What a bunch of nitwits. We have them in Iowa, too. Legislating one version of morality is a losing effort. Kind of like prohibition. Thanks for the good work you do, Jess. You don’t just fight against dumb legislation, you let everyone know their voice is an important weapon against fascism. Happy New Year. May your light spread and muffle the voices of the ignorant.
If you have to legislate your religion, you've already lost because you have admitted that your prosleytizing/convincing doesn't work. The step after that is religio-political violence. Welcome to the American version of the Irish "Troubles."
Welcome to the faux-Christian version of Sharia law. You know, the one that the bubbas are all up in arms about? Such hypocrites! Anything to subjugate women...
I'm at a loss to understand what Kehoe's end game is with all the tax cuts. What's his aim? How can the state pass a budget with no revenue? He is even dumber than I thought, did he look at Brownback & Kansas. I was working at a school district in Ks. when all this went down. What a cluster!
He doesn’t “really want to do it but his donors are pressuring him”?! Ask him again why white men should be in charge if they are so weak as to submit to something they know is wrong?
I guess this will be sold as a win for the average citizen since they will have more disposable income. With more disposable income, private entities elect to raise the cost of things, so in the end you pay more. The republicans have really brainwashed people to hate the word taxes - I have seen the reaction to some acquaintances in Florida, they sounded like it was a communist's takeover. Taxes serve everybody equally, helping the municipality and state thus the citizens in general rather than the fat cats. It is not always about saving a buck.
Republicans want to eliminate income taxes, not all taxes. They want to replace income taxes with sales tax. It was once called "fair tax". I'm not sure what is fair about regressive taxes, but big money Republicans don't want to pay taxes. And really don't care about anyone else.
Billionaires are running the government. Billionaires want a yacht just like Bezos. Billionaires have figured out a way to justify greed as being grace from God and good for America.
They have tapped into the "Prosperity Gospel" of the evangelicals that says riches are indeed given by God, and poverty is punishment by God. They conveniently ignore the Bible verses that say exactly the opposite, to keep ignorant Joe Schmoes from saying "hey wait a minute!".
Referring to legislators as idiots or nitwits undermines the true nature of what is happening. These are not stupid people. In fact some of them have to be quite smart to carry out a seizure of Missouri and other states. They are hard right ideologues and followers who strongly believe in government by the rich, supremacy of the white race and of white men. In short, this a war between classes. Right now the class of wealth has the public in full rout. That can change. Part of the change has to be to identify your enemy and recognize their intent.
No one these days refers to Hitler’s nation as a bunch of nitwits. They were a machine. They had to be taken down.
That was the intent. Ronald Reagan ... Government is the problem. I hope it or something like it catches on. It seems like billionaires are getting you and I to fight each other while they take the money to the bank.
I hope we realize it soon. I also hope the Democrats realize billionaires are controlling them also.
While the effects of the Democrats is not as catastrophic to us as the Republican billionaires, we still see policies like giving companies billions to bring back manufacturing jobs because they pay more rather than making the service jobs that are already here pay like manufacturing jobs. Billionaires won't like paying higher salaries, so Democrats don't pursue it.
Imagine what income inequality would look like if service jobs paid like manufacturing jobs.
I see Jess with Blue Missouri trying to get more Democrats on the ballots, so voters have a choice and see Democrats. I often wonder, if, at this time, it wouldn't be better to have that choice be for an independent candidate rather than a Democrat.
An independent would be more likely to be elected in many red areas. Until the Democrats find a way to steer clear of the billionaires and develop a platform that doesn't favor big money, the independent name tag may be more effective.
People frequently confuse cunning for intelligence. You don’t have to be intellectually bright to be cunning. Plus these alleged legislators are using the political intellectual output of the likes of ALEC, so all they have to do is cut and paste draconian legislation. No thinking involved.
If sanity ever regains control of politics in the US - something that looks less likely as the Christian Nationalists tear down democracy - I'd be happy to put in place something that would guarantee a majority of women in elected positions. Clearly, we men are horrible at being in charge of anything this side of flipping burgers o a BBQ. And even that competence is up for debate.
Well, it depends on the woman. There are a lot of MAGA women, drawn by the desire to exercise power indirectly (see Susie Wiles) who I do not want to see in government. Consider the cautionary tale of Elise Stefanik, who began as a moderate Republican, transformed into a MAGA monster, and has now been discarded by Trump when her usefulness was at an end. Republican women could learn from that, but most will not.
Question - why does something like that need legislation? Surely, people wanting such arrangements can make them via their marriage vows or prenup agreements, why do you need legislation?
