Category Archives: Social commentary

Good People Doing Good Things – Habitat for Humanity AND Jimmy Carter

Posted on by under Good people doing good things, History, Social commentary, Tributes

I first wrote this post back in July 2017, and just reduxed it in October 2023 in honour of Jimmy Carter’s 99th birthday.  Even so, I think it deserves one more redux today, as the nation … nay, the world … mourns a decent and honourable man who died last Sunday.  One of Jimmy Carter’s pet projects in his post-presidency years was Habitat for Humanity.  Until the last year or two, Mr. Carter could be found wearing his toolbelt around his waist and happily hammering nails into wood to provide homes for those in need.

From my 2017 post …

Unless you have been stranded in the Himalayas for the past forty years, you have no doubt heard of Habitat for Humanity.  I could not decide whether this post should be about Habitat for Humanity, or about Jimmy Carter, so I combined the two, as they rather go hand-in-hand.

habitat-4.png

A Brief Bit of History …

Habitat for Humanity traces its roots back to a community farm, Koinonia Farm, on the outskirts of Americus, Georgia circa 1965 when Millard and Linda Fuller, living on the farm, developed the concept of “partnership housing.” The concept centered on those in need of adequate shelter working side by side with volunteers to build decent, affordable houses. The houses would be built at no profit. New homeowners’ house payments would be combined with no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fundraising to create “The Fund for Humanity,” which would then be used to build more homes.

In 1973, the Fullers decided to take the Fund for Humanity concept to Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. After three years of hard work to launch a successful house building program there, the Fullers then returned to the United States and called together a group of supporters to discuss the future of their dream: Habitat for Humanity International, founded in 1976.

Habitat now works in 1,400 communities across the U.S. and in nearly 70 countries and has helped 6.8 million people achieve strength, stability and independence through safe, decent and affordable shelter.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Involvement …

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter became involved with Habitat for Humanity in 1984 and has since become its highest profile proponent. He has been involved in fund-raising and publicity as well as actual homebuilding, taking part in the annual Jimmy Carter Work Project “blitz build”.  The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project is an annual home building blitz organized by Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliates. It generally takes place in the United States one year, and an international location the next. Not only do the Carters organize the project and contribute financially, but Jimmy, now 92 years of age, can often be seen in a hard hat using a hammer and saw!

Jimmy-Carter-2.jpgThis year’s Work Project takes place in Canada, and the plan is to build 150 homes in honour of Canada’s 150th anniversary.  The event kicked off in Edmonton, where 75 of the homes are being built, 25 more homes in Winnipeg and 50 homes in territories and provinces across Canada.

In addition to the annual week-long building blitz, perhaps the most important contribution Jimmy Carter has made to Habitat for Humanity is his enthusiasm and his name.  Carter has brought in both donations and volunteers and continues to do so.

What They Do and How It Works …

One of the most impressive things about Habitat for Humanity is that it helps people, but it is not charity, they are not simply given a home.  The family in need of affordable housing partners with Habitat, helping build their own home, and even paying an affordable no-interest mortgage.

habitat-6Habitat relies on volunteer labor in order to construct simple and affordable homes with its partner families, as well as to build community and civil society in the areas in which it works. Many churches and other houses of worship (synagogues, temples, mosques etc.) sponsor houses and provide a large amount of the volunteers from their congregations. Some corporations and businesses who value good corporate citizenship provide financial support to the projects and/or donate materials for use in construction. Many politicians and celebrities have volunteered with Habitat, reflecting its profile as a highly regarded non-profit.

But they do much more than simply building a house …

Habitat believes that a family’s success relies, in part, on the dynamics of the neighborhood, so they will often help with neighborhood re-vitalization and even help fix up neighbors’ homes. There is also a disaster response program to provide shelter assistance, education, training and partnerships to the affected individuals who find themselves in unthinkable situations. And finally they provide financial education services for new homeowners who may not be savvy about financial matters.  The topics include budgeting, credit cards, loans, saving & investing, and credit reports.

habitat-5.jpgThere are also a number of ongoing special programs under the Habitat umbrella:

  • A Brush With Kindness – groups of volunteers help homeowners with exterior maintenance, such as painting, repairs, landscaping, etc.
  • RV Care-A-Vanners – volunteers travel in their personal recreational vehicles, making stops at local Habitat affiliates to assist in house construction and renovations.
  • Women Build – provide an environment in which women can feel comfortable learning construction skills they might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn. Lowe’s is a major sponsor and underwriter of Women Build, and has generously supported each National Women Build Week. In addition to competitive grant opportunities, Lowe’s offers a series of free how-to clinics for U.S. Women Build affiliates.
  • Youth Programs – a variety of youth programs aimed at teaching the value of helping others are aimed mainly at kids 16 years of age and up, but one program, Youth United, engages children as young as five years old, though they cannot actually be on a building site.

