U.S. Democracy At Another Crossroads March 30, 2017
Most oppositional reaction to the 2016 election, defines President Donald Trump as a threat to U.S. democracy---when he's actually as a result of democracy already under siege for some time. The “Russia meddled with the 2016 election” obsessionis (among other things) an evasion of the home-grown assaultsto fair elections and real representation of everyday Americans.
Economic elites aspire returning the U.S. to it's anti-democratic roots: with only white, male property-owners able to vote, George Washington was elected by just 6% of the population The property-ownership requirement didn't end until 1856. Not only Black people were denied voting rights (until the 1965 Voting Rights Act), many other groups were,too: all women, Asians, Mexicans, Native-Americans. This isn't ancient history either: in 2000, a federal court decided that 4.1 million residents of U.S. colonies—Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and U.S. Virgin Islands--- can not vote for president and have no representation in Congress.
In 1787 the U.S. Constitution gave power to the states to regulate voting, which continues to contradict the “greatest democracy on Earth” myth. In some states (primarily former Confederacy states), people with a felony lose their voting rights forever. Since the Supreme Court's 2013 Shelby decision, an upsurge of states are enacting restrictions on voting rights. (See time-line: https://a.s.kqed.net/pdf/education/digitalmedia/us-voting-rights-timeline.pdf
Russia didn't undermine Americans' voting rights. Those that want to insure Big Business as usual did.
Pundits repeat (without evidence) that Russia “hacked” 2016 election, while avoiding any investigation into disturbing “irregularities” since the 2000 election: mass “purging” voter rolls, “provisional ballots” (that never get counted) and more. See https://www.thenation.com/article/how-the-2000-election-in-florida-led-to-a-new-wave-of-voter-disenfranchisement/
Rather than instigate a new Cold War, why not ask how many voters were blocked by Republican-initiated voter suppression techniques? Voter ID laws, closing polls at the last minute, cuts to early voting and hackable machines owned by Republican companies, all target primarily Black, Latino and young voters—beginning in 2000. Why hasn't the Democratic Party made opposing21st century Jim Crow undercover disenfranchisement a priority? Perhaps, the Democratic National Committee undermining Bernie Sanders' campaign hints at an answer. Julian Assange denies that Russia was the source of documents that exposed DNC tactics against Sanders and Hillary Clinton's speeches to Wall Street, published by Wikileaks. Who does it serve if we care more about the messenger than the message?
In no way am I minimizing Trump's impact. Further empowerment of corporate economic elites is obvious in his Cabinet picks. In every case, undermining or outright gutting government agencies will betray the public interestto benefit a minority. The very wealthy, extractive industries like Big Oil, corporations ambitious to become monopolies or to privatize public services and the ever-expanding surveillance/incarceration state at home and militarism abroad, all hope to cash in on a Trump presidency.
But, Trump didn't create this.
Since the1972 Powell Memo, corporations are waging an all-out assault on labor unions, rolling back civil rights and taking on the growing power of the environmental movement. Since 1985, the Democratic Leadership Council—who's stated goal was to ”make the Democratic Party more business-friendly”, both the Republican and Democratic Parties have done less and less to rein in corporate political and economic power.See the Powell Memo see: http://billmoyers.com/content/the-powell-memo-a-call-to-arms-for-corporations/
Big Money floods into political campaigns from top to bottom, distorting who can afford to run, what issues are debated and what laws get passed—all reinforced by the Supreme Court ruling Citizens United. Even local school board races are beginning to be funded by for-profit 'education' companies! The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) exemplifies the sophisticated strategies special interest lobbyists use to write bills that politicians pass. See www.alecexposed.org
Russia has nothing to do with any of this: what Thomas Jefferson called “economic aristocrats” do.
After the 2008-9 economic meltdown ,Occupy Wall Street railed against corporate domination. Democratic big city mayors used police to crush Occupy encampments, but, the consciousness it raised remains--- spreadingin the Bernie Sanders campaign for the Democratic Party nomination.
So, how could a lifelong member of the 1%---known for shadowy loans and not paying workers-- be in the White House?
Some economically desperate white working-class people rolled the dice, saying that “because Trump is already rich, he can't be bought.” Post-election research is revealing a majority of white Trump supporters have average annual incomes of $72,000. (Median income is $41,000). It wasn't deprivation—but, reasserting domination in politics and culture that motivated many Trump voters.
Since the 1970s, union membership plunged from 30% to around 10%---isolating working people of all colors from a powerful framework of solidarity, resistance and one another. Another obstacle to organizing is the capitalist value of competition over co-operation, promotingan “all against all” skirmish for scraps. People of color, women and immigrants are scapegoated as “taking (white) men's jobs” while CEOs, Wall Street and the politicians that serve them were ignored by Trump voters.
In contrast, $15 Now! challenges corporations like Wal-Mart and city councils, for workers to get a long-overdue raise. Too often a business-friendly Democratic Party fails to stand with even this basic demand, while Republicans continue their virulent attacks on any rights for workers at all: it's the “good cop” /“bad cop” , (passive Democrats/actively viscous Republicans) way the two corporate parties operate to serve their corporate sponsors.
