Skyrocketing insurance premiums, emergency measures to support SNAP beneficiaries, and missed federal paychecks are hitting local Virginians hard according to area nonprofit leaders.
As I've aged, I've lost some of my ability to hear high pitched or lower amplitude sounds. A bad thing for enjoying the background chorus of "Southern Man" in Sweet Home Alabama that I know is there. A benefit when babysitting 3-4 year old grandsons who take genuine pleasure in yells of exuberance as they play.
There have similar degrades in vision, endurance, strength, heart and lung function, and balance. I'm sure I'm missing some things - oh, yeah cognitive ability and memory. C'est la vie. That which we are, we are....
So it's because of recognizing these limitation in myself, I'm truly beginning to wonder if a similar core inability is at the root of Mr. Davis's continual efforts to minimize what is going on regarding politics and the effects Republican's actions have had on our nation.
This shutdown is not a mere "policy dispute". But rather a last gasp of political activism from the purported national representatives of over half of the country to show that they can and do have a say in our government.
This was never just about the money. It was never just about the healthcare. It's about the very soul of this nation. Who we are, what we will be.
In the last 10 months, we've seen legal protections not just of a generation, but of 100 year old length (posse comitatus) stripped away by Republican fiat without recourse. Cities arbitrarily occupied by the military or federalized guard units from other states for political purposes. Secret police making arrests and detentions without due process. Not only of undocumented aliens - but also those who we promised sanctuary, made agreements to in return for information, former wartime allies, and even US citizens. And even infants.
Our tax policy changes daily depending not upon law, debate, negotiation, treaty, need, or budget - nor thru the votes of Congress - which has the power of the purse for the Constitutional purpose of providing a needed restraint on a President's power - but rather due to the thin skinned and erratic whims of the felon we currently have chosen to sit in that honored position.
It can change based upon whether an Emir gives his family money or gifts, if another totalitarian in Argentina looks in danger of losing an election which will result in financial losses that will hurt the investments of his Treasury Secretary's hedge fund buds, to provide welfare for political supporters in Iowa (because it turns out a country boy can survive quite well if his millionaire and billionaire farms get government welfare - interestingly - including that same Treasury Secretary), or if someone in another country posts a commercial that hurts his feelings.
This is not how a representative democratic republic runs its affairs. Particularly not this one. Yet here we are.
And again, I'm merely scratching the surface of the legion of changes have been enacted. Private citizens funding the military? Demands of loyalty to the party and not rule of law or the Constitution? Healthcare dictated by non-medically certified former drug addicts based on specious claims? Gutting of regulations, inspector generals, brazen indifference to laws?
Things as grand as state ordered executions without trial on the higher seas, acts of war, or defunding Congressionally ordered monies? Allies abandoned, threatened with invasion, or to be stolen from? Looking away from genocide? Pardoning allies who commit crimes? Then giving them public monies for their pain and suffering?
Nuts and bolts items like basing disaster aid on political affiliation rather than need. What colleges are allowed to teach or say. And to whom. What they are allowed to study. What skin colors, gender, or religion matters, and which do not.
Or as petty as what plays at the Kennedy Center this weekend, who gets to host a World Cup match, or what an exhibit in a museum can say.
And with all of these things - this one small act of defiance is the only tool Democrats as a national party or their allies have left. This is it. They have been thwarted by the Supreme Court - which has left its own lower courts in limbo, a President who has abandoned his oath, ignored by Republicans in Congress who obey without question or debate, and suffer under a Cabinet deliberately manned by sycophants or buffoons whose meetings look like press conferences that would put Stalin or Kim to shame for their lack of spine or reality.
This shutdown is it. I find it interesting that the AFGE is the first to cave. What a bunch of sunshine patriots. The one group gutted the most, with the most to lose - and they give up even though they will be the ones most likely to be made whole when this passes - if it passes. Or will be non-existent if it doesn't.
Just as public protest, boycott, and voting are the most powerful outlets for everyday citizens, and Democrats at the state level are finally fighting fire with fire in redistricting - however much they wish they didn't have to - this shutdown has been the first meaningful act that the national Democratic party has been able to accomplish in almost a year to stop this onslaught of destruction that Republicans have invoked against our Constitution, laws, allies, treaties, and way of life as they look to remake us to their utopian dream of theocracy, totalitarianism, and oligarchy.
I hate that these actions are causing any financial burden to anyone. But like our forefathers when they went on strike for better lives - before we can have any hope of saving the things that matter to us, we must gain the respect and understanding from Republicans that there are checks on their power. They are not gods. They are not kings. We do not accept tyrants.
They need to respect our power, as the majority of the country. As shown by their actions over the last 40 years, and more so in the last 10 years, and even more so in the 10 months - they won't unless we make them.
