No one should ever die over differences in belief. It is not the American way, or at least it never used to be the way we handled our disagreements.
Mr. Kirk was a lightning rod of right-wing rhetoric and often used inciting and bitter language about those he disagreed with and their policies.
But he did not deserve to be killed for it.
I can think of nothing I ever read or heard from Mr. Kirk that I agreed with him about. But this does not give someone the right to take a life. Whether I or anyone else agreed or disagreed is irrelevant; he had every right to speak and write about it.
Mr. Kirk is also not a martyr for any cause, to make him so clouds the bigger issue. His words have to be considered when one examines the man’s life. One cannot do such things in a vacuum. Words can and do have consequences.
“I think it’s worth it. I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.” Turning Point USA CEO and co-founder Charlie Kirk said of gun deaths on April 5, 2023,
And in the news avalanche after Mr. Kirk was shot, another school shooting happened, with young people killed. This was ignored. It’s not even a front-page story anymore. I wonder if Mr. Kirk visualized a shooting in a grammar school when he uttered that statement?
The shooting will be characterized as an “assassination” by the right instead of a “nut with a gun” as they characterize school shootings, and they will miss the point.
Perhaps Mr. Kirk’s untimely death will serve a greater purpose.
Perhaps it will open a dialog among Americans to confront our violence problem.
Perhaps it will serve as a catalyst for less antagonistic, winner-take-all political diatribes and foster open communications.
Mr. Kirk may have roused extreme responses from those with whom he disagreed, but he did not deserve to be killed for it.
Mr. Kirk was a husband and father to two young children, and we should grieve that they live in a country where people resort to violence. Two young lives forever changed by the pull of a trigger, in this case and far too many others.
Sending thoughts and prayers, no matter how sincere, absent actual effort to change things, seems vacuous. Let’s hope we never find ourselves where we accept a few gun deaths as the price of our living in this country.
Apparently, the biggliest challenge facing our military, and by extension all areas of government, is the name of the department that runs it. Over the course of time, wokeness has caused us to dilute the power of a name.
Well, this President says NO More!
Our SGOTUS (Stable Genius of the United States), after deep contemplation and analysis, identified the problem and solved it. Henceforth, the Secretary of Defense (interestingly enough, SODOTUS, which sounds quite sodden, more wet noodle than formidable force) will be known as Secretary of War. SOWOTUS (pronounced SoWhatUS) as in So what if you don’t like US, we’re doing it anyway. Now that is a manly sounding department!
But why stop there? If all it takes is a name change to make everything more effective, then I say get on with it.
SOSOTUS, Secretary of State of the United States, sounds like a call for help. We don’t need anyone’s help. So, the Secretary of State will now be Secretary of Belligerence (SOBOTUS)
The Department of Justice will now be called the Department of Crime and Punishment.
The Secretary of Agriculture is now the Department of Land Disposal.
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is now the Department of Presidential Assurance.
Department of the Treasury is now the Department of Money, Money, Money.
Department of Energy is now the Department of Drill, Baby, Drill.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is now Find, Brutalize, Inter
ICE, the acronym is perfect, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement is too kind and gentle. We’ll call them Identify, Capture, Eliminate.
With these simple changes, the entire world will now understand what we are all about.
Making these changes will have long-term consequences, but we fear nothing.
Let’s just hope the changes don’t have a negative impact. Instead of the United States of America, we may soon be known as the Former United States of America.
Our indivisibility no longer certain.
P.S. For those of you with the song Name Game stuck on a loop in your brain, you’re welcome
In the brilliant piece by Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal, Swift suggested that the state should provide care up to the age of one for infants of the poor. At that time, properly aged and fattened, they would be turned into food to feed the elite at a premium price for such delicacy and satisfy the needs of the starving population.
In case you were asleep during the lecture on the book, it is satire about the terrible conditions in Ireland. As a side note, if you were never required to read it in school, they did you a disservice, and you should demand your money back.
But even a brilliant writer like Swift could not create a more deadly scenario for children than what is happening in the State of Florida.
Just when you think no one is capable of Trumping Trump, Governor Ron DeSantis and his Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, descend to the occasion.
They have eliminated almost every vaccine mandate for children in the State of Florida and, for those that require the state legislature to pretend they are independent, will seek legislative action to remove any remaining mandates.
Here’s one of the best quotes in the history of quotes.
“Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery,” Dr. Joseph Ladapo said. “Who am I to tell you what your child should put in [their] body?” Dr. Joseph Ladapo.
Here’s a thought: you are a doctor. Act like one. A doctor is someone whom people regularly turn to for advice on what to put in their bodies to prevent or cure diseases and maintain good health. Did you skip that class in medical school?
Dr. Ladapo graduated from Harvard Medical School, not exactly Fred’s College of Medical Knowledge. How do his former professors view him now?
Here’s a thought: you are a doctor. Act like one.
