The Sebastopol Times asked people around town, "How are you feeling about the first few weeks of the new administration in Washington, and what, if anything, are you doing about it?"
Protect the vulnerable, speak the truth. No one is talking about the n@zi salute at the inauguration and deleting public data, resources, and information from government websites. In 1930’s Germany the fascists targeted a gender affirming facility first and burned all their books and research. They first target people that “no one cares about”. Coincidence? There is just so much going on. But don’t concede. We have to stay involved in what’s going on. Care more.
I wish Trump supporters would actually fact-check what comes out of Trump's mouth or his office. Too many take the lies and distortions as though they were reality. For example, Robyn referred to USAID giving "$70,000 for a DEI musical in Ireland. I just checked several sources, and learned that the facts don't agree with that statement. For example, FactCheck.org clarifies:
*****
The State Department committed to provide $70,844 in September 2022 to an Irish organization called Ceiliuradh, which is part of the Irish South Wind Blows production company. The money wasn’t for a “musical,” but rather a musical event.
That company’s musical component, called Other Voices, put together a program called “Other Voices: Dignity – Towards a More Equitable Future” for the U.S. Embassy in Dublin on Sept. 15, 2022.
The announcement for the event said it “will showcase the very best of American and Irish talent with a diverse programme which aims to fulfil the U.S. Embassy Dublin’s mission to promote diversity, inclusion, and equality.”
The event was streamed live on YouTube and featured several Irish and American artists.
USAID isn’t listed as providing any money for the event.
*****
FactCheck.org also points out that the total USAAID budget is $40 BILLION. If any of us looked at the total picture of what USAID provides, there would no doubt be some small expenditures with which we disagree. However, USAID does tremendous good in the world -- and benefits the United States as well as other countries. Musk, lacking in compassion, doesn't look at how the good work can continue. In his greedy, selfish, power-grabbing tunnel vision, he illegally tries to cut off funding. His job is supposed to be finding ways to trim waste -- not take an axe to anything that doesn't help outrageously rich people!
The US has now become a fascist state run by oligarchs, illegally impounding funds already approved by congress, eliminating federal departments such as Education, the Consumer Protection Agency; firing 17 Inspectors General - the watchdog officials who hunt for waste, fraud, abuse and illegality in government agencies. This will result in pauperization of most of us, while exacerbating the concentration of wealth, while the impacts of global warming continue unabated. This unacceptable and requires massive protests and general strikes. Once dictators gain power most endure for decades such as Putin (Russia), Xi (China),Modi (India).
As the movie « Where to Invade Next » by Micheal Moore presented, there are many places in the world where people live a life with less stress, to put our predicament mildly.
The concerns I have with this choice for leader is the embrace of militant religious values that voters must follow a supreme being, and the rejection of law as the foundation of actions.
Since Reagan and neoliberalism the US has been sliding down in a vast number of international metrics, health care, critical thinking, racial equality, public toilets…. Ha.
I won’t live long enough to see the broken parts reassembled where happiness replaces greed as society’s goal.
It seems people who approve of what Trump is trying to do have come to their conclusions with inadequate information. Have they any knowledge of the principles of world economics? Do they understand the constitutional system of checks and balances? Do they have analytical skills to decipher what information is false, or is based on unproven conspiratorial theories?
Likewise for those who supported Biden. Do they not recognize the apartheid of Israel with regard to Palestinians, and their ongoing slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza long prior to October 7, 2023? Do they realize the billions of dollars Biden gave to Netanyahu’s right-wing dominated government which financed the slaughter of 40,000+ innocent Palestinian’s in Gaza?
Biden and those around him also failed to recognize the significance of his declining cognitive capabilities, so he kept stoically running for a second term out of pride, ignoring the need of the country for a more viable candidate. Democrats have also failed the working class of this country. They handed the election to Trump.
So what will I do now? I will support younger minds in journalism and politics who are educated, and have good analytical skills, so as to know the difference between truth and bullshit.
I this is article was extremely important because it wakes us up to the fact that there are very different takes, even in our community, on the direction our country going. Personally I think it’s almost surreal and horrific but not everyone agrees. If we want to change things we need to recognize the opinions of others and go from there.
