Am I missing something, or can this be condensed to: Good luck, folks, this one's on you! Have coherent, specific demands. Vote downticket. Here's a flyer and links to more resources. He's not...
Am I missing something, or can this be condensed to:
Good luck, folks, this one's on you!
Have coherent, specific demands.
Vote downticket.
Here's a flyer and links to more resources.
He's not wrong, but it's also kind of bland. Is someone else more inspired by this? I confess I was hoping for something more rousing, but I get that he's in a tenuous position as prior POTUS when it comes to being too encouraging of mass protests against his successor.
I feel like having coherent, specific goals and working locally to achieve them are both very important and sadly neglected. But, admittedly this was a bland way to advocate for them.
I feel like having coherent, specific goals and working locally to achieve them are both very important and sadly neglected. But, admittedly this was a bland way to advocate for them.
Obama is someone who is unfailingly thoughtful and measured in his words. He does not use them frivolously. I admired this about him when he was president, and this trait came into even sharper...
Obama is someone who is unfailingly thoughtful and measured in his words. He does not use them frivolously. I admired this about him when he was president, and this trait came into even sharper focus after he left office and we got to contrast his careful considerations with Trump's firehose of inanity and bile. This article doesn't come across as bland to me; it comes across as the type of presidential leadership that has been missing in the US for years now.
If vote downticket means voting at local levels, then yes. It's basically that, all topped off with a link to the Obama foundation and please won't you donate. Also, fun side fact, Obama is still...
If vote downticket means voting at local levels, then yes. It's basically that, all topped off with a link to the Obama foundation and please won't you donate.
Also, fun side fact, Obama is still referred to as president on the site, on a post that was recently written. Is it usual to refer to ex-presidents by their past title or is this just a thing by Obama?
Problem is, the GOP has been messing with voting and democracy since at least REDMAP in 2011 and red states have been introducing hard to get voter ID since at least Indiana in 2002 (under Bush 43...
Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.
Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. But the elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local levels.
It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout in these local races is usually pitifully low, especially among young people — which makes no sense given the direct impact these offices have on social justice issues, not to mention the fact that who wins and who loses those seats is often determined by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, votes.
Problem is, the GOP has been messing with voting and democracy since at least REDMAP in 2011 and red states have been introducing hard to get voter ID since at least Indiana in 2002 (under Bush 43 who got elected by the a Supreme Court decision to stop a recount and give it to him against the popular vote) so I find this to be kinda hollow.
That makes it a bit harder but it's no reason to give up. Getting people ID's can be done, for example. Also the low turnouts of the past mean lots of room for improvement.
That makes it a bit harder but it's no reason to give up. Getting people ID's can be done, for example.
Also the low turnouts of the past mean lots of room for improvement.
I’m trying to get one now since my old license is about to expire. To do so I need: 2 documents that prove my address such as a lease or a utility bill Proof of citizenship, such as a passport or...
Getting people ID's can be done, for example.
I’m trying to get one now since my old license is about to expire. To do so I need:
2 documents that prove my address such as a lease or a utility bill
Proof of citizenship, such as a passport or a birth certificate
To go to a DMV in a part of the city that is not accessible by transit during regular business hours to turn it in, likely including waiting in line for 30 min to an hour
And I live in a fairly progressive city that is not out to suppress votes. It’s not all that easy, especially if you don’t have a stable home address (move a lot) or don’t have easy access to all your paperwork.
That's not particularly awful. To get a passport in Russia – the kind that lets you travel outside the country – you need: your internal passport any previous foreign passports you have (that...
That's not particularly awful. To get a passport in Russia – the kind that lets you travel outside the country – you need:
your internal passport
any previous foreign passports you have (that haven't expired yet)
proof of name change (if you have any)
your military ticket (the document you receive after you finish your conscription service in Russia; needed if you're a male between 18 and 27, which is the age range where conscription is mandatory)
permission for foreign travel (if you serve in the Russian law enforcement and military services)
a photo
In contrast, to get a military ticket:
internal passport
education diploma
taxpayer ID (the local equivalent of the American Social Security Number)
pension insurance ID (mandatory in Russia)
marriage certificate (if any)
child's birth certificates (if any)
driver's license (if any)
homeplace registration ticket (getting which is another bureaucratic process)
photo ×3, in a specific format
conscript-eligible paper (given to you when you're in condition to serve: of age, finished whatever education you may have attended, and without disability)
workplace ticket (if employed)
To get the homeplace registration ticket...
No, I'm not gonna do that.
Basically: you're doing alright if that's all you need.
I can't even begin to tell you what you need to renew your driver's license in Russia 'cause I couldn't find a coherent set of details on the site that's supposed to help you with that.
I can't even begin to tell you what you need to renew your driver's license in Russia 'cause I couldn't find a coherent set of details on the site that's supposed to help you with that.
Am I missing something, or can this be condensed to:
He's not wrong, but it's also kind of bland. Is someone else more inspired by this? I confess I was hoping for something more rousing, but I get that he's in a tenuous position as prior POTUS when it comes to being too encouraging of mass protests against his successor.
I feel like having coherent, specific goals and working locally to achieve them are both very important and sadly neglected. But, admittedly this was a bland way to advocate for them.
Obama is someone who is unfailingly thoughtful and measured in his words. He does not use them frivolously. I admired this about him when he was president, and this trait came into even sharper focus after he left office and we got to contrast his careful considerations with Trump's firehose of inanity and bile. This article doesn't come across as bland to me; it comes across as the type of presidential leadership that has been missing in the US for years now.
If vote downticket means voting at local levels, then yes. It's basically that, all topped off with a link to the Obama foundation and please won't you donate.
Also, fun side fact, Obama is still referred to as president on the site, on a post that was recently written. Is it usual to refer to ex-presidents by their past title or is this just a thing by Obama?
All American presidents may use the honorific "President" for life .
How unfortunate, given the current aberration in office who's actions do not making him deserving of that title in the first place.
I’m pretty sure it’s normal to keep being called President “X” after having left office.
Problem is, the GOP has been messing with voting and democracy since at least REDMAP in 2011 and red states have been introducing hard to get voter ID since at least Indiana in 2002 (under Bush 43 who got elected by the a Supreme Court decision to stop a recount and give it to him against the popular vote) so I find this to be kinda hollow.
That makes it a bit harder but it's no reason to give up. Getting people ID's can be done, for example.
Also the low turnouts of the past mean lots of room for improvement.
I’m trying to get one now since my old license is about to expire. To do so I need:
2 documents that prove my address such as a lease or a utility bill
Proof of citizenship, such as a passport or a birth certificate
To go to a DMV in a part of the city that is not accessible by transit during regular business hours to turn it in, likely including waiting in line for 30 min to an hour
And I live in a fairly progressive city that is not out to suppress votes. It’s not all that easy, especially if you don’t have a stable home address (move a lot) or don’t have easy access to all your paperwork.
That's not particularly awful. To get a passport in Russia – the kind that lets you travel outside the country – you need:
In contrast, to get a military ticket:
To get the homeplace registration ticket...
No, I'm not gonna do that.
Basically: you're doing alright if that's all you need.
This is for a drivers license, not a passport. Passports have a whole separate set of requirements.
I can't even begin to tell you what you need to renew your driver's license in Russia 'cause I couldn't find a coherent set of details on the site that's supposed to help you with that.