Fallacious Reasoning

A quick review of Trumpian 'logic' currently on display: In order to insure the safety of American lives we assassinate an Iranian general, which will certainly put more American lives at risk and further incur the likelihood of a catastrophic war in the Mid-East the likes of which we have never seen.
To be clear: this is neither a logical nor a sane position; it is, rather, a self-fulfilling prophesy masquerading as strategy with scant regard for the inherent and dangerous consequences implicit in the action. A policy based on revenge will only yield retribution, endless conflict, and perpetual suffering.

Ring In The New

On the 31st, Debby, I, and two close friends brought in the new year as well as the coming decade appropriately by dancing the night away at Berkeley's Freight and Salvage to the rhythms of Louie Romero and Mazacote (a great traditional salsa band). It never ceases to amaze me how this brilliant 12 piece band can remain so tightly in sync while combining a variety of beats into one coherent musical voice. Mazacote was followed by the all-female Afro-Cuban band , Maqueque, led by Jane Bunnett (Canadian) and five home-grown Cuban musicians who lit-up the music hall with virtuosity and an energy that will carry us well into the days to come. Sadly, as a result of the ongoing draconian policies with regard to Cuba, most of the musicians were obliged to leave the country shortly after the concert. On a more upbeat note, the spirit of the Afro-Cuban fusion, the symbolism of the all-woman ensemble, and the diversity of the assembled revelers served to remind us that the winds of the future are blowing a friendly breeze into the arid landscape of recent years and, in so doing, announce the ensuing decade as one of inclusive, paradigm shifting, and hopeful change.

To Do The Right Thing

With the impending impeachment vote on the immediate horizon, it might be useful to keep in mind what Senator Sherrod Brown recently had to say: ‘To be an effective legislator, one might need to risk losing the next election.’
Now more than ever: Courage and Conscience Still Matter!

Bernie Remains A Viable Force

It very well may be that Sanders' predicted demise (by the Democratic establishment and the MSM) is seriously premature and dismissive of the continued groundswell of support he has captured by a consistent, authentic, and compelling analysis of our society's deep seeded needs. His appeal to the previously disenfranchised and ignored members of an untapped electorate is particularly worthy of note. His candidacy remains as viable as ever and will be force to be reckoned with throughout the election cycle of 2020. In spite of the elites' preferences and traditional reluctance to embrace real systemic change, the people will likely/hopefully have the final say as to the future direction of our ship of state. Let their collective voice be heard...let the wild political rumpus begin!

Amy and Me

Given that the over-crowded Democratic 'debate' stage yields nothing more than a series of sound bites, it might be worth mentioning arguably the best line from this week's presentation. It came from none other than Amy Klobuchar...when recalling her first political campaign, she proudly declared that she was able 'to raise $17,000 in donations from my ex-boy friends'. Following her excellent example, I've been contacting my ex-girl friends and, to date, have managed to accumulate enough to buy a cup of tea and a day-old pastry!

Preserving Thoroughbred Horse Racing

Recently, it has been suggested that the banning of the blood thinning drug Lasix and the expansion of CT scanning at race tracks will aid in the effort to better protect the thoroughbred race horse as well as preserving the future viability of the sport of horse racing in California.
I agree that reasonable compromise is indicated if all interested parties act in good faith. Regular CT scanning is a good idea and further study on the efficacy of synthetic surfaces needs to be referenced. A likely outcome of a Lasix ban will be a substantial increase in horses pulling out of races due to excessive bleeding. This is bad for owners, trainers, and the racing public as well as for the broader perception of the population at large. Political opportunists like California Governor Newsom will seize upon this issue to advance their future political ambitions while California Senator Feinstein continues to posture without any real knowledge of the industry she is too quick to condemn.
Those wishing to save the sport are right to identify the urgency of this matter as it is currently ripe for a harvest of negative, misleading, and destructive measures that could very well result in the demise of the great (and flawed) institution of thoroughbred horse racing. My past experience as a journalist covering this sport suggests that the overwhelming majority of people connected to the thoroughbred horse racing world are conscientious individuals with a deep connection to the animals in their charge. Echoing an earlier recommendation, knowledgeable people from both sides of the looming argument need to confer to reach an agreement to preserve the integrity of the sport while maximizing the ongoing safety and care for the equine athletes upon whom an entire industry depends.

Fulfilling The Dream Of A Populist Democracy

Although our great nation was founded by elitist property owners the vast majority of whom were slave owners, the Constitution nevertheless suggested, in word, that a pluralistic society was a possible outcome arising from this democratic experiment.
As we continue to evolve through the early stages of the 21st century, changing demographics afford a possible fulfillment of the pluralistic dream once envisioned by the spirit of our Constitution and its accompanying government.
Sadly, the pervasive concurrent existence of political/cultural tribalism and polarization operates as an impediment to the realization of a society in which a vibrant democratic structure reflective of a variety of points of view voiced by a diverse electorate of active citizens can be the hallmark of a contested yet united body politic.
As our diverse population continues to assert needs and desires too long ignored by a power structure impervious to the realities of exclusion, discrimination, and disempowerment experienced by so many of our brothers and sisters, the opportunity to include their rich and important experience into the national discourse looms as an essential aspect of an emerging pluralism. We now have a chance to throw off the constraints endemic to association with just two political ideologies and power centers and give expression to the full array of thought, experience, and aspiration implicit in our collective voice across the spectrum of American life.
Consistent with this notion is an ongoing commitment to the principle of inclusion of all ideas, as part of a new American 'gestalt' where we coexist in an environment of respectful, contentious, inspired, forward thinking, compassionate, widely representative, and truly democratic interaction where the original vision a pluralistic democracy might actually become a thriving reality.