#i ask her for support in making a decision that adheres to her new policy about a specific work duty because I WANT to do the thing

[femvaylin]

Frantically googling how to stop trusting people

[zanzawnzwn]

CLIPPINGS OF ETHICAL ISSUES IN THE PHILIPPINES

  The philippines face numerous ethical issues surrounding several topics and situations. I will do my best to discuss and analyze Ethical issues on the following:

Politics Entertainment sports academe The medical Field

1. POLITICS

Okay, so let’s start off with probably the area that has the most ethical issues. Operation Oplan tokhang was rolled out by our current Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte when he won the presidency back in 2016. The goal of the operation was part of Duterte’s ideology to completely eradicate drug pushers and dealers in the country. The problem, however, is that suspects are outright killed in their homes without search warrants or proper jurisdiction. It was by the words of General Dela Rosa that the war on drugs is peppered with the words “neutralize” and “negate” or in other words by Dela Rosa, to kill.

Let’s wind the clock a bit back when Marcos was the president. It was during his time that economy of the philippines had a dramatic rise and fall because of the heavy dependance of foreign loans and policies surrounding monopolies by greedy businessmen that escalated to income inequality and corruption among the senate. 

If that wasn’t enough, not only did the Marcoses dropped the economy significantly by plunging it to debts and loans, but they also flaunted it - especially Imelda Marcos. Imelda would often buy extravagant designer dresses and footwear and would not hesitate to show-off either. Her constant hobby to buy anything expensive and flaunting it after was dubbed as “ the Imelda Marcos syndrome.

2. ENTERTAINMENT

We all know what Media ethics is right? Media ethics is a set of rules and standards that apply to various forms of media (duh). Journalists should make sure that the photographs they use are authentic. They should also make sure that they are not altered or fake. 

 But there are also cases where a journalist has a conflict of interest due to the corporate interests of the news organization he or she works for. The journalist must then decide if he or she will pursue the report or surrender to the reality of economics.

Going back to the drug war mentioned in politics, many journalists risk their jobs and even their lives to gather enough evidence for the exposure of extra judicial killings and murder of innocent people here in the Philippines. Many journalists also try to uncover corruption within the government itself.

3.SPORTS

In 2005, the UAAP suspended DLSU for one year from all sports activities. The reason behind this was due to negligence. The school admitted that it unknowingly fielded two players who were ineligible in 2004 and won that year’s basketball championship. The school returned the trophy and then asked for a  one-year leave of absence from all sports activities.

The UAAP had already planned to punish DLSU long before the decision on their merits was made. It was very obvious that they wanted to punish the school for its attitude of winning at all costs.  Matibag denied making the allegations during an interview that was published in The STAR last year.

Matibag did not want to be part of an investigating committee that was supposed to probe a case. He did not want to create any impression that he was prejudging the matter.

4. ACADEMY

There was a case where a senior high-school student admitted that she lost the motivation and will to go to school because of constant bullying.

“I don’t want to go to school before because they always bully me and that makes me sad,” [she] said. “

The set of ethical and moral virtues in schools should always be adhered by students and teachers alike. But of course we all know that the fundamental saying “Be nice to me and I’ll be nice to you” is full of crap because we all know well that kids can be cruel no matter what you do.

What’s worse is that a teacher’s job is to recognize that interest and welfare of learners are his first and foremost concern. But obviously it goes unnoticed most of the time, speaking from experience.

5. MEDICAL FIELD

Ethical issues surrounding the medical field in the Philippines starts first  with the rights and safety of the patient. I remember watching the news one night of a nurse being abusive to one of the elderly patients, and that got me thinking “How was he hired in the first place?”

But now I learned the ethical challenges in the medical field isn’t just limited to that. There’s also consent of the patients, sufficient and equity of resources, and confidentiality of the patients 

Lastly is the salaries of nurses and doctors. The economic issues for nurses here in the philippines is that the risk is too high and the pay is too low, a reason in which nurses here in the philippines are pushing through a resolution with their salaries. That is why most Nurses tend to work abroad for a better life with higher income to support their families.

[the-busy-ghost]

Ok so, I’ve no idea what I’m talking about, I’m not a law student or even that good at being political, but I need to get it out there. Regardless of whether I’m in favour of dissolving the union or not on any particular day, I’m just not convinced that that’s something the PM- especially not one who neither resides in Scotland nor has a Scottish majority- is competent to decide upon?

Like Scotland voted to remain in the union in 2014, which means it voted to accept the laws passed at Westminster by the government and prime minister elected for that parliament. So absolutely if the PM passes a law that doesn’t conflict with either devolved powers or existing Scots law on the subject, we have to abide by it. But the right to self-determination, I feel stands somewhere above that because that’s literally the decision whether we have to obey those laws at all, which has always rested with Scotland as a supposedly EQUAL partner in this union.

For example, Scotland voted in 2014 to remain a part of the United Kingdom. This meant that when Westminster voted to hold a referendum on EU membership Scotland was rightly subject to that, regardless of the debate on how the result was to affect us. And if the UK had decided to stay in the EU we would have agreed to be subject to its laws. But say five years later the UK thought that the mood of the country was still split on EU membership and a party was voted into power that had made a second referendum part of their manifesto had been. If the EU parliament had turned round to the UK parliament and basically said, ‘No you can only have a referendum if and when we say you can’ that would probably have been seen (rightly) as, at best, ludicrous and irrelevant, and at worst, a dangerous precedent. 

Because in my view the decision whether a country remains part of a union, or rather the RIGHT of that country to decide in the first place whether it stays or remains, even if it decides to stay (in fact ESPECIALLY if it decides to stay), only rests with that country itself. As long as a country is part of a union, it must adhere to that union’s rules, but when it comes to whether or not it should be part of that union at all, that is something it only decides itself. So like I can’t accept that the right of the Prime Minister to govern a country trumps that country’s right to self-determination- note use of self-determination- and that country’s right to decide when and where and whether that occurs.

What Scotland WOULD want Westminster’s cooperation for (cooperation mind, not approval, there are probably ways around this), in the event of a second referendum, is the use of existing democratic mechanisms to ensure that that referendum is run smoothly, fairly, and legally. Otherwise we have a Catalonian situation- but possibly there are ways in which any second referendum can give Scotland’s electorate a fair hearing without those mechanisms- perhaps by using a different, but still (inter)nationally recognised/accepted, official mechanism wherein the current governments of Scotland and the UK both cannot be accused of unfair influence- but that’s not what I’m mulling over at the moment really.

But it’s an open and difficult question, and probably has a million different subtleties. It’s not the only subtle question we should be asking either- I’m not entirely convinced that everyone who voted for the SNP in the most recent general election would necessarily agree with the idea that the SNP now have a mandate that for a second independence referendum either- I think a lot of left-wingers who would prefer Scotland to remain in the UK probably took one for the team, and voted SNP rather than let the Tories run riot north of the border (which is, in my opinion, a HUGE improvement on the kind of petty squabbling between Labour, the SNP, and other left-wing parties from a few years ago, but I digress). So I do have a feeling that the SNP run a risk of splitting the Scottish electorate again (with dire results for Scottish unity in the face of what I consider to be damaging Tory policies) if they push the idea that voting SNP = condoning a second indy ref. But at the same time, it IS basically logical that, if Boris Johnson is allowed to assume that the majority south of the border voting Tory = support for his Brexit plans, then the First Minister could theoretically assume that the majority north of the border voting SNP means the same re: her party’s manifesto statement that a vote for the SNP was “a vote for Scotland’s right to choose our own future in a new independence referendum”. In reality I think it’s more subtle and complex than that but like, even the most straightforward view of the situation has to be satisfactorily answered.

But personally, I believe, that the most basic and simple human logic dictates that only people residing and governing in Scotland (and it has to be both, not just the latter), have any real right to decide on whether Scotland remains in the union or not, and are the only ones with the right to claim that same right to self-determination. (And I DON’T currently reside in Scotland, and by the time I next get to make the decision on whether to go back or not, I will have been three years out of the country, so it’s not even a brief thing- therefore I have less right to decide whether Scotland remains in the union thank I think the PM does, and personally I think that’s fair). But then if it’s not Westminster we’ve to ask for another independence referendum, and it’s the Scottish people who need to be asked, what do you do anyway? Hold a referendum about holding a referendum???

Either way probably there’s a whole legal answer to this that I don’t know about, I’m not an expert in modern laws, constitutions, or politics. In fact, I’m so ignorant, I don’t even know if it’s already been decided and accepted in Scots law nor what EU law on the imaginary scenario I outlined above is- I’m merely imagining the human and media reactions, not the strict legalities of the situation. Honestly I thought the question was decided seven hundred years ago but I’m not so well up on the terms of the 1707 union so again that’s just personal opinion, and anyway, I’ve long been a proponent of the “mediaeval politics may influence but shouldn’t decide modern politics” view. But I do think the right to self-determination is going to be an eminently debatable question that will be of great interest over the next few years- and even if Scotland intends to stay in the union (actually, especially), I think we still need to settle that question of the right to self-determination. It’s probably something that should be decided upon by Scotland’s lawyers whether we end up holding a second independence referendum or not- it’s a gaping constitutional hole that’s only going to get bigger otherwise.

But Scotland’s got a long history of posing fascinating constitutional questions so here’s to the fair hearing of another, even if doesn’t go the way I want. If I don’t fade away from anxiety first, it’s going to be a very interesting few years.

[sablelab]

Covert Operations - Chapter 50

DISCLAIMER: This is a modern AU crossover story with Outlander and La Femme Nikita. LFN and its characters do not belong to me nor do those from Outlander.

SYNOPSIS: Jamie and Claire see at first hand the business that Madame Cheung is in and Claire is troubled by the exploitation of the girls there.  When they return to the house, she discusses her disgust and abhorrence with Jamie.

Woo! Hoo! Chapter 50! ... THANK YOU so much for coming on this journey with me to the covert world of Section One. I appreciate each and every one of you who has embraced this story and read each chapter I have posted. I hope you are enjoying this rollercoaster ride of Jamie and Claire and the life they lead as operatives in trying to capture the terrorists and those who would do harm. I have really valued your support over the last 49 chapters.  To those who may have just found this story, I say THANK YOU as well for reading, liking or reblogging my story.  Previous chapters can be found … below.

Chapters 1 - 50 can be found at …https://sablelab.tumblr.com/covertoperations

 CHAPTER 50

  Madame Cheung’s new club was a short distance further along the street and they soon took a sharp left and turned into what appeared to be a forbidding alley. This lane was very different from others they had passed. It was covered overhead with large canopies that stretched from one side to the other and almost appeared to be air-conditioned as it was significantly cooler than out on the main road.  Along the way numerous neon signs flickered advertising the different nightclubs and bars where people could be entertained for a price. Hustlers from two or three of the similar clubs beckoned any potential clients to come closer to inspect the entertainment available while Thai hawkers tried to verbally entice them into their establishments.

The noise in the alleyway was boisterous not only from the spruikers but from the milling crowd that walked along the lane that the hawkers failed to notice the formidable woman and her entourage walk past.   Not realising who the important woman was with the young couple, it was only when the spruikers saw the four bodyguards looming behind that they knew who this woman really was. Their banter stopped and they stood there carefully watching as the imposing Chinese woman and her companions all ignored their requests and kept on walking. Madame Cheung gave each vendor an icy cold glare as she passed by and the others realised that their trade tonight would be diminished now that a senior member of the Rising Dragons’ Triad had arrived to inspect her new establishment.  They watched as she continued down the street towards a brightly lit sign near the end of the alley that beckoned and a logo that was more noticeable and more dazzling than that of their own establishments. 

“Come we are nearly there,” Madame Cheung announced with a decisive pride in her voice.

Beneath the flashing neon sign and amid a crush of men lined up to enter the property they reached the entrance to her new club. Raucous wolf whistles filled the evening air when the men saw the exquisite, tall brunette woman pass by thinking that she was one of the new ladies who would cater to their personal preference requests. Claire smiled but ignored their enthusiastic jibes as she bypassed those gathered. However, the men were soon silenced when Jamie wrapped his arm around Claire’s waist and cast his steely look their way signalling that the woman was indeed with him. They continued a little further down the street before entering the building by a side door and followed Madame Cheung inside where a petite Thai woman was there to greet them.

“S̄wạs̄dī - Good evening Madame,” the young girl repeated in English as she acknowledged her employer with a slight bow with the palms of her hands pressed together in a prayer-like fashion.

Madame Cheung returned the greeting.

“I see business is booming tonight Mali,” she replied most pleased knowing that the crowd outside her business establishment was considerable, which meant that these paying customers would indeed add to the coffers of the triad tonight.

“Yes, Madame Cheung ... it has been very steady.”

“That is good.” She then issued another order, “Tell Suchin I wish to see her in my office.”

“Straight away Madame,” she replied making her way out of the office to find the person in question.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A short while later a beautiful Thai girl with glowing skin and beautiful ebony hair appeared in Madame Cheung’s office where she was conversing with Jamie and Claire trying to impress Le Comte St Germain as to the success of her establishment here in Patpong. She stopped talking when she realised that the girl had entered the office.

“Ah, Suchin, come in my dear. I am very impressed ... you have done wonders here in managing the club,” Madame Cheung said as the girl approached her desk. “I have been examining the books and I see our profits are up 100 percent from last week. Great work.”

“Thank you Madame,” Suchin replied a little embarrassed by the compliment.

Madame Cheung merely smiled and turning her attention towards her two guests she stated, “I’d like to introduce Monsieur Le Comte St Germain and my newest protégé Claire Beauchamp.” The Thai girl nodded her head in greeting as Madame Cheung continued. “Would you show them around? Monsieur Le Comte is thinking of becoming my business partner so he will want to see how things operate here.” “Certainly Madame ... follow me please,” she urged gesturing to the two Section One operatives to follow her out of the office little knowing that they were doing reconnaissance on the building for their future plans.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As Jamie and Claire exited the office, they saw a stairway leading upwards to another level. Tuneful music could be heard coming from the second floor and they proceeded up the stairs to find a room where padded bench-style seating ran along the back of the wall. The area looked very comfortable and a well-stocked bar ran alongside the opposite far wall. There were several escort girls congregating near the dance stage and some more in a curved corner of the bench seating waiting for the male clientele they knew would soon be here from outside. A number of the girls looked no older than teenagers and Claire cast a probing look Jamie’s way, but he merely responded with his patent blank stare. However, she immediately knew exactly what he was thinking without communicating one word. Those non-verbal responses were a pattern between the two of them and Claire responded with a sight tilt of her head in understanding. Her eyes scanned the upper floor with interest and when she noticed a young scantily dressed dancer was getting ready to perform, an eerie feeling of déjà vu weighed heavily on Claire.  This club was similar to what she had worked in, in Hong Kong, when Oliver Chan had approached her.  These kinds of establishments were obviously typical for the Rising Dragons and were used to lure young women into prostitution with little or no way out. It made her feel sick to the stomach. The vile taste of bile rose in her throat and Claire swallowed the acrid fluid quickly when their hostess spoke. “Would you care for something to drink?” Suchin asked as they approached the bar area. Turning back to face the Thai girl after casting a covert glance around the room as well Jamie replied, “Cha ... thank you.”

