New NY 23rd

“Woke” has quickly become the most ubiquitous weapon word in American politics. Republicans use the term as a pejorative term to describe Democratic or progressive policies in general. Increasingly, everything Republicans don’t like gets described as woke, and wokeness has become the scapegoat for any bad news, including the recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.—Gil Duran and George Lakoff | FrameLab

Gil Duran and George Lakoff published two articles on woke in politics: Part 1, Get Woke about Woke, and Part 2, Redpilled, QAnon, Anti-Vaccine: Conservative versions of ‘woke’.

In Part 1, the authors write:

In this edition of the FrameLab newsletter, we examine how the Republicans have used woke — a term stolen from African American vernacular — to control the political discourse. Woke provides a great example of how the framing wars usually play out in American politics. Republicans frame an issue, choosing specific words or language. Then everyone else falls into the trap by accepting the frame without giving much thought to the underlying strategy. 

They note:

So, the war on woke is simply a continuation of the long conflict between the two main moral systems in American politics: strict father (conservative) morality vs. nurturant (progressive) morality.

In Part 2, we read:

While Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are busy decrying “woke” politics (and labeling all Democratic policies as woke), they are also busily embracing their own versions of woke. The Republican Party fully embraces radical politics — as long as those radical politics reflect its own moral beliefs.

Part 2 concludes:

Woke, with its vague smear of all Democratic policies (in the tradition of other conservative attack terms like communist, socialist, globalist, cosmopolitan and politically correct) should be avoided anyone who does not plan to vote for DeSantis or Trump in 2024.

Reframe to focus on the real threat: Republican extremism and radicalism. The behaviors of certain elements on the progressive side often deserve critique. Their tactics, however, cannot be equated to the rising attitude of violence on the conservative side.

The fact that we see so much focus on wokeness is a testament to the Republicans’ ability to frame the debate. Through the creative appropriation of language and constant repetition, they excel at getting their message out and imposing their moral worldview on everyone else.

The medium is the message.–Marshall McLuhan

Politicians embrace facebook because it is an effective means of mass communication, a one-way street from their propaganda mills into our minds.

1. We are one step closer to ensuring con-man George Santos is gone from Congress for good. May 17, (They voted not to expel him.)
2. The clock is ticking on a debt limit deal & Biden & the Senate need to start treating it with the seriousness it deserves. May 17
3. We need to stop these handouts (renewable energy incentives) that are fueling reckless spending and inflation. May 17
4. This gets worse & worse by the day….Another thread is revealed in the web of Biden family corruption. May 17
5. New York was a breeding ground for the Defund the Police movement and the results have been deadly. May 16
6. We cannot overstate the seriousness of what occurred inside the highest levels of our nation’s law enforcement system. May 16, (re. the Durham Report)
7. Crime & lawlessness have gripped our nation’s capital thanks to the radical left policies that embolden criminals and handcuff our police. May 16
8. I joined One America News Network to discuss our House Oversight committee work into the corrupt web of the Biden family’s business dealings with foreign nations. May 16
9. Hunter Biden and his relatives traded profitably off the Biden name with transactions that suggest the main family business is influence peddling. May 16
10. Homeless American veterans who selflessly served our country are being booted out on the streets to make room for citizens of other nations who broke our laws to come here. May 16

In only two days, a smoke screen of divisive distraction from important issues of the day.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Provisions of this civil rights act forbade discrimination on the basis of sex, as well as, race in hiring, promoting, and firing.–Department of Labor

To quench a conflagration with an act of legislature–Arthur Guiterman, “The Beavers”

In the nineteen fifties, high schoolers were labeled as conformists, presumably because we were thought to dress alike, think alike, and enjoy the same activities. Sputnik came as a shock; suddenly we were expected to study Russian, Physics and Engineering. The civil rights movement and the Vietnam War changed things again–so that many then wished more of us would be more docile, less active.

More and more realized that discrimination, particularly on the basis of race, was wrong, which led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Today civil rights of many are under attack by those who seek exemption from our laws with one excuse or another.

