Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Let's see how efficient DOGE is when citizens ask for information under FOIA


Help Jamie Raskin protect your right to privacy with this simple form. Request a full personal report from the DOGE

Department of Government Efficiency and Digital Service, 736 Jackson Place, Washington D.C. 20503.
I've been wondering where are the congressional representatives standing up to the Trump administration? You too? Well, here's Jamie Raskin again, standing up, speaking out, and fighting back even though he's already a target for retribution because of his service on the United States House Select Committee on the January 6th Attack.
It's fast and easy. You're filling a Freedom of Information Act request for documents held by the federal government about you. You've had this right since 1966 with the enactment of the law.
Exercise your right so it won't go away.
You'll feel great exercising your Constitutional Right!
Use it or lose it.
You can't leave it up to someone else to do it for you.
The Bill of Rights doesn't mention privacy specifically but the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 9th, and 14th Amendments have been interpreted to provide protection: privacy of religion (1st), of home (3rd), of person and possessions (4th), to protect privacy rights more generally: "...shall not be construed to deny or disparage others [privacy rights] retained by the people", and the Liberty Clause of the 14th Amendment: "No State shall... deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."
Mine is ready for the mail.


Link to form:
https://jamieraskin.com/doge-privacy-act-requests/ or click on Raskin picture above.

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Hate is built on fear and misunderstanding - Trying learning first



(Illustration for ProPublica)

 Watching Bill Maher last night and he repeated what those who understand the meaning of "freedom of speech" know: the First Amendment only protects your speech from government censorship --- not employer, church, organization, or friends and family's opinions of your speech. 

So, here's content to help you understand what is going on in our country today and has been going on for generations. I do not support this content, period. But I defend the right of free speech even where its position is different from my own. If I didn't, then it would not be "free speech." It would be limited to those in favor by the government.

I showed an early 2000 version of this documentary, also by Frontline (one of the finest collective of truth tellers we have) in my communications law classes and was always amazed by the number of students (ages 18-60) who weren't aware of the level of hate in the U.S. or its explosion with the internet providing anonymous interaction.

Trump joked once in his first administration that he was opening "Pandora's Box". Indeed, he has, around the world. It is unfathomable to me that an individual can look at a whole group of people, or even just another person, who looks different, and hate them/him/ser simply based on that one moment of observation. Would not instead instinctively express curiosity and interest and understanding. It is unfathomable to me to picture a bunch of white supremacists or what nationalists, or christian nationalists (I will not respect these christians with a "C"), or any other fear driven hate group plotting away without their favorite snack foods: tacos, pizza, fried chicken, asian foods just like the rest of us. It's Paczki Season regardless of your religion, don'cha know. Personally, my go to food is Mediterranean, not those German foods of my heritage. How can they hate the people but enjoy all the rich contributions those people have made to American culture. MUSIC!!!! PEOPLE!!!! MUSIC!!!!! ART!!! MATHEMATICS!!! COMMUNICATION!!! SCIENCES!!!!....

I'm a white-bread, almost middle-class kid who paid attention to simple lessons of American Native peoples. I respect the earth, I don't believe it takes a building to find and a deity and give thanks. Go stand in your favorite forest, farmland, desert, shoreline and give thanks for the richness of American culture because of the traditions and cultural influences that came as "your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" came to our shores. How many St. Patrick's Day celebrants have the faintest notion of what Irish, Italian, German, Polish, and (your culture here) went through when they arrived here? This country didn't and doesn't keep its promises.

I have sat in conversations with a myriad of Flint neighbors, generally Arab, Asian, Cuban, Latinx, Black and white and found myself laughing along as the conversation flowed through holiday preparations and FOOD! There isn't a culture that doesn't rely on FOOD! to fix, comfort and celebrate. I've compared religions and nodded my head as parents expressed frustrations with teens...as well as fear for their teens in a country that gives law enforcement a pass for shooting people of color first, forget asking questions. I've looked at my own students --- I love all my students from the first day. It may not last for either of us, but to know that these endearing individuals will be at risk walking to their cars after my class spikes my fear and is unforgivable in a country that promises equal protection.

Learning from one another is the only way to breakdown the walls of difference that instigate fear and hate. The woman in the hijab needs to work just like me, likes the same music I do, takes her kids to soccer just like my kids do, and practices her First Amendment protected choice of religion, wait for it! just as
I do. Imagine that? Of course, I am privileged only by the color of my skin, to a greater protection to do than she is. Imagine that? (really pause for a moment and imagine the influence your skin color has on your movement through this country daily. Nothing about your character or contribution to society, simply skin color.

Watch and understand please.


“The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram” is part of a collaborative investigation from FRONTLINE and ProPublica. The documentary premieres March 25 at 10 p.m. EDT/9 p.m. CDT on PBS stations (check local listings) and will be available to stream on YouTube, the PBS App and FRONTLINE’s website.


The Rise and Fall of Terrorgram: Inside a Global Online Hate Network - article from Frontline

Monday, March 3, 2025

Salute to Countries Standing Up Against Trump's game

 


Photo: Reuters

SALUTE to the EU, Canada and Australia for, imagine, inviting Ukraine to the table for a peace initiative for that country.