We won't make them unless we stand together, and stand firm.
As I've aged, I've lost some of my ability to hear high pitched or lower amplitude sounds. A bad thing for enjoying the background chorus of "Southern Man" in Sweet Home Alabama that I know is there. A benefit when babysitting 3-4 year old grandsons who take genuine pleasure in yells of exuberance as they play.
There have similar degrades in vision, endurance, strength, heart and lung function, and balance. I'm sure I'm missing some things - oh, yeah cognitive ability and memory. C'est la vie. That which we are, we are....
So it's because of recognizing these limitation in myself, I'm truly beginning to wonder if a similar core inability is at the root of Mr. Davis's continual efforts to minimize what is going on regarding politics and the effects Republican's actions have had on our nation.
This shutdown is not a mere "policy dispute". But rather a last gasp of political activism from the purported national representatives of over half of the country to show that they can and do have a say in our government.
This was never just about the money. It was never just about the healthcare. It's about the very soul of this nation. Who we are, what we will be.
In the last 10 months, we've seen legal protections not just of a generation, but of 100 year old length (posse comitatus) stripped away by Republican fiat without recourse. Cities arbitrarily occupied by the military or federalized guard units from other states for political purposes. Secret police making arrests and detentions without due process. Not only of undocumented aliens - but also those who we promised sanctuary, made agreements to in return for information, former wartime allies, and even US citizens. And even infants.
Our tax policy changes daily depending not upon law, debate, negotiation, treaty, need, or budget - nor thru the votes of Congress - which has the power of the purse for the Constitutional purpose of providing a needed restraint on a President's power - but rather due to the thin skinned and erratic whims of the felon we currently have chosen to sit in that honored position.
It can change based upon whether an Emir gives his family money or gifts, if another totalitarian in Argentina looks in danger of losing an election which will result in financial losses that will hurt the investments of his Treasury Secretary's hedge fund buds, to provide welfare for political supporters in Iowa (because it turns out a country boy can survive quite well if his millionaire and billionaire farms get government welfare - interestingly - including that same Treasury Secretary), or if someone in another country posts a commercial that hurts his feelings.
This is not how a representative democratic republic runs its affairs. Particularly not this one. Yet here we are.
And again, I'm merely scratching the surface of the legion of changes have been enacted. Private citizens funding the military? Demands of loyalty to the party and not rule of law or the Constitution? Healthcare dictated by non-medically certified former drug addicts based on specious claims? Gutting of regulations, inspector generals, brazen indifference to laws?
Things as grand as state ordered executions without trial on the higher seas, acts of war, or defunding Congressionally ordered monies? Allies abandoned, threatened with invasion, or to be stolen from? Looking away from genocide? Pardoning allies who commit crimes? Then giving them public monies for their pain and suffering?
Nuts and bolts items like basing disaster aid on political affiliation rather than need. What colleges are allowed to teach or say. And to whom. What they are allowed to study. What skin colors, gender, or religion matters, and which do not.
Or as petty as what plays at the Kennedy Center this weekend, who gets to host a World Cup match, or what an exhibit in a museum can say.
And with all of these things - this one small act of defiance is the only tool Democrats as a national party or their allies have left. This is it. They have been thwarted by the Supreme Court - which has left its own lower courts in limbo, a President who has abandoned his oath, ignored by Republicans in Congress who obey without question or debate, and suffer under a Cabinet deliberately manned by sycophants or buffoons whose meetings look like press conferences that would put Stalin or Kim to shame for their lack of spine or reality.
This shutdown is it. I find it interesting that the AFGE is the first to cave. What a bunch of sunshine patriots. The one group gutted the most, with the most to lose - and they give up even though they will be the ones most likely to be made whole when this passes - if it passes. Or will be non-existent if it doesn't.
Just as public protest, boycott, and voting are the most powerful outlets for everyday citizens, and Democrats at the state level are finally fighting fire with fire in redistricting - however much they wish they didn't have to - this shutdown has been the first meaningful act that the national Democratic party has been able to accomplish in almost a year to stop this onslaught of destruction that Republicans have invoked against our Constitution, laws, allies, treaties, and way of life as they look to remake us to their utopian dream of theocracy, totalitarianism, and oligarchy.
I hate that these actions are causing any financial burden to anyone. But like our forefathers when they went on strike for better lives - before we can have any hope of saving the things that matter to us, we must gain the respect and understanding from Republicans that there are checks on their power. They are not gods. They are not kings. We do not accept tyrants.
They need to respect our power, as the majority of the country. As shown by their actions over the last 40 years, and more so in the last 10 years, and even more so in the 10 months - they won't unless we make them.
We won't make them unless we stand together, and stand firm.
Hold firm.
This far and no further.