What are you doing Saturday?
Go here to find your local event: https://handsoff2025.com/
My sign on Saturday will probably mention some of the things that I talked about in my post from over two years ago on “Desiderata” — “Libraries & Schools & Trains & Parks & Art & Wilderness.”
My sign on Saturday will be too small to mention a few other things that I wish for: honesty, empathy, community, rule of law, affordable health care for all, free public education, diversity, equity, inclusion, tolerance, environmental sustainability including solutions for climate change, and a government that
regulates capitalism run amok
helps around the world to foster global health and good will
helps those in this country who need help, including those fleeing intolerable conditions in other countries
administers a fair and humane justice system that isn’t beholden to the prison-industrial complex
has fair elections not influenced by wealthy donors or gerrymandering
promotes a global order that doesn’t require countries to spend a big portion of their GDP on defense
supports the flowering of culture and the arts in libraries and arts organizations
maintains places of great beauty for public enjoyment
etc.
Reagan did a lot of damage when he painted the government as the enemy. Our country is large and complex, and it needs a large and complex government to do all of the good things it should be doing. Up to now, the US government has been a lot less corrupt and more efficient than people give it credit for.
So much news over the past few days has made me fearful, enraged, saddened, embarrassed.
If you think that protesting doesn’t do any good, I’d recommend these two posts by Substacker Holly Berkley Fletcher: “Climb Up” and “In Praise of Cringe.”
I am heartened by Cory Booker’s marathon in the Senate, repeatedly punctuated by his quotation of John Lewis exhorting us to “Make Good Trouble.”
Forge ahead.