GOVERNING ... DIFFERENCES RESPECTED IN 2025?

Our United States are challenged to be governed in the best interests of ALL of our citizens ... appreciating ... respecting ...

... our cultural, racial, gender, sexual, religious, political, other differences, 

... the many average persons with considerably less finances than the most wealthy, 

... every person. 

2024 Election Result Facts

Donald J. Trump received less than 50% of the popular vote, slightly more than he won in 2016, but not a majority and certainly not a mandate for him to  overturn our government, or violate our constitution.  He did win the electoral college majority of the votes in both of his Presidential elections. -- 2016, 2024.   

Kamala Harris, current Vice President, the opposing candidate conceded.

The current President, Joe Biden,  pledged a smooth transition of powers.   There seems to  have been a bit of a slow process start for the incoming administration to initiate nominees security checks for their Senate consideration of appointment to the significantly highest U.S. government positions.  This Politico link reports "Some Trump Cabinet picks may have trouble getting clearances.  Trump can grant them anyway ... even those whose FBI background checks don't pass muster."

President Trump's and Vice President J. D. Vance's election will officially be certified by December 13, 2024 with the 47th President's swearing in ceremony January 20, 2025.   

Previous Election Remembered

U. S. citizens will never forget what occurred January 6, 2021, when Trump lost the 2020 election, then the Capitol assault in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the certification.      Lying about the legitimacy of that 46th Presidential vote, has been alleged to have instigated supporters' violence with instigators deserving of accountability.   Hundreds of rioters on that day have had their cases adjudicated and almost 500 are reported to have been incarcerated.  ABC News link reports "Trump promises pardon for Jan 6 rioters on his first day...also told "Meet the Press the Jan. 6 committee members should be jailed."

"Supreme Court Grants Trump Broad Immunity for Official Acts, Placing Presidents Above the Law" as reported by this link:  American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Special Prosecutor, Jack Smith's legal case against Trump  "...dismissed "without prejudice", meaning charges could be refiled after Trump finishes his second term as president.  In his request to drop the election case, Smith wrote: "This outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant." Trump had pleaded not guilty in both cases." as this BBC link reports.

This Reuters link reports Jack Smith intends to step down from office before Trump becomes President according to the New York Times.

Voting results in 2024 for the Legislative Branch of government have given the President-elect's political party, the Republicans, a majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives. 

Seems voters denied our democratic republic's promise and freedoms with this 2024 election.   They possibly failed to  fully appreciate President Biden bringing calm and sanity to more of everyday life.   Perhaps with the steps to control and reduce inflation they didn't note this country's overall economic gains, considered best in the world for that unusual time that avoided a U.S. recession or even depression. 

The 46th Presidency of Joseph Biden's and Vice President Kamala Harris' four years leadership shepherded U.S. recovery from the unique circumstances of a global pandemic initially dismissed and minimized by the previous 45th President Trump until he acted much later, but that delay may have lead to the death of multitudes of U.S. citizens some have said.  

Another honest election in 2028 with viable candidates could have a positive effect toward more strongly supporting our democratic republic constitutional government which more informed voters by then can begin to reinforce in the 2022 mid-term election.   

What are some actions I and others can continue to take in the time ahead to best protect and ensure rights and freedoms for ALL of our citizens ...

.... support only those candidates who would preserve our rights and freedoms, swear allegiance to our constitution above any leader, defend our democracy to sustain our republic, and act only to do so,

.... support any of the coming 47th administration's actions that truly primarily benefit ordinary citizens as the wealthy are doing fine, 

.... always seek verifiable facts and truth from the source(s) of our news,

... use critical thinking to select only those in the Fourth Estate's honest press dedicated to verifiable truth and facts to believe, not that from social media, or conspiracy theories often riddled with propaganda including foreign government distortions and lies as is known to be occurring in our national elections, 

... carefully fact check this administration's words as past behavior indicates a great proclivity for stating inaccurate information, even about the obvious that is heard as well as seen by individuals' own eyes,

... trust what my eyes see, verify, not what others may describe to the contrary, 

... continue to believe words matter in reflecting the values, morals and beliefs of a person only if their actions reveal they live them; beware of hypocrites,

... practice civility, tolerance, respect, and love -- not hate and vindictiveness, especially in an autocratic leader's words and actions directed toward those who have different views,

... to be patient in order to survive what may well be chaos deliberately created by the new leader as occurred in the previous 45th administration, 

... keep the peace,

... stay positive in thought and spirit,

... focus on family, friends, and taking good care of our health, 

... seek humor in life to keep our sanity if these coming years are like 2016-2020.

