For Gail

Episode #846

April 19, 2025

Paula’s sister Gail died suddenly last month.

Along with so many things in her life, Gail was a politically conscientious force. She changed the people around her and through them changed the world. Just before her death we were on the phone lamenting the destruction being done to our democracy. I said that I had done right by voting correctly. “What more can I do at this point?” I asked her.  She asked me if I had participated in any of the protests. I had not since Vietnam. 

During the Vietnam War, defense contractors thrived. During this current ideological battle, social network overlords and digital retailers thrive. This is happening while the middle class shrinks from lack of education and reduced prosperity.

I promised Gail that I would speak out for my freedom. After all, I have had great examples in Martin Luther King, Angela Davis, Naomi Klein, Greta Thunberg and Erica Chenoweth.

Cesar Chavez said, “Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. We have seen the future, and the future is ours.”

When she died, I vowed to give tribute to Gail by participating in protests and other civil actions, making my voice heard. Paula and I went to Idyllwild to be in the national HandsOff demonstration. During the march, a Trump administration supporter asked me how much I was paid to participate. I said that I was paid with the encouragement and support of like-minded people in the town who shared my concerns, cheered us on and joined our march.

I am encouraged by AOC and Bernie Sanders’ tour to defeat Oligarchy. I was lifted by Cory Booker’s 25-hour speech to the Senate.

These wrongs can be righted by voting for politicians who will protect and uphold democracy. We will sway the industrialists that support these wrongs when we buy or do not buy their products.

In the last election, we were promised a repair of the economy and have received recession. We were promised freedom and have received repression. Instead of lowering taxes for the working class, tariffs add a $4,000 per year tax to each middle-class household while taxes will be lowered for billionaires.

It is our duty to right these wrongs and to apply critical thinking to the messages we hear.

We must speak out against these wrongs, counting on the protection of our First Amendment rights.

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