Despite GOP Propaganda Only 33% of Americans Opposed The "No Kings" Protest

The chart above reflects the results of the Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between October 24th and 27th of a nationwide sample of 1,623 adults (including 1,476 registered voters). The margin of error was 3.4 points for adults and 3.1 points for registered voters.
 

Maybe We Should Listen To The Protesters This Time

In the late 1960's and early 1970's, protests broke out in colleges across the nation. The students were protesting the Vietnam War.

There was an immediate backlash from many in the country. The protesters were label as "communists", "radicals", and "Anti-American". While the protests were mostly peaceful, the backlash was not. College administrations invited police on campus to attack and remove the students, and they were also attacked by anti-protest demonstrators.

But history have proven the student protesters were right. The Vietnam War is now viewed as a bad mistake which took the lives of far too many U.S. soldiers and Vietnamese civilians. 

Now student protests are again happening in colleges across the nation. This time they are protesting the way the Israeli government is waging war in Gaza (and U.S. government support for it). They are protesting the tens of thousands of civilians killed, and the lack of food, shelter, and medicine allowed to reach those civilians.

And again, there is a backlash to the protests. This time the accusation is that the protesters are being "antisemitic". They aren't. It is not antisemitic to oppose the actions of the Israeli government (anymore than it is wrong to oppose the Russian government for invading Ukraine).

And once again, college administrations are inviting the police onto their campuses - and the violence is mainly done by the police and anti-protest demonstrators. 

We should react differently this time. Instead of demonizing the protesters, maybe we should listen to them. Maybe they are right. There is a good chance that will be the judgement of history.

Police Brutality Is The Problem - Not Peaceful Protests

The topic being discussed on cable news right now is the silly decision by the National Football League to not allow it's employees (the players) to peacefully demonstrate against police brutality (especially against Black Americans). The NFL is one of the most popular organizations in this country, and 70% of the players in it are Black Americans. They could (and should) have been a leader for equal justice in this country, but they chose instead to attack those who peacefully demonstrate for justice.

But the NFL is not the problem. It is a symptom of the real problem. The real problem is that too many White Americans like to mouth their love of the Constitution, while their actions demonstrate a racism and disregard for that Constitution. They would rather vilify peaceful demonstrators than deal with the real problem being demonstrated against.

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees all Americans the right to peacefully protest (and what could be more peaceful than simply taking a knee during the anthem). That right does not just apply to things you support, but also to things you might not support or like.

The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees that all Americans will be treated equally under the law. It doesn't just apply to Whites, but to all citizens regardless of race, ethnicity, or color. When government officials (and yes, the police are government officials) treat minorities differently than they treat Whites, they are violating the Constitution and making a mockery of the rule of law.

I am especially talking to my fellow White citizens. Do you love and respect our Constitution? If you do, then why are you denigrating peaceful protestors and supporting police violations of that Constitution? Doing that is unconstitutional, un-American, and downright stupid.

Blacks (and other minorities) are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for equal treatment. They simply want police to treat them the same way they treat Whites. And that's what we should expect our police (and other government agencies) to do -- treat everyone the same. That's not that hard to do, and anyone who cannot do that should not be in law enforcement (or any other government job).

Too many times in this country, unarmed Blacks have been killed, when a White person would not have been. And too many times a White person would just be ticketed or let off with a warning, while a Black person would be arrested for the same offense. There is no defense for that.

I spent nearly 30 years working in various aspects of law enforcement (corrections officer, patrol officer, parole officer). I know law enforcement is not an easy job. Dealing with the public never is easy. But that is no excuse for unequal treatment. And the unequal treatment by some officers makes things worse for everyone -- both other officers and the public.

It is time for decent White Americans to join with their Black and Brown brothers and sisters, and demand that the problem with our police be solved. Our failure to act against injustice means we support that injustice. Is that how you want to be remembered?

All Americans should be taking a knee -- and doing much more!

Whites Oppose Even Peaceful Protests Against Racism

These charts were made using information in the latest Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between September 24th and 26th of a random national sample of 1,500 adults (including 1,254 registered voters), with a margin of error of 3 points.

