Posts published in “Rainey”

D-E-I.

Diversity.  Equity.  Inclusion.

Three simple words it would seem everyone could understand and make a part of their own lives.  Simple.  Easy to acknowledge.  Words of acceptance.  Words of value.

Yet, not everyone agrees.  It's difficult to understand why.  But, there are folks who just can't accept teaching those values in schools.  They fear something they alone can see that makes them rebel at their mention.

Two examples of how this "concept" is being dealt with.  Across the country, last weekend, there were marches and demonstrations with thousands of people in support of D-E-I.  Flags, signs, banners, loudspeakers broadcasting encouraging words to the assembled crowds.

In New York, several public school districts have said "Nyet."  They've shipped the D-E-I materials back where they came from with accompanying notes saying "Thanks, but NO thanks."

Diversity.  Equity.  Inclusion.  Seems simple enough.

Accepting and living by those words isn't like having to carry a cross or something.  It doesn't make the user weird or socially unacceptable.  You don't get warts or skin blemishes.  Living by them is not an unpleasant duty of sort.

It should be easy to believe in those three words and try to live with them as principles.  It's not hard to do.  You don't have to work at it.

But, the folks protesting "diversity, equity and inclusion" - they DO have to "work at it."  They've got to get up a full head of steam to pick up a sign, lace up their boots and get out their crayons to make those aforementioned signs.

A year or two from now, it's likely we won't be hearing much about "diversity, equity and inclusion."  When responsible people get worked up enough to take to the streets - thousands and thousands of them - the naysayers aren't left with much to work with.  The die's been cast.

But, the spirit lives.  In the West Ada School District in Meridian, Idaho, a couple of weeks ago, a teacher put up a togetherness poster showing several raised hands and arms with palms out, hearts in the center.  The arms and hands were of different skin colors.  Inclusion.  Diversity.

Before the noon lunch bell, an administer from the front office ordered the sign down.  And it was taken down.  But, several mornings later, kids and adults showing up for classes found a replica of those signs done in chalk art on a couple of sidewalks.  They were erased before lunch.  But, the kids had made their point.  They supported "diversity, equity and inclusion."  And they wanted those administrators to know it.  "Diversity, equity and inclusion" was in their hearts.

There are those that want to stamp out those three words.  Trump's education department - what's left of it - told Harvard and some other Ivy League schools to get "diversity, equity and inclusion" out of their curricula.  Fast!  And, when considering the flow of those hundreds of millions or federal tax dollars, the words quickly disappeared.

Maybe they disappeared from the class room and the sidewalks.  But, the strong feelings in the hearts of those who supported all that artwork wasn't erased.  They weren't compromised.  Maybe the pictures went away.  But, the spirit still lives.

Diversity.  Equity.  Inclusion.  Even without signs, those are powerful words.

One of the basic truths facing those of us who hold ourselves out as opinion columnists is to keep in mind the basic facts of an issue.  While doing that, the opinion writer then inserts his/her own thoughts around them.

With that premise, I must admit I am honestly angry to the bone when trying to deal with the "facts" of recent comments and actions of our President.  Angry.  Disappointed.  Fearful.  Scared, even.

Using his own words and immediate actions, it appears we've elected a very weak, very selfish, very bitter man who is hellbent on retribution against those he sees as his "enemies."  Not the nation's enemies.  His enemies.  Whomever and wherever they may be.

"Angry."   "Disappointed."  "Fearful."  Not words normally used when describing how we relate to the President of the United States.  But, in this instance, they seem altogether fitting.  At least for me.

Armed with a Congress dominated by his own party - and with the immense power of the Presidency - there are few, if any, "guardrails" to curtail Donald Trump's authority.  However he chooses to use it.

At the moment, it appears the only defense available to the citizenry is the judicial system.  Though many judges on the "front lines" are Trump-appointed, so far their actions have been in line with existing laws and norms.  One can only hope that continues.