A little surprised at his beverage request she answered, “Of course, Monsieur Le Comte.  Tea is certainly more refreshing in this heat. And you ma’am?”

“I agree, tea sounds perfect. Thank you.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Suchin ordered the tea to be brought to a table near the bar and when it arrived, she poured the hot brew into the small oriental cups then passed them to Jamie and Claire. They placed the cups to their lips and drank while their eyes surreptitiously surveyed the surroundings once more.

As they drank, she began to promote the wonderful things about the club to Madame Cheung’s potential partner and in particular the policy to which all the patrons of the club must adhere.

“There are certain rules here Monsieur Le Comte that Madame insists upon. For one thing, there are no drugs and the other, safe sex.”

“Commendable indeed,” Jamie replied.

“Yes, Madame Cheung insists that the girls are tested regularly for drug use or any sexually transmitted diseases.” 

“The girls appear young,” Claire stated casting her eye around the room at the girls who were waiting for the male patrons to enter.

Ready with an appropriate response Suchin elaborated, “Yes we like to train them early Miss Beauchamp. In actual fact we rescue them from rural poverty, for many are the youngest in large families that are already struggling to make ends meet. It is truly a blessing that Madame Cheung is so benevolent to her girls.”  

Her answer was indicative of them being a godsend for the girls working there rather than the true answer to their plight and Claire was inwardly seething at her flippant reply. It took all of her willpower to bite her tongue and if not for Jamie continuing the conversation, she may have said something she would have regretted.  

“Interesting you should say that Suchin. That is my line of occupation too,” Jamie stated with a forced smile on his face as if this information was normal practise for all of these establishments. “Ah, I can see now why Madame wants to be in business with you Monsieur,” Suchin replied with a tacit understanding as to her employer’s motives in seeking to form a partnership with this man. “Madame Cheung is like a mother to them ... a role model for the girls. They love this work.” The words were spoken so naturally and with complete pride in her voice that Claire nearly spilt the tea down her dress as she chocked on a mouthful of the hot brew. She found herself listening with a heavy heart. The frustrations building inside her were being exacerbated the more the Thai girl extolled the virtues of Madame Cheung. Claire was appalled at the underlying underbelly of her business which ultimately was the exploitation of young gullible and innocent poor victims. When they had finished their tea, Suchin announced, “Shall we go? I have more I would like to show you.” “Certainly.” Moving back below, they proceeded with their inspection of Madame Cheung’s latest establishment from the discreet quiet quarters for tète et tètes to the more public rooms where girls mingled with the clientele. In one such area there were several banquette lounges, and a number of the men who had been waiting outside now intermingled with the beautifully attired Thai and other Asian girls. The new club certainly catered for all kinds of decadent requests and sensing Claire’s distaste in the whole situation, Jamie indicated that he had seen enough, and requested that they return to Madame Cheung’s office. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Looking up from her ledgers as she heard them all enter the office Madame Cheung proclaimed, “Ah, you are back. I trust that Suchin showed you all around our modest establishment Monsieur St Germain?”

“Yes she was very thorough,” Jamie replied smiling at her but at the same time trying to keep the disgust out of his voice.

Madame Cheung was most pleased at this statement.  “Good. So, Monsieur Le Comte ... have you reached a decision?” Her expression was hopeful as she looked at him and waited for his reply.

“I believe we can do business together Madame Cheung. I can definitely help you out. Do we have an agreement?” Jamie reached out his hand as she stood up to acknowledge his reply. Madame Cheung could not wipe the smile off her face. “Yes ... I think we have a perfect understanding Monsieur Le Comte ... I never doubted that would be your answer. Shall we have a drink to toast our collaboration?” “Of course.” Depressing her call button she summoned for champagne to be sent to the office. “Mali... bring my best champagne ... we have cause to celebrate.” “At once Madame.”

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Here’s to a most beneficial association for the Rising Dragons ... and for me. I believe that you will go far in our organisation Monsieur Le Comte.” “Merci, you are too kind Madame Cheung ... but I’m sure your association with me will be the better one. I have plans for you Madame that you will not be able to resist.” “Sounds intriguing Monsieur ... I look forward to that and so much more from our association ... May it be a long and successful one.” “Oh it will be very successful ... I can assure you.”

Jamie’s ambiguous answer given to this terrorist who soon would feel the wrath of an interrogation in the White Room was cause for a wry smile not only from him but from Claire as well who could not wait until this woman was no longer around to inflict more hardship on vulnerable young women.  

Later that evening ... 

Jamie noticed Claire’s quietness and melancholic mood since returning from Madame Cheung’s club this evening, and as she sat down, he broached the cause of her disquiet.

“Sassenach, what's wrong?” 

“Jamie, I just need to talk.” Little did he know that she would unburden all of her pent-up frustration at what she had seen. “We have to do something ... this can’t go on. Those girls tonight were mere babies. It’s exploitation of the worse kind. I can’t bear this another moment.” “Listen to me Claire … You're too emotionally vested. Don’t worry ... it is all under control.” “Control? What control? These are innocent, lovely girls, born on poverty-stricken farms in Thailand and other places in Asia, who are being exploited.” Jamie tried to reply as sympathetically as he could particularly knowing Claire’s mindset at the moment.  This mission had tested her emotions and her empathy for the vulnerable women caught up in this insidious business. “Unfortunately child exploitation is prevalent in poor, underdeveloped countries Sassenach.” “Yeah ... I’ve heard the spiel before! Unscrupulous "career counsellors" and "job experts" eagerly trek to their villages seeking out these lovely underage girls. They take them to Bangkok with a promise of marriage, education, and well-paying jobs. It’s a farce Jamie ... it’s sickening.” “That’s the business Le Comte St. Germain and Madame Cheung are in mo nighean donn.” “What did Suchin call it? ... Ah ... yes ... We like to rescue them from rural poverty because they like to train them early.” Jamie could see that his Claire was upset by what she had seen and witnessed and tried to diffuse the situation with some words that would ease her distress to what would happen.  “We will do something about it Sassenach. Madame Cheung won’t be in business for much longer.” “When Jamie?” “Soon ... be patient mo ghràidh.” Claire was nearly at her wits end while the emotion in her voice indicated that she was bordering on tears.  “I have been patient Jamie ... I don’t know how much longer I can be. These girls are sold for the price of a television set or opium or for a quick baht in their parents’ pockets ... maybe even kidnapped.” “Unfortunately it's not called kidnapping if illiterate parents draw their X's on paper releasing their daughters. St. Germain was a master at doing just that … exploiting the illiteracy of the parents.” “He’s dead ... thank God! It’s duping them into selling their daughters’ souls. These trusting girls have no idea what awaits them here in Bangkok when they are forced to prance on stage and are sold like animals in a meat market Jamie. They end up with no rights and no life. It’s vile ... it makes me nauseous.”

“Dinna fash yersel' Sassenach. Once we know Madame Cheung’s schedule, we’ll implement the profile but we’ll need to know her plans for the next two days ... Just be prepared for anything.”

“Good. I’ll find out that information then,” she stated emphatically.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Claire’s passionate tirade showed her deep compassion for the oppressed innocents that Madame Cheung exploited in Hong Kong as well as here in Thailand which was obviously only the tip of the iceberg. Jamie knew that the sooner she was Section One’s guest the better it would be and the faster Claire would be released from her deep cover mission. They stared at one another in silence and Jamie watched the weariness of this mission wash over her features. She had endured a lot over the past few weeks and the subterfuge around Madame Cheung was beginning to take its toll. Claire needed closure on this mission sooner rather than later or her emotions would be further affected and the pretence life that she had embraced under the Rising Dragons’ triad needed to be done with.   In order to do this Jamie knew that his planned scenario only needed the green light from Madame Cheung herself. When they knew her movements ... he would contact Section to alert Abernathy’s secondary team to provide back up for first team, but until then they needed to be cautious and wait for the window of opportunity they needed.

His Claire needed to regain the happiness in her eyes that had been eroded bit by bit because of this mission and she needed to know what it felt liked to be loved.  Jamie knew what he needed to do to bring that spark back to her eyes and placed his hand over the small package he had put in the pocket of his jacket.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As Claire let his words sink in Jamie approached her and stood quietly until she looked up. Her eyes connected with his in inquiry for he had a look on his face that she could not quite decipher. She watched somewhat perplexed as her eyes looked at his hands then to his face before following his hand movements again to where it rested on his chest.  Unexpectedly Jamie then reached into his jacket and pulled out a small box and handed it to her. 

“What’s this?” She asked in surprise at receiving the gift but a smile bowed her mouth at his unexpected gesture. “Just open it,” he uttered softly as his fingers beat a little nervous thrum on his thigh. Jamie watched as Claire bit her lip in anticipation of what it could be, but his thoughts remembered the only other gift he’d ever given her on her first mission when he’d taken her to the restaurant. Claire had thought it was a celebratory dinner for graduating from the extensive Section One training regimen she had endured for four years, but he had dashed her hopes when he’d presented her with the gun and told her what to do. This time however, Claire’s eyes filled with wonder and unshed tears as she saw the lovely Franck Muller watch she had wanted. Looking up her eyes captured his hopeful gaze with such tenderness and gratitude at his wonderful gesture that her look pierced his heart. He had never given her anything personal before and he knew that the present was beyond priceless to Claire. At this moment he was lost for words and didn’t quite know what he should do when she stood up. “It’s lovely ... thank you Jamie,” she replied her voice choking up with emotion. Spontaneously Claire threw her arms around Jamie’s neck and kissed him, hugging him to her chest realising just what he’d done for her. His lips softly caressed hers in return tasting the salty tears that had trickled down her cheeks.  Ever so gently he brushed them away with his fingers, then reciprocating the embrace, he held her tight deepening the kiss as his lips fused with her pliable mouth once more.

Claire groaned, then picking her up, Jamie carried her into the bedroom, their conversation about Madame Cheung and child exploitation all but forgotten for the time being. 

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ to be continued

[horowitzbekker5-blog]