I very much appreciated this temperature check. Although I am extremely concerned about what is happening in Washington DC, I also feel an obligation to listen to and understand my neighbors who see positives. The common theme seems to be that the Federal Government has simply gotten too big, too costly, and not accountable enough. I imagine most West County folks could see the germ of truth in this. It is not a bad thing to reexamine Federal programs and spending.
What is troubling, and this is what I’d like my neighbors who support the administration to understand, is the disregard for the law. What makes the US unique is our fabric of laws that provide both security and balance in what we do. Without those laws (and in particular the special balance between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government) we are at risk of losing the essence of what is important about the American experiment. There is a way to cut USAID (or most what the administration is doing through executive orders), it is through the budget and laws enacted by Congress. The executive branch has an obligation to honor injunctions from the judicial branch (for example ending the spending freeze) just as Congress defers to the executive the responsibility for administering laws.
What I love about Sebastopol is our welcoming spirit. It is genuinely sad to me that my neighbors do not feel like they can speak in this moment. We need everyone in order to rise above the differences and distinctions that divide us. For me America is at her best when we talk, think, and act together to create a more perfect union.
Interesting. Sebastopol is more Trump country than the rest of California or than our Congressional district! Of the 11 people "polled" above who took a stand pro or anti Trump, 4 (36%) were favorable toward Trump's actions. Jared Huffman, our democrat Congressional (CA 2nd district) representative won reelection with 71.9% of the vote.
Hi Walter - It's not a representative sample. Because I initially insisted that people use their full names, several progressives who I reached out to refused to respond for fear of reprisal by local right-wingers or the Trump administration itself. A well-known local progressive organization I reached out to for contacts who might be willing to talk on the record never responded. I ultimately relented and let people use just their first names. The Trump folks were also afraid of reprisals from progressives. The overwhelming takeaway from my experience of gathering these quotes was that people are afraid of the other side--they fear actual physical harm or at least harassment. Sad. Personally, I think this fear is overblown on both sides.
Protect the vulnerable, speak the truth. No one is talking about the n@zi salute at the inauguration and deleting public data, resources, and information from government websites. In 1930’s Germany the fascists targeted a gender affirming facility first and burned all their books and research. They first target people that “no one cares about”. Coincidence? There is just so much going on. But don’t concede. We have to stay involved in what’s going on. Care more.
The censorship wars will leave us wondering how they began in the first place.
I wish Trump supporters would actually fact-check what comes out of Trump's mouth or his office. Too many take the lies and distortions as though they were reality. For example, Robyn referred to USAID giving "$70,000 for a DEI musical in Ireland. I just checked several sources, and learned that the facts don't agree with that statement. For example, FactCheck.org clarifies:
*****
The State Department committed to provide $70,844 in September 2022 to an Irish organization called Ceiliuradh, which is part of the Irish South Wind Blows production company. The money wasn’t for a “musical,” but rather a musical event.
That company’s musical component, called Other Voices, put together a program called “Other Voices: Dignity – Towards a More Equitable Future” for the U.S. Embassy in Dublin on Sept. 15, 2022.
The announcement for the event said it “will showcase the very best of American and Irish talent with a diverse programme which aims to fulfil the U.S. Embassy Dublin’s mission to promote diversity, inclusion, and equality.”
The event was streamed live on YouTube and featured several Irish and American artists.
USAID isn’t listed as providing any money for the event.
*****
FactCheck.org also points out that the total USAAID budget is $40 BILLION. If any of us looked at the total picture of what USAID provides, there would no doubt be some small expenditures with which we disagree. However, USAID does tremendous good in the world -- and benefits the United States as well as other countries. Musk, lacking in compassion, doesn't look at how the good work can continue. In his greedy, selfish, power-grabbing tunnel vision, he illegally tries to cut off funding. His job is supposed to be finding ways to trim waste -- not take an axe to anything that doesn't help outrageously rich people!
