Why We Were Better Ridin’ With Biden

By Darlene Mitchell August 19, 2025 August 22, 2025 Black and Brown Issues, Celebrity Comments, Democrats, Donald J. Trump, Fossil Fuel, Lies and Corruption, Medicaid, Medical, Medicare, Political Parties, Social Security, White Supremacy Movement

Why We Were Better Ridin’ With Biden

Editor: Well, if we wanted chaos, stupidity, and cruelty we’ve got it, in spades. All those folks who didn’t get enough of Trump the first time around and couldn’t wait to get his sick, narcissistic ass back in the White House are paying the price now, right along with the rest of us. And the folks who didn’t vote because they were taking some effin’ high road, shame on you. In a democracy there isn’t a lot to do, other than look at candidates and choose those candidates whose philosophy and policies come closest to match your individual hopes and desires; and that magic happens at the ballot box. Cate and I agree about a lot of things and her thoughts on Joe Biden coincide with mine. No one is perfect, but some are a lot more perfect than others; and yes I am comparing Joe Biden at his worst to Donald Trump at his best. DSM

By Cate Rees-Hessel and D.S. Mitchell

Joe Biden is a man of integrity, whose life long career of public service is still in effect – he’s still an advocate for the American people, despite dealing with cancer. Donald Trump has never advocated for anyone but himself.
President Biden is a dedicated husband and father, not a cheating adulterer that once claimed he’d like to date his own daughter.
Joe had, despite COVID-19 chauffeured the economy, to a place that perhaps still needed a bit of tweeking but was showing tremendous growth and high employment. There were no insane, unnecessary, ill-advised tariffs that are in fact a direct tax on the American consumer.
Joe Biden nor any other Democrat would never have even suggested such devastation, trauma, and cruelty as Trump’s Big Bad Bill. That bill is going to deliver big cuts to the social safety net, add trillions to the deficit and just incidentally give the richest 1% a huge tax cut.
Joe capped insulin at $35 monthly, a real blessing for seniors; which Trump is talking about rescinding Joe’s policy so Donald can “help” the drug companies.
Joe supported health insurance for all, while Trump policies are cutting Obama Care, Medicaid and Medicare. A healthy populace is a good thing for a country, and pays back in so many unimagined ways.
Joe gave us a beautiful, progressive black woman of dignity and intelligence as our VP; Trump’s VP pick spends time courting White Supremacists & Neo-Nazi’s in Germany and other European capitals.
Joe and the Democrats gave this country its first significant infrastructure bill in 70 years. Fixing roads, and bridges, bringing Wi-Wi to rural America while Trump tries to claw back promised federal money for many promised projects and offering nothing more than putrid pork in return.
Joe Biden and his team gave us all time low unemployment, while Donnie Doodle’s employment reports are so bad he has to fire the civil servant giving the information; because of course like everything else he doesn’t like, “it’s a hoax or fake news.”
Joe Biden was the savvy and supportive VP to our first black President, Barack Obama – they worked together beautifully. Donald Trump on the other hand is trying to intimidate and fight with duly elected black mayors and governors across the country. Racism is alive and well under Daddy Don.
Joe gave us a classy First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden – not Donald’s immigrant wife with questionable legal status and a staple in her navel and a naked centerfold archived somewhere.
Joe Biden treasures the privacy of the American people while Donnie Felon thought having Elon Musk chainsaw through the government was a good idea. What is the plan for all that information? Whatever it is, Joe Biden would never have been part of it.
Joe Biden doesn’t intentionally go looking for a fight, while Trump is fighting with someone all the time. Sometimes just because he’s an ass and stupid as a trout and other times because he needs some nonsense vibrating the airways so he can hide, distract and deceive.
Joe Biden used his time to get work done, not ride around in a golf cart demanding we change the Gulf of Mexico, to the “Gulf of America,” “annex Canada as our 51st state,” or demand the “takeover of Greenland.”
Joe Biden was not touring the world on Jeffrey Epstein’s airplane or visiting Epstein Island. However, Donald Trump was flying around acting the big shot with old buddy Jeff, but now he ‘barely knew him.’
President Biden was an attorney who has a head for public administration and business, not a seven-time bankrupt reality show idiot who threatened his former school with big lawsuits if his grades were ever released.
Joe Biden is a Democrat. Trump is head of some coalition faction that used to proclaim to be Republicans but are now full MAGA and are likely to fall apart as a movement when Trump’s leaves center stage.
Ketanji Brown Jackson was appointed by Joe Biden, Trump appointed Brett Kavanaugh
Joe Biden is pro-labor, he was the first president to ever stand on a picket line, while Trump surrounds himself with extremist minority political fringe advocates and greedy 2 percenters running the country.
With Joe and Jill Biden, class and dignity returned to the White House – for a brief four year period, we had a break from the insanity of “The Donald” and his thug routine.
Joe Biden followed the law when it came to immigrants and immigration. With Trump we now have the world’s best financed national police force (who wear masks, no name badges, and snatch people off the streets) arresting cooks, seamstresses and gardeners. The outlaws and criminals that Trump promised to arrest and deport have vanished right along with his promises of lower food prices.
Joe Biden believes in science and he believes in funding research, Donald Trump hates science and wants us to be as dumb as an illiterate peasant in Medieval England.
No one ever accused Joe of using the office of the presidency to fill his bank account, but that’s what we have going on now more than during Trump’s first term. Emoluments? Who cares about a word that most people have never heard of.
Joe Biden would never have rolled out a red carpet welcome for War Criminal, Vlad Putin, but Trump did. Since when do we celebrate killers? Now, I guess.

