When I hear that a not-insignificant number of Americans aren't getting a COVID vaccine because they're afraid they'll get a surprise bill for it -- even though Congress has actually passed legislation making the vaccines free and few folks have reported getting such bills -- my first thought is why haven't Republicans exploited this fear? I mean, it's one of the more reasonable fears one encounters when trying to get wary folks vaccinated. But the question may answer itself: Republican politicians are a lot more comfortable exploiting completely absurd fears.
Our Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (or CFPB) mulls enacting a rule (authorized by the Dodd-Frank Act, so why has it taken so long?) that would give banking customers more access to their own financial data -- which could help those customers migrate to smaller, more local banks. Where they still exist, that is, though you've probably got some credit unions near you and their membership requirements probably aren't as onerous as you've heard. Naturally a poll finds that 75% of Americans would support a rule that'd make "switch(ing) between banks and other financial institutions" easier, which of course they do if you put it that way. So why don't Democratic politicians generally put it that way? We know it's not because they're stupid.
When I hear that rural Californians still await access to clean water after almost a decade of promises from the state, all I can say is that this is the reason Republicans continue to win in rural areas. They won't build out clean water infrastructure up better than Democrats do, obviously -- in fact, I'd say it's not at all going out on a limb to say they'll do it much worse -- but at least Republicans offer rage and fear, which always gives them the advantage whenever Democrats offer nothing, which is, sadly, all too often.
Former National Security Advisor/admitted felon Michael Flynn says America should have a coup just like Myanmar did. And you can see why: Myanmar's military is a bunch of diaper-loaded brats with guns, and they deposed the just-democratically-elected government there after claiming "election fraud" with no evidence whatsoever; why, I bet Mr. Flynn's Personal Lord and Savior Donald Trump watched that unfold with considerable jealousy. Anyway, Mr. Flynn tried to walk it back in truly comic fashion -- well, it would be comic if I found irredeemable assholes funny.
Speaking of which, a Nashville hat shop has been offering a Star-of-David patch that says "not vaccinated" on it, and all I can say is waaaaaaaaaah. Being persuaded to get a vaccine, or being shamed into getting a vaccine, is nothing like having your home and business burned down, being banned from entire towns, being herded into concentration camps, being executed via gas chamber, or being turned into soap. How disgusting, that I still have to explain that to anyone.
Finally, when I hear that almost two out of every three Americans don't want Donald Trump to run for President in 2024, I feel the need to caution everyone that this means more than one out of every three Americans does, even after all the drama and incompetence he put on display for four years, and that it's far too easy to imagine at least one in eight Americans "holding their nose" and voting for him again, even though they're all perfectly capable of sending a message to their party to fucking do better. So let's file that under "Don't Get Complacent."
Comments