Release Anything

My story is that an author that 'd done online composing for such dot gones as Themestream, Created By Me, and also The Vines, someone striving to have fiction, poetry and also nonfiction in print for real, suggested PublishAmerica. She claimed it was a conventional publication author. I was struck with their slogan, "We deal with authors the old fashioned method-- we pay them." Had not been that what authors were intended to do? However considering that my novel was simply resting on the DiskUs Posting site and doing nothing but providing me with sufficient loan to acquire a pair of skate laces every three months, I believed maybe it would have a better chance over at PublishAmerica where it would be readily available as a profession dimension book both on and also off-line. So this author, Ellen Du Bois, had a big thing on her Geocities website about publications being available in brick & mortar bookstores & they would certainly have ISBN numbers and also be online and all that things. Additionally had her full dimension publication hide so I rested there for 5 minutes waiting for the damn thing to show up. Not impressive, however she liked it. Ellen was a supporter for her book as well as sent out reviews from a weekly neighborhood cloth and also she bulk e-mailed numerous pieces of correspondence throughout those spirituous days when her book was in prerelease, after that launch phase in the summer of '03. I damaged down and got a copy from Amazon.com-- took virtually 3 weeks to get. And I battled to read all 176 web pages. Tripe. Clichés abounded. Spelling/grammatical errors weren't there at the very least. But the writing was slim. The tale relocated also swiftly. The primary personality was one of the most reasonable as it was probably based on the writer. The discussion was okay. The descriptions were marginal. Had there been an actual editor, the book could've been very good. I wrote to Ellen and told her the positive things about the story, preventing the negatives thoughts. She would certainly been an on-line correspondent for almost two years, yet after I didn't assess her book on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble she didn't contact me. Practically a year later she sent me one more e-mail-- to advertise a publication of her poetry. I was simply somebody to market a book to as well as she was just thinking about the sale and with any luck a radiant write up. A Future PublishAmerica Author Since I 'd currently authorized the agreement with PublishAmerica, I wished to cancel it after reading that trash. Currently my publication would be affiliated with a business that produced almost any piece of creating that came its way. I wasn't expecting a lot what with my dealings with the extinct eNovel and also RJ's digital books, along with a tiny digital book author named Crafts Throughout America where I had not been paid monthly as promised. And my unique as well as narrative collection suffered at DiskUs, residence of the alleged Number One Best selling digital book writer of perpetuity, Leta Nolan Childers. PublishAmerica sent me an author's questionnaire where they requested for basic biographical details; cover art tips, and a lengthy checklist of individuals who could intend to review my upcoming story. " Please prepare a listing (names, and addresses,) of individuals that know you all right to be curious about your success as a writer: personal friends, colleagues, loved ones, etc., to receive a publication announcement ... Please limit your listing and your tags to an optimum of 100 get in touches with. Likewise, please do not consist of companies or companies of any type of kind, consisting of book shops, media contacts, or government companies. Consist of buddies and affiliates just." The editing process of my manuscript took two weeks over the Christmas vacations. LA restaurants had the ability to determine that the very first few pages had actually been read as some minor modifications had been made, yet no adjustments adhered to for another 50 or so web pages. Among the mistakes that happened was plainly the outcome of a spellchecker on the part of PublishAmerica as an enigma appeared after the end of a declaration. I 'd check out of real authors obtaining guidelines to alter phases, change endings, erase various web pages, in other words, really struggle to rewrite a book. Why so much initiative? Names. Track record. The publisher intended to put their name on the most effective high quality book that they had purchased. The writer desired a publication that was salable but additionally well composed as well as something they took pride in. PublishAmerica's editing consisted of neither perfect as all they did was put the computer program's spelling/grammar mosaic right into action. My 2 complimentary writer's copies showed up in very early March as well as it behaved to see my trade paperback publication in print sans a cheesy cover and stapled spinal column. 'North of Sunset' really had good looking stock cover art of a couple of silhouetted palm trees, a noticeable font, and also a spine where the book title, publisher and also writer's name appeared. It would look excellent on book shop racks, I thought of. Testimonials-- What Examines? What was Publish America doing to make sure my book was evaluated? Nothing. I made a decision to get in touch with local everyday and regular papers by e-mailing a press release. The only responses I obtained were two e-mail autoresponders introducing the editors were on holiday. I invested $40 on copies of my book's galley and mailed them to 3 national papers as well as the Collection Journal magazine. Then I phoned a book reviewer at the 'San Diego Union-Tribune' and also asked if he would certainly want evaluating my publication yet prior to I can even describe what it had to do with, he asked who my author was. I told him. "We don't evaluate publications by that author," he mentioned. I called all the regional bookstores and also talked to the managers as well as/ or area relations individuals concerning my book, consisting of a number of shops that were literally situated on the road I 'd blogged about. An independent book shop proprietor told me that because PA really did not have a return policy she was incapable to equip my book. Another said that I can sell my book on consignment. The chain stores of Borders and Barnes & Noble said my publication would certainly be offered with Ingram if any individual selected to order it. Tried getting PublishAmerica to send out testimonial duplicates out and it took them weeks to do so. Had to call as well as make certain on 2 events that guides had actually been sent by mail. Maybe estimating one of their passionate marketers on the message board, an individual with a natural wizard for advertising and the budget plan to back it up, got 3 publications sent out to reviewers. After that I sent my book to Piers Anthony, kept in mind sci-fi as well as dream writer of greater than 100 books. I would certainly been in touch with him considering that 2000 when I notified him to the truth that eNovel was a rip-off. Although the action in his books usually occurred in alternate time periods/universes, he really did not mind checking out a mainstream Hollywood novel. He did so. "North of Sundown by Lisa Maliga. She's the one noted in my Study as I'm a Released Author Ha Ha! Ha!, a pertinent caution for starry-eyed aspiring authors. Her web site www.lisamaliga.com deserves checking similarly; she informs it as it is. If you took a couple of years off my age and altered my sex, the result might appear like Lisa. North of Sunset is fun, regarding a Hollywood manufacturer as well as his temporary secretary, revealing a bargain of what I assume is fact. It is written with the omniscient perspective, which I dislike, however it held my rate of interest no matter. " I would certainly found with a distressed author on the messageboards, which I keep reading occasion, that a person was whining concerning PublishAmerica. Uncovering the Absolute Write History Inspect area I invested several hrs reading, at the time, greater than 40 web pages of problems regarding PublishAmerica. Authors not obtaining books in time for booksignings that they set up themselves. Bookstore owners/managers rejecting to stock their shelves with unedited PublishAmerica titles. Writers not able to obtain their publications assessed. Doing a search on LexisNexis, the respectable on-line legal research study system, for all PublishAmerica publications receiving paper testimonials, I saw that from July 2002 to June 2004, only 24 books had been assessed across the country. Papers in Syracuse NY, Tulsa, OK, Fort Pierce, FL, Wilmington, NC and Lakeland, FL were stood for. Just Salt Lake City's 'Deseret Morning News', the 'Tulsa Globe', 'Pittsburgh Post-Gazette' as well as the suburban paper, the 'Chicago Daily Herald' were in fact major papers. Seemingly, the 'New York Times' or the 'Los Angeles Times' were not evaluating anything by PublishAmerica's authors. According to the PublishAmerica website in the Realities and Figures area, "Fact # 3: Once more, exceptional among all standard publication posting business, each day an ordinary 15 times a PublishAmerica author shows up in the news media, in newspapers, publications, radio or TV." Yet also mathematically tested folks can identify that by using the LexisNexis search stats, we find out that the standard is a puny when a month that a PublishAmerica book gets discussed in a paper somewhere in the United States. Editing-- What's That? Below's a treasure of a post on the PublishAmerica message board: "When it appeared in book develop a month back, my friends discussed the editing and enhancing issues in it, so a buddy of mine with a masters in education and learning went through it for me. It had close to a thousand editing and enhancing errors in a 182-page book. So, have some who really recognizes what literary web content should remain in a book, go through your publication for you before you send the final draft back to PublishAmerica. Due to the fact that the last draft, IS!, just how guide will be when it appears." I discovered that via the misspellings, grammatical mistakes, as well as basic poor writing that practically any person was publishable via the 'standard' author located in Frederick, Maryland. Such posts as: "I also am not the very best editor LOL! I did get my finished books. And when I consulted with a woman that is significant in the advertising and marketing area, she informed me that my publication at it's length of 132 web pages needs to have phases." A couple of PublishAmerica writers reviewed editing and enhancing. "I felt like you did when I found mistakes, yet after that I recognized, hey individuals read it for the tale, not seeking blunders in typo land! LOL Now I just keep a keepin on!" Sales Figures Question: I 'd actually like to recognize the amount of copies I've offered. Solution: Purchase all of guides on your own and afterwards count them. No matter how naïve PublishAmerica authors showed up, they will eventually concern the realization that PublishAmerica isn't really a traditional author, specifically when those twice-yearly aristocracy checks arrived. Every few months or two PublishAmerica sent them an e-mail proclaiming their success, extoling a heavyweight author they're discussing with, or, more just recently, doing a take care of the New York Times. On August 17th, an e-mail bearing the pleased subject heading 'Marketing Our Topsellers in the New York Times' appeared in author's online mailboxes. PublishAmerica was well named because they intend to publish any individual in The United States and Canada who has churned out a manuscript, despite quality. They declare to have anywhere from 9,000 to 12,000 "pleased" writers and also they want more and more of them as that undoubtedly suggests more money for the hoggish owners, specifically Willem Meiner and also Larry Clopper. The PublishAmerica name and logo is seen as a joke to those in the media, bookstores and also collections. Publications can not be returned. All PublishAmerica titles do not have the essential CIP [Cataloging-in-Publication] information, which is essential for collections to buy titles, and also who wishes to check out unedited and overpriced tomes besides the writer's cronies? Oh yep, and also while PublishAmerica asserts that they're a 'typical publisher' why on earth do they have in their major page keyword phrases note the term 'self publishing' three times? As well as in their website's summary, they boast: "PublishAmerica, Inc., a traditional publisher, approving and also publishing manuscripts and books at ON THE HOUSE to the author. Aristocracies paid to authors, books sold in shops. Manuscript submissions by mail and online" In the beginning of September I got a royalty check. To my shock, I was not only able to manage to acquire a set of shoelaces for my skates, I forked over the $12 it set you back to develop my blades. That recognized that this company would offer extra earnings allowing me to continue participating in my recreational skating hobby? Yet it cost me more than the $160 in author-bought publications, the $40 for galleys, which were possibly plunged into a recycling bin, the $87 shade calling card, $20 press release-- as well as the many hrs building and also reconstructing my website so people would take place throughout it and also buy a book that was only available online-- like any various other book. PublishAmerica enables the misconception of being a 'typical' publisher, a term not utilized before the development of the Web, to fester. The lie is perpetrated in those HTML resource codes that search engine spider robots deliver; the future writers led to the guaranteed realm of posting, a net web of woven myths fanning across the online world. PublishAmerica resembles most various other ePublishing companies guaranteeing tales of bestselling publications and authors. PublishAmerica is just another scam, just another future dot gone. If you are a PublishAmerica author, or know of one, that is sadly released and also will certainly tell your story, please get in touch with: Federal Profession Commission attn: CRC - 240 Washington, DC 20580 FTC Consumer Problem Form Frederick County Board of Region Commissioners Winchester Hall 12 E. Church Road, Frederick, MD 21701 Telephone: 301-694-1100 Fax: 301-694-1849 www.co.frederick.md.us/BOCC/ John L. Thompson, Jr., President Winchester Hall 12 E. Church Street Frederick, MD 21701 Telephone: 301-694-1028

Fax: 301-631-23 Discuss the following factors: Your publication is not offered in traditional bookstores and collections Your book is not returnable if a bookstore owner/manager must stock it 7-year-long contract is considered in inappropriate amount of time Your book is released by a vanity press You had to pay for your own copyright PublishAmerica will not look for the CIP, which allows it to be acquired by collections PublishAmerica overprices guides PublishAmerica offers a nonstandard price cut PublishAmerica's service version is to offer to their own authors PublishAmerica's books are NOT modified-- absolutely not line-by-line as they claim on their internet site but have actually since admitted that they only edit for grammar as well as spelling PublishAmerica approves about 80% of submitted manuscripts [most authors decline 99% of their submissions] PublishAmerica will just accept charge card orders over the phone when booking for one of their workshops or to purchase your own titles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7pJcweygAg

[dipulb3]

Virginia prosecutor says Black motorist should never have been pulled over, asks for investigation

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/virginia-prosecutor-says-black-motorist-should-never-have-been-pulled-over-asks-for-investigation/

Virginia prosecutor says Black motorist should never have been pulled over, asks for investigation

Juanisha Brooks told Appradab she was driving to her Alexandria, Virginia, home on March 6 when she was stopped by a pair of Virginia State Police officers.

Trooper R.G. Hindenlang then tells Brooks the stop was for a taillight that is out, among other factors, the video shows.

Descano asked that the actions of Hindenlang and Trooper S. Kapusta, a trainee, be investigated by the police agency’s internal affairs department. He said Brooks should not have been put in the position of worrying about her safety.

Hindenlang told Brooks she was being arrested for DUI — but a later sobriety test showed she had no alcohol in her system, an investigative report says.

Appradab was unable Monday to reach Hindenlang for comment. Kapusta, through state police, declined to comment.

Corinne Geller, a Virginia State Police spokesperson, said the arrest of Brooks was the result of department policy, including determining whether a motorist may be under the influence. Brooks declined to take a sobriety test during the stop.

“Taking Ms. Brooks into custody was due to her persistent refusal to comply with the trooper’s requests,” she wrote in an email.

The request for the investigation comes amid ongoing scrutiny over alleged police misconduct and improper force against people of color.

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced last month he was looking into whether there was a “pattern of misconduct” at the Windsor Police Department after two officers pointed guns at a Black and Latino US Army officer, pepper-sprayed him and pushed him to the ground. The Army officer was released without charges.

Flashing lights and a sobriety test

The dash camera video of the traffic stop, obtained by Appradab from Brooks’ attorney, shows the two troopers were parked along an entrance ramp on I-495. They observed a Honda traveling without any headlights or taillights, tailgating other vehicles and making unsafe lane changes, says Geller.

Such actions are indicators of an impaired driver and provided reasonable suspicion for the trooper to initiate a traffic stop, Geller said in a statement.

Brooks, 34, who works as a video producer for the Defense Department and has security clearance, told Appradab that her daytime headlights were turned on and that they “were never off.”

The officers remained a few car lengths behind the suspected vehicle without their emergency lights on as the suspected vehicle’s right turn signal was left on, according to the video. Once the suspected car’s turn signal was turned off, the officer’s emergency lights and sirens were turned on, the video shows.

Brooks exited the highway and appeared to attempt to stop along the shoulder, but continued to drive, the video shows. Brooks told Appradab she continued to drive not to elude the police, but because she initially thought it was an emergency vehicle that had passed by.

She continued driving down the ramp onto South Van Dorn Street and then turned onto Oakwood Road and then came to a complete stop.

Hindenlang and Kapusta exited their vehicle and approached Brooks at the driver-side window.

Brooks is heard asking Hindenlang why he pulled her over, to which he responds, “Can you step out here? I’ll show you.” Brooks again asks the officer why she must step out of the car, to which he says “I’ll show you what’s wrong with your car.” Brooks is heard on the video asking the officer if he could tell her what’s wrong with the car.

Geller says “the trooper repeatedly asked for Ms. Brooks to exit her vehicle, so as to prevent her from driving off a second time. Ms. Brooks refused to comply, despite the trooper’s repeated requests for her cooperation.”

Hindenlang at one point tells Brooks she took off from him after a traffic stop. Brooks is heard explaining to the officer that she initially thought the officer’s vehicle was an ambulance when she pulled off the road.

Asked by the officer why her eyes were watery, Brooks is heard on the video telling the officer, “Because people are being shot by the police, I’m freaking nervous.”

Asked whether she had been drinking that night, Brooks told the officer she had a cocktail two hours prior and she refused to do a sobriety or breath test. She told Appradab she refused the test because she did not trust it because of reports of a criminal investigation into a former Fairfax County police officer who allegedly stopped motorists with no legal cause.

Hindenlang wrote in his report that based upon Brooks’ “aggressive attitude, watery eyes, odor, and admission to consuming alcohol two hours before the stop” that he advised she was under arrest for driving under the influence.

Brooks was arrested and taken to the Fairfax County jail, where she was given a sobriety test which showed her blood alcohol content level to be 0.00g/210 L, according to a copy of her blood alcohol analysis obtained by Appradab.

Brooks was charged with reckless driving, failure to activate vehicle light and illumination devices between sunrise and sunset, misdemeanor attempting to elude police, and misdemeanor obstruction of justice, according to the investigative report.

Geller, the Virginia State Police spokesperson, said in the statement the agency began a review of the incident before it heard from Descano.

“State police learned about (Brooks’) concerns through a third party and took it upon ourselves to contact her and follow up on her concerns. It was after that conversation took place that state police self-initiated an internal administrative review and investigation of the traffic stop.”

‘Sickening and unacceptable’

Brooks’ attorney, Patrick Blanch, told Appradab that Hindenlang’s actions “inevitably brings to mind the well-documented and painful experiences of minorities with law enforcement in our country.”

His client worked at Appradab as a media coordinator for seven months in 2012.

In his letter, Descano writes the dashcam footage “does not provide a factual basis to support the warrants or summons issued in this case” and added that the written reports, charging decisions and the video footage gave him pause.

“It’s sickening and unacceptable that any member of our community fears for their safety during a routine traffic stop. That’s why I will not rest until we bring about the day when this is no longer the case,” Descano said in a separate statement to Appradab.

The administrative investigation remains ongoing.

Geller, with the state police, said troopers made no reference to Brooks’ ethnicity or gender.

“The Virginia State Police adheres to strict policies regarding employee conduct and requires our employees to perform their duties with exceptional professionalism and integrity, and to treat the public with fairness and respect at all times,” she wrote in the statement.

Brooks said she is speaking out publicly about the incident because she hopes doing so will prevent it from happening to someone else.

“I think it’s important to tell what’s happening and tell the truth because I don’t want that next person — I could have been killed. And I don’t want that next person to die right because that officer right now he’s still out there patrolling. … I want to spread awareness so that a change can be made.”

[longgae]

To all you Trump supporters who think he isn’t against the LGBTQ+ community. 

The Trump Accountability Project (TAP) is a resource on the Trump administration which catalogues the anti-LGBTQ statements and actions of President Donald Trump and those in his circle. The Trump Accountability Project also includes other harmful rhetoric, discriminatory actions, and exclusionary worldviews of the Trump administration. GLAAD publishes TAP to equip journalists, as well as LGBTQ people and allies, to hold the Trump administration accountable for their words and actions. Our individual TAP profiles also serve as a reminder that many in the administration have blatantly pledged to dismantle the legal protections that LGBTQ people, as well as other communities, have achieved over the past several years. 

Presidency:

12.07.20 ~ Labor Department, led by Secretary Eugene Scalia, announces rule change implementation to allow federal contractors to discriminate against LGBTQ workers via religious exemption. The rule change takes effect Jan. 8, with 12 days remaining in the Trump administration, and will require a full rule change process for the new administration to revise.

10.24.2020 ~ Report shows U.S. State Department has been omitting information about human rights abuses against LGBTQ and intersex people, as well as information about violence against women and girls. The Asylum Research Center report from the UK says there’s concern the omissions will deny the existence of abuses used to make asylum claims and decisions, with LGBTQI+ people being returned to dangerous home countries.

10.17.20 ~ Department of Education pressures New Hampshire’s Franklin Pierce University to drop its trans-inclusive policy in athletics. The university agreed to rescind its policy permitting transgender athletes to compete consistent with their gender identity to avoid an investigation by the DOE’s Office of Civil Rights. A civil rights complaint triggering the threat of an investigation was filed by “Concerned Women for America,” a noted anti-LGBTQ hate group.

10.17.20 ~ Tiffany Trump appears at campaign event, ignores her father and his administration’s record of hundreds of attacks against the LGBTQ community, and falsely claims he supports the community. She also omits the "T" when saying "LGBTQ." The "T" stands for Transgender. LGBTQ advocates see Tiffany Trump’s omission as another example of Pres. Trump and his supporters failing to recognize and support trans people and their very existence.

10.10.20 ~ Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, warned by his advance team that an event with the anti-gay Florida Family Policy Council had homophobic at the site and that the group promoted dangerous, debunked conversion therapy, appears at October 3 event anyway. State Dept. aides were reportedly appalled at the speaking event and that Pompeo touted it afterward, in a department-wide memo.

