Is There A Solution To The Divide In America?

 Let's examine some solutions. 

l.  Let the majority rule and just let it go with the minority in anguish.  This really has been our status quo and likely will lead to another divide crisis as we had leading to both the Revolutionary and the Civil Wars which solved nothing on a long term basis.

2. Lets just have another Civil War.  That solved nothing because the Revolutionary War led to our  Constitution which ignored the divide as well as an era of semi-forgiveness for the losers of the Civil War which allowed them to oppress the freed slaves in Reconstruction, which led to segregation oppressing millions.  The losers fought back to reinstall both authoritarianism and create or ignore policies intended to either control the losers or empower them as a minority of the electorate. And, the oppressed slaves and their successors continued to suffer oppression.  Abolishing slavery did not end the conflict.....it just delayed the rebellion of the opponents of democracy for what was a pretty good 250 years for white Americans, not so good for non-white Americans.  I think there is little chance that citizens of red states will invade blue states to convert them to their living with red state inferior metrics in humane treatment, medical services or education.  This is the story liberals have to tell....the better life metrics enjoyed in blue states.....that argument stops all but the most ardent racists in their tracks.  The racists want civil war to punish blue state leaders and citizens for trying to bring people of color and immigrants into their standard of life.  Fortunately, the racists are badly outnumbered and soon will be subjected to minority status by liberals, immigrants and people of color.

3. Lets have a national conference on government/economic reforms to reach a consensus on solutions to the divide.  We appear not to have consensus on the roots of the divide.......our economic system which allows gross inequality and power held by the more affluent, or our core values about equality of people, irrespective of ethnicity or gender or sexual orientation, or the role of religion in a democratic society and the rights of people to not be forced to adopted a particular set of religious beliefs, or the role of our National government in protecting the rights of individuals to live their lives lawfully without restrictions on their liberty, or the role of citizens to assist one another in a democracy, or whether a democracy is our preferred system of social organization vs. authoritarianism, or the elements of a democracy as originally set forth in the values expressed in our founding and amended constitution and bill of rights.  These issues are a tall order that a single conference likely is not able to address.......it will take many such conferences over an extended period.....which our representative government was designed to facilitate through legislative action and legal opinion respected by all, but has not succeeded in facilitating.

4. Regulate our media, especially social media to limit or restrict conflict while maintain free expression of opinions/beliefs.  Clearly, before the advent of social media or for that matter, conventional print media in our early founding years,  conflict and disagreement did not have the numerous outlets for expression as we have today.  Disagreement was suppressed and the appearance of consensus of agreement on public issues was an illusion.  These disagreements on values and public aspirations were always present, just seldom and minimally expressed. In this regard, there were fewer outlets for distribution of lies, erroneous opinions and "alternative facts," misinformation, propaganda and slander.  There is unlimited opportunity today for all of these sources of conflict and division.

There is substantial research that there are varying degrees of preference for authoritarianism and or presence of  tolerance and benevolence according to how people are genetically wired and impacted by upbringing and social environment.  Old fashioned religion would characterize these as good and evil.  Maybe evolution and improved social order will rectify this divide, but likely no time soon.  Greed and generosity are learned values, are they not?  

5. Let's have a national reconciliation process.  Maybe then what we need is a national initiative to create a set of values that can be shared by people with all kind of personalities and makeups.  It should include thought leaders, clergy, physicians, psychologists and counselors, philosophers and locally elected leaders from government and commerce in public community forums and open discussions to face to face facilitate a discussion among us citizens to explore solutions and explore our shared values.  This will take time and lots of effort and an abundance of goodwill from many of us.  Yes, and social media can play a role with facilitator of forums of open discussion without animosity, in fact, with animosity prohibited.  We have too few venues for such exchanges and they should  grossly outnumber tribal discussion groups which I find myself deeply engaged with.  But they should be extensions of the public gatherings to avoid devolving into conflict. 

I opt for all but #2, led by liberals/Democrats after massive re-democratizing elections in 2022 and 2024 powered by a rejuvenated Democratic Party at all levels, putting restoring democracy and defeating authoritarian/trumpian fascism with Marshall plan funding by the Party.  Why? Because, on balance who the hell wants to live like those in our reddest states and in third world authoritarian countries around the globe.  We have fast diminishing chance to save humanity from fossil fuel induced global warming and this is our best hope.  And liberals have the best and improving handle on humane governance and economic fairness, pure and simple, hands down. And we also have a handle on global warming to save all of humanity, including the fools opposing its solutions.

All you have to do is look at the alternative that James Carville calls the Party of the Weird.  He and we Democrats align with normality,  truth and reason.  Who the hell wants to live with goofy conspiracy crap, lies, inhumane treatment of some among us and irrationality?  We believe in the perfectibility of humankind and are willing to take our chances on future relapses by the weird among us. 

Julie's Flag

Julie’s Flag

 

Julie and I share the value of patriotism.  We also share our mutual distress at the erosion of civic pride in our very unique, though flawed democracy. 

She has observed to me that she is not going to let the authoritarian American right have exclusive right to flag waving.  She is going to own her share of it.