The good thing is that a huge majority of Americans recognize that race relations are not good right now in this country (by a 38 point margin) -- and they see racism as a big problem for the country (by a whopping 60 point margin). That poses the question -- why don't we do something to solve that problem?

Why aren't people of both genders, all colors, and all political persuasions demonstrating for something to be done? Why aren't they demanding that the government insure equal treatment is assured for minorities in our institutions (police, courts, schools, workplaces, etc.). Why don't Americans follow their beliefs up with actions?

The sad fact is that recognizing a problem doesn't mean you want the problem solved. Too many whites, while recognizing the problem, don't want to think about it (or take action to solve it). Too many are racist, or are afraid of losing their white privilege (and having to compete on an even basis with others).

Note in the bottom chart above, about 54% of whites oppose the non-violent demonstrations by NFL players, while only 32% support them. Those are shameful percentages. It makes me think that any kind of demonstrations for equal justice by minorities would be opposed by many whites -- and that's a big reason why racism continues to be a problem in this country.

The following is just part of an excellent article on this subject (whites opposing minority demonstrations) by Steve Chapman in The Chicago Tribune. He writes:

If you don’t like how Black Lives Matter pursues its agenda, you should welcome the NFL players’ approach. It’s silent; it’s not disruptive; and it’s entirely nonviolent. It doesn’t block traffic, occupy police or frighten bystanders.

Critics say it’s disrespectful to the flag, but no flags are harmed — and it could be taken as a form of respect for the flag to mutely signal your belief that the ideals it represents are not being realized.

That the display evokes so much fury and disgust among whites, from the president on down, confirms what was evident 50 years ago. The problem is not how blacks raise their complaints about American society; it’s that they raise them. . . .

Every time unrest erupts in black communities in response to some perceived injustice, finger-wagging whites wonder why blacks can’t express their dissent in an orderly, law-abiding way. But every time African-Americans protest peacefully, the same whites object to the message, the tactics, the purpose or the slogans.

Unsympathetic whites often ask why blacks are so unwilling to acknowledge progress, to express gratitude for living in a free country and to focus on the problems in their own communities. But unsympathetic whites asked the same questions back in the 1960s. Many whites have always been in a hurry for African-Americans to stop griping about discrimination and get over it.

Detractors demand to know how such highly paid athletes have the nerve to question a country that has rewarded them so richly. They could ask the same question about Donald Trump — who owes his wealth to a nation that his inaugural address depicted in nightmarish terms.

Trump can insulate himself from the dangers he sees. But these players are as much at risk from bad cops as other black men. A GenForward poll last year found that only 26 percent of young adult African-Americans trust police to do the right thing, compared with 73 percent of their white peers. Small wonder that Colin Kaepernick and other black athletes want to draw attention to what they regard as a mortal danger.

Are there better ways for them to make their point? Maybe so. But it wouldn’t make much difference. To many whites, the only good black protest is no black protest.

Do Americans Really Believe In Free Speech ?

These charts are made from information in a recent YouGov Poll -- done on August 31st and September 1st of a random national sample of 1,000 adults, with a margin of error of 4.7 points.

Frankly, they disappoint me. Because looking at the results I have to doubt that Americans really believe in free speech.

Note that a majority of Americans as a whole, and in all groups but one (Republicans), see racism against Blacks and other people of color as a serious problem in the United States. And it's not even close, with 66% saying it's a serious problem and only 35% saying it is not -- a huge gap of 31 points.

That's a good thing. Americans need to wake up and accept that we have serious problems, and then act to eliminate them -- especially those race problems in our institutions (schools, justice system, etc.). But then you have the bottom two charts.

It seems that 57% of Americans disapprove of Colin Kaepernick's protest of racism by sitting during the national anthem -- and that same 57% say it is never appropriate to protest by sitting during the national anthem.

They are wrong. It is always appropriate to protest injustice in this country, and that includes sitting during the national anthem or burning the American flag. I know some will say that people have died for that song or flag, but that's ridiculous. They died to protect freedoms -- like freedom of speech. And freedom of speech must include things that you may find offensive (like sitting during the anthem or burning the flag), or it is not free speech at all, but just permitted speech.

And sadly, that seems to be what a majority of Americans want -- permitted speech. They want to give lip service to the idea of free speech, but don't want any speech to happen that they don't approve of.