One Family’s Story …

Sitting in front of the Habitat Charlotte home he helped build for his family, Mario reflects on what a decent place to live and an affordable mortgage has made possible for him. He feels like a better father.

And More …

Habitat for Humanity has partnered with energy companies, such as Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to provide solar grids for some homes, saving the homeowner up to 85% on their electric bills, while helping protect the environment. They are planning to expand this initiative in the future.

There is much more that Habitat does around the globe, such as working in under-developed countries to help find ways to provide improved sanitation.  But alas, it would take a book, and this is a mere, humble blog post.  I suggest you visit the Habitat for Humanity website  to learn more about this excellent organization.

But the real story here is not the organization … it is the people who volunteer their time, who donate money and materials.  Those are the ‘everyday heroes’, the people who have learned that we are all a part of the same race, the human race, and have come to understand that we are all on this planet together.

R.I.P. Jimmy Carter.  You were a good man — one of the best — and you will be missed by many.

About Those New Year’s Resolutions …

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, cartoons, Holidays, Humour, Personal, Social commentary

Speaking of New Year’s resolutions … the surest way for me NOT to do something is to make doing it a resolution!  This is why I never make resolutions, but this year I’ll make one  … I resolve not to be snarky anymore!  (If you believe I’m even capable of that one, I’ve got a beautiful bridge in Brooklyn for sale cheap!)  So, I guess I better get some last-minute snarky in now, while I can, eh?  😉

…

🤔

…

On second thought, let me just wish you all a peaceful New Year with the hope that there will be some pleasant surprises along the way.  Keep safe and enjoy time with friends & family tonight and tomorrow!  Here’s a few cartoons to put you in the mood …

Memes To The Rescue!

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, Economic issues, education, History, Holidays, Humour, Political commentary, Racism & Bigotry, Social commentary

There seems to be an abundance of ‘stuff’ floating around in my mind today … snippets of this, that, and the other, none of which form a full and coherent thought, but just keep popping up with bits ‘n pieces of thoughts.  In other words, Filosofa’s mind is bouncing again … sigh.

So, since I cannot seem to settle in on a topic, nor even a snarky snippets post that would be read-worthy, how ’bout I share some of the memes I’ve collected over the past week or so?  Hopefully by this afternoon, a coherent thought will form in this old, wrinkled brain!

I think this is my favourite!!!

One of my all-time favourites!

We Shall Miss You, Jimmy …

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, Economic issues, education, Environmental Issues, Global Issues, History, Racism & Bigotry, Social commentary, Tributes

How do you capture the essence of a great man in a few hundred words?  Former President Jimmy Carter died yesterday at the age of 100.  President Carter was so much more than just a former president.  He did not rest on his laurels as some do but continued his efforts to make the world a better place in so many ways … some that I was not even aware of until reading the many, many tributes and articles online last night and this morning.  I concluded that many had done a better job than any I could do, so today I would like to share Dan Rather’s tribute to one of the greatest humanitarians of our lifetime …

Jimmy Carter, 1924-2024

A man of honesty

By Dan Rather

29 December 2024

Today we have lost a singular figure in American history. The world has lost a tireless advocate for peace, hope, and healing. There has never been a president or a former president quite like Jimmy Carter. 

One-term presidents have been the exception in American history, each with their own story. Carter’s was one of an unlikely rise to power, an uncommon set of attributes for a politician, and an unprecedented dedication to the service of others.

The conventional wisdom about Carter is that he was an ineffectual president but a formidable ex-president. The latter is surely justified, but I think the first part of that analysis is misplaced, or at least in need of revision. Carter had his struggles, blind spots, and failures. But in the decades since he left office, as the inevitable din of the news cycles that consumed his administration drifted away, we can see a level of accomplishment that warrants a better reputation.

