Year: 2018

Saving Democracy

/ mmtichenor / 2 Comments

Blind Trust

The careful plotting has been going on for decades but I was trusting there were more good people in our government than bad. Now I can see how powerful, greedy people have been whittling away at the power of the people with gerrymandering and voter suppression, turning compromise into a dirty word while vilifying the ‘other guy’ to create a division among Americans, encouraging and maintaining corporate control of campaigns guaranteeing the flow of money and also eliminating checks and balances by demonizing journalism and taking over the courts.

Most of all, they have chipped away at good men and women, making them toe the line for their power grab. This is a still a mystery to me. I see John McCain, Bob Corker, Jeff Flake and a few others try to stand up, but then just fall back in step. The reasons for this may not be known until this era is over, but this we will want to know so we can prevent the co-opting of good people from happening in the future.

Do Not Despair

It’s overwhelming, isn’t it? The savage drive for wealth and power has always been with us, but Americans thought we had it under control. How very surprising it is to see how fragile our democracy has become. The potential to be crippled by this power grab is real but do not lose hope. There is a chance to turn this around and we must take it.

Here is your Saving Democracy list –

  1. Start talking to people on the fence about voting. Join a campaign, talk to your friends, especially ones that do not generally vote. And give money. The people must outweigh the corporations and the corrupt.
  2. Get a subscription to local, national and international journalism based publications. If you are only hearing things you agree with, you need to branch out to reputable journalism from both sides such as the LA Times, PBS, NPR, The Economist and the Wall Street Journal. Read the small newspapers to get details on issues where they are happening such as the internment prisons on our southern border. Beware local TV news is being taken over by Sinclair Broadcasting, an arm of the Fox propaganda machine.
  3. Avoid the talking heads on Fox, MSNBC and CNN or the required state written “op-eds” on Sinclair run local news. If people are yelling at each other, talking opinion over and over, or preaching propaganda, turn it off. There is a difference between analysis – what has happened, what it might mean, getting context on an issue – and sensationalism – outrageous comments, repeated phrases, loud voices, talking over each other, the ‘sound bite’ that will make viewers tune in. Don’t be that viewer. This type of television or radio is very divisive and works against us finding common ground. You may have to do some research on how people are manipulated by language, what is propaganda and how to not be swayed by it. Even though I group together Fox, Sinclair, MSNBC and CNN in the same line, they are very different problems. Fox and Sinclair are biased as all news outlets but also promote propaganda to skew the facts and confuse their viewers. MSNBC and CNN are desperately trying to keep viewers with sensational programs but they continue to report facts and news although with a heavy bias.  
  4. We must all come together and welcome each other. Independents, Libertarians, Green Party, Democrats, Republicans, Progressives, Conservatives, everyone needs to band together to save democracy. Then we can get back to the important work of resolving our differences fairly and equitably.

Most of All

Remember to breathe. This is scary but not a forgone conclusion. Unlike Nazi Germany, we have many resources, the internet can be used for good – yes, post on Facebook, use the power of protest, the ability to campaign for someone or something you believe in and talk to people about your belief in a strong America led by the people. There will be some who, no matter what, will not get out of the Fox haze, they are a small minority. We focus on people who will listen, look at all sides of an issue, take in new information and with some encouragement, will see the necessity of standing up for Democracy.

We can get this done. One step at a time. One breath at a time. All together.

Four Lessons on How to Survive Politics (using tips for driving in the snow)

/ mmtichenor / 4 Comments

There are four major rules for driving in the snow. Each has an important piece of advice for maneuvering through political strife today.

  1.  Go slowly. Travel at just the right speed to maintain traction but allow for surprising conditions. If you go too fast, panic, hit the brakes or make a sharp turn, you will be off the road and in a ditch pronto. Same with observing politics today. Don’t read too much, just enough to know what is going on, but not so much you panic. Keep a balance of friendship, family, fun along with civics, citizenship and charity. The steady American gets home safely.
  2. Keep a safe distance from the car in front of you. This means hang way back. If the car in front of you suddenly decides to brake, you will not be caught up in the ensuing slip and slide. Some folks today are completely caught up in the pundits, the 24 hour “news” cycle (spoiler alert: there is no such thing as 24 hour news) and the little chicken sky-is-falling mentality. When you hang back from this nonsense, you give your self space to see the bigger picture of a world functioning much better than the “news” would have you think. The thoughtful American keeps their sanity.
  3. Don’t travel in a pack. If you only huddle in among the likeminded, you risk missing important information you can only access when you break away. Give yourself enough space to see other viewpoints. When the pack of cars is heading for a cliff, each sliding off without time to stop, you want to be the smart one, looking at all the options, to decide if you, like a lemming, want to go off that cliff too – or find another way. The informed American sees the possibilities.
  4. Be prepared. Have a warm blanket, extra food, good boots for walking in case you get stuck on the side of the road. There are times when the news hits you right in the gut. When it feels like you have slid off the road and into a dark ditch. Make sure you are surrounded with warmth, music and the things that bring you peace. When the politics have you scared and alone, light a candle, breathe, call a friend and remember, this too will change. The self-caring American will have peace.

With all of us, together as one, we will find our way out of this mess of division and fear. There is another way. One where we find our commonality, our passions and make this country great because we have each others back. Slow down, look around. Travel at a steady pace. Good things come to those who live in love and act from that place. America needs that now, we need that now. Let’s make it happen.