Bits and Pieces

Rebuilding Better: Dismantling the federal government began with Reagan. He lowered taxes on the wealthy and corporations. With less money in the federal budget to pay for programs he disliked, he mandated they remain but be the responsibility of states and municipalities. That was when state and local taxes went through the roof. Public services suffered as well while states struggled to determine how to pay for the mandated programs.

Meanwhile, Federal economic statistics looked better while national economic data worsened. Thus, the divide began, and the focus of politicians turned local. Over the years politics became less dems and repubs while conservative versus liberal became the mantra. The manipulation of these discussions, so rampant, reached a fever pitch of destruction culminating in the Trump years.

With Biden’s presidency aggressive attempts to rebuild the American Democracy (not political party) have been in full swing. Fighting this are the republicans who wage their war against ‘leftists’ while lining their pockets with unimaginable greed for gold. Who will win this struggle? The people or politicians?

Slow Pace of Legislation: Mitch McConnell continues in his adopted role of despoiler. If it is bad for democrats, it must be good for republicans. Regardless of the issue involved, a win for Mitch is automatically labeled a defeat for liberalism.

Labels are funny things. They rarely mean what is real. Mitch knows this; he is a master at manipulation and misdirection. That is core to his power. Pity his focus is not what is good for the American people. Nor of principle. His eyes are only on power and personal greed. How else does a public servant amass a pot of wealth more than $30 million?

Public Health & Safety: The role of government – state, local and federal – is public safety. Health is part of safety. The Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes for Health are the outgrowth of the federal role. Based on research and hard sciences, the CDC and NIH are committed to preserving the health and safety of the American people. They cannot do that with opinion alone. They must be able to create edicts and policy that make health and safety standards possible.

The pandemic is not all on the backs of the President or governors of each state. The pandemic taught us that science and research have power to create effective treatment and safeguards for the people. Now is the time to adopt stringent new policies and procedures to defeat the latest mutation of the COVID virus. And future ones.

Mask mandates and vaccine requirements should be required protocols today until the threat of widespread infection is subdued. Medical exceptions are allowed but those patients will need to be quarantined from others to protect them and others. Proof of vaccinations and wearing a mask in public and enclosed spaces should now be the norm.

This is not tyranny of state. It is tyranny of virus and disease. That is what we are protecting the people from. Not power misplaced or otherwise.

Be safe. Vaccinate. Mask up.

August 11, 2021