Refugee Admissions to U.S.

2019-08-272019-08-28Jim R 15 Comments

A majority of Americans (62%) continue to say the country’s openness to people from around the world is “essential to who we are as a nation.” – Pew Research Center – 17 July 2019

The number who supported openness was at 68% in the 2017 and 2018 surveys. The drop appears due to changes in Republican attitudes of those surveyed. Democrat/Democrat Leaning adults remained strong supporters at 84, 85, and 86% in recent surveys. Republican/Republican Leaning adults decreased their support from 47 to 37%.

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Buzz | Noise | Stir | Tension

2017-02-172017-02-17Jim R 11 Comments

Thank you to those who visit regularly, comment, engage in friendly discussions, or write interesting posts. I look forward to those interactions. You provide insights into things new and different. You reinforce the feelings of community much needed by all of us.

I am part of the Facebook world. It helps keep our large extended family in touch. My friends list is not long by choice. Over the recent years, my family had our share of disagreements and squabbles which are normal for any family. We set some ground rules of behavior. Most of the time we share and behave ourselves.

I have a Twitter account. Weeks can go by between tweets or checking in to see what’s up. I follow several people in science and astronomy. Their tweets during special events are often the most up to date and accurate.

The Facebook and Twitter worlds have changed a lot lately. With the November election, I noticed trends of increased activity on both sites. It increased more with the Inauguration in January. Now the stir, buzz, and noise going on in those social media sites is remarkable. Nearly all of the turmoil is connected to politics. I’m surprised by the sheer volume and intensity. People are saying and sharing some amazing things. I go there less often and spend less time looking. I don’t need that tension and stress.

I am happy to say I have not seen the same trend in my WordPress community. It is likely happening somewhere. But, the people I know seem to be maintaining this venue as before. You still write about the things you find interesting and important to you. You still comment thoughtfully about what others have written. You still stop in, if only briefly, to leave a Like. Thank you.

This post is not meant to stir up discussion and argument about politics or personalities. If you feel the need, please refrain and go elsewhere. Instead, it is my way of saying how much I appreciate having exchanges about many other things that are also important in our lives.

That’s how I see it.

Peace … Jim

Populism | Views From Two Perspectives

2017-01-17Jim R 5 Comments

With morning coffee in hand, this seemed a good way to start my day. What follows is a discussion of the rise of populism as seen by two people from the U.S. and U.K. It provided a lot of insights. I understand better what the term means and how it manifests in the political theaters of Europe and the U.S.

Nick Clegg and Jonathan Haidt appeared at Emmanuel Centre in London on 21 November 2016. The group Intelligence Squared hosted their discussion. They spoke for about 45 minutes and then took questions for another 45 minutes.

Gun Violence | The Costs Are Huge

2016-07-11Jim R 25 Comments

We pay a high price in the U.S. for our lack of action to curb gun violence. It is inexcusable how little is done to combat the spread of weapons of carnage. Especially disturbing is how large percentages of the general population think smart measures should be taken, yet, political forces prevent it.

The price we pay is obvious when we see the stories of police violence toward citizens, shootings of police, murders, robberies, and senseless horrible mass killings. People are understandably fearful for their lives and those of their children and loved ones. Some segments of our society are in much greater danger than most. We must try to turn the tide against this.

Besides the emotional and societal costs, another price we all pay is in actual monetary cost. This isn’t reported as often. It doesn’t carry the visual impact of a shooting or senseless crime. Media wants news and stories that grab an audience. The cost in dollars to every person in the country is very high at over $700 per year. The cost to victims and their families is enormous.

Mother Jones published an in-depth piece in the spring of 2015 about the monetary costs of gun violence. This is the link. I urge you to read the entire thing. It tells of a couple who were victims of shooting after a minor car collision. The one who recovered enough to tell her story speaks of the costs in millions for her care. Others are highlighted as well. They come from all segments of our society. Many were innocent victims.

The writers point out how political forces in Washington D.C. have effectively banned the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from funding research on injury and death from gun violence. Funding constraints don’t allow studies to help us understand the complexities and impacts of the problem of gun violence. No relevant studies have been published since 2005. Inaction is not part of a solution.

Many of the findings by the Mother Jones writers are summarized in this brief video. Much more detail is presented in their published story.

I urge you to speak up about your feelings on gun violence. Call or write to your senators and congress person. Support efforts in your local community to discuss the issues and reduce the division and danger. Take actions to help bring people together.