Joe Broadmeadow
Hmm, maybe the Trump administration is onto something with their assault on the university. And not to fall into the trap of stereotypes, but wouldn’t Dr. Ladapo be the poster child for the anti-DEI movement?
Here’s a somewhat comforting excerpt from his Wikipedia listing,
“Ladapo is best known for his opposition to COVID-19 mitigation measures, and promotion of COVID-19 misinformation, for which he has been rebuked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ladapo has promoted unproven treatments, opposed vaccine and mask mandates, questioned the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, and contradicted professional medical organizations.
After immigrating to the United States from Nigeria, Ladapo earned a M.D. and a Ph.D. in health policy from Harvard University. He served as a professor of medicine at New York University before being tenured at the University of California, Los Angeles, prior to his appointment to his current position by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Ladapo has opposed gender-affirming care and counseling for transgender and nonbinary minors.
In September 2025, Ladapo, in his capacity as Florida Surgeon General, likened vaccine mandates to “slavery”, in announcing Florida’s plans to eliminate all vaccine mandates, including those for children attending public school. This announcement was met with grave concern from the American Pediatric Association and the Florida Education Association, among others.”
Measles Smeasles, so what?
In 1919, there were almost 13 deaths from measles per 100,000 population in the United States. However, this rate had dropped to zero by the year 2021. In early 2025, an outbreak of measles in Texas resulted in the death of three children. This was the first measles death in the United States since 2015. Measles is a highly contagious disease, that is especially dangerous for children. However, vaccines have significantly decreased the rate of cases and deaths in the United States. (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1560955/measles-death-rate-in-the-us-since-1919/)
So now children in Florida will no longer be required to receive vaccinations against chicken pox, hepatitis B, Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and the pneumococcal vaccine PCV 15/20.
The Florida Legislature will have to remove the mandates for polio, diphtheria, rubeola, rubella, pertussis, mumps, and tetanus. But, as they are not known for the willingness to stand up to DeSantis or other idiocies, they will fold like a cheap suit.
So here are some ideas,
Invest in mobility devices and wheelchair ramp companies in Florida.
Use Facebook Marketplace to buy lightly used children’s clothing, Florida will be flooded with it. Here’s a sample ad. “For sale, baby shoes, never used.”
Consider buying public school buildings, which will soon be available as the population decreases.
And if you have neighbors with annoying children, consider telling them to move to Florida for the warm weather.
Wanna take bets on the next states to devolve into witch hunts, black magic, and shamanism as state policy? Oh, yeah, and don’t forget thoughts and prayers for the kids in Florida.
The following is a priceless example of the nonsensical, unoriginal, and idiotic pablum being offered by and to Trump supporters. Like a call for the government to come clean on UFOs and the aliens we have in custody and asking people to share the absolute truth of this deep government conspiracy, this stuff floods social media like a tidal wave of noxious effluence too toxic for a waste treatment facility.
Without further adieu, here it is in all its unedited glory…
I offer no apology for what I am posting for this is truly how I feel. Please know this is my opinion and not open for debate. If you don’t agree that’s your prerogative but I will not be responding to any or all comments. I have lived through several United States Presidents prior to our current President Trump. In my lifetime I have never seen or heard of a President being scrutinized over every word he speaks, demeaned by the public to the point of disgrace, slandered, ridiculed, insulted, lied to, threatened with death, threatened by some to rape our First Lady, and have his children also insulted and humiliated.I am truly ashamed of the people of MY country. I am ashamed of the ruthless, insufferable, cruel, Trump haters who have no morals, ethics or values and the irresponsibility of the reporters who feel they have the right to deliver personal opinions just to sway their audiences in a negative direction even if there is no truth in their message. After every other President was elected and took the oath of office they were allowed to try to serve this country without constant negative scrutiny from our news sources. ALWAYS BEING PRESSURED while news sources search only for negative results from our President will not serve the people of our country. Nor will it create informed Americans. ENOUGH is ENOUGH is ENOUGH. Nor have I ever known a President to serve in that capacity at no salary to line their bank accounts until PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP! He gave to other departments those funds! I am very proud to have and I still do stand with my PRESIDENT!
Now, leaving aside the horrific grammar, run-on sentences, apparent aversion to paragraphs, rampant cognitive dissonance, inconsistency of thought, not to mention a complete absence of originality or creativity, it offers a perfect view inside the mind (or lack thereof) of the most common of Mr. Trump’s supporters, the willfully ignorant.
They are part of a phenomenon in this country where ignorance is seen as a badge of honor. Education beyond the most basic seems to be a reach for them. Those who post this nonsense are witless valedictorians with a Summa cum Laude in incomprehension.
Now, by education, I do not necessarily mean college, but for the love of all that is precious, read a history book once in a while.
It was challenging to resist interjecting comments directly into the text, but why bother? They would be ignored or misunderstood.