Throughout his business career, Trump was known as someone who held a grudge and who "gets even."  Politically, he's shown he reacts in the same manner.

Historically, Presidents have been elected to "do the people's business;" to act on behalf of the "interests of the nation."  Sadly, Trump has already shown he has his own operating plans and, many of those plans don't include "the people's business."

During his first term as President, Trump openly flaunted the emoluments clause of the Constitution.  He operated in his own self interest in many instances.  Fearful politicians - despite the law - refused to intervene.  It's doubtful that'll change this time around.

Frankly, the nation has a right to be concerned about words and actions emanating from the White House.  Our President has made no secret of his intentions.

First foreign relations meetings of new administrations have, traditionally, been with leaders of nations considered our allies.  With Trump, that hasn't happened.  Instead, those meetings were with heads of Middle East countries; countries not always our "friends" in international affairs.

Consider his immediate release of some 1,500 prisoners involved in the January Sixth attack on the Capitol.  A mass release without consideration of the seriousness of the individual crimes committed against our government.  Just let 'em all go.  One of those released has already threatened to rearm himself for another attack.

It does not appear we're living "in interesting times" so much as we're living in times we rightfully can be fearful of some of the actions of our own federal government.  Time will tell.

But, early indications are, we need to be watchful - more than ever - of new policies and new actions of those we've recently elected.  Our President is telling us so in his language and demeanor.

Russian hacking.  Chinese hacking.  Iranian hacking.  We've been inundated with threats of internet hacking - real and dangerous - for many years now.

It's real, no matter the culprit.  Also real is the fact that American operatives have been doing the same thing to other nations and organizations.  We just don't talk about it.

We've repeatedly been made aware the Russians - and possibly the Chinese and others - have been electronically messing around in our national elections for several years.

But, what about our pitifully poor, exposed power grid?  What about military operations on which our security depends?  And our national data and other communications systems?  Anyone able to effectively block foreign hackers?

I'd like to be assured there are some very smart people developing really secure internet systems for our military, government operations, power plants, power grids and elections.  Problem is, if there are - and I'm sure there are - they can't openly tells us what they're doing.

But, some very smart people are telling us what's happening in other nations.  And their work is way over my head.  Yours, too, I'd guess.

In Holland, for example, the Dutch have created a secure trial link among three cities for data transmission using "quantum teleporation" and "quantum entanglement."  Not only is that a mouthful to pronounce, it's a science only a few really understand.

Regular internet transmission uses  "1's and O's."  Hackers have learned to intercept what's being transmitted.  But, using quantum physics, an atom, an electron or (for transmitting along optical cables) a photon of light, the "1's and O's" can be sent simultaneously.  It's called a "quantum bit" or "qubit."

When a hacker tries to get into a stream of qubits, the quantum information downloaded is unintelligible and the hacker leaves a clear signal of its presence.

The Chinese are already using "quantum key distribution" (QKD).  They have a satellite called "Micius" to transmit quantum keys to ground stations in Beijing and Austria.  The keys encrypt data for even secure video between the stations.  Attempts to intercept would destroy the keys and the hacker would get nothing because the data couldn't be decrypted.

China has another such link between Beijing and Shanghai for banks and large companies using commercial data.

There are limitations.  Photons can be absorbed in the atmosphere or by the cable materials.  The data will only travel fairly short distances.  So, "trusted nodes" or relay boosters are used at various points to operate like repeaters.  Data is amplified and sent along to the next station.  Better than we commonly use, but still problems to overcome.

So, the Dutch are trying "quantum teleporation."  They've been successful and are still working.  But, the system they have up and running only goes 35-40 miles between stations.

So, there's good and not-so-good news.  The good news is it works and appears to be "hack proof."  The bad is, thus far, there are distance limitations.  But, you know the Dutch.  "Finger in the dike" and all that.  They're committed to the system.