My snide self wonders what would happen, say, if the man made all the money but his wife made his life a living hell while to all appearances she was the dutiful "covenant".
I would expect he would find ways to avoid her or make her life hell and if she would agree to such a marriage in the first place, I would question whether she would have the spirit to resist.
When I moved to Missouri in 1976, I asked my dad what it was like where he had purchased a home for us. O’Fallon, population about 3000 then. He said he had never seen so many churches and taverns. By the time he died in 2021, St. Charles County was pushing 400,000, but his dementia was too bad to notice a church every 1/4 mile. This state has always been crazy religious. Not me.
Gives these idiot legislators something to put their name on so the evangelicals will support them I guess. I wonder sometimes if they even care if their bills pass!
It needs legislation for the same reason that my Indiana county commissioners just declared our county a "Second Amendment Sanctuary." Nothing changes, but the commissioners claim a "win" while not addressing the problems of high under-employment and high utility costs, not to mention roads in disrepair, in the county. The only difference is that the "covenant marriage" can actually trap people who do not see the long-term consequences of agreeing to one.
So this was started, where I lived in MO, about the 1990s, but it wasn't like, hey everyone has to follow this, is was, hey, those of us in christian churches think this is a good idea and we can integrate it into a regular marriage ceremony - extra therapy, goal setting, more bible study etc could only be a good idea, right? But somehow that fell into 'now everyone has to get on board because we know what's best for everyone.'
I was born and raised and schooled in Missouri. That used to make me sort of proud. The arts scene in KC, its wonderful music scenes, the parks and boulevards, the libraries, the hospitals and businesses, the universities and research facilities, the recreational opportunities all around us, the friendliness and charity of her people, all this and more made me feel pretty darned good.
But now… I am just so unbelievably sad. Outraged. Nauseous.
It's hard not to. I think that we are severely damaging ourselves with the constant cortisol and adrenaline that are being produced in our bodies as we are constantly in a state of hyperarousal. Our physiological responses to this constant state of perceived threat is similar to what law enforcement experiences professionally. What is different is the malevolence in these threats is not in your face immediate threat, it is a longer term threat, more intellectual than physical, but just as dangerous.
<retired cop who taught emotional survival and stress recognition as part of my department's training curriculum.>
I can see your point. My perspective comes from the immediacy of the threat in law enforcement (like, is the attack immanent and going to hurt or kill me physically in this instant) and your point that it is a physical day to day problem is accurate; just not the threat of immediate violence that I was addressing in my LEO training.
My family is from Missouri. I lived there as a child when my dad was assigned in Labrador, then later when I was in college somewhere else, I lived in MO with my parents and worked there during the summers. I always considered myself to be from Missouri. After marriage, we lived in Kansas City, MO, then moved to the Kansas side, then moved back to Missouri, for 11 more years. Our kids attended public schools. I love Missouri, but I don't really recognize it any more. What happened to the Show Me state? I'm so incredibly sad and disappointed.
I feel exactly the same. The hillbillies and whackos weren’t running things. It’s like visiting the Bizarro planet. And infinitely more tragically sad.
The hillbillies and whackos are running things, big money is running things. Many have been convinced that billionaires want to help them.
They are not whackos. They are people who have been left behind by Republicans, for the most part, but also Democrats. They have real issues and believe, for now, that Republicans can help them.
I understand your point. But stupidity and gullibility are not saving graces for these benighted souls in the context of the fraud, theft, meanness, racism and misogyny of the political figures they’ve elected and continue to support.
I agree, but a lot of things lose importance when you are having trouble putting dinner on the table and a roof overhead. Or are one layoff away from losing your house.
Its definitely not a justification for fraud, theft, meanness, racism and misogyny ... but a realization that massive stress will change the way you think.
Billionaires know that and use that. They keep you and I fighting each other while they buy yachts.
I understand and have read up on some of the history here. I have to concentrate on the here and now though. The danger is clear and present. This state is unfortunately part of it.
That is what saddens me. I am trying to concentrate on making changes and gathering with others at the local level. We do have a lot of concerned like minded individuals expressing themselves.
Now for our representatives to respond to their constituents. Uncontested seats will soon be a thing of the past.
Our 2nd District "representative" Tim Burchett is proud of having it known that he was instrumental in getting rid of the state income tax for Tennessee! Thanks❓️❓️‼️🤬
Rage. I can feel nothing but rage when I read such obvious attempts at christofascism. And I'm a man. I cannot even imagine all the emotions a woman must be feeling when reading what a bunch of men and some cult-addled women want to force on them.
One comment re income tax - the discussion about what kind of mix of taxation should be enacted is not new and not limited to your state. Around here, we have fairly constant discussions whether the current balance of taxes on wealth, income and consumption are the most appropriate.
