Define dictatorship.  The hierarchical character of styles of bureaucracy such as capitalism and communism seem to lend themselves to authoritarian abuse.

https://www.aol.com/news/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-161145164.html        —

For more than three hours, investigators presented findings alleging Paxton sought to hide an affair, misused his office to help a donor, skirted protocols “grossly outside” norms and built a culture of fear and retaliation in his office. Investigators told the GOP-led House General Investigating Committee that there was evidence that Paxton repeatedly broke the law over the years, including by misusing official information, abusing his official capacity and retaliation.–end of aol info–

Women seem prominent today in one’s notice.  One of the persistently quietly courageous women in my life has been Remaloeb– https://www.facebook.com/rema.loeb/posts/pfbid02hzSbfGoNeUFueuKL1XuhngJTeDZE2ja5byAhSx3CbeZv9gQAhZQuBPqLJk36eQPKl        —

One day Albert Einstein wrote on the board….

–end of remaloeb info—-

The following is of interest not due to personal impact, but rather due to exemplification of a curious cronyism lately in the Southern Tier of NYS.

https://www.binghamton.edu/cce/vote/issues.html   —

• Length: 4 years
• Function: Serves as administrative head of town government, presides at town board meetings, sets the agenda, and may appoint members to committees to assist the Board in the performance of its duties.
• Democratic Candidates:
  • Maria Sexton (D)
  • John Schaffer (D) 

–end of binghamton info–

Several thoughts threaded together on the Vestal, NY topic–

*https://www.wbng.com/2022/10/13/sparks-fly-vestal-town-board-meeting-over-bunn-hill-housing-project/

*Town Board meetings are precisely the forum for citizens to voice thoughts

*In the Southern Tier a law was proposed and one thinks passed that permits arrest if a law enforcement officer dislikes the attitude of a private citizen.  Many women know this is frighteningly close to the prelude to domestic violence justification.  And so it moves to the street.

https://justtalk.blog/index.php/2019/12/05/broome-countys-censorship-bill-its-all-about-the-police/  –The Broome County annoyance bill fits right in, taking aim at growing protests by multiple community organizations at deaths and abuse in the jails, unaccountable and harsh policing in schools and on our streets, and the long-term diversion of funds from mental health and drug treatment into policing and jailing residents by the thousands.  The new bill would counter this directly by criminalizing anyone who annoys or harasses police.

There were no such attempts at deception when the bill was introduced at a press conference in October. Reynolds then introduced the bill standing alongside not firefighters or EMT personnel, but next to Binghamton Mayor Richard David and former Broome County Undersheriff, and current part-time patrolman, Senator Akshar. Reynolds at that time was quite clear:  the bill was explicitly modeled after and designed to support Akshar’s Senate bill that would make harassment of police a hate crime.[7] –

The current county bills advance these efforts by making it a crime to “annoy” or “alarm” an officer.

—————end of justtalk info–

*https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/bc-sheriffs-office-adds-two-public-safety-town-halls/  –Sheriff Fred Akshar, Undersheriff Sammy Davis, and other members of the BCSO will be on hand to discuss public safety issues, answer questions, and share progress from the new administration.

*Not illegal but surely notable is a Broome County Deputy Sheriff endorsed into the office of NYS Senator by the Sheriff of the time, both endorsing a DA candidate, passing a law in the NYS Senate to encourage “crack down” of “protesters” that strengthens control by law enforcement, and then veering back into the role of Sheriff to again promote endorsement of a DA of his choice.

*The Southern Tier of NYS is a hotbed of responsible citizens who authority may wish to better control

*https://www.realdemocracy4vestal.com/  –Committed to respect, transparency, and communication

These thoughts are anecdotal and worthy of note by the public.

Our women politicians are possibly a change to the right direction, depending on the independence of each from patriarchy.  One such politician is Marianne Williamson who is running for President on the Democratic ticket.  —  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-DCJBBBL6s            —

Marianne Williamson: We need a 21st Century Economic Bill of Rights

–end of mariannewilliamson info–

Another woman deserving of mention is Tina Turner, who one was sad to hear has left this mortal plane.  Her honesty and essence are an inspiration.  Her celebrity illumined that which many women own who function similarly outside of the approval of patriarchy.

https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/tina-turner-buddhism-saved-my-life-suicide-attempt-9494566/  —

Thankfully, she was taken to the hospital, where she recovered. “Not long after that, a number of people suggested I try chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and studying Buddhist principles,” she continued. “The more I learned about it, the more I found the philosophy helpful, and it made perfect sense to me. Buddhism literally saved my life, and I’ve been happily chanting every day for about 50 years now.”–end of billboard info–

Not to suggest Buddhism isn’t patriarchal but rather that it has turned the corner for many people.  A personal concept drawn from this practice is that one needn’t love everyone because who can do that, but one can understand compassion for everyone when one has come to understand compassion for oneself.

