Samuel Paty
“Depuis la cour de la Sorbonne, lieu historique de l’enseignement universitaire français, le président de la République Emmanuel Macron a rendu un hommage national au professeur Samuel Paty.” Publié le 21 octobre 2020 Translation by Google
A religious fundamentalist assassinated Samuel Paty for sharing satirical cartoons with his class. Satirical expression is an essential feature of “The West.” It has allowed us to challenge the absurdities of tradition and authority.
Je suis Samuel Paty
French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a moving homage to Professor Paty. I don’t always agree with Macron’s public policies, but he understands republican values.
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Samuel PATY was passionately fond of teaching and he did so well in several colleges and high schools including that of Conflans-Saint-Honorine. We all have anchored in our hearts, in our memories, the memory of a teacher who changed the course of our lives. You know, this teacher who taught us to read, to count, to trust us. This teacher who not only taught us a knowledge but opened a path for us by a book, a look, by his consideration.
Samuel PATY was one of these, of those teachers who will not be forgotten, of these enthusiasts able to spend nights learning the history of religions in order to better understand his students and their beliefs. Of these humble people who questioned themselves a thousand times, as for this course on freedom of expression and freedom of conscience that he had been preparing since July again last summer in Moulins by your side and the doubts he shared through requirement, out of delicacy.
Samuel PATY basically embodied the teacher that JAURÈS dreamed of in this letter to teachers which has just been read: “firmness united with tenderness”. He who shows the greatness of thought, teaches respect, shows what civilization is.
The one who made it his business to “make republicans.”
So, the words of Ferdinand BUISSON come back as if they were echoed. think for himself, that he owes neither faith nor obedience to anyone, that it is up to him to seek the truth and not to receive it ready-made from a master, a director, a leader, whoever he is “” To make republicans “, that was the fight of Samuel PATY.
And while this task today may seem daunting, especially where violence, intimidation, sometimes resignation takes precedence, it is more essential, more topical, than ever. Here in France, we love our Nation, its geography, its landscapes and its history, its culture and its metamorphoses, its spirit and its heart. And we want to teach it to all of our children.
Proud American
I am proud to live in America.  I am even prouder to live in Modern America. Unlike the divine right monarchies and theocracies of the Bible, our constitution empowers people to create and improve a government.
Unfortunately, the original intent of those early voters limited participation to white, male property owners. They looked out for themselves and subjugated women, slaves and laborers. The seed, however, had already been planted. The desire to participate grew.Â
Early nineteenth century Americans witnessed an extraordinary change in attitudes. White working class voters realized southern, race based slavery hurt wages and economic opportunity. When plantation owners demand the right to spread slavery into the West, white voters handed the White House to Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln was a free spoiler, and he pledge to stop the spread of slavery. White supremacists refused to accept the loss. Not only did they leave the United States of America, but they also attacked the United States of America.
What started as a spirited defense of racism ended with a full retreat. Reconstruction not only freed the slaves, but the 14th Amendment provided birth right citizenship, equal protection of laws and the right to vote for African American males.Â
This expansion of constitutional rights was so vast that many historians refer to it as a second American Revolution. The initial promise soon fizzled however. Systematic racism returned under the segregation laws, but the dream of a better America remained alive.
The Populist and Progressive movements demanded government protection against abusive business practices. Starting in the mid-West, they regulated banks, railroads, and food production. Progressives in particular pushed for, and won, women’s suffrage.
All of these changes produced big results in the 20th Century. Voters had more power than the bankers, industrialists, and merchants. They used that power when the Great Depression hit.
Unlike previous financial collapses, voters used the power of government to heal the pain. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal expanded electricity into rural America, provided unemployment relief, regulated Wall Street, and rebuilt Main Street. Seniors who had lost everything gained a new Social Security program to prevent suffering.
The next generation built on that success. Lyndon Johnson shepherded through Congress not only a Civil Rights Act in 1964 but also Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.
Modern America took 200 years to build. I am proud to live in Modern America. Liberals have been at the forefront of these changes. For the last 40 years, conservatives have failed to tear it down. I am proud to be a liberal. We will not retreat. We will push for a more perfect union.
Shut Down This Circus
Like a Carnival Barker, Donald Trump is a master of exaggeration and misrepresentation. It is a great quality for someone trying to sell a lie. It is a horrible quality for a public servant.
In the closing days of the campaign Donald is selling a whooper. We’ve “rounded the corner†on Covid 19. We may have rounded the corner, but he has turned America in the wrong direction.
After making progress in July to reduce infections, starting in September, the number of cases increased again. By Election Day, Americans will be getting sick and dying like they were last Spring.
Instead of accepting responsibility, Donald Trump has turned his fire toward the scientists and Dr. Anthony Fauci. At the start of the pandemic, Dr. Fauci asked Americans not to buy or steal surgical masks. Front-line healthcare professionals needed them.
