Saturday, April 1, 2023

School shootings: A Uniquely American Problem

Sadly enough, school shootings have become so common they rarely make the national news anymore. A recent school shooting in Tennessee did make the national news. Two things made this shooting unique, 1 the shooter was a transgender person. 2 it was a private Christian School. Let's get past the transgender thing. Transgender people are not the ones shooting up schools, just look at the evidence. Yes, even private schools can end up on the Evening News for the wrong reasons. The response by law enforcement was as good as anyone could hope for. Still six people died. The idea of more cops can prevent school shootings is kind of simple minded in my opinion. This problem has become so common, we think it is normal. It is not. This is an American thing. For years and years we have done the same thing, nothing. We wring our hands, send thoughts and prayers, and argue over semantics like what is an “assault rifle.” So given the state of the courts, at least one political party bought and paid for by the gun lobby and our apathy brought on by our seeming powerlessness what can realistically be done? I, for one, think there are solutions. It's too easy just to scream into the void about how nothing can be done. We must do better than that.

Let me run three ideas by you.

1. Of course sensible gun safety legislation should be passed. That alone will do little in the short term.

2. We need to rethink how these events are portrayed in the media. Instant fame?

3. One more thing, people need something to do, something to be a part of and hope for the future. All right let's dig in.

OK let me make everybody mad now. Guns, by themselves, are not the whole problem. Hear me out. We've had semi automatic handguns (1911 .45 caliber anyone?) for more than 100 years. We've had semi automatic (M-1 carbine, M-14, mini 14?) rifles widely available for decades. So what has changed? A clear path to instant fame is conducting a mass shooting. Still, there are some measures that would be helpful. Things such as people with Domestic Violence histories should not be allowed anywhere near a gun- FULL STOP. No more guns for violent offenders. Maybe be able to sue the living shit out of gun manufacturers? If I buy beer for a minor, yup, I'm in trouble with the law. What about giving a mass shooter access arms and ammo? Parental culpability in these crimes? There's more solutions beyond gun regulation.

The news no longer comes from the morning paper or even the 6:00 PM news at the end of the day now. The news comes directly to you via your phone or tablet or computer. Making mass shooters (school, movie theater or church) instantly famous or infamous, I believe is a serious mistake. We need to rethink how these horrific events are covered and portrayed in the media. We have to balance this against freedom of the press. I would withhold the shooter's name for three to five years and instead focus on the victims. It may sound grim but we should see the horrors of such an event for ourselves. If the American public saw what the aftermath of one of these events really looks like, I don't think we would stand for nothing being done. Change would be decisive and swift. There is little if any follow-up coverage of the people or community after a mass school shooting. If the shooter is killed, that's it. We may also hear about a trial years later. I guess the road to recovery is not sensational enough. There is one more important thing we must do, preemption via hope.

We must do a better job of addressing the causes of mass-shootings. After a mass school shooting there's always talk of “mental health.” That's a pretty generic term that gets thrown around a lot, “mental health.” Sure, we need more access to professional counseling, counselors in schools and affordable psychology. But why? Over the last generation or so, people (men in particular) have become more alienated from society. There is a growing sense of despair and hopelessness that's only reinforced by mass media and social networks like Facebook and Twitter. They make money off of people's outrage and despair. A way to counter despair is finding positive things for people to do, that's more constructive then doom scrolling on a phone, tablet or computer. We need things that bring people together, for now I'm thinking about young men. We need community centers with good things to do, everything from basketball to computer classes, car clubs, sports leagues, activist groups and yes I'll say it, even gun clubs. Humans have not evolved to simply stare at screens. We must have social interaction that is accessible to all. We need to address some of the larger ills of our society that lead to dark places.

Perhaps instead of unemployment, we could have guaranteed employment. There are needs that our capitalist system does not address very well. Things like elder care, childcare, and preservation come to mind. Sure, you can get these things but they are often cost prohibitive. I'm not sure capitalism is the best replacement for government services, such as corrections. How do we realistically put a price tag on justice or criminal reform? Companies running prisons is just creepy in my opinion. What is getting paid by how many cells are full actually doing for justice, much less helping people reform? I think there are a lot of things that need doing that don't necessarily respond well to market forces.

