The Danger of Tying Local Elections To National Issues

The national and Presidential elections in 2016 caused reactions from cheers to tears and new commitments to resistance, organizing and political action. Many people were outraged. They were dismayed, depressed and shocked. Demonstrations took place across the country and people marched through the streets. I was among them.

But there were also calls for very practical and real responses. People were encouraged to run for office, any and every office. Women were encouraged. Millennials were encouraged. People of diverse cultures, races and economic status were encouraged. The calls went out and people responded. Trainings popped up with good information from experienced campaigners. All of this was good and meaningful from a political organizing perspective. More people were getting involved in the political process and treasuries of political opposition were being filled. In general, people felt good about these efforts and still do.

But as with everything else in life, things get complicated fairly quickly. I believe that after the initial melancholy and then exuberance, it was easy for people to get waylaid or lost. I've seen examples of it in local elections and campaigns. Many seem to have forgotten that old political maxim "all politics is local" as office holders are challenged and office hopefuls look to change "things".

What I've seen on just about every level are simple slogans and messages that go something like - "Vote for Change", "Turn (county, town, state) Blue", "Vote Democrat". In addition, I've seen local candidates tweeting and posting things on Facebook about national issues including immigration, tax reform, national health care, impeachment and foreign policy. Obviously these are all important issues and everyone has a right and sometimes a duty to talk about them, but.....and here's the but. These issues have little to do with what will probably win local elections for school boards, town boards or county legislatures.

Outrage and anger have to get us more then outrage and more anger. Part of why people, voters and non-voters alike, are frustrated and disgusted with politics, is because politicians have so little to offer in terms of real solutions and real work. How will we create jobs? How will we provide more and better public transit? How will poor people and people in need of basic services be treated and supported in our schools and communities? How will we protect and provide basic services like water or sewer service to communities? How will we work together, across party lines, building coalitions to get real work done? To me, these are the issues and the things people need to be talking about in elections. No matter how angry people may be about national election results, it is a huge mistake to think that people will vote for parties vs  candidates who have real solutions and a commitment to work for constituents to bring about change.

I applaud people who make the commitment to run for office, but I for one, want to hear about local issues and local solutions.

Why People Take A Knee

With all of the controversy about the NFL and players getting down on one knee during the playing of the national anthem, it may be helpful to just think about the act of getting down on a knee or knees. There are many reasons that people take a knee. I'm not the greatest sports follower or authoritiy but I've seen team members, even opposing team members, taking a knee when another player is hurt on the field. It's a sign that someone's in trouble and that they may need help and that others should pay attention.

And we're all familiar with the act of genuflection on one knee as a sign of respect and adoration in the religious sense. People also take to both knees to pray. But under certain circumstances, prayer or the symbol of prayer may take place on one knee.

Many times I've seen first responders and other emergency workers, taking a knee as they assist someone in distress. Some of it has to do with comfort and the ability to assist a person in that position.

I'm sure there are other examples but these are a few that come to mind. The point is, taking a knee is not all that odd in and of itself.

So almost a year ago Colin Kaepernick began sitting and than getting down on one knee during the playing of the national anthem. He was very clear about his reason. He spoke about it openly because he wanted to. He wanted to make a statement about the lack of justice relative to the treatment of black people in the United States. "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

Now, the valid protest that he started, is being turned into an attack on the flag, the anthem and the military. It is a bizarre twisting of facts and reality. Agitators and protesters have most always been attacked and turned into the bad guy. Prophets, men and women, have been arrested, jailed, beaten, killed and demonized. Authoritarian leaders most often use nationalism and patriotism as the justification to insult and harass those who stand up for justice. Flags are symbols. They are fabric and cloth. Values are real and some need to be protected. Injustices are also real and need to be identified and dealt with.

Perhaps we should view taking the knee today as a sign, a warning that our nation is in trouble, that some of our people are hurt, they may need help and we should all pay attention. 

How Bad Can It Get?

When the President of the United States starts name calling the leader of a country who has acquired nuclear weapons and seems to believe it's a valid foreign policy strategy, we're in some deep trouble. Nuclear war is but a tweet away and few seem to take it seriously. And this week Donald Trump will take on the United Nations as well. Sadly, many have become desensitized to Trump's tweets. This is not only sad but dangerous. Ignoring his tendency toward destructive behavior against all of us just seems to empower and encourage him and that's the last thing we need.