Since that time, scientific studies have shown that simple, inexpensive cloth masks slow the spread of Covid 19. Much like covering our mouths when we cough, or covering our nose when we sneeze, cloth masks reduce our chance of infecting others.
Rejecting the science that saves American lives, Donald is mocking the scientists for adapting to changing circumstance.  Science is doing what it does best, telling us the truth. Donald is doing what he does best, exaggerating and misrepresenting.
Donald did the same thing when he said Mexico would pay for his wasteful wall. Ignoring the fact that most undocumented residence flew to America on a plane or used another legal point of entry, he used fear of Mexico to build support. He famously said “Mexico will pay for the wall.â€
It has not. Donald diverted funds from the Department of Defense. Congress had approved funding for base schools and National Guard and Reserve equipment. The children of our Troops and local first responders paid for the wasteful wall, not Mexico.
Donald has release a new and improved version of this exaggeration and misrepresentation. With Senate Republicans blocking the Democrats’ effort to provide a pandemic relief package, Donald now claims he has a bigger package. On top of that he barks “China will pay for it.â€
Does anyone believe this fantasy? Donald made a similar false claim about his trade war. His tariffs have added over $2000 in new taxes on American families, not China.
How can anyone forget his 2016 campaign promise? “I won’t be playing golf.†Before the pandemic hit hard in February, Donald had already spent $133.8 million of our money to play at Mar-a-Lago.
Where are the conservatives? Republicans like John Ratcliff praised Donald and won a promotion. Others, like John Cornyn, stay silent and hope you don’t notice. In two weeks we find out if voters will shut down this circus.
Make Your Voice Heard.
Let’s talk voting. Vote by mail is safe and effective. Don’t be afraid to exercise you lawful right by mail or in person. Voting is important to our democracy.
Return you vote by mail as soon as possible. Don’t forget to include the appropriate postage. The United States Postal Service is one of the most trusted institutions in America.
If you have concerns about vote by mail, you can ONLY return your vote by mail ballot in person at the main Sherman Office during the early vote period and on Election Day. You can personally deliver it to the Elections Administration (EA) office (115 W. Houston, Sherman). You must have an ID.
Governor Greg Abbot has declared that Drop Boxes can NOT be used. He did allow one location, in each county, where ballots can be hand delivered and that location will be the Elections Administration.
Do NOT use the voting site entrance. Use the same entrance as ADA voters come in, but the EA will have a separate area where hand delivered mail ballots are received. Those voters delivering mail ballots must show ID and sign a log. Voters, who cannot enter the building, may call and someone will come to their car.
If you want to vote in person, please remember that the central Elections Administration office (115 W. Houston, Sherman) is a busy site. Other locations around the country have less traffic. Avoid the lines by voting at one of these.
Also, don’t feel the need to crowd into one site the first day. Make a plan and vote on an off day. Vote at time that is less likely to have a crowd. You can vote at any site in Grayson County.
If you would like to see a sample ballot, go to the Grayson County Elections Administration and follow these steps: https://www.co.grayson.tx.us/page/elec.home . You may NOT use your cell phone while voting, but you can bring in a sample ballot.
1. On the left side of the page look for November 2020 Joint Election.
2. Place the cursor on the arrow and click Sample ballot for your city.
If you have a mail in ballot, but you decided to vote in person, you must bring your unmarked ballot with you to the polls. Tell the election worker at check in that you have changed your mind and are voting in person.
Reminder, you must vote all the way down the ballot. The Texas legislature eliminated straight ticket voting. There is no single button to vote for all the Democrats or all the Republicans this year.
Make your voice heard. Vote. Democracy works best when every vote is counted.
Original Intent…to Discriminate
The “original intent” of the 14th Amendment never included “all persons” even though the text say “all persons.” Courts have slowly expanded “all” to mean “all.”
Judge Barrett will follow the “original intent”, not evolved precedent, or what the English called common law. Conservatives have already said they will pass law allowing employers to discriminate against LBGTQ. They can simply file suit to revive laws banning marriage equality.
Barrett’s legal philosophy will mean less freedom for individuals and more authority for states and employers. Building a legal bridge to the 19th century!!
Basic Definitions
There are constitutional governments which are limited by law.
There are authoritarian governments which empower a leader to exercise broad discretion.
There are socialist economies which have public ownership of property.
There are capitalist economies which have private ownership of property.
There are free markets which allow individuals to buy and sell without government interference.
There are command economies (markets) which force individuals to buy and sell under government direction.
The most successful states in history, measured by promoting the general welfare, have been Constitutional democracies that expand civil liberties and use a mixture of property and market policies to alleviate economic suffering and abuse.