10.05.20 ~ On the first day of the Supreme Court's new term, Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito "take a legal baseball bat" to the court's 2015 decision legalizing marriage equality, claiming the decision "enables courts and governments to brand religious adherents who believe marriage equality is between one man and one woman as bigots." Justice Thomas writes that Kim Davis, the public official who had refused to issue marriage licenses based on her religious belief, is a "victim" of a so-called "cavalier treatment of religion.

09.29.20 ~ Trump's son Eric claims that LGBTQ people "come out in full force" to support his father. GLAAD releases scientific poll of LGBTQ voters showing 76% support VP Joe Biden.

09.26.20 ~ President Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett to U.S. Supreme Court. In her speech, Barrett says she adheres to the same judicial philosophy as the late justice Antonin Scalia, who dissented in cases advancing LGBTQ rights, including calling the Obergefell decision "a threat to American democracy." Barrett has stated views against marriage equality, defended dissenters of the Obergefell, delivered speeches paid for by anti-LGBTQ groups and was vetted for the Trump administration by The Federalist Society, which has argued against every major LGBTQ policy proposal including extending Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to include LGBTQ workers, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, hate crimes legislation, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and transgender accommodations. At least 11 people at the White House event announcing Barrett later test positive for COVID-19, including Pres. Trump, his wife, former senior adviser, press secretary, the president of Notre Dame University and two members of the Judiciary Committee who say they will quarantine for ten days, then attend Barrett's confirmation hearing.

These are just a few. I could go on. Maybe I should.

[fallout4holmes]

Journal 3

The Personal Journal of Mr. S. Holmes

Diamond City, The Commonwealth, 2288

I should have known Piper would demand answers when she spotted me getting into the power armor. I wasn’t quite expecting the veracity with which she questioned me.

“You’ve emphasized in the past that, as long as you’re in charge, the Minutemen welcome everyone, human, ghoul, or synth. How do you reconcile that attitude with your position in the Brotherhood?”

“I don’t. I completely disagree with the Brotherhood policy that a being’s origins warrant its destruction. If a synth, or a ghoul, or a human, or anything else that might exist in the world establishes itself as a threat, then action should be taken. There is no just cause in killing for the sake of ‘what if?’ And you will not publish any of that, Piper.”

She was offended. “What?!”

“There is one reason I play the role of Paladin and only one - Danse asked me to.”

She was perplexed. “But they want him dead!”

“They were his family, the only one he knew. They taught him everything he knows about honor and adhering to a moral code, even if that code has changed slightly since he discovered what he is. He asked me not to cause chaos within the ranks, to just let his name be sullied and presumed dead and gone, and so I will, even though I hate it with every fiber of my being, because I gave my word.”

Her expression was hard, the desire to fight clear, but she relented. “… ok, Blue. We’ll skip the hard questions this time, but I don’t like it.”

“You can ask Maxson all you want.”

“Ha! After what you told me about Danse? It’s going to be a struggle not to spit in Maxson’s face.”

“He believes in his cause, and does genuinely care about his people. I believe he even cares about the fate of humanity at large.”

“Great. Now if he could just care about all the rest of the people in the Commonwealth.”

My reception on the Prydwen was… mixed. Most of the soldiers were put out that I didn’t “invite them to the party” as it were. A few of them made comments in a tone that would have bordered on insubordination had I cared a whit. I reported to Maxson immediately, intending to get this over with. He made his distaste perfectly clear as well.

“Paladin. Report to Captain Kells for an assignment.”

I was unamused. “Before I do, Elder, I wonder if I might have a word.”

“I don’t have time -”

“I don’t have time to answer to frivolous requests, either, Maxson. We are both leaders of our respective factions. I happen to also be a member of yours, for now.” He scowled. “You're the one who made me a Paladin,” I stated, “it was never my intention to rise through the ranks of the Brotherhood. Surely everyone must wonder about your decision.”

“Perhaps, but they don't question it. Most think that you are given a long leash because you took down the Institute, killed your commanding officer and friend upon my order, have apparently just rescued your son from the Institute’s clutches, and you deserve time to be with your family. This is all true… however, even with the great freedom your position grants you, it is necessary that you make an appearance on the Prydwen now and then. Consider it part of our… ongoing truce with the Minutemen. After all, any treaty forged between parties will require compromises neither party wants to make.” He changed the subject. “You brought a reporter on board.”

“I told her she would find interviewing Brotherhood soldiers a fruitless endeavor, but didn’t see the harm.”

“Regarding the stories that paper publishes. What explanation do you propose I give to soldiers who wonder about your continued insistence that the synth called Valentine is a person?

I was grateful my helmet hid any expression that may have flitted across my face. The very possibility that he might even hint at threatening Valentine… “You can tell them the truth. Without his aid, I never would have found the only man who knew how to get into the Institute. Without that, the molecular relay would never have been built, I never would have gotten inside, and the Institute would still be at large. The world owes Nick Valentine a great debt, regardless of whether or not he is a machine. Thus, I treat him with respect and human decency. Nick Valentine may not himself be human, but he strives toward a far higher standard of humanity than do many if not most humans in the Commonwealth.”

“How can a machine strive for anything?”

“I can think of one in particular who strove for nothing but your approval in everything he did. If he were alive, he would still be striving toward ideals of honor and dignity in everything he does, trying to keep humanity safe, though the methods may differ slightly than Brotherhood standard procedure now.”

“Enough.” An odd expression flashed in the young Elder’s eyes. Anger that I would border so close to breaking our agreement, but also… something else. It’s hard to say what it was. I had the distinct impression I had gone too far this time, but he took a breath and said, “I don’t have time to discuss hypotheticals with you, Paladin. You are to report to Captain Kells. He has a selection of squires ready to go into the field under the watch of a Brotherhood soldier. Considering your remarkable achievements, and your experience with children under unusual circumstances, you are an ideal choice. Kells will provide further details. Dismissed.”

I nodded, contemplated a sardonic ‘yes sir’ and decided against it.

Kells was surprisingly civil - no, even respectful. He explained that a squire would be assigned to follow my every move and learn by example as I clear a location of ‘abnormal sentients.’ The location he had chosen was a blast crater inhabited by the Children of Atom. While I was surprised, I have to admit the cultists fit the description of ‘abnormal sentients’ quite well. The squire would be waiting for me in the airport.

Before I went down, I spoke to the precious few people I respect in the Brotherhood. Proctor Ingram was worried about running out of reactor coolant to keep the Prydwen afloat. Senior Scribe Neriah was ecstatic to hear I’d provided her with the effects of a nuclear explosion on an ecosystem close enough for her to study in person. Proctor Teagan was… subdued. He’d just heard that a friend of his had been shot down on patrol by raiders. We spoke for a while about the costs of war, the lives lost. It seemed to help him.

All three of them were varying degrees of disappointed that the Minutemen had been the ones to destroy the Institute, but they were overwhelmingly supportive of the simple fact that the Institute was gone. To quote Proctor Ingram, “You got the job done, and in my book, that’s what really counts.”

Piper was discontent. Her attempts at finding a story had gone exactly the way I had predicted, and while she could have written an account of escorting an eager young squire through the Commonwealth, she decided not to. I may have taken most of the wind from her sails when I forbade her from publishing anything that might be construed as disobeying orders or betraying the Brotherhood.

She certainly wasn’t pleased to hear what I was doing. “There are kids on board?!”

“They’re called squires. Brotherhood boy scouts.”

“What the hell is a boy scout.”

“Never mind.” We stepped inside my reserved quarters, untouched since they were given to me after Danse’s “death.” I didn’t want to be overheard. “The squires are one more reason I don’t want to start a war between Minutemen and Brotherhood. We’d be forced to attack the Prydwen, and there wouldn’t be any way to see the children to safety beforehand.”

“Dammit, Blue. So, what, now you’re going to haul one across the Commonwealth to go kill some cultists?”

“No, we are.”

“I am so not happy with this.”

“I know. I do apologize, I hadn’t the slightest idea what menial task they might have come up with for me… though, to be honest, I think Kells may have been sincere in his desire I help train the new generation. He’ll have to be satisfied with this singular occasion.”

The squire was remarkably excited, commenting the entire way. She was going to be the envy of all the other squires, and couldn’t imagine going back to living on the Prydwen after being out in the world. She also despaired of the fact that she wasn’t armed. “I wish they would have given me a gun. Proctor Teagan just laughed.”

One more reason to like the man.

The assignment was a success; one less accumulation of hostile radiation worshiping cultists in the Commonwealth, an overly impressed squire who was so exhausted I had to carry her onto the vertibird back up to the Prydwen, and an eager-to-leave Paladin and neighborhood reporter.

Piper and I spoke a great deal during the walk back to Diamond City. Most of it had nothing to do with the Brotherhood. We spoke of Nat and Shaun, of Diamond City, and at some point something spurred her to thank me. “You’re not afraid of me like everyone else.” I’d never made the connection before that being the world’s only reporter came with a reputation. Publishing people’s secrets did not endear her to anyone, even if it was true, even if it needed to be said. I assured her that she could always count on me to help, and that I appreciated all the help she gives to me and my family… even if part of the bargain involves intense interviews regarding war-starting subjects.

We entered Diamond City to the familiar sound of Natalie Wright selling papers. Nat greeted her big sister fondly, with a story of punching a student who had the gall to kiss her at school. The hour was growing late. I hurried home.

[expatimes]

The odd friends: The young liberal and the elderly conservative

The waitress at Cracker Barrel looked confused when she stopped at our table. Among the snow globes, animatronic weasels, and ceramic pineapples, Richard and I were yet another random curiosity. A 30-something year-old woman in jeggings and a pixie cut next to her 92-year-old friend with the rodeo belt buckle and scraggly beard.

Richard flashed a gap-toothed grin at the waitress. “Hon, can you bring us one of them baskets? With extra biscuits?” he asked. He knows I like biscuits better than cornbread. At 92 with his sweet smile and wispy white hair, Richard’s “Hons” and “Sweeties” lack the demeaning quality they might have with a younger man in a position of power. Still, I studied the waitress’s face. I started to tell Richard not all women like being called “Hon,” but the waitress’s expression softened into bemusement. “Of course, Hon,” she said, then headed towards the kitchen.

In an era when the political is personal, people make assumptions about others’ beliefs based on their appearance. Many of the assumptions one might make about Richard are correct. He is a lifelong Texan and a white evangelical Christian who dropped out of school in the sixth grade. Like 55 percent of men with no college degree, Richard is staunchly anti-abortion rights. He has voted Republican since before I was born, including a vote for Donald Trump in 2016.

If Richard fulfils a stereotype, so do I. Like 51 percent of Americans aged 30 to 49, I supported Hillary Clinton. I identify as a feminist and an atheist. I earned my master’s degree from a music school on the East Coast. I organised watch parties for President Barack Obama’s election, donated to the Bail Project, and vote Democrat.

Once a week, a Facebook friend brags about ending a relationship with a friend or family member who voted for an opposing political party. I have blocked Republican friends myself, usually for posting memes or rants that incited violence or discriminated against marginalised groups. But Richard and I have been friends for eight years, despite openly discussing our ideological differences.

When the basket of biscuits arrived, Richard reached for one. Then his eyebrows shot up. His hand flew to his mouth. “I forgot my teeth,” he said, meaning his dentures. We laughed.

Leaving school at 12 and college degrees

I first met Richard in 2012 when he called me about violin lessons. To liberals, America in 2012 was a warm cocoon. Social safety nets like the Affordable Care Act told poor or sick Americans for the first time they mattered. Neo-nazis hid rather than marching down streets brandishing torches.

It was in this year that Richard, at 84 years old, decided to take up the violin. His wife had died in 2011, and he had recently found his grandmother’s violin in the attic. The local music shop had given him a list of teachers’ names and contact numbers. Mine was at the top.

At his first lesson, I handed Richard a copy of my policy and expectations for students. Nodding solemnly, Richard pulled a pencil out of his bag and took notes in neat cursive penmanship. He has practised nearly every day in the eight years and counting he has been my student.

More American millennials than any previous generation have college degrees. Like many people my age, I took for granted that my education would continue after high school. Higher education whisked me from my homogenous suburb onto a campus with peers who had different religions, abilities, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, and sexual identities. My professors taught me to critically engage with the news, which influences my voting decisions today.

Richard, however, did not attend school past the sixth grade. One of the defining moments in his life occurred when at age 12, he asked his father for a nickel. “I haven’t got a nickel,” his father told him. “You want money, you go to work.” Shortly after, Richard left school and got a job “pearl diving” – washing dishes in a restaurant. He performed manual labour before enlisting in the army. Thirty years later, he retired from the light company where he had worked his way up to foreman.

Richard poses with his violin during a lesson [Photo courtesy of Meghan Beaudry]

The Bible and speaking your mind

During that first year of weekly violin lessons, our conversations began to extend beyond the violin. I responded to Richard’s stories of his late wife, Beverly, with anecdotes from my own recent marriage. Richard reminisced about his military tour of Japan and Korea at the tail end of World War II. I learned to appreciate his sharp wit. Once, Richard mentioned a car he had seen that had crashed into the gates of a cemetery. “People are just dying to get in there,” he said dryly. With his mischievous smile, he looked like a schoolboy who had just slipped a toad into a classmate’s desk.

I first glimpsed how much Richard’s ideology conflicted with mine several months into our lessons. Richard had offered to take my husband and me out for dinner. We met him at Spring Creek BBQ. He wore cowboy boots and a giant silver belt buckle. Richard’s devout Christianity had never been a secret, but I hadn’t realised until then how much his religion influenced his politics. Perhaps I should have. Eight out of 10 evangelical Christians say they plan to vote for Donald Trump in 2020. Once seated, he questioned my husband and me about our nonexistent religious beliefs. “You need to think about what happens after you die,” Richard urged. Then he passed out anti-abortion rights pamphlets to random diners, who accepted them with polite but confused nods. The title: God Has a Plan for Your Child.

Richard would persist in his efforts to convert us for months. Years later, I would learn to see his determination for what it was: a strong desire to save a young couple he had grown deeply fond of, in the only way he knew how. But once during a lesson, I couldn’t contain my annoyance. “Are you here to learn the violin or not?” I snapped.

Richard paused. “I am,” he said. Then he looked at me with genuine curiosity and asked what exactly I had against the Bible. I thought of the priest at the church I had attended each week as a child – of the blistering sermons condemning gay people and women, but rarely men, who had sex before marriage. I remembered the time I had endeavoured to read the entire Bible as a teenager. I got as far as Sodom and Gomorrah before closing the book forever. What lodged in my developing brain was not the allusions to homosexuality, but a father who offered up his own virgin daughters to be raped by a mob.

“I don’t think the Bible treats women well. Almost all the stories in there are about men,” I told him. “I just don’t see myself in that book.”

Richard sat in silence for a moment. I hadn’t yet visited his house and seen the dozens of Bible verses embroidered, carved into wood, or painted in frames on his walls. I hadn’t seen the dog-eared King James version on his table, bright tabs and sticky notes poking out from the worn pages. When Richard spoke, he didn’t lash out. He didn’t defend the belief system that defined his life. He complimented me. “One thing I respect about you is you always speak your mind,” he said quietly.

