Category Archives: The Contrarian

Hamburg

licitly


Should future civilizations attempt to reconstruct American democracy — which the Supreme Court struck down last week with its presidential immunity ruling, coupled with its gutting of the Chevron rule — they may want to start with a new mantra: term limits.

For president, supreme court justice, senator, dog catcher. Anything that the public can vote on.

How many is just a math question. But the only job with lifetime security should be whoever cleans men’s toilets; you’re the real heroes.

Judges, in particular, have gotta go, regardless of ideology. No branch of government requires more flexibility, and no branch has less (plus tenure). It’s a better gig than the boss who gave it to you has.

The Supreme Court has veered sharply to the right. Recent rulings show a clear pattern: presidential immunity and the Chevron rule, which grants expertise status to judges over scientists, are just the start.

Justice Clarence Thomas has become a symbol of entrenched conservative ideology, prioritizing his personal views over public consensus. His stance on issues like Roe v. Wade and unchecked executive power is a stark reminder of the dangers of lifetime appointments.

Justice Samuel Alito’s blatant display of a states’ rights flag in his chambers is a middle finger to progressive legislation. His federalist leanings are a roadblock to national solutions for modern problems.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s religious zealotry bleeds into her judicial decisions. Her originalist dogma is out of step with today’s societal needs, turning the clock back on women’s rights, LGBT issues and education in ways Trump never imagined she could lie about.

Though justices are hardly the only ones long in the tooth. Power must be as addictive as heroine; half of Congress us nodding off.

Term limits would smash this rigidity. The average tenure of a Supreme Court justice has ballooned from 15 years in the early 20th century to 26 years today. We need fresh perspectives, not stagnant lifers.

It’s time to dismantle the structure of our judiciary. Lifelong appointments breed arrogance and stagnation.

Remind you of anybody?


Do Not Pass Go


The Supreme Court’s rulings gutting the U.S. government last week have made two political realities clear: White male Americans will do anything to retain power; and we must be stripped of it soonest.

And it starts with demonetizing journalism. In an era where misinformation runs rampant and profit-driven media outlets dominate the landscape, it is imperative that we rethink our approach to journalism. The truth, a cornerstone of democracy, should never be for sale.

Publicly funded journalism, exemplified by NPR, PBS, and the BBC, offers a model that prioritizes accuracy, integrity, and public service over corporate profits. These institutions have proven time and again that quality journalism can thrive without the influence of advertisers and shareholders.

When profit becomes a driving force in news, the pursuit of truth takes a back seat. Sensationalism, clickbait, and partisan spin replace objective reporting, leaving the public misinformed and divided.

We must treat journalism as we do our public libraries: essential pillars of a well-informed society. Just as libraries provide free access to knowledge, publicly funded media should ensure that everyone has access to reliable information.

Public funding for journalism would safeguard against the corrosive effects of corporate interests. It would allow journalists to focus on uncovering the truth without the pressure to generate revenue.

The truth should be free, accessible to all, and uncompromised by the pursuit of profit. By adopting a public funding model for journalism, we can create a media landscape that serves the public good rather than private interests.

It is time to defend and fund journalism as a vital American fixture.

Or we’ll lose that, too.