At This time in our nation’s history, we have much to fear.
FEAR: An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. It can be real or imagined. This “loss of control” may cause us to panic.
HOPE, however, is always possible when we begin to look at the whole picture positively and begin to believe something could happen.
We need hope right now.
Socialism is a scare word.” When speaking about the GOP in 1952, President Harry Truman went on to say, “Socialism is their name for anything that helps all people.”
The theme of this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAP) Convention held last March was “America Versus Socialism”. Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, told attendees: “It’s a very intended theme. Our view is it’s not capitalism versus socialism because socialism isn’t just about economics. Socialism, we believe, gets to the very core of violating the dignity of the individual human being that has God given rights.”
There’s a reason Donald Trump has never produced a health care plan that protects citizens from injury, health issues; and those with preexisting medical conditions. The GOP simply wants health care systems that are cheaper; provide insurance companies more net profits, and stock market gains to his rich friends who invest in them.
Any thought of an alternative Affordable Care Act (ACA) that Republicans have offered relies on eliminating most ACA provisions that would suggest a greater risk and cost sharing between healthy and sick citizens. Simply put, reducing protections for patients with great health care needs does not bother GOP leadership.
Republicans talk of reducing premiums and rolling back protections, including preexisting conditions. America deserves more than talk. Continue reading
Yes, candidate for President Joe Biden has one. President Trump? No, he has a “Trust me. I’ll get ‘it’ to you after the election.” Sad.
Joe Biden has a plan. It centers around reinforcing portions of the Affordable Care Act and improving access to care. Whether one has coverage through an employer or has to purchase one’s own, there will be a “like-Medicare” (not present Medicare) option.
Some portions of the “public option” will be for those who don’t have Medicaid benefits that they may qualify for in another state. It’s a great idea for evening the insurance playing field for those stuck in states that do not provide for their own citizenry. Continue reading
OCTOBER OP-ED
For those of you who don’t get the Shawano Leader, here is the Shawano Dems’ op-ed.
Calling all women voters. This election is crucial to your rights as women.
Women have been fighting to have equal rights for over a century. The women’s rights movement began in Seneca, New York in 1848. At this very first woman’s rights convention in the United States, women discussed their social, civil, and religious condition and lack of rights for women. This event triggered the fight for women’s suffrage and the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote.
Up until this time women’s voices remained unheard of in a world where men’s voices dominated. The leaders of the Seneca Falls Convention vowed to work toward a society where women’s voices would resound loudly and their rights would be equal to men’s. Continue reading
September’s Op-Ed on Election Integrity. It will appear in the Shawano Leader on Friday, Sept. 18th.
The cornerstone of a democracy is the people’s right to elect their leaders. It is vital that our elections are safe and secure.
Today the majority of people in our country get their news from social media, primarily Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. They are exposed to a daily dose of hoaxes, rumors, conspiracy theories and misleading news. When it’s all mixed in with reliable information from honest sources, the truth can be very hard to discern.
Facebook has echo chambers where a person only encounters information or opinions that reflect and reinforce their “own opinions”. Facebook is a private company controls the content you see according to algorithms and commercial interests. When a single company which controls the news content for the majority of the population, the possibility of abuse is rampant.
Parents are terrified and they should be. COVID-19 is extremely infectious.
It’s a tough time for parents and school districts. They are forced to make decisions they don’t want to make.
With no federal guidelines to follow, each school district must wrestle with how best to accommodate all students in a safe environment. Options include returning to virtual learning started in the spring, the usual in-class instruction or some combination of the two.
If you did not get a chance to read the op-ed in the Shawano Leader, here it is:
How often have we said those words when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and not really thought about what the words really meant. Being free within a society from the oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life is liberty. It means civil rights and human rights.
Just behavior or treatment is justice. It means fairness and equity.Since 1892 these words have been recited as an expression of allegiance to the flag of the United States and the republic of the United States of America. However, the “for all” part of the pledge has never really applied to everyone. Continue reading