Animal Solidarity

I’m tired of seeing caring people with double standards for whom they care about.

Merriam-Webster defines solidarity as: “unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards”

Typically solidarity is used when talking about class and labor issues. When one industry’s workers go on strike to support another industry’s workers, that’s solidarity.

I see solidarity as a posture that extends well beyond worker militancy. When the evictions moratoriums put in place during Covid-19 come to an end, I’m anticipating evictions blockades of people standing in solidarity with those at risk of becoming homeless.

The most recent Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor are other examples of solidarity. In these, people across race lines stand alongside members of historically oppressed and marginalized communities.

I didn’t have a well-formed understanding of solidarity when I decided to embrace veganism two years ago (I still don’t). But deep down I felt an obligation to stand with victims against oppressors. Now I believe solidarity is a helpful way to think about my relationship to animals.

When you ask someone, “Are you against animal cruelty?”, the answer is usually yes. There’s natural response of concern and despair at the sight of an animal in pain. While an empathetic understanding of the pain that animals experience is good, if it does not lead to action, it is wasted sentiment. This is most apparent when a self-proclaimed animal lover regularly eats meat.

Animals rights are a justice issue. In America, we have laws around animal abuse and hold abusers accountable to them. There are some ethical standards in place. But unfortunately they are selectively applied and severely lacking. For example, dogs and cats are in higher class than farmed mammals or fish in the most obvious way: we don’t allow eating dogs and cats.

My friends’ dog, Boo, and me

We have so many forms of animal exploitation built into our culture, especially in our food systems. Not to mention circuses, rodeos, zoos, animal testing for drugs and cosmetics, and other animal byproducts like fur and textiles.

I’m beginning to view my vegan attitude of limiting animal exploitation and harm wherever possible as a form of solidarity. I’ve started seeing the dividing line more clearly: you are either against the abuse and exploitation of animals and abstain from it, or you are actively oppressing them.

As Desmond Tutu put it, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

If you are an animal lover, it’s time to align your actions with your values. Stop perpetuating injustice against the ones you love. “Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.”― Cornel West

Three times a day, we choose whether to fill our plate at the expense of the life of another. We choose whether to take, and take, and take from animals whose sole existence is designed to be maximally productive until they are tossed aside like a spent battery.

Animals have life, personalities, and families. The great lie we’ve been told is how little we have in common with our animal friends. It’s time we realize how much we share.

I spent twenty-four years living at the expense of the lives of cows, chickens, pigs, fish, turkeys, and others. Today I’m celebrating my second year of living in alignment with my fellow earthlings. I stand in solidarity with animals who have been perpetually victimized.

Many of us are having our eyes opened to the ills of our society right now. We are realizing that it’s not enough to simply not be part of the problem. We have to rise up and fight against racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, ableism, classism, and everything that is used to divide and oppress us.

Let us not limit our acts of solidarity to our own human species.

From my mind to yours,

Quinn

Healthcare for All

One day a couple of years ago I began experiencing some chest pains. They were noticeable but not debilitating. After twenty-four hours they got worse. I was concerned, but reluctant to go to the hospital because I knew it would be an emergency room visit. After waiting most of the day, I eventually went to the ER for my chest pains.

I arrived and was checked in swiftly and began to be monitored. Doctors and nurses came to take my vitals and perform an EKG to monitor my heart activity. While I was concerned about my well-being as I lay in the hospital bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about something else:

The bill.

After several hours in the ER my pain wasn’t getting any worse. The doctors determined my pain was located in my chest wall and not my heart. I was discharged and eventually discovered my issue was immobility in my back that was causing the tissue near my sternum to become inflamed.

It’s a relief to know that I didn’t have a cardiac event. But the experience was still terrifying. In the end I was charged $1200 for my ER visit.

When four in ten Americans can’t afford an unexpected $400 expense, having out of pocket healthcare expenses like mine means for many there are only two options: Get wages garnished by a collection agency (potentially leading to bankruptcy), or not get treatment when necessary.

There is a growing group of people that are fed up with the US healthcare system. It certainly includes anyone who can not afford their healthcare and those who are not insured.

Fortunately I am insured and can afford my healthcare. Knowing my audience, the reader likely is insured and can afford their healthcare as well. However, there is a false sense of security with the position of being insured and having affordable healthcare that I want to dissect here.

When I think to myself, “I can afford my healthcare,” I am reminded that the truer statement is, “I can afford my healthcare right now.” The reality is that I can only afford my healthcare as long as my illnesses are affordable. If I were reaching my out-of-pocket maximums every single year, I wouldn’t be able to afford my healthcare.

In effect, I can only afford my healthcare because I am healthy. And as much as we all hate to admit it, shit happens. Cancer, disease, injuries and accidents throw a wrench in our life plans. If being able to afford healthcare is contingent on not needing healthcare, the system is broken.

