Filed under: From the Soap Box | Tags: alliances, Bigotry, Capitalism, civilization, clean energy, Climate, corona, corporations, Covid-19, democracy, Democrats, Education, elections, Facebook, Global, healthcare, history, magazines, medicine, Newspaper, racism, science, Sexism, social media, Socialism, students, taxes, teachers, Television, treaties, Trump, Vaccines
I grew up through the 1970’s with a small group of girls in a town on the Western coast of the USA. We went to elementary school, middle school, and high school together. A couple of us moved away, but we always kept in touch and saw each other regularly over the decades. I flew back, in fact, to spend my 50th with them just before Covid-19 hit. We have a chat group in which we talk about the banalities within our lives as well as big issues – marriage, expectations, addiction, disappointment, fears, and motherhood. I always suspected one of these friends supported Trump, but I adopted something akin to “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” Then, a few days ago, in response to video I sent of peaceful protests in our home state and things, perhaps, not being as violent as theyāre purported to be, she told us about her vehement support of Trump and her plans to vote for him again in November, etc.. Moreover, while she has struggled to suppress her staunch support of him in order to be friends with me, she will cut off the friendship if I have a problem with her political affiliation. I was shocked and hurt. I can understand why she may have voted for him in 2016, but after everything that has happened during the last few years stateside, for her to vote for him again left me utterly stunned.
Below, is an email I sent to another member of our ‘gang,’ and my dearest friend in the world – the sister I have never had. That said, she and I have never really discussed politics because I felt she wasn’t particularly interested. Also, I know that her parents are Trumpsters, as are other members of her family, so I didn’t want to put her in an uncomfortable position and potentially have conflict with her (too). But, since the ābreach,ā if you will, from the other friend, I wrote an email to her, below, because I can’t carry the confusion and unhappiness I feel about our mutual friend alone, and I feel the need to find out where she stands ā to ālay it all bareā and to ‘throw the dice’ (and a number of other platitudes), hoping that our friendship will bear the burden of potentially diametrical political perceptions.
I share it here because it illustrates how politics has become personal, and questions whether we can reach over (under, above) political divides to those who hold fundamentally different views from our own in our personal lives…
āIn politics, the middle way is none at all.” John Adams
Hello my dear,
I want to address what you said on the group with * and *, about beliefs and finding common ground and what-not. I absolutely agree that divisiveness and power struggles arenāt productive, and there is reason to trying to find shared values in order to collectively progressā¦and, actually, thinking about * and her vehement support of Trump, I find myself really evaluating how information we each look at, and the people we tend to ābondā with and to hold close, generally do share our values and beliefs, and so it is like weāre all operating in a vacuum, including me, by gravitating and engaging with like-minded folksā¦and then, it only takes cynical would-be and actual political leaders to accentuate the natural separation between milieusā¦aided and abetted by targeted ads and ānewsā stories on social media to encourage and perpetuate oneās biases.
And, I realize I was āindoctrinatedā by my father to certain political ideologies :).
However. As you may know :), I question things a lot. I truly try to be honest with myself, even with the ādarkā corners of my person. I remedy false ideas and admit when Iām wrong or donāt know enough about a subject to proffer an opinion. I also teach sociolinguistics and comparative linguistics (oh yes, the teens dig it :))
And, with my identity having undergone a seismic shift in 2018, Iāve deeply evaluated who I am and why I am and what I value most of all, etc. Add to that the very disturbing global politics and trends āforcingā me to consider where I stand on political and social issues and why. Perhaps current events have done this for a lot of us?
The following points are not in an effort to persuade you to a certain view, but are offered, instead, as proof that I have thought carefully about my view of Trump and this current administration. That my dislike of him is not a āleftistā āknee-jerkā response to him or his party, but carefully considered reasoning.