It’s not that most of those who post this idiocy do not know better; it is an intentional disregard of the clear contradictory evidence right before their eyes. The motivations are varied: intellectual laziness, a myopic view of current affairs, or a lack of understanding and historical ignorance.
There’s a phenomenon in this country where many celebrate ignorance. Education beyond basics seems to be a reach for them. Those who post this nonsense are witless valedictorians with a Summa cum Laude in incomprehension.
Joe Broadmeadow
The main point of this inexplicably viral post is that Mr. Trump faces a level of criticism for his actions that previous administrations did not. This is just one example of a falsehood within the piece.
Pointed and intelligent criticism of the President, or any government official, is a necessary tool in balancing the power of government and the rights of the governed.
Lyndon Johnson (perhaps one of the presidents the author of this nonsense references) had an almost psychotic dislike of the media. When asked about this relationship to the press, Johnson said this.
“I could walk across the Potomac on a bright sunny summer day, and the headline would read, ‘Johnson Can’t Swim!’
I will continue to take great pleasure in reading these postings and savaging them. Although the joy is tempered by the thought that these people are out there, perhaps unmedicated, congratulating themselves in their ignorance, embracing the Second Amendment, wrapping themselves in the flag, and ignoring the reality right before their eyes.
And they somehow managed to vote.
(Insert name of your personal favorite miraculous being here) Save Us!
Here’s an excerpt from the book Divine Providence: The Mayor, The Mob, and the Man in the Middle. The book takes you inside the world of mob-controlled nightclubs, backroom deals, and political corruption in the times of Buddy Cianci and his turbulent administrations as witnessed by the man in the middle, Pat Cortellessa.
Divine Providence: The Mayor, The Mob, and the Man in the Middle release date August 16, 2021. Order it here.
In the 1950s, Providence, Rhode Island, a gritty, working class city striving to compete with its big brother, Boston, and not-so-distant cousin, New York, had one thing neither of those cities could claim.
Providence had Raymond L.S. Patriarca, the head of the New England Mob and one of the most respected (among those in the organization) and feared (among those who crossed him) bosses in Organized Crime.
Nothing happened in Providence, at least in the criminal underbelly and backroom politics, that Patriarca didn’t know about, manipulate, control, or profit by. All one had to do was invoke the name, Raymond. No last name or further explanation was needed.
Into this world, two men, Vincent Albert “Buddy” Cianci, Jr. and Pat Cortellessa grew up. While Buddy was fifteen years older, their paths worlds apart—Cortellessa came from the West end of Providence and went to public schools. Cianci was born into an upper middle-class family and went to Moses Brown—their lives would be intertwined in ways neither could have imagined.
And the organization controlled by Raymond would cast a shadow over both men.
Pat Cortellessa was born in 1956 and lived on the corner of Chapin Avenue and Messer Street in Providence, Rhode Island. It was a neighborhood of mostly Italian families, triple decker houses, and neat yards. Where the grandparents were on one floor and their kid’s families lived above them. Even if the family outgrew the house, they didn’t move far. Staying in the surrounding streets of the west end of Providence.
When Pat was a kid an older neighbor, Joe Paris, would load up his car and take the neighborhood boys to the Rhode Island Red’s hockey games at the R.I. Auditorium on North Main Street. The Red’s played in the old AHL (American Hockey League), the original feeder system to the NHL. The days of the Red’s playing at “the Arena”—as the place was known—offered kids and adults a chance to see hockey played in all it’s original, often bloody, glory.
No masks, no helmets, few pads. Lots of action between big men on skates and the only thing separating them from the crowd was a short wall and chicken wire.
But before there was the politics of Cortellessa running against Cianci, there was the Providence Club scene, the payoffs and bribes of liquor licenses, the “rent” paid to the mob for protection, and the always volatile mix of alcohol, pretty women, and testosterone-fueled muscle heads with too much brawn and too
Joe Broadmeadow, Divine Providence: The Mayor, The Mob, and the Man in the MIddle
No one worried about letting their kids go to the arena. It was a different era in a city and country where World War II was still a powerful memory, the Korean Conflict became the forgotten war, and Vietnam was a place few Americans had even heard of let alone find on a map.
The West End of Providence in the 1950s and 60s was a world away from the East side where Buddy Cianci, already fifteen years old when Pat was born, would attend private school, followed by college and law school. Pat would take a more pedestrian public-school path. Yet their respective careers, politics for one and running restaurants and clubs for the other, would culminate in first a business association, then a friendship, then a break that would drive them both to face each other in the political arena.
One would end up in prison, the other would dance a fine line between the world of the wise guys, the seductive lure of the nightclubs and bars, and the world of politics. Their unlikely association would forever intertwine them in the history of Providence.
But before there was the politics of Cortellessa running against Cianci, there was the Providence Club scene, the payoffs and bribes of liquor licenses, the “rent” paid to the mob for protection, and the always volatile mix of alcohol, pretty women, and testosterone-fueled muscle heads with too much brawn and too under-utilized brains.
