Six Days...
In six days, America will go to the polls and vote for either Donald Trump or Joe Biden to be our President. In six days, years of political insanity reach its climax. In six days, we will watch with higher than normal anxiety as the results come in and we find out who will be sworn in come January.
If you’ll allow me a moment of self-promotion, in six days you’ll hear me giving election coverage on KPEL 96.5 here in Lafayette, or via their online stream here.
For the better part of four years, I have come to believe that we as a nation have become focused on Washington D.C. and the politics there as opposed to the politics and, more importantly, the needs of our own communities. Yes, on some level, federal politics do affect us. But on a much closer and much more real level, the needs of our families, friends, and neighbors are so much more important and often far more affected by local politics than national.
I very much agree with my friend Erick Erickson when he says that we have been thinking of these national elections as far more important than they really are.
I was told if Barack Obama got elected in 2008, it’d be the end of America. I was told the same thing in 2012. The nation is still here. We’re supposed to believe that this time, really and truly this very time, if your guy doesn’t win the country is over — and I say it that way because Democrats and Republicans are both saying that.
Really?
George W. Bush’s election and re-election did not destroy the country. Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats in 2006 didn’t either. Neither did Obama’s election or re-election or the rise of the tea party or the House Freedom Caucus or the election of Donald Trump.
The country is still here and if we are really honest about it things have changed not a ton from one administration to the next.
Yes, the ball has been moved back and forth over and over with no “team” really scoring a touchdown, but there have been a lot of third and fourth down conversions that can’t be ignored. The Democrats got Obamacare, and that was a major policy shift in America. However, if we’re continuing with the football analogy, it’s pretty clear Harry Reid fumbled the ball when he nuked the filibuster, setting the precedent for Republicans to score major victories in nominating and confirming federal judges.
Likewise, the chance to shift the Supreme Court to an at-best 6-3 conservative majority (with Roberts as Chief Justice, you’re likely looking more at a 5-4 conservative majority unless he feels he no longer has to be the swing vote) is a major win for Republicans, and moves the ball deep into Democrats’ territory (sorry, I have been so excited for football to be back). The fundamental shift in the courts is something that, like Obamacare, will have major implications going forward.
But while the courts will interpret constitutional issues in a more conservative way, and while Obamacare has changed your private insurance, there is still much more that can be done to affect change locally.
That is where I think conservatives need to take the battles next. If we are indeed about to transition into a post-Trump era, conservatives (and conservatism in general) need to begin locally and rebuild. We will need a bench, and one that isn’t overly tied to Trumpism and isn’t tied to the old guard that led to Trumpism in the first place.
However, if Trump wins, then conservatives need to shore up the obvious weaknesses we’re seeing in the polling rather than assume we have a permanent majority (it is tempting to think the Democrats can’t win if they manage to lose to Trump twice). In 2008, the Democrats assumed they would have a permanent majority. They figured they had all the time in the world to make the policy changes they wanted to in order to shift America to the left. Instead, they overreached and in 2010 lost control of the Senate. Then, they lost control of the House. Finally, they lost the White House to, again, Donald Trump of all people.
There is no such thing as a permanent majority, but there are ways to prolong it. If Republicans lose their majority here, it is time to restructure and start by winning local elections everywhere they can. If Republicans keep the Senate AND the White House, then its time to shore up the local communities and work toward regaining the House of Representatives as soon as possible.
But, there is a problem, and it has to be addressed sooner rather than later: Is the presence and effect of Trump on the party and on conservatism worth the risk? If the public blowback to Trumpism too much heat for conservatism? I am not sure of the answer. I have several friends who will quickly answer “No” and several others who say “But look at how much we’re winning!” (sometimes even in the face of losing), but I simply cannot tell you if Trump was and is worth it.
Open Our Schools Now
The beginning of November is fast approaching, and while that means we are about to have a national election to determine the future of the country, it also means that we’re getting close to what is traditionally the end of the first semester of the school year.
We still have states — like California and New York — that are keeping schools closed. You have various districts that have gone all-virtual or are operating under a hybrid model (where students go every other day). Around the country, thousands upon thousands of students are at home when they should be in a classroom.
These students are struggling. This school year will be just as invalid as the last year, and for what reason? There has yet to be any data that shows schools are hotbeds of transmission. Even the New York Timeshas been forced to admit that one.