Carter was far ahead of his time on many issues, especially the environment. He was an early advocate for green energy and energy conservation, famously installing solar panels on the White House. Imagine where the world would be today if it had followed his lead instead of mocking him. 

Carter led in a number of other areas, too. He was an early ally to what was then called the gay rights movement. Trained as a naval engineer on nuclear submarines, he realized that technology could transform our military and set out to do it. He recognized that America could be a leader for human rights around the world. He championed consumer protection and created the Department of Education to expand federal support for schools. He helped broker peace between Israel and Egypt. 

His shortcomings were coupled with strengths. He was a tireless worker who could get lost in minutiae instead of seeing the big picture. He never embraced or liked the necessities of backroom Washington dealmaking, which undermined his effectiveness. The American people seemed to like him a lot as a person but came to feel that he was overwhelmed by the requirements of his job. 

Many of the headwinds Carter faced were a result of an elemental character trait: honesty. He told people what he thought, often without a filter. It’s a quality that the business of politics doesn’t usually reward, and often punishes. 

In August 1980, right before the Democratic National Convention where Carter faced a primary challenge for reelection from Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, I sat down with the president and his wife, Rosalynn, for what became a full episode of “60 Minutes.” We touched on a wide range of subjects that were top of mind for the day: the drama within the Democratic Party, the president’s sinking poll numbers, the Soviet incursion into Afghanistan, the boycott of the Moscow Olympics, and even the political embarrassments caused by the business actions of the president’s brother, Billy. One exchange stands out more than any other. 

I asked him to grade himself on his time in office. Though I expected candor, I was surprised by just how honest he was. 

On foreign policy, he gave himself a “B or C plus.” He eventually settled on a B minus. 

On overall domestic policy, he said, “Under the circumstances, I think about a B, the actual results may be a C.”

“I don’t want to be held on account of those scores,” Carter told me with a smile and a laugh. “I’ll see what the American people say.” A few months later the American people spoke. Carter was on his way back to Georgia.

That time with President Carter was a remarkable conversation. And I remember thinking that of all the politicians I had ever interviewed, and certainly the ones who had risen to that level of power, almost every other person would have given a very different set of answers. How do you ask the American people to reelect you when you’re giving yourself Cs?

I have reflected on this interview often over the decades, and especially in recent days. What an unusual person to become president. 

Carter was not only honest, he was smart. He was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served with the Navy’s elite nuclear forces. A self-proclaimed man of faith, Carter would also score high on knowledge of the Bible. 

Many point to the work Carter did in the more than four decades since leaving the White House as his greatest legacy, and with good reason. He wrote numerous books, including political memoirs, poetry, and children’s literature. He worked as a diplomat in places like Israel, North Korea, and Taiwan. He founded the Carter Center in 1982. For his work there on eradicating disease, advancing human rights, and improving the quality of life for people in more than 80 countries, he received the Nobel Peace Prize. He helped build thousands of homes with Habitat for Humanity — and I mean build. I saw him up on ladders hammering two-by-fours in his 80s.

Today we celebrate a life of service and mourn a leader who tried his best. He loved this nation. He cared for this world with unbounded empathy and heart. We are all better because he served. His was a life well lived.

A Break From The Snarky

Posted on by under education, Global Issues, History, Humour, Racism & Bigotry, Social commentary

I was fully prepared to share more of my trademark snark this afternoon when I came across something on the Jon S. Randal Peace Page that brought a smile to both my face and my heart.  It took only a few moments to decide that just this time, I’d rather bring a smile than a scowl, so here is the post that made me smile, and I hope it brings a smile to your face, too.

He was born the day after Christmas, one week before the new year.

Growing up, he was bullied. Students in his high school, according to the New York Times, spread rumors that he “played with dolls,” he recalled. “I was so hurt, I was so angry, I looked out the window with tears burning in my eyes.”

As an adult, he wanted to teach children compassion. His themes were simple: that it was good to speak up, okay to make a mistake, all right to be sad sometimes.

He also almost flew in the Challenger Shuttle, which exploded in 1986.

Some days he can stand 8 feet tall, other days he could be found living in a garbage can.

In 2012, he became a hero after a presidential candidate declared he would fire him and all his friends.

His name is Caroll Spinney.

But, most people know him as Big Bird or Oscar the Grouch.