JEBWizard Publishing (www.jebwizardpublishing.com) is a hybrid publishing company focusing on new and emerging authors. We offer a full range of customized publishing services.
Everyone has a story to tell, let us help you share it with the world. We turn publishing dreams into a reality. For more information and manuscript submission guidelines contact us at info@jebwizardpublishing.com or 401-533-3988.
“The friend of a conqueror is but the last victim…”
Isaac Asimov, Foundation and Empire
During the 70s and 80s, Providence experienced the demise of one empire and the rise of a new one. They both bore the outward veneer of honor and respectability. One criminal at its core, the other did a better job of concealing its genuine nature.
In 1970, perhaps the most powerful man in Rhode Island, with influence extending far beyond the borders of the state and even New England, was Raymond L.S. Patriarca. Respected within Organized Crime by more than just those who worked for him, many considered him a man of honor in an organization with a warped sense of the concept.
But he made no bones about what he was. He ran the family with a ruthless intensity masked by neighborhood generosity and concern for his domain, Federal Hill. All knew him as “the old man,” with a smile and a wave for most and a disdainful look for the cops and prosecutors who targeted him and his organization.
But like all things, after attaining the height of control within the organization, he began the inevitable decline until his death in 1984.
While the Patriarca legacy was reaching its zenith, an unknown phenomenon entered the scene. An up-and-coming lawyer—with a penchant for flair, a quick wit, and an uncontainable ego—began his own rise to prominence in Providence.
A man who, in that unique Rhode Island way, as an assistant Attorney General, once prosecuted Raymond Patriarca.
His ability to draw people to him, to gain their loyalty, brought him from the small city of Providence to the national stage of the Republican National convention where Gerald Ford considered him for the position of his Vice-President running mate.
Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci began his rise to legendary status as a prosecutor, then turned his sights on politics. As the “old man” faded, “Buddy” began his rise.
The smallest state in the union offers every Rhode Islander unique access to the inner workings of the state. Almost to a person, the people of Rhode Island knew who “Raymond” and “Buddy” were with no need for a last name.
Many, if not most, had a story of encountering one or both men. Yet few people penetrated the inner circle of both empires.
Except for one man.
Pat Cortellessa—businessman, club-owner, entrepreneur, politician — is one of the few who rubbed shoulders with the wiseguys in joint businesses, worked alongside Buddy for mutual benefit until Buddy decided Pat was no longer useful, opposed Buddy in runs for the office of Mayor, and lived to tell the story.
Divine Providence: The Mayor, The Mob, and the Man in the Middle is the story few have ever heard, taking you inside the backroom deals, shady operations, and blood politics that was the Patriarca and Cianci eras.
Pre-order coming soon. Look for more announcements on sales, books signings, and media appearances.
JEBWizard Publishing (www.jebwizardpublishing.com) is a hybrid publishing company focusing on new and emerging authors. We offer a full range of customized publishing services.
Everyone has a story to tell, let us help you share it with the world. We turn publishing dreams into a reality. For more information and manuscript submission guidelines contact us at info@jebwizardpublishing.com or 401-533-3988.
Since the January 6th attempted insurrection by violent supporters of Mr. Trump, incited by a host of lies about the Presidential Election, the pendulum has changed direction. Many of those involved have been arrested, lost their jobs, and been the object of scorn and derision.
Much of this, for those who broke the law, is well deserved. Mr. Trump, touting his strong on crime positions of the past four years, often proselytized swift and significant punishment for lawbreakers. Those words may now come back to haunt him and those who were blinded by his subtle yet real calls for violence against the government. One thing Mr. Trump is good at is obfuscation of truth to serve his purpose. No one will ever dissuade me from the belief that Mr. Trump had every intention of inspiring that crowd to do exactly what they did.
Yet our reaction need be one in direct contradiction to Mr.Trump’s blatant incitement. There is a danger here in our substituting one philosophy for another and punishing those who disagree with us, that is his approach not ours.
Every single person who attended that rally supporting Mr. Trump had the absolute right to do so. Expressing one’s opinion in protest and free speech is the very foundation of government. Even when that speech is permeated with lies and intentional misrepresentations.
No matter how distasteful such political positions may be, no matter how antithetical they may be to the spirit of America, they are protected under the First Amendment from governmental restrictions or intrusions.
It is when they cross the line into violent acts that the law must apply.
While they may be well within their right to do so, if a company or other organization terminates an employee for their beliefs, for their exercise of their constitutional rights, for expressing an opinion outside of the workplace, absent any criminal act, it comes dangerously close to creating an atmosphere of fear.
As to those who took it beyond peaceful protest, you made your choice, and you must face the consequences. I know many of those who stormed the Capitol building took great delight in many of Mr. Trump’s forceful statements on punishing those who break the law. They just never thought it should apply to them because they bought into the lies of a charlatan.