Why can't the U.S. elected leaders?

Bullies are known to run when pushed back. Any politicos in the US willing to stand up and push back on three gutless, shameful bullies (T, V, M)?

Want to do something on behalf of the democracy, but not sure what?



More than 100 years of protecting the rights of all Americans. Membership open to all. 

It is actively campaigning to prevent H.R.8281 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): SAVE Act from passing.

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Whatever capacity you have. You decide.
Remember: Act to protect your rights or they will go away.

Saturday, March 1, 2025

I Stand with Zelensky and Ukraine - Again, that would be democracy!

I stand with Zelensky & Ukraine!

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky                   Photo NDTV

I stand with Zelenskyy & Ukraine!
Indeed, the Ukraine War is not a card game and while Trump is trying to take credit for making a deal and winning the game. Zelensky and Ukrainians are dying to protect their democracy, their families, resources, and boundaries.

U.S. bullies gang up on President Zelensky.             Photo: Reuters

Shame on Trump and Vance for their very childish bullying behavior in the White House yesterday. Such shameful behavior by representatives purporting to stand for ME. This isn't about the two of them getting a groveling "thank you." It is about doing the humane thing. Not in their DNA I guess.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas   Virginia Mayo, Association Press

Salute to European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas who called it like it is: "“Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader." (America no longer has a qualified credible leader, my translations).
Good on the rest of the world for calling the U.S. out for what it has done to itself by electing a spoiled rotten rich kid who just wants more for himself.* 


Newsweek (February 13, 2025) Trump 'Feeling Untouchable'

Trump sees himself as so untouchable that the damage he does the country, its government and the rest of the world is nothing more to him than the cost of him doing business for himself.
This is all a made-for-tv drama starring Trump, thus the importance of him tracking media hits and popularity polls. The people are nothing more than expendable extras.



*According to the BBC (March 1, 2025) The leaders of Germany, France, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Spain, were among those who posted social media messages backing Ukraine. Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Romania, Sweden and Slovenia have also sent supportive messages to Ukraine.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Use your purchasing power to combat discrimination and other issues

 

I am disengaging with the following businesses (among those on the DemocratsAbroad.org list below) for the speed in which they dropped their equity (DEI) commitment in light of the new administration and are supporting Project 2025.  

Others I am dropping, such as my Prime/Amazon account, because Bezo doesn't need my money (his employees do), nor do any of the other would be oligarchs in Trump's gang. I am checking the equity policies of my favorite grocery stores now. If they don't have a policy. I'm asking for one. If they can't provide it. Their gone. That should be interesting. How will I ever feed my cats?!

We can best reach business and industry by withdrawing our business from them. It is one of the simple acts that sends a significant message. Visit non-partisan GoodsUniteUs.com website to see how spending impacts politics.

Call your representatives. 5calls.org makes it effortless.
Volunteer in the political, governmental arena of your choice.

I plan to volunteer with the ACLU to help keep the lawsuits flowing into the courts to protect our country from the loss of our democracy. Not on my watch, we won't.

And I'll protest.

Think about the resources and networks you have and do what you can. If we ignore the issue, we will lose the rights at risk. Please don't think it won't reach you.

So long
  • Amazon/Prime - it was a waste of money anyway - I'm a local shopper
  • ACE Hardware - love the root beer
  • Allegiant Air - cheap flights to Florida
  • Arby's - market sandwiches, waaaa!
  • Bacardi and Cokeeeeeee! -Oh no!
  • Chiquita
  • Dole
  • Hersey - That means Cadbury actually because its made by Hersey in the states, fyi
  • Marshalls & Home Goods
  • Proctor & Gamble has so many product brands - got to do a search
  • Smucker's Strawberry Jam for my PB&J's w/carrots on the side
  • Walmart and Sam's Club - moving to Costco, which recently rejected a shareholder proposal to end its DEI program.
  • MacDonalds
Most of these are pretty easy for me to avoid. Some will be inconvenient. I always treat myself to a McD's unsweetened ice tea after doctors' appointments. Others, as much as I appreciated them, will be replaced by too many options in this market place.

I won't be perfect at it. How could I possibly keep track of the international marketplace and its respect for its employees? If others join me, our collective voice will make a dent. I may not win the war, but I intend to leave battle scars.

The list below was originally posted by Emily Curtis and Heather Cox Richardson
February 18, 2025

Here is a list of companies openly supporting Project 2025.
*And for those of you leary of the reliability, I have checked these companies against the donations registered on Goods Unite Us and they correspond. GoodsUniteUs.com

The list below was created by Democrats Abroad. DemocratsAbroad.org



Friday, November 15, 2024

A Free Speech Lesson: The Onion and Sandy Hook families think out of the box

God bless The Onion and the Sandy Hook families for thinking outside the box to disrupt the lies and the liars who lie them.

Alex Jones in Washington DC in 2018. Photograph: Jim Bourg/Reuters 
Alex Jones in Washington DC in 2018. Photograph: Jim Bourg/Reuters

The 1st Amendment protects our speech from government control, not from harming others and for your own personal gain. Go ahead, say what you want, defamation law will demand you step up and take responsibility for the harm you cause. Lesson learned.