This is a reshare of a favorite story on the Peace Page, with, of course, new information.

~~~

“For nearly a half century, [Caroll Spinney opened] magic doors for children on the secrets of growing up and the gentle arts of friendship,” according to writer Robert D. McFadden.

He “portrayed the sweet-natured, canary-yellow giant bird and the misanthropic, furry-green bellyacher in the trash can outside 123 Sesame Street.”

Caroll Edwin Spinney was born on December 26, 1933 in Waltham, Massachusetts. He was named “Caroll” because he was born the day after Christmas.

When Sesame Street was just starting, Jim Henson recruited Spinney to play Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.

“Big Bird, an 8-foot, 2-inch, flightless-bird that may or may not be a canary, made his way onto television screens in November 1969 with his debut on ‘Sesame Street,’ the children’s educational series on PBS,” according to writer Dallas Gagnon.

“For 55 years, Big Bird has been portrayed as reflective, thoughtful and sensitive to the feelings of others,” according to Sesame Street Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street.

He possesses a “childlike innocence and great empathy for everyone on Sesame Street,” and “understands what it means to be a good friend.”

~~~

Big Bird became so popular that NASA asked whether Big Bird could be a passenger on the doomed Challenger flight as a way to get more children interested in science, but the logistics of fitting in an 8 foot tall bird was difficult. NASA instead sent Christa McAuliffe, a teacher from Concord, New Hampshire.

In 2012, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made the mistake of declaring that he would cancel funding for PBS despite admitting he “loved Big Bird.” Before long, Big Bird’s fans held signs declaring that Romney supported Wall Street more than Sesame Street.

Spinney appeared on thousands of episodes — more than any other cast member — during his 49 years on the show.

“Caroll was an artistic genius whose kind and loving view of the world helped shape and define Sesame Street from its earliest days . . . and his legacy here at Sesame Workshop and in the cultural firmament will be unending,” the Sesame Workshop said.”His enormous talent and out-sized heart were perfectly suited to playing the larger-than-life yellow bird who brought joy to generations of children and countless fans of all ages around the world, and his lovably cantankerous grouch gave us all permission to be cranky once in a while.”

Big Bird received a star on Hollywood Boulevard on April 21, 1994. Spinney was in attendance.

Debra Spinney told MassLive one of her personal goals is to get Caroll Spinney his own Hollywood star, as “the person doesn’t have a star on Hollywood Boulevard, Big Bird does.”

“I’ve gotten used to the fact that Big Bird’s super famous and I’m a nobody,” Spinney told Yankee magazine in 2010.

On Dec. 8, 2019, Spinney passed away in Woodstock, Conn. at age 85.

“He was beautiful outside and inside,” Caroll Spinney’s wife, Debra Spinney, told MassLive. “He knew how to love so well and this is where Big Bird came from.”

Spinney said although Big Bird was the character everyone came to know and love, it was Spinney’s soul that inhabited the Muppet.

A Nation That Lost Its Perspective

Posted on by under Economic issues, Political commentary, Racism & Bigotry, Social commentary

A lot of thoughts seem to be bouncing around in my mind today.  I look at our fridge still filled with leftovers from our Christmas dinner with our dear friends, Maha & Ali, and then I see pictures of children in Gaza and Ukraine – scared, hungry, no place to turn, no place to live – and I feel guilty for having too much when so many have none.  Even here, in a nation that prides itself as a wealthy nation, the homeless rate increased in the last year by 18%, while the wealth of a very few increased by billions of dollars.  Did those few do anything to help the homeless and the hungry?  No, they did not.

And then, as I pondered the injustices in the world today, I read about the latest squabbles among what is known as the “maga cult”, or the crop of clowns who will soon sit in positions of “leadership” in our government.  Elon Musk, who will have no official title in the government, is an egotistical maniac who truly thinks – maybe he’s right, or maybe not, time will tell – that he bought himself the head seat in the Oval Office come January 20th.  Elon has one goal and only one goal – to make more money, even though he is currently ranked the most wealthy person on the planet.