So, since I’ve been her partner, she has owned a large American flag and has displayed it routinely on significant patriotic holiday.

Lately though, she has brought the flag out, lovingly folded in a triangle and hung it on our porch overlooking Wilmington Delaware. 

This simple act of an activist, dedicated American, my life partner moves me every time she does this which is, if not daily, very, very often.

I treasure the fact her father served our nation, as did I and my father and his father.  The latter volunteering for Army service as officers during WWI, WWII, Korea and during the Viet Nam era.  Notwithstanding Julie’s and my work as anti-war activists during Vietnam and Iraq/Afg.

It so moves me that this brilliant woman and devoted spouse, mother and grandmother will not let the right own patriotism and displays of dedication to our democracy so under threat of extinction and sabotage by forces of authoritarianism and fascism.  It so moves me when she often chokes up when the pledge of allegiance is said or the national anthem is played.

I am so proud of her leadership in a women’s activist group promoting democracy here in Delaware starting with the Women’s March in 2017 to rise up against the authoritarian elected by our Electoral College to undermine women’s and American’s rights. 

She’s a fighter and lover of freedom for all.

 

Here's A Crazy Idea-An Ununited State for Authoritarians

Clearly, the democracy consensus in America is broken. I'm struggling for an idea as to how to rebuild a democracy consensus.  But here is an idea to liberate us from these crazies who want to destroy the U.S.A. and embrace authoritarianism.  They can even choose Trump as their leader, or Rudy Giuliani, DeSantis or whomever.

Let's allow one or two states to disengage themselves from our democracy and set up a refuge for those hating the liberal democracy we created 250 years ago and want their own thing.

Here is what that would look like.  Their citizens would not be subject to federal law and regulation.  They can pollute freely as long as it does not impact neighboring states.  They can embrace racism,   reinstalling something like Jim Crow.  Let them outlaw homosexuality and sex confirmation procedures.  They can install a state religion and require adherence to its tenets, be they protestant, catholic or whatever the rulers choose.  They can abolish all regulation and taxation and rely on voluntary contributions to run the government services, if their rulers want any such services.  

Healthcare can be totally free market, with care providers charging as they see fit and serving whomever they choose.  Capitalism can be completely free market.  

There would be no public education with families deciding how to educate their children with their own curriculum or unregulated private schools teaching what they want excepting chool curriculum will be provided for them and sanitized to exclude the genocide done on the first Americans, slavery described as happy cotton pickers singing spirituals in the fields and segregation the choice of all involved in society.  Firearms would be totally unregulated with open carry allowed with any form of weapon.

Fire Departments would be private, with a subscription required for service.  Neighborhoods can provide their own voluntary police forces or wealthy people providing private policing for themselves.

There would be a central committee assigned to approve of appropriate conservative content for books. Libraries would contain only those approved books.

Press and news services would be private organizations reporting and disseminating any content they choose with no fact checking or licensing in the case of electronic media, modeled after Fox.

Speech would be monitored and violators expressing liberal or progressive ideas would be charged, tried and incarcerated.

The rulers can choose any form of government organization they wish with no Constitution and can change the form at will.  They rulers would be appointed by the wealthy and deposed as they choose at any time.  There would be no elections, ever.  Military protection from invasion would be provided by private militias.

Grocers and pharmacists can charge anything they choose for products and services. There would be no regulation of the safety of their products.   There would be no public mail services; Fedex et al  would serve this purpose and charge at will, case by case.

There would be no currency; the state can set up its own bitcoin or bartering service.  There would be no retirement funds by employers and citizens would be on their own to provide for their own support.

I'd be open to suggestions on my Facebook page where this would be published as to which states might opt to volunteer for this undemocracy project......Montana, Idaho, Florida, Texas, whatever.

Texas has had a longstanding secession movement.....maybe Abbott or Cruz would like to lead this movement.

Three Books To Read On The Way Out of America's Fascist Distopia

 I've been trying to figure out all this fascist insanity going on.  I've read three books I recommend you read to figure it out with some hope.  The way out first is I think well identified in Thomas M. Nichol's OUR OWN WORST ENEMY.  The way in to where we are I think is best understood by two books written by House Impeachment Managers: MIDNIGHT IN WASHINGTON   by Rep. Adam Schiff and UNTHINKABLE by Rep. Jamie Raskin.

Schiff's book is a  massively chronicled detailing of all the evidence of Trump's betrayal of America in the Ukrainian saga attempting to secure dirt on President  Biden's family for political/campaign advantage and all the players complicit with him in that effort and the integrity filled story of how your Congress worked to secure legitimately secured evidence of that abuse of power.  

Raskin's book reveals massive evidence of Trump's betrayal of the country that enabled all his personal financial success and resulting influence over the gullible among us.  Here the impeachment centered on the Trump lead insurrection effort leading up to, including and continuing after the January 6 attack on democracy, our Capitol and duly elected government leaders.  Raskin identified in this book the three rings of the insurrection.  He details the three rings as the protesters feeding the riot, the outer ring.  The middle ring, the insurrection itself. And the inner ring, the plotters and executors of the first failed Jan. 6 and future planned coups. 