While I do tend to favor newspapers and magazines that share my general sensibilities, I actually read a lot of information from āboth sides of the aisleā regularly. So, while I get a regular influx of āHarpersā Magazine and āForeign Affairsā and āThe Guardianā newspaper and āLe Mondeā and āMother Jonesā (left leaning intellectual bias) I also regularly read Reddit, “Huffington Post,” David Brooks, “The Sun,” and Fox News (centrist & right leaning bias). Moreover, Iām quite well versed in global history and politics. Luckily, to understand literature and to teach a given book well, one must understand the context in which itās written and so Iām forever researching and cross referencing various time periods and societal perspectives/values/expectations/political occurrences and undercurrents. And, while I concede that most things are arguable, as you note, and that even statistics, themselves, can be read and understood from different angles, there are some things that are my āline in the sandā and that it would be very tough going to change my mind about. And which, consequently, leaves me in some distress as to whether I can, in fact, be friends with *, or she with me, without a degree of self-consciousness or falsehood…
So, for example, Iām a devout Social Democrat. Iām not an American type of Democrat at all, whom I see as centrist and still adhering to big business and the almighty sway of capitalism (in this, I can understand why Trumpsters are disenchanted with the system stateside. That said, I know that USA Democrats created Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and free school lunches, for example, so they are different). I believe that taxes should be paid equitably by all in order to secure the infrastructure of society. That it is our civic responsibility for our children, as well as for our neighborās children, and ourselves. This is not to say that I donāt believe in capitalism – I do. BUT, I think unfettered capitalism is destructive, corruptible, and will ultimately lead to hyper inequity and corporate fascism (meaning that corporations and business interests āownā the governments of the world and motivate their interests and dictate their respective policies). Again, sort of like a Trumpster, I suppose, I think that itās arguable as to whether itās even possible to operate outside of that system anymore in the USA. I mean, for example, it takes SO much money to RUN for office – which means youāre giving favors in return for said money no matter how you look at it – that I think itās a colossal feat to be able to operate outside these moneyed interests thereā¦
Itās so strange to me, though, that Trumpsters see Trump as āoutsideā the system, when he is born of it. Literally. He inherited 240 million dollars from his dad, attended private schools, did poorly in university but wasnāt flunked due to donations from his father. Heās the type of student I (hypocritically) might teach in a private school in Switzerland.
Anyway.
I believe in universal healthcare. I donāt see it as those paying taxes taking care of those who don’t or who are lazy, etc., and the odd sense of exceptionalism and individualism and personal convenience in disdain for universal healthcare. I see it as a mark of a collectively oriented society. A civilized society. The Trump administration is hell bent on rolling back even the ākind-of, sort-of universal healthcareā the Obama admin. enacted.
I believe in a strong public education system, with heavy investment in teachers, schools, administrators and students. This goes for elementary through university. I believe that a solid, democratic, functioning society comes from investment in public education and the possibility that anyone who has merit and interest can go to school and not pay for it for their rest of their lives. Itās the long view, not short-term planning. I find it saddening and appalling that in the USA, for example, more is spent on maintaining a single prisoner in a penitentiary than on a single student. The current Secretary of Education stateside has never worked in education, donated 30 million dollars to the Trump campaign in 2016, and is an advocate of charter schools and private faith-based schools. Despite what American founding fathers said about the separation of church and state in order to have true religious freedom and to avoid a conflict of interests.
I do not believe that anyone should be prejudiced against because of the color of his or her skin. And in the USA, blacks have been actively and systematically repressed since their arrival as slaves over two hundred years ago. The Trump administration has commended white supremacists, invited them to the White House for visits, and has condemned the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as created the narrative that Antifa is a āterroristā organization even as the KKK is not.
I believe women are equal to men. Different, but equal. I also believe women have a right to make choices about their bodies, and this means birth control and abortion. Trump has openly insulted women, bullied female congressional leaders, incited his followers to violence against female political leaders who disagree with him, has had numerous harassment cases against him, paid off a call girl during his admin., and speaks in a sexualized manner about his own daughter. What HE has said is what Iām going by, not what others have said about him. His administration has made it difficult for women to have reproductive care covered by their insurance, even as sexual āaidsā (sic) are now available to men under general insurance policies.
I believe that global treaties are necessary to avoid world war. Again. This administration has condemned NATO, the EU commission, and pulled out of the Paris Agreement. It has actively antagonized China and Africa, at the same time that it has openly invited foreign intervention in the USA federal elections. Again, Iām going on what HE says and what a tribunal in the USA found, as well as what various INTEL agencies in the USA and the UK have said. I understand the USA has given a TON of money to these organizations, bolstering them up, and led them, but itās spending a nickel to save a dime if history is anything to go by, and it is.
I believe that climate change is real and that there is a new future possible in clean energy and sustainable practices. Itās economically viable to boot. The Trump admin has, again, pandered to fossil fuel interests and the agricultural industry in order to ensure campaign donations and practical support. Meanwhile, bolstering rhetoric to working class souls who rely on these jobs in fossil fuels. BUT, they could be retrained with a modicum of investment and then have jobs that are more secure. But we go back to economic interests.