Now, ol’ Elon owns a number of tech companies through which he makes more billions of dollars every year.  He wants to have exclusive permission to hire migrants from India – not just any migrants, mind you, only those with advanced degrees in the technology fields who could help Elon’s businesses.  Last week, Elon’s partner in crime, Vivek Ramaswamy, claimed publicly that Americans are too stupid to fill those high-level tech positions, and thus Elon’s companies needed to import smarter people from India.  And that started the battle.  The racist right-arm of the Republican Party didn’t appreciate being called ‘stupid’ and they went to war against Vivek & Elon.  It devolved into quite a fight, which I won’t go into now, for it’s not worth my time, but suffice it to say that I see a rift starting in maga world.

Long story short, Elon is pushing to be allowed to import what would basically be slave labour under what is known as an H1B visa, a nonimmigrant visa that allows foreign nationals to work in the United States for a temporary period in a specialty occupation. The far-right wing of the Republican Party is against any person coming to this country who doesn’t have lily-white skin and go to the right church, so people like Trump’s hanger-on Laura Loomer were incensed.  And here is how Elon responded late Friday night to the pushback:

My jaw dropped.  This sorry excuse for a ‘man’ is going to be a top-level advisor to Felon Trump in just 22 days?  He is going to be the one who tells Felon Trump where costs should be cut???  I simply have no words for this horrendous attack on the people of this country.

This, my friends, is what we can expect for the next four years.  Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless???  Hell NO, our government is only going to be eating their own as they bicker over stupid shit like this!   Interestingly, Donnie Felon Trump has been strangely silent throughout this melee.

A few facts:

  • There are plenty of people in the U.S. who are well-qualified to fill the positions in Mr. Musk’s company. His issue is that they demand higher wages than the migrants from India.  It costs him more to hire Americans.  Full Stop.
  • ALL immigrants have value to this country … they bring skills, culture, and are willing to work hard as they strive for a better life for their families. I fully support immigration from all countries and across all economic, social, and religious groups.  It is unconscionable to only encourage immigrants with post-graduate degrees!!!  It is snobbery and arrogance taken to new levels!
  • If Elon Musk gave just 10% of his wealth to the poor every year, he would still be uber-wealthy and he could almost completely eradicate hunger world-wide. But no … he hoards every penny and is the single best example of a reverse Robin Hood that I’ve ever known of.

Enough is enough is enough already.  If Tesla and SpaceX are more important to the powers-that-be in this country than feeding and housing those in need, then frankly I hope both of those companies go bankrupt within the coming year!  Technology has a place in today’s world, but it should NEVER be considered more important than our lives!!!  I wish somehow Musk would lose every last dime of his money, and Trump & Ramaswamy as well.  This nation has taken a giant step backward since 2016, and is preparing to take another in 22 days.  I’m already sick and damned tired of this circus and the clowns haven’t even arrived yet!

There Is NO Middle Ground

Posted on by under Election 2024, Free Press Issues, History, Political commentary, Social commentary

Harry Litman is … well, many things.  He is a lawyer, a professor, a former U.S. Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General, a political analyst, and until recently, the Senior Legal Columnist for the LA Times.  He resigned from the Times in protest over LA Times‘ leadership currying favor with Trump to the detriment of truth and honour.

Mr. Litman recently started a Substack column to which I have subscribed, and his latest post is thought-provoking and informative (eye-opening) and I think it needs to be shared.  He begins by talking a bit about his resignation from the LA Times …

No Middle Ground

Reflections on My Resignation from the LA Times Three Weeks Later

By Harry Litman

27 December 2024

Three weeks ago, I explained in these pages why I was leaving my position as senior legal editor at the LA Times. The response has been far stronger than I anticipated. Many of you shared thoughtful comments and subscribed to the Substack, and coverage of the resignation appeared in unexpected places.

The resignation ordinarily would have been a non-event, but it happened to catch a wave at a critical point in history for both our media and our politics. The wave is powered in part by deep concern over where Trump is already taking the country and in part by deep disquiet over the apparent capitulation to it within traditional media organizations.

I think we are in a fairly dark spot as a country, so I want to begin with the silver lining of your amazing response. The Substack is quite young, but it feels as if I’ve stumbled into a fantastic community of patriots who are eager to engage and push back against authoritarianism however they can. It’s hard not to feel crestfallen—or exhausted—in the wake of the election. But it’s clear that many people are resolved to dust themselves off and get back in the fight. I’m immensely grateful to have connected with so many of you who share this resolve and determined, for my part, to live up to your support.