Instead of changing the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America for purely racist reasons, wanting to change names of sports teams back to racist ones, wasting money on a military parade for his birthday, or wanting to be a king, President Biden was concerned with healthcare, infrastructure, and real world problems. Joe always had America’s best interest at heart, always thinking about the little guy in our society, a true patriot that took care of actual issues that we as Americans face. God bless President Joe Biden for his service.

IN GAZA

By Darlene Mitchell August 19, 2025 August 19, 2025 Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu, Foreign Policy, Israel, Palestinians, War

IN GAZA

By John Curran

I heard of this mythical country where the only problem seems to be the ancient peoples who have lived on this land for centuries. Only fairly recently has a new country showed up here with a mandate for a chunk of this land. This was based on a world mandate allowed after this new country’s own peoples had been through their own modern day horror show, the Holocaust. And so, with this, and feeling rightly justified in at last having their own much deserved homeland for their peoples, since then this new country has been growing increasingly irritated and put out at having to share this land with other ancient peoples.

Now this new kid on the block so to speak, has over this recent time of seventy years or so, been getting armed to the teeth, in fact has created the most powerful military force in this mythical part of the world with the substantial assistance of the victorious Western powers. In this any and all collective guilt; lets face it the Holocaust was no small change; is assuaged. Tons and tons of weaponry continually being delivered to the new kid because “nobody kicks us around anymore. It is us now who do the kicking” And this seems to be the new style of play. The team captain, Bibi, quite the player, somehow never draws the ‘go directly to jail’ card whenever he plays Monopoly.

Nobody knows how he gets away with it but, in interview, surrounded by all those generals, you can maybe figure. And be assured by Bibi that there is no starvation of the Palestinian peoples, no sad choice between a slow death or a fast one, ‘cuz none of this is actually happening. Bibi says what these ancient peoples need to do is just quit complaining and trade in that damn donkey cart for a nice red Tesla. I mean gotta figure, lot of real estate potential in that beachside strip, what’s it called, I only hear it every day. But I don’t believe it. They shoot them in the head? Children?

