Category: Social Issues

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No Other “President” In History

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No Other “President” In History

Trump established many new firsts most of them bad, destructive and downright reprehensible

No Other “President” In History

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel & Wes Hessel

 

First Failure

I vowed when Trump took office to never call him “president”. For the sake of this article, I will loosely refer to him as such. “The Donald” is the first world leader to do many things but none of them are positive. Read on about Trump’s dubious “firsts”, and then vote blue:

No Other “President” In History

  1. First U.S. president to promise to be a dictator. America is a democracy, a republic technically, but still – our forefathers are spinning in their graves at this conduct.
  2. He is the first to want a military parade – not to honor our veterans but to seal the fact he wants to be a dictator.
  3. Refused to attend the inauguration of the newly elected President Biden – first president to not attend his successor’s inaugural ceremony in 152 years.
  4. Claimed the election was stolen from him because he lost, when in fact President Biden received 81,283,098,  a record number of popular votes.
  5. Trump was the first president to claim his predecessor (Obama) was not born in the United States and as such was disqualified from even running for the office.
  6. Has never released any tax returns – the first president in 45 years to have kept them secret.
  7. Lost party control of the House, Senate, and then his own office – first time in 89 years.
  8. Trump was the first president that failed to achieve at least a 50% approval rating at any time during his 4 years in office.
  9. Trump is the first president to openly support ”Christian Nationalism” – a.k.a. “white supremacy”.
  10. The first president ever indicted for crimes; paying off a porn star, mishandling classified documents, election law violations, etc., trying to hide behind an invented presidential immunity claim. At last count Trump had at least 88 felony charges against him, and in the words of Curly in “City Slickers”, “Day ain’t over yet…”
  11. First president to cause a foreign nation to issue a warrant for his arrest.
  12. Invited an insurrection – obviously first (and hopefully only) president to incite violent action against our government.
  13. Promises a national “bloodbath” if he loses the 2024 election.
  14. First former president to run for election after already losing his bid for a second term – first president in 28 years.
  15. Trump is the first former president to hawk bibles and gold painted high top sneakers to a weary late night television crowd.
  16. A Godless man using the faith of other to get votes, selling expensive Bibles to fleece far right wing supporters. Holding a Bible (upside down) he does not read, outside a church he does not attend, to get votes.
  17. Brought the first centerfold “first lady” into the White House.
  18. Insisted on visiting Pittsburgh after the synagogue shooting in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Trump disregarded the Jewish mourning process to sit shiva for the deceased, showing disrespect for the Jewish community.
  19. When Trump entered office he dissolved the Infectious Disease Task Force which was put in place by the Obama-Biden administration, to quickly address communicable disease issues. That action crippled the response to the COVID-19 pandemic leading to the death of 1,200,000 (or 120,000 depending again, on your source) in the U.S. He was the first president in a 120 years to preside over a crippling nationwide pandemic.
  20. Trump took credit for vaccines that President Biden was actually responsible for.
  21. Claimed in letters to Americans that he personally was responsible for the  first stimulus checks, when in fact it was the House of Representatives led by Nancy Pelosi that was responsible for the checks.
  22. First president to deliver fumbling, bumbling remarks about Easter, the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War with such iron pyrite nuggets such as, “Gettysburg, what an unbelievable battle that was. The Battle of Gettysburg, what an unbelievable-I mean, it was so much and so interesting, and so vicious and horrible, and so beautiful in so many different ways.”
  23. Another first when the former bragged about, “Grabbing  ’em by the p____” .
  24. A serial adulterer during each of his multiple marriages while claiming to be a Christian man.
  25. The first to  brag about overturning established legal precedent. Roe v. Wade was 50 years of established law when Donald’s Supreme Court overturned it. We now have chaos and confusion. leading to dangerous  pregnancy complications going untreated.
  26. Trump wants to see programs for children eliminated. He supports childhood poverty unless they’re white males.
  27. Encourages the repugnant practice of trophy hunting.
  28. Trump is Putin’s puppet – the first president believed to have won election  aided by a foreign power.
  29. Wants to destroy Social Security for seniors and disabled Americans.
  30. The first to mock and make fun of a disabled journalist
  31. Trump appointed Postal Service hater Louis DeJoy to head the USPS. With DeJoy in office, our mail arrives late in the day, if at all. The plan was to line his and wealthy supporter’s pockets with service outsource contracts by privatizing the Postal Service.
  32. The first candidate to advocate for the elimination of Obama Care, Medicare, and Medicaid, effectively making healthcare only for the rich, and the white.
  33. The first candidate who’s election speeches are more like a bad comedy act, threatening retribution and poking vicious “fun,” at the deep state, yet not once giving legitimate reasons to vote for him.
  34. Trump is supporting turning back time on women’s, LGBTQ, children’s, and minorities’ rights.
  35. The first to refuse to allow White House cleaning staff to clean specific areas of the WH, leading to a rodent infestation – of course, Trump is the biggest rat of all.
  36. Claimed victory for an election he didn’t win before all votes were counted – the first president to not concede their loss.
  37. Trump called soldiers “suckers” and “losers”, refusing to go to honor their ultimate sacrifice in WWII.
  38. His policies added nearly 8 trillion dollars to our national debt, the most by far of any president.
  39. Trump was impeached twice, the only president to be so distinguished.
  40. Also, the only president whose own party member voted for his impeachment conviction.
  41. Of all the presidents, he is the first to not sleep in the same bedroom as his wife.