I believe vaccinations are a godsend, so to speak, but itās not faith based at all. Science has eradicated polio, measles, and mumps — made it possible not to die of pneumonia or an infection, for example. Not to vaccinate your child is willful ignorance and negligence for the rest of society as well as your child. Any āresearchā on the possibility of autism with any vaccine has been repeatedly debunked through extensive quantitative research. Similarly, not to wear a mask or maintain a distance during a virus pandemic will hurt those around you. Yet, the Trump administration has repeatedly berated and ridiculed āexpertsā and āscientists,ā long before Covid-19 came to visit. Why? Because a lot of education is not the profile of his base.
I donāt think Trump believes even half of what he says. I think he says whatever he needs to say to please the 36% of Americans who believe in him. To them he says Mexicans are rapists and drug addicts (let us not get into the historical creation and political interests of drug cartels in South America). To them, he calls the press āthe left wing media,ā when he knows that without the media he wouldnāt have gotten the office AND the majority of the news outlets/radio/TV stateside are corporate owned, so they like Trump in office ācause heās giving their owners tax cuts and profit-making incentives, and he, simply, SELLS newspapers/magazines, etc. He makes them money any way you look at it.
Always follow the money for answers, no? Itās the same everywhere. While I can understand/itās logical that many people support Trump ācause he has cut taxes exponentially for the wealthiest and he operates in the interests of business, I do not understand why poor, working class Americans support this man.
So, while I agree with you that we need to find shared ideas and values to make peace and progress, Iām not sure how we do this now when there are such spectacular divides… Iāve lived abroad a long time (and some USA admins were harder than others to live through here with my Yankee accent) but in 20-odd years, I have never seen the fear, pity, and contempt that Europeans appear to feel about America and Americans now. It breaks my heart. Itās like watching a fatal car crash in slow motion. To them, itās the inevitable fall of yet another empire that begs the question of who will fill that vacuum?
And, Iām actually very confused about maintaining a relationship with *. I love her, I respect her. I know her to be practical, wise, kind, and funny – qualities I admire and hold to be ātrue’. I trust her in a way that I donāt most. Perhaps in a way that you can only trust someone because youāve grown up together?
But. Too much is at risk today and politics is personal for me. Particularly with such an explosively divisive man in office in the USA (and, again, I donāt for ONE second think that HE is the problem – only the lightning rod – for what has been happening to a great extent since the inception of the USA, and in an acute sense for the last fifty years). What he represents and what he does and says is abhorrent to me and I truly fear for the world if Americans donāt vote him out in November.
Yet * has said she will vote for him. Again. That heās the “best candidate.” (Keep in mind, I get that Biden is no great shakes – yet another old, white, rich dude – but he wonāt do what Trump has done in terms of all mentioned above and the attitude – and actions – of being āabove the lawā). She has been my friend since I was seven-years-old. We havenāt kept in close touch consistently over the years, but I always saw her when Iād go back and I hold her very dear. And our group chats through this terrible time, through the confinement especially, has been the MOST comforting thing for me truly (thank you). Itās very confusing and I’m very sad. I also know that Iām a āflightā rather than āfightā person and find it easiest to not confrontā¦to āsimplyā withdraw and have yet another piece of pain and confusion and disappointment to try to unravel.
Again, I absolutely agree that divisiveness and power struggles arenāt productive, and there is reason and logic in trying to find shared values in order to collectively progressā¦and I am – even more in the last 48 hours –evaluating the information I look at, and the type of people I tend to ābondā with and hold close, and who generally share my values and ābeliefs,ā and so it IS like Iām operating in a vacuumā¦and this violates the truest definition of what it is to be āliberal,ā which I consider myself to be…
Know that Iām considering it all. And Iām sorry for such a loooooonnnnnngggg missive (damn Home Ec class taught me to type quickly). And, I apologize if I have unwittingly offended you in any way with this note. Please forgive me if so. I did not write this to you to incite, to convince, to cajole, to persuade or any other number of verbs for manipulation. I simply wrote it to share my confusion and the intensity of my own opinions with YOU. I feel as though it may seem āpreachyā to you, but I want to illustrate to you that I HAVE thought about each-and-every element of why I find Trump loathsome ā and, again, that itās not a knee-jerk thoughtless āTrump sucksā kind-of thing from the āleftā side of the playing field without consideration for WHY he might be appealing to many.