The other issue for insured people is that as a nation our insurance is tied to so many things that it shouldn’t be tied to. For example, these are just a few of the ways people can lose their insurance in this country:

• Losing employment (for any reason)
• Turning 26 when insured by a parent’s plan
• Insured by a parent’s plan and the parent dies or loses employment
• Insured by spouse’s plan and the spouse dies, the marriage ends, or the spouse loses employment

I have a great job. Losing my job would be one thing, but I would also lose my health insurance if I became unemployed. This makes workers more desperate both to find jobs and to keep them. I know several people who have stayed at their jobs longer than they want (sometimes years) because of the employer-based health insurance plan that they couldn’t afford if they were unemployed.

Employer-based insurance gives far too much power to the employer. They chose the plan or plans that the employee has access to. It means that workers are at the mercy of the employer for the quality and coverage of the health care that they will have access to. We are accustomed to this in our country; we need to recognize our acclamation to such an imbalanced power dynamic to be able to envision something better.

Beyond the false sense of security that people in my position can have, there is a larger problem with our healthcare system: the profit motive of private insurance companies. Health insurance providers make their profits by denying coverage. Have a preexisting condition? Not covered. Have an out-of-plan procedure or treatment by an out-of-network caregiver? Not covered. These insurance companies only profit if people pay more into the plan than the company pays out.

It’s important to distinguish between the actual healthcare providers and the insurance companies. The caregivers provide the health services to people. People pay into their health insurance plans, and then their plan providers pay the caregivers. The insurance companies make billions of dollars in profit by being a middleman in a bloated system.

We need Medicare for All because it eliminates the dependence on private health insurance companies in the US. It makes the government the single payer for healthcare instead of having private (profit-extracting) industry involved in the payment of medical costs for citizens. It would save Americans more than $450 billion annually by reducing costs and overhead.

Beyond the money and efficiency arguments, the most critical reason we need Medicare for All is that it is estimated to save more than 68,000 lives annually. Take that in—in our current healthcare system, as the status quo, tens of thousands of people will die that could otherwise be saved by a Medicare for All, single-payer system. Every. Year.

When presidential candidates, politicians, and pundits talk about how we need “choice” in our healthcare and that Medicare for All takes that choice away, realize they are often pushing an agenda supported by the insurance industry. What choice does our current system provide that would be taken away?

It is not a choice when one loses their job that they also lose their employer-based healthcare. It is not a choice when one’s employer downgrades their insurance plans to plans that have less coverage. It is not a choice when a full-time worker’s role is converted to an independent contractor relationship removing their access to a full-time healthcare plan. It is not a choice when the only options are an unaffordable public exchange option or no coverage at all.

Employer-based health insurance is the system that limits the choices of everyday working people. Fearmongering about the “lack of choice” in a Medicare for All, single-payer system comes from the ones that retain the most power and profit potential from the unbalanced relationship of the current system.  We need to recognize it for what it is. It’s in the insurance companies’ best interests to fight against Medicare for All, not the masses.

As a nation founded on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, it is truly in line for us to dismantle the system that constricts and inhibits the health and well-being of us all. It is a moral imperative that we address the health crisis in our country with so many lives on the line. We need Medicare for All. Bernie Sanders is the only candidate who can bring it to fruition and has a path to the presidency. It’s one of the many reasons why I endorse him for President.

Andrew Harnik / AP

From my mind to yours,

Quinn

January 20, 2021

One year from today, someone will be sworn into the office of the President of the United States of America. Most likely, this person will be either the incumbent Donald Trump, or the Democratic Party challenger. There are only nine months until that general election and two weeks until the first vote counts of the Democratic Primary. The outcomes will shape the future of our country and our planet.

Donald Trump was an insurgent candidate promising to “drain the swamp” of the establishment rule in the White House. He campaigned on a populist platform of improving the lives of working people with his slogan of “Make America Great Again.” Yet his tax cuts overwhelmingly benefited the wealthiest Americans instead of the working class. Instead of draining the swamp, his cabinet and staff positions have been repeatedly filled and emptied with unqualified persons.

In the bigger picture, Trump is actively working to accelerate the climate crisis further. He also assassinated Iran’s top military official with a drone two weeks ago sending many into a panic about the potential for escalation to full-on war.

Without the time or interest in explaining all the reasons why Trump is bad for our country and world, I’ll suffice it with this: He’s one of the worst presidents we’ve ever had. The lasting negative impact of his time in office will take decades to undo. It is paramount that he is defeated in November to prevent four more years of Trump presidency.

Defeating Trump is the most important thing for Democrats and many independents this election cycle. The Democratic Primary candidates and political pundits have been making that point loud and clear.

