Priorities

Posted on by under animals, Bits 'n Pieces, education, Environmental Issues, Free Press Issues, guns, Law and justice, Political commentary, Racism & Bigotry, voting rights

There just might be something wrong with our priorities when …

  • The United States Supreme Court, the highest authority in the land, refuses to step in to protect voting rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, or other civil rights, but … they can find the time and energy to give a murderer the right to “be touched” during his execution.
  • On Monday, a Boeing 737 crashed in China. I got the breaking news on my phone in the wee hours of the morning, but later on I had to search for information about the plane and its 132 passengers.  There was, however, plenty of news about Justice Clarence Thomas being hospitalized for a non-COVID infection.
  • The United States Senate found it in their little cold, dark hearts, to pass a bill making daylight savings time permanent, thereby screwing with our circadian rhythms for the rest of our lives, but they could not even consider passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.

Yo, folks … I think it’s about time we make our lawmakers, judges, and the media aware of what WE THE PEOPLE find relevant and important to our lives!  In keeping with that, I have composed a list of my ten top priorities …

  1. Voting rights – We the People demand that every citizen age 18 and over be allowed to vote, regardless of income level, skin colour, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, etc. The right to vote is the first and foremost basic brick in the foundation of democratic principles.  If we restrict voting rights in any way, then we cannot in good faith call this nation a ‘democracy’.
  2. Education – We the People demand that schools teach facts … all the facts! We do not wish our children to be taught that one race is somehow superior to another, or that ‘white’ people have always treated everyone fairly.  We want our children to understand their past so that they don’t make the same mistakes their ancestors did, and … AND we want them to be taught critical thinking skills – how to think for themselves, rather than to simply believe what they hear on Fox “News”.
  3. Healthcare – There is absolutely no reason that anybody in this nation should have to choose between taking their child to the doctor when he is sick or paying the rent. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed under the Obama Administration, is great but it has been chipped away at, and we have found the chinks in the armour that need to be patched.  It is time that every single person, young and old alike, should be able to get quality healthcare for a reasonable price.  WHY are some medications still so expensive, years after their R&D costs have been covered many times over?  Why isn’t Medicare allowed to negotiate drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies?  Expand the ACA and stop chipping away at it!
  4. Taxation – Currently, the wealthy – the top 1% or so – pay a lower tax rate than the person who delivers your mail, serves your food in a restaurant, or picks up your trash! We the People demand that in our system of progressive tax rates, every person and corporation should pay their fair share.  Get rid of the damn loopholes and other contrivances that allow the wealthy to thrive while the rest of us struggle simply to survive.
  5. Minimum Wage – The minimum wage in this supposedly wealthy nation has not been raised since July 24, 2009 when it was raised to $7.25 as approved two years earlier by Congress. How would you like to live on $15,000 per year, less taxes and other deductions?  NOBODY can survive on that, let alone take care of a family.  This Congress is the wealthiest in our history, and that explains why the rest of us are getting poorer … they are in cahoots with the wealthiest (see #4) in the nation.  Once you rise to a certain point on the wealth scale, you seem to lose sight of those who aren’t as fortunate.
  6. Environment – Read the latest report by the Interglobal Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) … it speaks for itself. Congress must pass laws to end our reliance on fossil fuels and the clock has run out on time for debate – just do it!  I rather doubt that any member of Congress has actually read the IPCC report, and obviously they are more concerned about whether to change the clocks twice a year than whether our great-grandchildren will have air to breathe, food to eat, and water to drink.
  7. Guns – Some 89% of the people in this country are in favour of some form of gun regulation. That includes members of the notorious National Rifle Association.  And yet … Congress cannot (will not) pass even the most basic of gun laws such as requiring background checks on ALL gun sales, or a ban on assault weapons.  WHY???  Because the gun lobby pays millions of dollars to members of Congress to buy their votes.  Get rid of assault weapons, make carrying a concealed or unregistered weapon a federal crime, and establish a “one strike you’re out” law about guns.  Do our lives matter in this country, or not?
  8. Women’s rights – Here is where the U.S. Supreme Court must step in and stop the individual states from sending women back into a virtual slavery to males. The right to make our own decisions about our own bodies is crucial, yet many states, particularly those in the south, are attempting to take those rights away from us.  The claim to being “pro-life” is laughable, for the very people trying to send us back to the days of “barefoot & pregnant” could care less about the child that may result in depriving a woman of her rights – their only goal is to deprive the woman, to ensure she is dominated and controlled.
  9. Animal rights – Hunters who kill animals for sport are, in my book, the lowest scum of the earth. The animal has no chance against a high-powered, long-range rifle.   Make the wanton killing of any animal a federal crime punishable by a severe prison sentence – say, life in prison, since they took away the life of a beautiful lion, deer, or other animal.
  10. Media – Any media outlet, whether mainstream, social or other, must be held to some standard. Yes, I realize we have freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and I support those wholeheartedly.  But lies have consequences and as it currently stands, any fool can say anything on-screen.  Since people aren’t always intelligent beings, violence is often incited and lives lost because of a lack of responsibility on the part of the media.  The time has come to enforce the responsibilities that go with those ‘rights’.  You hear that, Tucker Carlson?

