Larry D. Lauer

Research indicates that affordable healthcare programs are important to most everyone.

Why don’t Democrats end the shut-down by calling out Republicans for never having a plan? “Just give them what they want,” and time will will prove that taking this bold step was the right thing to do!!

in time cutting jobs will prove counter-productive. Even Trump might conclude this!!

Anne Applebaum in her recent book “Autocracy, Inc,” explores the complexity of all this. It is a complex situation indeed.

Trump apparently admires the strength of autocrats. There are many kinds of autocrats and dictators out there. Trump has surrounded himself with people who know what he wants and are willing to deliver it.

Will there ever be another election? This, indeed, is the right question to ask.

History teaches that nothing ever comes free. Free speech, professional journalism, and the freedom to believe and publish whatever we choose, all require a struggle, and in the end… democracy will prevail.

The civil war was fought to free slaves, and many continued to believe in and fight for slavery. Mark Twain grew up in a town that ignored slavery that was still going on after the Civil War.

Autocracies and dictatorships come and go and freedom always wins in the end. History is full of examples. Anne Applebaum, in her new book, “Autocracy, Inc.” makes the case.

To speak out whenever one wants, to enjoy the freedom of a constitutional democracy, and the freedom to work at and do whatever one pleases.

There is also a challenge here for journalists. To search for and to write and print only truth. This a complicated investigative challenge, and involves a very strong commitment.

In other words, to not live under a self-serving autocracy… or dictatorship.

My neighbor likes Trump. I considered the neighbor the enemy. Recent violence made me realize we have never really talked.

I decided to invite our neighbor and his wife to our home… for a talk over a glass of wine.

He has a lot of money… and so my wife and I assumed his wealth was somehow linked to Trump tax breaks.

I will invite him and his wife to our home to get to know them and what they think. I promise!!!

The assassin knew the victim but something had happened earlier that caused the the murder.

It has been rumored that the murder-victim had been urging Trump to release the all the Epstein information. This may or may or may not be found to be the cause .

But something happened when when the ax-guy left Trump to rejoin Tesla… and then claimed that his money was only reason that Trump won.

We must condemn violence in all forms, and somehow learn to talk to each other no matter political preferences.

Protests are emerging and building in cities all over the country. President Trump and Elon Musk have caused it. They planned very badly, and so the general public is now winning.

Patience combined with intense communication and journalism will press through the clutter in the end. This overall chaos and a lack of knowing American history, and not realizing the power the overwhelming power of our public-supported democracy, are the most serious problems of all. Self-centeredness combined with aggression, never work.

Professional journalists today must answer these two questions:

1. Should they report both sides of political issues? Or, should they investigate and report only what is true?

The first approach promotes controversy, and therefore can be highly profitable. Often news organizations will give in to strong temptations for profits. Feeding controversy is profitable for news organizations.

Asking both sides for comments is like treating both sides as if they are legitimate political parties.

When our entire way of life is threatened by a would-be autocrat/dictator running for the presidency, I believe that the constitution actually requires professional journalists to step-up and write the truth!

Truth is nothing more than reporting nasty comments made by both sides, and what one presidential candidate has already said what he will do if elected.

Political parties today work hard to win… and some parties will work hard to hold on to that power when they have it.

Extremists in those parties will use mail-in balloting restrictions, gerrymandering, difficult to find voting locations, controlling women’s health, limited public school financing, removing reading materials from libraries… and will also use “social media tools” to weaponize their competition.

There is another movement emerging now… a much more democratic one. It is fundamentally based on championing the rights of the middle-class… as well as on basic American values. This movement seeks to include independent thinkers, and all those who hold these values no matter party affiliation.

It also seeks to develop international partnerships (such as NATO) with those countries who share these values. This is more of a “people power movement” than it is a political party activity.

I say “welcome aboard!”

Polarization in politics has become a horrible problem in America. It often results in violent language and behavior.

Werther or not it is something that the candidate says or eager followers do, it’s clear that everyone involved with campaigns must lower the temperature of their comments and actions. It’s clear that both parties must do this now.

After yesterday’s assassination attempt, will Donald Trump, his campaign, and followers, be asked to help lower the temperature of their remarks and actions? Trump’s “fist gesture” as his secret service carried him away could very well become a campaign symbol. Something must be done to stop that from becoming rallying cry for violent action!

President Biden talked about stopping violence in a phone call he made to Mr. Trump following the shooting. He is as vulnerable to violence as Trump is as he campaigns.

Candidates everywhere must do the same as they meet with their staff, volunteers, and supporters. This must become a primary topic of political conversations. It’s possible to be an aggressive campaigner without resorting to violent speech, gestures, actions, and lies.