The fate of American working women is now in the hands of their corporate bosses, who may at any time call upon their suddenly found religious beliefs to deny working women their rights to be covered by insurance for contraception.This United States Supreme Court on June 30th, 2014 ruled that a corporation on religious grounds may deny a woman the right to have contraceptive coverage under her corporate health insurance policy. Under the guise of religious freedom this Supreme Court has ruled that religious belief has the right to rule the workplace. The denial of personal  rights is the first step towards loss of freedoms. Girls, boys, men and women hit the streets in protest.

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Impeach The Members of the Supreme Court

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This Supreme Court  as it stands today no longer represents the best interests of the people of These United States of America. They have sold this country to the Koch Brothers and the other Highest bidders. it is no longer possible for ANYONE to run for Political Office. It has now become the province of the very rich. The country is in the hands of the Oligarchs. This country is no longer run by the people, for the people . We are in grave and serious danger. Everyone in America should hit the streets in protest.