Category Archives: Social justice

Presidential ‘tweets’ on the free press

Posted on February 17, 2020 by Jim deMaine

By The Seattle Times editorial board President Donald Trump, easily fending off his remaining challenger for the Republican nomination in Iowa and New Hampshire, continues to lob insults against media organizations covering the campaign. While friction between presidents and the press … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Politics, Social justice | Comments Off on Presidential ‘tweets’ on the free press

New Zealand Ban on Most Semiautomatic Weapons Takes Effect

Posted on December 29, 2019 by Jim deMaine

The law, passed after the Christchurch massacre in March, outlaws military-style semiautomatic weapons and assault rifles. It will be enforced as a gun buyback and amnesty program ends amid debate. A sweeping nationwide ban on most semiautomatic weapons took effect … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Crime, Guns, Social justice | Comments Off on New Zealand Ban on Most Semiautomatic Weapons Takes Effect

The Center for an Informed Public

Posted on December 27, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary M. for bring this to our attention: The Center for an Informed Public officially launched on Dec. 3, 2019, with an event on the UW campus. The event featured UW President Ana Mari Cauce and Washington State … Continue reading →

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A regional solution to homelessness is long overdue. Ask those on the front lines

Posted on December 17, 2019 by Jim deMaine

From Crosscut: At this moment, as winter descends in the Pacific Northwest, there are well over 11,000 people living unsheltered and unhoused in King County. Many are veterans and single parents. Many are escaping abusive households, have lost jobs, have experienced eviction … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Essays, Homeless, Safety, Social justice | Comments Off on A regional solution to homelessness is long overdue. Ask those on the front lines

Lovers in Auschwitz, Reunited 72 Years Later. He Had One Question.

Posted on December 9, 2019 by Jim deMaine

From the NYT: The first time he spoke to her, in 1943, by the Auschwitz crematory, David Wisnia realized that Helen Spitzer was no regular inmate. Zippi, as she was known, was clean, always neat. She wore a jacket and … Continue reading →

Posted in end of life, History, Social justice, War | Comments Off on Lovers in Auschwitz, Reunited 72 Years Later. He Had One Question.

Reach out, listen, be patient. Good arguments can stop extremism

Posted on November 24, 2019 by Jim deMaine

From Aeon: Many of my best friends think that some of my deeply held beliefs about important issues are obviously false or even nonsense. Sometimes, they tell me so to my face. How can we still be friends? Part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Race, Social justice | Comments Off on Reach out, listen, be patient. Good arguments can stop extremism

Aaron Sorkin: An Open Letter to Mark Zuckerberg

Posted on November 2, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Mark, In 2010, I wrote “The Social Network” and I know you wish I hadn’t. You protested that the film was inaccurate and that Hollywood didn’t understand that some people build things just for the sake of building them. (We … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Education, Media, Politics, Social justice | 1 Comment

Edgy art from Bellingham

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Ann M for finding this in the NYT BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The year is 2019, the place is the United States, and a black man walks into a foundry wanting to cast some bronze grenades. This is how … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Social justice | Comments Off on Edgy art from Bellingham

Nutrition takeaway proposal cited as dangerous

Posted on September 20, 2019 by Jim deMaine
Posted in Advocacy, Food, Social justice, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Nutrition takeaway proposal cited as dangerous

The Ethical Mess of Our Health Care System

Posted on August 17, 2019 by Jim deMaine

When dialysis was invented in the 1960’s Congress decided that it would be too expensive for insurance companies, so they decided to cover the care of chronic renal disease for any age – basically the government became a single payer … Continue reading →

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Hedge Fund Legend Ray Dalio On The Economy

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Ray Dalio talks about the wealth and opportunity gap that he considers a major problem in our country. He compares the rise of populism to the 1930’s. Conflict is predicted unless conditions improve. From Wikipedia: Raymond Dalio (born August … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance, History, Politics, Social justice | Comments Off on Hedge Fund Legend Ray Dalio On The Economy

The Mueller Report – in Podcast by Lawfare

Posted on July 21, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Have you really read the Mueller Report? Or did you stay up all night at Town Hall listening to the non-stop reading? Or have you at least bought the book? Most of us including me, would sheepishly say … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Education, Law, Media, Politics, Social justice | Comments Off on The Mueller Report – in Podcast by Lawfare

Undocumented and afraid: ‘I don’t know how else to beg to be seen’

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Jim deMaine

A local writer reflects on fear, family and fatigue as the Trump administration prepares to mount deportation raids in cities across the country. My oldest child, 10, is precocious, charismatic and bright beyond her years. She starred in her school’s play … Continue reading →

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One Year of Mandatory National Service For Every American?