Today we see a violent pushback against diversity, with people being dehumanized, –labeled illegals or transgenders– attacked and killed because of their race, their immigration status, or whom they love. There is a resurgence of white supremacy, misogyny, anti-semetism and racism.

Today we face attempts to limit what we can think, what we can say, what can be taught–legally enforced conformity. Such laws should be found unconstitutional. Other laws seek to discriminate against people on the basis of gender, limiting what certain women or all women can do. Beware; if one group is subject to legal discrimination, anyone can face discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, ethnicity, and more.

The judges, both of the supreme and lesser Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, … –Article III, Section 1 of The Constitution. Congress “indisputably has the power under the Constitution” to “enact laws prescribing the ethical standards applicable … Continue reading

Posted in Congress, Political, Supreme Court Tagged Chief Justice Roberts, J. Michael Luttig, Senator Durbin, Senator Graham, The Constitution

The indignation of politicians is not a good measure of the gravity of any situation. — Paul Harvey

Should everyone running for President be unaccountable for crimes or just one particular person?

Rep. Nick Langworthy (NY-23)

Outrageous. The deep state is alive & well protecting the Biden Crime Family while abusing the law to go after Trump. It’s not a coincidence this comes just after we got our hands on the Biden bank records showing $1M from China. This is an interference in our elections & subversion of American democracy.

Rep. Claudia Tenney (NY-24)

Soros-backed District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s witch-hunt targeting President Donald Trump is a political persecution with purely malicious intent. “Bragg has repeatedly allowed violent criminals to walk the streets, downgrading 52% of felony charges to misdemeanors. Yet now he has decided to spend precious taxpayer dollars and resources on this outrageous case against Donald Trump, and only after he announced he was running for president. Every American should be concerned about this gross abuse of power and the politicized two-tiered system of justice we now have in America. I once again call on Governor Kathy Hochul to act. Uphold the rule of law and remove Alvin Bragg from office for, among other things, his failure to enforce the law and his blatant politicization of the criminal justice system.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21)

The unprecedented election interference from corrupt Socialist District Attorney Alvin Bragg is a political witch-hunt and a dark day for America. The radical Far Left will stop at nothing to persecute Joe Biden’s chief political opponent ahead of the 2024 presidential election to suppress the will and voice of the American people. Tens of millions of patriotic Americans have never been so energized to exercise their constitutional rights to peacefully organize and VOTE at the ballot box to save our great republic by electing President Donald J. Trump in 2024.

Rep. Mark Molinary (NY-19)

No one is above the law and everyone is entitled to a fair trial, including a former president. We can let the justice system run its course while acknowledging that this case will be a complete political circus. Alvin Bragg is an elected activist prosecutor who has allowed violent criminals to avoid prosecution – demoralizing law enforcement and endangering ordinary New Yorkers. Bragg allows progressive politics and publicity to dictate prosecutions, or lack thereof.

https://newny23rd.com/2022/02/06/does-harsh-punishment-reduce-crime/

Nothing has ever been achieved by the person who says “it can’t be done. — Eleanor Roosevelt, 1960 Agnes Chang and Keith Bradsher, in a May 16, 2023 article in The New York Times, discuss battery technology. They write: Despite billions in … Continue reading

Posted in Economics Tagged China, automobiles, “The New York Times”, Numerical control, Battery technology, Investment, Foresight

We might solve a small problem by making it bigger. — attributed to Donald Rumsfeld He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. — Sun Tzu More Union soldiers than Confederate soldiers died in the … Continue reading

Posted in War Tagged “The New York Times”, peace, Russia, Ukraine

At a speech at the New York Stock Exchange yesterday, Speaker Kevin McCarthy affirmed the Republican’s plan to use the rapidly approaching debt-ceiling deadline to extract spending cuts and other policy concessions from President Biden. Put simply, they plan on holding the American (and world) economy hostage. Yet the media continues to hide this truth behind its “both sides” reporting.–Robert Reich

Three whoppers peddled by the GOP and repeated by the mainstream media:

• Both sides are to blame. 
• The fight is over controlling the national debt.
• When it comes to the national debt, both parties have been fiscally irresponsible. 

Read the truth here.

This entry was posted in Congress, Political and tagged debt ceiling, myths, Robert Reich. Bookmark the permalink.