Take Time to Smile

By Darlene Mitchell August 12, 2025 August 12, 2025 D. S. Mitchell, Donald J. Trump, Happiness, Positive Vibes, Social Issues

Take Time to Smile

By D. S. Mitchell

Before I get any more irritated at Trump’s threat to take over D.C. I think I need to switch gears. I know, I’ll just take a few minutes to think of all the things that make me smile. Join me for a moment to reflect on the sweet and simple things in life.

Beach grass whipped by the wind
The feel of cotton against my skin
Electric BBQ’s
Donating blood
A dash of Irish Cream in my morning Cappuccino
Soldiers in their dress uniforms
Children’s handmade cards
Ed Sheeran’s “The Shape Of You”
Looking through freshly cleaned windows
Montana’s endless skies
Roller skating at Oaks Park, Portland, Oregon
Paddle wheel river boats
Finding that lost earring
Homemade Clam Chowder and Cheese Bread
Letters to the Editor
Antique car shows
A freshly cleaned bathroom
Cashmere and tweed
The thinnest, crispiest French fries
A new supply of business cards
Lunch with Mom
A February 29th birthday
Dancing cheek to cheek
Random acts of kindness
Circular driveways
Summer days at the lake
Winning $100 on the Scratch Off ticket

That’s it. I hope you took a minute from the insanity of the 24 hour news cycle, put up your feet and smiled at a few of the simple things in life.

Calamity Politics is a progressive news magazine dedicated to human rights, universal health care, elimination of the Electoral College and restoration of Democratic control of the Congress and the White House. Join the New Resistance. Dump Trump. Protest and demonstrate. We don’t have to take this crap. Our soldiers didn’t die on the battlefield to allow this to happen. Join the New Resistance

The Spectacular Oregon Coast

By Darlene Mitchell August 7, 2025 August 19, 2025 D. S. Mitchell, Oregon, Oregon, RV's and RV living

The Spectacular Oregon Coast

Editor: At a recent town hall with Oregon Democratic U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley I picked up a magazine entitled, “The Oregon Treasures Quest.” The magazine is printed and published by Jeff Merkley’s team. The magazine is available through his office and at his town halls. Jeff, a lifetime Oregonian drew from his life in Oregon to put together a magazine that highlights one significant landmark from each Oregon county with great pictures and a short blurb on each site. After enjoying Jeff’s publication I thought I should spend a few minutes talking about Oregon’s iconic coastal landmarks. I have been fortunate enough to spend many years living and exploring Oregon’s Pacific coast. Below I’ve listed several highlights of Oregon’s Hwy 101.

D. S. Mitchell

A Bit of History

The Pacific Coast of the United States is magical. Massive rock formations, dramatic vistas, magnificent bridges, and miles of expansive beaches. I was born in this “Pacific Wonderland” and every once in a while I like to tell my friends around the world about this amazing place I call home. I grew up in Portland, Oregon. Went to Shattuck grade school, Lincoln High School, and Portland State University. I remember long lazy summer vacations at my family’s beach shack at Rockaway Beach. Our little surf shack was the hub of activity for many summers of happy memories. We would take short trips around the area, roast marshmallows, fish the coastal streams, dig clams on brisk mornings, build sand castles and access quiet picnic spots along the beautiful beaches of the central Oregon coast.

Until very recently I was a full time coastal resident. I lived at a spectacular spot between Gearhart and Warrenton, called Surf Pines. It’s a delightful place with wide views of the Pacific, small lakes, and wildlife galore. It was such an exciting place to live, a delight of both man and nature made wonders. Driving Sunset Beach up to the Peter Iredale watching the spectacular 4th of July fireworks. Ahh, what a life.

Since I lived just south of that gritty river town Astoria, once called the “evilest place on earth” it is a good place to start. I love Astoria and its spectacular setting, and conversely its seedy edginess. A town of hills and stairs. A river town where many men are still fisherman and loggers. Where upscale cannabis shops and day spas co-exist with topless bars and closed storefronts. Astoria is both charming and seamy. Astoria is slowly shifting from blue-collar working class to professional class. A place where Victorian houses both grand and simple cling to a rocky hillside at the convergence of bay, river and ocean. A town quietly searching for its future.