I endorse Bernie Sanders for President. I believe he is the strongest candidate to beat Donald Trump. I believe his platforms of Medicare for All, College for All, Housing for All, Workplace Democracy, and passing a Green New Deal are the direction that our country can and should go for the betterment of the lives of all Americans.

I’m going to begin a series of posts about my personal experiences and how they relate to a Bernie Sanders presidency. I’ll update the list as I add them:

• College For All: Everyone Deserves Free College Like I Received
• Healthcare for All

 

From my mind to yours,

Quinn

College for All: Everyone Deserves Free College Like I Received

“Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.”
– George Washington Carver

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
– Nelson Mandela

When I was in middle school, my mom was single and worked full time to care for me and my three younger siblings. We were fortunate to hear about a need-based college financial aid program and promptly signed up. Years later when I went to Indiana University, I was able to go completely free due to this aid and some academic scholarships I received. I graduated from university with no student debt.

I strongly believe that everyone in our country should have that same opportunity.

The aid that I received was a blessing, but it wasn’t without its problems. It was required that you sign up prior to high school. As someone who knew I wanted to go to college, this wasn’t a problem. But many people, especially if they would be a first-generation college student, don’t have the foresight or resources to get into a program that early. This disproportionately affects low socioeconomic children and people of color.

As with most college financial aid programs in the US, the FAFSA form was required to be filled out annually. Filing the FAFSA is a stress-inducing and difficult process to say the least. It requires tax and W-2 information and has to be submitted before the appropriate deadlines for aid to be considered. As mentioned above, these requirements are inherently more likely to affect non-white and/or first-generation college students.

To some extent, there is an onus on the student to earn their education through their own hard work. But did I earn the education I received for free? I cannot say so.

In fact, the merits of the academic scholarships I received were somewhat questionable. The largest one I received was GPA-based. Upon graduating high school I was slated to miss the cutoff by .01, until the single credit I received from four consecutive summers of marching band was added to push me over the threshold. I also opted out of some honors classes simply because I didn’t want to take them in a school that didn’t use a weighted GPA scale.

I knew plenty of better students and peers who worked much harder than I did to achieve a similar education. One friend’s family income was barely above the cutoff for the same financial aid program, and they missed out on a substantial amount of assistance as a result. Four years later they are dealing with the burden of excessive student debt as they try to move forward in life.

Similarly, my youngest siblings are nearing college age and their household income is higher than it was when I was living at home at their age. This is a good thing! But, as a result, they won’t have the same opportunities for aid that I had, and will have to incur thousands of dollars of student debt for a similar education to what I received. This is the plight of means-tested programs: that a positive change of financial situation can result in a disproportionately negative loss of benefit from the program.

Another problem is the actual cost of college. Why is it so expensive to get a college education in the US? Post-secondary education in other countries costs significantly less than it does here. College used to be affordable, but now it costs twice as much to go to a public four-year university now as it did in the mid 80’s (even when adjusted for inflation). In our great and wealthy country, the decision to pursue an education shouldn’t involve debating crippling student debt.

As business journals begin pointing fingers at my generation for killing casual restaurant chains, let’s remember: we’re in a student debt crisis. The ramifications are greater than just the personal lives of the 42 million people in debt.

 

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I count my blessings that I received the great education that I did for free. But honestly, I feel sad and frustrated that I got lucky and most others won’t have the same fortune. I believe that college should be available to all people without having to be saddled with student debt. Pursuing further education enriches ones life and collectively betters our workforce and culture.

I’ve had a taste of what the future would look like under a Bernie Sanders College For All platform. His plan also includes forgiving all existing student debt and free trade schools. It’s one of the many reasons why I endorse him for President.

From my mind to yours,

Quinn

Hindsight 2019

Another year gone. Time flies!

Blog

I’ve kept my goal of two posts per month; I intend to keep it up for the foreseeable future. I find writing easier the more I do it, and more fun, too! The subject matter of my posts has expanded this year into politics, spirituality, world events, and social causes. I anticipate continuing to explore these topics more moving into the new decade.

Here are my favorite posts from this year:

• Who Tried The Milk?
• The Best Bike Commute
• Gateway to Metal
• Evolving Faith
• Goodbye Meat
• Goodbye Ebike: The End of an Era
• Identity vs Power
• Climate Strike Stories

A different kind of writing, I’ve been more active on twitter lately. Between that and my newsletter, I’m doing my best to keep improving my skills and my voice.

Bike Commuting

I enjoyed being mostly bike-dependent for as long as I could, but this year I finally purchased a car again. I sold my ebike and now have a more traditional road bike for commuting to work in fairer weather. I enjoyed a brisk commute on my last work day of the year with handlebar mitts and pannier bags equipped:

Veganism

It’s been a solid 18 months of living a vegan lifestyle for me. Every day I wake up craving protein and nutrients which I cannot get without meat, eggs, and dairy. Just kidding. It’s been great! I had an annual checkup with my doctor and the blood work was in good order.