Evelyn Beatrice Hall, writing under the name, S.G. Tallentyre, in her biography of Voltaire wrote the following line (which is often incorrectly attributed to Voltaire underscoring the need to research truth)
In The Friends of Voltaire, Hall wrote the phrase:
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”
The line illustrated Voltaire’s philosophy, and it is one we should embrace.
I do not understand how anyone could support Donald Trump. I didn’t understand it in 2016, and I see the past four years as further evidence of his Presidency being the biggest mistake ever in our history.
But seventy-five million Americans voted for Mr. Trump. Seventy-five million. Because Mr. Trump lost the election does not mean they must be silent on their positions. It does not mean they must abandon their positions. It does not mean they cannot work toward 2024 for a Republican candidate to challenge President-elect Joe Biden.
It does mean they must accept the results of the 2020 election and exercise their rights of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Assembly within the law.
As long as they do that, then while I would disagree with their philosophy I would defend to the death their right to say it.
And I would expect, as Americans, they would do the same. It is what makes America great and always will.
JEBWizard Publishing (www.jebwizardpublishing.com) is a hybrid publishing company focusing on new and emerging authors. We offer a full range of customized publishing services.
Everyone has a story to tell, let us help you share it with the world. We turn publishing dreams into a reality. For more information and manuscript submission guidelines contact us at info@jebwizardpublishing.com or 401-533-3988.
Signup here for our mailing list for information on all upcoming releases, book signings, and media appearances.
Coming this fall from JEBWizard Publishing, a new book by Joe Broadmeadow with Pat Cortellessa
Divine Providence: The Mayor, The Mob, and The Man in the Middle
Here’s the excerpt. To be notified of updates, author appearances, and pre-release discounts sign up for our email list here.
This is the story of a Mayor who would be King, The Mob, who would demand its share of the kingdom, and a man caught in the middle. A story so unique, so endemic to the city, so uniquely Rhode Island, that it casts a spell even to this day.
Divine providence: The mayor, the mob, and the man in the middle by joe broadmeadow
Introduction
The echo of the court clerk’s announcement of guilty on the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) count still reverberated in the halls of Judge Ernest Torres’ court as the implication ricocheted at the speed of light throughout Providence.
The King is Dead, Long Live the King!
Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci, the inimitable, affable, yet darkly complex Mayor of Providence, tarnished forever as a convicted felon. The Providence Renaissance, forever linked to Buddy in fable if not reality, now facing having the curtain pulled back on the myth enveloping the man..
As Shakespeare said, “the evil men do….” The good Buddy would now be buried in the Federal Prison system, removed from the City he loved almost as much as he loved himself.
All that remained now was for someone to pick up the pieces in City Hall and steer the City forward.
Pat Cortellessa—the long-time nemesis of Buddy, fresh from the courtroom where he watched the trial and verdict unfold— now stood in city hall with the man who would bear the burden of acting Mayor, John Lombardi. The scene was surreal, unimaginable just a few short months before. Few expected Buddy to be convicted. Most thought Buddy would emerge dirtied but otherwise unscathed, back in the Mayor’s office once again running his domain. Now the celebration of what many viewed as the end of corruption in City Hall was on.
Pat made his way to the Mayor’s office and walked into what was once the exclusive domain of Buddy. The office, trashed by the celebration, held echoes of so much promise and so many disappointments. Pat wandered over to the window overlooking Kennedy Plaza. The Cafe Plaza building, a prominent place in the plaza, the site of so many battles with Buddy, stood as a reminder of the now former Mayor’s penchant for exerting his control wherever he saw an opportunity.
Pat wondered if it had all been worth it. All those battles fighting for what he believed was right for the city, now mere memories. Buddy was no longer a force to be reckoned with, the conviction took that away. Where it would lead was anyone’s guess.
What lay ahead for Pat, he could only guess. But the memories of the war with the City and Buddy had taken its toll. How had it all come to this?
This is the story of a Mayor who would be King, The Mob, who would demand its share of the kingdom, and a man caught in the middle. A story so unique, so endemic to the city, so uniquely Rhode Island, that it casts a spell even to this day.
And Buddy was now out of sight…but he was far from finished.
JEBWizard Publishing (www.jebwizardpublishing.com) is a hybrid publishing company focusing on new and emerging authors. We offer a full range of customized publishing services.
Everyone has a story to tell, let us help you share it with the world. We turn publishing dreams into a reality. For more information and manuscript submission guidelines contact us at info@jebwizardpublishing.com or 401-533-3988.
Signup here for our mailing list for information on all upcoming releases, book signings, and media appearances.
This sparked the usual round of responses both for and against. At one point, I was asked my opinion on a litany of issues. These were both too complex and too numerous to answer on social media alone, thus the genesis of this latest blog.
