Good post, Robert. Here is something I notice in many of the sources I read: "the effects of this law will harm poor and minority people the most." I know Republicans. Many of them blame the poor people themselves for being poor. So comments about the poor being harmed fall on deaf ears. Somehow we have to weave in acknowledgment of how many people of color, either born here or immigrated here, (and women of course! I could go on and on about the assaults on my pride and career status that assumptions about needing the husband to give approval, sign things, etc. came into play - like to buy frozen meat for our household!) have difficulty getting loans, buying houses in safe neighborhoods or hoods, getting reasonable paying jobs, etc. Many can't build wealth under those circumstances. They can't ever get the time - unless they are spectacularly intelligent and aren't dealing with emotional for physical abuse on top of it - to build a better life for themselves or their families. There are many, many good white people who simply have no idea about any of this! I grew up in Northeastern Ohio where I never, ever saw any people of color in my schools. Or my neighborhoods. The red-lining the denial of membership in unions, etc., all terrible and invisible to us white kids growing up there. I remember in the 1950s, when I was a young child, going to a city park (Cleveland) and swimming and wading. I recall that there were people of color there, too, and it seemed normal and I took it in stride at the time. I have since learned what "drain the pools" meant and how African Americans got the reputation for not being good swimmers ... they were never allowed ion the same water as white people - not in pools and not at lakes or ocean fronts. So, these Texas laws go so much deeper and I encourage all of us to find ways to educate and inform "good people" who are still unaware of the terrible hurdles so many of our fellow human beings endure. It is obvious to anyone who has read Isabel Wilkerson's "Caste," that I have read it now, too. It is our duty as citizens to right these wrongs wherever we can, I think. You are doing such an amazing job of giving us more and more background, Robert. Thank you!
With so many outrageous acts being taken by the Texas State Legislature and Governor Gregg Abbott, this morning's Houston Chronicle carries a story, headlined: "Dems file suit over political maps for 2022." "In a suit filed in federal court in Del Rio on Wednesday, Sens. Sarah
Eckhardt, of Austin, and Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio, and Tejano Democrats state that the
law only allows the process to occur during the first regular session after the U.S. Census Bureau releases its decenial data. ...
"Considering he is a licensed Texas attorney for over 35 years, a former judge, and a former
Texas Attorney General, the Governor is well aware of this and is deliberately ignoring the law
in a desperate, illegal scheme to try to keep his party in power," Gutierrez said...."
"For nearly 20 years Texas Republicans have manipulated the redistricting process to dis-
enfranchise minority voters and Democrats to maintain a tenuous hold on the state legisla-
ture, but that all ends now," Eckhardt said in a statement. "We will continue to demand that
they start following both the intent and letter of the law. Party's over."
I'm no apologist for SCOTUS, but I keep wondering whether the radical five viewed SB8 as a free trial balloon in order to gauge the intensity of the backlash should they try to repeal or severely modify Roe. Although the Texas law is chilling for providers, perhaps the "Federalist Five" figured that any case brought under it would be dismissed for failure to state a cause of action because it's unconstitutional on its face. There also seems to be an evidentiary problem because HIPPA protects privacy of medical records and patient confidentiality rules protect doctors and health workers. Won't bounty hunters have to establish pregnancy as a fact? Can that be accomplished with only circumstantial or hearsay evidence?
None that I see —. Less Siri and spellcheck, within reason, of course. :-) Enjoy the cabin a bit more and be safe as you and Jill wend your way home. Such a trek to your beloved Sierra home!
Good post, Robert. Here is something I notice in many of the sources I read: "the effects of this law will harm poor and minority people the most." I know Republicans. Many of them blame the poor people themselves for being poor. So comments about the poor being harmed fall on deaf ears. Somehow we have to weave in acknowledgment of how many people of color, either born here or immigrated here, (and women of course! I could go on and on about the assaults on my pride and career status that assumptions about needing the husband to give approval, sign things, etc. came into play - like to buy frozen meat for our household!) have difficulty getting loans, buying houses in safe neighborhoods or hoods, getting reasonable paying jobs, etc. Many can't build wealth under those circumstances. They can't ever get the time - unless they are spectacularly intelligent and aren't dealing with emotional for physical abuse on top of it - to build a better life for themselves or their families. There are many, many good white people who simply have no idea about any of this! I grew up in Northeastern Ohio where I never, ever saw any people of color in my schools. Or my neighborhoods. The red-lining the denial of membership in unions, etc., all terrible and invisible to us white kids growing up there. I remember in the 1950s, when I was a young child, going to a city park (Cleveland) and swimming and wading. I recall that there were people of color there, too, and it seemed normal and I took it in stride at the time. I have since learned what "drain the pools" meant and how African Americans got the reputation for not being good swimmers ... they were never allowed ion the same water as white people - not in pools and not at lakes or ocean fronts. So, these Texas laws go so much deeper and I encourage all of us to find ways to educate and inform "good people" who are still unaware of the terrible hurdles so many of our fellow human beings endure. It is obvious to anyone who has read Isabel Wilkerson's "Caste," that I have read it now, too. It is our duty as citizens to right these wrongs wherever we can, I think. You are doing such an amazing job of giving us more and more background, Robert. Thank you!
With so many outrageous acts being taken by the Texas State Legislature and Governor Gregg Abbott, this morning's Houston Chronicle carries a story, headlined: "Dems file suit over political maps for 2022." "In a suit filed in federal court in Del Rio on Wednesday, Sens. Sarah
Eckhardt, of Austin, and Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio, and Tejano Democrats state that the
law only allows the process to occur during the first regular session after the U.S. Census Bureau releases its decenial data. ...
"Considering he is a licensed Texas attorney for over 35 years, a former judge, and a former
Texas Attorney General, the Governor is well aware of this and is deliberately ignoring the law
in a desperate, illegal scheme to try to keep his party in power," Gutierrez said...."
"For nearly 20 years Texas Republicans have manipulated the redistricting process to dis-
enfranchise minority voters and Democrats to maintain a tenuous hold on the state legisla-
ture, but that all ends now," Eckhardt said in a statement. "We will continue to demand that
they start following both the intent and letter of the law. Party's over."
The Manchin family has one interest, its own wealth. There is no other principle involved.
https://theintercept.com/2021/09/03/joe-manchin-coal-fossil-fuels-pollution/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/09/20/family-matters-epipens-had-help-getting-schools-manchin-bresch/90435218/
https://meaww.com/who-is-heather-bresch-mylan-ceo-daughter-senator-joe-manchin-neera-tanden-no-vote-twitter-reactions
I'm no apologist for SCOTUS, but I keep wondering whether the radical five viewed SB8 as a free trial balloon in order to gauge the intensity of the backlash should they try to repeal or severely modify Roe. Although the Texas law is chilling for providers, perhaps the "Federalist Five" figured that any case brought under it would be dismissed for failure to state a cause of action because it's unconstitutional on its face. There also seems to be an evidentiary problem because HIPPA protects privacy of medical records and patient confidentiality rules protect doctors and health workers. Won't bounty hunters have to establish pregnancy as a fact? Can that be accomplished with only circumstantial or hearsay evidence?
fredkrasner@gmail.com
Southwest Oregon
The only typo I saw was in the note about typos! Great newsletter, as usual.
None that I see —. Less Siri and spellcheck, within reason, of course. :-) Enjoy the cabin a bit more and be safe as you and Jill wend your way home. Such a trek to your beloved Sierra home!