Those are my top ten – what are some of yours?

Let’s get our priorities straight.  Let’s demand responsible action from all elected and appointed officials from the local level all the way up to the presidency, including the Supreme Court and Congress.  Let’s do our homework, research the candidates and the issues, and demand accountability.

44 thoughts on “Priorities”

  1. Reblogged this on The Ramblings of E.M. Kingston and commented:
    When I read this post, it made me want to get back to work on issues that need to be fixed and worked on in this country. Jill’s post below is a great list of priorities and so powerful. “We the People” is sometimes forgotten by all of the citizens of the United States, and we need to bring the people power back into the 21st century. “We the People forget that politicians work for us…including the President!

    We the People need to do better at making our voices heard for people that do not know that their voices exist or will be heard.

    The people are who the government works for, and my question for you is:
    Have you found your voice?

    Best,
    E.M.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Awwww … thank you so much for your kind words and your support in re-blogging this piece! This one kept me awake the night before I wrote it … I kept having new thoughts, sitting up and typing them into the notepad on my phone so I wouldn’t forget them by morning. Many thanks, my friend, for sharing my work and your words of support. Yes, We the People need to make ourselves heard! When something like 89% of the people want gun regulations, yet it isn’t happening, then something is not right!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. The permanent DST won’t last. They did the same thing in 1973 & it didn’t last six months. What will probably happen is that it’ll go to the states & each state/region will decide if they want to have a change or not … which will mess things up further but that’s the way it is.

    As far as women being in bondage to men, that’s a personal thing. A woman can be in bondage to a man regardless of the law … believe me, I know ALL about that. The best way a woman can be free is to be SINGLE.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I doubt the bill will even pass in the House, so I’m really not concerned about the bill per se, just the fact that the Senate found time to pass something so frivolous, but yet they refuse to ensure voting rights.

      In most ways, you’re quite right that a woman can only be held in “bondage” to the extent she chooses. However … when laws are passed that make it a crime for a woman to make a decision toward her own well-being, when the laws states a woman can be incarcerated for protecting her own health, then it’s a problem. And even single women do get pregnant, so in the case of women’s rights as applied to abortion and birth control laws, staying single is not a panacea.

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  3. Win Back America.
    Starting point- Customer purchasing power. Targeting those who fund the extremists. The market is very sensitive these days. Use Capitalism .
    Next point- Inundate the media. Seize the narrative.
    I leave the rest up to you.

    Liked by 1 person

    • To a large degree, I already do use my small purchasing power to withhold my money from those who fund extremists, mistreat their employees, fail to care for the environment, etc. But then, mine is but a drop in a huge bucket. Others seem to lack in social conscience. And as to your second point … my dear friend, you give me far more credit than I deserve. I really do not know how, short of getting myself arrested, to inundate the media and seize the narrative. My blog is most of my voice, though on occasion I do manage to get a ‘Letter to the Editor’ published in the newspaper. So, on that I will need your wise assistance!

      Liked by 1 person

      • Drops in a bucket can cause an overflow, and you will not be alone.
        ‘Inundate to media’ should be a cause Jill. Thusways. If you ask your blog followers to spread a message with a rider they ask their blog followers to do the same and so forth, that grows into a movement. Probably small to begin with. The next step to nurture this and cause the word to spread further.
        At this stage, the Movement begins to construct concentrated actions to a friendly media or against the opposition.
        These have to be synchronised.
        For instance, if one had been in operation at the time Carson started his first pro-Russian comments, he should have received on one day pictures of suffering Ukrainians (not the same picture, essential to have a degree of originality) with the caption ‘Get over there are convince them!’…Then make sure the friendly media knows what has been done.
        The counter-strike by his supporters should have be responded with more pictures and an emotive comment such as….’Wash your hands well…there’s blood on them,’
        And let the friendly media know….
        You will not be convincing anyone on the far-right, but the battle is for the middle-ground and moderate right.
        That’s just a template based on my own knowledge of a subject.
        Seize a narrative and hold it.