Hurt and friendship

For several years, Richard’s and my opposing beliefs lay between us like a faded stain on the carpet. Present, but rarely discussed. The 2016 election dragged these differences from the periphery of our relationship to where they couldn’t be avoided.

Shortly after Trump’s victory, Richard and I went out for lunch. Like many liberals, the 2016 election had sent shock waves through my life. Our new president spewed hate and threats atop the most public platform in the world. To me, a woman with serious chronic health issues, many of these threats were not existential. They were life-threatening. I worried about the gay couples I knew. I worried about my friends of colour. Which is why I stopped eating when Richard stumbled upon the topic of gender roles with all the grace of a drunken soldier careening through a field of landmines.

“It’s in their DNA,” he said. “God created men and women different. That’s just how it is.”

“So you think women are put on earth to clean up after you?” I asked.

Richard speared a tomato with his fork. “I think everyone should do their job and not complain.”

Living in a “free country” does not protect American women from being talked over, underestimated, and disregarded. Four out of 10 American women have been discriminated against at work because of their gender. One in three American women will be stalked, raped, or assaulted. Sexism had dug its claws into my life well before I had the vocabulary to name it. I began picking up after my brothers in elementary school. By high school, I was folding their underwear, scrubbing their toilet, and carrying their dishes to the sink to wash after meals. I will never understand why my time and energy was viewed as disposable, but my brothers’ wasn’t.

After that lunch with Richard, I reacted differently than he had towards me the day I told him I would never believe in the Bible. Deeply hurt, I was unable to see past the rhetoric he had espoused. At his next lesson, I told him that I would still teach him the violin, but we would no longer spend time together as friends. He hung his head, then shuffled slowly to his car.

People’s words and their character

“All lives matter. Her body, her choice. Choose life.” Taken at face value, these words are immutable truths. What begins as a reaction to injustice becomes a slogan. These slogans and chants, so necessary to mobilising people and elevating marginalised voices, pull us into their orbit. They grow to encompass a movement, attracting other slogans like paperclips to a magnet. The movement adheres itself to a political party. The party becomes an identity for supporters, even though the average American has neither the time nor resources to become an expert on the nuances of public policy. Instead, we scream slogans across the street or share video clips to our own self-constructed echo chambers. If you believe Black Lives Matter, you must want to abolish the police. If you didn’t vote for Hillary, you hate women. Even when our intentions are noble, we stop listening to any voice that doesn’t mirror our own. Like spilled red and blue ink, the opposing parties grow larger, separated only by the election on which the future of America teeters.

It took months for my hurt feelings to fade enough for me to see through Richard’s rhetoric to the person underneath: a man who took over the housework while his wife studied for her nursing degree. A man who married young and worked to support his wife while she finished high school, despite his own lack of education. A man who had been married for 50 years, yet responded with compassion and acceptance when I told him my four-year marriage had ended. Richard had once relayed to me a conversation in which a man in his forties had lamented his lack of a wife.

“I just can’t find a woman willing to submit to me,” the man had told Richard.

“Submit? Well, that’s not how any marriage I know works,” Richard had snorted.

I learned to pay attention to Richard’s behaviour rather than the slogans he repeated. I had heard racist jokes and comments from liberal friends, only to watch them flood their social media with Black Lives Matter slogans once the movement rose to prominence. Growing up, the most judgemental people I knew always seemed to be devout church-goers. Richard’s actions paint a consistent picture of who he is as a person: kind, accepting, and empathetic.

Richard and Meghan’s dog, Wilbur, who loves to snuggle with Richard [Photo courtesy of Meghan Beaudry]

Richard never said another derogatory word about women. He became the first man I had ever met who, when confronted with his own misogyny, cared enough about me to change.

It is not easy to see past someone’s words to their true character. On the campaign trail, Donald Trump spouted promises. Walls to keep America safe. Lower taxes. The return of jobs to our country. Words have the power to wound, but also to uplift and spark hope. Some words, especially when they are words we want to hear, even have the power to veil the speaker’s true character. I began to see why so many Americans were hoodwinked by him.

Curiosity, respect and empathy

My conversation with Richard about gender roles set a precedent. We began to talk frequently and openly about our political beliefs. After some experimentation, we developed a tacit set of rules: Approach conversations with genuine curiosity about the other person’s perspective. Treat each other with respect and empathy. This empathy stems from an understanding that vastly different life experiences, many of them painful, have shaped our beliefs.

One of Richard’s most deeply held beliefs is that abortion is wrong. According to Gallup’s Values and Beliefs Poll, 46 percent of Americans are anti-abortion rights and 48 percent are pro-abortion rights, with 6 percent undecided. The difficulty in discussing abortion stems from who each camp views as the victim. When anti-abortion rights advocates talk about abortion, they talk about the babies. When pro-abortion rights people talk about abortion, they talk about the women. As a feminist, I can’t imagine being forced to carry a child I didn’t choose.

Richard and his wife raised just one child – a son who never had his own children, who lives 10 hours away and has his own life and health issues. Richard spends Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter with me at my parents’ house. Richard’s wife, Beverly, suffered miscarriage after miscarriage before giving birth to their only son. One of their children that didn’t survive is buried in a cemetery without a headstone because Richard and Beverly had been too poor to afford one. To come home to a house full of light, laughter, and grandchildren is Richard’s greatest desire. As I dropped him off after a family dinner one night, I watched Richard slowly shuffle up his driveway. Then I pulled away from the dark empty house. It suddenly clicked why Richard talks about “the babies”. It was never out of hatred for women.

The shape of our wounds

I have accepted that Richard and I will never be on the same page ideologically. Our friendship and ability to discuss divisive topics hinges not on our differences, but on our similar approach to life. We both believe in treating others with respect. We both harbour a magnetic curiosity towards those who are different than us. I will always be a liberal. But I have learned it is not just liberals who dream of a better America. From my friendship with Richard, I have learned that Americans’ ideas on how to improve our country often take the shape of their wounds.

Telling stories from the past is either the privilege or burden of the old. Richard revels in this role, peppering his stories with advice like “don’t buy no strawberries but Driscoll’s.” “Never tie two cats’ tails together and hang them over a clothesline,” he warned me once quite sincerely. But I always enjoy his stories and advice the most when Richard talks about the Great Depression and World War II.

“The government found out they were spying on us and rounded them up,” he said once about America’s Japanese internment camps.

Richard’s voice hit me like a shovel to the chest. His matter-of-fact tone implied that this was something everyone knew, like the events of Pearl Harbor or the reason for the American Revolution. We like to believe we are free in America. That we are different from countries like North Korea or Russia, who brainwash their citizens with a steady diet of pro-government propaganda. Richard’s statement summed up American propaganda in one phrase.

“That’s not true, Richard. They were Americans, too,” I said.

Two years later, I would learn about the Tulsa race massacre for the first time. In school, racism had been portrayed as an evil that Americans had long since vanquished. Video footage of police murdering Black people has long since eviscerated this lie. Since Richard’s statement, I’ve often wondered who I would be if I had no access to reputable news. What would I believe if I grew up under different circumstances?

My focus on Richard’s actions rather than his rhetoric was most tested the few times he used racially insensitive language.

Racism isn’t a personality quirk. It isn’t a vestige from a quaint antebellum past, like one-room schoolhouses or horse-drawn carriages. Racism is trauma that lasts for generations. Racism is lost lives and ruined futures.

I’m a liberal. A feminist. A believer that science is real, Black Lives Matter, and love is love. But perhaps the piece of my identity most deeply rooted in my heart is teacher. For me, that has always been the identity that makes allyship possible.

I speak up. “Richard, we don’t say that any more. It’s ‘people of colour’ now.”

Richard never argues. “OK,” he always agrees.

Access to the news

“Where do you get your news?” I asked recently. No TV hangs in Richard’s living room. His home is a museum dedicated to his late wife; Beverly’s floral curtains and silk floral arrangements remain untouched by Wi-Fi or cable. No copy of the New York Times lands on his doorstep each Sunday. An old radio sits on his kitchen table.

“Mostly from what people say,” he shrugged. “And sometimes the radio.”

My heart sank. From the day we met, Richard spoke openly about his lack of education and his humble background. As a teacher, I recognised his fierce commitment to learn shining through the unvarnished front he presented. As an adult, Richard had taken flying lessons and painting lessons. He approaches the Bible the way a scholar of history would. He pores over gardening manuals and maintains an encyclopedic knowledge of the flowers and trees in his garden.

I had convinced him to trade in his flip phone with T9 texting – “it’s not a phone, Richard, it’s an ancient artefact,” – for a touchscreen Android. He has since become a connoisseur of selfies and of video clips of the American flag in his garden waving in the wind. Richard strikes me as an independent thinker – someone who isn’t fooled by con men or false political promises. But from our conversation, a clearer picture emerged: an intelligent man, but without the resources to access the news or discern its accuracy.

I scribbled a note to myself to print and bring some news articles to our next meeting. The New York Times. The Atlantic. Maybe a Christian news source with solid reporting. No op-eds – just straight news so Richard could form his own opinions.

Richard told me he had listened to the first debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump on the radio.

“I couldn’t sleep it bothered me so much,” he said. “(Trump) denied what Joe told him he’d said. But everyone very well knows what Trump said. People have ears.”

“Thou shalt not bear false witness. It says that clearly in the Bible,” Richard added with a frown.

Richard and Meghan take a selfie after playing a concert at a nursing home [Photo courtesy of Meghan Beaudry]

Past the slogans and rhetoric

As Richard has aged, the lines in our relationship have blurred from teacher to friend to caregiver. I want him to know he always has a place at my Thanksgiving table. That I’ll be there in the hospital when he wakes up from his heart procedures. That my family will keep filling his fridge so he can quarantine safely.

“You don’t have to tell me,” I said. “And if you do, we’ll still be friends no matter what. Who do you think you’ll vote for this election?”

“I believe in what our forefathers said in the Declaration of Independence. But as culture has changed, my thoughts have changed. Being Christian doesn’t mean you have to be Democrat or Republican. It means voting what you believe in,” Richard said.

Our friendship has taught me to see past slogans and rhetoric to the person underneath. That actions convey character in a way that words can’t. But in this respect, perhaps Richard is miles ahead of me.

“I think Trump has accomplished some things,” he said with his characteristic respect for our country’s leaders. “But those things might have been accomplished anyway through other people. He seems to really support all his friends and companies. Not the little man.”

“You know, I think I might vote for Joe,” he added after a pause. Outside Richard’s window, his American flag waved in the wind.

. #world Read full article: https://expatimes.com/?p=12610&feed_id=11683

[gravitascivics]

INPUTS, OUTPUTS, AND FEEDBACK

If the reader has taken up reading this blog with this posting, he/she is helped by knowing that this posting is the next one in a series of postings.  The general concern of this series is reporting on what constitutes contemporary civics courses in US secondary schools.  To this point, the blog has argued that in congruence with the dominant political culture – dominant since the years after World War II – civics curriculum has counted on a view of governance and politics this blog has called the natural rights view.  That bias has affected what is taught in those classrooms.

The reader is encouraged to look up the last five postings[1] if he/she has not read them, but overall, the message has been that civics instruction has reflected a view that emphasizes natural liberty – the right to determine one’s values and the rights to pursue those values – as an ultimate or trump value.  In turn, the presentation of the American political system so guided assumes a citizenry’s concerns with government is more in line with those interests of consumers for governmental services.[2]

In terms of any morals associated with citizenry, current civics treatment follows the advice of the political theorists, Niccolo Machiavelli, governance and politics are amoral – morality has nothing to do with it.  No, instruction doesn’t do this by saying it is amoral but by avoiding moral topics or issues for students to address.  The general tenor of civics instruction is to inform students as consumers as to what government offers and how one can gain access to those services.

The blog has moved on to the point that it is reviewing what political science has to offer.  By way of context, many in that field are also guided by the natural right view.  This is important because civics relies on political science for the bulk of its content.  So, if that academic field of study is following certain theoretical, practical, or methodological biases, that guidance will affect what is taught in secondary schools.

So, how has political science operationalized these amoral ideals?   With a sense of what natural rights advocates hold as their morality/amorality and with a bit of historical foundational information, the reader is now set to see how natural rights advocates view politics and government from an academic perspective.  

What is emphasized here is that many political scientists adhere to the political systems theory and positivist methodologies.  Of course, these elements are described and explained below and in subsequent postings, but what is hoped for is that the reader considers what the implications these choices have on promoting good citizenship – the purpose of civics education – and why an advocate of federation theory would be in disagreement with this approach.  

The natural rights construct has a mostly unified theoretical foundation.  Mainly relying on the work of David Easton[3] from the 1950s and 1960s, educators who adopt the natural rights construct see government as a complex entity whose main function is to provide services.  This entity is characterized as having intra-active components which give it its systemic quality.  

The government or the political system basically takes in demands and supports from the citizenry – inputs – and, responding to those stimuli, issues outputs in the form of policies and other outcomes.  The term “output” is the preferred term for policies – such as laws and regulations.  This writer has heard the quip that calling these laws and regulations output is better than the term, put out (an example of political science humor).

The political systems model views citizens as generally being self-sufficient and mostly capable of solving their own problems.  When confronted with the rare occurrence in which they believe they cannot meet some significant demand on their own, they will seek government action.[4]

Individually, or more commonly through some collective, they communicate to an appropriate government agency(ies) what is desired.  Michael J. Sandel describes this interaction, as pointed out above, as one that takes on a consumer perspective.[5]  Consequently, government is seen as a third-party entity.  This basic view of government holds certain other assumptions to be true.  

They are: one, government's main purpose is to protect the rights of citizens to lead their lives as they themselves determine.  Two, government maintains a neutral position as it oversees a competitive process among citizens as they pursue favorable governmental decisions.  And three, individuals engage in the competitive process from a motivation of self-interest.

Derived from these assumptions, important implications are in play. First, due to limited resources, citizens' demands are usually seeking mutually exclusive outcomes, i.e., one citizen's or one interests group’s gain generally means another citizen’s or interest group’s loss.  Consequently, some citizens will be disappointed, causing issues to arise.  Easton, concerned with this outcome, identified stress management as a main concern for political systems.  Enough unsatisfied and unattended demands can cause stress and if excessive it can lead to the system's collapse or for it to become dysfunctional to a meaningful degree.

Second, these assumptions make the political systems model highly applicable to the natural rights' emphasis on the individual and its accompanying moral (or amoral) view.  With just a bit of imagination or imagery, one can see how market oriented this view of politics and governance can be.

To emphasize one thing:  if one approaches the typical civics teacher and asks about the political systems model, he or she will probably not know what one is talking about. Even those who received a degree in political science might not be familiar with the above language.  The political systems model no longer enjoys the dominant position among political scientists that it once held.[6]  

One stills finds the methods associated with systems studies being applied to marketing studies, political campaigning, and other areas of interest. And it remains the dominant construct in our civics and government classrooms.  This is by default for several reasons.

For one it lends itself to a descriptive approach to government. Government textbooks view government somewhat as a machine.  It has parts and the parts interact to provide some change that is sought by consumers.  This mechanical view corresponds to inputs (demands and supports in political systems or fuel in a machine), conversion (the government in the political system or an engine in a machine), and outputs (laws, for example, in a political system or the machine's activity, for example moving a car and its passengers).