Thank you for ālistening.ā
Filed under: In Vino Veritas, In Aqua Sanitas | Tags: Capitalism, clean energy, Education, Emmanuel Macron, England, fossil fuels, France, healthcare, Marine Le Pen, Socialism, taxes, USA, Yellow Vests
“I have tried to lift France out of the mud. But she will return to her errors and vomitings. I cannot prevent the French from being French.” Charles de Gaulle
I once said to a French doctor during a visit to her office that Iām so grateful for the French healthcare system. Like England, where I had lived for thirteen years, there is universal healthcare. Unlike England, one must be a resident of France, pay your taxes, and while the state covers 70% of your healthcare (100% for your children), you must have private insurance to cover the rest. A visit to a general practitioner will cost you about 23 euros and to a specialist, about 60 euros (of which 70% will be returned to you). Similar to the USA, and unlike England, in France you can choose your general practitioner and they will refer you to specialists of your choice. Moreover, the French have effectively integrated methods based on medicine, or āhardā science, with non- traditional methods, such as physiotherapy, acupuncture, and nutritionists.
Back to the visit with the doctor and my compliment to the French healthcare system. She, in turn, was grateful for my appreciation. She told me that on an average visit, about a half-hour in duration per patient, she earns 10euros, with the rest being reimbursed or going to fund the collective āmechanisms.ā She didnāt have a problem with this, telling me she wanted to be a doctor to help people and she is. However, she said itās frustrating because the French patients are never satisfied with the system. For example, when the Carte Vitale* machine doesnāt work and she must consequently give the patient a brown form+, they complain about having to cover the expense of an envelope and stamp in order to send the form and get reimbursed for their visit.
My point? While the French argue that they are collectively oriented, in general, they are not. They do not seem to care that their participation is necessary to maintain the heavily subsidized welfare state ā public schools, universities, extracurricular activities++, school lunches+++, CAF** and housing subsidies, healthcare, retirement, etc. To sustain these services means paying a modest fee for them, as well as paying taxes, in order to support the whole system and the vulnerable within society. Many here begrudge paying anything even as they feel itās their right to receive these benefits, which they complain are too little, and many people actively work to undermine the system. While a large part of me appreciates the French cynicism, and I agree that the super rich seem to avoid all fees, the average French knee-jerk cynicism also frustrates me. Having originated from a country where the cost of an emergency medical service without good health coverage could mean that you and your family lose your home due to the expense of it, or you have to take two mortgages out to fund your childās university education, Iām grateful for the services in France. So, I consequently pay my taxes and all fees without question, even as Iām lucky that I do not use most of the services on offer. This does not mean that I donāt see that it is āapples and orangesā to compare France ā a noble, socialist state ā with USA ā a staunchly Capitalist one ā and the subsequent services available in each.
However, France, like the rest of the world, is polluted due to fossil fuel consumption, deforestation, consumerism and waste. Where I live, many children have chronic coughs that the doctorās dismiss with a sad shrug, saying āCāest comme ca…ā On higher particle days, the kids arenāt allowed outside to play. Originating from France is the Paris Agreement, a global agreement to collectively reduce carbon emissions. In response to this, Macronās administration put a nominal tax (literally a few cents) on diesel and petrol in an effort to curb its use. Many in France are very poor, earning an average income as teachers and police officers, of 1200euros per month. In rural areas of France, driving is necessary and these extra pennies mean a lot. However, in France, there is a 10,000-euro rebate when you convert your existing diesel car to an electric or hybrid car. Most donāt know this, and when they do, they argue that the cost of electric and hybrid cars is still too expensive. Thatās true when youāre earning 1200 euros a month and have a family, even with CAF and governmental subsidies, but itās a substantial offer. Arguably, all new technology is the bastion of the middle class and the rich, but as with all new technology, it will become more affordable, and we must begin the process somewhere of conserving our environment and our collective existence. Perhaps Macronās administration should have begun with taxing the manufactures of the vehicles, yes, but there is an argument that by doing this, these manufacturers would withdraw a lot of manufacturing from France, which would also create a problem with a loss of jobs and income. Perhaps France should have built efficient public transit that uses clean energy that the people could use in order to discourage the use of their cars? But where would the money come from? Perhaps the taxes should have been placed on the fossil fuel companies, and the EU should enforce this collectively?
But I encourage people to ask themselves several questions: Is it not suspicious that many involved in the Yellow Vest movement are from middle class families? Is it not suspicious that at the same time that the Yellow Vestās are claiming to be for the everyman, they are destroying the property of those working and having businesses? Is it not suspicious that what began as a protest about the increase on the cost of diesel and petrol, is now about wages, taxes, housing, retirement benefits, cost of living, etc.? Is it not suspicious that the average person involved with this movement is calling for the āheadā of Macron, a ābanker,ā rather than also seeing him as the Classicist, a man who spent more time studying the Humanities ā literature, history, economics, philosophy? Also, a man they voted for. Is it not suspicious that the Yellow Vests have thus far refused to speak to the prime minister unless the meeting is filmed? Is it not suspicious that by reducing the speed limit on the highways, thereby limiting nasty emissions that prompt climate change, which the government has done, is not adhered to by the people themselves? Isnāt the nasty transport of goods by trucks perpetuated by our ordering goods online in order to avoid paying more for these same products?