I’m vegan for the animals, for the environment, and for my health. Constantly, I’m finding more reasons to support living this way. I cannot recommend it enough. It’s becoming easier, too.

The cultural landscape is shifting in regards to veganism. More and more restaurants are adding vegan-friendly options to their menus. It’s less taboo to talk about veganism. A great documentary came out on Netflix this year called Game Changers that I highly recommend; it’s about the athletic performance benefits of a plant-based diet.

I’m also encountering more vegans in my day-to-day life. I have a handful of other vegan coworkers and friends that are making the transition. The more the merrier!

Climbing

At the end of 2018 I was in the midst of a break from climbing. This year I started a gym membership again and have been thoroughly enjoying being back on the walls. This time around I’ve been more intentional about meeting people and being social at the climbing gym, which has made it even more enjoyable.

Guitar

I decided early this year that I wanted to improve at my guitar playing. I’ve been playing for 15 years but don’t have much to show for it. After purchasing a new electric guitar and amp, as well as a looping pedal, it’s been more fun than ever to play. Maybe I’ll start doing some recording in the near future.

Faith

This year a significant shift in my spiritual life began. After many years of involvement in the non-denominational Evangelical world, it was time for me to move on. For the first time in eight years, I’m without a church home. It’s been nice to break from a community that did not suit me, but it was a long and taxing process to fully leave. I’m thankful for friends and family who give me community in the midst of this gap in my life now. The journey continues.

Books

I read a significant amount of books in 2019, especially compared to previous years. I’ve rated them based on how much I recommend them:

• ♥Why Trust The Bible – Greg Gilbert
• ♥Taking God at His Word – Kevin DeYoung
• ♥♥♥ The Universal Christ – Richard Rohr
• ♥♥The Strangeness of Truth – Damian Ference
• ♥♥♥♥The Communist Manifesto – Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
• ♥♥♥♥♥Ishmael – Daniel Quinn
• ♥♥♥♥♥The Story of B – Daniel Quinn
• ♥♥♥♥Race Matters – Cornel West

This list is pitifully small compared to true book worms’ reading lists. I’ve never been a big reader and also fall prey to the, “I have trouble concentrating on reading,” problem. My solution has been to just read more and so far it’s working. Ending my day with 30 minutes of reading helps me wind down and also trains that reading muscle so many of us are weak in.

I’m finding that if you want to read more, you have to want to get good at reading. It’s not always easy, but it helps to read things that are interesting and motivating. I’ve been doing a lot more reading online as well, mostly op-eds and news journalism. Practice makes perfect.

I plan to continue reading and to do even more in 2020. I just started Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison and I’m planning to read two more of Daniel Quinn’s books.

Activism

I’ve become more politically and socially engaged this year. It’s been rewarding to stand up for important things next to others who share the same sense of urgency. The climate crisis is a real, current threat to our planet. Here’s an important academic journal explaining so. It’s a short and important read. Some quotes from it:

…we declare, with more than 11,000 scientist signatories from around the world, clearly and unequivocally that planet Earth is facing a climate emergency.

Mitigating and adapting to climate change while honoring the diversity of humans entails major transformations in the ways our global society functions and interacts with natural ecosystems. We are encouraged by a recent surge of concern. Governmental bodies are making climate emergency declarations. Schoolchildren are striking. Ecocide lawsuits are proceeding in the courts. Grassroots citizen movements are demanding change, and many countries, states and provinces, cities, and businesses are responding.

As the Alliance of World Scientists, we stand ready to assist decision-makers in a just transition to a sustainable and equitable future. We urge widespread use of vital signs, which will better allow policymakers, the private sector, and the public to understand the magnitude of this crisis, track progress, and realign priorities for alleviating climate change. The good news is that such transformative change, with social and economic justice for all, promises far greater human well-being than does business as usual. We believe that the prospects will be greatest if decision-makers and all of humanity promptly respond to this warning and declaration of a climate emergency and act to sustain life on planet Earth, our only home.

Unfortunately our current dear leader thinks it’s a hoax. Here’s to 2020 being his last year in office.

Becoming more engaged locally has also given me a reason to explore my city. Utilizing our newest public transit system has been great.

At a Red Line stop in downtown Indianapolis

This year has been one of significant change. As I have throughout my life, I intend hold onto the best of the past as I move forward to the new. I plan to continue sharing the best with those who will listen.

From my mind to yours,

Quinn

Climate Strike Stories

A global climate strike happened today. In my city there were twelve people standing for a better future for the planet. In Madrid, Spain, over 500,000 were in the streets. Indianapolis needs to do better!

With a smaller crowd I got the chance to hear their stories. They are worth sharing.

Indianapolis Climate Strike in front of the state house.

