politics

A collection of 10 posts

A Vote for Progress, Inclusion, Equality, and the Betterment of Humanity

The morning after the 2016 presidential election, I wrote an article detailing my disappointment with the American public. How could we, collectively, elevate to the presidency of the United States the hateful, misogynistic, racist Nationalism of Donald Trump? The man is, and has always been, a con artist , preying on people's darkest thoughts, their most desperate needs, and their innate optimism, ignoring his own privilege while dismissing the suffering and oppression of others.

In that post, I wrote, "I hope I'm wrong about what the future holds. I hope I'm wrong about fear. I hope I'm wrong about the hatred

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Comparing Privilege to a Video Game

politics • 4 min read

For a long time, I struggled to understand white privilege. I'm not proud to admit it. I made the usual arguments: My life has been difficult; I've worked my ass off for everything I've achieved; I've given up time with family and ignored my friends to be successful; I've suffered significant pain and loss in life but focused and pushed forward and earned all the rewards I've attained. How can you tell me I've had it easy?

Obviously, I didn't get it.

I suspect most people who disregard the idea of privilege (or white male privilege to be more specific)

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Windfarms

environment • 2 min read

A windfarm is a beautiful thing. Seriously.

Over the past few years, I've dipped my toes into the renewable energy shallows. I've invested in solar companies, backed eco-friendly Kickstarter campaigns, replaced my home energy usage with wind credits, and bought an electric vehicle I'd love to charge with green energy. One person's efforts cannot change the world, but we can all start somewhere. This is my beginning.

Climate change and global warming are pressing issues. Capitalism does not protect the environment without regulation, but regulation is being ignored, deconstructed, or altogether avoided. Climate justice has always been a necessity, but

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Our Day to Change the World

politics • 4 min read

On the morning of Election day 2008, I wrote the following post and shared it on Facebook. That night, I celebrated in Chicago’s Grant Park with tens of thousands of cheering, crying, hopeful people. As Barack Obama leaves office today, I thought I’d revisit it. So much of the awfulness we hoped to escape in 2008 is the same awfulness we’re afraid of plunging back into today, but it’s important to never lose hope, and it’s important to remember we made a lot of progress the past eight years.

———–

As Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 dawns

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Hillary Lost Social Media

politics • 6 min read

For this post, let’s all remember the word of the day (which I chose a few minutes ago): anecdotal. Why? Because after a bit of ruminating, I’m about to speculate with anecdotal evidence. I don’t have stats. I don’t have data. I have only my personal experience and perceptions. This is me thinking out loud (in writing), which, I hope, is a perfectly acceptable thing to do on my own blog.

The topic, as mentioned in the title, relates to the recent US election. More specifically, it deals with my election experience on social media. My

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You're Being Manipulated. That's okay. Just remember to think!

politics • 2 min read

I came across an article on Facebook today with a headline that stated Russian officials admit they were in contact with the Trump campaign before the election. It’s a headline that immediately creates an emotional response.

That’s exactly what it’s supposed to do. Media companies spend enormous sums of money testing headlines and content to determine how to get maximum value and viewers. It’s business.

Remember, anyone can make a claim. It’s not illegal to lie. It’s not illegal to mislead. Just because a Russian official makes a claim, that DOES NOT MAKE IT

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A New Battle for Hope

politics • 3 min read

I'm furious this morning. Not because my candidate lost, but because I find it incomprehensible that so many Americans voted in support of hate, indecency, and inequality.

I'm a middle class white male and small business owner, a prototypical privileged American. Arguably, I probably have less to fear from a Trump presidency than just about any other constituency. And yet I'm trembling.

I'm disgusted that so many good human beings, in America and across the globe, will suffer legitimately warranted fear at the hands of a regressive political party and its new leader. These people are my friends. They are

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Little Tree Men

politics • 4 min read

What if I told you little men lived inside trees? In springtime they crawl through the branches, pushing out leaves one by one as though unfurling tiny flags. Without these little men, springtime would never come. Trees would be forever leafless.

“That’s ridiculous,” you would say.

To which I respond, “But I have faith.”

You laugh dismissively. “Trees are living things. They feed on water and sunlight and carbon dioxide. Leaves grow as a mechanism by which the trees can better take in that sunlight and water. We’ve studied this. We know how it works. It’s not

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A Vote for Progress, Inclusion, Equality, and the Betterment of Humanity

Comparing Privilege to a Video Game

Windfarms

Our Day to Change the World

Hillary Lost Social Media

You're Being Manipulated. That's okay. Just remember to think!

A New Battle for Hope

Little Tree Men

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