I'm sure you have thoughts and suggestions of your own better than mine you could add.   

MIND READING -- PROTECTING OUR RIGHTS

One of my favored blogs I've previously mentioned is "Cop Car's Beat" (her cat's name).  She mixes in some humor with accounts of her daily life, including gardening, primarily directed toward her family and friends. 

She occasionally highlights some really thought-provoking items she's ferreted from sites with which I've not been familiar.  Her background and work before retiring has been fascinating which I won't go into other than to say she has flown around quite a bit, then later she and her husband individually devoted themselves to helping others including in times of disaster.

One of her most recent posts captured my attention which she introduced for "Neuro Nerds" and prefaced with ...

"We better get on this or all sorts of things will occur automatically and we may or may not be alerted in a timely way to opt out if we're even given the choice."

The Slashdot article she briefly discusses notes that science has scanners now...

 "...making manipulation of the human mind increasingly possible, creating a need for laws and protections to regulate use of the new tools, top neurologists said."

"If you can record and change neurons, you can in principle read and write the minds of people."

"This is not science fiction.  We are doing this in lab animals."

This rather lengthy video is Dr. Rafael Yuste, a neuroscientist at New York's Columbia University discussing some of his research relative to this topic and AI (Artificial Intelligence):

Dr. Yuste said in a Reuters article:

"Usually people only start talking about ethics and regulations after a big scandal, but with neurotech I hope we can take on these questions before that scandal".

"Yuste introduced the NeuroRights Initiative, which advocates five "neuro-rights" to protect how a person's brain data is accessed and used, including a right to mental privacy and to free will."

Seems incredible to me now that mind reading is even possible, but Yuste describes the current scientific environment as being like "the Wild West".   These are a couple cautionary views with more perspectives in the Reuters article:

"Ienca at ETH Zurich said major ethical issues could arise if the data commercial neurotech devices collect is widely shared and analyzed without proper safeguards, he said.

"We already have digital biomarkers that can indicate if someone is predisposed to developing dementia.  Let's say (that) data is shared with a prospective employer, you could face discrimination on the job market," he said."

"In Chile, senate member Guido Girardi favors strict regulation.  "We didn't regulate the big social media and internet platforms in time, and it costs us.  We have lost control of all kinds of data, from our location to our romantic interests -- it's all up for sale," he said."

"If we allow for all this brain data to be taken, who knows what the consequences will be?  We'll have algorithms deciding what it means to be 'happy'," Girardi said".

We should be concerned.   Now is the time for action -- expecting and supporting our scientists to ensure criteria are established, determining what regulations may be needed and followed to protect the individual.   Does privacy matter?

What are your thoughts on the potential of mind reading and the need to establish individual rights now to protect our brains, those of our children and grandchildren from future manipulation?

SEN. MCCAIN -- NET NEUTRALITY UPDATE -- DRAMA

PATRIOT

Senator John McCain has been a true patriot – a defender of freedom serving first in the U.S. military, then the U.S. House of Representatives, finally the U.S. Senate.  He has demonstrated courage, honor and practiced bi-partisanship as effective governing requires.  
  

I have respected his efforts to be truthful with the American people, to speak truth to power, especially in a time when many do not.  I have not always agreed with his positions on issues but welcomed his sincere unselfish efforts to consider what is best for our country.

Senator McCain has succumbed to a glioblastoma brain tumor.   He will be missed, especially in this time when we really need champions of democracy, advocates for equality, protectors of our freedoms, leaders with ethical and moral values.

Thank you!    Rest in peace.