The US has now become a fascist state run by oligarchs, illegally impounding funds already approved by congress, eliminating federal departments such as Education, the Consumer Protection Agency; firing 17 Inspectors General - the watchdog officials who hunt for waste, fraud, abuse and illegality in government agencies. This will result in pauperization of most of us, while exacerbating the concentration of wealth, while the impacts of global warming continue unabated. This unacceptable and requires massive protests and general strikes. Once dictators gain power most endure for decades such as Putin (Russia), Xi (China),Modi (India).
As the movie « Where to Invade Next » by Micheal Moore presented, there are many places in the world where people live a life with less stress, to put our predicament mildly.
The concerns I have with this choice for leader is the embrace of militant religious values that voters must follow a supreme being, and the rejection of law as the foundation of actions.
Since Reagan and neoliberalism the US has been sliding down in a vast number of international metrics, health care, critical thinking, racial equality, public toilets…. Ha.
I won’t live long enough to see the broken parts reassembled where happiness replaces greed as society’s goal.
Oh, and did anyone mention climate change ?
It seems people who approve of what Trump is trying to do have come to their conclusions with inadequate information. Have they any knowledge of the principles of world economics? Do they understand the constitutional system of checks and balances? Do they have analytical skills to decipher what information is false, or is based on unproven conspiratorial theories?
Likewise for those who supported Biden. Do they not recognize the apartheid of Israel with regard to Palestinians, and their ongoing slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza long prior to October 7, 2023? Do they realize the billions of dollars Biden gave to Netanyahu’s right-wing dominated government which financed the slaughter of 40,000+ innocent Palestinian’s in Gaza?
Biden and those around him also failed to recognize the significance of his declining cognitive capabilities, so he kept stoically running for a second term out of pride, ignoring the need of the country for a more viable candidate. Democrats have also failed the working class of this country. They handed the election to Trump.
So what will I do now? I will support younger minds in journalism and politics who are educated, and have good analytical skills, so as to know the difference between truth and bullshit.
I this is article was extremely important because it wakes us up to the fact that there are very different takes, even in our community, on the direction our country going. Personally I think it’s almost surreal and horrific but not everyone agrees. If we want to change things we need to recognize the opinions of others and go from there.
I very much appreciated this temperature check. Although I am extremely concerned about what is happening in Washington DC, I also feel an obligation to listen to and understand my neighbors who see positives. The common theme seems to be that the Federal Government has simply gotten too big, too costly, and not accountable enough. I imagine most West County folks could see the germ of truth in this. It is not a bad thing to reexamine Federal programs and spending.
What is troubling, and this is what I’d like my neighbors who support the administration to understand, is the disregard for the law. What makes the US unique is our fabric of laws that provide both security and balance in what we do. Without those laws (and in particular the special balance between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government) we are at risk of losing the essence of what is important about the American experiment. There is a way to cut USAID (or most what the administration is doing through executive orders), it is through the budget and laws enacted by Congress. The executive branch has an obligation to honor injunctions from the judicial branch (for example ending the spending freeze) just as Congress defers to the executive the responsibility for administering laws.
What I love about Sebastopol is our welcoming spirit. It is genuinely sad to me that my neighbors do not feel like they can speak in this moment. We need everyone in order to rise above the differences and distinctions that divide us. For me America is at her best when we talk, think, and act together to create a more perfect union.
Interesting. Sebastopol is more Trump country than the rest of California or than our Congressional district! Of the 11 people "polled" above who took a stand pro or anti Trump, 4 (36%) were favorable toward Trump's actions. Jared Huffman, our democrat Congressional (CA 2nd district) representative won reelection with 71.9% of the vote.
Hi Walter - It's not a representative sample. Because I initially insisted that people use their full names, several progressives who I reached out to refused to respond for fear of reprisal by local right-wingers or the Trump administration itself. A well-known local progressive organization I reached out to for contacts who might be willing to talk on the record never responded. I ultimately relented and let people use just their first names. The Trump folks were also afraid of reprisals from progressives. The overwhelming takeaway from my experience of gathering these quotes was that people are afraid of the other side--they fear actual physical harm or at least harassment. Sad. Personally, I think this fear is overblown on both sides.