Thoughts From The Bouncing Mind …

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, education, Law and justice, Political commentary, Racism & Bigotry, Social commentary

Just a few things weighing on my mind tonight … things like the 2024 election; the people of Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza; the rising racism, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia that is on the rise around the globe today; the chaos that defines the U.S. Congress today; the environment and fossil fuel dominance; extreme wealth inequality;  the gun culture in the U.S.; and the fact that I still have some Christmas shopping 🎁 to do with only 16 days left ‘til Christmas! 😵‍ But aside from all that, there is this …

Kate Cox has the misfortune of living in Texas – a state that like so many others in the southern half of the United States believes that women are somehow less valuable, less intelligent & capable, than men.  Kate and her husband have two children and were hoping for a third when she got pregnant five months ago.  But, as sometimes happens, Mother Nature had other ideas and the fetus has been diagnosed with Trisomy 18, a genetic abnormality that usually results in miscarriage, stillbirth or death soon after birth.  Cox’s doctor warned that carrying the pregnancy to term could jeopardize her health and future fertility, including uterine rupture and hysterectomy.

But, since Kate lives in Texas where abortion is so strictly regulated that it is almost completely banned, Kate had to file a lawsuit to get ‘permission’ to protect her own health.  The good news is that Kate drew an empathetic judge, Travis County District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble.  Judge Gamble ruled that Kate can, indeed, have an abortion …

“The Court finds that Ms. Cox’s life, health, and fertility are currently at serious risk. The longer Ms. Cox stays pregnant, the greater the risks to her life.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

But then … enter the shameless Texas State Attorney General, Ken Paxton … a ‘man’ who apparently believes, as I stated at the outset, that women are second-class citizens and should be ruled by men.  Paxton threatened legal action … sent a letter to all the hospitals involved with Cox’s care saying the judge’s order would not excuse the hospital or doctor from civil or criminal liability “including first degree felony prosecutions.”

Pro-life?  What about Ms. Cox’ life?  Oh … that doesn’t have value, does it?

I don’t yet know how this will play out, but I know that if I lived in Texas, I would be giving some serious thought to relocating to a different state, preferably one that recognizes that in this, the 21st century, women have rights equal to men!  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr …

It seems that two of the most dishonest ‘men’ in the media today met up at an outhouse somewhere deep in the woods …

Their purpose?  Apparently to trade lies, from the transcript I partly-read of their conversation.  Don’t even bother to look for it … it’s not worth your time, but I thought the picture was worth a thousand words!

Is anyone surprised that the latest rankings show Florida students are posting some of the lowest SAT scores in America?  Gee … you don’t think it could have something to do with all the banning of books, the whitewashing of history, and the refusal to allow teaching of anything that doesn’t promote white, Christian, straight society, do you?

From an article in the Orlando Sentinel …

New rankings show Florida students are posting some of the lowest SAT scores in America.

We’re talking 46th place. Down another 17 points overall to 966, according to the combined reading and math scores shared by the College Board.

Florida trails other Southern states like South Carolina and Georgia. We trail states where more students take the test, like Illinois and Indiana.

We somehow now even slightly trail Washington, D.C. — a district long maligned as one of the supposedly worst in America, where all students take the test.

Hmmmm … maybe if the governor and his henchmen stepped back and stopped dictating what can and cannot be taught, Florida schoolchildren might have a chance to learn something?

Okay, that’s enough of my thoughts/snark for now … have a great weekend … do something fun!

Discover more from Filosofa's Word

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

27 thoughts on “Thoughts From The Bouncing Mind …”

  1. Hi. I wanted to leave a comment on Florida’s current attempt to limit schools to a 1950s social environment, with maga kids feeling free to attack LGBTQIA kids or basically any kid who is just slightly different. With republicans in every level of state / federal government trying to force more students into trade schools and away from higher education, because people who get higher well-rounded education tend to be more tolerant / accepting of others. Yet studies have shown that people without an education tend to support more conservative / oppressive ideology. I wonder if that has anything to do with the current attack by the right on public schools from 1st grad to the highest degrees? The right wants to remove every possible free thought, acceptance, or anything that is not pushed by the current right wing propaganda. As Beau says, “It is just a thought”? Hugs. Scottie

    Liked by 1 person

    • When the governor of the state is openly critical of the LGBTQ community, it’s to be expected that others will be, too. You guys really need to get rid of DeSantis a.s.a.p.! And as re people with lesser education supporting the ‘conservative’ view … I know that’s true, but it doesn’t make a bit of sense! They are the ones who are living paycheck to paycheck, barely able to get their head above water, and the Republican Party is doing absolutely NOTHING to help them, but rather is taking money from them to help bolster the already wealthy corporate honchos. I predict the day will come when Floridians will not be able to find decent jobs outside their state, for Florida will have such a horrible reputation for its system of education, its bigotry and intolerance. I do hope this country turns itself around soon, before the rest of the nation follows the example Florida is setting. Hugs

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Pingback: A Brief Update | Filosofa's Word

  4. The abortion law issue in Texas, in the US really, is upsetting to read about. And stories like the one you share illustrate why.

    The SAT scores story from Florida is not surprising. Very sad though!