Socialist Ghosts
Clever politicians have turned socialism into a frightening ghost. It has replaced terrorism as the catchall phrase. Should we get our pitch forks and kill this really scary monster? Maybe, but be careful what you kill. You might just kill a friend.
Socialism simply means public ownership of property. No more. No less. Governments turned to socialism when capitalism, privately owned businesses, couldn’t deliver a necessary product or service at an affordable cost.
For example, the Federal government used socialism to electrify the rural south. Projects like the Denison dam or the Tennessee Valley Authority absorbed the huge upfront costs of bringing affordable energy to sparsely populated regions of America. Capitalists preferred the customer rich cities. Socialism not only brought economic diversity to the South but also improved our quality of life.
Closer to home, we use socialism to deliver public education. Just a few years ago Sherman tried capitalism in one school. The Edison Project was all the rage at the time. After a couple of years, the project failed, and it cost the tax payers about $1 million to clean up the mess.
Socialism also provides a valuable safety net for our senior citizens. Social Security and Medicare are public institutions, not private, and most seniors are pleased with the services. Even though they are not perfect, Social Security and Medicare has provided peace of mind. In 1959 the poverty rate for Americans over 65 was approximately 35%. Today it has dropped to 10%. That is a success.
Capitalists have also benefited from socialism. Farmers, some of the most independent minded Americans, would struggle even more if all tax payers didn’t provide Farm to Market and county roads. Before governments took over road building, farmers had to make and maintain the roads themselves. We know that private road building stunts economic growth and publicly owned roads benefit us all.
Socialism appears in unexpected places. Every community bank and depositor relies on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to protect their investments. The FDIC sells affordable insurance as well as making sure bankers are conservative with our money. Where would we be today if AIG had provided this service?
We also rely on socialism for our Fire, Police and Defense Departments. The brave men and women who protect and serve us in times of crisis don’t work in a for-profit enterprise. They do, however, ensure that capitalists enjoy the freedom and security necessary for growth.
So, where is this scary ghost that politicians call “socialism� Not in America. Not even in America’s past. You have to look across the oceans. The ghost’s name was Joseph Stalin, a communist dictator who terrorized and murdered millions. The Soviet Union lacked both a constitutional and democratic process to keep Stalin in check. Instead, he used torture, internal spies and lies as tools to increase his personal power. There is no “Stalin†in America’s future. With all our flaws, America is still strong.
Who are the scary American socialists then? Well, do you support public schools? Do you think we need to keep Social Security and Medicare? Do you believe we are safer with publicly operated Fire, Police and Defense Departments? Do you want to keep roads in the hands of state, county and federal government instead of private corporations? If you do, then you should look in the mirror. You might be a socialist. Are you scared yet?
***originally written in 2009***
Reckless Endangerment
Reckless behavior is shameful. Since February 7 Donald Trump knew that Covid 19 was a deadly airborne disease. He knew it was a killer. He played it down, and it has now killed more than 210,000 Americans.
For the last eight months Donald has relentlessly mocked America’s doctors, scientists and anyone concerned about Covid 19. While the vast majority of Americans have accepted safety protocols, Donald and his inner circle pretended as if they were immune to reality.
They didn’t wear masks. They didn’t practice physical distancing. They even gathered in large numbers for rallies and fundraisers. Donald Trump’s behavior made it clear that he does not respect the office he holds nor the people around him.
Donald’ reckless behavior has put him in the hospital as well as former Governor Chris Christie.
The long list of those around him infected includes his wife Melania Trump, Hope Hicks, Sen. Thom Tillis (R), Sen. Ron Johnson (R), Sen. Mike Lee (R), Kellyanne Conway (Counselor to the President), Ronna McDaniel (Chair of the RNC), Fr. John Jenkins (President of Notre Dame), Bill Stepien (Trump campaign manager), Kayleigh McEnany (White House Press Secretary) and four White House staffers.
Days before Donald Trump felt weak, he mocked Joe Biden for wearing a mask. Donald’s family even refused to wear them at the debate. They broke the rules knowing they would receive special treatment.
Even after Donald tested positive he held two fundraisers. Without a mask he greeted his big money donors and shook hands. What a magnificent deal! I gave money to Donald, won a free trip to quarantine. Maybe even the hospital!
Can you imagine your husband, your wife, your child, your boss or your coworker treating you this way? Would you see their behavior as a sign of respect or disdain?
Has Donald learned his lesson? Has he changed his behavior? Is he ready to respect the people around him? No.
On Sunday he demanded a joy ride around the hospital. Donald demanded Secret Service Agents drive him in circles so he could wave to a crowd. They had to breathe air with Covid 19 in a hermetically sealed SUV so he could stroke his ego.
