Prickly City by Scott Stantis for July 18, 2022

Winslow’s first guess was closer.

Years ago I read a philosopher who studied intellectual and cultural trends throughout history. His prediction for America was that unless we change our direction, we are headed toward a religious dictatorship. I was not convinced when I read that, but after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, I am really worried.

Blame the Senate @GOP. #MoscowMitchMcTreason is blocking everything out of pettiness and spite.

You want to turn the US into a dictatorship – turn the issues over to the “people”. For the most part, they are completely ignorant of issues, don’t see any complexity involved, don’t see how they will hurt themselves and are easily controlled by vested, corporate interests. You will get your institutions hollowed out and only have the appearance of democracy, but will have an autocratic state instead run for the government and moneyed interests alone.

https://www.npr.org/2022/07/13/1111274698/how-the-american-right-became-aligned-with-hungary-and-its-authoritarian-leader

Winslow is right all the way down the line.

I’d suggest the truer answer is “Americans do your job.”

In 1969 Congress passed the National Environmental Protection Act to protect the environment. Waste gases generated by power plants directly affect the environment. But the SC wants Congress to take the time to figure out exactly which gases do which damage how and how each should be regulated. Fine, I suppose if we were only talking about the EPA, but the major questions doctrine means they have to do it for every federal agency on every question (“major questions” is not well defined). The SC is promoting grid lock by Congress, requiring the Executive to govern by fiat, as long as that fiat matches the wills and inclinations of the SC, which is stuffed full of people who make up history to fit their whims.

They used to fight like h-e-l-l amongst themselves, but they did compromise and get things done. But for the last 25 years or more, they all seem to put party ahead of Country.

I have to adamantly disagree with Carmen. Congress, along with all the other elected or appointed hacks, are deserving of a good night’s rest after spending the day(s) in pursuit of “fame and fortune”. No one can or does really appreciates the energy necessary to abuse, threaten , cajole, harass and otherwise skewer their friends as well as opponents in passing _Miss 1950 Grease Rack’s recent hand out to the chip makers just after her hubby’s purchased five (5 ) million dollars in said chip stock. And, the beat goes on! Core inflation as of now is 9.3%. My investment in I-Bonds over the last twenty years is just “doing fine”. I hear Hunter just sold his entire Chinese investment stock.. Be interesting to know for how much and who bought it. What does it mean?

Good point for both. Congress has abrogated its job for ages, either giving poorly defined powers to the President (hoping they won’t misuse them) or hoping the courts would legislate for them.

Trump clearly shows you shouldn’t ever do the first one and the courts, over time, keep saying they won’t do the second one for them anymore.

Next up: Supreme Court reverses Brown v. Board of Education

Same message to Congress.

Better wise up

Better think twice

Never leave room for compromise

You better wise up

Better get smart

And use your head to guard your heart

It’s gonna get rough

So you better wise up

The Beautiful Amy Grant

You mean, their job to impeach a Supreme Court Justice whose wife funded and abetted an attempt to overthrow the government? Yep, that would be their job, but you first have to kick out some Republicans to make that happen…