    Good luck with your Christmas shopping. I have yet to start. 😆

    Liked by 1 person

    • Sadly, it isn’t only Texas, but most of the states in the southern half of the U.S. and even some in the north have highly restrictive laws about abortion and even birth control. We women are viewed by some as naught but tools for creating babies!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr …

      No, the decline in SAT rankings isn’t at all surprising, but … sad and maddening!

      Thanks, Ab. I’m almost done, just a bit of stocking shopping left for the girls, and gifts for our friends and neighbors who have 3 teenaged boys who I find VERY hard to shop for!!!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. I saw these on news feeds.
    If that lady dies there will be blood on your hands Mr Paxton.
    In the event of such a tragedy I suggest everyone with a sense of outrage lets Paxton know.

    Wow those two look like they good give Wittgenstein or Sartre a run for…..
    The queue at the Starbucks.
    Unless someone had mischievously switched the push and pull signs on the door in which case those two pictured above will still be trying next year.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yep, and it got even worse today, as I wrote this afternoon, when the Texas Supreme Court stepped in to support Paxton’s view. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr …

      Love your comment about Carlson/Jones … wouldn’t that be a hoot!

      Liked by 1 person

      • A mantra I learnt in my teens starting out in H.M Inspector of Taxes…’See these books Mr Jacob,’ these were a book case full of taxation admin and law ‘These are for the guidance of the wise and the adherence of the fool,’
        Seem to be a lot of fools around these days

        Like

  6. Pingback: Thoughts From The Bouncing Mind … | Filosofa’s Word | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  7. Jill, here is the Republican mantra as it appears to me, an independent and former Republican and Democrat.

    don’t do this
    don’t do that
    you can’t read that
    history did not happen like this
    you cannot control your body if you are woman
    you can choose not to serve someone if it offends you, but the reciprocal is not OK
    equal rights mean my rights are more important than yours
    I have the right to own as many repeat shooting weapons as I can afford
    mental health is important until it effects my rights to own above said weapons

    And, so on. Keith

    Liked by 2 people

  8. This is truly, an act of malice toward all women, so, what these, southern, pro-life states are, stating, is that, the lives and health of women, is, worth a hell of a lot less than, the, zygotes (not even called embryos or, fetuses, yet!) they’re, carrying, and, this is officially, giving OUR reproductive rights to, M-E-N, and that’s not just, UNCONSTITUTIONAL, but also, IMMORAL, and, what’s the difference between this and, SLAVERY???

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yes, you’ve hit the nail on the head. We women are far less valuable to Republicans than our male counterparts and we need to periodically be reminded of our ‘place’. My late ex-husband tried that once … only once! Looks like we women are going to have to start teaching the men a few things, eh? I’m not going back to the days when women couldn’t vote, couldn’t own property, and were basically chattel.

      Like

  9. As I went over your list of weighty topics I did a mental check and found Heh, there are 16 shopping days til Christmas. The male mind?
    Kate Cox has reported that she, husband and family are grieving. Mr Paxton is late and Texas has a severe equal justice problem.
    Email me I’ll tell you a story of men and outhouses in the woods.🤣Your picture may tell a bigger story. Hey, my eyes are up here!
    You can’t force them to stay. You don’t have to deal with brain drain to progressive states if there are no brains to drain.
    I’ll be in a hole playing with a sewer, laughing all the way.😁

    Liked by 1 person

    • Mr. Paxton himself is a criminal, under indictment for 1st degree felony charges of securities fraud — a much worse crime, in my book! But alas, he is MAN, so he is of far more value in the eyes of Texas society, I suppose. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr …

      Um, I think I would rather not hear your story of men and outhouses, if it’s all the same to you! It might give me nightmares, and I have enough of those as it is!

      Have fun in your hole playing with the sewer!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Poor dtudents in Florida — it isn’t their fault, but it 8sn’t likely to 8mprove soon. Imagine the coming workforce once these kids start graduating. But I guess that is what Duh‐Sanitizer wants, people who won’t know how to work. But I bet they’ll know how to make babies…

    As for Paxton, and Texas, they need a dose of reality. If this woman, or any other, dies or is adversely affected by laws against abortions, i hope he is charged with 1st degree murder, or other appropriate charges.

    Liked by 3 people

    • No, it isn’t their fault, and they don’t likely understand what they are missing. But, a decade from now, employers across the U.S. will ask the question: “Where did you go to school?” And if the answer is “Florida” … guess who likely won’t get the competitive jobs? They will be reduced to pumping gas, washing dishes and selling shoes for a living. Not, mind you, that there is anything wrong with any of those jobs, but they’re not the kind of job that’s going to support a family, buy a home, or provide a comfortable life.

      Like you, I hope that Paxton … and now the Texas Supreme Court, as well … pay a hefty price for what they are doing, but it’s doubtful. Paxton has been indicted on 1st degree felony charges of securities fraud, but still hasn’t gone to trial … like Trump, he keeps finding ways to keep from going to trial. He seems to be made of Teflon. Remember he was impeached earlier this year, but the Texas Senate refused to convict, so he got to keep his job. Apparently he is far more important than the life of a mere woman … GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR …

      Like

Comments are closed.