Two things seemed clear at the time, and they have only gotten clearer since. The first is that we are watching a genuine crisis play out in real time as Trump moves to break down the constitutional and cultural protections against authoritarianism. The majority of the country doesn’t seem to share that alarm, which is deeply disappointing but only increases the urgency.

The second is that Trump’s successful attacks on a series of critical guardrails make it all the more crucial for media to fulfill its traditional role as vigorous defenders of the public’s right to know.

That means, at a bare minimum, distinguishing between truth and falsity—or, more to the point, calling out the lies that escape Trump’s lips on an hourly basis. It is media’s bedrock responsibility to point out that the emperor has no clothes and ignore the chirping of his courtiers about how well-dressed he is.

That urgency doesn’t diminish as Trump adds to his landspeed record for lies by a president. The country has never experienced such a steady diet of falsehoods as Trump supplies. Sometimes it feels as if his lies are ignored because they are so constant, or they’re dismissed as “just Trump being Trump.” But that’s a dangerous non sequitur. The 1,001st lie is no less false—and possibly more damaging to the country—and it’s no less important to call it out.

The news from just the last few weeks sharpens the concerns. Without dragging the LA Times through the mud again, a quick report of recent developments demonstrates that the project of placating Trump is in full bloom in El Segundo, where the paper now publishes. The owner reportedly blocked an editorial that was critical of Trump; he then insisted on reviewing drafts of any editorials about him; he ordered that editorials critical of Trump (but not other topics) be accompanied by favorable ones; and most recently, he issued an edict against writing about Trump at all.

It’s clear that the forced friendliness to Trump can’t be defended as a course correction or an epiphany about Trump’s policies. Going easy on Trump means going easy on lies. The owner has declared (on Fox News, in fact) that the paper’s coverage will be more “fair and balanced,” but nobody has pointed to any inaccurately negative reporting that calls out for revision. The rebalancing is just a euphemism for an artificial increase in coverage that placates Trump, accuracy (and public awareness) be damned.

Trump’s menacing gestures toward media to make nice or face his wrath is no great surprise. In fact, it’s directly out of the authoritarian playbook. But it is a profound disappointment that media has begun to fall in line.

Compare the way the press stepped up during Watergate in the face of direct threats from the White House. John Mitchell, Nixon’s Attorney General, famously warned the Washington Post in response to its aggressive reporting that “Katie Graham’s [the Post’s publisher] tit is gonna get caught in a wringer.” But the Post didn’t buckle, and along with other outlets, it played perhaps the principal role in forcing Nixon’s resignation.

The post-election response to Trump’s victory on the part of some of the country’s most prominent outlets revealed a structural weakness most of us hadn’t previously contemplated: vulnerability to Trump’s pressure based on corporate holdings apart from the news organization itself. That’s part of an overall difficult trend in journalism—big cable players and most of the largest newspapers are part of umbrella corporate consortiums with multiple holdings. The owners of the Washington Post and LA Times, unlike many more struggling media organizations, have the financial wherewithal to fight back against Trump’s influence, but they have their other holdings to worry about, which may have competing interests.

This was the takeaway lesson of the ABC settlement, which shifted the power balance between Trump and the media one more notch in Trump’s direction. It’s near certain that ABC would have vigorously fought the defamation case Trump brought against it and George Stephanopoulos anytime in the last 50 years until a few months ago. But the sweetheart settlement was decided in the boardroom of Walt Disney, a massive entertainment conglomerate, which, like every other company, is figuring out how to make its way with a new boss in town.

You can be certain that every smaller outlet in the country took notice of the conduct of the big players and wondered if they could afford to be on the front guard in the media pushback against Trump, when one defamation suit—even meritless—could ruin them.

But if the hope is that a modicum of capitulation will induce him to play nice, legacy media is kidding itself. Trump’s goodwill lasts only until the latest perceived slight. The most recent case in point: Trump’s preposterous lawsuit against the Des Moines Register for publishing a poll that, as it turned out, understated his eventual support in Iowa. The lawsuit has nothing to do with recovering damages—there are none—and everything to do with bringing the press to heel and making them shy away from truthful negative coverage.

These developments are alarming, but they are also clarifying. The primary lesson they drive home is that the survival of democratic rule in this country is intimately tied to truthful reporting. That may mean looking to new sources of reporting that are fully independent. They are out there, and this Substack will remain one. It’s a lot easier to be scrappy when there’s no boardroom to answer to.

