Guns win, moms lose: Creating generational poverty

This past few weeks saw major erosions to the rights of Americans. Supreme Court decisions were made along political party lines. Us old people know this, but the young don’t, so for their benefit, I’d like to give a synopsis.

There are 2 competing visions for America (called political parties: Dems and Reps). The GOP (grand old party)-Republicans push laws for putting more guns on the streets, cut worker’s abilities to unionize, strip working people from access to Medicaid, Medicare & Social Security, protect monopolies by corporations, spend $18.5 billion in annual oil/gas subsidies + $3 billion in additional tax breaks, shut down programs for food & housing, cut taxes on the morbidly rich, privatize our schools, parks & recreation lands, religious dogma, live-to-work, “top down” (money from the rich-“trickles down”). Reps have hacked away at peoples’ rights since Reagan (termed ‘Reaganism’), believe abortion should be outlawed, & use the government to improve the lives of the wealthy. Why? It’s all about that money: protecting corporate profits gets money for legislature votes.

Democrats have brought us Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, free public school, educational support, food & nutrition programs, housing subsidies, laws to create/legalize unions, work-to-live, 2 GI bills, Civil Rights Act, right to vote, equal protection under the law, promote the health, life & right to choose (legalize abortion) of women, secular doctrine, creating agencies/policies for cleaner air & water, ‘Green’ energy, “bottoms up” (if people have money, they’ll spend it), use government to improve the lives of citizens. All issues Republicans have opposed. Why do Democrats support rules curbing industries/corporations? It’s about people over profits. Advancing the public good.

Unfortunately, laws/Rights for the people aren’t profitable and are hard to get passed through our heavy-handed Red states. Our democracy is being corrupted by Big Money and being turned into an oligarchy (olig- =few)/plutocracy (pluto- =wealthy) by the greedy few. Reps haven’t won the popular vote (actual votes by the people) but once in 30 years *technically, decided by the Supreme Court…, they’ve taken power due to the ‘electoral college’ designated by gerrymandered districting. Republicans won’t rest until they have taken all our rights!

We must Resist. Protest.

Get active in understanding politics, go to the courthouse to register (check if you are still registered) to vote & Vote for DEMOcracy (demo- =people -cracy= rule by). Do we want to continue to embrace democracy or let Reps take us back to the 1950’s (having lived through it, let me tell you, it wasn’t like “the good times” you see on TV). For years now all I’ve heard is right-wing propaganda which is making our lives hell. We have a very simple, very straightforward, clear choice (for now). To follow in the footsteps of Denmark/Sweden or Turkey/Belarus. Don’t just believe me young people. Look it up for yourselves. These 2 parties have “platforms” which describe their beliefs/goals.

Not a Democrat or Republican: I’m an Independent.

P.E. Straley