More of us are seeing through this nonsense.
Democratic Party leaders celebratedRepublicans'failure to repeal “Obamacare”, but, they don't deserve credit. It's everyday people whoacted, overwhelming members of Congress with phone calls, letters and emails. Grassroots communities went to Town Halls, confrontingpoliticians with health care realities. For details of Republicans' (likely to be resurrected) “ Obamacare repeal, see https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/03/ahca-economics/519498/
While Obama's ACA has serious flaws, it's provided fertile soil for the idea of “health care is a human right” to grow. The movement for Single-Payer Universal Health Care (like every other Western industrialized nation already has) is seeing defeat of Trump-Ryan Care as a springboard to push forward in a bigger way.
Resistance is what real democracy looks like.
As far back as the 1840s with Alexis de Tocqueville's “Democracy In America”, observed that materialism defines American values. To be blunt, anation who's economy was based on slavery, who saw Black human beings as property that existed onlyto create wealth for others, shows a country that worships wealth above any other value----a value system that remains far more in place than many progressives recognize.
Any “Russia connection” to Trump and his campaign seems to have included some fake news (a Trump specialty) but, is likely mostly about business deals, reflecting conflicts of interest as president Trump still hasn't resolved---and some supporters still claim“don't matter”. But, as millions of Americans file their tax returns it's overdue to finally see Donald Trump's.
Aurora©2003*
Africa, Up and Down America, Asia, Antarctica, Australia; Indian, Pacific,
the Atlantic All that land and ocean,
We only have one world.
We are all the colors of the rainbow; if not united, just a bunch of lines
When we come together, we let our light shine.
We are the Aurora, Aurora of our time. *
by Suzanne Brooks & Reggie Graham
The theme and theme song of WomenWorldCulture--Aurora-- highlight the movement from division based on a negative emphasis on difference to unity founded in our common humanity defined by DNA and diversity refined by cultures and environments. The Aurora Blog of WomenWorldCulture will encourage constructive and civil exchanges of ideas; stimulate ideas and suggestions for unique and positive programs and services; and provide recommendations and support for education, research and documentation addressing social issues and problems, reciprocal communication and inspiration, sharing and leadership through the arts. The success of this blog will be rooted in mutual caring for each other, with the willingness to learn from each other. Honor and dignity will be the rule. The blog is published with the same media rules, requirements and guidelines required for advertisers on this site. Readers can refer to that section for additional information.
Welcome to Aurora: The WomenWorldCulture Blog.
Aurora Blog
The WomenWorldCulture Blog serves as a source of information regarding current events, which are highlighted because of importance to women, cultural communities and/or environmental sustainability. We encourage readers to visit often to read updates and new entries and then to share the information with others.
Title 9, most powerful law against sex discrimination in education and educational institutions, is nearly ended.
With the following steps, Title 9 is nearly gone: Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is rescinding the advances made to protect women employees and students. The DeVos actions include an interim guide which "differs from the 2011 Dear Colleague letter in several key ways. Perhaps most notably, it rescinds the requirement that schools use a “preponderance of evidence” standard to adjudicate sexual assault cases, and instead allows schools to use a “clear and convincing” evidence standard, which puts a greater burden on accusers. This is a change that critics of the 2011 guidelines have been requesting for some time, and one many advocates say is unfair to survivors.
The interim guide also allows schools to deny survivors the ability to appeal, and lifts the time limit for completing an investigation. Without a time limit, investigations might drag on for years, as they sometimes did before the 2011 guidelines were in place, Peterson said. In some cases, she said, survivors dropped out of school because their investigations went on for so long.
Conservatives cite “legal/illegal”, as often the loudest argument (other than “personal responsibility”) to bolster cruel policies---policies that are not applied equally. The latest example of this is Trump's Executive Order ending President Obama's Executive Order DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), that protected almost 800,000 undocumented, young immigrants, known as the “Dreamers”, who were brought to the U.S. as children, at the average age of six.
A decent society does not hold children responsible for the actions of their parents.
... The vast majority of the Dreamers know no other country except the U.S. Ninety percent are in school, employed or...
Unequivocally opposing white supremacists in all their manifestations: Ku Klux Klan, Nazis and militias should be a moral reflex. Terms like “white nationalism” and “Alt-Right” are fuzzy euphemisms. Blunt clarity is required. What we saw in Charlottesville, Virginia are white supremacist domestic terrorists.
In May, the FBI warned of the rising tide of far-right extremists. documentcloud.org/documents/3924852-White-Supremacist-Extremism-JIB.html
Since September 11th, through the end of December 2016, white supremacist domestic terrorism have been far higher than domestic terrorism by Muslims: 74% white supremacists vs. 26% by Muslims. http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/aug/16/look-data-domestic-terrorism-and-whos-behind-it/
... Racist violence has always been essential to maintaining a system privileging white, rich men and putting everyone else in a...
Most oppositional reaction to the 2016 election, defines President Donald Trump as a threat to U.S. democracy---when he's actually as a result of democracy already under siege for some time. The “Russia meddled with the 2016 election” obsessionis (among other things) an evasion of the home-grown assaultsto fair elections and real representation of everyday Americans.