I’ve been thinking about this, a lot, and have come to the view that income taxes are one of the fairest taxes there are. (I seem to remember that they were invented to pay for the expenses associated with the Napoleonic wars?)
For a state to willingly cripple itself by giving up an important source of funds for public services …. this seems such lunacy, such idiocy! Especially when I remember you writing about the state of textbooks used in your schools and the state of schools in general.
I’ll need to go and get some paracetamol to stave off that headache!
It's really not stupid. The right has used the image of drowning the baby in. the bathtub for decades, since Reagan. Stop the income tax, starve the schools, give cash to the parochial schools, and have publicly supported segregation academies. Those who can't get in can go hang.
Not Catholic schools for long. Only ones they approve of. They're allowing the Catholics because they need their votes for now. I live in SW MO, and hatred for anyone not far-right Protestant is palpable. It's even preached from their pulpits. I've heard it myself.
"Parochial" can be Christian of any persuasion. As long as students are being indoctrinated properly, the brand is not important. None of that multi-culti, hippie-dippie, woke radical left indoctrination, either.
What a perfect way to encourage people to NOT get married!! Let's just make people as miserable and unhappy as possible---especially women. Who would choose this type of marriage, assuming plain ol' standard marriages were still possible? I had no idea that several states already had covenant marriages in place but as you mention, Jess...a supermajority Christian nationalist GOP could make it mandatory. Insanity moves along at such a steady pace these days.
I didn't realize until Jess mentioned it that we have covenant marriage here in Arizona. It was passed in 1998. And a no regulation school voucher law is about to bankrupt our public schools. Amazing.
Is there a term for the fundamentalist Christian version of a theocracy that rewrites its laws to comport with their sincerely (?) held religious beliefs/dogma? That’s the underlying basis for these types of bills.
At the same time, the same folks rant and cry about the (exaggerated) threats of Sharia (Islamic fundamentalist) law being established here. Sharia law is indeed antithetical to our Constitutional system of laws and government and has no place here. The same is true for any legal system constructed or contorted to mirror the tenets and beliefs of antidemocratic extremist, fundamentalist Christians.
None of their beliefs/dogma are sincere. They cherry-pick verses from the Bible that suit them & use preachers/pastors/Bible verses to scream obedience to the theocracy. The whole Christian Nat'l movement is completely entangled with that of MAGA including the demonization of anything that shows dissent (like us, the "rabid, left wing lunatics who are out to destroy yr world "). They disguised themselves as Southern Baptists as they developed their indoctrination methods & political power ("If the Southern Baptists are having a party, there's no dancing in the bldg but there's always a fifth in the parking lot" or something very similar is what we said in the 70's not knowing that it would hold true 50 yrs later. Except now it may not be a fifth of liquor, but a 5th child being sa'ed in the parking lot. Ooooo. That was very harsh. I'm not really sorry for saying it either.
It's even more disgusting when all 3 branches of gov't have been compromised by these same corrupt individuals (& are completely responsible for the millions of people whose lives have been traumatized [deaths due to Covid, deportation of thousands & thousands whose only crime was previously considered a misdemeanor, deaths due to measles, loss of access to food or healthcare, etc.].)
The best response to covenant marriage is to say hell no! Except of course for those brain-washed souls who know little else. Who are these monsters who are pushing this abomination? And little mikie j is in a covenant marriage? How precious.
When I read these sorts of posts, Jess, my UK mind boggles that such mediaeval practices exist in a supposedly advanced western society. The sort of restrictions imposed by these “covenant marriages” that you describe would not be out of place in third world sinkholes. Yet the US seems to accept such things as normal and acceptable.
As for the open and blatant efforts to incorporate corrupt practices into state law … sorry, I need to lie down in a darkened room.
Can confirm. Dear friends in Portugal (one of whom is dual citizenship) will probably only return when her Dad (who lives here in Eugene where I do), and she'll be solo since her wife won't risk the trip.
As another U.K reader of your posts I can only agree with Peter. I find it absolutely terrifying, as a woman, that these sort of practices are found acceptable by parts of the U.S population. I truly thought we had dispensed with these types of attitudes in the 70's, obviously not.....
And as for the situation re taxation, it takes the breath away, why would states cripple themselves by cutting off the greater proportion of their own income.....
Sending positive vibes and wishing you well, keep on exposing the idiocies, I'm convinced you will triumph over the idiots.