“The Bridge” is the Astoria-Megler bridge. Starting in California, and all up the coast you will see many beautiful historic bridges, but it isn’t until you reach Astoria, Oregon that you see the spectacular grand jewel of coastal river bridges. At Astoria the Columbia River joins the ocean. “The bridge” spans 4 miles across one of the nation’s greatest river systems, joining Oregon with her northern sister state, Washington. The Columbia bar was long known as the “grave yard of the Pacific” because so many ships sank off its coast as they attempted to cross the bar into the greatest river of the west. A drive across this landmark structure literally takes your breath away.

The Astoria Column is a 125 foot column. Half a million visitors tour the site annually. The column stands on a cleared hilltop that rises 600 feet above sea level. The column is one of the most recognizable monuments on the Oregon coast. Dedicated in 1926 the column was modeled after Trajan’s column in Rome, Italy. The Astoria column is decorated with a detailed spiral frieze of Astoria’s history. The column was treated to a much-needed restoration a couple of years ago, but that inner spiral staircase is still stomach turning, if you get up that damn thing, the views from the top are heart stopping; Young’s River and Bay, the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia River, Cape Disappointment. Jaw dropping.

What We Could Have Had

By Darlene Mitchell July 27, 2025 July 29, 2025 Calamity Politics, Cate Rees-Hessel, Democrats, Domestic Policy, Kamala Harris, Opinion, Progressivism, Tim Walz

We Could Have Had The Bright, Beautiful Black Lady

What We Could Have Had

We Could Have Had The Bright, Beautiful Black Lady

By Cate Rees-Hessel

Regrets?

I wonder if anyone that voted for “The Donald” is finally tired of the insanity and has regrets. I recall years ago the Dream Date game – you could get a handsome male or the dud; we sure got The dud. A popular game show allows contestants the opportunity to choose curtains number one, two, or three but beware, a booby prize is behind one of those curtains. We got zonked big time, but unlike that game of chance, the deal those who voted for the orange monster was a deal made with the Devil.

We Had Our Chance

We had the golden opportunity to elect the most accomplished, the most beautiful, the most gracious, and the most compassionate, and highly intelligent attorney-prosecutor to ever seek the presidency, but those who are ruled by racism and sexism chose the weak wizard behind the ugly curtain. Now we’ve been zonked and I don’t know if I can last another 1270 days. Below are some prevailing truths because we regretfully did not elect the smart, beautiful Black lady to run our nation:

When the tariffs prevent you from getting what you need or want, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When I.C.E. takes your loved ones away, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When you can’t afford groceries, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When your wife, sister, or daughter can’t get medical care, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When none of us have health care, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When the Social Security money we all worked for goes to pay Elon Musk’s debts, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When the war in the Ukraine rages on with no hope in sight, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When we are at war with Iran, including the likely terrorist attacks here, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When children have empty plates to fund a want-to-be dictator’s military birthday parade, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
Even though he and “The Donald” have parted ways, the unfettered power given to Elon Musk has already strongly contributed to running our nation into the ground and his new political party as dangerous as he is, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When eggs remain at five dollars a carton, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
Biden capped inulin at $35.00; Trump dropped the cap so insulin is now unaffordable for seniors, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When school lunches are cancelled and children go hungry, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When shootings continue to rise, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When Medicaid and Medicare are no more, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When veterans benefits are no more, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When the National Guard is sent into a peaceful protest, remember January 6th; and that we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When the Gulf of Mexico is referred to as the Gulf of America, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When only billionaires get tax breaks, remember, we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady…
When you wake up drenched in sweat from a nightmare because you voted for Trump, remember…we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady. We could have had Kamala Harris.

