Friday, August 13, 2021
Tidbits on Life.
The Texas Senate passed the elections bill after a 15 hour filibuster from a Democratic senator. The bill is called Senate Bill 1. It will add new restrictions and criminal penalties to the voting process. The vote is 18-11 along party lines. Democratic State Senator Carol Alvarado led a filibuster. The bill is blatantly unjust. It has mail in ballot restrictions, a drive thru voting ban, restrictions to early voting timeframe, video surveillance, and assistance restrictions. The goal of voting is to increase access, but this Texas voter suppression bill will reduce voting access among black people, Latino people, poor people, the elderly, the disabled, young people, and other human beings who just want to vote without discrimination. The bill goes to the House. In Texas, the Texas House speaker signed civil arrest warrants for 52 Democrats. The House Sergeant at Arms has deputized law enforcement to force Democrats state members to come into the Austin state Capitol building. Abbott wants to reach quorum to process with his reactionary agenda. The Texas House didn't have quorum present. Our voting rights are under threat. If they are suppressed in Georgia, they are threatened nationwide. This is a crucial time in our nation's history. We have to be about our business to defend human, civil, and voting rights without apology. We have to promote truth and justice.
The 2020 U.S. Census has released its data on how diverse America is. America is now more diverse and multiracial than ever before. America is already the most diverse nation racially, linguistically, and culturally in human history. People of color in America have increased from 34% in 2010 to 43% in 2020. It is no secret that people of color are growing in population for decades in the United States of America. Diversity is always a beautiful thing. The white population is now 57% in 2020. White people are in the majority population in every state, except in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The white population is below 50% now in Maryland, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and California. The population decreased in more than half of all U.S. counties. Population growth is mostly in urban or metro areas. We have more than 331.4 million people in America now. The black American population in 2020 is now 41 million, which is up 6% from 2010. It is now 12.1 % of the total U.S. population. There are 3.7 Native Americans, the Asian population is up to 20 million people, 62 million people are Hispanic or Latino. Many scholars believe that the 2020 census could have under-counted the Black, Latino, Asian, and Native communities. As for New York City (or the largest city of America in terms of population), it has grown its population to 8,804,190 people. That is huge being almost 9 million people in a city in the city of Chesapeake, Virginia meaning its population density is very high. So, we will further study the numbers from the U.S. Census in 2020. It's a very historic time to be alive indeed.
The pandemic virus is rising in many states of America. GOP governors have defied safety measures. There was a group of people in Tennessee threatening health experts who want people to wear masks. Also, we know that the low vaccination places have a surge of the virus. More cities and other locations would have policies to require people to have vaccinations before going into places. I think it is despicable for grown adults to scream and curse at doctors in Tennessee who just want to do their jobs. We want our health protected, and hysteria is never a way to engineer a just resolution. We know that the military is planning to require soldiers to have a vaccination or take COVID testing. We know that many schools have mask mandates, and some states are threatening school districts if they have such mandates too. We know that 99.99% of Americans who died from the pandemic virus are people who are unvaccinated. Therefore, research, not lies, are always important to advocate.
It has been 4 years since the Charlottesville, Virginia racist hate and terrorist rally. It happened in my state of Virginia. I'm a black Virginian, so we know about racism firsthand. The event included racists, anti-Semites, Trump supporters, and outright fascists. Many of these terrorists used Nazi salutes. Proud boys and people waving Confederate flags too. A day later on August 12, 2017, there was a violent clash when racists harmed progressive protesters. One racist neo-Nazi murdered one young woman with a car in the crowd. Her name was Heather Heyer. Many people were injured by the Neo-Nazi too. Donald Trump said the racist remark that there were fine people on both sides. That is an outright lie. The alt right terrorists were filled with hatred. This extremism didn't end in 2017. These fascists invaded the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The federal government has warned that threats for more political violence is real. Trump said that he knows who the officer who shot Ashii. We know about this fascism, because our ancestors were victims of this fascism. So, we have to be aware of these things. This fascist white racist threat is the biggest threat to our democracy since the American Civil War. I'm not exaggerating. This is real.
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Tons of Political Developments.
Now, the Senate passed the infrastructure bill. It has been a long time coming. This is part of the long legacy of infrastructure building in American society like the Transcontinental Railroads, the interstate highway, and other events. Now, the bill comes into the House for reconciliation. If it passes reconciliation, then it will be signed into law by President Joe Biden. The infrastructure bill is very historic, and only 19 Republicans (including even Mitch McConnell) voted for it in the House. Progressives in the House want the bill to be accompanied by the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill. We are over trickled down economics (which was popularized during the 1980's) as that economic philosophy never worked. A law passed will help schools and build up jobs to build our roads and bridges. Such a law will expand broadband Internet to urban and rural communities that need stronger Internet services. It will deal with the code red reality of climate change that is causing record wildfires all over the West coast and the massive heatwaves worldwide (not just in the States). This is a significant, historical moment and and a victory for the Biden administration. Therefore, making sure that the infrastructure bill is completely made into law is of the utmost importance.
The disaster in Afghanistan is beyond the actions of one man. For decades, Afghanistan have experienced war and turmoil. Back during the 1970's, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan after a government was overthrown. The mujaheddin was funded by Western interests to defeat the Soviets. After the Soviets left, extremists ran Afghanistan with support from Reagan. Then, the Taliban became the enemy of the West. 9/11 occurred, and the invasion of Afghanistan took place on October 7, 2001 (during NFL Football games. I remember that time just like yesterday). Now, the Taliban is rapidly take territories all over especially Northern Afghanistan in 2021. As American troops leave the nation, the war continues. The neo-cons and the extremists are angry that Biden planned on leaving early. Yet, permanent occupation in Afghanistan with U.S. military troops is an impossible task. Our nation of America spent billions of dollars in that war. Through 4 consecutive administrations, we have seen military involvement in Afghanistan directly or indirectly. The Taliban is certainly wrong in their terrorism by overrunning six provincial capitals. At least 175,000 civilians have died from the Afghanistan war lasting almost 2 decades. The Taliban has recently captured Zaranj and Kunduz. Western imperialists and the Taliban has committed war crimes in the region for years. There is no long term solution in the region without a long term political plan where the Afghanistan people have their own sense of independence. That plan won't be easy either. Although, it must be done.
By Timothy