Nichols provides some well researched historical examples of un-engaged citizenry in communities in Italy and Utah and their parallels to the more recent America as we know it with what he describes as clannish self interest and disengagement from civic participation and abandonment of the idea of the common good influenced by libertarianism and our extreme cultural prioritization of individuality over community cooperation.  This trend was identified in the 90's by researchers as cocooning.   The evidence has been clear Nichols observes with our historic low voter participation and a prevailing attitude expressed by  many including my own family members as "fuck politics".

I will not be a spoiler regarding Nichol' solutions.  I want you to join me in reading his book to formulate your own solutions to restoring our democracy which takes hard work compared to autocratic governance.  Reliance on authoritarian leaders looks to autocrats  to do the work,  not the citizenry.  Under fascist autocracy history tells us, citizens are willing to forego their personal agency and impede the freedom of others in their interest not to be bothered with the work of self-governing a community and nation, excepting their own family which they proclaim is their preferred lifestyle. 

SCOTUS Has a Central Role in American Corporate Fascism

 Legal analysis provided by Elie Mystal reveals history regarding Chief Justice John Robert's role in our declining democracy in his leading the high court to restrict voting rights.  He advanced the work of his predecessor, Republican racist Justice William Rehnquist who also made it his life's work to restrict voting rights for Black Americans.

Mystal cites Robert's leading the court to reducing the role of the Federal Government in protecting voting rights often restricted by States through the 2013 Shelby V. Holder decision overturning the requirement of States with a history of voter discrimination to protect voting rights.

Robert's prior political and legal history had a pattern of racism in his chosen work on public policy, in the tradition of two other modern Republican icons, Pat Buchanan and Newton Gingrich., completing the circle of all of the three Federal Branches led by Republicans in their day in this dreadful discrimination.  Republicans have a log history of promoting an apartheid, white nationalist America, post Lincoln and the short lived so called reconstruction era. This discriminatory behavior is also recognized in their Federalist and Heritage societies also dedicated to advancing white control of government. This is all about Corporate dominance of our economic and social systems.

This core value of Republican political leadership is at the root of their support of so called States Rights and  their longstanding work to diminish Federal authority over our States, excepting the Federal role in National Defense and low Federal taxation, particularly of the wealthy and corporations.  

Mystal argues that the 15th amendment has not been enough voter protection; it requires detailed statutory law to be enforceable. Thus our need for the recently failed voter protection the Republicans, in total fascist fashion, shot down with the help of two DINO Dems.  

As is the practice of Fascists across the globe historically, Republicans have focused their efforts on restricting rights, such as those for Women's choice as well as voting rights and as Mystal observes, maintaining white American  and Corporate dominance in the social order and politics.  Corporate dominance over government and public policy I would add.

They have done this with favorable treatment in taxation for the wealthy to preserve their wealth, authoritarian policies from the Executive branch, discriminatory legislation favoring the white wealthy citizens at all levels of governance from the Legislative branch and favorable treatment of the Corporate and wealthy classes in areas of criminal and economic justice. 

To not recognize these practices as fascism is to not read or understand both world and American history.  I find the majority of my fellow white American's just do not chose to understand this reality of our life here through willful ignorance.

A significant influence on America's flirtation with fascism is Corporate America. In the 1930's major Corporate leaders were harsh critics of the Roosevelt initiatives to dig America out of a Corporate caused depression via casino capitalism, generating fear that these remedies to the collapse of the economy would lead to communism.  This was repeated in the 1950's and now again in the early 2000's.

Some of these Corporations went on before and during WWII  with trade with fascist Germany with slight of hand initiatives to conceal their betrayal of the American people.  This included aiding and abetting U.S. money supporting manufacture of tools of war in Europe covered up with a shell game.  

Further, Corporate America initiated complicity with support of central American authoritarian government leaders who collaborated with them in economic initiatives in their countries.  America's shameful history with our own authoritarian take over of economies and ultimately governance of Hawaii and Puerto Rico for the sake of Corporate profit. 

American citizens' apathy toward their own citizenship and responsibility to maintain democracy has enabled authoritarianism as the economy reigns supreme over self government.  America has advanced itself through get rich quick schemes over increasing freedom and self governance schemes. 

This in my view explains the current crisis to maintain our union.  We are led by economic predators who have attached themselves to Republicans and Wall Street Democrats. 

Our way out of this is reform of our Corporate regulatory policy and emphasis on domestic economic cooperation over competition evidenced  by our emphasis on education to further economic advancement rather than enlightened citizenship and improvement of lives for all of us, not just the chosen few.  This is how we have wound up with a hand full of billionaires calling our shots, not patriots advancing democracy over autocracy. Racism is fueled by our economic need to foster an underclass in service to white nationalists, the privileged class in America who advance a theory of our genetic superiority to motivate the white underclass to support the advancement of the predatory privileged few. 

Note the appeal to Christians behind Bannon over his right shoulder.  Christianity in service to fascism. Germany and Italy showed these predators how it's done.