(Thanks to Dan Kunz at the Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls Press for his article highlighting many of these inauspicious firsts.)

Be True Blue

It is imperative we vote blue – we need reelection for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris; the alternative is unthinkable. Racism, sexism, and anti-Semitism are out of control in our nation. Once the orange haired monster got a taste of power, the floodgates of hate and insanity were opened wide, and it’s very difficult but not impossible to stop the storm. Should “The Donald” be elected for another term, things will be even worse than his first horrific term. Trump is out of control and we just need to send him a clear message that he will never enter the Oval Office (or any other part of the White House) again.

Hasn’t Got a Prayer

Franklin Graham (no stranger to scandal) is demanding we pray for Donald Trump, but he has no right demanding anything. This is the typical arrogant, lemming-like behavior of Trump’s supporters. I pray that the orange monster is convicted of the crimes that he committed and goes to prison. I pray our nation will be finally be rid of him, once and for all. Here are some ways to get involved and ride the blue wave:

  1. Offer to make election calls for Democrats.
  2. Donate what you can to the Democratic election efforts – if you can’t financially support campaigns, give of your time.
  3. Bumper stickers, yard signs, t-shirts, etc. – we can display these things for Democrats with far more dignity and class than MAGA’s in their red hats and gold metallic gym shoes.
  4. Offer your home for Democratic events such as meetings, watch parties, envelope stuffing, postcard writing, and so on.
  5. Don’t engage with MAGA’s – ignore the insanity they spew; it would be a battle of wits with an unarmed person. Let’s concentrate on a Democratic victory in November.
  6. Offer to transport people to the polls.
  7. Volunteer to register folks in your community to vote.
  8. Post on social media positive things that Democrats are doing, and the negative things Republicans are up to.
  9. VOTE!
  10. Do pray that President Biden and Vice President Harris are reelected, and the orange haired monster is convicted of his crimes.

We can do this, together and united we stand for democracy…

Resources: www.democrats.org, www.lincolnproject.us, www.facebook.com/p/Mary-L-Trump-100076207187060/, www.taylorswift.com.

 

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Don’t Do It-Suicide Is Permanent

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Don’t Do It-Suicide Is Permanent 

Depression is treatable, suicide is not. Please stay.

Don’t Do It-Suicide Is Permanent

Editor: This is an updated version of an article first posted on this site on 12/06/2021. Depression is on the increase in the United States and right along with it suicide. If you are in distress, reach out, ask for help, call a friend,  or dial #988, the National Suicide Hot Line.