I know all this "quantum-nodes-entanglement-teleportation" stuff is not your everyday conversation.  To most of us, it's just a lot of words describing almost impossible-to-understand activity.

But, just knowing that somebody - somewhere - is deeply invested in development of seemingly hack-proof internet systems can be comforting.  I have to think this country's scientists, engineers and electronic "think tanks" are similarly digging around in the photons and electrons to make our vast world of data more impregnable.

Who knows?  Maybe we'll finally get a national election system that's hack-proof.  Then all we have to do is work on improving the quality of the candidates.

Some four-score-plus years ago, I grew up in a household in Central Washington State, where English was spoken fluently and correctly.  My literate parents expected the same of me.

But, lately, as I read headlines on news stories and try my best to understand readers on the 'telly, a lot of words in what passes for English today go right over my head.

Used to be, headlines were supposed to capsulize the subsequent story and give the reader a quick understanding of what happened.  Seems that understanding part has been lost.

Here's one.  "Aaron Rogers was afraid of a woke crowd."  I read it.  Re-read it and tried a third time.  I still can't make sense of it.

Here's another.  "Adele has dropped a new album."  "Dropped?"

These two headlines are not from some trade papers where readers are expected to know the shorthand expressions and the "inside" phrases.  No, these were on the CNN news page on the I-Net.  A place where readers have all sorts of backgrounds and think on many levels.

I realize the media, these days, is not interested in 88-year-old men.  No, all the outlets are aimed at an audience between 20 and 45 years.  And that's bothered me for a long time.

Given a true economic cross-section of America these days, who has the most money and who buys the "big ticket" items like expensive cars and more expensive houses?  Statistics prove it's the old folks!

At our house, for example, we buy a new car every couple of years. It's an old habit I've been unsuccessful in breaking.

The older I get the more distasteful the experience.  Some sales people I've met haven't reached full mental growth.  Many can't answer questions about mechanical operations.  If they can't find the information on their ubiquitous cell phones, they don't know. Their knowledge of English is often challenging and with speech filled with acronyms "known but to God."

I've often wondered why car dealers don't keep an old guy or two around to deal with senior customers.  It would increase the comfort zone, people would be speaking in terms both understand and take some of the uncertainty out of the "show-and-tell" process.  But, I digress.

Mass media communication levels are supposed to be at a sixth or seventh grade reading level.  Unless you had some portion of government - or an attorney - involved, that's been pretty much the standard.

English has always been a malleable language, often bent out of shape to include a new meaning or adoptable to add or subtract a word.  Go back five-years and try to find the words "woke" or "dropped" in a dictionary defining today's common usage.  Not there.  Many, many words like that.  Just make 'em up, give 'em a new meaning and throw 'em in the pot.

What's needed now is a new type of dictionary.  One that keeps up with nominal changes in the English language and publishes the meanings regularly.  Yearly, at least.  Monthly, maybe.  Online.  Even something for the cell phone crowd to stay "instantly" up-to-date.

You can start with the new meanings of words like "woke" and "dropped."  You could even throw in "critical race theory" so the Trumpers could understand what we're all talking about.

I'm sick to death of hearing about Donald Trump.

And Elon Musk.

And DOGE.

And national media reporting DOGE federal government cuts here and there.

In political reality, polls show Trump is losing popular support with a job approval rating in the very low '40's in all of 'em.

Musk and DOGE have no teeth.  And no credentials to be making cuts here and there in our government.

Somebody in authority, somewhere, has got to stand up and say as firmly as possible "ENOUGH ALREADY."

Government is run by the people we elect.  People we send to Washington to do our work.  The people's work.  They have certificates of election in their pockets.  They are authentic.  They run the place.

If Harry Truman were still President, Musk would have been sent packing the first time he opened his mouth.

That's what we need in a President.  Guts.  Smarts.  Someone who lets everyone know there's someone in charge!

Instead, what we have is a mouthy real estate developer who's given even the real estate development business a bad name.

