The closing line was tough, but appropriate. I feel your same frustration with making editorial decisions on where to concentrate my efforts. I'm going to get some kind of algorithm that helps me choose, as long as it's not a DOGE algo.
When I lived a quarter mile from the Rio Grande back in the 70s, a little boy came up to our trailer and asked if he and his parents could have water from our hose. I, of course, said yes. They were wet from their crossing, and drank thirstily. They thanked us and walked off toward the railroad tracks, heading north, as the sun was going down. I could not get that kid out of my head and imagined him coming from the mountains I saw in the distance from our back step. I wrote a story about him and his family I called, "Perro Mountain." I lost it in one of our many moves, and I am sure it was facile, like all my youthful writing. But I still think about him and his family and what happened to them.
"Oh God, thy sea is so great and my boat is so small." That's where we are right now, in the middle of a storm tossed sea of corruption, greed, and malevolence. We have to unite and act with great prejudice to convince our Democratic leaders to their Job, to represent the people. And we have to do ours to claw back our democracy. We don't really have a choice now, do we?
As a union member (AFSCME and AFT), I am hopeful that workers and our allies will find the creativity and courage we have seen in decades past.
As a Quaker, I'm proud that we were the first faith group to bring lawsuits in opposition to mass deportation efforts. The silence of most churches in the face of fascism is more than disappointing.
As an old guy with mobility limitations with responsibilities as a caregiver, I regret that my impulses for resistance may be greater than my abilities to carry them out.
Everyone can do something. Not all of us can march in the streets, sing protest songs, or otherwise staff the battlements. But everyone can speak out, can write their legislators, can talk to their neighbors and fellow churchgoers.
I take comfort and resolve in knowing you are out there, David.
I too have felt the pummeling of information hard to bear. I’m gutted by the environmental firings and I know it’s just the beginning. Hoping to have my own essay up tonight or tomorrow.
I admire the discipline and breadth of your writing as much as I admire your style. I am glad you are writing about environmental policy, especially in Texas. Everyone interested in current events in Texas should subscribe!
These are tough times for those paying attention. Today was more Ukraine. It’s bad enough that Putin chose my birthdate to invade. To top it off winter comes to Texas (snowflake alert!) but maybe, just maybe the power stays on. Small but important victories provide hope in spite of it all. Stay sane.
I have to admit that I was one of the people who thought that the policies of the Trump Administration would be focused on retribution and grievance, rather than ideology; but I further believed that there institutional and constitutional guardrails that would mitigate Trump's worst policies. I must admit that I was very misguided. We are in the midst of what very well might be the most destructive and vindictive administration in American history.
My family has been active in the Democratic Party since 1910. My grandfather worked in the Presidential campaigns of William Jennings Bryan, and later, President Wilson. My family on both sides were strong supporters of FDR and the New Deal. I am totally angry and saddened by what our nation has become.
My mother was a Civil Service employee from 1935 to 1949, when I was born. And I followed her and worked under 7 Presidents, for SSA, for 46 years. It was a great honor of my life to work for the federal government. The assault on the Civil Service is cruel and vindictive.
The Trump Administration's domestic policies are wretched enough; but it's foreign policy is leading us into a wasteland of the two scurrilous ideas of modern times, Appeasement and Isolationism. Neville Chamberlain and Daladier would be very proud. Remember the Munich Agreement which led to the worst loss of life in human history.
My father led his Artillery Battalion ashore on D-Day, and would be ashamed of the new leaders of our military forces.
All of us must be strong, resolute, and be righteously angry with these fools who have usurped our sacred values, and the democratic, liberal institutions of representative government.
The closing line was tough, but appropriate. I feel your same frustration with making editorial decisions on where to concentrate my efforts. I'm going to get some kind of algorithm that helps me choose, as long as it's not a DOGE algo.
No matter your topic, you always write elegantly and from the heart. We need people like you to keep the spotlight on Texas and her many sins.
When I lived a quarter mile from the Rio Grande back in the 70s, a little boy came up to our trailer and asked if he and his parents could have water from our hose. I, of course, said yes. They were wet from their crossing, and drank thirstily. They thanked us and walked off toward the railroad tracks, heading north, as the sun was going down. I could not get that kid out of my head and imagined him coming from the mountains I saw in the distance from our back step. I wrote a story about him and his family I called, "Perro Mountain." I lost it in one of our many moves, and I am sure it was facile, like all my youthful writing. But I still think about him and his family and what happened to them.
"Oh God, thy sea is so great and my boat is so small." That's where we are right now, in the middle of a storm tossed sea of corruption, greed, and malevolence. We have to unite and act with great prejudice to convince our Democratic leaders to their Job, to represent the people. And we have to do ours to claw back our democracy. We don't really have a choice now, do we?
For those of a certain age, resistance to what is happening in Washington and in Austin will be the ultimate challenge of our lives. Onward!
As a union member (AFSCME and AFT), I am hopeful that workers and our allies will find the creativity and courage we have seen in decades past.
As a Quaker, I'm proud that we were the first faith group to bring lawsuits in opposition to mass deportation efforts. The silence of most churches in the face of fascism is more than disappointing.
As an old guy with mobility limitations with responsibilities as a caregiver, I regret that my impulses for resistance may be greater than my abilities to carry them out.
Everyone can do something. Not all of us can march in the streets, sing protest songs, or otherwise staff the battlements. But everyone can speak out, can write their legislators, can talk to their neighbors and fellow churchgoers.
I take comfort and resolve in knowing you are out there, David.
I too have felt the pummeling of information hard to bear. I’m gutted by the environmental firings and I know it’s just the beginning. Hoping to have my own essay up tonight or tomorrow.
I admire the discipline and breadth of your writing as much as I admire your style. I am glad you are writing about environmental policy, especially in Texas. Everyone interested in current events in Texas should subscribe!
These are tough times for those paying attention. Today was more Ukraine. It’s bad enough that Putin chose my birthdate to invade. To top it off winter comes to Texas (snowflake alert!) but maybe, just maybe the power stays on. Small but important victories provide hope in spite of it all. Stay sane.
Happy Birthday, Don!
Thanks for your readership and support.
I have to admit that I was one of the people who thought that the policies of the Trump Administration would be focused on retribution and grievance, rather than ideology; but I further believed that there institutional and constitutional guardrails that would mitigate Trump's worst policies. I must admit that I was very misguided. We are in the midst of what very well might be the most destructive and vindictive administration in American history.
My family has been active in the Democratic Party since 1910. My grandfather worked in the Presidential campaigns of William Jennings Bryan, and later, President Wilson. My family on both sides were strong supporters of FDR and the New Deal. I am totally angry and saddened by what our nation has become.
My mother was a Civil Service employee from 1935 to 1949, when I was born. And I followed her and worked under 7 Presidents, for SSA, for 46 years. It was a great honor of my life to work for the federal government. The assault on the Civil Service is cruel and vindictive.
The Trump Administration's domestic policies are wretched enough; but it's foreign policy is leading us into a wasteland of the two scurrilous ideas of modern times, Appeasement and Isolationism. Neville Chamberlain and Daladier would be very proud. Remember the Munich Agreement which led to the worst loss of life in human history.
My father led his Artillery Battalion ashore on D-Day, and would be ashamed of the new leaders of our military forces.
All of us must be strong, resolute, and be righteously angry with these fools who have usurped our sacred values, and the democratic, liberal institutions of representative government.
This will be an existential struggle.
Fight for what is fair and just.
E Pluribus Unum