D. S. Mitchell

Just The Facts

If you are between 15-35, suicide is the second leading cause of death for your age group.  For all age groups, suicide is responsible for more deaths than murder and natural disasters, combined.  Men take their own lives four times as often as women. Many men sadly would rather be dead than seem ‘weak.’ In 2020, 17 veterans committed suicide every day.

Those Left Behind

As you can see by the statistics, suicide is not a rare, or in any way an isolated event. It is very real and definitely permanent, and it leaves those who are left behind, in utter despair. For them the suicide event is plagued by stigma, guilt and self-recrimination. The most common question from those left behind is, “what could I have done differently?”

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50 Ways To Invest In Our Planet

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50 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day, Everyday

The theme of Earth Day 2024 is "Planet vs Plastic"

Editor: Today is Earth Day. The event is held each year on April 22nd. The event is held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. The first Earth Day was  held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events; including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. The official theme for 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics.” With this theme the organization aims to reduce plastic dependency and make earth plastic free.

50 Ways To Invest In Our Planet

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

Be a Friend to Our Home

There are several ways to make an investment in our planet, many of which have no financial cost or very little expenditure. In fact, being earth friendly can often save you money:

  1. Plant a tree.
  2. Organize a trash pick up on the side of the road, a vacant lot, or anywhere needing rid of refuse – check with local agencies for programs already in place.
  3. Don’t litter – ever.
  4. Organize a recycling event in your community.
  5. Make sure to recycle your electronic devices. Not only does it take away from landfilled items, but it returns important metals like gold, platinum, and copper back to the manufacturing stream, cutting environmentally damaging mining and refining processes.
  6. Watch Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” and it’s sequel.
  7. Some years back our church did a children’s musical and reception to educate the congregation about Earth Day – try something of this nature at your place of worship.
  8. Read at least some of the many publications available about pollution (be it air, ground, water, light, or noise) and global warming/climate change.
  9. Educate yourself with virtual or in person Earth Day events.
  10. Reduce your use of paper – opt for on-device rather than on the physical page; recycle what you do use.
  11. Join a free swap-type group, like Freecycle, Trash No More, etc., to extend item usefulness and stop them from going into landfills.
  12. Opt for environmentally friendly cleaning products.
  13. Use your local library to learn more about Mother Earth.
  14. Use your library for books and magazines in general, too – they are reused much more, and many offer free online access to numerous magazines.
  15. Many institutions offer a “library of things” – items like electronic devices or tools which can literally be borrowed, saving you cost and promoting reuse.
  16. Chose farm-to-table food items and buy from local farmers to cut down on fuel use and emissions from shipping.
  17. Shop sustainably: invest in sustainable, reusable items or ones that will last longer – ideally both.
  18. Don’t waste resources: for example, turn the water off when brushing your teeth or shaving unless you are actually rinsing.
  19. Turn out the light(s) in an unoccupied room, even if you’re going to be gone a little while, and opt for LED bulbs for much more efficiency (less power used, more money saved).
  20. Keep your car running efficiently to avoid harmful emissions and save on gas.
  21. Consider an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid.
  22. Support the use of sustainable energy, such as solar, wind power, geothermal, and the like.
  23. Always take your own bags to the grocery store.
  24. Use environmentally friendly household products such as paper towel or bathroom tissue – look for green items where you shop whenever possible.
  25. Chose Earth friendly items when remodeling your home, like sustainable materials such as bamboo, or other responsibly-sourced lumber.
  26. When choosing cosmetic items such as sun screen, chose environmentally friendly companies and ingredients, as well as cruelty free items.
  27. Biodegradable balloons are available for your next party/event, or choose another sustainable, environmentally friendly form of celebration items.
  28. Avoid lawn products that are toxic, not just for the planet but for pets and wildlife.
  29. Wear eco friendly clothing and use eco friendly linens.
  30. Shop at thrift or consignment stores – they have many items for any budget; it’s a great way to reuse and save money.
  31. Take military showers – use a shower head with a shutoff and cut the water between initial wetting and rinsing.
  32. A bath can be more green than showering if you take very long showers, but showers in general are best.
  33. Use eco friendly bath products.
  34. Put a brick or other water saver in your toilet tank, and invest in a low flow shower head.
  35. Consider bar soap or shampoos, and recycle any plastic soap, shampoo, or conditioner containers. Use zero waste or near zero waste grooming products that are sustainable.
  36. Take a nature walk with your children or pet – remember to leave nothing but footprints, and take nothing but pictures and memories.
  37. Take a quiz to ascertain your carbon footprint and take steps to reduce it.
  38. Save energy in your home, like turning down or up (depending on the season) your thermostat.
  39. Walk, bike, or car pool, whenever possible.
  40. Go ahead and hug that tree – you know you want to.
  41. Avoid excessive use of aerosols or other potentially environment damaging products.
  42. Remember Woodsy the Owl? Give a hoot – don’t pollute.
  43. Plant flowers and other local variant plants, avoiding non-native species which can drain environmental resources or harm animals.
  44. Start a community vegetable garden.
  45. Plant an herb garden.
  46. Put fresh mushrooms on your grocery list of sustainable foods.
  47. Add avocados and bananas to your sustainable fruit and veggies basket.
  48. Create a pretty terrarium.
  49. Post Earth friendly tips on social media.
  50. Make each day an Earth Day.