And he went to Paris looking for answers To questions that bother him so…
Jimmy Buffett, He Went to Paris
As always, I welcome anyone who wishes to write a piece addressing these or any issues. Submit it to me (joseph.broadmeadow@gmail.com) and I will happily publish it on the blog. My only caveat is the discussion be respectful. Passion is good, impoliteness is not.
Now, here are the questions and my answers.
Are you for legal immigration?
This one is easy. I support legal immigration. No rational person supports illegal immigration, if by illegal immigration you mean someone unlawfully entering this country absent a legitimate amnesty need. But there are exceptions. Creating a path to citizenship for those who were brought here as children by their parents without legal documents is the American thing to do.
However, there needs to be a time limit on the window of opportunity. For example, once an individual reaches eighteen years of age or, if already 18 or older, upon the creation of this program, they must apply for the citizenship process within two years. Miss that window of opportunity, and you are subject to deportation.
Are you for free enterprise?
Again, an easy one. Yes I am. But government regulations play an essential role in ensuring a level playing field. Labor laws, OSHA regulations, EPA standards, and others are all necessary to protect workers, customers, the environment, and those operating a business.
At one time, child labor was a significant contributor to a free capitalist market. Such conditions and practices are abhorrent and government regulations necessary to prevent such abuses.
And Joe Biden hit on something critically important to free enterprise, labor unions.
Labor unions, more than government regulations, made workplaces safer, pay and benefits more fair, and established a balance of power between management and labor. The pendulum swing away from union membership is partially responsible for the earnings gap. In 1983 union membership was 20.1% of workers, today it is 10.1%.
In 1965,the ratio of CEO to Worker compensation was 20 to 1. In 1989, it was 58 to 1. Today, it is 278 to 1. CEO compensation has risen 940% while only 11.9% for workers.
That some unions were corrupted is not an indictment of all unions or union members any more than the prosecution of corporate executives, say Brietbart for example, is an indictment of all executives.
Are you for energy independence?
Seeking energy independence is a critical national security matter. I support renewable energy research and alternative energy sources. Coal, which accounts for almost 25% of electricity production in the US (and more elsewhere) combined with other fossil fuels (which account for 62%,) are two of the most significant contributors to anthropogenic accelerated global warming.
The Department of Defense, those ultimately responsible for defending this nation, has identified climate change as one of the most significant national security challenges facing this country.
We are at the point where the level of Dangerous Anthropogenic Interference (DAI) with the climate may be unrecoverable. Energy independence for the US must also include a significant investment in new energy sources, not just a surge in coal mining or improving fossil fuel extraction technology.
I know this may be heresy to some, but nuclear energy provided by the latest generation of reactors is dramatically less harmful to the environment, and safer overall, than fossil fuels. From an overall safety and environmental perspective, the more you know about fossil fuel, the more concerned you become. The more you know about nuclear energy, the less concerned you become. Once again, it is science that offers the answers, non politicized and unbiased.
Are you for more government regulations?
I support necessary government regulations; Health and Safety (OSHA), labor laws, automotive safety standards, FDA regulations. Speed limits on roadways limiting the speed at which cars can operate, even though they are capable of much higher speeds, makes everyone safer. Same thing with most regulations.
Do you support abortion on demand?
I support a woman’s right to choose and the guidelines laid out in Roe v. Wade. The one aspect of Roe that gets lost in the rancor and emotion is that Roe was about fair and equitable access to abortions. Abortion for medical reasons has always been legal. It was the discrepancy in access to abortions that Roe addressed.
Wealthy individuals always had access to safe and legal abortions because they could afford to find a doctor who would deem the procedure medically necessary.
Poor people did not have that option.
The decision to seek an abortion, for whatever reason, is the most difficult personal choice a woman has to make. The government has no business interfering with such a significant private matter.
One certain way to reduce the need for abortions is a comprehensive health care system offering contraception, family planning, pre- and post-natal care and support, and a strong system of child care assistance for those in need.
Do you think the Iran deal was a good one?
I believe the Iran deal was the best solution to an insoluble problem absent the elimination of theocratic governments. What is now clear, by withdrawing from the Iran agreement, the US has created more instability in the region and lost any opportunity to build a coalition against further nuclear development by Iran.
Instead, we have left it to the Israelis to deal with the problem militarily, which increases the likelihood of open conflict in the Middle East.
The only lasting solution to the Iranian problem will have to come from the Iranian people. By imposing sanctions on a government that cares little for the welfare of its citizens, the ones who suffer most are the very people we need to achieve success.
Much like the Treaty of Versailles, we are imposing draconian demands that will, over time, have the exact opposite effect to what we need in the region.
Organizations like BLM will never gain the support of a majority of Americans until they decry the illegal possession and use of firearms as much as they criticize the actions of law enforcement.
Are you for defunding the police?
