Raising social involvement, self awareness and self improvement topics, because our communities are the sum of our personal beliefs, behaviors, action or inaction. Only "we" can improve our family, work place, school, city, country, etc.
It's a vague term, but I think it would be fair to describe me as "woke". And I live in Minnesota, surely one of the wokest states in America. The last time we voted for a Republican for president was 59 years ago. We haven't elected a Republican to statewide office since 2006.
What I think is interesting, what bothers me, is that candidates are campaigning not just in the belief that I am wrong (I may well be) but that I am trying to destroy America, that I am the enemy. What I worry about is the possibility that I think roughly the same thing about the other side, the unwoke. I hope I don't. I watch for it in the things I think, say or write. If anyone sees that in anythiIng I write here, please point it out and I will give very serious consideration.
Aldean comes from Macon, I have been there. it's a mid-size town. But what he is saying is what many rappers are saying, what Haggard said about Okie from Muskogee, that he is assuming a role, at least to some extent.
There is a tension, a resentment between rural and urban areass in politics. It is a universal theme. We see it in Mao's cultural revolution. It is a crack in human nature and politics always there for politicians to exploit if they wish.
Our government is flawed, and over time lots of strategies were created and implemented to smooth over those flaws. The two parties maintained at least an appearance of mutual respect. Partisans saw the other side as adversaries, but not as enemies.The worked together on some of the most important issues of the day. I am thinking here of civil rights legislation which could never been passed or renewed without support of both parties. That system is in decay, if it hasn't fall apart altogether, as politicians lost track of the distinction between what they should do and what they could do. If the old ways are swept away, it remains to be seen what will replace them. Maqybe something worse. Maybe something better.
I didn't vote for any of the Supreme Court justices. Three of them were nominated by a president who lost the popular vote. Those justices will be on the court for generations to come.
What is happening then, with Alabama for example openly defying Supreme Court orders, also falls within the category of "them's the breaks". While the constitution did create the judicial branch, nowhere in the document is the court given the power to enforce it's rulings. For the Supreme Court, I guess that is just one more instance of "them's the breaks"
When I was small, when I wanted my mom and dad to buy something, and they would say something like they couldn't afford it, I would say, why don't you just write a check. The Supreme Court has been writing checks since Gore v. Bush, and now and for a while now, there is nothing left in the account.
One of the things I am think about here is the use of senatorial privilege by Tuberville to block military appointments. One ed member of Congress is blocking essential personnel policy. That kind o-Hif privilege has been available to senators for centuries, but it only works if is used responsibly. I would submit that this is a case where it isn't, and that it points to a basic flaw of our government, that it gives power to states, which are nothing more than a legal fiction, instead of people.
Apparently he can not stop them if they just start voting on each one. They only need 100% of the votes to take the processing short cut. Not sure why the Senate doesn't start passing them individually. What do those people do with their days?
It's a vague term, but I think it would be fair to describe me as "woke". And I live in Minnesota, surely one of the wokest states in America. The last time we voted for a Republican for president was 59 years ago. We haven't elected a Republican to statewide office since 2006.
ReplyDeleteWhat I think is interesting, what bothers me, is that candidates are campaigning not just in the belief that I am wrong (I may well be) but that I am trying to destroy America, that I am the enemy. What I worry about is the possibility that I think roughly the same thing about the other side, the unwoke. I hope I don't. I watch for it in the things I think, say or write. If anyone sees that in anythiIng I write here, please point it out and I will give very serious consideration.
--Hiram
Usually you are pretty non-committal. :-)
ReplyDeleteSo I find it unlikely that anyone is offended. :-O
I agree that the "we good" "they evil" tone is disturbing.
Ironically, some told me that Jason has never lived in a small town... :-O
ReplyDeleteWhere as I once lived in Porter MN... Population ~180...
Aldean comes from Macon, I have been there. it's a mid-size town. But what he is saying is what many rappers are saying, what Haggard said about Okie from Muskogee, that he is assuming a role, at least to some extent.
ReplyDeleteThere is a tension, a resentment between rural and urban areass in politics. It is a universal theme. We see it in Mao's cultural revolution. It is a crack in human nature and politics always there for politicians to exploit if they wish.
--Hiram
What I find more disturbing is that it is not just the politicians trying to rip us apart.
ReplyDeleteFOX News etc makes money off it, and now a musician is...
Our government is flawed, and over time lots of strategies were created and implemented to smooth over those flaws. The two parties maintained at least an appearance of mutual respect. Partisans saw the other side as adversaries, but not as enemies.The worked together on some of the most important issues of the day. I am thinking here of civil rights legislation which could never been passed or renewed without support of both parties. That system is in decay, if it hasn't fall apart altogether, as politicians lost track of the distinction between what they should do and what they could do. If the old ways are swept away, it remains to be seen what will replace them. Maqybe something worse. Maybe something better.
ReplyDelete--Hiram
Personally I think we are getting what we vote for...
ReplyDeleteNot sure how or if we can reduce the polarization and extremism on both sides.
I didn't vote for any of the Supreme Court justices. Three of them were nominated by a president who lost the popular vote. Those justices will be on the court for generations to come.
ReplyDelete--Hiram
Thems the breaks !!!
ReplyDeleteWhat is happening then, with Alabama for example openly defying Supreme Court orders, also falls within the category of "them's the breaks". While the constitution did create the judicial branch, nowhere in the document is the court given the power to enforce it's rulings. For the Supreme Court, I guess that is just one more instance of "them's the breaks"
ReplyDeleteWhen I was small, when I wanted my mom and dad to buy something, and they would say something like they couldn't afford it, I would say, why don't you just write a check. The Supreme Court has been writing checks since Gore v. Bush, and now and for a while now, there is nothing left in the account.
--Hiram
One of the things I am think about here is the use of senatorial privilege by Tuberville to block military appointments. One ed member of Congress is blocking essential personnel policy. That kind o-Hif privilege has been available to senators for centuries, but it only works if is used responsibly. I would submit that this is a case where it isn't, and that it points to a basic flaw of our government, that it gives power to states, which are nothing more than a legal fiction, instead of people.
ReplyDelete=Hiram
The Alabama story does sound interesting. It sounds like it is still in the courts. (again)
ReplyDeleteApparently he can not stop them if they just start voting on each one. They only need 100% of the votes to take the processing short cut. Not sure why the Senate doesn't start passing them individually. What do those people do with their days?