August 29, 1936 - August 25, 2018   

* * *

FREEDOM AND EQUALITY ISSUE UPDATE

                

This net neutrality issue continues to be pertinent to all of us which is why I’m updating California’s actions you can read about in my previous post.  California’s legislative SB 822 has passed.  Our state is one of many seeking to preserve these internet protections.  

Recent devastating fires subjected firefighters to experiencing first-hand what can occur with “throttling”, consequently they recognized this rules need as described HERE:

“CPF, which represents 30,000 firefighters as the state council of the International Association of Fire Fighters, “has come to conclude that if net neutrality is not restored, the effect could be disastrous to the public’s safety,” the statement declared.  “SB 822 will help prevent internet service providers from throttling, thereby preventing data speeds to be manipulated, and, in turn, avoid crippling, or worse, deadly outcomes.”

You may want to see what your state is doing on this issue so you can provide any needed support.  Reuters reports 22 Attorneys general and the District of Columbia have “asked a U.S. appeals court to reinstate... net neutrality rules and reject the Trump administration’s efforts to preempt states from imposing their own rules guaranteeing an open internet.”

“The state attorney generals suing represent states with 165 million people – more than half of the United States population – and include California, Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.”

The states argue public safety could be harmed “the absence of open internet rules jeopardizes the ability to reduce load in times of extreme energy grid stress.  Consequently...the reliability of the electric grid”.

If California’s experience is any indication of corporate behavior in an emergency situation we can readily see how easily small businesses and individual internet users speed could be subjected to manipulation of rate charges....and why support of efforts to reinstate network neutrality rules is needed at the state level since our federal government seems to be failing to do so. 

Even though the U.S. Senate voted to keep the internet rules, after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) repealed them, so far the House of Representatives and the White House are still not expected to approve them. 

The states argue without net neutrality the reliability of the electric grid is threatened. 

* * * 

LIFE’S DRAMA

My day-to-day life has been relatively uneventful so far this summer which suits me just fine.   I have no serious drama to reveal which is a welcome state of affairs.  Well, there is at least one matter hanging fire, so to speak, that I’m keeping on a low burner while I ponder how, or if, I want to proceed with what I consider to be unwelcome action.   

I continue needing to sort and organize some materials, to more aggressively enter into right sizing, to consistently engage in exercising-type physical activity, to name a few activities awaiting my attention.   I seem to be lacking motivation to initiate these tasks until I’m lying in bed at night before falling asleep when I become enthusiastic thinking about them.  I have the best of intentions to pursue them the following day. 

I do continue my excursions to the grocery as needed.  Also, I always get my trash, recyclables and greenery bins out to the curb for pickup weekly.  This week I’ve been really unhappy to learn my favored hardware/gardening store is going out of business.  I did shop there since everything on sale.  Now I’ll be stuck having to shop at those big box chains.  My efforts continue becoming more difficult to support independents and smaller business operations as their numbers keep dwindling.    I prefer to continue shopping brick and mortar sites, using internet shopping only selectively.    

Meanwhile, I’ve developed and unhealthy practice of devoting too much time focused on self-gratification – viewing more TV than usual -- episodes of Dick Cavett’s talk shows on Decades that I missed when they aired years ago, plus some mostly music PBS shows.  Also, I keep adding more books to my over-flowing accumulation than my rate for reading them.   I indulge myself some days with occasional afternoon periods of time “just resting my eyes” as my mother used to say when I asked if she had been napping.   

I'm beginning to think I’m in dire need of a self-help group to hold me accountable for not using my time more constructively.  Doing so does not get any easier as I get older I’m discovering.   I may have to actually make a schedule for myself – then somehow make myself follow it -- which goes against the grain for my whole concept of retirement living.  But I’m keenly aware that my time is finite in a way it has never seemed before.  I don’t have unlimited time as it once seemed I did, though on some level I knew that wasn’t true even then.  I will have to review the booklet to renew my driver’s license soon, so maybe that will prod me into becoming more productive.

If there’s one fact I’ve learned over my lifetime it is wise to appreciate any lull in excitement as such a situation is always temporary.  Typically, it’s only a matter of time until the unknown future introduces some unexpected issue or event to challenge my tranquility.   Meanwhile, I ponder just how long can I legitimately indulge myself as I’m doing?