Deranged and Demented

Shame on the racist sexists who voted a mentally deranged narcissist with dementia back into the Oval Office, along with his slimy new sidekick JD Vance; instead we could have had the bright, beautiful Black lady, as our President. Kamala Harris and the delightful, down-to-earth schoolteacher/coach/governor Tim Walz at her side. This was a pair that I proudly voted for.

A Long Wait

I have been waiting for our first female President since Shirley Chisholm, Geraldine Ferraro, and Hilary Clinton. Richard Nixon predicted in 1970 that within the next 50 years we would certainly elect a woman president. Well, according to Nixon we are past the time to elect a woman president of the United States.

Thank You, Joe

Thank you, President Joe Biden for helping us smash the glass ceiling; making Kamala Harris the first woman Vice President of the United States. Please join me in wearing something pearl white in the honor of the early suffragettes who demanded the right of women to vote, and our recent presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Progress Report: The Women’s Collective

By Darlene Mitchell July 8, 2025 July 8, 2025 Domestic Policy, Mental Health, Politics, Positive Vibes, Solutions, Vajra Ma

Progress Report:

“Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses Yearning To Breathe Free…”

Lady Liberty and the 2025 Fourth of July

By Vajra Ma

July 4, 2025, for me was a day of both mourning and celebration. I mourn the accelerating firestorm of Project 2025 (do your research). I celebrate that I spent the day with people who share my view, but also with some who support the acceleration (although I tend to think if they recognized the earmarks of the authoritarian playbook, they wouldn’t). Why do I celebrate that? Because the hope of this nation, indeed the world, is that we came together as human beings across the divide that would conquer us. We shared company, conversation, food, music and laughter across the divide. WE celebrated our common humanity.

But what about the rest of humanity…?

To that end I share this uniting view in “The Women’s Collective”, a pamphlet written in 2017 by my late husband Wolfgang Nebmaier. [excerpt from “The Women’s Collective” by Wolfgang Nebmaier with Vajra Ma, © Shakti Moon Publishing, 2017]

Summer Beauty

By Darlene Mitchell July 2, 2025 December 13, 2025 Cate Rees-Hessel

Summer Beauty and Entertainment Tips

By Cate Rees-Hessel

Summer is here – we want to look our best while we enjoy the warm temperatures. Don’t let Trump’s tariffs ruin your fun in the sun. Here are some time and money saving ideas for the hot weather months:

Use safe sunscreen – the FDA considers only two active ingredients as “generally recognized as safe and effective” – zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Moisturize your body after sun or pool exposure.
Use a gel based moisturizer in hot weather to avoid breakouts.
Make your own body scrubs with sugar, salt, and olive or coconut oils.
Shave often but if you use a disposable razor, change it out after just a few uses.
Use a toner or astringent straight from the refrigerator.
Create a sunburn cream and keep it in the fridge, should you get burned.
Shower or bathe often but use a moisture laden body wash or soap.
Use a non-aluminum deodorant with antiperspirant – try an all over deodorant.
Take advantage of water parks, pools and beaches – enjoy the water but practice water safety.
Enjoy picnics and barbecues, but be mindful of food safety and sanitation. Use an alcohol based hand sanitizer and dry off with paper towels if soap and water are unavailable. Lysol public restrooms in parks and picnic areas. Keep food cold and line public grills with tin foil. Never cross contaminate utensils by using them for raw and cooked food. Separate serving spoons, forks, spatulas, and tongs – rinsing is not sufficient. Carry used items home to be washed in a plastic bag or use disposable cutlery. Do not allow flames to touch food – this produces carcinogens. Do not use non-potable water to wash foods. Never rinse chicken. Wash vegetables and fruit before cooking or consuming to avoid food borne illness.
Summer clothes can be fun and fashionable but beachwear is for the beach, not church, work, or entertainment venues. Get dressed before heading out…
Enjoy outdoor concerts and films – many are free. Take along a bag chair, sweater, non perishable snacks and beverages in insulated reusable bottles but wash them often, after each use. Remember insect repellent for outdoor activities.
A Christmas in July party can be fun. Use a few of your winter decorations to save money on decor. Remember that animals, small children, and those with PTSD, for whom it can trigger flashbacks, don’t like fireworks – please be mindful of this. Small children might enjoy them with earplugs. Consider a parade or picnic during the day but do remember that the five second rule on dropped food does not apply. It’s simply not sanitary or safe to consume what has fallen on the ground.
Have a summer clothing and jewelry swap to remain fashionable on a budget. Be careful with jewelry in the pool – certain stones and gold don’t mix well with the chlorinated water.
Shells are a pretty addition to a porch or patio – so are driftwood and sea glass.
Splash pads are often free or low cost, but many have no locker rooms or showers, and may not have restrooms. Often they are near by facilities with public restrooms so plan accordingly. Do a dry run to figure out the lay of the land before you get your swimsuit ready for a day at the splash park.
Enjoy summer starlit nights with the use of a telescope.
A flower and vegetable garden are not only pretty but practical. Check out a community vegetable patch.
Grill fruit, have an ice cream social, or open a lemonade stand for charity. Summer bake sales can be fun but be careful of chocolate or frosting melting. In addition to campfire s’mores, try bananas split down the center with marshmallows, chocolate, peanut butter, and butterscotch chips. Wrap in foil for the fire but be careful when removing them – tin foil can cause burns on your hands and fingers.
Ready your car for road trips by checking oil and tire pressure. Keep water, coolant, and jumper cables handy. Have a good spare tire in your vehicle and join a motor club. Never leave children or pets in hot cars. Consider rail or bus travel.
If you recall days gone by, reminiscing is great but don’t drink from the garden hose or catch fireflies or ladybugs in a jar, even with holes poked in the lid. Let them live in their God-given environment – enjoy looking at them in nature.
Enjoy marina activities but be very careful about boating safety. Never cross alcohol with navigating, and always use life jackets, especially with children, those unable to swim, older adults, and pets.
Take advantage of travel discounts and resident swaps.
Remember to stay hydrated in heat. Don’t ruin your summer with a trip to the emergency room. Avoid caffeine and don’t over indulge alcoholic beverages. Having a fun summer means moderation and sense – don’t risk heat or sun stroke. Enjoy the warm weather – it only lasts a few months…

40 Reasons To Smile

By Darlene Mitchell June 25, 2025 June 25, 2025 CNN, D. S. Mitchell, Fox News, Happiness, MSNBC, Positive Vibes, Ruminations, Useless Information

40 Reasons To Smile

D. S. Mitchell

Relish Routine

Here at Calamity Politics, a Wednesday is pretty much the same as a Friday, or a Sunday. I’m not complaining. In fact, I relish it. I am an individual that loves routine. Up at 5:00, in the pool @5:45, walk the dog at 7:30, coffee @8:30. @9:00 I start scanning the internet for breaking news on the Trump fiasco, going on in the White House. I turn on CNN or MSNBC to get their view of the situation. If it’s a big scandal, I’ll turn on FOX to get their spin. I usually leave the TV playing in the background. You get the idea.

Things That Make Me Smile

But, at least once a week, I stop, and consciously think about how blessed I am, and all the things in life that make me happy; those things that never fail to bring a smile to my face. Here’s 40 Things That Made Me Smile Today:

Painting old furniture; giving something old a new life
Danish Brie and California Chardonnay
New shoes; makes me want to dance
Nap time
Visiting the Planetarium
Palladian style windows, a whisper of elegance
Flower baskets in bloom
The Celtic Cross
My dog, Lily
Whales and elephants
A box of old black and white photos, worth more than gold to see my daddy again
Taking a Community College class and pulling an A
Towel warmers in the bathroom
Reading my daily horoscope
The Bobble-Head toys in the back window of my friend’s car
The newspaper. A real newspaper, one that I touch, that I unfold, that I read over coffee
Street musicians
YSL Black Opium, perfume
Glass bowl filled with sun bleached shells
Three-day week-ends
My new iPhone
Wall size antique mirrors
The delicate beauty of Orchids
Travel magazines
Roller coasters
Drawstring sweat pants
Little boxes of Sunshine raisins
Hummingbirds feeding in my garden
Patsy Cline on my play list
The muted colors of Madras fabric
Holding a baby in my arms
Sharing a banana split with a calorie counting friend
A handmade greeting card
Author book signings
Reading scandal magazines at the grocery checkout stand
Having help with a big job, four hands are always better than two, if you have six, all the better
My kitchen junk drawer
Wrist corsage
Pagodas in the mist
Fog horns in the night

The Protests Go On

I’m about to go watch the kids fly their kites. It is just about a perfect day for kite flying; clear sky, great breeze and a strangely lonely beach for this time of year. Have a great week, and remember we always have time, to smile. I’m hoping that while you are grinning ear-to-ear you are busy planning for the July 17, 2025, “Good Trouble Lives On” protest. Make a new sign, The protest will be the fifth national day of protest against the Trump administration. The protest will also honor Civil Rights activist icon, congressman, John Lewis. Turn out; make your voices heard. No cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, VA benefits, SNAP or Child Tax Credits. Call your congressman/woman tell them to stop the Big Ugly Bill.

Join the New Resistance

Fireworks At Home Can Burn Big

By Darlene Mitchell June 25, 2025 June 25, 2025 Holidays, Medical, PTSD, Wes Hessel

Fireworks At Home Can Burn Big

By Wes Hessel

Natural Inclinations

When Fourth of July rolls around, the desire for something to light up the night and go boom grows large, as does the temptation to DIY. It always holds true, fireworks are best left to the professionals, as the consequences can be life changing.

Even Sparklers

The fact is even simple pyrotechnics are potentially quite dangerous. Sparklers burn at temperatures in the area of 2000 degrees – that is about nine and a half times the boiling point of water, high enough for some metals to melt. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has said sparklers account for over ¼ of the ER trips for injuries caused by fireworks, and “For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries.”

Causing Fires

The NFPA reported in 2017 fireworks led to about 19,500 fires: almost 1 in 10 of those to structures, 500 of them burning vehicles, and 17,100 outdoor or other fire types. Five years later (2022 – the latest available statistics), these stats skyrocketed (pun intended) to 31,302 blazes – 3,504 structures, 887 vehicles, 26,492 outside, and 418 unclassified. These incidents caused six deaths, 44 injuries to civilians alone, and $109 million of property damage directly connected.

Young Children

Direct fireworks injury numbers are also sobering: three years ago, an estimate of 10,200 ER visits with treatments. Based on the CPSC (the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) report on fireworks for that year, the NFPA stated: “Over half of those injuries were to the extremities (29% hands and fingers, 19% legs, 5% arms) and 35% were to the eyes or other parts of the head. Children younger than 15 years of age accounted for 28% of the estimated 2022 injuries.”

Triggers

And there are other factors to consider, such as the loud noise-young children cannot only be scared by it, but their hearing can be damaged. People with PTSD often can be triggered by such stimuli, and one isn’t always aware of who is living with this condition. Our pets, also, may not react well to the sound and light effects of fireworks; as a personal example, last year on the 4th I took our puggle for a quick bladder break before we left to watch pro fireworks. Someone in the neighborhood shot off a pyrotechnic and our fur baby turned tail, literally, and practically dragged me to get back in the house. Keeping small, loved ones, be they human or pet, inside will keep them safe from falling fireworks debris and the effects of the strong sounds.

Conclusion

It’s not worth the risk to take fireworks into your own hands – you or someone else could easily get burned in more ways than one.