Depression, dropping scores, even dropout rates are all expected to be more prevalent as this goes on. We are inflicting more damage on our students than the virus ever could. And for what? So teachers’ unions can use the opportunity to beg for more social reforms that are unrelated to the general purpose of education (like defunding the police, for example)?
The unions are not concerned with our students, our children, and they never have been. They have political leverage and want to use it while relying on the fear of the virus. But, it’s our students who are suffering, not the unions’ members.
The CDC has been clear on this.
The best available evidence indicates that COVID-19 poses relatively low risks to school-aged children. Children appear to be at lower risk for contracting COVID-19 compared to adults. To put this in perspective, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of July 17, 2020, the United States reported that children and adolescents under 18 years old account for under 7 percent of COVID-19 cases and less than 0.1 percent of COVID-19-related deaths.[5] Although relatively rare, flu-related deaths in children occur every year. From 2004-2005 to 2018-2019, flu-related deaths in children reported to CDC during regular flu seasons ranged from 37 to 187 deaths. During the H1N1pandemic (April 15, 2009 to October 2, 2010), 358 pediatric deaths were reported to CDC. So far in this pandemic, deaths of children are less than in each of the last five flu seasons, with only 64.† Additionally, some children with certain underlying medical conditions, however, are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.*
I am deeply worried about our students and their futures. As a teacher and a parent, I have seen the effects of virtual and distance learning, the lack of engagement from kids who are stuck at home trying to work on their computers… and that’s the lucky ones. There are plenty of students who don’t have computer access or internet access at home, and there are many hurdles districts have to jump through to get those kids the access they need.
I am not sure that anyone who is forcing schools to stay closed is really considering the science or the data. They are reacting to fear and political pressure, neither of which are rooted in any evidence we have available to us. We have to do better for our students. They are falling further and further behind.
Homestyle: On Teaching and Soap-making
On this week’s episode of Homestyle, my co-host Leigh Guidry and I interviewed Paul Adams, a middle school English teacher and soap-making enthusiast. Leigh and I went to school with Paul, so the episode is both informative AND reflective on how life has gone. Also, his soap-making looks awesome and I may have to buy some, as should you.
If you want to hear more, you can always go back and listen to previous episodes, and we’d love to hear your feedback. Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast here, and if you have cooking, crafting, or family activity ideas, you can find us on Facebook and on Instagram (@Homestylepod).
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The Homestyle Podcast is a joint venture between myself and one of my best friends, education reporter Leigh Guidry. Throughout each episode, we discuss cooking, crafting, and other hobbies as well as how we make sure to spend time with our families despite how insanely busy life can be. The goal of the podcast has always been to take a moment to focus on what’s really important because, at the end of the day, family and life is more important than whatever distractions are going on in the world around us.
Recipe of the Week: Red Beans and Rice
This is an alternate version to one I normally use, but since I’ve already quote Erick Erickson once today, I figured I’ll steal his recipe, too. It’s really good and I recommend trying it.
4 tbs bacon drippings or 1/2 cup vegetable oil (Don't use olive oil)
1/2 sweet onion finely chopped
3 green onions finely chopped
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (up to 1/2 tsp if you like spicy)
3 bay leaves
1 clove garlic minced
1 can light red kidney beans
1 can dark red kidney beans
Melt the bacon drippings or heat up the oil in a pot over medium heat
Add onion and green onion. Cook till the onion is tender
Add salt, thyme, both peppers, garlic and bay leaves.
Cook till the garlic is browned.
Pour in, unstrained, the cans of beans. Fill one of the cans with water, swirl to get the thick juice in the can into the water, and add the water to the pot.
Simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, letting the liquid reduce and thicken.
Serve over rice. Don't eat the bay leaves.
VARIATION: Thinly slice andouille or kielbasa sausage. Heat the oil and add the sausage, browning it and letting the edges curl. Remove to paper towels to drain. Reserve 1/2 cup of the rendered fat and proceed. Add the sausage back after adding the beans. If using andouille, you might want to refrain from adding cayenne to the recipe.
Final Thoughts…
I cannot tell you who to vote for. I am voting for neither. Do what you feel is right for the country. And godspeed.