You don't have to agree with Kaepernick. You are as free to deny that racism and oppression exist as he is free to protest against it. It may be sick and immoral to be a racist creep, but in this country you have the freedom to be one, and to speak in favor of it.

But don't claim to be a believer in free speech, and then condemn Kaepernick (or anyone else) when they have the courage to actually engage in those free speech rights. Oppose ideas, but always defend free speech (even when it is offensive to you).

Israel Seizes Ship Bound For Palestine

The picture above is of the Finnish-flagged ship, the Estelle. It sailed from Naples on October 7th. The ship had about 20 people of eight different nationalities aboard, and was carrying a cargo of medical supplies and construction materials (mostly cement). It was bound for the Gaza Strip in an effort to end the Israeli blockade and get needed supplies to the desperate Palestinian people.

The effort failed though, as the Israeli Navy once again violated international law. They seized the ship as it was 30 miles off the coast of Gaza. That means the ship was not in Israeli waters, but was instead still in international waters -- making the seizure nothing more than an illegal act of piracy. The Israeli government said there were no injuries among the Estelle's passengers (unlike last time when some were killed and injured by the Israeli Navy), and the ship had been taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

The Israeli's are trying to claim that they are just trying to defend themselves by preventing military materials from entering Palestinian lands. That is nonsense. If that was true, then the ship should have been allowed to continue to Gaza after being searched (since it had no arms or other military supplies). It should not have been seized and taken to Israel.

The truth is that the Israelis are trying to force the Palestinians into submission by denying them their basic needs, like food, medical supplies, and construction materials. The have been unable to suppress the Palestinian desire for their own country, free from Israeli control, so they are now trying to starve them into submission by denying them the basic commodities necessary for a minimally decent standard of living. This blockade of the Palestinian territories is an abominable crime against humanity, whose victims are innocent people (mostly women and children).

It is time for the United States (and other nations) to put their foot down, and demand that Israel stop the illegal blockade -- and also stop building new settlements on Palestinian land, and negotiate a two-state solution in good faith. Israeli actions have made it clear that they do not want to negotiate in good faith. They want to continue stealing Palestinian land suppress any dissent with their harsh blockade. Israel is in the wrong this time, and it is time for the international community to make that clear.

Presidential Candidate Is Arrested

A political party's nominee for president (and the vice-presidential nominee) have been arrested. It happened a couple of weeks ago in Philadelphia. No, it was not the Republican or Democratic presidential nominees. It was Dr. Jill Stein, and her running mate Cheri Honkala -- the officially-nominated candidates of the Green Party. The picture above shows Dr. Stein being led away to jail, where she spent the night.

Why did this happen? The main reason is because Dr. Stein and Ms. Honkala don't just talk about economic justice and citizen's rights -- they are willing to put their bodies on the line to try and achieve it. Stein and Honkala joined demonstrators at a Philadelphia bank, who were protesting the unfair taking of homes from citizens. They were arrested when they refused to disband and leave the bank.

Here is how the candidate herself puts it:

When I decided to run for president of the United States, spending the night in a Philadelphia jail cell was not part of my strategy. But I and my running mate on the Green Party ticket, Cheri Honkala, found ourselves in handcuffs this month after we refused to leave the Philadelphia building housing the regional headquarters of the mortgage giant Fannie Mae.

We were there to support two women whose families faced unjust evictions by Fannie Mae, as well as the eight million other families who have faced foreclosure at the hands of Wall Street.

One of the women we were supporting, Rhonda Lancaster, has lived in her home for 35 years. She took out a second mortgage to pay her ailing mother's medical bills. After her mother died, a bank moved to take the house and throw Lancaster out on the street. She is still fighting a potentially imminent eviction.

The other woman we were supporting is also a victim of predatory lending. She had lived in her home for 23 years. In 2008, after the financial crash wiped out its value, she was forced to file for bankruptcy. A bank was able to block her bankruptcy filing, evict her, and foreclose on her home. She was supposed to be able to contest the eviction in court, but her right to do so was repeatedly violated. She is now homeless.