Another softball. Of course not. But re-evaluating the tasks assigned to police departments and reallocating funds to more appropriate solutions makes sense. This trend toward the militarization of police (begun when I was on the job and no one embraced the toys more than us) was, in hindsight, a mistake.
But with that said, the reality of American society presents different challenges to police officers than other developed democratic countries. While police officers in many countries do not routinely carry firearms, the fact that there are 300 million weapons in civilian hands makes arming American officers critical.
Most gun owners never commit a crime. But the easy availability of weapons—both legal and illegal—makes their use in the commission of crimes more frequent and thus more of a risk factor.
Organizations like BLM will never gain the support of a majority of Americans until they decry the illegal possession and use of firearms as much as they criticize the actions of law enforcement.
The implicit racism by many officers to persons of color is reinforced by the number of crimes committed by those who illegally possess weapons. This is not blaming the victims of unlawful police actions. This is bringing to the forefront the realities cops must deal with on the streets.
The perception of persons of color having a higher propensity to violence is one of the worst aspects of implicit racism, yet it is equally promulgated by ignorant racists and those who commit violent crimes with firearms.
And the inequities in the criminal justice system–where persons of color face longer sentences and make up a disproportionate number of those in prison–further reinforces the myth absent an understanding of the conditions behind the statistics.
Each of these factors reinforce to equal measure the misconception.
Do you think we should defend Federal Buildings?
Defend them, of course. Intercede in local situations absent specific requests from local law enforcement or elected officials, or absent evidence of abdication of responsibility by local authorities, no.
Do you think cities run by Democrats are thriving? (if so, name one).
This is my favorite. This is the classic example of how correlation does not equal causation. For instance, I could argue there has been an increase in violence in Chicago and other cities since 2016, when a Republican President took office. It correlates, but it doesn’t mean it caused it.
(Now if we want to argue the rhetoric coming from the administration—saying the white supremacists in Charlottesville were good people, for example—creates an atmosphere provoking violent acts, that might be a different discussion.)
To infer from data like the FBI crime reports, which are the ones most used to make these assertions despite FBI warnings against drawing such conclusions, distorts the reality. In one more accurate study of gun violence in Chicago, 70% of the non-fatal gun injuries happened within areas containing just 6% of the city’s population. The study referred to these as “micro-geographic hot spots.”
There is no reliable way to gauge the political affiliation of a city’s administration to the city’s economic health as a significant factor in whether or not a city is “thriving.”
One could argue that under two Republican mayors, Giuliani and Bloomberg, NYC saw an increase in violence and a downturn in economic viability. Under Giuliani’s tenure, New York suffered the most significant terrorist attacks in US history. Does this mean a Republican-led city, or country, is more likely to face a terrorist attack? It may correlate, but it does not establish the cause.
Do you think the virus came from China?
I know the virus came from China because the CDC, WHO, and a host of other organizations–based on verifiable scientific pathogen methodologies–have traced the virus origin to China.
Do you think China is run by an evil regime?
China is a communist country with capitalistic overtones economically and a repressive dictatorship on civil liberties. The implication of these two questions being linked is that China intentionally released the virus. While this makes for a great novel, the evidence suggests otherwise. Unless one wishes to abandon all rationality because of the equally deadly viral affliction of unprovable, often paranoid and irrational , conspiracy theories. I will adhere to staying with the evidence.
As a footnote, I am confident Bill Gates and Dr. Fauci, should they ever conspire to take over the world, would come up with a more controllable and effective method.
Do you believe that the Muller investigation was legit and that the FISA Court was not deceived?
If we cannot have confidence in a man of proven character such as Robert Mueller to act in a manner consistent with the letter and spirit of the law, there is no hope for us. I would say Mr. Mueller’s refusal to offer a conclusion as to the President’s culpability in the matter, much to the chagrin of those who oppose the President, is a clear indication of Mr. Mueller’s character and integrity in rising above the temptation of political gain.
I would also refer you to the Senate Intelligence Committee report as to the indisputable fact of Russian interference in the election and the undeniable evidence of criminal activity. As to the FISA warrant, there has been no evidence produced of any intentional misrepresentation of facts by the FBI in the warrant application. Acting in good faith is the standard in seeking warrants when evaluating information submitted in support of the application.
Sometimes, the information used to obtain a warrant turns out to be incorrect or inaccurate. But the level of probable cause needed to convince this court of the need to surveil American citizens is a high bar and, in this case, did not depend on just one dossier or alleged element in the application.
Do you think BLM is controlled by avowed Marxist?
First, BLM is not a centralized organization like some would believe. They tend to be independent groups across the country operating under a common banner. That someone who is an “avowed” Marxist is involved in such a group is not surprising, but they do not “control” the group. And while I see Marxism as a failed philosophy doomed by the very nature of humans, to embrace such a philosophy in its pure theoretical form is both lawful and acceptable under our concept of free speech.
Do you think Joe Biden bribed the Pres. of Ukraine to remove the Prosecutor investigating Burisma?
