The weekend was not kind to me. Instead of feeling better each day, I was totally wiped out by Sunday afternoon. Monday I stayed down and did not go to physio. Apparently, there is a bug about which may be the cause of my malaise. But it could also be cottonwood allergies that caused the sinusitis. Either way, wearing glasses adds additional pressure to my nose and does not help the headaches. No glasses, no reading. My three beautiful furbabes have been wonderful companions.
Short Takes
National Law Journal — Although the right to peacefully protest is enshrined in the Constitution, there is no constitutional or other legal right to commit criminal acts to make a point. Earlier this month, criminal disrupters in Arizona prevented many people from hearing Donald Trump by blocking a major highway leading to his rally and creating a 10-mile backup. The threat of arrests — only three reportedly occurred — and fines weren't much of a deterrent. What happened in Arizona was only the latest example of major disruptions of presidential rallies, with even larger ones now being openly planned.
The criminal justice system can't handle the problem alone.
Now spreading to political campaigns is what we have unfortunately all too often tolerated on college campuses — protesters who interrupt speakers to prevent others from hearing them, who physically block attendees' access, and who threaten violence to squelch speech. Unless we do something about it, the problem will persist — and could get worse.
I do not agree with all the points made by the author. Based on various newscasts, police pay plenty of attention to disruptors.
"Disrupters who violate criminal laws know that their chances of actually being arrested are small, as more police forces yield the streets to their blockades, their "die-ins," and their tactics of chaining themselves to things. Police often are afraid to make arrests. There's also the attitude of allowing them to "let off steam," and, at times, there is sympathy with their cause."
But what the author seems to forget is the incitement of violence by politicians like Drumpf and that little has come legally against this incitement. I also seem to recall that anti OWS protesters interfered with the peaceful OWS protesters with little backlash.
Alternet — Charles Koch is known for being CEO of industrial giant Koch Industries and a chief financier of the massive conservative political operation he runs with his brother David. In recent years, student activists and investigative journalists have exposed another of Koch’s hats: mega-donor to hundreds of colleges and universities, often funding free-market-focused academic centers housed at public and private schools alike. One Koch-funded program is advocating cutthroat economics to grade school students, even sacrificing lives for profits.
Anti-tax industrialist billionaires like Charles and David Koch stand to gain a lot by financing higher education programs tailored to their ideologies. Richard Fink, the Kochs’ right-hand man for decades, laid out their “Structure of Social Change,” the plan they devised in the late 1970s to shape society with their libertarian ideals. The plan begins with funding academic programs that favor laissez-faire economics, resulting in academic papers promoting the free market and chastising regulation and taxation. Next, think tanks they fund repackage the academic work into more easily digestible policy proposals that “citizen activists” (actually Koch-funded “social welfare” groups like Americans for Prosperity) use to pressure lawmakers.
"Common sense economics" . . . what a misnomer! The Kochs have learned too well that "wars" are fought on many fronts. On this front, they are fighting for the future of their way, the Koch way, by indoctrinating future generations. That is long term planning.
HuffingtonPost — Legislation to extend human-rights protections to transgender Canadians will be tabled in the Commons on Tuesday, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. …
"We must continue to demand true equality," Trudeau said. "We must carry on the legacy of those who fought for justice by being bold and ambitious in our actions and we must work diligently to close the gap between our principles and our reality."
This is a good start to enshrining legal and human rights protection to transgender people across Canada. This from a CBC article today:
"I'm proud to say that moments ago, I introduced legislation, Bill C-16 … that would ensure that Canadians will be free to identify themselves and to express their gender as they wish while being protected against discrimination and hate," said Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould adding that, "because as Canadians, we should feel free and safe to be ourselves."
Now, to work on changing the attitudes of the people who will oppose such legislation. Kudos to Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice, and the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau. Trudeau's father, PM Pierre Elliott Trudeau, and his Liberal government were responsible for the Canadian Human Rights Act in 1977.
My Universe —
5 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 17/05/2016”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Journal – "there is no constitutional or other legal right to commit criminal acts to make a point." Well, technically, but it would be news to, among others, Gandhi. Unjust laws are really not to beobeyed. I realize that when half the nation disagrees with the other half about what is unjust, that can create brou-ha-ha, but I'm afraid I will stand by my statement.