Z works downtown and walked over to the strike on an extended lunch break. He cares about the environment and the way it will be left for future generations.

 

L came with book and sign in-hand. She talked about the importance of being informed about the facts of climate change and how we need to advocate to our elected officials, but also people that are in our lives every day. 

J came representing Elder Climate Action. He’s retired and spends time advocating for the environment for his kids, grandkids, and future generations. He brought extra signs to share.

S is semi-retired and organized the event, representing 350 Indianapolis. She and others regularly meet and voice their climate-related concerns with local and state elected officials. The student activists all knew her well. She led and empowered the rest of us in word and action. S took the bus to the event.

L is a climate scientist, PHD student, and activist. L spends a few hours on most Fridays at the steps of the state house with her sign reading, “SCIENCE ISN’T PARTISAN – CLIMATE ACTION NOW.” This cold and windy Friday she had 11 others standing beside her. She rode her bike to the event.

A is a mom and came with her young son, who is less than a year old. A’s sign read, “I strike for him, and for his other mother [Earth].” She said when her kids are teenagers and they ask what she did about climate change, she wants to say, “I did something about it.”

Three generations standing in solidarity for the planet

I never met the person in the tree costume. When she took her mask off I was surprised to realize she was an elderly woman. Awesome!

E is a high school student who missed school to strike. He rode his bike 18 miles to get to the event! He said it took him about 80 minutes. What a beast! His sign read, “HONK FOR CLIMATE ACTION,” and we received plenty of honks from passing cars.

C and G are high school students ages 16 and 15. They missed school for the event. C and G were at the last strike in September (many of the others were also). One of their signs read, “DENIAL IS NOT A POLICY.” They are beginning to organize with other high schoolers with Fridays For the Future. They took the bus to the event.

Q is a guy who came to the event not knowing how many people would be there, or what to do. He made a sign that read, “CLIMATE JUSTICE NOW,” and showed up anyway.  He had conversations with others who care about the planet and passers by who were intrigued and supportive to the cause. Q was really glad he went. 

One thing we all share is our home. Let’s fight for it.

From my mind to yours,

Quinn

 

Socialism Bad

Socialism would take away all of our freedoms. Socialism is the opposite of American values. Socialism would take away private property. Socialism would take away the things I worked hard for and give it to lazy people. Socialism would make the government too big. Socialism would destroy us.

These sentiments are common in the US. The lingering effects of the Red Scare and the interests of corporate media owners are to blame. The biased landscape in our social, political, and educational realms leads to uninformed perspectives of the subject (I never learned about socialism in my government and economics classes in school).

A topic this large and divisive is impossible to tackle in a single blog post. However, I believe there’s light to be shed on some important terminology and concepts that tend to bleed together in the common discourse. A prime example is socialism being equated to authoritarian communism.

The Soviet Union flag, featuring the iconic sickle and hammer synonymous with communism

Let’s start by seeing what in the world socialism actually means. The Merriam-Webster definitions of socialism are the following:

1. any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2. a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property or b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state.
3. a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

One immediately interesting takeaway is that definition 2a describes the communal life depicted at the end of Acts chapter 2:

“44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…” NIV

Were the early Jesus followers socialists? According to this definition, yes! They at the very least had behaviors that we can describe as socialist.

Definition 3 might raise red flags for some by referencing Karl Marx. Without endorsing or rebuking Marxism, I think it’s important to make a historic observation that Marx lived in London at the height of the industrial revolution. His political and economic theories were heavily influenced by the worst of the capitalism in place at the time (dangerous working conditions, child labor, extreme wealth inequality). His work was a critique of this capitalism.

The later half of this third definition is where the real substance lies: distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done. Does this sound familiar? This is a view of wages that many free-market capitalists share; that people should be paid proportionately to the work they perform. It’s the type of thinking behind, “I don’t think someone flipping burgers should make as much money as the CEO of the company.” Guess what? Socialism doesn’t disagree.

Definition 1 from Merriam-Webster gets to the main focus of socialism: the means of production. Socialism advocates for collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods*.

This is where it’s important to compare and contrast the different ways socialism can exist politically. The Soviet Union had state-controlled means of production. With its authoritarian state, this meant the government owned the means production and chose how to distribute the goods among its citizens.

There are three problems with socialism in this context: it is authoritarian in nature, it is based on government ownership, and it failed. All three of these characteristics are not unique to socialism. But the association of the baggage surrounding this specific example of socialism with socialism as a whole contributes to the conflation of “socialism = authoritarian communism = bad”.

Conversely, more democratic models of socialism advocated for by the modern UK Labour Party and Democratic Socialists of America envision worker-ownership of the means of production. Democratically controlled examples like REI co-op (collective consumer ownership), or Chattanooga’s city-owned gigabit internet service (government ownership) are close to this ideal, but not perfect examples.

