Well, it was another busy, ongoing week for the news. There are a lot of issues that are still in the midst of unfolding, but I did find a few good articles for most of the big topics that popped up this week. Have fun catching up!
Local Issues
Some of Seattle's homeless population are about to get housing!
If you've been following this story closely, like I have, you might have had a moment of panic a couple weeks ago when Wells Fargo announced that they would release Seattle from its contract early with no penalties. The only problem? We're not set up yet to put our money anywhere else. If Wells Fargo cancels our contract, we're royally messed up. As much as I would love to take our money away today, this has to be done properly or it'll be an epic disaster for our city. This can't be put off for too long, Seattle needs to find a new bank or work with the state to create a state-run bank to house this money. The problem of course, is big-banking lobbyists who keep shooting down the idea of a state bank. Are you looking for a local issue to get into? This is a good one. Research state banks, research bank lobbyists, and start writing and calling your local representatives!
Travel Ban 2.0
A good article with more information about travel ban 2.0.
Hawaii is the first state to challenge the new and "improved" travel ban.
While this is technically an opinion piece, it also explains really well what the new travel ban will and won't do, assuming it is allowed to be enacted.
Washington state is once again challenging the ban, with an interesting argument. Other states are pledging to join in the fight, as well.
The resistance to this new attempt at a travel ban has begun.
Trumpcare
Say it with me people: Trumpcare, Trumpcare, Trumpcare! Other acceptable forms include GOPCare and RepubliCare. (I made those up, but I like them!)
Trump's back-up plan for when Trumpcare inevitably fails.
A good article about the GOP's plan to replace the Affordable Care Act.
A list of the current critics of Trumpcare.
Or maybe we should call it RyanCare?
Miscellaneous
A really interesting article about when girls start to lose interest in STEM-related topics and what can be done to help combat that.
Here's a good article explaining the latest Wikileaks information "dump" regarding the CIA and what they may or may not be doing with electronics in this country.
The Supreme Court has declined to weigh in on the transgender bathroom rights issue. For now, at least. Keep an eye out on this topic.
I may not agree with Lindsay Graham on many things, but I never tire of seeing him drag Trump through the mud...
A new statue has been unearthed in Egypt. It's thought to be Ramses II.
In 2017, starvation is still very much a thing on this planet.
Now it's Texas's turn to have their gerrymandering and voter laws called into question.
Civics 101:
In this week's continuation of King George's wrongs, as listed in the Declaration of Independence:
"He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies"
Question of the Week:
Is Ben Carson dumb/stupid/an idiot for saying enslaved people who came to America during the Transatlantic Slave Trade era were immigrants who had to work really hard for less?
This opinion piece speaks to his latest gaffe, as well as some done by other people recently.
I have formed an opinion that I have yet to hear anybody else express or agree with when I mention it, but I stand by it. I will present it as my take on this issue. Ben Carson is a neurosurgeon. He went to and graduated from medical school and then worked his way up through the ranks to become a surgeon and then specialized in a very complex type of surgery. That is not the mark of a "stupid" or unintelligent man. But think about it, the medical world, is largely an old (white) boy's club, right? So he had to work his way into this world and find a way to be accepted into it. That probably meant leaving his community and his heritage behind. Have you ever noticed that Ben Carson always looks uncomfortable with everything? Like, painfully so. I think that deep down, Ben Carson hates himself. He hates the color of his skin, his heritage, his community's past, all of it. It reminds him of what he isn't, and what he had to go through to be accepted into the world he loves most. So, he ignores the past, or changes the narrative to be a little less painful. He takes out the victimization element of the history of enslaved people in the United States. It's sad when you really think about it. It's tragic, actually. White people have set up the system in such a way that a person of color has to detach themselves from their past, their heritage, in order to be accepted. It's easier for us that way, we don't have to deal with the messiness of white guilt when the person of color doesn't feel like a victim, right? It's a perfect system...for white people. I think it's an important aspect to remember when you hear him say something like he did this past week.
But what about you? What are your thoughts about this? Maybe I'm reading way too much into it and the man really is just an idiot...
Do One Thing:
Did I do the thing that I hadn't done the week before? Of course not! I had a crazy busy week at work and continued to help my sister after her surgery. I didn't even think about it once. So, once again, it becomes the one thing to do this week instead. Maybe I'll finally do it!
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