... Economic elites aspire returning the U.S. to it's anti-democratic roots: with only white, male property-owners able to vote, George Washington...
CURRENT RESOURCES (2016) FOR WOMEN
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS REMOVED OR BEING STERILZED WITHOUT CONSENT AND/OR AGAINST OUR WILL
THE HEALTH IMPACT NEWS NETWORK
https://healthimpactnews.com/
HORMONES MATTER
https://www.hormonesmatter.com/
RESEARCH + COMMENTARY
WOMEN’S HEALTH
PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM
FAMILY HEALTH
ENVIRONMENT
HEALTH STORIES
HEALTH SURVEYS
HYSTERECTOMY ALTERNATIVES AND AFTEREFFECTS
HERS FOUNDATION
Hysterectomy Educational Resources and Services
http://www.hersfoundation.com/
The HERS Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit international women's health education organization. HERS provides information about alternatives to hysterectomy and the aftereffects of the surgery.
Hysterectomy
Free information by email or mail
Telephone counseling by appointment
Physician referral for evaluation and treatment
Review of medical records
Medical journal articles
CD's, DVD's and videos
Woman to woman networking
Regional conferences
Lawyer Referrals
Litigation support
CORTISOL & FAT LOSS – WHY YOUR HORMONES MATTER
http://wellnessforce.com/resource/cortisol-fat-loss-why-your-hormones-matter/...
Justice Reform Coalition Press Release: Complaints of Medical Battery, Fraud, Breach of Contract filed against Mercy Medical Hosptial and Doctors
U.S. East to West Coasts Eugenics By Thousands: Widespread Then & Now—Hidden, Ignored, Denied
In Our Communities Today—2016
In CA Correctional Institutions 2010-2016
... JUSTICE REFORM COALITION PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Rev Ashiya Odeye
JUSTICE REFORM COALITION
Phone: 916 893-9793 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
October 6, 2014: FOR IMMEDIATE...
Unanswered Letters Blog
This blog is an acknowledgement of the millions of serious letters written by people around the world to representatives of governments, businesses, print and electronic media, businesses, community groups and individuals to address many issues and concerns. So often, had the contents of these letters be read and responded to, tragedies and crises could have been avoided.
Too often, those in power choose to ignore the writer and the letter. This blog shows that there are people with similar good ideas, urgent complaints, and important information which deserved to be heeded. The goal of this blog is to show that people with similar concerns are working to make changes and have not given up on their ideas.
By sharing ideas, people can contribute to needed research and continued discussions to bring about change. When it is clear that these are not isolated, infrequent issues, masss of people can be encouraged to continue speaking out, in writing as much as vocally. When we realize the large extent of idfentified problems, we are also encouraged to take some appropriate actions. Those actions could be to ask some of the recipients of letters why they have not responded and when will they?
PREPARING FOR THE 2020 ELECTION: WILL IT BEGIN REAL DEMOCRACY OR END ITS DREAM
NOTE: WHILE THIS SPACE WAS DEVELOPED AS A PLACE IN WHICH TO POST UNANSWERED LETTERS WRITTEN TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS ABOUT PUBLIC ISSUES, THE FACT THAT THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN HAS BEGUN BEFORE THE END OF THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PRESIDENT ELECTED IN 2016, THE LETTER BELOW IS BEING POSTED SHORTLY AFTER SENDING IT OUT, BEFORE ANY CHANCE OF REPLY IS POSSIBLE, AS A MEANS OF POSTING ISSUES THAT WERE IGNORED IN THE PAST 8 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS AND BY THE CANDIDATES IN THE 2016 CAMPAIGN. IT IS UP TO THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO BE EXCLUDED FROM EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC LIFE, HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED, AND ARE INCREASINGLY DEMONIZED, SCAPEGOATED, AND DENIED MOST, IF NOT ALL, FACTUAL AND EQUAL INCLUSION, ESPECIALLY FOR VOTING, WORKING, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, NEWS COVERAGE, HOME OWNERSHIP AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN CIVIL AS WELL AS CRIMINAL CASES.
... Dear Presidential Nominee Advocate:
I am grassroots/working class leader of women of color, many other women's interests, a supporter of...
URGENT COMMUNITY ACTION NEEDED:
A terrible educational injustice is pushing millions of students of color in California and across the nation so far behind this year that many will never catch up, will never graduate from high school, and will lose all hope of higher education achievement.
The implementation of this new program: "Every Student Succeeds Act "(ESSA) | has ended nearly all free tutoring with it hopes of closing the learning gap for low income students, students of color and students with learning disabilities. Parents and communities have been misled into believing that this new program give students improved services when, in fact, most tutoring has been ended.
... For so many years, students were tutored inside their schools with "small group" tutoring which is completely ineffective because it...
AN EXCERPT
Distributed in Person at an annual meeting attended by hundreds on Thursday, November 7, 2013, 8:00AM
To: CA State Board of Education
Subject: Local Control Funding Formula, Discussion of Proposed Changes to California's Local
Educational Agency and School Planning and Accountability System
Unanswered
... Recognizing the probability that I may not have any opportunity to speak publicly or privately with any member of...