Our new yard sign to send the message to preserve our health programs in the United States.
Join us for Linda’s One-Liner Wednesdays! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2025/05/07/one-liner-wednesday-this-wont-do/
Sign that a friend made for the Hands Off! gatherings on Saturday, April 5, 2025 with a quote from Cory Booker‘s record-breaking speech in the United States Senate: “This is a moral moment.”
Join us for Linda’s One-Liner Wednesdays! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2025/04/09/one-liner-wednesday-good-call/
Vote for Democracy #36
There is a debate in the United States about what it means to be patriotic.
Some people connect patriotism with militarism or with waving a flag but I think that is not what true patriotism is.
Our Constitution begins “We the People” and lays out the purposes for which “We the People” are organizing their government.
Among these purposes is to “promote the general welfare.” It’s not to make as much money as I can personally. It’s certainly not make as much money as I can by exploiting others and not paying a fair share in taxes.
Another purpose is to “secure the blessings of liberty” for ourselves and future generations. It’s not about each individual doing whatever they personally want if it infringes on the rights and freedoms of others. A patriot can’t say whatever they want while denying that right to everyone else.
It’s alarming how Trump/Musk/Vance are trampling on “We the People” and our rights while ignoring the very purpose of our government as laid out in the Preamble of our Constitution. They are also ignoring or warping the Articles and Amendments that don’t fit their power grab.
The true patriots are those speaking out and working toward the ideals of “We the People.” Many of them, at least half a million in over 1,000 locations, are gathering today to say “Hands Off!” to the oligarchs and DT’s administration and the militias like the Proud Boys and anyone at the federal, state, or local level that is trying to take our rights and votes and our legitimate ability to govern ourselves that are laid out in the Constitution.
There are many more than those half million who won’t be able to be out there but who are working within their own spheres of influence to stand up for the United States and “We the People.” I wrote yesterday about how my health is keeping me from being out on the street today but my heart is with those who are peacefully protesting and telling DT et al “Hands Off!”
True patriots say “Hands Off!” our rights, our freedoms, our education, our environmental protections, our health care, our bodies, our neighbors, our safety, our freedom to worship or not, our words.
We the People are the Patriots. We are the government. Our elected officials are to represent us, not overlook “the general welfare” to take all power and money and property for themselves.
Thank you to all the true patriots who are working to make our government function properly and recognize that it’s about “We the People,” not about them and their personal wealth and power.
*****
Linda’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday this was to base the post on pat or a word that contained pat. Join us! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2025/04/04/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-5-2025/
Vote for Democracy #35
(Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash)
Tomorrow, April 5, 2025, there will be hundreds of gatherings across the United States for a Hands Off! day of action. There are even some events in other countries.
These nonviolent marches, rallies, and discussions are in protest of the way that Donald Trump and Elon Musk are gutting legitimate government programs that support the well-being of people and the environment, both in the US and around the world.
Many organizations are helping to organize these gatherings, all with the message of Hands Off! So, Hands Off Climate! Hands Off Health Care! Hands Off Hunger Programs! Hands Off USAID! Hands Off Education! Hands Off National Parks! and more. People will be making signs and creating chants across a wide range of issues that matter to them and to all of us.
While it’s unknown if these large numbers of people coming out across the country will have any impact on the cuts that Trump/Musk/DOGE are making, even when the courts say those cuts are illegal and Congress fails to act, it’s possible. Some cuts have been reversed or service restored after public outcry.
Part of this is to show the Republicans and the Trump administration just how appalling their actions are and how many millions of Americans object to them and want them reversed.
Ordinarily, I would be signed up and ready to participate in the local rally, but my health is preventing me from being there. It feels wrong not to be participating, but I have to trust that many others will be giving voice to my concerns in person, while I am confined to writing about it and calling my representatives. I’m also supporting some of the participating organizations.
I had intended to write more posts about what the administration was doing and the impacts of the insane cuts and policy changes; I just haven’t had the energy to do it. More tests and specialists coming up, so maybe things will get better – eventually.
With the country, I’m not so sure…
Joanne Corey 