There is one thing we can say with utmost certainty, doing what we have been doing about gun violence, nothing, can only get the same result. Yes, access to guns is a factor, but like many of our problems, there are no simple solutions. School shootings, workplace shootings and church shootings are symptoms of far deeper systemic problems that have built up over decades. That said, I think gun control measures can still be helpful in the long run. But until we actually address the causes of resentment, alienation and apathy the violence will continue and probably worsen. I see gun bans as a possible long-term solution. We cannot simply snap our fingers and make millions of guns disappear.

Guns that have been around a long time...

1911 pistol semi-auto 8 rounds

M1 carbine semi-auto 15 rounds

M-14 semi-auto 20 rounds

Mini-14 semi-auto 20-30 rounds

Sunday, March 19, 2023

Climate Change 2023

A River of Rain.

We want to have our cake and eat it too. That's the saying anyway. I see this whenever we talk about climate change. We seem to think that we can go on about our merry wasteful so-called middle-class lifestyle. We nip around the edges with companies pretending to go green, IE Greenwashing. We come up with schemes like carbon tax carbon offsets and green energy that's not really green. A huge solar farm covering hundreds of acres is less than ideal for the bugs, plants and animals that used to live there before we humans stole their sunshine so we could watch TV. We are reminded almost daily stopping climate change is up to us as individuals, while ignoring these huge corporations that are responsible for the lion share of greenhouse gases and other forms of pollution. And don't forget the clear cutting of forests to feed the cows! Other than making us feel good, current green measures do little to combat the problem. A much, much larger change in how we live, work and play is needed.

We need a cultural change that I think is all but impossible. One that gets away from cars, dirty power and most importantly, consumerism. Unfortunately, our current society is built on these. Both autocratic and democratic governments the world over have been captivated by massive conglomerations whose primary interest is money. Even worse, they want money as soon as possible. There is little if any long-term thinking. The purpose of a corporation is to make money for its shareholders Not only that, but also to make the money as fast as possible. There is little thought beyond this quarter's bottom line. If that means wrecking the Arctic, polluting the oceans or ruining what's left of our farmland, so be it. We are in the middle of an unprecedented mass extinction event. It is going to take more than switching to electric cars and throwing up some windmills to slow climate change. It's going to take a cultural shift far beyond anything I believe we are willingly capable of. (Biden Administration and Alaska anyone?) The current Democratic Party is too entrenched in the status quo to bring about radical change. The Republican Party is similar but with extra helpings of racism, homophobia, xenophobia and now authoritarianism. We can't simply surrender.

It is never too late to start moving in a better direction and one way or another we will. The Earth, physics and ever worsening conditions will force a massive change sooner or later. We will have to learn to live within our means. I'm thinking local, local, local. We need to be close to the things essential for life, food, clothes and shelter. Sure, there will be room for electric vehicles but just not at the scale we are used to. In time we will no longer be able to afford the luxury of hiding in our houses watching TV and not even knowing our neighbors. We will become more and more dependent on those in our immediate vicinity. The days of fruit and other commodities from other Continents will pass. I can see the future as a strange cross between 18th century America, Blade Runner, with the grittiness of aliens thrown in for good measure. We cannot undo the damage that has been done in the last 50 or even 100 years. That is pretty much set in stone. It is never too late to start making better decisions. And while I'm not responsible personally for climate change, I still feel like I need to do my part. Essentially, for me, that means driving less, less air travel and paying close attention to whatever I buy.

Monday, July 11, 2022

Another Ride Around the Sun

Another year, a bit of a rambling rant...

Well, here I am a year later. Not everyone made it, just how it goes. Birthdays are no longer about parties, birthday cake (don't need the extra calories, fat grams or tooth decay) or even presents (do I need an iPad or a nicer TV? Nah.). Birthdays are good days to reflect on where we've been in the last year and where we want to go in the coming year. I feel neither guilt from the past or worry for the future. So what about the past? And what's next?

I feel a little better both physically and mentally. Want to feel better and save money? Eat less. Eat out less often. Replace screen time with cooking. Pay attention to what you put in your body. Okay, enough preaching. I'll eat cake and drink beer again, just not too much, hopefully. Over-all the covid blues are fading in the mirror and history books. It was not the first pandemic, nor will it be the last. Next time, tell 'em Obama wants you to NOT get vaccinated! I doubt we'll have the good, common sense to not politicize something as simple and straight forward as a vaccine. The powers that be need to take politicization into account when creating a response to the next pandemic or disaster. So what else?