I understand that many in France voted for Macron as opposition to the Front National, and that many view him as unforgivably arrogant (an irony, given that the French are stereotyped as arrogant). I also understand that people are frustrated and poor. That there is abhorrent global economic inequality. I agree with the suspicion that corporations and a superrich class of people are dictating global politics and laws, perpetually squeezing public services and the working class for their own increased profits and the perpetuation of their lavish lifestyles. I respect to some extent that my compatriots are noting this and protesting. However, the Yellow Vests are a fragmented and violent movement that is being manipulated into a frenzy by the same powers the participants are protesting. Macron is not the enemy. Nor are foreigners or refugees. Big business and tax evaders are the enemies. Macron is pro European, actively building bridges between member states, which is important because a united Europe is much stronger than a divided one, despite the rhetoric that cynically opposes the union and capitalizes on peopleās fears and anger by creating scapegoats. While he may have been a banker briefly, heās a truly cultured man and that means he understands context and the long game. Heās a man who has benefitted France as its president by increasing the profile of France through his efforts and his charisma, making it once again a power to be reckoned with (which happily coincided with the World Cup 2018 win). He has openly criticized Trump, rising xenophobia, and nationalism disguised as patriotism. He is actively arguing the need for climate action, even as arguably it is not nearly enough. These are great things socially and practically. He has served as the opposition to rising ignorance. His presidency has increased tourism to France and consequently bolstered the economy, and it has brought France back to the forefront of negotiating tables throughout the world. And now he is being undermined in these efforts, which will not benefit France or the European Union collectively. Is it not suspicious that this undermining occurs after the USA has officially dismissed climate change and Brexit has destablized the EU?
Yes, there is much more to be done about economic inequality, strife, and the environment. There is credence to the argument that letting even ālittle thingsā go is a āslippery slopeā to creating an individualistic, capitalistic society like the USA. Yes, Macron is from the privileged class, and there is rising and unforgiveable economic inequality, but wouldnāt it be more helpful to stop condoning those culprits activities? Focus oneās efforts? Demand that companies such as Amazon and Google, for example, pay their fair share of taxes to operate in Europe. Demand that the taxes on the super rich in France (and the rest of the EU) are enforced. Demand that campaign financing is absolutely transparent so that there is not a conflict of interests. Tax the hell out of fossil fuel companies throughout Europe. Pay your own taxes so that your kids can continue to have benefits when they need them. Stop buying products online and support local businesses rather than these same ādark forces.ā Stop buying services or products from international companies that are contributing to economic inequality by creating monopolies and not paying their fair share in the societies they operate in. Stop driving so much. Stop eating so much beef, and buy it locally when you do eat it in order to undermine the big business agriculture has become. Use the subsidies and loans available to convert your homes to clean energy and your cars to clean energy.
I hope that Macron is able to face down the agitation and keep a steady hand on the tiller of the country. We shall see what he says tonight when he makes an address after the fourth weekend of riots in Paris. As it is, the Rassemblement National (Marine Le Penās party, the National Rally, as they have rebranded themselves since their defeat to Macron) is on par with Macronās En Marche to represent France in the European elections in May. May the gods help us all and may reason and concerted effort prevail.
*A Carte Vitale is given to residents who pay their taxes or need special assistance. It is swiped through a machine at a doctorās office so that reimbursement to the patient is immediate.
+A brown form is a sheet that is dated and signed by the doctor that the patient must fill in with their name and health number, and then send to the stateās Assurance Maladie (Health Insurance) for reimbursement.
**CAF supports childcare on a sliding scale, from 20c an hour up to 4euros an hour for baby and childrenās day care and after school support. They also provide subsidies for families to take holidays around France each year. They also enable a mother to take three years off when their child is born, by giving her a monthly allowance. They also give a family a one-time fee upon the birth of a child that ranges in size, to a monthly stipend for each child to a certain age. The assistance the CAF provides is seemingly endless.
++Extracurricular activities in my village include taking the kids regularly to do a week of alpine skiing with instructors, as well as Nordic skiing, swimming lessons, museum visits, all subsidized by the commune.
+++School lunches for the elementary school children are three course events ā salad, meal, cheese or desert ā that are usually locally sourced and bio. And, thanks to Nicholas Hulotās response to a petition, they are now serving a vegetarian meal once a week in order to āput the subject on the tableā about the correlation between meat eating and climate change.