Those who promote the political systems model often object to a machine analogy.  They claim that a political system also has feedback, a self-reflected response to the consequences of its output that through certain processes become new demands and supports.  Through this process, a system seeks to attain an equilibrium in which contradictory forces reach a workable balance.  They, therefore, use the analogy of an organism to describe their model.

For purposes here, though, civics instruction does not address this feedback function very well or at all. While a prevailing view of governance and politics is motivated by giving students an understanding of this service providing institution, it is mostly made of descriptions and explanations – truth claims about the subject matter – for someone who is being introduced to the apparent elements of a governmental – consumer satisfying – system.  

This approach might sound a bit too simple to account for all political activities.  It needs, one might say, something else.  Well, to provide that something else, Gabriel Almond and G. Bingham Powell, Jr. offer, while not included in the presentations one finds in civics courses, a more rounded view of the systems approach.  Next posting will give the reader an overview of these political scientists’ model, the structural-functional model.

[Note:  This blog in a previous posting, “Back to Basics, I” (February 2, 2020), mistakenly attributed a description of the three options by which polities are initiated (choice, force, and accident) to Federalist Paper, No. 2 by John Jay.  The correct attribution should be to James Madison, Federalist Paper, No. 1.  This correction has been made online.]

[1] The series begins with the posting, “The Natural Rights’ View of Morality” (February 25, 2020). See Robert Gutierrez, “The Natural Rights’ View of Morality,” Gravitas:  A Voice for Civics,” February 25, 2020, access March 13, 2020, https://gravitascivics.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-natural-rights-view-of-morality.html .

[2] Michael J. Sandel, Democracy's Discontent: America in Search of a Public Philosophy (Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1996).

[3] David Easton, The Political System (New York, NY:  Alfred A. Knopf, 1953) AND David Easton, A System Analysis of Political Life (New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1965).

[4] Justifying a government role in a capitalist economy, for example, is limited to certain conditions. Among these conditions is when “public goods” are provided.  That is, public goods are desired goods or services whose consumers cannot be segregated. For example, a person wants a traffic light at a nearby intersection to make his or her life safer, but since everyone who drives through that intersection would benefit, that person is not motivated to pay for the light.  National security is another example that falls under this category. Another condition occurs when a market for a product is a natural monopoly – such as electricity. Generally, monopolistic power has proven to be excessively abusive.  Therefore, the government is deemed justified in regulating such a market.  There are other conditions, but the point is that in order to be legitimate, these government actions cannot be simply initiated by rulers, but need to be justified in a predominately capitalist system as exists in the US.

[5] Michael J. Sandel, Democracy's Discontent: America in Search of a Public Philosophy, (Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1996 AND Michael J. Sandel, What Money Can’t Buy:  The Moral Limits of Markets (New York, NY:  Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2012).

[6] Initially political systems approach with its related behavioral studies were meant to imitate the natural science approaches with the anticipated successes those sciences experienced starting in the nineteenth century and straight through the twentieth century.  But alas, no such success was being achieved.  Consequently, the political systems approach broke down to various derived approaches like cybernetics, public opinion studies, conflict theory studies, political sociology studies, comparative politics studies, political economy studies, etc.  In addition to this diverse, more specific areas of study, older methodologies are currently held in higher regard. They include philosophic and historical methods. In addition, more recently, one finds hermeneutics studies enjoying respected standing within the discipline.

[corneliusreignallen]

Elise Stefanik’s impeachment moment

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., asks a question during the House Intelligence Committee hearing featuring testimony by Joseph Maguire, acting director of national intelligence, on a whistleblower complaint about a phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in Rayburn Building on Thursday, September 26, 2019. | Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

The three-term Congresswoman has emerged as Republicans’ new face of the impeachment hearings.

A “new Republican star” — and Democratic foil — is having a moment during the House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment hearings: Rep. Elise Stefanik.

Stefanik, the only Republican woman on the Intelligence Committee, has established a much higher profile this past month as she takes on a central role in the impeachment process.

Just last Friday, she made waves by using a misleading procedural stunt to accuse Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff of cutting her off — an argument that directly contradicted established House rules. During the same hearing, her pointed questioning of former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch stood out as far more effective than that of ranking member Devin Nunes or Republican Counsel Stephen Castor.

Since the start of the impeachment hearings, Stefanik, one of the youngest women ever elected to Congress, has become an increasingly prominent GOP figure. A longtime moderate who’s pushed back on President Donald Trump about the government shutdown and tax cuts in the past, Stefanik’s rhetoric has become more partisan as it relates to impeachment — and that’s garnered positive feedback from some factions of the party, including the president himself.

“Nothing rises to the level of impeachable offenses,” Stefanik said during a press conference last week. “This is wishful thinking by the Democrats.” Over the weekend, Trump tweeted his compliments:

A new Republican Star is born. Great going @EliseStefanik! https://t.co/9QH4oUa2eg

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2019

Stefanik’s strong Trump backing is likely a strategic play for her reelection campaign in 2020: While New York’s 21st district previously voted for former President Barack Obama, it’s since seen a major swing in favor of the GOP and Trump in recent years.

But it’s also a sign of how polarizing this inquiry has become for both parties, Catholic University political science professor Matthew Green tells Vox. Stefanik’s stance on impeachment underscores just how closely members of the party are tying themselves to Trump during this inquiry — and sets her up as a major target for Democrats in 2020.

Stefanik is a longtime moderate, though her tone on impeachment has been more partisan

Stefanik’s recent performance has garnered widespread praise from GOP lawmakers including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and of course, the president. In the past two weeks, Trump has mentioned or retweeted posts about her eight times.

But even before the impeachment proceedings, Stefanik was viewed as a young, dynamic member of the party — one who staked out a position that’s closer to the center. Previously, she’s worked on policies such as maintaining funding for rural hospitals and boosting caregiver support for veterans.

“For those of us in New York, it’s not surprising,” says Republican strategist Jessica Proud. “She’s been seen as a real rising Republican star in New York politics.”

Beyond the Intelligence panel, Stefanik currently sits on both the House Armed Services and Education and Labor committees, and she’s led the effort to elect more Republican women to the House even as other members of the party establishment have chafed against this. Last year, Stefanik urged the party to increase the diversity of its representatives and to get engaged at the primary level — clashing with other lawmakers in the process.

When fellow Republican Rep. Tom Emmer called this effort a “mistake,” she had a decisive response: “Newsflash, I wasn’t asking for permission.”

But NEWSFLASH I wasn’t asking for permission. —>”If that’s what Elise wants to do, then that’s her call, her right...But I think that’s a mistake.”

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) December 4, 2018

Stefanik was first elected to Congress in 2014 at the age of 30, beating Democrat Aaron Woolf by double digits for an open seat previously held by a Democratic incumbent. Prior to her election, she worked as a staffer for former President George W. Bush’s administration and was known for her work with former Speaker Paul Ryan, leading his vice presidential debate prep.

“She had never run for office before, beat someone who had run previously and had a lot of money, and really proved her mettle and capabilities when she was a real unknown,” says Proud.

In the years since she’s taken office, Stefanik has focused her policies on the Fort Drum military base in her district, and confronted Trump on multiple issues such as his withdrawal of US troops from Syria.

Stefanik’s willingness to defend Trump during the impeachment process seems to mark a change in tone with her previous breaks, and it also underscores how partisan impeachment has become. In the vote to approve impeachment inquiry procedure, for example, not a single Republican broke with the party and voted in favor of it.

“It shows how the partisan nature of the impeachment hearings make it difficult for lawmakers of either party to take a more moderate or centrist public position,” Catholic University’s Green told Vox, adding that Stefanik’s positions reflected the support of many voters in her district.

Stefanik, meanwhile, argues that her efforts on impeachment don’t contradict her other policy positions.

“I have one of the top 10 percent most bipartisan records in this House and one of the most independent records,” she told the Washington Post. “But when it comes to constitutional matters, we should focus on the facts. We should not let this be a partisan attack the way Adam Schiff is conducting himself.”

Stefanik’s growing profile — and alignment with Trump — is firing up Republicans and Democrats

Stefanik’s growing role in the impeachment proceedings has catalyzed an outpouring of support from Republicans, and vehement opposition from Democrats ahead of her own race for reelection in 2020.

Following Friday’s impeachment hearing, Stefanik used both social media and a press conference to defend the president and question Schiff over the committee process, even though he was simply adhering to procedure. Standing next to Jordan at the press briefing, she reiterated an argument that was founded on a misrepresentation of the rules, arguing that Republicans were “muzzled” by Schiff.

The focus on Stefanik during Friday’s hearing was also seen by some as a way to diffuse the optics of a predominately male panel scrutinizing Yovanovitch, who faced attacks from Trump during the panel, a suggestion Stefanik rejected in her interview with the Post. Nonetheless, Stefanik’s presence has highlighted how few women there are on the Republican side of the aisle.

“The obvious is that she stands out as a young woman in a party dominated by old white men,” Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman said of Stefanik. Democrats, though they have significantly more representation, similarly aren’t close to parity either — just three of the party’s 13 House Intelligence members are women.

Even as Stefanik’s performance in the hearing has prompted praise from conservatives, it’s simultaneously made her a target for Democrats. Wasserman notes that Stefanik is likely in a positive position for the 2020 race, since many of the voters who did not turn out in 2018 — when she won by a 14 point margin — are likely to lean Republican.

“The political reality in her district, despite what Democrats would hope, is that it has shifted in favor of Donald Trump,” he says.

Stefanik’s opponent, Tedra Cobb, meanwhile, has seen strong fundraising off of Stefanik’s ties with Trump and the impeachment inquiry. Cobb raised $1 million in the days since the Friday impeachment hearing.

.@EliseStefanik and the @GOP are using widely debunked attacks against #TeamTedra in an attempt to distract from her recent political stunts. ⬇️Help #NY21 & #TedraCobbForCongress fight back⬇️https://t.co/w0DWfCeoj0

— Tedra Cobb for Congress (@TedraCobb) November 18, 2019

The spotlight on Stefanik and Cobb could direct further resources and attention from both parties to the New York race. At this time, Cook Political Report rates the district as “Solid Republican.”

from Vox - All https://ift.tt/2XsJdZP

[gracieyvonnehunter]

Elise Stefanik’s impeachment moment

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., asks a question during the House Intelligence Committee hearing featuring testimony by Joseph Maguire, acting director of national intelligence, on a whistleblower complaint about a phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in Rayburn Building on Thursday, September 26, 2019. | Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

The three-term Congresswoman has emerged as Republicans’ new face of the impeachment hearings.

A “new Republican star” — and Democratic foil — is having a moment during the House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment hearings: Rep. Elise Stefanik.

Stefanik, the only Republican woman on the Intelligence Committee, has established a much higher profile this past month as she takes on a central role in the impeachment process.

Just last Friday, she made waves by using a misleading procedural stunt to accuse Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff of cutting her off — an argument that directly contradicted established House rules. During the same hearing, her pointed questioning of former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch stood out as far more effective than that of ranking member Devin Nunes or Republican Counsel Stephen Castor.

Since the start of the impeachment hearings, Stefanik, one of the youngest women ever elected to Congress, has become an increasingly prominent GOP figure. A longtime moderate who’s pushed back on President Donald Trump about the government shutdown and tax cuts in the past, Stefanik’s rhetoric has become more partisan as it relates to impeachment — and that’s garnered positive feedback from some factions of the party, including the president himself.

“Nothing rises to the level of impeachable offenses,” Stefanik said during a press conference last week. “This is wishful thinking by the Democrats.” Over the weekend, Trump tweeted his compliments:

A new Republican Star is born. Great going @EliseStefanik! https://t.co/9QH4oUa2eg

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2019

Stefanik’s strong Trump backing is likely a strategic play for her reelection campaign in 2020: While New York’s 21st district previously voted for former President Barack Obama, it’s since seen a major swing in favor of the GOP and Trump in recent years.

But it’s also a sign of how polarizing this inquiry has become for both parties, Catholic University political science professor Matthew Green tells Vox. Stefanik’s stance on impeachment underscores just how closely members of the party are tying themselves to Trump during this inquiry — and sets her up as a major target for Democrats in 2020.

Stefanik is a longtime moderate, though her tone on impeachment has been more partisan

Stefanik’s recent performance has garnered widespread praise from GOP lawmakers including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and of course, the president. In the past two weeks, Trump has mentioned or retweeted posts about her eight times.

But even before the impeachment proceedings, Stefanik was viewed as a young, dynamic member of the party — one who staked out a position that’s closer to the center. Previously, she’s worked on policies such as maintaining funding for rural hospitals and boosting caregiver support for veterans.

“For those of us in New York, it’s not surprising,” says Republican strategist Jessica Proud. “She’s been seen as a real rising Republican star in New York politics.”

Beyond the Intelligence panel, Stefanik currently sits on both the House Armed Services and Education and Labor committees, and she’s led the effort to elect more Republican women to the House even as other members of the party establishment have chafed against this. Last year, Stefanik urged the party to increase the diversity of its representatives and to get engaged at the primary level — clashing with other lawmakers in the process.

When fellow Republican Rep. Tom Emmer called this effort a “mistake,” she had a decisive response: “Newsflash, I wasn’t asking for permission.”

But NEWSFLASH I wasn’t asking for permission. —>”If that’s what Elise wants to do, then that’s her call, her right...But I think that’s a mistake.”

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) December 4, 2018

Stefanik was first elected to Congress in 2014 at the age of 30, beating Democrat Aaron Woolf by double digits for an open seat previously held by a Democratic incumbent. Prior to her election, she worked as a staffer for former President George W. Bush’s administration and was known for her work with former Speaker Paul Ryan, leading his vice presidential debate prep.

“She had never run for office before, beat someone who had run previously and had a lot of money, and really proved her mettle and capabilities when she was a real unknown,” says Proud.

In the years since she’s taken office, Stefanik has focused her policies on the Fort Drum military base in her district, and confronted Trump on multiple issues such as his withdrawal of US troops from Syria.

Stefanik’s willingness to defend Trump during the impeachment process seems to mark a change in tone with her previous breaks, and it also underscores how partisan impeachment has become. In the vote to approve impeachment inquiry procedure, for example, not a single Republican broke with the party and voted in favor of it.

“It shows how the partisan nature of the impeachment hearings make it difficult for lawmakers of either party to take a more moderate or centrist public position,” Catholic University’s Green told Vox, adding that Stefanik’s positions reflected the support of many voters in her district.

Stefanik, meanwhile, argues that her efforts on impeachment don’t contradict her other policy positions.

“I have one of the top 10 percent most bipartisan records in this House and one of the most independent records,” she told the Washington Post. “But when it comes to constitutional matters, we should focus on the facts. We should not let this be a partisan attack the way Adam Schiff is conducting himself.”

Stefanik’s growing profile — and alignment with Trump — is firing up Republicans and Democrats

Stefanik’s growing role in the impeachment proceedings has catalyzed an outpouring of support from Republicans, and vehement opposition from Democrats ahead of her own race for reelection in 2020.