Biden will probably never recover from the debacle of our Afghan pull-out. It does not matter that Trump made that deal or a 100,000 got out for a shot at a better life. Yes, too many were indeed left behind. Please tell me, oh great generals behind the screens and keyboards, what specifically what you would have done differently? Send in our great grandchildren and their kids? Simply steal the vast mineral wealth? I'm all ears. It was a shit-show from the get go with no good ending possible (except all the contractors, middle men and security goons who got rich).

Now the freedom crowd is crying about high gas prices and inflation. Suddenly, they want government action! No, no, no- this is the Capitalism you love so much at it's finest. Let the market sort it out. The energy giants are laughing their collective asses off while banking your money. Spell it with me now--- R-E-C-O-R-D P-R-O-F-I-T-S. That's not a bug, it's a feature. Production's down and demand is up, simple supply and demand. The lack of even basic understanding of economics is astounding! Look, it runs in cycles and this will pass.

The world looks on as Russia slowly tries to grind Ukraine into dust. Russia has gone from respected power to a pariah state almost over night. A pariah state with the world's largest supply of strategic and tactical nukes must be dealt with carefully but dealt with none the less. Keyboard generals, tell me what else Biden can do? Just keep fighting Ukraine, you cannot lose.

Our epidemic of mass shootings continues unabated. The knee jerk reaction is take away the guns. While that's a nice thought, it's not happening anytime soon. Can we return to a time when guns were just guns and not symbols of toxic masculinity, right-wing hate and pretend bad-ass Cosplay? Can we stop making mass murders instantly famous? Can we hold parents / guardians of minors who commit man murder criminally accountable? Can we reimagine schools as more than pre-jail for prisons and the corporate workplace? Can we rebuild our mental healthcare system (one that does not lead to bankruptcy)? And yes, bring back the assault weapons ban. Given long enough, it will have an impact. Vote out the lunatics that like guns (gun lobby money) more than safe theaters, schools, churches, bars and restaurants.

Yes, we are going through a period of rapid change with no plan, no known destination totally in the dark. I'll share what my Dad told me decades ago, "Freedom means freedom to fail also. We're free to totally fuck up." We can also help bend the arc towards justice. It is never too late.

Monday, July 4, 2022

July 4, 2022 thoughts...

And it is July 4th again! What's going on?

There's high gas prices and inflation. The economy runs in cycles. This too shall pass. No, the president does not have a magic gas price controller in the upper right drawer of the desk in the Oval Office. Oil rises and falls no matter what flavor occupies the White House. Gas prices are the freedom of capitalism it's finest! Remember kids, corporations are BOUND BY LAW to maximize shareholder profits, FULL STOP. They don't give a shit about working people, the environment, national boarders or you! Here's a novel idea, look it up! Let me help you. These companies are raking in huge amounts of profit. Oil production is kept low to facilitate higher profits, simple supply and demand. Russia is out of business (for the most part), thus no more oil from them. That means even less oil. So isn't inflation Biden's fault?

Over-all the economy does better under Democrats than Republicans. I think Biden inherited a shit-show from The Donald. The Donald's massive tax cuts for our richest, an unnecessary trade war with China and a totally inept and pathetic response to Covid-19 only accelerates the looming recession the entire world is facing. Still, it's not all the Donald's fault. Yes friends, there are others living outside the USA. In a global economy, dependent on trade, things going on past our borders affect us. Labor costs are rising, the pandemic caused disruptions are still going on and Russia decided this was the ideal time to start a massive war. All wars end and the age of fossil fuels is winding down. The end of fossil fuels will be messy. No one will give up the cash-cow until they have to. I'm agnostic on electric cars. They also depend on scarce resources. We're going to have to radically change how we live to keep the Earth livable but that's for another time...

What else?

We are reaping the rewards of McConnell's radical Supreme Court. Throw it all back to the states. Abortion rights, going. EPA's power to regulate, gone. Gay rights are next. Funny how 9 unelected, politically appointed for life, non-accountable people have so much say in our daily lives. Why do they have that much power? Who do they answer to? No one! That's really Democratic! I think Biden is too much a traditionalist to pack the court to regain balance or to consider alternative legal interpretations. Only 9 get to have the final say in a vast legal system for 320 million! Sounds batshit to me. But here we are. Still, as my grandmother used to say, "nothing lasts." How much damage will be done in the mean time?