There isn’t a plan(et) B, so start making more informed, environmentally better choices today…

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10 Ideas to Help Stay Positive

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10 Ideas to Help Stay Positive

Long term friendships help us get through the difficult times.

10 Ideas to Help Stay Positive

By D.S. Mitchell

 

Dark Times

I don’t know about you, but the last couple years have been tough for me emotionally and spiritually. The political discord, the social division, the gun violence, the melting glaciers, the slaughter of 12,000 innocent children in Gaza, the Trump presidency, the anti-Semitism, the growing religious intolerance, and the loneliness and hopelessness of the COVID-19 pandemic have taken their toll. I know I am not alone in my distress, so because of that I decided to pass on a few things I learned while working in both Crisis and General Psychiatry at a large teaching hospital.

Cultivating Hope and Joy

  1. Feeling awful? Now might be a good time to start practicing Gratitude. Gratitude is quite simply an acknowledgement that we are thankful for everything and we are content with it. Contentment leads to happiness the researchers tell us. I suggest you find one small thing that’s good about every day, no matter how bad the day may seem.
  2. Create Daily Routines that you look forward to. The brisk early morning walk with a friend where you can breathe fresh air and build a relationship. A late afternoon cup of tea in your favorite mug in a favorite spot. I love my back deck  which looks over a beautiful lake in Southern Oregon. The multisensory experience is joyful, you smell it, you taste it, you see it. Savor the anticipation of those pleasurable times that you create each day. I elevate it to a ritual.
  3. “Take a walk,” is great advice for both your physical and mental health. Even small amounts of exercise can elevate your mood. Make sure you engage in some form of physical activity a couple times a day. Set your phone ringtone to announce exercise time. How about scheduling a ‘play day’ once a week where you become a kid again. Blow bubbles, bring out the hula hoop, skip rope, ride your bike.
  4. Music creates my mood and I know I’m not alone. Set up a playlist loaded with upbeat tunes you love and turn it on when your spirits falter.
  5. Make small connections with as many people in a day as you can. A few words with the barista, a comment about the Trailblazers to your neighbor, will brighten your mood and give you a sense of connection to the community.  Those brief interactions are much more therapeutic than previously thought, and play an important role in our sense of wellbeing. Another way to bring yourself out of a slump is to call a loved one.
  6. Help someone. Helping others, or getting involved in a cause that is important to you can improve your sense of wellbeing. Look for a way to give back; plant a tree in the park, donate blood, contribute to an online fund raiser for your favorite candidate. Volunteerism is a joyful thing.
  7. Identify 25 things that make you happy. Put the list on your phone so if you hit a bad spot you can look at it and be reminded of the things that make you smile.
  8. Allow yourself to be positive about the future.
  9. Determine a goal that you want to accomplish. Not something you have to do, but rather something you want to do. And then do something each day to get you closer to your goal. That’s how I wrote my first novel. One day at a time.
  10. Pet a dog; yours or someone else’s. Pets open the door to social opportunities. I cannot think of one time that I’ve taken my dog for a walk that someone hasn’t asked to pet her, or just stopped and made small talk. Plus, there is something comforting about cuddling with a dog.