C-Span airs comments from lawmakers.  At about 930AM Rep. Brittany Petersen-D-Colorado shared a personal story about addiction within her circle that was honest and included the 5-year successful rehabilitation that began with hospitalization rather than incarceration.  This is an important anecdote from one who has first-hand understanding about an American problem.

Boys and their toys and their presumptions of primacy may not be an acceptable governing model.  —  https://mronline.org/2023/05/24/u-s-foreign-policy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=u-s-foreign-policy&mc_cid=bea6372514&mc_eid=2833cdb99b         –There is a lot of talk lately about the federal budget, with Democrats and Republicans arguing over whether to raise the debt ceiling and allow the government to borrow enough money to fund already approved agency budgets and programs. But you know what they never argue about—financing the military.

One reason we spend a lot is that our government and corporations have an expansive view of our national interest, one that takes in the entire globe. And they want a military presence everywhere to defend it. As the military analyst William Hartung points out, we have “750 U.S. military bases scattered on every continent except Antarctica, 170,000 troops stationed overseas, and counterterror operations in at least 85–no, that is not a typo–countries.” China, in contrast, has a total of eight foreign military bases, one in Djibouti and the rest on human-made islands in the South China Sea.

–end of mronline info–
****

As one who would be perfectly contented to retain the Senate if they adhered to Oaths of Office more than to Citizens United campaign donations, one is interested in a topic raised as to the reason we maintain the US Senate—-

 This is a reminder of how much we don’t know.  This brings one around to Howie Hawkins, who continues to impress with original thought.  We also could acknowledge Hawkins often speaks to censored information.
One such topic about which one would never have even considered, is whether the USA needs The Senate.  Apparently The Senate is little other than expensive window dressing, promoting hierarchical interests, and too often placed in positions of power by big-money via Citizens United.  But the public gets to fund this curiosity of pompous supremacy.  Who knew?
The Democratic Branch of the Republican/Democratic Duopoly are especially functional in voter suppression—–https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNbdkuU1edw          —#GreenSocialist Notes #76
Howie Hawkins brings up the concept of whether the USA needs the Senate.  Apparently according to some people, the Senate isn’t necessary.  This brings up the blockage from the Senate of many bills that would benefit We The People.  Combined with Citizens United that promotes big-money interest choice of Senators, in which laws are passed that benefit big-money interest rather than We The People, and that We The People support economically, the members of the Senate, this seems a good topic for discussion.
The US Constitution doesn’t seem to sanction elections run by political Parties, and to permit control of political debates by political Parties seems equally corrupt.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ7kn2-GEmM       —

Ross Perot in 1992 on NAFTA and the “Giant Sucking Sound”

Centralization is the lifeblood of the R&D duopoly.  It’s the way to enforce capitalism onto workers in 2022.———————–We can do better———-

That “we are a 2-Party system” is a fabrication of the Republican/Democratic duopoly and spread by MSM.  In FACT the majority of voters aren’t either registered Democratic or Republican.  The censorship about this info must be envied by bureaucrats of the Former USSR and their simplistic style of 1-Party elections.  

Regardless of which character sits in the Oval Office, We The People have work to do to maintain principles of our democratic (small d) Constitutional republic.  Several items to challenge—*We need the integrity of ranked-choice voting so voters won’t feel compelled to “hold your nose and vote”*Censored debates must be stopped.  The Democratic/Republican duopoly pretends to legitimate debates in what is nothing other than another campaign show.  Independent debates run by uninterested sponsors such as The League of Women Voters, must be restored.  (Access www.debates.org to understand the extent of duopoly control).  The so-called Debate Commission is a corporation to promote the Democratic corporation and Republican corporation, not to inform We The People*Challenge and stop gerrymandering that is a trick especially of the Republican branch of the duopoly.*Stop voter suppression by political Parties, and especially confront and stop Party suppression, which is the over-arching approach to voter suppression.  Party suppression seems to have been the responsibility of the Democratic corporation*Promote by law ranked-choice voting, so we won’t be told again, by D&R duopoly, to “hold your nose and vote”
If these issues are handled, our next elections can be honorable. 
*******************************************************************https://news.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx—-Political Party affiliation of voters.
    https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-refuses-help-perpetrate-fraud–LEAGUE REFUSES TO “HELP PERPETRATE A FRAUD”

WITHDRAWS SUPPORT FROM FINAL PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE–end of lwv info–Murray Bookchin, who founded social ecology, a theory that strongly influenced early Green Socialist thought, strongly advocated the discussion and study group as the first step of any revolutionary movement. A group of individuals meets to expand their knowledge of radical thought and form a radical intellectual community; through the give and take of discussion, can eventually form ideas for next steps in organizing and political activity. According to Bookchin, study groups help create solidarity and a shared language — with a shared coherent vision — for building a mass, organizing, political movement!