Friday, September 04, 2020

Friday Updates on Early September 2020.

Trump wants to defund Democratic controlled cities. He is wrong of course. Trump is not just supported by far right extremists who are racists like Tucker Carlson, David Duke, and Michael Savage. He is also supported by many black conservatives like Diamond and Silk, Herschel Walker,  Angela Stanton, Candace Owens, and others. Even the Hodge Twins have been in league with the bigot Donald Trump (who compared the suffering of Blake to a golf game). Trump supporters say the myth that liberal policies don't work, because for over 50 years, Democratically run cities have harmed American society. They also say that the Democratic Party is the party of the Klan omitting that by the 1960's, many of the segregationists of the Democratic Party moved into the Republican Party. Back during the 19th century and early 20th century, progressives dominated the Republican Party, while far right people dominated the Democratic Party. That started to change by the time of the New Deal, and especially by the 1960's. After LBJ defeated Goldwater after the 1964 Presidential election, many Democratic opponents of the Voting Rights Act plus the Civil Rights Act moved into the Republican Party. Now, the Republican Party is filled with Qanon supporters, racists, Trump supporters, and other people. Both major parties aren't perfect. That is clear, but there is a difference between Trump and Biden. Not to mention that progressive policies are about promoting the general welfare, helping your neighbor as yourself, promoting civil liberties, advancing civil rights, believing in voting rights, and wanting the government to invest in the resources to help the general public.

Being a progressive is about promoting the idea that the government should be used an active force to build up public resources and make justice for all. We are our brothers' and our sisters' keepers. The post World War II boom lasted from 1945 to 1975 in America. During that period of time, we saw the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, the women's rights movement, the Native American rights movement, etc. There was a decline of economic inequality, progressive legislation being passed, a decline of poverty, the growth of the American economy, more human beings having rights, and a high GDP. What' happened? By the 1970's, neoliberaism was promoted by the Chicago School. Then, we saw massive deindustralization in America (which caused jobs to be gone and urban centers suffering via automation, revenues being reduced, and lax investments in communities). Also, we witnessed austerity measures promoted and tricked down economics eliminating resources from marginalized communities. 

Many cities are suffering not because of liberalism, but because of trickled down economics, cuts to community investments, the War on Drugs, the growth of the mass incarceration state, and other conservative policies. These reactionary policies have been advanced by many Republicans and by many moderate Democrats for decades. Tax cuts for the wealthy mostly is not liberalism. Stop and frisk is not liberalism. Gentrification and corporate exploitation of urban communities (via various privatization schemes) including lax wages have nothing to do with progressive values either. Therefore, we have to look at the complete truth. The truth is that there must be a radical transformation of society in order for us to experience the Promised Land for real. We desire a redistribution of wealth, an end to structural racism, massive investments to eradicate poverty and homelessness, universal health care, fair taxation, and other revolutionary actions to help human beings.

Attorney General Bill Bar denying the existence of systematic racism involving policing is just plain ignorant on his part. We have statistical evidence of disparities involving police shootings of black people, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of society. Barr supports Trump with an unconditional mentality. That is why the truth matters. Getting involved in solving problems will make a huge difference along with never giving up.   Life is meant as a journey where human beings have the right to grow, to heal, and to show honor in daily living. Barr's skepticism about mail in voting shows that he is an attorney general for Trump not for the American people. I know many people want to give up on music because of new trends. Yet, we shouldn't. The reason is that even in this time of 2020, there are still artists showing real talent, inspiring new movements of change, and desiring to express excellence. Let's not get it twisted though. Decades ago, the music of the 60's to 90's is always timeless. 

Yesterday was the Birthday of Afro-Brazilian singer Iza, and she is 30 years old. Isabelle Christina Correia de Lima Lima is a singer, songwriter, and dancer. She loves the music of many American artists plus artists internationally. Many of her songs are found on Spotify and SoundCloud. Dona de Mim is the title of her debut album. It came out in 2018 and was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Portuguese Language Contemporary Pop Album. Brazil is heaving influenced by the Portuguese language. She was born in Rio de Janeiro. She was raised at Natal, Riot Grande no Notre. She sang when she was young at parties and church events. She got a degree in advertising. She has performed at many places like the Planeta Atlantida festival. She has worked with Ciara and other famous musicians. Iza continues to amaze the world. I wish Sister Iza more Blessings. 

By Timothy

 


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