“It is institutions that help us to preserve decency. They need our help as well. Do not speak of ‘our institutions’ unless you make them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions do not protect themselves. They fall one after the other unless each is defended from the beginning. So choose an institution you careContinue reading ““Defend institutions””
Tag Archives: politics
Voting is like loving: vital, and not to be taken for granted
“ The hero of a David Lodge novel says that you don’t know, when you make love for the last time, that you are making love for the last time. Voting is like that. ” This quote from the book “On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder is maybe the one that strikes me the most, theContinue reading “Voting is like loving: vital, and not to be taken for granted”
“Be wary of paramilitaries”
Quoting from Lesson #6 in the book “On Tyranny — Twenty lessons from the twentieth century” by Timothy Snyder (published in 2017): “ When the men with guns who have always claimed to be against the system start wearing uniforms and marching with torches and pictures of a leader, the end is nigh. When theContinue reading ““Be wary of paramilitaries””
“The ICE test”
Quoting from The Economist, Jan. 31st 2026: “ Is America’s president building his own paramilitary militia? America stared into the void this week, but pulled back. Federal action in the streets of Minneapolis goes well beyond immigration. It is a test of the government’s power to use violence against its own citizens — a dividing-lineContinue reading ““The ICE test””
“Do not obey in advance”
“Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.” “Anticipatory obedience is a political tragedy. Perhaps rulers did not initiallyContinue reading ““Do not obey in advance””
“MAGA’s Bulldog”
Some scary, concerning facts about the government and some terrible quotes from Vought [from the New York Times article: “The man behind Trump’s push for an all-powerful presidency”]: “ To many legal experts, Mr. Vought’s work is a threat to the foundations of democracy. “One of the main sources of power that Congress has overContinue reading ““MAGA’s Bulldog””
The actions of a dictator(ship)
– Legislators and politicians from the opposition being arrested, handcuffed, removed from office, killed – Martial law being enacted – The military sent in against civilians to quench protests – “Uncomfortable” books been banned and censored – “Threatening” theories and historical viewpoints (e.g. Critical Theory) being banned from schools – Academics being fired for voicingContinue reading “The actions of a dictator(ship)”
We need to save our democracy!
Experts discuss the peril in which our American democracy finds itself: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/18/1252312214/us-competitive-autocracy
Depression — The horrific state of the world
I’m gong through a bout of depression. It’s circumstantial but it’s real. The horrific bill that was passed in the House last week was probably the last straw, maybe because it’s one of the most all-encompassing measures of disaster and discrimination and abomination, such a widespread, all-encompassing measure of hatred and evil. I’m worried. I’mContinue reading “Depression — The horrific state of the world”
The big horrific bill
Reposting a message from One Colorado: “While most of us were sleeping, Colorado’s Republican Representatives voted for the U.S. House budget bill that proposes to slash over $700 billion from healthcare and Medicaid, harming hundreds of thousands of Coloradans to help subsidize tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations. While this bill is beingContinue reading “The big horrific bill”
The Little Prince and the Fox 