I hope that some of the ideas I shared will help you get through some tough days with a little more hope and a lot more joy.

 

“Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History”

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“Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History”

March is Women's History Month. Let's celebrate the many accomplishments of our sisters.

“Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History”

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

Vote, Vote, Vote!

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s all remember to vote blue in order to keep women safe. I must, of course, stress the significance of this year’s theme: “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” 2024’s presidential election must go down in history as a victory for our nations female population, with a vote for President Biden and our first female VP Kamala Harris. Our president has fought to preserve women’s rights, he wrote the Violence Against Women Act, and reinforced his commitment to our issues during his awe inspiring state of the Union address. Joe Biden is a a pro-choice man of God who treats women with respect. His wife Dr. Biden is an empowered woman of faith.

Two Steps Forward…

This year’s Oscars, also during this historic month, has the “Barbie” movie nominated for Best Picture but we have a long way to go, since the movie’s star and producer failed to be nominated for Best Actress. Barbie joins the ranks of female hero films like “Legally Blonde”, “Miss Congeniality”, “Princess Diaries”, “The Miracle Worker”, “Sophie’s Choice” and “Norma Rae”, to name a few. We must not back down in our fight for equal rights. Ladies of all nationalities, races, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds are celebrated during March, as we join hands across our country to recognize the very important role all women play in history.

A Seat at the Table

From the beginning of time, the Bible and other literary works have recognized the strength of women. From childbirth to picket lines, women have shown they are powerful. Mothers, homemakers, doctors, lawyers, journalists, factory workers, service employees – all play significant parts in American history. Gloria Steinem said, “Any woman who chooses to behave like a full human being should be warned that the armies of the status quo will treat her as something of a dirty joke. That’s their natural and first weapon. She will need her sisterhood.” Shirley Chisholm, the first black candidate for a major-party nomination for President of the United States and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, declared, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

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The Electoral College Stinks

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The Electoral College Stinks

If we want real democracy in this country we need to get rid of the Electoral College

The Electoral College Stinks

Support the National Popular Vote compact, it makes sense if you believe in democracy.

By D. S. Mitchell

Losing While Winning

I believe whoever wins the most votes should become president of the United States. Unfortunately, with the Electoral College system that is not what happens. Twice in the last five elections the candidate that became president of the United States lost the popular vote. Donald Trump, won by less than 80,000 votes in four key electoral college states. He simultaneously lost the national popular vote by nearly 3 million votes. That means the guy who came in second was elected in 2016 (Trump), 2000 (Bush), 1888 (Harrison), 1876 (Hayes), and 1824 (J.Q. Adams), thereby altering history. Does anyone doubt that a Hillary Clinton presidency would have looked very different than the Trump presidency that we got.

The GOP Solution

The Electoral College system has become a powerful tool for the Republicans in their effort to lock in one party control of government. Elie Mystal, in an Editorial from a couple of years back, in The Nation magazine, wrote the GOP’s ultimate solution to the country’s changing demographics is to “forge a new theory of government where the rule by a white minority can withstand the popular will.” The nature of that effort was clear during Trump’s first impeachment trial. Republicans desperate to acquit Trump married themselves to a group of discredited legal theories, perhaps appropriate in a banana republic, but certainly not fitting for one of the world’s longest surviving democracies. The Senators embraced a view of executive power and privilege, that ultimately denies our democracy and anoints a king; which coincidently meshes nicely with Trump’s “permanent immunity claims.”

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Home Care; My Personal Experience

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Home Care; My Personal Experience

Home Care Workers keep people with aging and disabilities in their homes

Home Care; My Personal Experience

Editor: Home Care programs administered through state and federal services are helping struggling families keep disabled family members living at home vs being placed in a nursing home. The following article is a reprint of an article written by me, nearly a decade ago. I will be publishing an update on the state of Home Care in 2023 sometime within the coming week.