Calling out lies—and there’s always a lie to call out where Trump’s power-mongering is concerned—is a journalist’s perennial first responsibility. But I think more is required of the media in our current straits. That is not to capitulate to assaults on democratic norms. Daily life feels largely unchanged, and it can be hard to appreciate the import of Trump’s constitutional abuses as they are happening. So it’s urgent for people with a platform to sound the alarm, and sound it again and again. It feels like a somewhat upstream impulse when Trump is getting a pass—or at least indifference—from many quarters for his baldly authoritarian maneuvers. No matter: this is a time for choosing. It’s Trump or truth, and Trump or constitutional rule. There is no “fair and balanced” middle ground.

Keep The Regulations — Get Rid Of The Billionaires!!!

Posted on by under Economic issues, education, Environmental Issues, History, Political commentary, Racism & Bigotry, Social commentary, technology

A week ago, Elon Musk posted on Twitter:

“Shifting people from the government sector, which is low productivity, to the private sector, which is high productivity, results in greatly increased prosperity.  Deregulation helps tremendously too.”

Shortly thereafter, Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos replied:

“Both of these are correct and the first is widely under appreciated.”

Both of these men are billionaires who have literally never in their lives done anything to help the poor, but who hoard every dollar they get their hands on, who live lives of luxury so high up in their ivory towers that they do not even see the 90% of us who work our entire lives in order to provide the wherewithal for their lifestyles.  Two days before that Twitter post, they had dined together with Felon Trump at Mar-a-Lago.  Both have contributed massively to Felon Trump’s campaign fund and now to his inaugural fund.

The first part of Elon’s statement, the part about “shifting people from the government sector … to the private sector …” would ensure a number of things.  It would ensure that there would be no more equality in hiring or in pay.  Corporations would do an even better job than they already do at keeping minorities, women, and the LGBTQ community at the bottom of the economic scale.  But for today, I want to focus on the second part of Elon’s statement about ‘deregulation’.

Let’s think about what some of those regulations that these two wealthy bastards want to get rid of actually do.  They ensure that companies provide a safe working environment for their employees.  They ensure against companies exploiting child labour.  They ensure that the products we purchase and use are safe.  They ensure that the food we eat is safe.  They ensure that our children are protected from preventable childhood diseases like polio, diphtheria, and more.  They attempt to prevent price-gouging by corporations, though that isn’t always successful.  They ensure that when you step onto an airplane, that plane has been maintained and inspected for ultimate safety. They ensure that women, Black people, Native Americans, Asians, Hispanics all have equal access to education, jobs, housing, and more.  They ensure that our children receive an education that will help them, when they reach adulthood, have lives a little better than our own.  And those are only a few of the humanitarian reasons that we have and need those regulations that are so hated by the Musk/Trump/Bezos trio.

And then there are the one most hated by a large portion of the oligarchs today:  environmental regulations.  People … climate change is real … it is not a ‘hoax’ as some would like you to believe.  And it is closing in on us because we have not taken it seriously.  It’s easy for Elon or Jeff to sit in their ivory towers with the air purified and cooled or heated to the perfect temperature, all the lights on, puff on their $1,000 cigars, and call it a hoax.  But for those of us who live normal lives in everyday, average homes, we feel the effects of the shifting environment.  We have turned down our thermostats and put on a sweater in the winter.  We don’t turn on more lights than we need.  We use energy efficient appliances.  We walk down the street to the trash bin rather than drive the car.  We drive energy-efficient cars.

Meanwhile, Elon, Donnie, and Jeff want to remove the regulations on the mining of coal and drilling of oil & gas, so that the fossil fuel billionaires can add even more billions of dollars to their coffers while a certain catastrophe is looming.  They’re not so stupid that they don’t believe in the predictions of the climate scientists – they just don’t care.  They don’t care if those of us without benefit of their ivory towers struggle to breathe, lose our homes to flooding or massive storms, cannot afford food because of its scarcity once droughts become widespread, or have no potable water to drink.

