We Are the 99%

We are embroiled in a national debate over homosexuality, abortion, and race. Trump is not the cause of our consternation; he is only the symptom. Some people are willing to tolerate his insanity because he represents the underlying resentment of the poor whites and religious right. They see the political power structure of the past 30 years slipping from their grasp, and they are furious.

Dark clouds over the capitol building

I usually try to steer clear of politics and focus on the civil and religious rights of the LGBT community in this blog. But the cultural divide in this nation was dramatically displayed in public in the recent Senate hearings. The appointment of a controversial nominee for the Supreme Court dominated the news cycle for weeks. A proposed appointment two years ago was blocked from even having a hearing because “it was an election year.”

Supreme Court Again Smacks Down Campaign-Finance Reformers

We're into a new season of demonstrations and political action committees raising funds to support their causes with the new year. Neither the strategy nor the circumstances are really anything new. But the power of corruption has spread through all levels of government at both the executive and legislative branches of federal and state government. The impact of the Citizens' United Supreme Court ruling has morphed into a democratic crisis in which the power of money not only influences elections, it also dictates the policies and regulations (or lack therefore) at all levels of government. The chaos has run amok with no limits. We may not have the direct bribery of 150 years ago, but the effects are still the same.