The Contrarian needs to be the clarion. Opinions alone are worthless.
"Everything that is worthwhile in the world has been accomplished by the free, inquiring, critical spirit, and that the preservation of this spirit is more important than any social system whatsoever." Sinclair Lewis, It Can’t Happen Here, 1935.
That is a "spirit" that is awakened, nurtured and thriving through a free, public educational system unfettered by racist, bigoted, chauvinistic and jingoistic political propaganda, an educational system that recognizes and celebrates its diverse society and student body, is inclusive and treats all with equity and equanimity.
That is and has been the American public educational system that has maintained a democratic representative government of the people, by the people and for the people. Such a government cannot be founded upon or maintained by ignorance. Indeed, ignorance is the fertile ground of autocracy. Donald Trump is committed to destroying that educational system in order to further his autocracy.
As a majority of Congress is complacent, if not actually complicit, and the courts are powerless, there is little to stop him except the people themselves, and that will only be for so long as they have the knowledge and understanding to appreciate and denounce the horrors of his evil. Once that knowledge no longer is shared, the nation is doomed to the damnation of popular ignorance.
That will be when it "can happen here." The preservation of that knowledge through the maintenance of the American public educational system is in the hands of our teachers, and no one else. They must be organized in solidarity with the cause, and they must strike. They must shut down the schools until the damage is undone and the threat is eliminated. No one and nothing else can stop Donald Trump in this regard.
The Demands are simple:
1. Vest all authority for school programs of study and administration in the States.
2. Re-establish the U.S. Department of Education to administer all otherwise applicable national programs and funding.
3. Restoration of all educational federal funding and grants.
4. Termination of all DOJ investigations of educational institutions.
5. Revocation of Executive Order 14151 entitled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.”
6. Recognition that diversity, equity and inclusion are proper considerations in programs of study and administration.
I’ve been pushing groups for a general strike since Jan. 20…People will only take notice if we all say NO and stop our labor. Billionaires don’t like that much. I protest regularly, but we have passed the time of genteel shouting into the void. (Yes, there are some impacts, but all hands need to be on deck.)
Note to Jenn and Norm: As you two have tirelessly pointed out, the political party that rises from these ashes will need messaging that will resonate across the majority of population. Or perhaps it rises because it has the messaging that resonates. I propose that the creation of this messaging be a collaborative effort amongst your readers. Is this something that you or your staff could facilitate?
Andrew Weissmann does a great job explaining the legal decisions by the courts. I appreciate that.
I highly respect Andrew’s his opinion. But his actions for his legal office to cave to Trump give me pause. Actions speak louder.
The Contrarian needs to be the clarion. Opinions alone are worthless.
"Everything that is worthwhile in the world has been accomplished by the free, inquiring, critical spirit, and that the preservation of this spirit is more important than any social system whatsoever." Sinclair Lewis, It Can’t Happen Here, 1935.
That is a "spirit" that is awakened, nurtured and thriving through a free, public educational system unfettered by racist, bigoted, chauvinistic and jingoistic political propaganda, an educational system that recognizes and celebrates its diverse society and student body, is inclusive and treats all with equity and equanimity.
That is and has been the American public educational system that has maintained a democratic representative government of the people, by the people and for the people. Such a government cannot be founded upon or maintained by ignorance. Indeed, ignorance is the fertile ground of autocracy. Donald Trump is committed to destroying that educational system in order to further his autocracy.
As a majority of Congress is complacent, if not actually complicit, and the courts are powerless, there is little to stop him except the people themselves, and that will only be for so long as they have the knowledge and understanding to appreciate and denounce the horrors of his evil. Once that knowledge no longer is shared, the nation is doomed to the damnation of popular ignorance.
That will be when it "can happen here." The preservation of that knowledge through the maintenance of the American public educational system is in the hands of our teachers, and no one else. They must be organized in solidarity with the cause, and they must strike. They must shut down the schools until the damage is undone and the threat is eliminated. No one and nothing else can stop Donald Trump in this regard.
The Demands are simple:
1. Vest all authority for school programs of study and administration in the States.
2. Re-establish the U.S. Department of Education to administer all otherwise applicable national programs and funding.
3. Restoration of all educational federal funding and grants.
4. Termination of all DOJ investigations of educational institutions.
5. Revocation of Executive Order 14151 entitled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.”
6. Recognition that diversity, equity and inclusion are proper considerations in programs of study and administration.
STRIKE
opinions are not worthless...they start people thinking
I’ve been pushing groups for a general strike since Jan. 20…People will only take notice if we all say NO and stop our labor. Billionaires don’t like that much. I protest regularly, but we have passed the time of genteel shouting into the void. (Yes, there are some impacts, but all hands need to be on deck.)
Note to Jenn and Norm: As you two have tirelessly pointed out, the political party that rises from these ashes will need messaging that will resonate across the majority of population. Or perhaps it rises because it has the messaging that resonates. I propose that the creation of this messaging be a collaborative effort amongst your readers. Is this something that you or your staff could facilitate?