Death, political cowardice and rain

It's been a week of death, political cowardice and rain.

Bondi Beach in Australia, Brown University, the murder of the Reiners and those are only the ones that made national attention. Mike Johnson not willing to allow a vote on extensions of health insurance assistance for people who depend on affordable care act insurance. Too bad the Indiana Senate Republican conscience hasn't inspired national Republicans. Atmospheric river in Oregon causing flooding, my fire fighter daughter assisting in the rescue of homeless campers (news story)

I'll admit I grew up in a protected and privileged environment. But I also grew up in an environment that didn't advocate hate. Our President's response to the murder of the Reiners is simply disgusting. Anyone who thinks it's not a revolting response from our nation's leader is an emotionally empty as our President. A Muslim risked his life to take down a gunman murdering Jews celebrating one of their holiest times. Another senseless murdering of students. At least Australian leaders aren't afraid to respond.

Political cowardice: Our national leaders not willing to allow votes that the majority of citizens would support. A President who feels the need to place his name on an institution named in memorial of a former President who didn't need to self promote himself in such a disgusting way. Politicians who only take stands that are safe, not willing to acknowledge mistakes (yes, you Salem's current mayor). 

I wish I had optimism for our political future. People talk about the negative influence of money in politics. I agree. The need to raise money to campaign for an office is a barrier to electing good people to office. I've run for and won election to office, so I know the importance of seeking money from PACs, wealthy individuals, multiple small donors in order to fund a campaign. Unless you are independently wealthy you need to raise money. And if you are independently wealthy, and you really represent the majority of your constituents?

I think elections should be publicly funded with limits set on spending and equal access to media promotions. Take the monetary influence out of elections.

I think the current primary system is wrong, it's set up to nominate the extreme candidate. In Oregon we allow only registered Democrats or Republicans to vote in primary elections, thus nominating who will appear on the general election ballots. Both parties are a minority of eligible voters. More and more people are leaving the parties, leaving the extreme left and right of the parties to elect the nominees for the general election. No wonder our elected officials would rather pontificate than find solutions thru compromise.

I guess I should talk about the rain since that was one of my opening sentence items. It's been wet here this week. Record rainfall. It hasn't been heavy rain, but steady, continuous rain that has swollen the rivers and creeks that run through Salem and other communities in Oregon. I've lived here nearly 40 years. Though the Pacific Northwest has a reputation for being rainy and dreary during the winter, this excessive. prolong rain is out of the ordinary, but becoming ordinary. A result of denying the human impacts on climate and our inability to agree on how to change it. Science is real whether one accepts it or not.