What is a Backsliding Democracy and Why was the U.S. Added?

Democracies go through phases just like everything else. We get comfortable with being the world's leaders and then something happens that jolts that false sense of security and things go haywire for a little. The U.S. was added to a democracy backsliding list for the first time by the International IDEA. We are a resilient people and will correct our path going forward by helping out leadership get a bigger picture of how the way "politics is played" is starting to impact the foundations of our democracy. 😟

International IDEA is a think tank and describes itself as an, "International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is an intergovernmental organization that supports sustainable democracy worldwide.". You can read more about those countries backsliding on their site HERE. You can also get the full report HERE. 

 The report indicates there were civil liberty issues, checks & balance issues, and election issues that all contributed to the factors. I don't really know the metrics and how they make those decisions (One would have to look at their data sources and descriptive explanations.) Yet...I think there may be some truth to what they are saying.

What I can say is that its important to maintain checks and balances throughout the system. For example, independent law enforcement/judicial system that isn't swayed quickly by national politics, commitment of Republican and Democrat leaders to the essentials of democracy, the promotion of civility and rule by the people for the people, a diverse society where people of all kinds feel comfortable.

According to the report democracies are starting to backslide and different types of more autocratic governments are coming forward. Thus freedom of speech and the rule of law are important to counter autocratic tendencies. More countries began to backslide and democracy is on the decline...unfortunately most of us just sort of don't really care as long as we get their own way.....thereby missing the bigger picture. 

In my humble opinion freedom of speech, rule of just laws, political commitment to the bigger picture, diversity, opportunity and the quality of our leadership all impact our chances. Our hyper politics have come to pervert our futures. Our leadership will have to decide what is important to them (and not what they think is in their advantage.) One must look at "trust" polls to get a glimpse of some of the changes occurring. Walking the talk and doing so with integrity is important....it means something. Maybe not to you but perhaps to your grand kids. What do you believe?

Fred Upton Receives Death Threats: We Should Stand Up to Terrorism and Extremism!

The job of our lawmakers is to make decisions they believe are in the best interest of society.  We  may not always agree but we shouldn't resort to threats of violence just because someone doesn't agree. As soon as people start using violence and threats of violence to force people to vote strictly based on the opinion of others we are not in a healthy place as a nation. The people who support this hate and those who intentionally hype up extremist ARE the problem. Every society and party needs wiggle room to get things done or otherwise we will not be able to make decisions we need to succeed. I suspect those who don't like our nation are clapping with glee as hate rips the rivets out of free choice and governance by the people (Biggest Risks to Society Post Afghanistan)

There is little to no fundamental difference between extremists overseas and the ones making these phone calls (The mechanics are exactly the same and the ideologies very similar. Everything is based on gradation.). I suspect there will be a breaking point where Republicans will stand up and blowback on extremists because they will see it as a real danger to the unity of their their party, its ability to maintain its base, and the future of the nation. Standing on the sidelines prolongs the problem.  

Its helpful to understand that giving into hate and shying away from duties to condemn the threats will embolden the separatists to move onto other targets to control them. Who is next? News reporters, presidents, kids, journalists, teachers, priests (imams, rabbis, etc..), clinics, etc... If you can't see the dysfunction in the voice of this caller then you are blind to the path that will be our undoing. 

Supporting a cause, a viewpoint, or a national vision should never seek to manipulate our political structure through violence....if we accept....we have already lost.

Sadly, it appears that we will have to feel the pain until we have greater insight....how many people will be harmed before those standing on the sidelines step in to do the right thing? There is no room for people promoting hate in our politics. Michigan Track and Code Hate Its a slipper slope.......

The Psychology of Money-What Does it Mean and Why Some People Will Do Anything For It?

Money is a pursuit for people in and of itself even though it is fictitious in nature and based only on our abstract social value as a unit.  Yes we can buy things from it and gain a sense of social emulation. I've kind of always tried to understand the desire to accumulate massive amounts of money and how it impacts a person (The score card.). To some money is an end in and of itself while to others it is a tool to be used for something more.

Don't get me wrong. I want money and I want more of it like everyone else. However, there are limitations to that need after a certain point where security and freedom have been earned. If someone accumulates a significant amount of money in their lifetime there are those who might consider lofty philanthropic pursuits. 

It is those who give back and pick up more noble causes whom I call our high society heroes. They know that money can't buy them happiness and certainly won't make them feel fulfilled. I read an article in Greater Good Magazine that seeks to use science to improve lives and it discusses how wealth can impact our morality, relationships and sense of well being. You can read the article HERE. 

I'm sort of an amateur poet, artist and lot of other things I probably don't have the time for...but maybe you like. :) It is either a tool or a tomb.

Money: The Tummy, Tool and Tomb 

Give me more money to fill my tummy, 

makes my day a little a more sunny. 

Never end it seems to come,

pouring soul into slum.

Pile my vault to the ceiling,

as the heavens keep squealing.

