Understanding Trumpism

Understanding Trumpism requires understanding populism. As I see it, this particular populist base is largely a reaction of a large, dis-empowered feeling and disaffected feeling population segment reacting to complex, difficult and seemingly incomprehensible problems by desperately grasping simplistic "solutions", irrespective if they solve anything at all.

Not only is the news media the perceived enemy of these folks, so will be technology, education and anything else that threatens their illusion. This is indeed post truth.

There is no going back

 

San Francisco Protestors December 2016

This is a different country than it was on January 19th and it is never ever going back to what it was. The question before We The People, this group of people who identify themselves as Americans is, what kind of country is this going to be going forward?

That's what our struggle has got to be about now. There is no going back

Thoughts on Martin Luther King Day

Before this week is over, this week that is starting with the observance of Martin Luther King's birthday, Donald J. Trump will become the President of the United States of America. Trump has a long history of racist comments and positions. When I think of King and Trump together in the same week I cannot help but think of, and be inspired by, what King said:

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Moving Forward

We Must Resist!

Opinion by Steve Sloan

Moving forward we must look forward. We cannot move forward looking back at what should of been, or looking down fearing what might be, no, instead we can only move forward by looking forward. We need to be seizing the opportunity to hold fast onto our values and to build a world that works for everyone.
Some people think that if one side wins the other side has got to lose. But that's not the way this is going to work. We are all on the spaceship Earth together and the only way for this to work is going to be for everyone to win. This is a win-win opportunity.
Building a world that works for everyone means just that. We need to stand by our principles of love and inclusion, including people we disagree with. Everyone has a right to live a healthy life with respect and dignity. We either all stand together or we all will fall apart.
We can't look back. We can only move forward. The best way to do that is to see this as an opportunity to make fundamental change in the world. Shrinking back in fear and/or anger is not going to change anything. We must stand our ground for our principles, but that does not mean we fight hate by becoming hate.

Commitment to non-violence

Opinion by Steve Sloan 

 As we enter a period of public protest, and counter protest, both sides need to both show restraint not to let tempers get to them and to be committed to non-violence. Protest is not disloyalty. Protest is part of the process of American democracy. That is why our constitution includes a bill of rights. Take the right to peacefully assemble and protest away and you have killed everything this country stands for. For America to be America the right of citizens to protest has to remain and be respected – by both sides.

First Amendment to the United States Constitution - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

This is far from over! There are going to be a lot of protests ahead. There already has been violence and hate speech on both sides. If we do not condemn hate speech and violence on BOTH sides there is a real danger that this could evolve from passionate conversation to civil war.

One trend I have been seeing is a process of dehumanizing those we disagree with on these issues. An example of this is rampant name calling. There are bullies on both sides. That does not mean everyone from one side or the other are bullies. If you look at history, when people dehumanize the people they disagree with, the outcome often is not pretty.

The Great American Political Tragedy of 2016

By: Steve Sloan, Opinion

Like many progressives I think the election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States represented a huge political tragedy for this country. I believe a lot of people are going to be victims of that. In my opinion it was very undemocratic and yes, I feel anger – among other emotions.

This is democracy?

In any other democratic country this would not be an issue. The majority should select the leader. That's the way "We the People" is supposed to work in a democracy. The American presidential election process is different. The process is broken. It is broken when twice in 16 years a president, chosen by a minority, is forced on a majority, because of the electoral college, a process created to protect slavery. In my opinion that is not democracy.

But, Trump won!!!

Yes, he did. He was lawfully selected. But, that "victory" is nowhere near fair and square. Trump used dirty tricks that would have made Nixon blush!

Those liberal are just "crybabies"

Crybabies, for protesting? Protest is part of the process of American democracy. That is why our constitution includes a bill of rights. This is far from over! "They" may soon control the presidency, the senate, the house and maybe even the supreme court but the right to peacefully assemble, speak and protest is still protected by the constitution.

Take that right away and you have killed everything this country stands for. For America to be America the right of citizens to protest has to remain and be respected.