By D. S. Mitchell

Caregiver Risks

Most of the people called on to help an ill or disabled family member have no training in being a caregiver. Not only that, but many spouses, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters have their own health problems and physical limitations. The risks of being a family caregiver is premature aging, sickness, death, depression, anger, resentment, and potential financial loss. Aside from that, it can be rewarding and more worthwhile than anything you will ever do.

Financial Resources Make the Difference

Receiving affordable or free home care may be what makes the difference between a family member being able to stay in their home or being moved into an assisted living facility or nursing home. One in five Americans provide unpaid care to family members so they can continue to live in their home, according to a recent AARP report.

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Black History Month May Be Over, But Black History Never Is . . .

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Black History Month May Be Over, But Black History Never Is…

Black History Month celebrates the contribution of black citizens to world culture

Black History Month May Be Over, But Black History Never Is…

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

A Dark Past and Present

We celebrate Black History, annually each February. During the month we reflect, appreciate, and acknowledge people of color and their rich history. In 2023 the Black History theme was “Black Resistance,” focusing on the struggle African Americans have endured, both in the past and continuing today. Oppression, injustice, repression, racism, exploitation, suppression, maltreatment, and disadvantage are still shockingly present in today’s society. White privilege is regretfully, appallingly alive within the ultra-conservative community. We may have moved passed black performers using different hotels, restaurants, and restrooms during artistic tours but a startling number of atrocities still continue to occur.

Art for Artists Sake

The 2024 Black History Month theme was “African Americans and the Arts. This year’s theme was a different vibe than previous years but the message was equally important – we need to value the arts and encourage these great artists to thrive. The focus this year has been the celebration of the incredible black artists that have enriched our lives over the years through classic performances on the stage, screen, radio, television, music and concert. Dramatic and creative professionals in the spotlight and the many more working hard behind the scenes compose the vast number of Black artists we salute. We make every effort to not just celebrate those in the mainstream of culture but the large number of less well known but equally talented individuals that comprise this community. Black History month may be coming to a close for another year but African history in the arts lives on.

Black Makes Beauty

2024 was also the 18th year of the UNI African American Read-In. The Read-In was once again a significant part of  Black History Month activities. To broaden participation many activities occurred on line for students. Theaters, schools, and libraries across the country held special events to honor Black artists and artisans during the month by reading aloud of many of the great books, plays, and poems of black artists.

Life Ain’t Over Yet

Celebration of Black history should be 365 days a year, not just one month. Respect and equality, not just in the arts but in all areas of life. Housing discrimination still exists,  mortgage and rental applications being denied disproportionately, and higher interest rates in African American communities, as do food deserts, with grocery stores that offer fresh, healthy choices avoiding opening or continuing operations in communities of color.

Dreamers

Activists such Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. and John Lewis fought decades ago for civil rights that are still being denied today. Black pioneers in the arts, such as Nina Simone (whose birthday is appropriately February 21st ), Maurice White, Josephine Baker, and Mahalia Jackson (to name just a few) were very instrumental in paving the way for future artists to be treated with dignity. As Dr. King said in his “I Have a Dream” speech, “With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.”  And Mahalia Jackson sang, “If I can help somebody, as I travel along; if I can help somebody, with a word or song…” – she broke significant ground for the African-American musicians who followed.

Labor On

2025’s Black History Month theme, will be “African Americans and Labor,” celebrating, recognizing, and highlighting the very compelling impact of Black workers on American society.  We need to draw attention to their productivity with the broadest outlook, providing versatility and intuitiveness, a vision of Black culture throughout the ages.

The Rise of Depression in the United States

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The Rise of Depression in the U.S.

The Rise of Depression in the U.S.