Most stand and drool, 

but this paper is just a tool!

For more green I once fought,

Good character simply can't be bought! 

Without good works during a boom, 

You could be sealing your moral tomb.

Praying for the Victims of Waukesha Wisconsin

Multiple injuries as SUV slams into Christmas parade. We must get a grip on this....no matter who the person, who the ideology, and what their background. Understanding such behaviors becomes important for tackling this type of behavior whether its extremism or something else. I hope authorities investigate and hold to account such actions in a way that leads to insight. We pray for peace and love to emerge from depravity.

Horse and Used Tack-Proceeds to Humane Society

In Delta County we don't have a lot of horse stores and place to get tack. There are a few pet stores that might carry a little basic gear but nothing on the scale as you might see in more equestrian oriented locations. Morse horse people know each other around here adding to the small rural charm of the place and its people. In this case, we hold used tack swap meets which give you everything you need. I got a back up western bridle and saddle pad for $35. The money went to support the humane society. 

Delta Animal Shelter

Why Extremists and Those Who Support Such Ideologies Might be RINOS? 🦏 vs. 🐘

There are Old Guard Republicans and there are RINO 🦏 Republicans. The Old Guard was founded in 1854 to free the slaves and build a nation on equality (History, 2021). While they might not think of themselves this way RINOs could be considered those who support extremism and rigid class structures that are antithetical to traditional Republican values; at least from a historical perspective.

Back in the early days of our nation we had Federalists who believed in a strong central government and we had  Democratic-Republicans (Jeffersonian Republicans) who believe in a weaker central government. After the War of 1812 we had a split into the Democrat and Republican parties which is where we are today.

Interesting the anti slave coalition that included the smaller Free-Soilers, Whigs, and other Americans founded the modern day Republican party in Ripon Wisconsin near my neck of the woods (literally woods🌲) (U.S. History. nd). You can read more about Republicans and their history against slavery, for free speech, women's suffrage, and equality as the gallant old party (GOP) (AlGOP).

It would seem from a more technical definition extremists and white nationalists are not true Republicans but use its name to gain legitimacy Republic In Name Only (Not the way people are using the term in media). They do not represent our essential values and beliefs as a free nation of free people with equality. They have perverted the value of Republicanism for their personal ideologies that are against the essential time honored Republican values.

When we were in grade school and a fellow classmate pointed their finger 👈 at others the teacher would say say with a scold "you have one finger pointed at them and three back at yourself". Do not let the voices of darkness determine the future of our party and in turn our ability to work with Democrats to rebuild our great nation into the beacon of hope and light for ALL Americans. If you can't vote your conscious you are not free! Perhaps RINO could mean Republican In Name and Orientation? 🤷 I'm just a little confused on how the term has been used. 🤔

 

A Belief in Persistence and the Ability to Overcome- Leadership of Performance versus Leadership of "Connected"

The ability to overcome is rooted into the very nature of survival and environmental mastery. That grit can be seen in college students that stick with it despite the odds, those who have been gang attacked and come back to hold their persecutors accountable, the single mothers who protected their children and made a new life, the people who stand up to wrong even though they did not profit from their actions, and those leaders who were born in the pits of hell and climbed out when 99.9% of people would have never made it a foot off the ground. 

These are the people whom we should strive to look for when building a nation as they are the exceptional. We often reject them for the "connected" simply because they were born into the lap of luxury and had all the things they needed to buy success. Growing nations need to draw new talent and rally them around core principles that define our national values...and in turn our purpose.

Our nation is built off of strivers, thrivers, and those who continue to overcome. We are a people who seek to make the world a better place and bang the bells of freedom to ring for universal rights and human dignity. We shall stand tall and bright against the darkness of incivility and human deprivation.  A light so bright it illuminates the path for others to follow and acts as a guide to a better world.

A persons inherent value to society is in their ability to do good for their people and help their nation reach a more perfect union of action and idealism. It has nothing to do with the station in which they were born. I believe a nation that will succeed must show due respect to all the social classes and allow the best and brightest to move forward to tackle our national problems.

I'm a conservative by nature and I stick close to our central values that are based on core truths that reach back to their origins. I take into account the challenges they have faced and I also take into account those who had everything presented to them and still show signs of potential performance.  Elitism, racism, bigotry, and corruption are a disease in our society and will cause us much pain and harm in the future if not abandoned for ideal more lofty.

Nations are built by the collective striving of its people who seek to pass on the values of freedom from one generation to the next. A Black child and a White child, a Christian child and a Muslim child, a wealthy child and a poor child, a "connected" child and a disenfranchised child, a boy/man or a girl/woman, or Republican or a Democrat ......all have the potential to lead but are judged on their merit and the quality of the character. 

The next time you vote or hire someone for a senior job....do so on their merit and ability and not because they are the "right" candidate with a proper "cultural fit" but because they are the best man/woman to help us achieve something greater.

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country." JFK