written 3 July 2022
published 10 July 2022
A Fort Bragg reader recently complained, "Your frequent tirades against Republicans are one thing (though we are almost half your constituents), why not use the local newspaper to reach across the aisle rather than contributing to the rift?" This is partially accurate. In Mendocino county, voter registration is 66.4 percent Democratic, 30.6 percent Republican, and 3 percent Independent. However, I do rag on Republicans, but not because they are a minority.
I admire some of what used to be core Republican values: personal responsibility, integrity, honesty, public service, minimizing governmental intrusion, and respect for the law. But I am offended by the actions of the "modern" Republican party as exemplified by the ideologues now on the Supreme Court. Consider recent decisions on five issues: money in politics, voting rights, gun violence, woman's rights, and climate change.
Citizens United ruled that money is protected speech, eliminating hundreds of laws limiting the wealthy from buying legal solutions to further their greed and avoid responsibility, which flooded politics with unaccounted dark money, buying compliant legislators.
Exclusive gain tends to upset those excluded, making Republicans a minority party. Voter suppression and extreme gerrymandering are now standard party strategy, "insuring voter integrity". By making sure only the "right" people vote they continue holding onto power while doing unpopular things.
Having abandoned the illusion of democracy, the autocrats revert to violence. Recent ruling making carrying concealed weapons more widespread serves to not only boost gun corporate profits (a traditional Republican goal), but tyrannizes the populace. Seventy percent of Americans don't own a gun, giving more power to the violent armed minority. An angry 18 year old, who can't legally buy a drink, can purchase a weapon specifically designed to kill, and go slaughter 3rd graders. Of course, more guns are the answer.
The increasing empowerment of women scares weak minded men, and women are much more likely to vote Democratic (56 percent to 38 percent). Banning abortion helps put them "back in their place", and creates a security system to investigate every pregnancy and miscarriage as a potential crime. This vast intrusion of the State into the bedroom is wrapped in the "religious morality" of the punitive, self-proclaimed "Christian" fundamentalists.
Despite being opposed 2 to 1 by American voters, 6 unelected Republican zealots, in position for life, made these changes because they could and they felt like it.
Finally, there is climate change. The northern US was covered in ice over 2 miles thick during the last period of glaciation, when atmospheric CO2 was 180 ppm. The current interglacial period began as atmospheric CO2 gradually rose by 55 percent over 15,000 years, to 280 ppm, allowing the northern portion of the country to become habitable. In just 200 years, human fossil fuel combustion abruptly added another 50 percent, to 420 ppm today, with half of that rise in the last 30 years. The adverse economic impact of this rapid change is already here, and growing. You can smell it each summer now, and most of us know someone who has been burned out.
The fossil fuel corporations knew this would happen, but decided profits were more important than any "collateral damage". Despite persistent, well-funded opposition, the environmental movement has begun making progress in getting this destructive business practice curtailed. But Republican "leaders", supporting big money over everything else, believe government must never intrude, but corporations must have free reign. Last week the Court told the government they can't work to save our planet. This is suicidal.
For the moment, this is still a democratic society. This November will determine our fate. If you think politicians should be for sale, value guns over children, hate women, and want to kill the planet for profit, then the new Republican party is for you. If that is too insane for you, vote them out! Big time!
In addition, pick an issue that stirs your passion, find a group working on it, and support them with time and/or funds. The time for waiting for "leaders" is over. Crowd sourcing works. Think about solutions to your issue, share it with your representatives, and talk about it with others, making it part of our social conversation. Consider calling your Republican friends and share your stories with them. Remember, a majority of us don't like the current direction. The country you save might be your own!