Those agents can’t go home to their loved ones. They can’t hug their wives or husbands. They can’t put their kids to bed? Why? Because they work for a person so weak he needs adoration.
When Donald returned to the White House on Monday, the first thing he did was remove his mask and smirked. He put everyone around him at risk again. His disrespect for human life and our safety is huge. Does his disrespectful behavior keep America safe and secure?
Healthcare Peril
If we learned anything over the last 7 months, it is that Donald Trump would make a horrible healthcare provider. Imagine asking him if you had cancer. Donald would lie to keep you from panicking. Contrary to the fact that quick treatment could save your life.  Covid 19 has killed more than 200,000 Americans.
Who was Donald trying to save? You? Or himself?
To make matters worse, Donald has sued in federal courts to strip your healthcare protections. President Obama and Vice President Biden worked with a Democratic Congress to protect you from discrimination.
Prior to the Affordable Care Act, or ObamaCare, insurance companies made money by denying coverage based on a pre-existing condition. Being a woman was an automatic preexisting condition, and insurance companies charged them more. Diabetes? Preexisting. High blood pressure? Preexisting. Obesity? Preexisting.
ObamaCare protected you from corporate greed. Donald has sued to remove those protections. The Supreme Court is set to take up the case right after the election. Conservative justices have a habit of siding with corporate interests over the consumer.
Also on the chopping block are stronger Medicare fraud investigations. Since ObamaCare took effect, the anti-fraud program recovered billions of stolen tax dollars. Donald’s federal law suit defunds these law enforcement efforts.  The looting of Medicare will resume.
What are the chances of returning to the “Good ol’days� Well, that depends.
Donald has nominated a fierce champion of corporate rights to the Supreme Court. Amy Coney Barrett has protected cooperate rights to discriminate based on age, protected corporate rights to mislead consumers and protected corporate rights to practice predatory debt collection.  In August, Barrett sided with Uber against workers demanding overtime payments for work done.
As a member of the Supreme Court will she side with Donald and the insurance companies or the America people?
By nominating Barret, Donald also plots to strip women of their basic right to make healthcare decisions. States’ already have the authority to restrict abortions as long as they don’t endanger the life and health of the mother. Both Donald and Barret want to strip away a pregnant woman’s right to self-defense.
Pregnancy is one of the most dangerous times in a woman’s life. If Donald and Barret prevail, then politicians like Donald will make healthcare decisions for women. Based on his handling of Covid 19 will women die like before Roe v. Wade? Do you trust Donald with your life?
1933, 1954, 2020 SCOTUS
1954 was a pivotal year in the history of the United States. Since 1933, a coalition of representatives from Northern cities and rural Southern states had worked to improve the lives of average Americans. Franklin Delano Roosevelt built that coalition.
The fruits of the coalition were collectively known as the New Deal, or the welfare state. The success rested on the Constitutional power to provide for the “General Welfare.†The welfare state legislation started with employment benefits, moved to Social Security and culminated on Medicare and Medicaid.
Today, half of all federal spending flows to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The Federal Courts have routinely upheld Congress’ constitutional power to spend to promote the “General Welfare.â€
Public support for the welfare state was overwhelming. FDR won four terms. Harry Truman then ran on the Fair Deal and served for eight more years. Business conservatives sued to defeat liberal policies and lost in the US Supreme Court. They had no way to stop this popular revolution.
In 1953 Truman turned the keys of the Whitehouse over to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Even though Eisenhower was a Republican, he took no action to cut down the tree of the welfare state. In fact he made sure that tree continued to bear fruit for America.
Ike expanded the federal government. He proposed, and built, an interstate highway system. Ike supported the National Defense Education Act of 1958. It promoted science education from elementary schools to universities.
In the following years Ike’s efforts bore fruit. Federal investments in computer technology produced breakthroughs in commercial mainframes, personal computers and eventually the internet.
At the same time, however, Southern conservatives grew more frustrated. African American activists at the NAACP were not satisfied with separate but equal. They used federal courts to demand their full constitutional rights. That meant dismantling Jim Crow and protecting Civil Rights.
In 1954 the United States Supreme Court handed a death sentence for Jim Crow. Brown vs the Board of Education required states to desegregate public education. Southern conservatives fumed.
One hundred and one Southern politicians signed a Manifesto denouncing judicial activism as an abuse of power. They claimed that the liberal US Supreme Court attacked the “habits, traditions, and way of life†of the Southern States. Business conservatives saw their opening drive a wedge between Southern workers and the Democratic Party.
Eventually, Southern and Business conservatives joined forced. They launched a culture war against “liberals, minorities and feminists.†Business conservatives would roll back the New Deal. Southern conservatives would roll back Civil Rights. The only thing that stood in their way was the US Supreme Court. Without a liberal Supreme Court, will we lose Social Security, Medicare and Civil Rights?