Depression and divorce are up in the United States 

By Jones William 

Depression Affects All Ages

Depression is a mental health disorder and it’s increasing in the United States. Depression doesn’t just affect the brain, the disorder also has physical and emotional effects. Anyone can be affected, children, adolescents, and adults. Despite being one of the most advanced countries in the world, an estimated 30%  of Americans are currently suffering from depression. When compared to 2015 data, this is an increase of 10%; making it the highest rate of depression ever recorded for Americans. A third of American women are victims of depression, that’s about twice as many as men.  Furthermore, individuals aged 18-35 record are subject to higher rates of depression than other age groups.

Factors Contributing to Increasing Prevalence of Depression

Economic Hardship in America: The middle class in the United States has been steadily shrinking since Ronald Reagan. The promise of a better life than that of your parents had is gone. Many “middle-class” people are maintaining the middle class life style by high credit card debt, and home equity loans. Facing disappointing realities, and suffering from financial stress, depression becomes the order of the day.

Poor community ties and shattered relationships: In the last twenty years  church fellowship and neighborhood activities have dramatically decreased. The COVID-19 pandemic has isolated Americans from their support system. We rarely even say hello to our neighbors. Divorce rates have skyrocketed. As those  human networks disintegrate we as a society are experiencing an increased isolating technology boom. This technology boom, including the use of social media, decreases face-to-face interactions. It is difficult to experience healthy relationships, and normal communication when all interaction between individuals are at a distance or on line. As a result, a sense of belonging, the meaning and purpose of life, and familiar human support systems are lost.

Expectations of Americans are too high: Some experts believe that despite mental health communities and schools having good intentions; promoting unrealistic self-positive expectations can be harmful. Fostering the notion that all Americans “can be anything they want or dream” opens the door, especially for adolescents and young adults, to experience disgrace and disappointment, when the reality of their life fails to match what they had imagined for themselves. Sounds like  a guarantee for misery and depression.

Is it possible to lower depression rates and cases in the U.S.?

The United States government and citizens can do several things at societal levels to curb depression. For instance, meeting the basic needs of citizens and improving their interpersonal relationships and community ties can reduce depression rates and cases.

Nurturing Social Connections: Post pandemic America feels different than pre-COVID America. The current high depression rates are likely to decline as the country moves towards “normalcy” and social networks are revitalized. Since human beings are social beings, social isolation and loneliness can cause mental and physical disorders such as depression, headaches, suicide, anxiety, in addition to many other problems. When people are connected to their country, their community, their friends, and family members, reducing depression is achievable.

Meeting Basic Needs: Increased depression rates from food insecurity and homelessness could be  reduced if our government can find ways to meet its citizen’s basic needs. In colleges and universities, three out of five students have basic needs challenges. They suffer from hunger, homelessness, and lack of affordable healthcare services. There is a direct link between financial stress and depression. Furthermore, individuals suffering from mental illness tend not to seek services because of the expense.

Ensuring Mental Healthcare is Available: Accessing mental healthcare is difficult in many areas of the country. Lack of money and insurance coverage prevents many Americans from getting the needed  mental healthcare services. To make matters worse, in many areas of the United States there are no mental health clinics, practitioners, or hospitals. Government funding for mental health services is sorely lacking and with Medicaid and Affordable Care not being available in many states with Republican governors is a big problem.

Conclusion

Depression is a major health concern in the United States. Men, women, and children can all be victims of mental illness. Depression risks among adolescents and young adults have increased dramatically in recent  decades. The question becomes, will our government ever prioritize the well being of the majority of American citizens over the billionaire class? Until that question can be answered we will live with a patchwork of laws and a failure of services.

Sources

https://www.health.com/depression-rates-higher-than-ever-things-to-change-7501286

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140930132832.htm

https://abc3340.com/news/nation-world/depression-on-the-rise-in-the-us-cdc-says-centers-disease-control-prevention-mental-health

http://www.drrevelmiller.com/2019/09/why-is-depression-so-common-in-the-usa/

My Hand in an Electric Socket

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My Hand in an Electric Socket

Don't let the events of the day deter you from the work of democracy.