There's more; guns / mass shootings, racism, a collapsing, for profit, healthcare system, sentient AI and so on but that's for another time.

Remember the arc towards a more just future happens only if we make it so.

Saturday, June 11, 2022

Readings 6.11.2022 Wrong Answers

American Fascism Isn't Going Away

Jesus, endless war, and the rise of American fascism

US Neoliberal Fascism

Friday, June 10, 2022

Gun Violence as a Symptom

The recent mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas is about as horrific as it gets. It was far from the first school shooting and will certainly not be the last. Once again we find ourselves in the same situation as every mass shooting; profound sadness and shock, blaming guns, poor security / police response, lots of hot air about gun control vs. Second Amendment and at the end of the day nothing changes. I think we are far beyond effective gun control measures. That ship sailed fifty or sixty years ago. The problem is only a symptom of something much bigger.

I've written on guns before (here) and things have only worsened. With our national legislature in the pocket of gun makers, gun sellers and a plethora of other like-minded lunatics, we cannot get even minimal reforms, much less anything approaching a solution(s). It is a much deeper problem than high capacity magazines, AR-15's or no limits on ammo. You see, it's too late for bans and other "you cannot have that" solutions. There are more guns than people here. And no, the government cannot "take your guns." It is logistically impossible. The point is, guns are not going away. I think real solutions are only possible by doing something Americans hate, looking in the mirror. Let's start to peel the onion of gun violence.

Our "winner take all" society is sick, very sick. How else to explain Sandy Hook and nothing changes afterward? Some in the gun crowd scream mental health! Are they wrong? Sure, I'd say if one shoots up a school, church or grocery store, they have some severe mental health issues. Let's go deeper. Why? Remember we gutted mental healthcare back in the '80's. It's hard to get care for mental wellbeing. Good luck paying for it in this healthcare system! And then there's the stigma. Good luck finding work afterward. "But we cannot afford it!" So screams the Party of Deregulation and tax cuts for the rich. Let's dig deeper.

What can cause the mental illness that leads to mass shootings and other violent crimes? Well, we basically have to reform ourselves from top to bottom. The crushing effects of late stage casino capitalism come into play. Here's a link for a deep dive. Basically, if you're poor, it's your own damn fault. If you fail and you are rich enough, Uncle Sam will not let you fall. The economy is rigged like a casino that cannot lose money (Donald Trump not withstanding). We live surrounded by debit traps of all sorts; credit card debit, medical debit, car loan debit, mortgage debit, student loan debit, rent, utilities and so on and on. Yes, there are jobs but many pay too little to even afford necessities much less give some breathing room. We are not dying of starvation but the cheap food comes with new costs all their own- feeling like shit all the time and poor long term health outcomes like heart disease and diabetes. So far our response to these things has only made the situation far worse and more dangerous. Come along- we got more digging to do.

Instead of making changes to reduce suffering, the powers that be have only doubled down to keep the rigged game going. No job? No future? No hope? Lonely? Sad? Depressed? It's the blacks' fault! It's the Chineses' fault! It's the Mexicans' fault! It's the Muslims' fault! It's the liberals' fault! They are stealing your country. You must FIGHT back! Get your guns while you still can (They want to take those too!). Guns make you powerful. Guns make you a man. Don't be weak! Arm up and FIGHT back. Don't be weak. These dangerous sentiments resonate with hopeless and powerless people being crushed under the weight of American Capitalism. Add to all of this our ever increasing isolation. Gone are the union meetings, neighborhood activities, many clubs and associations that used to bring different people together. Mass shootings are only one symptom. We also see more suicides and other "Deaths of Despair."

Mixing guns with fascism, toxic masculinity and Christian extremism is proving to be deadly. The culture has grown so toxic mass shootings are just another Wednesday afternoon. They are American as Baseball, apple pie and napalm. So how do we reverse course? Can we? We start by bringing people together. Find stuff / create stuff to get involved in! For Fuck's sake turn off the computer, put down the tablet or phone, give the social media a break! Do stuff with people. Don't leave people out. Rebuild a sense of community. Alone time in echo chambers feeds bad things. To the gun bros- stop fetishizing firearms! Have fun at the range. Learn and teach how to hunt safely. Guns are tools, not status symbols. Yes, gun violence is fixable. Real solutions will take time. So can we? We have too.