Following Friday’s impeachment hearing, Stefanik used both social media and a press conference to defend the president and question Schiff over the committee process, even though he was simply adhering to procedure. Standing next to Jordan at the press briefing, she reiterated an argument that was founded on a misrepresentation of the rules, arguing that Republicans were “muzzled” by Schiff.

The focus on Stefanik during Friday’s hearing was also seen by some as a way to diffuse the optics of a predominately male panel scrutinizing Yovanovitch, who faced attacks from Trump during the panel, a suggestion Stefanik rejected in her interview with the Post. Nonetheless, Stefanik’s presence has highlighted how few women there are on the Republican side of the aisle.

“The obvious is that she stands out as a young woman in a party dominated by old white men,” Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman said of Stefanik. Democrats, though they have significantly more representation, similarly aren’t close to parity either — just three of the party’s 13 House Intelligence members are women.

Even as Stefanik’s performance in the hearing has prompted praise from conservatives, it’s simultaneously made her a target for Democrats. Wasserman notes that Stefanik is likely in a positive position for the 2020 race, since many of the voters who did not turn out in 2018 — when she won by a 14 point margin — are likely to lean Republican.

“The political reality in her district, despite what Democrats would hope, is that it has shifted in favor of Donald Trump,” he says.

Stefanik’s opponent, Tedra Cobb, meanwhile, has seen strong fundraising off of Stefanik’s ties with Trump and the impeachment inquiry. Cobb raised $1 million in the days since the Friday impeachment hearing.

.@EliseStefanik and the @GOP are using widely debunked attacks against #TeamTedra in an attempt to distract from her recent political stunts. ⬇️Help #NY21 & #TedraCobbForCongress fight back⬇️https://t.co/w0DWfCeoj0

— Tedra Cobb for Congress (@TedraCobb) November 18, 2019

The spotlight on Stefanik and Cobb could direct further resources and attention from both parties to the New York race. At this time, Cook Political Report rates the district as “Solid Republican.”

from Vox - All https://ift.tt/2XsJdZP

[shanedakotamuir]

Elise Stefanik’s impeachment moment

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., asks a question during the House Intelligence Committee hearing featuring testimony by Joseph Maguire, acting director of national intelligence, on a whistleblower complaint about a phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in Rayburn Building on Thursday, September 26, 2019. | Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

The three-term Congresswoman has emerged as Republicans’ new face of the impeachment hearings.

A “new Republican star” — and Democratic foil — is having a moment during the House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment hearings: Rep. Elise Stefanik.

Stefanik, the only Republican woman on the Intelligence Committee, has established a much higher profile this past month as she takes on a central role in the impeachment process.

Just last Friday, she made waves by using a misleading procedural stunt to accuse Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff of cutting her off — an argument that directly contradicted established House rules. During the same hearing, her pointed questioning of former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch stood out as far more effective than that of ranking member Devin Nunes or Republican Counsel Stephen Castor.

Since the start of the impeachment hearings, Stefanik, one of the youngest women ever elected to Congress, has become an increasingly prominent GOP figure. A longtime moderate who’s pushed back on President Donald Trump about the government shutdown and tax cuts in the past, Stefanik’s rhetoric has become more partisan as it relates to impeachment — and that’s garnered positive feedback from some factions of the party, including the president himself.

“Nothing rises to the level of impeachable offenses,” Stefanik said during a press conference last week. “This is wishful thinking by the Democrats.” Over the weekend, Trump tweeted his compliments:

A new Republican Star is born. Great going @EliseStefanik! https://t.co/9QH4oUa2eg

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2019

Stefanik’s strong Trump backing is likely a strategic play for her reelection campaign in 2020: While New York’s 21st district previously voted for former President Barack Obama, it’s since seen a major swing in favor of the GOP and Trump in recent years.

But it’s also a sign of how polarizing this inquiry has become for both parties, Catholic University political science professor Matthew Green tells Vox. Stefanik’s stance on impeachment underscores just how closely members of the party are tying themselves to Trump during this inquiry — and sets her up as a major target for Democrats in 2020.

Stefanik is a longtime moderate, though her tone on impeachment has been more partisan

Stefanik’s recent performance has garnered widespread praise from GOP lawmakers including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and of course, the president. In the past two weeks, Trump has mentioned or retweeted posts about her eight times.

But even before the impeachment proceedings, Stefanik was viewed as a young, dynamic member of the party — one who staked out a position that’s closer to the center. Previously, she’s worked on policies such as maintaining funding for rural hospitals and boosting caregiver support for veterans.

“For those of us in New York, it’s not surprising,” says Republican strategist Jessica Proud. “She’s been seen as a real rising Republican star in New York politics.”

Beyond the Intelligence panel, Stefanik currently sits on both the House Armed Services and Education and Labor committees, and she’s led the effort to elect more Republican women to the House even as other members of the party establishment have chafed against this. Last year, Stefanik urged the party to increase the diversity of its representatives and to get engaged at the primary level — clashing with other lawmakers in the process.

When fellow Republican Rep. Tom Emmer called this effort a “mistake,” she had a decisive response: “Newsflash, I wasn’t asking for permission.”

But NEWSFLASH I wasn’t asking for permission. —>”If that’s what Elise wants to do, then that’s her call, her right...But I think that’s a mistake.”

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) December 4, 2018

Stefanik was first elected to Congress in 2014 at the age of 30, beating Democrat Aaron Woolf by double digits for an open seat previously held by a Democratic incumbent. Prior to her election, she worked as a staffer for former President George W. Bush’s administration and was known for her work with former Speaker Paul Ryan, leading his vice presidential debate prep.

“She had never run for office before, beat someone who had run previously and had a lot of money, and really proved her mettle and capabilities when she was a real unknown,” says Proud.

In the years since she’s taken office, Stefanik has focused her policies on the Fort Drum military base in her district, and confronted Trump on multiple issues such as his withdrawal of US troops from Syria.

Stefanik’s willingness to defend Trump during the impeachment process seems to mark a change in tone with her previous breaks, and it also underscores how partisan impeachment has become. In the vote to approve impeachment inquiry procedure, for example, not a single Republican broke with the party and voted in favor of it.

“It shows how the partisan nature of the impeachment hearings make it difficult for lawmakers of either party to take a more moderate or centrist public position,” Catholic University’s Green told Vox, adding that Stefanik’s positions reflected the support of many voters in her district.

Stefanik, meanwhile, argues that her efforts on impeachment don’t contradict her other policy positions.

“I have one of the top 10 percent most bipartisan records in this House and one of the most independent records,” she told the Washington Post. “But when it comes to constitutional matters, we should focus on the facts. We should not let this be a partisan attack the way Adam Schiff is conducting himself.”

Stefanik’s growing profile — and alignment with Trump — is firing up Republicans and Democrats

Stefanik’s growing role in the impeachment proceedings has catalyzed an outpouring of support from Republicans, and vehement opposition from Democrats ahead of her own race for reelection in 2020.

Following Friday’s impeachment hearing, Stefanik used both social media and a press conference to defend the president and question Schiff over the committee process, even though he was simply adhering to procedure. Standing next to Jordan at the press briefing, she reiterated an argument that was founded on a misrepresentation of the rules, arguing that Republicans were “muzzled” by Schiff.

The focus on Stefanik during Friday’s hearing was also seen by some as a way to diffuse the optics of a predominately male panel scrutinizing Yovanovitch, who faced attacks from Trump during the panel, a suggestion Stefanik rejected in her interview with the Post. Nonetheless, Stefanik’s presence has highlighted how few women there are on the Republican side of the aisle.

“The obvious is that she stands out as a young woman in a party dominated by old white men,” Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman said of Stefanik. Democrats, though they have significantly more representation, similarly aren’t close to parity either — just three of the party’s 13 House Intelligence members are women.

Even as Stefanik’s performance in the hearing has prompted praise from conservatives, it’s simultaneously made her a target for Democrats. Wasserman notes that Stefanik is likely in a positive position for the 2020 race, since many of the voters who did not turn out in 2018 — when she won by a 14 point margin — are likely to lean Republican.

“The political reality in her district, despite what Democrats would hope, is that it has shifted in favor of Donald Trump,” he says.

Stefanik’s opponent, Tedra Cobb, meanwhile, has seen strong fundraising off of Stefanik’s ties with Trump and the impeachment inquiry. Cobb raised $1 million in the days since the Friday impeachment hearing.

.@EliseStefanik and the @GOP are using widely debunked attacks against #TeamTedra in an attempt to distract from her recent political stunts. ⬇️Help #NY21 & #TedraCobbForCongress fight back⬇️https://t.co/w0DWfCeoj0

— Tedra Cobb for Congress (@TedraCobb) November 18, 2019

The spotlight on Stefanik and Cobb could direct further resources and attention from both parties to the New York race. At this time, Cook Political Report rates the district as “Solid Republican.”

from Vox - All https://ift.tt/2XsJdZP

[timalexanderdollery]

Elise Stefanik’s impeachment moment

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., asks a question during the House Intelligence Committee hearing featuring testimony by Joseph Maguire, acting director of national intelligence, on a whistleblower complaint about a phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in Rayburn Building on Thursday, September 26, 2019. | Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

The three-term Congresswoman has emerged as Republicans’ new face of the impeachment hearings.

A “new Republican star” — and Democratic foil — is having a moment during the House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment hearings: Rep. Elise Stefanik.

Stefanik, the only Republican woman on the Intelligence Committee, has established a much higher profile this past month as she takes on a central role in the impeachment process.

Just last Friday, she made waves by using a misleading procedural stunt to accuse Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff of cutting her off — an argument that directly contradicted established House rules. During the same hearing, her pointed questioning of former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch stood out as far more effective than that of ranking member Devin Nunes or Republican Counsel Stephen Castor.

Since the start of the impeachment hearings, Stefanik, one of the youngest women ever elected to Congress, has become an increasingly prominent GOP figure. A longtime moderate who’s pushed back on President Donald Trump about the government shutdown and tax cuts in the past, Stefanik’s rhetoric has become more partisan as it relates to impeachment — and that’s garnered positive feedback from some factions of the party, including the president himself.

“Nothing rises to the level of impeachable offenses,” Stefanik said during a press conference last week. “This is wishful thinking by the Democrats.” Over the weekend, Trump tweeted his compliments:

A new Republican Star is born. Great going @EliseStefanik! https://t.co/9QH4oUa2eg

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2019

Stefanik’s strong Trump backing is likely a strategic play for her reelection campaign in 2020: While New York’s 21st district previously voted for former President Barack Obama, it’s since seen a major swing in favor of the GOP and Trump in recent years.

But it’s also a sign of how polarizing this inquiry has become for both parties, Catholic University political science professor Matthew Green tells Vox. Stefanik’s stance on impeachment underscores just how closely members of the party are tying themselves to Trump during this inquiry — and sets her up as a major target for Democrats in 2020.

Stefanik is a longtime moderate, though her tone on impeachment has been more partisan

Stefanik’s recent performance has garnered widespread praise from GOP lawmakers including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and of course, the president. In the past two weeks, Trump has mentioned or retweeted posts about her eight times.

But even before the impeachment proceedings, Stefanik was viewed as a young, dynamic member of the party — one who staked out a position that’s closer to the center. Previously, she’s worked on policies such as maintaining funding for rural hospitals and boosting caregiver support for veterans.

“For those of us in New York, it’s not surprising,” says Republican strategist Jessica Proud. “She’s been seen as a real rising Republican star in New York politics.”

Beyond the Intelligence panel, Stefanik currently sits on both the House Armed Services and Education and Labor committees, and she’s led the effort to elect more Republican women to the House even as other members of the party establishment have chafed against this. Last year, Stefanik urged the party to increase the diversity of its representatives and to get engaged at the primary level — clashing with other lawmakers in the process.

When fellow Republican Rep. Tom Emmer called this effort a “mistake,” she had a decisive response: “Newsflash, I wasn’t asking for permission.”

But NEWSFLASH I wasn’t asking for permission. —>”If that’s what Elise wants to do, then that’s her call, her right...But I think that’s a mistake.”

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) December 4, 2018

Stefanik was first elected to Congress in 2014 at the age of 30, beating Democrat Aaron Woolf by double digits for an open seat previously held by a Democratic incumbent. Prior to her election, she worked as a staffer for former President George W. Bush’s administration and was known for her work with former Speaker Paul Ryan, leading his vice presidential debate prep.

“She had never run for office before, beat someone who had run previously and had a lot of money, and really proved her mettle and capabilities when she was a real unknown,” says Proud.

In the years since she’s taken office, Stefanik has focused her policies on the Fort Drum military base in her district, and confronted Trump on multiple issues such as his withdrawal of US troops from Syria.

Stefanik’s willingness to defend Trump during the impeachment process seems to mark a change in tone with her previous breaks, and it also underscores how partisan impeachment has become. In the vote to approve impeachment inquiry procedure, for example, not a single Republican broke with the party and voted in favor of it.

“It shows how the partisan nature of the impeachment hearings make it difficult for lawmakers of either party to take a more moderate or centrist public position,” Catholic University’s Green told Vox, adding that Stefanik’s positions reflected the support of many voters in her district.

Stefanik, meanwhile, argues that her efforts on impeachment don’t contradict her other policy positions.

“I have one of the top 10 percent most bipartisan records in this House and one of the most independent records,” she told the Washington Post. “But when it comes to constitutional matters, we should focus on the facts. We should not let this be a partisan attack the way Adam Schiff is conducting himself.”

Stefanik’s growing profile — and alignment with Trump — is firing up Republicans and Democrats

Stefanik’s growing role in the impeachment proceedings has catalyzed an outpouring of support from Republicans, and vehement opposition from Democrats ahead of her own race for reelection in 2020.

Following Friday’s impeachment hearing, Stefanik used both social media and a press conference to defend the president and question Schiff over the committee process, even though he was simply adhering to procedure. Standing next to Jordan at the press briefing, she reiterated an argument that was founded on a misrepresentation of the rules, arguing that Republicans were “muzzled” by Schiff.

The focus on Stefanik during Friday’s hearing was also seen by some as a way to diffuse the optics of a predominately male panel scrutinizing Yovanovitch, who faced attacks from Trump during the panel, a suggestion Stefanik rejected in her interview with the Post. Nonetheless, Stefanik’s presence has highlighted how few women there are on the Republican side of the aisle.

“The obvious is that she stands out as a young woman in a party dominated by old white men,” Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman said of Stefanik. Democrats, though they have significantly more representation, similarly aren’t close to parity either — just three of the party’s 13 House Intelligence members are women.

Even as Stefanik’s performance in the hearing has prompted praise from conservatives, it’s simultaneously made her a target for Democrats. Wasserman notes that Stefanik is likely in a positive position for the 2020 race, since many of the voters who did not turn out in 2018 — when she won by a 14 point margin — are likely to lean Republican.

“The political reality in her district, despite what Democrats would hope, is that it has shifted in favor of Donald Trump,” he says.

Stefanik’s opponent, Tedra Cobb, meanwhile, has seen strong fundraising off of Stefanik’s ties with Trump and the impeachment inquiry. Cobb raised $1 million in the days since the Friday impeachment hearing.