My Hand in an Electric Socket

By D. S. Mitchell

 

4,000 Days

I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’ve had my hand stuck in an electric light socket for the last 4,000 plus days. Those four thousand days roughly translating into the ten years since Donald Trump descended the golden escalator at Trump Tower amidst the cheers of a paid-to-show-crowd, and announced his run for the presidency of the United States. Of course it wasn’t Trump’s first run; he had gone after the presidency in 1999 as a Reform Party candidate, but this time he was going to run as a Republican.

Shame on Them

Trump’s escalator announcement came on June 16th, 2015. Since that day, Donald Trump’s lies, misogyny, xenophobia, isolationism, conspiratorial theories, Putin love, and bombastic rhetoric have altered our national political discussion and, quite honestly, that of the world. We as a nation had  consciously been working toward kindness and civility in our speech to one another; since Trump’s emergence as a big voice for roughly 30% of the country, tough talk and gun waving, have emerged as acceptable. The acceptance of the minorities “right” to use violence when they are unhappy with the results of an election is terrifying. This is not a good thing and is unacceptable in a democracy. Death threats and mafioso tactics now define how things get done in the Republican Party.

Done With George

Unpredictability, narcissism, and other despotic traits are things our Founding Fathers rejected. The American Revolution began on April 19, 1775. The next year the colonies jointly declared independence from the tyrannical, tax collecting, King George the Third. Trump says he’s ready to be a dictator on day one. Well, Donald the majority of Americans reject such bullshit. Maybe you and Tucker Carlson should buy a place in Victor Orban’s Hungary and settle down over there. 

Down Memory Lane

In case you’ve forgotten, Trump like any entertainer worth his salt, managed to excite, incite, and agitate us all, everyday of the year, for four explosive years. Although seemingly impossible, the Trump administration grew more chaotic with each passing day. Diplomacy via Twitter, threats of U.S. military intervention in domestic affairs, promised “target practice” at the border, and bleach injections for those who wanted to give it a try. I was so glad to see quiet, “normal” Joe Biden, take over the reins of government from Trump; but I’m still unsure if there will ever again be such a thing as normalcy.

We Have the Numbers

An overwhelming number of Americans support a progressive agenda. Progressives want to put a stop to big money dominating elections, they want to cut drug prices, and seriously address the dangers of climate change. By large numbers Americans favor stronger gun laws, national health insurance (Obamacare), transgender rights, same sex marriage, and access to abortion. Sometimes it seems as though the Trump side is smarter, better funded, more united, and more determined, than we progressives, but I don’t believe that’s true. When I say an overwhelming number of Americans support progressivism I am talking about 75% of the population and growing. Powerful well-funded minorities are threatening our democracy and we must stand up to them. It is not okay that a minority is able to impose its will on the entire nation.

Sucking up all the Oxygen

It’s Friday February 16, 2024. Aside from the tragic news of Alexei Navalny’s death in a Russian prison camp, the news focus for today has mostly centered on the many trials of Donald Trump.  It looks like Trump has just been hit with over $453,000,000 in fines for a civil fraud case brought against the Trump Organization by New York Attorney General, Letitia James. Furthermore, Trump and his two sons, Erik and Don Jr will be unable to conduct real estate in New York for at least two years. Between the civil fraud case, and the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, it looks like Donald Trump will be required to pay over half a billion dollars in fines and damages in just these two cases. Yikes, that ought to take a bite out of his “billionaire” status.

The End Result

It will probably take fully a generation to measure the damage Trump  and Trumpism has done to America; but that is a job for the historians, not humble writers. A lot depends on whether Trump can get his ass re-elected. If Trump succeeds in winning the presidency in 2024, America will go down the same road as Brazil, Russia, China, Hungary, and Venezuela. If however, the United States can resist the lure of neo-fascism we have a chance to recover from Trump’s terrible vision for the country, but it will take time to heal. It will take working together, participating in collective action.

Indefinable and Immeasurable

The effect of Trump and MAGAism, is probably, at least as yet, unmeasurable.  The effect Donald Trump has had on the American body politic has been horrifying and terrifying. For the sake of the country, I hope the love affair with Trump and MAGAism is about over. Hopefully, we don’t have to wait until he’s dead.