The DSA is one of the largest movements of Socialists in the US

Another example of government ownership is fire departments. They were originally private organizations with membership programs and only fought fires for buildings that were paying members of their brigade. Your building could be covered by a fire brigade, but the one next door might not be covered, threatening your building and the lives of those in it anyway. It was a public safety nightmare. Nowadays we understand fire departments to be a public need and therefore use government ownership instead of private entities in a competing market to run them.

There are some notable democratic socialists, some of whom might surprise you. To list just a few:

• Albert Einsten
• Helen Keller
• George Orwell
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
• Rashida Tlaib
• Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Bernie Sanders

Capitalism Good

So is socialism inherently bad? Clearly, the answer is no. Terrible things are done in socialist countries. However *cough*, the same can be said *cough* about capitalism *cough*. But I’ll leave critiquing capitalism for another time.

The axiomatic ideas that socialism is bad and capitalism is good really irk me. We need to be able to see beyond these false dichotomies of good and bad for any meaningful discourse to take place. If we want a government and an economy that work for everyone, we need to be able to see beyond the limiting stories we tell ourselves and each other.

From my mind to yours,

Quinn

 

*Democracy At Work is a great resource for information about this specific aspect of socialism. In short: the idea is that if we have a democratic government, why do we have an authoritarian employer/employee system at work? Instead, we should strive for a more democratically owned and operated workplace.

 

How I Find News That I Trust

Where do you get your news? Maybe you have a specific source you trust above others, or a preferred medium that fits your lifestyle. Or maybe you’re disinterested in keeping up with current events at all, like I was not long ago.

Now I’m interested news and politics. After much exploring, I’ve struck a good balance of sources and programs for my tastes.

For this post I’d like to share my mindset and approach for finding out what’s going on in the world. I have some favorite outlets that I go to for opinion commentary, and a strategy for wading through conflicting journalistic sources for news reporting.

But first it’s important to recognize this distinction: opinion content vs objective news journalism. Some talking heads are purely opinion commentators. Others lean more towards objective reporting. It’s not black and white, and the onus is on the viewer to stop and ask where on this spectrum a particular entity or person falls (and it’s often a dance between fact and opinion).

People all have biases, and I am no exception. I hope that you’ll find some useful things in here even if you don’t share the same point of view that I have.

Who can you trust?

I’ll be honest: I hesitate to share this chart. I disagree with the premise that the legend at the top implies: that far ends of the left/right spectrum are garbage and the safe spot is in neutral center territory.  The qualitative horizontal tiers are also subjective, even if I generally agree with this arrangement. But I find it worth sharing because it helps illustrate the bigger problem: all news sources are biased (yes, even those in the middle). 

We are all human, with unique backgrounds and experiences that shape our worldviews. No single writer or publication is completely objective.  If that’s no problem for you, then it shouldn’t take long for you to find a news source that suits your fancy. But news reporting will always be tinted by the inherent bias of the author and editor. It’s harder to pick a favorite if you want to avoid any biased perspectives.

My solution to this is simple: don’t pick a favorite; diversify your sources of news. Find reporting about events from multiple outlets across the bias spectrum. For example: read articles from CNN, Fox News, and another of your choice about any given news story.

I try to at least skim three or four sources on a story if I’m doing my own research. I pick articles I know that I’ll probably disagree with ideologically just to make sure I’m seeing how things are framed and presented. Of course, I also pick some that are closer to my preferences to be able to compare and contrast.

The easiest way to do this is through news aggregator websites. I use Google News. It organizes digital pieces by subject matter so you can easily find what every major publication has to say about the same topic.

It’s not a perfect solution. If you want to be thorough and get different angles about a story, you’ll need to use multiple pieces of reporting. That might mean reading four articles instead of just one.

Another thing the diagram misses the mark on is that there are countless other news outlets that are smaller and independent. I try to find sources outside of corporate media outlets to read and consume as well. This includes finding journalists (independent or not) to follow on social media.

Personal Picks

I don’t watch TV. I also don’t consume print any media. I read articles online from time to time but I don’t have any specific outlets or opinion writers that I focus on. My preferred channels of opinion-based political and news commentary are Youtube/videos and live audio/podcasts. Here’s the list of my favorite opinion and pundit programs I consume on a regular basis:

TYT: The Young Turks is the predominant progressive independent news network. It started as a radio program out of Cenk Uygur‘s living room and is now a massive network of opinion programs and investigative journalism. I especially like Ana Kasparian and her program No Filter. TYT has live shows and puts much of their segments on Youtube. TYT is funded by viewer memberships on their website.

The David Pakman Show: David Pakman started as an independent political radio host and has grown his show into a large-presence Youtube channel with daily content. I like David because he has a cautious and measured presentation of his information while not shying away from sharing his perspective. He also has a very dry sense of humor. His show is primarily clipped segments on Youtube, however he has recently started live streaming on Twitch. He takes live calls which I’ve had the pleasure to participate in a couple times. David Pakman is funded by viewer memberships on his website.