No, and no shred of reliable evidence proving this allegation has ever been shown. That is the standard of our criminal justice system, innocent until proven guilty. Much like Mr. Trump is not guilty of collusion with the Russians.
Are you for funding health care for illegal aliens?
If one means an otherwise capable adult who enters the country illegally to work, no. But it is more complicated.
What of an injured or ill young child brought here illegally by their parents? Would you have us deny treating the child? Would you have us let them die because of their immigration status? Or a pregnant mother? You would deny her the choice of abortion and refuse her treatment to bring the child to full term?
These are not yes/no situations, they are much more complicated.
Until we resolve the overarching issue of immigration with effective and humane programs, finding solutions to problems such as healthcare will be impossible.
Why are people fleeing democratically controlled cities?
Migration patterns to and from cities are in constant flux. The political affiliation of the city’s administration is a very low consideration in such decisions. The reasons people leave or move to cities vary with the current economy, crimes, employment opportunities, etc.
I would argue much of the most recent exodus from major cities is because of the disastrous manner in which we handled the pandemic.
Cities like New York with diverse populations, large numbers of foreign travelers, and serving as major points of entry into the country were more vulnerable than other less cosmopolitan cities. These are not circumstances or conditions predicated or created by the political party holding the mayor’s chair.
To imply people are “fleeing” cities because of the political affiliation of the mayor contradicts the facts. People leave cities for a variety of reasons, very few of them political.
I’ll give one example. There was a massive exodus from Boston after the school desegregation order. Whites who could afford it fled the city. The real estate market and rents collapsed; lower-income people filled the gap. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Cities experience changes all the time, and the most significant factors driving it are almost always outside the control of the local political structure.
Each of these issues is complex and requires a deliberate and comprehensive analysis to craft the best solutions. I would argue that, despite the constant repetition from this administration about ‘yeah, but what about what Obama did,’ the evidence of corrupt practices and wrongheaded policies put in place by Mr. Trump is more compelling and I believe he has done significant long-term damage to this country.
The facts bear this out. Not one principal member of the Obama administration in eight years was ever charged, let alone convicted of a crime. And if politics influences the Justice Department, even under a Republican Congress, nothing came of investigation after investigation into the Obama administration.
Yet under President Trump, in less than four years, we have the following.
Mr. Trump’s personal attorney (Michael Cohen) charged and convicted.
Mr. Trump’s White House national security advisor (Michael Flynn) charged and convicted.
Mr. Trump’s campaign chairman (Paul Manafort) charged and convicted.
Mr. Trump’s deputy campaign chairman (Rick Gates) charged and convicted.
Mr. Trump’s former campaign advisers (Roger Stone and George Papadopoulos) charged and convicted.
And these are just the top-line indictments. If ever there was a model for a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) case, the Trump administration is it.
When asked to explain his being surrounded by so many people he worked with being convicted, Trump was at a loss for words. Instead, he tried to avoid the question with the usual “But Obama spied on my campaign,” despite this fallacy being disproved.
In fact, had the FBI and the Justice Department not investigated Russian efforts to influence and support the Trump campaign (as detailed in the Senate Intelligence Report) I would argue they should be charged with Obstruction of Justice.
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William Shakespeare: ‘The Tempest’ (1611) act 2, sc. 1, l. [261]
After I posted a recent piece (Link here), a friend reminded me of a book I’d read several years ago called Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon. The book is a masterful piece of science fiction writing.
Published in 1937, the book tells an imaginative tale of the universe. Told with the dust from World War I still settling, the pain of the depression fresh in the minds of many, and the rise of fascism—both foreign and domestic—on the horizon, Stapledon offered some interesting perspectives.
I decided to re-read the book. Several lines from the introduction caught my eye. These words, written more than eighty years ago, speak of the political chasm between the left and the right, liberal and conservative, that some see today as a new phenomenon.
Perhaps it is not.
Stapledon recognized the vast differences between the left and the right and felt the need to warn his readers of the reaction his words might foster
“At the risk of raising thunder both on the Left and on the Right, I have occasionally used certain ideas and words derived from religion, and I have tried to interpret them in relation to modern needs. The valuable, though much damaged words “spiritual” and “worship,” which have become almost as obscene to the Left as the good old sexual words are to the Right, are here intended to suggest an experience which the Right is apt to pervert and the Left to misconceive.”
It would seem our differences have always been with us. Technology has just made it easier to write or publicize whatever one believes without the safety mechanism of editing, writing with any semblance of logic, fact-checking, or subjecting oneself to the criticism of those one hopes to influence.
We can merely block those who hold opposing views or claim them to be fake. By ignoring or discounting those with whom we disagree, we lose the opportunity to meld opposing views into a consensus of real value.
It would seem we may have always been this way.
While each moment may be unique to those in the middle of it, there really is very little new under the sun.
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The Writing of Joe Broadmeadow 