Twitter, Instagram, and famously, Facebook have all been used by foreign adversaries for disinformation campaigns targeting US citizens. Our regulations should address these broad issues instead of singling out one platform.–Rep. Ilhan Omar

Doug Jacobson, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Iowa State University, in an article published in The Conversation, writes:

If the federal government comes to the conclusion that TikTok should be banned, is it even possible to ban it for all of its 150 million existing users? Any such ban would likely start with blocking the distribution of the app through Apple’s and Google’s app stores. This might keep many users off the platform, but there are other ways to download and install apps for people who are determined to use them.

A more drastic method would be to force Apple and Google to change their phones to prevent TikTok from running. While I’m not a lawyer, I think this effort would fail due to legal challenges, which include First Amendment concerns. The bottom line is that an absolute ban will be tough to enforce.

There are also questions about how effective a ban would be even if it were possible. By some estimates, the Chinese government has already collected personal information on at least 80% of the U.S. population via various means. So a ban might limit the damage going forward to some degree, but the Chinese government has already collected a significant amount of data. The Chinese government also has access – along with anyone else with money – to the large market for personal data, which fuels calls for stronger data privacy rules.

Government entities can address any concerns by banning TikTok on government-owned devices. Anyone concerned about privacy can avoid TikTok. Like Rep. Omar, I see no need to single out one media platform, which violates “equal protection of the laws.”

There is much more of interest in Professor Jacobson’s timely article. He concludes:

 Independent of a ban, families should have conversions about TikTok and other social media platforms and how they can be detrimental to mental health. These conversations should focus on how to determine if the app is leading you down an unhealthy path.

We cannot compromise the fundamental, constitutionally guaranteed liberties of the American people in the name of national security. After carefully considering this legislation, I believe that this is the starting place to address the injustices that have been levied against the American people, and provides some restoration to the delicate balance between national security and individual privacy rights.–Rep. Tom Reed

We voters are easily taken in by deceptive politicians. Here are examples.

Rep. Tom Reed on the USA Freedom Act of 2015:

The legislation ends the National Security Agency’s (NSA) bulk phone record collection under Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act. This prevents the federal government from collecting large-scale, indiscriminate, information about ordinary Americans through their phone records.

Rep. Amash, the original author of the act, writes:

On May 13, 2015, the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 (H.R. 2048) passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 338 to 88. We, the undersigned representatives, opposed the measure because its reforms do not adequately or appropriately reform surveillance practices or address privacy concerns.

Why does Rep. Reed ignore his fellow Republican’s concerns which are echoed by GOP Presidential candidate Rand Paul? It seems he seeks to fool us.

On the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, Rep. Reed writes:

Like our Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act, this bill will stimulate economic growth, leading to the creation of new industries and hi-tech manufacturing jobs.

The Obama Administration writes:

The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 1806, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015, which would undermine critical investments in science, technology, and research. The Administration believes that H.R. 1806 would be damaging to the Administration’s actions to move American competitiveness, innovation, and job growth forward through a world-leading science, technology, and innovation enterprise.

Why does Rep. Reed ignore the Obama Administrations view? It seems he seeks to fool us.

On Social Security, specifically Social Security Disability Insurance, Tom professes great concern for the disabled, yet he rushed to forestall needed funding. Evidently he expects we can be easily fooled by what he says, ignorant of his actions.

On TPP and Fast Track, Tom Reed, taking the GOP misleaders view, tells us that TPP is all good. Readers of New NY 23rd will know that this is a misleading view.

Why are we treated as patsies?

http://reed.house.gov/press-release/reed-protects-individual-liberties-and-fosters-national-security-usa-freedom-act

Click to access saphr1806r_20150518.pdf

http://reed.house.gov/press-release/reed-votes-protect-and-create-american-jobs

This entry was posted in Congress, Constituents, Political, Reed’s Views, Seniors, Terrorism and tagged Fast Track, NSA, Social Security, Social Security Disability, spying, STEM, TPP. Bookmark the permalink.

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) … Continue reading

Posted in Constitution, Political Tagged Article IV, James Madison, Republican form of government, Term limits