The Majority Report with Sam Seder: The MR is a daily live radio and Youtube show featuring Sam Seder and regular guest hosts as well as on-mic commentary from his production team. They produce great interview segments with authors and intellectuals and have a light-hearted and jovial sense of humor. I find The Majority Report strikes a decent balance of humor, news commentary, and political punditry. I appreciate that their perspectives are not entirely homogeneous among the usual cast (though they are all fiscally left and socially liberal). MR takes live calls from listeners most days of the week. MR is funded by viewer memberships on their website.

The Michael Brooks Show: Michael Brooks is the regular cohost of The Majority Report. He also produces and hosts his own show, TMBS, that has a special focus on culture, international relations, and theory. He features experts in their fields of study and experience to dig deeper than some of the more fast-paced content on The Majority Report. It’s a more dense show than MR for the better, which means it requires more attention to follow along. It’s a once-a-week live show with segments clipped for Youtube. TMBS is funded by viewer memberships on Patreon.

The Rational National: This program is hosted by David Doel. He’s a Canadian with a special interest in US politics. He also produces content around Canadian and UK politics as well as international affairs. I appreciate his work because he has a somewhat outside perspective being that he’s not a US citizen or resident. David produces Youtube segments and live streams from time to time on Twitch. TRN is funded by viewer memberships on Patreon.

Rising on The Hill: Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti host Rising each day on The Hill. I watch most of their content as clipped segments on Youtube. Krystal and Saagar do a great job of presenting news in a more typical mainstream media format but from a left perspective. Their program is a breath of fresh air amidst the other big media programs that share a relatively conservative, corporate bias. They have a newsletter that I also recommend. Rising is the only non-independent media program I have on my list of favorites presented here.

Content Aggregation

Outside of the programs and methods I’ve outlined here, a fair amount of the content that comes across my radar is found on Reddit and Twitter.

I try to keep a limited following list on Twitter of around 100 accounts. You can find who I follow on my twitter profile. And if you’re interested, I usually retweet noteworthy content from others to signal-boost it. I also follow some of my city’s twitter accounts to stay in the loop locally.

I subscribe to a fair amount of subreddits and get current events information that way as well. I  frequently check /r/politics, /r/worldnews, /r/news, and /r/all to find out what others are sharing. I do the same with /r/indianapolis to get more local and state-level news.

Everything shared in this post is relevant as of Fall of 2019, but of course is subject to change.

 

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I hope this write-up was helpful! Information is abundant, but informed people are few and far between. There’s always room to grow.

From my mind to yours,

Quinn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identity vs Power

Over the last couple of weeks, three members of The Squad have endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic Primary for the 2020 presidential race. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib each have expressed their support for the Senator in their respective video spots, as well as participating in rallies in their communities with Senator Sanders.

The Squad: Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Tlaib, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Omar—three of whom recently endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for president

During the Bernie’s Back rally in Queens on October 20th, 2019, AOC received the following question from a reporter:

You made history with your election and you both are part of the most diverse Congress in history. This is also the most diverse Democratic presidential field ever. I am going to be a little blunt with you, Congresswoman, and don’t take offense, Senator. But as a woman of color, why back an old white guy and is this the future of the party?

To some, this question makes perfect sense. To others, it’s offensive. Those that know Bernie Sanders’ and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s political ideologies are largely unsurprised by her endorsement of the senator. Regardless, the sentiment expressed in the reporter’s question has echoed across social media and political punditry: why are progressive women of color endorsing an old white guy?

Finding the answer to this question requires seeing beyond identity politics. It requires understanding these prominent representatives have endorsed Sanders because of his track record and policies, not simply despite the fact that he looks different than them. This opposes the shallow take that to support Sen. Sanders over Sen. Elizabeth Warren is sexist on the notion that they are near each other on policy (a policy notion to rebut another time).

The example set by these congresswomen is one worth paying attention to. I hope that those reading will consider the track record and policy proposals of a candidate before their identity.

The potential for a woman, Jewish, or openly gay candidate to take the highest office is a sign that we are making progress to move past the barriers of sexism, racism, and LGBTQ discrimination. But let us not vote according to identity politics at the cost of electing someone who is not the best candidate to represent and govern in the interest of all Americans. Policy and track record should supersede identity politics in the priorities of the electorate.

Power

I believe one element that makes the identity disparity in these endorsements confusing for some is white male privilege. As feminists, members of The Squad are aware of the power dynamics at play in politics and society as a whole. If so, how can they support someone who fits the bill of privilege: an elderly white-passing man?

To help with context, I urge everyone, especially white men like myself, to read this short essay by Michael Kimmel on privilege.