It doesn't matter if it's John Kelly, Congress, Melania or just us, the ordinary people of the United States, but someone has to let him know when enough is enough. The reality is that we seem to have a very sick man the White House. He is a danger and a threat to himself and others. The last thing he needs is unlimited power or attempts at unlimited power where others seem afraid to provide legitimate checks.

His tweet this past weekend showing a video of him doing harm to his former opponent by a golf swing and a golf ball is distasteful and wrong on so many levels. It is another attack on women. It promotes violence and violent acts under a cloak of humor. It exposes a number of his obsessions. Interestingly, Hillary Clinton as the spouse of a former President, is protected by the Secret Service. Perhaps this tweet depicting violence against her will be or should be investigated as a violent threat against a protected subject. Perhaps the Secret Service could protect all of us against an out of control President. Then again, Twitter could stand up and be useful by enforcing its own rules and blocking Trump's account because of the dangers he is presenting through violence on so many levels.

The real question I guess, is how quickly someone will act to check or control this madness? How bad can it get? We're about to find out.

The Big Question - What Do You Do In Retirement?

I guess it happens to everyone who retires. People are always asking what are you doing in retirement? In the beginning of my retirement in 2011, I actually found myself making things up because there seemed to be this expectation that you had to do something. I actually told one person that I was going to read the internet. He looked confused and moved on. People of course had their own ideas on how I should be spending my time and most of it didn't appeal to me. What I have found is that people evolve in their own retirement. They find their own interests, projects, community and people that they choose to spend time with.

Having experienced the question fairly often, I was happy the other day to hear what the great songwriter, John Prine, says about his daily life. It seems to fit my routine pretty well. “I do as little as possible. I do a lot of little chores; ones that most people would take care of in half an hour, I stretch them out over a day. I always try to include lunch. If it’s a really slow day, I include a nap. By the time the 5 o’clock news rolls around, my day is done.” Amen!

Now John Prine is nowhere near retirement. He continues to write, tour, sing and he has a great way with words. He's a great storyteller and I love a good story. I've told a few myself and retirement is a great place to hone the skill. Prine has a book called Beyond Words that gathers thoughts and pictures and songs together. But here's an example of his storytelling about his first job at Skip's and his thoughts about bees John Prine and his job at Skip's. You can skip the ad in 4, 3, 2, 1 seconds.

Donald Trump Must Go

The time has come. We have to recognize that Donald Trump is a very sick man. He is a shameful person. He is a narcissist. He is evil in his sickness and he is a danger to everyone including himself and he has to go. He is pushing buttons that he has no idea what they will do or what their functions are. He has spoken from his heart and has shown everyone that he believes in values that are dangerous, repugnant and un-American. He has supported the actions of domestic terrorists. He has kicked dirt in the face of every foot soldier for freedom, peace and justice. People who have been beaten, imprisoned and killed for peace and justice now suffer the ultimate insult. Their actions are minimized and ignored.

He has made us realize that democracy is very fragile. There is little that stands between us and a totalitarian government, a dictatorship. Donald Trump is governing through anger, fear and bullying. People who should know better have been silenced by his bullying and anger. As a result we are in very deep trouble. He has told us himself, numerous times and in numerous ways, that he will not give, he will only double down. We saw that in his sparing with the press, yesterday (8/15/17). He doubled down and equated Nazis and white supremacists with people who stood up against their hatred.

Some have said we just need to accept his reality and he should be contained and isolated by the people around him and by other branches of government. Certainly others in government should stand up as leaders, come together and govern in spite of him and yes, isolate him. But there seriously needs to be more. He needs to be gone, either voluntarily or by use of the 25th Amendment.

Yes he needs to be gone and the sooner, the better. He stays and there will be more, much more violence and disruption in our country. I believe more people will die if he stays. This is hard to say and hard to talk about but we are at one of the most important times in our history. Remember our history. There is a huge test coming. Will our leaders pass? Will they stand up and help Donald Trump leave his office now?