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Jim deMaine

By Lauren Katzenberg in the New York Times. Thanks to Pamela P for this. What are your thoughts on national service? Should it be two years? Seventy-three years ago, The Times reported that the United States Army demobilized its seven millionth soldier after the end of World War II. When I unearthed this … Continue reading →

Posted in Social justice, Volunteering, War | 1 Comment

The New York Times cuts all political cartoons, and cartoonists are not happy

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Jim deMaine

The New York Times is again making news for how it handles editorial cartoons — or in the latest turn, will not handle editorial cartoons. Beginning next month, the Times will cease running daily political cartoons in its international edition, editorial page … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Humor, Media, Politics, Social justice | Comments Off on The New York Times cuts all political cartoons, and cartoonists are not happy

Juneteenth 2019 and the Black National Anthem

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Jim deMaine

From Wikepedia: Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is an American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas, and more generally the emancipation of enslaved African Americansthroughout the former Confederate States of America. Texas was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Music, Race, Social justice | 1 Comment

San Francisco to force treatment on mentally ill drug users

Posted on June 5, 2019 by Jim deMaine

When I worked at Firland TB Sanatorium, those with suspect tuberculosis were required to be off the streets and hospitalized there. And if they didn’t comply, they were placed in a locked ward where they received medical treatment as well … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Advocacy, Homeless, Law, Poverty, Social justice | Comments Off on San Francisco to force treatment on mentally ill drug users

Should the Electoral College Be Eliminated? 15 States Are Trying to Make It Obsolete

Posted on June 1, 2019 by Jim deMaine

By Jose A. Del Real and Julie Turkewitz from the New York Times Thanks to Diane C for sending this along. The man who helped invent scratch-off lottery tickets now has his sights set on a bigger prize: overhauling the way the United States elects presidents. On Tuesday, … Continue reading →

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It’s time for national service

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Ed Note: One of the problems of youth is that they don’t have enough exposure to those different from themselves. A sense of entitlement is often attributed to the millenials. Service when we are young in the Military, Peace Corps … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Law, Military, Social justice, Volunteering | Comments Off on It’s time for national service

As Afghanistan peace talks progress, WA continues to suffer losses in America’s longest war

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Jim deMaine

For 18 years Joint Base Lewis-McChord has played an essential role in a war that has been forgotten by many Americans.  by Kevin Knodell from Crosscut / May 27, 2019 Last week President Donald Trump’s envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, briefed U.S. senators in a classified meeting. Khalilzad, … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Remembrances, Social justice, War | Comments Off on As Afghanistan peace talks progress, WA continues to suffer losses in America’s longest war

Biggest World Problems

Posted on May 23, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Here’s a list made up by my favorite 8th grader. What’s your list? It’s a little shy on the “what can I do to help” but she’s still got time – especially when she becomes President!

Posted in Advocacy, Climate, Education, environment, Finance, Health, Politics, Poverty, Social justice | Comments Off on Biggest World Problems

‘Hand to Mouth’ by Linda Tirado

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary M for sending this along: So why do poor people seem so self destructive. Well, “Our bodies hurt, our brains hurt, and our souls hurt.” Poor people are exhausted, degraded, angry and depressed most days of their … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Homeless, Poverty, Social justice | Comments Off on ‘Hand to Mouth’ by Linda Tirado

Population growth through time

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Jim deMaine
Posted in Aging Sites, Social justice | Comments Off on Population growth through time

Our Disgrace at the Border by David Brooks

Posted on April 12, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Suppose one night there is a knock on your door. You open it to find 100 bedraggled families shivering in your yard — exhausted, filthy, terrified. The first cry of your heart would be to take them in, but you’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Law, Politics, Race, Social justice | Comments Off on Our Disgrace at the Border by David Brooks

A black man’s dialogue with the KKK

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Gordon G. An amazing dialogue brings about understanding and change.

Posted in Essays, Race, Social justice | Comments Off on A black man’s dialogue with the KKK