Recent Comments
Re: “An interfaith inquiry into War, Peace, and History”
It’s tragic that in 2007, Hamas took over the leadership of Gaza, after the failed leadership of the Palestinian Authority - though they still provide some shadow of legal control in the West Bank … but I don’t think anyone who is not “on the ground” could forecast the preferences of those Gazans who survive the Israeli attacks. Hamas is willing to sacrifice any number of Gazan civilians in order to achieve its major goal which is, fundamentally, to get attention. They now have our attention.
Re: “Looking for impartiality”
The fact is that last December, the former President DID call for TERMINATION of the Constitution in order to retain power - and as the Federal and Georgia state indictments both indicate, he led a massive conspiracy to launch an insurrection to violently interfere with the orderly processing of the Electoral College votes by the Congress on January 6. He surely violated his oath of office and it is increasingly evident that he violated both State and Federal law. We’ll let a jury decide - actually, several juries - but already, Federal courts have meted out sentences that amount to a total of 721 years to defendants in over 1,000 courtrooms as we try to heal the damage this man has already inflicted on the Constitution and on our democracy.
Re: “We need to find common ground as we head toward the next election”
Chrysb521, I echo your call for our Republican neighbors to speak out and identify any areas they possibly could where there might be "common ground." I know that there are many Republicans in this community who feel the same way we do, but they are too often intimidated by the MAGA crowd. It's time to come forward and let us know that you're still willing to work within the democracy that we've enjoyed in this country for 234 years (well, those of us who are citizens and for many, for a lot FEWER than 234 years!)
Marco Chomo - I encourage you to get to know our local roster of elected officials. Most of them, in my experience, are in fact VERY interested in helping people in the communities they serve.
And Jay Bonestell - I have to admit that I share your observations of the national GOP and the SLO County Republican Party leadership has not done anything in the last few years to earn our respect and collaboration. I'll never give up trying, however.
Re: “The semantics of 'gender war' politics”
John, I do believe that you're the only guy I know who needs a lecture to understand the difference between "gender" and "sex." So if you don't mind, I'll provide you with a lecture... nah, on second thought. I'll just go ahead and ask, "Are you getting any GENDER lately?"
Re: “SLO Council Needs to Swing for the Fences in Rental Housing Crisis”
Thanks for weighing in, John Donegan. May I assume that you are supportive of the my first bullet point at the end, then? I proposed that the City provide some incentives to the owners of rental properties that comply with our basic health and safety standards - and only those landlords - to install such energy-saving devices as solar panels, improved insulation, energy-efficient appliances, and EV chargers? (I'm expecting that you would object to the cost, but there are already several programs that offer such grants or tax rebates through Federal, State, or non-profit organizations, but they mostly get gobbled up by owner-occupants. Remodeling and even development of new rental housing can and should be able to qualify for these incentivizes and often this sector of our housing stock gets short shrift. For the sake of our climate AND social justice, we should be focusing these tools - many of which already exist - to focus on the nearly 2/3 of our housing stock that are renter-occupied.
Re: “SLO Council Needs to Swing for the Fences in Rental Housing Crisis”
Thanks John! I always try to be constructively critical.
Images Submitted by John Ashbaugh
Re: “Epidemic of loneliness”
This topic of our national epidemic of loneliness continues to find oxygen, as in this story heard on KCBX/NPR Morning Edition on Monday morning, December 4: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/…
Jeremy Nobel's new book, Project Unlonely, would be a good addition to anyone's library.
Bottom line: If you're lonely, you're not alone. And your health is diminished as a result. Do something about it.