Hillery eventually learned not to say everything that came to mind. Some were too good not to write down.
Like a lot of us, I want to see myself as one of the good ones, a white ally. But I can’t do that just by being good to the people I know, by welcoming the company of a diverse array of people. I have to spend a lot more time than I would otherwise chose to in all white spaces in order to make a difference to people of color. And I didn’t see that coming.
Fellow white people, in case I’ve been too vague, I’m talking to you. I don’t want to fight, but I have to say this out loud and in a permanent place because trying to talk to you one-on-one whenever this comes up is exhausting. So here it is.
All together, as your average citizen looking to credible news sources and government budget publications, I gather that we could be spending up to 1.5 cents on every tax dollar to pay for the food, housing, and healthcare of people who do not care to work to take care of themselves. I'm not saying that's not a lot, but I don't think it's the hardship my high school friend imagines it to be. And I'm not saying it's right, but it's not wrong enough to condemn our admittedly flawed social safety net.
A national health care plan is the most basic safety net conceivable because before you can count on retirement or even pursue happiness, you have to maintain your health--you have to live. Any democracy should be able to protect its citizens at least as far as their health is concerned and we are a great democracy. And if you cannot bring yourself to believe my arguments, I defy you not to have learned in the last year months that you never know quite what is around the corner and you very well may be the next American in need of help from your government.
Government is distinct from politics, one is a matter of service and the other of self-interest. Not much good can come with the latter in domination and this President is trying to do something about that...and it makes me feel like this is the leader I've been waiting for my whole idealistic little life!
In forming our more perfect union, please note that no nexus of information collected on its citizens was part of the plan. In fact the opposite is true, agency information largely stays within that agency. If you're going to flout the very model of democracy you might as well go back to China and call it a day.
We wanted to get beyond the two catch-alls of American politics, the Democratic and Republican parties, and see where people actually stand. Parties can bring together people with marginally differing values and make collective action easier. But party platforms can misrepresent their constituents, and blind loyalty to a party can convince individuals to harbor inconsistent views.