315 results for author: Phil Anderson

Republicans against Trump

“...another four years of Donald Trump’s chaotic leadership, this time focused on advancing the dangerous goals of Project 2025, will hurt real, everyday people and weaken our sacred institutions.” This quote is from a statement signed by 238 former Republican officials and campaign staff going back to the George H.W. Bush administration. They are urging Republicans to vote for VP Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz. Fostering division is one of the primary results of Donald Trump's actions and bombastic demagoguery. His angry, hateful, racist and destructive fear mongering has divided the nation. But it has also divided Republican voters. ...

VETERANS FOR HARRIS

“As veterans, we have defended this nation with courage and honor; now we must defend it at the ballot box.” Jose Vasquez, U.S. Army Veteran and Executive Director of Common Defense. No one and no organization speaks for all veterans. Those who have served in the military reflect a cross section of our society. Their social and political views are as diverse as any other sampling of citizens. We often stereotype veterans as being conservatives, but this is not true. There are many veterans with liberal opinions on many issues. There are two nationwide veterans’ organizations who are actively involved in supporting progressive issues and ...

The myth of Noncitizen Voters

“Demagoguery: political activity or practices that seek support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument.” Oxford online dictionary. “A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.” This line from “The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel describes Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI). Tom hears what he wants to hear – the MAGA conspiracy theories about voter fraud – and disregards any logical thinking or factual information to the contrary. The myth that noncitizens are voting is another example of Tom's flawed thinking and demagoguery. As demonstrated by the his online ...

The Last Guardrail

The American voters are the last hope – the last guardrail – for our democracy. The Supreme Court – the supposedly independent third branch of government – has failed in its responsibility to uphold the rule of law and hold the dictator wannabe accountable. Now only the voters can stop Trump from taking power again. All the other checks and balances in our political system have failed. The legislative branch failed to reign in his past excesses and is now hamstrung by partisan gridlock, The executive branch dithered too long and failed to prosecute his crimes timely. The lower courts allowed too many frivolous delaying actions by the miscre...

Wisconsin’s August Election and Constitutional Amendments

Wisconsin has an election on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. This is normally a partisan primary with some local nonpartisan elections. But this time the election also includes two constitutional amendments. Voters may not know about these amendments or their impact if adopted. But they are important and will have negative consequences for many people. This is not an election to ignore. This article provides information, background and resources to help voters understand these amendments and their potential impact. The text of the amendments is legalistic. The average voter may not know what he or she is voting on from reading the proposed amendments. ...

Wisconsin’s Primary Candidates

The Wisconsin partisan primary is coming up on Tuesday, August 13th. This article highlights the backgrounds of the candidates for the Wisconsin Assembly 73rd and 74th districts. These are the races of interest for voters in far northwestern Wisconsin. Voters should be aware that the 73rd and 74th Assembly districts boundaries have changed due to last year's redistricting settlement. There are two good Democratic candidates for the 73rd Assembly district. Both have very similar position on the issues. Either one has a good chance of winning in November. John Adams grew up in Duluth. He has a journalism degree from the University of ...

Wisconsin’s August Election and Constitutional Amendments

Wisconsin has an election on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. This is normally a partisan primary with some local nonpartisan elections. But this time the election also includes two constitutional amendments. Voters may not know about these amendments or their impact if adopted. But they are important and will have negative consequences for many people. This is not an election to ignore. This article provides information, background and resources to help voters understand these amendments and their potential impact. The text of the amendments is legalistic. The average voter may not know what he or she is voting on from reading the proposed amendments. ...

Agenda47: a Platform for Disaster

“It’s We The People who’re being tested in this election – will we pursue the democratic values and progressive policies the great majority of us want for our children? Or will we fall into the egomaniacal autocracy and corporate kleptocracy that Trump is openly promising?” Jim Hightower, political commentator Agenda47 is the policy platform for Trump's second administration. It is a case study in ridiculous bombast masquerading as a policy document. It is devoid of any serious, thoughtful policy proposals. Agenda47 is full of ridiculous, inaccurate statements, half truths and attacks on his opponents and various groups of people. Ev...

“Liberal” is Good for America

“The two parties which divide the state, the party of Conservatism and that of Innovation, are very old and have disputed the possession of the world since it was made...” Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) There has always been tension between “conservatives” and “liberals” in social and political affairs. This has been a constant theme of American history. This election year's rhetoric will again emphasize these ideological divides. But because of the fact-free nature of our political debates and advertising this will result in more name calling and fear mongering than intelligent debate. So it is time, once again, to remind readers ...

Environmental Impact of Project 2025

The Republicans have a plan – called Project 2025.-- to make many drastic changes to the federal government if they win control in November. Last week I discussed the basic agenda to dismantle or weaken many federal government functions and services (“Project 2025 is on the ballot” June 6, 2024). In May I talked about their plans to restructure federal taxes (“Taxes are on the ballot in November” May 16, 2024). This article discusses their plans to change the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and environmental protection. Reading the “Mandate for Leadership” one soon discovers that the goal of the Project 2025 is not to protect or ...