A Frank Look at America’s Formation

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(with contributor Janet Winans, Ph.D.)

The older I get, the dumber I feel. I do remember, though, being told (when I was much younger) that the more you learn, the more you realize what you don’t know. I guess that’s how life is. Seriously, my recent research on current issues – Critical Race Theory, gun violence, democracy/autocracy/fascism - has made me feel rather like an ostrich who’s had her head in the sand for decades. For a while, the learning was uplifting and invigorating, but then the strangest thing happened to me: All the pieces of the puzzle started to come together – and the image of our country’s history taking shape sickened me.

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I Oppose Gun Control!

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I am absolutely opposed to gun control. You cannot propose any sort of gun control that I’ll support. I firmly believe in the Second Amendment. No gun control!

You probably think a good portion of the American population will agree with me. Not so fast. Read to the end, and then you’ll realize that not a single American is likely to agree with me – and yet, I haven’t the tiniest doubt that I’m right and you’re all wrong. Let me explain.

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Exactly What is Critical Race Theory? (1)

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Why has Critical Race Theory (CRT) become such an explosive issue lately? I think that question is important to answer. It’s easy to say, “because those idiots believe it,” or “because those fools won’t believe it,” or some other simple explanation that puts the blame squarely on someone else and dismisses the controversy as stupid. But I don’t think it’s stupid. I think this disagreement is a microcosm of the general polarization of our country, and I believe it’s a good place to start the healing.

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My Contribution to the National Debt

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Yesterday I attended another one of those amazing classes through the Lifelong Learning Institute at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. This class was about our national debt, taught by a very smart gentleman named Bob, an economist with a corporate background. I learned a lot, but it made me mad, because I soon discovered I’ve been snookered into helping a major player evade taxes and contribute to our growing national debt.

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What we Choose to Believe

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Did lockdowns work against COVID? A week ago that question would never have crossed my mind. Of course “lockdowns,” such as they were, helped slow the spread of the virus. Of course anything we did to slow the spread “worked,” right? I mean, I’m here and I’m safe and I never had COVID, nor did my kids or their spouses. I stayed safe at home, wore a mask, did all the right things… why would I even question whether that was smart?

But then I heard someone casually toss out this comment: “They’ve found that lockdowns didn’t work, you know.” So I did what I always do in such situations: I did some research…

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Civil War in our Near Future?

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How Civil Wars Start

Barbara F. Walter

an abstract by Lynn Gerlach

I wish to offer up this terribly important, timely book in a shortened format for those Americans who don’t have the time or won’t take the time to read Walter’s book. My preference would be that you go right to the book and read the author’s own words - in full. If you’re looking for an abbreviated version, though, here it is.

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Bambloozle Me, Please!

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Note from the author: I wrote this article in 2008! Tamarack Communication did not exist then, nor was the Speakeasy open. It’s been archived and ignored for years. Today a friend’s reference to Carl Sagan and his warning about “bamboozling” brought it to mind, and I dusted it off and brought it into the Speakeasy. Imagine! We’re still wrangling with the same communication issue that plagued us 13 years ago!Why we “forward” without checking. Please check your facts before forwarding those titillating but inflammatory or prejudicial (or just plain stupid) email messages to unsuspecting voters or impressionable readers who might believe everything you send their way.

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Wakeup Call

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Ah, this pandemic. As an elected official, I listen to citizens complain about schools being closed, the affront of being asked to wear a mask in public places, and the frustration of seeing traditional parts of our local economy collapse inward and die. As an officer of my neighborhood association, I witness the frustration of trying to hold meetings for a population that just won’t (or can’t) learn to use Zoom. But, as the communication consultant for a cutting-edge nonprofit whose focus is reading signals and spotting trends in order to actually shape a preferred future, I view this pandemic as a wakeup call.

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The Garbage Can Caper - So this is my life now?

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On Monday evening I rolled my beautiful green and gold Titletown garbage cart down to my driveway’s apron and lined it up proudly with those of my neighbors. Tomorrow would be garbage pick-up day in my neighborhood, and each household would have its trash out for collection in the rolling cart the city of Green Bay had issued it. No city is prettier on garbage day than Green Bay.

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Sugar Free - Fighting the Other Pandemic

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On my own anniversary of becoming sugar free (7 years today), I am publishing this abstract of the book that started it all for me. In January 2013 I saw Dr. Lustig on TV, touting his new book; I had it downloaded to my Kindle before the end of his interview. I read it carefully. (He’s an endocrinologist; this is not light reading.) Then I bought a paper copy so I could mark it up, and I read it again.

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