Those with privilege have power in their majority culture. They have disproportionate advantages compared to someone of a respective minority culture. A privileged person is a benefactor of inequality. They have more power apportioned to them because of their socioeconomic background, skin tone, and gender.

People like me did not become privileged white males by choice or based on merit. It is also not the fault of the privileged that they are privileged. It is outside of the person’s control, yet they benefit from it anyway. But as many have said, With great power comes great responsibility.

The question for those with privilege is this: what will you do with the power that you have?

For those in positions of power, there are two options: use power to maintain and hoard power—or—use power to raise up those without power. The former comes at the expense of others. The latter comes at the expense of the self.

I bring this power conversation up for two reasons. For one, power permeates so many contexts in our lives: relationships, employer-employee dynamics, landlord-renter dynamics, family dynamics, culture as a whole, and structures and systems at the local, state, and federal levels of government. Power is always at play.

Secondly, this focus on power helps explain why the members of The Squad are not hypocritical for endorsing Bernie Sanders over a candidate who is a person of color or a woman. The following is a quote from the Kimmel essay I recommended above:

The struggles against inequality are, however, collective struggles, enormous social movements that unite people across geography, race, religion, class, sexuality, and gender. Participating in these struggles to end inequality brings one into a long history of those who have stood alongside the victims of oppression, those who have added their voices to the voices of those who had been earlier silenced.

Senator Bernie Sanders’ life work is in the collective struggle against inequality. Using power to raise up those without power. Redistributing power to the powerless. To these congresswomen, Sanders aligns with them beyond the shallow layer of identity politics.

There’s another example of someone using power to raise up others that stands out above all. He’s a popular guy…

Stewarding Power

Jesus of Nazareth is perhaps the pinnacle of using power to lift up others. As described in the gospel stories, he was God incarnate; he had ultimate power. And yet he used his time walking this earth to heal the sick, love the unlovable, and associate with the outcasts of his society. He washed the feet of his followers, a symbolic act of sacrificial laying down of power.

Depiction of Jesus washing Peter’s feet

The culmination Jesus’s ministry was his death on the cross. Is there a greater example of the laying down of power for the sake of others? His call was to take up our own crosses to follow him; to die to self and love others.

We all have power. Some more than others. For the privileged of majority culture, we have a choice: to hoard it, or to use it to lift others up by laying it down. Fighting inequality is a collective struggle. Those with power must use it for the sake of others for progress and unity.

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They say you shouldn’t talk about politics or religion. Well, I decided to do both in a single post! I hope someone finds these topics as relevant as I do.

What will you do with your power?

From my mind to yours,

Quinn

Ditching Goals is Necessary

Back in February I wrote a post about my two goals for the year. I wanted to 1) write two blog posts each month, and 2) run to work for a day. I’m still on track for the blog post goal, despite usually waiting until the last week of the month to crank them out.

I’m throwing in the towel for the running-to-work goal. I have a few reasons:

• I don’t want to do it.
• I’ve been doing less running in general, and do not want to train for it.
• I’m enjoying biking to work.
• I waited too long to do it and now it’s 40F in the mornings.
• I really don’t want to do it.

Things have changed a lot since I was planning to run to work. At the time, I was running multiple times a week and had access to a treadmill at my apartment’s gym. The only treadmill I have access to now is at work. I’m not as fond of bringing even more clothes with me to work on my bike so I can run at the office.

Should I Feel Bad?

…because I don’t. And I think that’s perfectly fine. Sometimes you aspire to do something and life takes a turn of direction. You might have the original goal of finding a cure for cancer and instead become a school teacher. Should you feel bad for not finding a cancer cure? No!

It’s not like I opted to eat a bag of potato chips every day instead of running. I didn’t ditch the goal without having something meaningful to replace it with. I’m riding my bike to work as much as I can! That’s a win in my book.

I don’t feel one bit bad about setting a goal and abandoning it. The whole reason I set the goal was to have something to strive for. Now I just strive to get to work without my car, which is most practical by bike.

I’ve really enjoyed riding my new bike to work

Goals should serve a bigger purpose than just the goal itself. They give us something to aim for while striving to improve at the things we enjoy. They challenge us to grow.

In 2018 I had a goal of reading the whole Bible in a year. My motivations were not in order and it turned into a joyless obligation within two months. I finished the whole year plan and was burnt out. It didn’t bring me joy. I wish I had given up instead of disregarding the struggle for months with little to show for it.

If you have a goal that isn’t growing you along the way, if it isn’t ultimately a source of joy or betterment, then find another goal.

New Goals

This my current list. Who knows what they’ll be in six months!

• Bike to work when it’s feasible
• Spend more time with people face-to-face
• Play guitar every day
• Write two posts a month
• Read books often
• Get out and live a little

 

From my mind to yours,

Quinn