I suggest that if they are so gung-ho to get rid of regulations they don’t like, then We the People should get rid of one regulation in return and stop paying taxes that help them keep their great wealth.  I would love to have the voice, the wherewithal, to start a massive tax rebellion from coast to coast in this nation, but I don’t.  I can only hope that someone with a voice louder than mine comes up with a plan to hit the fascist oligarchs where it hurts.

Elon Musk net worth:  $454.1 billion

Jeff Bezos net worth:  $242.3 billion

Felon Trump net worth:  $6.2 billion

Happy Boxing Day!!! (An Annual Tradition)

Posted on by under animals, Bits 'n Pieces, Global Issues, Holidays, Social commentary

I’ve been somewhat under the weather for the past several days, and the hustle & bustle of Christmas didn’t help, so I was planning to take tonight off and not do a morning post, despite my earlier promise to be back this morning.  But then, just as I was about to head up the stairs to bed, I remembered that today is Boxing Day!  I couldn’t miss that, now could I?  This Boxing Day post has become somewhat of an annual tradition here at Filosofa’s Word since the first one back in 2017!  Since then I have added to it as readers updated my knowledge & understanding of the holiday!  While we don’t have Boxing Day here in the U.S. and most people are back at work today, I think it’s a fun idea and I like the origins of it!  So … Happy Boxing Day to all my friends in Canada and across the big pond!  Enjoy your football games and/or shopping!  (Also … my apologies to those whose comments I have not answered … time and health constraints have put me way behind, but know that I have read and appreciated all your comments over the past few days, even when I have not responded.)

BoxingNo no no no no … not that kind of boxing!  Boxing Day is on December 26th, the day after Christmas, and it is a bank holiday in the UK and Canada.  A brief bit about the origins of Boxing Day …

There are a few competing stories for the origin of the name, and while none are definitive, the one that seems most commonly accepted is that the day after Christmas was when servants of the wealthy were given time off to visit their family, as they were needed to work on Christmas Day. Each servant would be given a box to take home with food, a bonus and gifts. In Britain, it was a custom for tradespeople to collect “Christmas boxes” of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year.

boxing-day

Now, that said, a couple of years ago our friend rawgod gave me his explanation of the Canadian celebration of Boxing Day, at least in his household as a child …

“Each year an xmas tree was brought to the house, often on xmas eve. All the decorations were brought out of storage, and hung to decorate the tree. In those days baubles were not made of plastic, but rather blown glass. They were very delicate, and much too easily broken, as my poor bum learned every year. Moving on, the tree was the centrepiece of our home xmas day, and the next day, we put all the unbroken decorations into their special boxes so they could survive to the next xmas. By suppertime everything was boxed, and stored–thus Boxing Day.”

And this is what my house looks like on this Boxing Day!boxing-day

So how do our friends up north and across the big pond celebrate Boxing Day?  I went ‘in search of …’ and came up with some fun things, though I strongly suspect that most people spend the day recuperating from Christmas.  Let’s look at a few …

There is an annual barrel rolling race in Grantchester, Cambridgeshire

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Until 2004 when the UK imposed a ban on fox-hunting, it used to be a tradition on Boxing Day.  A couple of years ago, Colette commented that legal or not, fox-hunting …

“As for fox hunting (despite tradition, I hate it), it still occurs. Meets go out following scent trails by people sent up ahead. The hounds are supposed to follow that and eventually find the people. Horses follow. But the hounds very often find real foxes which they tear to shreds if found. I am opposed to this horrific practice. The whole industry (and it is a lucrative industry) is a travesty akin to Bear Baiting or Cock Fighting, both long outlawed in Britain.”

Boxing-Day-2.jpgI understand that sports are big on boxing day, with horse racing and football.  But remember that what they call ‘football’ is actually what we in the U.S. refer to as soccer.  I asked one of my friends across the pond once, when he mentioned ‘football’ if he was referring to the kind with an ovoid pigskin ball where large people try to kill one another, or the kind that is played with a geometric-patterned black & white ball.  I was informed in no uncertain terms that he was referring to ‘real’ football and that what we called football was but a cheap knock-off. I never made that mistake again!

soccerAnd then there is shopping.  One article I read compared Boxing Day shopping with Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, in the U.S.  Apparently all the stores have huge sales.  But my question here is … who has any money after Christmas?

shoppingAnd so, to our friends across the big pond, however you spend Boxing Day, I hope it is a fun and/or relaxing day for you!  Happy Boxing Day!!!

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