.@EliseStefanik and the @GOP are using widely debunked attacks against #TeamTedra in an attempt to distract from her recent political stunts. ⬇️Help #NY21 & #TedraCobbForCongress fight back⬇️https://t.co/w0DWfCeoj0

— Tedra Cobb for Congress (@TedraCobb) November 18, 2019

The spotlight on Stefanik and Cobb could direct further resources and attention from both parties to the New York race. At this time, Cook Political Report rates the district as “Solid Republican.”

from Vox - All https://ift.tt/2XsJdZP

[toldnews-blog]

New Post has been published on https://toldnews.com/world/the-greta-effect-meet-the-schoolgirl-climate-warriors/

The Greta effect? Meet the schoolgirl climate warriors

This Friday, like many Fridays before it, Haven Coleman will not be attending school. The 13-year-old is taking a stand.

Coleman, from Denver, Colorado, is risking her education to strike for climate change action. She told the BBC her decision was down to one person: Greta Thunberg.

“Once we found Greta, we were like, ‘Oh that’s amazing, let me try, let me do something similar’,” Coleman said.

When Thunberg sat outside Sweden’s parliament on 20 August, 2018, aged 15, she cut a lonely figure. Carrying a “school strike for climate change” sign, she said she was refusing to attend classes until Swedish politicians took action.

Nine months on, Thunberg is no longer alone. Energised by her climate strike movement, Fridays for Future (FFF), students are vowing to boycott school on Fridays until their countries adhere to the 2015 Paris agreement, which aims to prevent global temperatures from rising 1.5C (34.7F) above pre-industrial levels.

On 15 March, an estimated 1.6 million students from 125 countries walked out of school to demand climate change action. The next co-ordinated international protest takes place on Friday, before another global strike on 24 May.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionEnvironmental activist Greta Thunberg says climate change is ‘an existential crisis’

Coleman, the co-director of US Youth Climate Strike, is one of them. She founded the organisation with Isra Hirsi, the 16-year-old daughter of Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and Alexandria Villaseñor, 13.

“It’s really cool because it’s driven by girls. I think that’s amazing,” she said.

Based on the “tonnes of people” she knows within the movement, she believes girls outnumber boys. Learning about the effects of deforestation on sloths – her “favourite animal” – was her gateway into climate activism.

But it was Thunberg’s school walk-out, she said, that prompted her to start striking on her own.

Image copyright Haven Coleman

Image caption Haven has accused adults of being frozen by the fear of change

So she began descending the steps of the Denver Capitol Building every Friday with her “school for climate strike” placard. With the help of Hirsi, who’s from Minneapolis, and Villaseñor, who’s from New York, she led a nationwide strike on 15 March across all 50 states.

Coleman takes a dim view of adults like Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who believes she should be in school, not out protesting. Her assessment of world leaders was damning – she accused them of patronising her and being frozen by the fear of change.

Youth strikers were “turning this fear into action”, she said. “We’re trying to fix a mess that adults can still fix.”

Coleman’s organisation, US Youth Climate Strike, is backing the New Green Deal (NGD) – a policy proposal to reduce carbon emissions by transforming the US economy. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest congresswoman in history at 29, is an enthusiastic supporter of the policy initiative, although convincing others of its merits has proved more difficult.

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption Thunberg stands on stage at a Fridays for Future protest in Berlin

Ms Ocasio-Cortez’s NGD resolution was roundly rejected by the Senate in March, defeated by 57 votes to zero. Republican lawmakers, some of whom do not believe in man-made climate change, have branded the NGD a “socialist manifesto”.

Their resistance illustrates the political realities facing young climate activists. For all the young strikers’ passion, it is politicians who are navigating the economic and practical complexities of shifting the global economy away from fossil fuels and towards a carbon-free future.

There is overwhelming scientific consensus that climate change is caused by human behaviour, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN body. A 2016 study of peer-reviewed journals said the IPCC’s position was shared by 97% of actively publishing climate scientists. Most leading scientific organisations, including NASA, the American Meteorological Society and the UK Met Office, agree.

To minimise the risks, global carbon emissions must be cut by 50% within the next 11 years, a landmark UN report warned last year. If temperatures go beyond the 1.5C threshold, experts fear climate change could become unstoppable by 2030 – by which time Lilly Platt will be 22.

Platt, who is 11 and lives in the Netherlands, is impatient for change. “I’m in the generation that has to suffer through this,” she told the BBC.

Image copyright Lilly Platt

Image caption Lilly Platt started a litter-picking campaign in 2015

Accompanied by her mum, she strikes on Fridays for an hour with permission from her school.

Her protests, held outside her local town hall in Utrecht, were about “educating and informing people about climate change”, she said. She is a child ambassador for the Plastic Pollution Coalition and HOW Global, a water charity.

And she has her own litter-picking campaign, Lilly’s Plastic Pick Up. Started in 2015, when Platt was seven, it focuses on “informing people about single-use plastic and how they can stop using it”.

She too cited Thunberg as the inspiration for her first school climate strike. But she is now well known in her own right – she has more than 6,600 followers on Twitter. Is there a reason girls like her are spearheading climate movements?

“I think it’s because we’re inspiring more people. You have to lead by example,” she said.

Image copyright Lilly Platt

Image caption Lilly Platt strikes school on Fridays with her mum

In many cases, it is the developing countries that contribute least to global fossil fuel emissions that are likely to suffer most from climate change.

Leah Namugerwa is a 14-year-old FFF activist in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Her country, like many others in Africa, is at risk of desertification – a process that causes fertile agricultural land to turn barren. Experts say droughts and elevated temperatures – two factors linked to climate change – cause it to occur.

At the age of 12, Namugerwa watched TV news reports about Uganda’s devastating famine of 2017, when exceptional drought conditions left millions in need of food aid. Horrified by the scale of suffering, she felt compelled to act. Inspired by Thunberg, she held her debut protest on 1 February this year and has been striking every Friday since.

“I wanted to make a positive change in my country and pressure my government into taking action,” she told the BBC.

Image copyright Alamy

Image caption Leah Namugerwa (wearing a red pinstriped shirt) striking with her classmates

Climate change was also “escalating existing gender inequality” – women and girls would endure a “steep social cost”, Namugerwa said.

According to a 2015 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), women are more vulnerable than men to the impact of extreme climate events for a variety of reasons, including biological and social factors.

But women and girls would not suffer in silence, Namugerwa said. “We have no-one to fight for us so we have to do it ourselves.”

The US, China and India are the three biggest emitters of carbon dioxide in recent decades, according to latest statistics from Our World in Data.

Asheer Kandhari is a 15-year-old climate activist from India’s capital, Delhi, where studies show carbon emissions are having a significant impact on air quality. Kandhari was inspired by the recent Extinction Rebellion protests in London, which saw activists glue themselves together, blocking major roads and train routes.

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Media captionA hair-raising drive through the Delhi smog

Of the world’s 30 worst cities for air pollution, 22 are in India, according to a report by Greenpeace and AirVisual. Delhi, where Kandhari strikes with FFF India, was ranked the world’s most polluted capital. In contrast, London is the 48th most polluted capital.

Furious with an Indian government she claims is “destroying” the environment, Kandhari wants Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare a climate emergency. “They’re not realising how important this is or the severity of the situation,” she said.

She called on boys to get more involved. “It’s as much their movement as it is ours,” she said.

Image copyright Asheer Kandhari

Image caption Asheer Kandhari takes part in Extinction Rebellion protests in India

Research by Girlguiding has found that climate degradation ranks among the biggest concerns for young women.

With the help of the world’s media, Thunberg has amplified and personified their anxieties. In the process, she has managed to mobilise them with a simple call to action: school strike for climate.

For Kandhari, the reason for joining her is a matter of life and death. “What’s the point of studying if [humanity may not live to see] next century?” she asks.

[wellnessroutines]

8 Natural Tips For A Better Sleep

Sleep. It's a crucial part of life, however while some individuals could drop off into dreamland the minute their head strikes the cushion each evening, others lay awake for exactly what seems like an endless time awaiting the sleep gods to ultimately take over their body. And considering that the quantity and also top quality of our sleep has a significant influence on our physical as well as psychological health, and consistent rest starvation can reduce our performance and also alertness, create us to put on weight, make us feel clinically depressed, and also damage our body immune systems, it's imperative that we make it a priority.

The just problem is that, despite having the very best intentions, a lot of us have a hard time to obtain a sufficient quantity of sleep each night. Hectic routines, unwell youngsters, chronic discomfort, life anxieties, and consistent sleeping disorders could as well as will make obtaining a strong 8-hour sleep sesh really feel impossible, yet with a little preparation as well as prep work, it is possible to make sleepless evenings an exemption as opposed to a rule.

I'm very fortunate that I don't usually have troubles in the sleep division, yet that had not been constantly the case. Actually, I spent the greater component of a year in my mid-20s seeing physicians and trying various sleep helps, as well as after investing an evening in a sleep center where nothing 'of passion' was discovered even though I was getting up 10+ times each night, I made a decision to take matters into my own hands.

I was ill as well as fed up with being unwell and also tired all the time, and also established out on an objective to cure my rest problems myself. I review countless sleep books and write-ups, and through a great deal of experimentation, I developed great deals of fantastic organic tips for a far better rest that have actually shown successful not only to me, but to a number of my friends and also household members over the years.

And given that I understand there are heaps of people available that struggle to capture an adequate amount of Zs each night, today I'm collaborating Yogabed ™ to share 8 of my ideal natural tips for a far better sleep.

1. ADHERE TO A RIGOROUS SLEEP SCHEDULE

While I have constantly been a little bit of a night owl, age as well as experience has proven to me that keeping a stringent sleep schedule, EVEN ON THE WEEKEND BREAKS, is paramount in maintain sleep problems away. The more unpredictable my rest schedule is, the a lot more tough I locate it to sleep as well as remain asleep. This was a little bit of a disappointment when I was a care free 20-something with late-night strategies every weekend break, today that I'm the mommy of a tough 5-year-old who wakes up at the daybreak every. solitary. day., preserving a normal sleep timetable is actually quite very easy for me. Certainly, I make exemptions for special events or when I'm on a due date, yet as a general policy, I aim to go to bed and awaken at the same time each day.

2. ACCESS LEAST HALF AN HOUR OF EXERCISE

Yup. As aggravating as it is, bodily activity, or absence thereof, truly does influence our ability not only to go to sleep, yet to stay asleep also. Obviously, this does not mean you should run a 10K race on your lunch break everyday, but the a lot more energetic your way of life, the much less likely you are to experience in the rest department.

3. LIMIT CAFFEINE AND ALCOHOL

If it depended on me, I would go after a glass of white with a cup of jo all evening long, but the reality of the issue is that this is not only extremely unhealthy, however it would have destructive results on my rest. As well as considering that I am an unpleasant human being when I'm not well-rested, I make a mindful initiative not to consume alcohol any kind of caffeine after 12:00 pm, and also on the nights I seem like enjoying a little vino, I aim to restrict myself to one glass. 2 tops.

4. ASSESS YOUR SLEEP ENVIRONMENT

If you have troubles dropping and/or staying asleep, opportunities are you have actually already read the significance of guaranteeing your bed room is conducive to a good evening of sleep. There are a variety of things you could do to aid - splurge on a comfy set of sheets, deny your thermostat, buy a white sound manufacturer, limit TV-watching as well as checking out to various other rooms in your house, etc. - yet the largest game-changer for me was purchasing a pair of power outage blinds. While I like getting up to all-natural sunlight, living in an apartment in a big urbane city indicates there are whole lots of sounds as well as lights throughout the night, and obstructing it all out really does create a much more zen sleep encounter for me.

5. UNPLUG

Life as an independent, work-at-home mom is wonderful and also versatile, yet it also makes it incredibly difficult to turn function off at the end of the day. I constantly really feel like I must be doing MORE, when I recently found myself looking at the ceiling agonizing over my relentless checklist of points to do a couple of weeks ago, I determined to try and disconnect myself an hour prior to bed each evening. It made such a difference! By giving myself time to properly relax as well as loosen up prior to creeping into bed, I discover I have the ability to clear my mind as well as sleep quicker. Give it a try!

6. ESTABLISH A BEDTIME ROUTINE

When my child was a child and also waking up a million times a night, every person told me I needed to develop a bedtime routine for her to ensure that her body would certainly concern recognize that as soon as we began to do specific points - change right into our jammies, brush our teeth, checked out a publication together, etc. - it was time to wind down and go to rest. I've adopted a similar regular myself, as well as it truly does help send the proper signals to my body that the day is pertaining to a close.

7. KEEP STRESS AT BAY

Even though I don't battle with sleep problems on the routine, I absolutely have difficultly dropping as well as remaining asleep when something is worrying me. I believe this is typical of the majority of people, and also could be extremely tough throughout times of intense stress. Unfortunately, it's not constantly feasible to limit these situations, however several of these ideas to soothe stress normally may aid keep points workable so you could obtain a far better night of sleep.

8. SPEND IN THE RIGHT MATTRESS

While every one of these suggestions really assisted me locate my means back to a good evening of rest when I was knee-deep in severe rest starvation, one of the important things that aided me the most was buying a good bed mattress. I had been sleeping on a bed that was older than I care to confess, and also constantly discovered I slept much better when I was taking a trip on business, and also when someone suggested the concern may be my cushion, it actually obtained me thinking. I eventually decided to use my annual bonus to spend lavishly on a brand-new bed, and also it made such a big distinction. I have considering that updated my cushion a few times, and each time I do, I am impressed at the results.

So when the outstanding individuals at Yogabed ™ asked if they can hook me up with a brand-new mattress when we relocated right into our brand-new residence last weekend, I hopped at the possibility. The stairs of our brand-new residence has very little swing room, and since my other half and I decline to sleep on anything various other than a king-sized mattress, we were a little stumped as to exactly what we were going to do.

As it transforms out, the Yogabed ™ comes packaged in a box, and also we had absolutely no concerns obtaining it up the stairs, so it was a win!

Now, I understand what you're thinking.

How does a king-sized mattress fit into a box that size?

We wondered the very same thing, but after reducing open the box as well as removing the air-tight plastic covering, we were entrusted a high-end foam mattress that is perfect comfortable.

The bed mattress is comprised of the Yoga exercise Comfort System ™, which is an advancement split system specifically developed to efficiently sustain the body by dispersing weight evenly and also minimizing pressure factors that create thrashing. It also featured 2 totally free Yogabed ™ Pillows, has a Zip-n-Wash removable cover featuring THERMOCOOL ™ high efficiency fabric, and also with a 101 evening no-risk trial and also a 1o year guarantee, you truly cannot go wrong.

Oh, and did I state I'm supplying $75 off a cushion? Just see the Yogabed ™ website and utilize the discount coupon code 'Meraki75' during the checkout process!

Moving is never ever fun, but we're so thrilled to have formally relocated right into our new residence, as well as thanks to our brand-new Yogabed ™, we're well-rested and delighted and also prepared to go explore our new area and make brand-new memories as a family.

Don' t fail to remember to capitalize on the $75 off voucher when you get your Yogabed ™ utilizing the code 'Meraki75' throughout the checkout process!

If you found these all-natural tips for a better rest valuable, please share them on Pinterest!

Optional brand accepted language you may use in or after the article:

 Yogabed is consisted of the Yoga Convenience System ™, an innovative layered system particularly designed to optimally support the body by dispersing weight evenly and also lowering pressure points that create throwing and also turning.