        Liked by 1 person

                  • They say ‘Hi’ back and send cyber-hugs ‘across the universe. But none of them are going have those new emjois representing them….. Trelli’s comment was the only printable one ‘Hmmm,’.
                    (Just skipping back into their world to work on a new book- I have to clear out a bit of grim mood- been reading of events at the end of WWI and the aftermath in parts of what was the Ottoman Empire- vile doesn’t cover it).
                    Probably be back in 24 hrs. See ya

                    Liked by 1 person

                    • Awwww … thank you, girls! And here’s a hug for each of you! 🤗🤗🤗

                      Yeah, give yourself a break, my friend. All the b.s. will still be here in 24 hours or even a week! Head out for a nice walk in the woods and think peaceful thoughts. See ya soon!

                      Liked by 1 person

                    • ‘Thanks Sweetlin’,’
                      ‘Fanks Jill,’
                      ‘Thank you kindly Jill,’

                      Taking some time out Jill to dilute a very sinister mood suggesting just how to deal with your problem (no gunfire).
                      It comes from this European war in Ukraine, raises old Euro-Folk memories of conflicts of yore, and Victory By All Means Necessary…..

                      Some gardening, some comic books, some house chores, some painting by numbers (seriously complicated), and finally started a book in The Girls world, but another part of the empire and slightly comic.
                      I’ll probably get around to replying to comments though, and ‘stuff’

                      Liked by 1 person

                    • I fully understand, my friend. I may do the same, for my thoughts are often angry, often jumbled, and I need some time to just … breathe. The war in Ukraine certainly adds to the angst, but I think most of mine comes from the utter stupidity I see here in what was once the U.S. but should now be better known as the D.S. — Disunited States.

                      Oh … on another note … I did watch “Inherit the Wind” the other night, which will lead me to yet another post. Some of the best acting ever in that movie … I’m glad you reminded me of it!

                      Take a breather, my friend, for as you tell me that “the world needs Jill”, the world also needs Roger! As do I. But please do stay in touch …

                      Liked by 1 person

                    • Will do Jill, and thanks for the affirmation.
                      As I said I’ve started a new book, same place same sorta time, but more humorous, and also attached to a Blog Battle which gives out one word on the 1st Friday of the month and you have to write a 2,000 word story based on that by the 3rd Friday….That is great fun…..Cools me down.
                      I’ll try and put an e-mail together too.🌼🌻🌷🌺

                      Liked by 1 person

                    • I’ll be looking forward to both a sample from the new book-in-progress and an email — though I think I actually owe you an email! I’m glad you’re having fun with your writing … that’s how it should be, yes? And thanks for the flowers!!! 😊

                      Liked by 1 person

                    • I’ll get them both organised in the next week(ish) Jill.
                      In addition to fun, writing fiction should be frustrating, exasperating and folk around the writer used to them being, at times, ‘somewhere else’…. I’ll explain more in the e-mail. 🙂

                      Liked by 1 person

                    • No rush … I’m so far behind that my friend Greg has probably forgotten my name by now! I look forward to the explanation of that one! I always thought writing fiction rather than politics or history would be more relaxing, more of a creative outlet. I’ve tried my hand at it a few times and fell flat on my face, so I stick to what I do best … ranting!

                      Liked by 1 person

                    • ‘Y’all rant thur gurl!! Nothin’ finer for cleaning out those ill-humours”
                      [Extract from Medician Arketre Beritt’s ‘Colloquial Advice for Equitable Living’}…….
                      🙋‍♀️
                      And my E-Mail will follow 😃

                      Liked by 1 person

  6. Pingback: PRIORITIES. |jilldennison.com | Ramblings of an Occupy Liberal

  7. I m\y not have any say in your laws but onw addition I’d like to see is legislation to prevent the sale of any land from the National parks and certainly an outright refusal too allow any mining for any mineral or drilling for oil on Parkland or in the Arctic.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Agreed … that one is important too! I’d also like to see the logging industry brought to a halt … this planet cannot afford to lose any more trees! There are many issues, but I tried to stick with only ten for the purposes of not putting my readers to sleep. 😉
      Cwtch

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Just one quick word. Refuse to vote for anyone who is approving any of those things. If you can, refuse to even let their names on the ballots. Respondibility has to start somewhere. Refuse to play their games!

    Liked by 3 people

  9. The issues that are, important to , we the people, are often, spun as, unimportant, by our governments, and, there’s just, nothing we can do about it, after all, the “majority” voted for them, as, our lives are, ruined for, four whole, years, until the next election time, rolls, around…

    Liked by 1 person

    • True. And to add insult to injury, the politicians are often bought and paid for by wealthy CEOs and corporations, whose goals are different than the average person’s.

      Like

  10. Pingback: Priorities | Filosofa’s Word | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

    • Yeah, I just wish the people were less susceptible to lies and false promises, that they would do a bit of research and think for themselves instead of letting the likes of Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson tell them what to believe.

      Liked by 1 person

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