I think the definition of "criminal" is also an issue here. A lot of people think a criminal act is one that breaks a law. But many laws are not crimes to break, but misdemeanors, which is less than a crime. It's understandable that non-lawyers with no interest in the lawor in other technicalities would failt to make the distinction. But I would hope someone writing in a Law Journal would make it, and make it correctly. On a state-by-state basis.
ALterNet – Now THAT's criminal. Morally. No doubt not legally.
HuffPo – And changing attitudes fits right in with your first short take. Good luck with that. And try not to shortchange any other groups while doing it. I can say that, not because the US is good at it, but because the US is so awful at it that I have seen a lot.
Universe – "I really need to invest in a larger trap." LOL! Thank heaven for workarounds and patience (and of course love).
AN: I am surprised (but should I be??) to see FSU involvement in the covert funding from the Koch brothers. I took several night classes there, years ago.This bothers me with the rising numbers of charter schools too. "The Stavros Center and other similar centers are part of a national movement to push free-market principles on kids all the way down to kindergarten, headed by the national Council for Economic Education, which has more than 200 state and university affiliates, including FSU and many other universities that also receive funding from the Charles Koch Foundation." Standardized testing is costing millions, and I am sure that they have a hand in that too, as well. I'm completely disgusted by them, but tenured professors bend to their will, as they will lose their jobs if they speak out too much. Yes, the brothers are criminals and stealing $$ for their own gains.
HP/CBC: The Trans have been fine for years with themselves. Yes, change the attitudes of those who are against this/them, and those who have this negative train of thinking, and embrace them in a positive light. Good for Canada!!
My Universe: My Corgi was found on the streets of Houston, and like Ralph, needed love, food, and lots of companionship. I get choked up when I see rescues like this. There are many dogs/cats at the rescue shelters, as I walk some of them here, locally. Some humans should never have an animal, but those who do have one, know the love that comes back to you tenfold.
So sorry to read of your week. I hope that you start feeling better too. Cats are soothing when one feels down, or sick. Bundle up, drink your tea….and just take it easy. Take care, Thanks, Lynn.
Hope you get to feeling better – SOON!
I'm not a dog-person, but videos like Ralph's always get to me. And it reminds me of what I've gone through trying to get my cat into his carrier (which is actually a nice-sized dog carrier) to head up to Mom's place in Illinois. Although to be honest, ever since he got real ill w/ urethral lithiasis and I had to carry him into his food, he's gotten much better. That – plus getting older.
I'm a sucker for those videos!
I sure hope you feel much better really quockly. {{{HUGS}}}
No time to say more.
Sorry to hear your not feeling any better yet, Lynn. Sinusitis by whatever cause is very nasty and makes you feel quite miserable, especially the stuffed up feeling with the headaches on top of that. Take as much rest as you need, there's little else you can do if medication doesn't help.
NLJ: I get the impression that the author of this opinion piece is a Republican and a Drumpf supporter which seems to cloud his thinking a bit. His bias prevents him from seeing that Drumpf was the one who has been stirring up his supporters to use violence right from the start of his campaign, inciting violence against peaceful protesters. Holding up a sign was enough to induce his and his followers wrath. With his rabble-rousing Drumpf has forfeited his "rights" to an undisturbed rally. I'd rather see peaceful demonstrations against the man than giving him tit for tat, but if anyone is to blame for the volatile atmosphere around his rallies it is Herr Drumpf himself.
Alternet: It's Cut-throat economics rather than Common-sense economics, I'd say. Their further corruption of the minds of young people who come from 1% backgrounds and feel privileged as it is, results in a large number of Koch-clones. It's not surprising nothing much has changed on Wall Street and at CEO-level of corporations. Greed is in their DNA and on their brain.
HP: It's marvelous to see how every hypocritical and discriminatory bill on federal or state level in America is met with a new bill in Canada that does exactly the opposite. There truly is a very refreshing new wind blowing since Justin Trudeau's and his Liberal government came to power. When their progressive and humane political vision is embraced by more and more people, Canada will soon recover from the damage done by Harper and his ilk.
My Universe: I'm full of admiration of the limitless patience and tenacity of the rescuers of Hope for Paws. They work real miracles withe their love and kindness. Kudos to them.