Calls for Democratic Donations

I get three to five emails daily asking me to donate money to various aspects of the Democratic Party and individuals running for office.

Part of this is my fault: I donated money before the last election. So, my email address is widely known.

But here’s the thing…

I will not donate any money to a democratic party or individual interests until—

  • I see a coherent and courageous leader emerge from the democratic party

  • I see a cohesive and consistently communicated agenda.

  • I see a coherent and unified strategy emerging that aligns with our country’s base and my principles.

I guess what I’m saying is—

Where is the LEADERSHIP in the party right now?

#weshouldbebetterhumansthanthis

Agile Moose

Reflections on the “Big Beautiful Bill”

Sometimes, I find something online that is so compelling and aligned with my feelings that it stays with me for a while. Here’s something posted by Bob Gower that perfectly represents how I feel on this 4th of July. 

Like many Americans, I’m deeply disappointed in yesterday’s Senate vote. While this bill is big, it’s not beautiful. It’s cruel, shortsighted, and reckless — and will almost certainly lead to increased suffering, for citizens and non-citizens alike.

I don’t say this lightly or from a place of pure ideology. I’ve long identified as a progressive-leaning liberal, but I also recognize that reasonable people with shared intentions can still come to different conclusions. I also know that fear and a need to belong can lead otherwise good people to support harmful things.

Still, clarity matters. And clarity starts with values.

The Frenzy Strategy

One of the best ways to control a large population is to get them all riled up about emotionally charged issues that rest on fear. For example— 

  • Whip people into a frenzy over abortion;

  • Whip people into a frenzy over woke-ness or Critical Race Theory in schools;

  • Whip people into a frenzy over LGBTQ+ equity;

  • Whip people into a frenzy over the border and immigration.

  • Whip people into a frenzy over losing white control of state governments;

  • Whip people into a frenzy over their losing the right to bear wartime-quality arms.

Israel

I know they’re hurt and angry and afraid and want revenge…

But how does a modern-day, principled, influential, and respected country—

  • Isolate humans within enclaves.

  • Steals the land from those enclaves.

  • Kills tens of thousands of other innocent humans within those enclaves.

  • Cuts off aid – food to starving humans in those enclaves.

  • Cuts off water and electricity to those enclaves.

  • Bombs and destroys ~70% of the habitable places in those enclaves.

Without a PEEP from the international community?

Please tell me how this happens. How is this tolerated and even celebrated?

Because I simply…

Don’t

Get

It.

And, no, I am not antisemitic. I am pro-human…ALL humans.

#weshouldbebetterhumansthanthis

Agile Moose

Ukraine

Russia invades a sovereign nation (Ukraine) under a clearly false narrative. It’s a clear case of a large nation bullying a smaller nation. Why?

  • Because their leader is a dictator and because they can.

  • Because the dictator was trying to recreate the Soviet Union.

  • Because the dictator knows they can leverage (size & numbers) to their advantage.

  • Because of their nuclear capability (threat), everyone treats the situation carefully.

What does my beloved country’s new leadership decide to do about it?

  • Buddy up to the Russian dictator—taking their talking points, perspective, and side.

  • Calls Ukraine’s president a dictator.

  • Blames the war on Ukraine.

  • Defunds military support for Ukraine.

  • Try to guide a peace plan that supports Russia’s interests.

Whatever happened to the United States being—

  • A role model and leader of the free world?

  • Someone who pushes back on bullies and dictators?

  • Someone who is principled and does what’s “right?”

I feel like we’ve lost our way. And I wonder if we’ll ever find it again.

I sure hope so…

#weshouldbebetterhumansthanthis

Agile Moose

Honoring our Veterans

A man or woman enlists in one of the armed services of the United States of America.

  • They are sent to a foreign land to fight for democracy.

  • They experience body-shattering and mind-shattering events that they bring back home with them.

Then—

  • When looking for disability coverage, they are challenged or denied.

  • When looking for care of the cancer, they’ve discovered they are denied.

  • They must wait ~6 months to see a doctor when approaching the VA system.

  • As of March 10th, 2025, there is talk of reducing the Department of Veterans Affairs by 80,000 jobs.

What I don’t get is how that—

Meets our commitment as a nation to honoring and supporting those brave souls who have risked everything to support our great country.

Why is this happening?

I think this is happening because we’re cutting spending on the middle to lower classes to support the tax cuts for the top 1%. The rich (Top 1%) get richer, and the poor, well…

But I’m probably being too pessimistic. Please show me another reason for this that places our veterans first…

#weshouldbebetterhumansthanthis

Agile Moose