DOGE is a "nothing-burger."  It has no legal authority to do anything.  It can't cut government workers.  It can't authorize changes in the workings of government.  It has no authority to dig around in classified information in the federal computer system.

DOGE is given "life" because Elon Musk says so and Donald Trump hasn't got the spine to tell Musk to "Go to hell."

One thing DOGE has done that's really terrifying is to make it painfully clear how vulnerable our system of governance really is.  Musk - with assistance from that former real estate developer - has shaken this nation from the inside like no one ever has.  Just two people.

His attack on federal civil servants - again, with the aid of Trump - is threatening everyone who draws a federal paycheck.  Musk - and his minions - are digging around in highly sensitive files of every agency.  Downloading sensitive materials and rummaging through classified data without possessing the required clearances.

And, our President.  Instead of shutting down Musk and his unlawful pillaging, he's become a willing accomplice.  Rather than using the immense powers of his high office to put a stop to Musk, he's joined forces with the discredited billionaire.

I'll give Musk credit for one thing.  We - all of us - have lived our lives thinking our nation's government was permanent - rock solid- no matter the political changes wrought by federal elections.  Musk - and Musk alone - has shown us how vulnerable our liberties and democratic inheritance really are; how easily both can be threatened from within by just one voice.

Musk is dangerous and he must be stopped.  He's as dangerous as if he were a war.  A one man war.

We've won wars before.  We need to treat Musk for the very real threat he is.

It appears one of the best words to describe our government at the moment is "unstable." Second in line may be "fractious."

The Trump/Musk machine is in high gear and rolling destructively through the streets of our nation's Capitol.  Nothing at the moment seems able to stop it.

Federal employees in some departments are staying home - staying out of the "line-of-fire."  Others, making it to work, are being harassed just trying to do their jobs.

I, for one, have had Trump/Musk up to here!  The two of them are without "portfolio" - without authority to cause the havoc they are creating everywhere.

Trump may be an ex-President.  But, it's that "ex" that's important now.  He is without authority - without Presidential privilege - without presidential privilege - without favored access to the machinery of government.  He's just a citizen like the rest of us.  If he legally wants to go to any department, he can go through the check-in procedure at the front desk.  Just like the rest of us.  He can use the parking lot.  Just like the rest of us.

There are honors - favors - traditions that are attached to an ex-Presidential status.  To those, he's entitled.  But, trying to bring down departments of government, telling lie upon lie, literally demanding authority where he has none - those are not part of his job description in ex-Presidential retirement.

He may have some few privileges because of his time in the Oval Office.  He may be accorded some honors.  But, what he's doing now should make him forfeit any claim to honor.

Musk and Trump may be frolicking in the limelight of media coverage.  But, my thoughts are with the thousands of civil servants flummoxed by those two.  "Do I go to work today?"  "Do I stay home today?" What should those thousands do?

Another disruption in the political "force" is they want to destroy the Department of Education.  Tear it all down.  Brick by brick.  Get rid of the whole thing.  They also want to ax NOAA - the folks that bring you your weather forecast in the morning.

It doesn't look like Republicans in Congress have the guts to go after the demented duo.   "Leader" Johnson is noticeably absent from the media glare.  For a change.  Across the Capitol dome, Senate Majority Leader John Thune hasn't uttered a peep.  His usual response to happenings.

So, who's going to put all the pieces back together?  Who's going to make it all better?  I liked it when our political world was more stable.  When you knew which round peg fit into which round hole.  Before the days of Musk and friend(s).

So far, there seems to be no force able to stop the political pillaging of the two.  And, it's for sure they aren't done yet.

So, here we are.  They seem unstoppable.  But, they must be stopped.  By whatever means we have.  We can't afford more of their "mucking" around.

Given the digging of Musk and friend, looks like we're about 17 inspectors general short of a good outcome.

Oh, right.  Trump fired those.