There were plenty of lawyers, hearings, and rulings in each case. But in the end, the law was stacked firmly in favor of the banks.

The financiers who have engaged in predatory lending, deceptive sales practices, forgery, illegal "robo-signing," and many other deceitful tactics have been treated gently by the law. Instead of going to jail or being ordered to return their ill-gotten profits, they got massive bailouts from the Bush and Obama administrations. It took $189 billion just to keep Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in business.

When our laws are unfair, we are told we should ask our legislators to reform them. Well, we have asked - and we have discovered that our legislators are under the thumb of the financiers. They play golf with the financiers, they allow the financiers' lobbyists to write legislation, and they take jobs with the financiers when they leave office. Because of this, they have little interest in making the laws fairer to regular people.

Our nation was founded by revolutionaries whose rallying cry was "No taxation without representation." But today our laws, taxes, and regulations are being decided without our representation. Banks were fully represented in the writing of our mortgage laws, but no one was at the table to represent homeowners. We shouldn't allow such laws to toss families into the street.

The banks that were "too big to fail" are now bigger than ever thanks to massive bailouts funded by taxpayers. My Green New Deal would break up those banks and replace them with public banks whose mission is to help people, not exploit them. And I would order an end to home foreclosures.

If we keep going down the path set by Bush and Obama, the share of the economic pie taken by Wall Street will continue to grow until the real economy and working people are sucked dry. It's time to purge the economy of Wall Street exploiters and restore it to health.

My running mate, Cheri Honkala, is a leading advocate for the poor based here in Philadelphia. She was once a homeless mother who slept in abandoned buildings with her son because she had no other place to go. Since then, she has dedicated her life to keeping people in their homes, and she has often stood between bankers and frightened families facing eviction. Cheri has a kind of courage and moral vision that is missing in Washington today, and I was proud to go to jail with her in Philadelphia.

Cheri and I aren't like the major-party candidates. We don't take money from corporations, and we are not beholden to them. We represent ordinary people in very hard times.

We need leaders who haven't made a career out of doing favors for the superrich - leaders who will stop foreclosures, get the banks off the backs of our families, and take care of the people whose mortgages are underwater.

The outpouring of support my running mate and I have received since our arrest has made it clear to us that millions of Americans share our views. In this day and age, going to jail for justice is presidential. Tolerating eight million foreclosures isn't.

I like Dr. Stein a whole lot, and I would like to see her able to participate in the presidential debates. I guarantee you those debates would be a lot more interesting, and some real issues would be discussed. If you can't bring yourself to vote for one of the major party candidates (and that would be understandable), these two great candidates from the Green Party would be a good alternative. You can find out more about Dr. Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala by going to this site.

Sheehan Arrested Near Bush's "Ranch"

Cindy Sheehan is still being a thorn in Bush's side. Thursday she and four others were arrested for "obstructing a highway passageway" by Texas Department of Public Safety officers.

They had laid down in the road near Bush's "ranch" and refused to move when asked by the officers. They blocked the road for 20 minutes, causing a traffic backup. Bush's evil alter-ego [Cheney] was caught in the backup.

Sheehan told the Waco newspaper that they were protesting the idea that Bush was fixing to send even more troops to die in the Iraq war. Of course, she is right. That is exactly what Bush is going to do -- increase the troop level in Iraq.

Bush claims that he is still trying to determine the future course in Iraq, but he's lying. You don't need a crystal ball to know that he'll be increasing the troop levels. It's the only thing his personality will allow him to do.

He cannot just stay the course and do nothing. The members of his own party would not allow that to happen. So he has only three choices -- withdraw, ask Syria and Iran to help, or increase troop levels.

His own ego will not allow him to do the right thing and withdraw. That would be tantamount to admitting that he was wrong, and he's never been able to do that.

He also can't ask Syria and Iran for help -- that would also be admitting that he's been wrong. So he's left with only one course of action that his personality will allow him to take -- increase the troop levels in the forlorn hope that it will help.

But it won't help. The only thing it will do is provide more American targets for both sides in the Iraqi civil war. Bush has gotten our soldiers into a real mess, and his inability to admit he screwed up will get a lot more of them killed.

Nothing will change until he is booted from office. It's time to start the impeachment proceedings.