It's a holdover from some of the first settlers. They left the UK and Netherlands because they thought they weren't "pious enough." I believe the Netherlands got sick of them and forced them out for among other things, political interference. 🙄
It's all about controlling women. It always is. What a bunch of mentally deficient *(^^%$^!!! Sorry, got a bit angry there. And basically defunding the state??? WHAT??? Guess only the rich folks in the private schools will allow education of their kids. The masses can go to hell. Right? As always, keep up the fight. Don't let down. Keep telling everyone. There's GOT to be some sanity in that state somewhere.
The thing that frustrates me is WHY do people keep voting for these legislators who only want to destroy what we have? The same is true nationally……it makes absolutely no sense to me. Are people this uninformed? Apparently so. All the best to you and your family for 2026. Keep up the good work.
What a bunch of nitwits. We have them in Iowa, too. Legislating one version of morality is a losing effort. Kind of like prohibition. Thanks for the good work you do, Jess. You don’t just fight against dumb legislation, you let everyone know their voice is an important weapon against fascism. Happy New Year. May your light spread and muffle the voices of the ignorant.
Susie, love,love: "may your light spread and muffle the voices of the ignorant."📢📢📢👏
Thanks, Susan. You are very kind.
❤️
If you have to legislate your religion, you've already lost because you have admitted that your prosleytizing/convincing doesn't work. The step after that is religio-political violence. Welcome to the American version of the Irish "Troubles."
Welcome to the faux-Christian version of Sharia law. You know, the one that the bubbas are all up in arms about? Such hypocrites! Anything to subjugate women...
Is there no way to enact a vote to prevent the repeal?
I'm at a loss to understand what Kehoe's end game is with all the tax cuts. What's his aim? How can the state pass a budget with no revenue? He is even dumber than I thought, did he look at Brownback & Kansas. I was working at a school district in Ks. when all this went down. What a cluster!
I’ve heard from others in the state house that he didn’t actually want to eliminate the income tax, but his donors are pressuring him
OMG, shoot yourself in the foot. Well, actually, I might enjoy that.
He doesn’t “really want to do it but his donors are pressuring him”?! Ask him again why white men should be in charge if they are so weak as to submit to something they know is wrong?
I guess this will be sold as a win for the average citizen since they will have more disposable income. With more disposable income, private entities elect to raise the cost of things, so in the end you pay more. The republicans have really brainwashed people to hate the word taxes - I have seen the reaction to some acquaintances in Florida, they sounded like it was a communist's takeover. Taxes serve everybody equally, helping the municipality and state thus the citizens in general rather than the fat cats. It is not always about saving a buck.
Republicans want to eliminate income taxes, not all taxes. They want to replace income taxes with sales tax. It was once called "fair tax". I'm not sure what is fair about regressive taxes, but big money Republicans don't want to pay taxes. And really don't care about anyone else.
Billionaires are running the government. Billionaires want a yacht just like Bezos. Billionaires have figured out a way to justify greed as being grace from God and good for America.
They have tapped into the "Prosperity Gospel" of the evangelicals that says riches are indeed given by God, and poverty is punishment by God. They conveniently ignore the Bible verses that say exactly the opposite, to keep ignorant Joe Schmoes from saying "hey wait a minute!".
Property and sales taxes will skyrocket, which will crush everyone who isn't well off. That's especially true as inflation rises.
Referring to legislators as idiots or nitwits undermines the true nature of what is happening. These are not stupid people. In fact some of them have to be quite smart to carry out a seizure of Missouri and other states. They are hard right ideologues and followers who strongly believe in government by the rich, supremacy of the white race and of white men. In short, this a war between classes. Right now the class of wealth has the public in full rout. That can change. Part of the change has to be to identify your enemy and recognize their intent.
No one these days refers to Hitler’s nation as a bunch of nitwits. They were a machine. They had to be taken down.
Exactly
Keep the message simple. "Billionaires won't fix the problem", "Billionaires ARE the problem".
A paraphrase from something a former president said?
That was the intent. Ronald Reagan ... Government is the problem. I hope it or something like it catches on. It seems like billionaires are getting you and I to fight each other while they take the money to the bank.
I hope we realize it soon. I also hope the Democrats realize billionaires are controlling them also.
While the effects of the Democrats is not as catastrophic to us as the Republican billionaires, we still see policies like giving companies billions to bring back manufacturing jobs because they pay more rather than making the service jobs that are already here pay like manufacturing jobs. Billionaires won't like paying higher salaries, so Democrats don't pursue it.
Imagine what income inequality would look like if service jobs paid like manufacturing jobs.
I see Jess with Blue Missouri trying to get more Democrats on the ballots, so voters have a choice and see Democrats. I often wonder, if, at this time, it wouldn't be better to have that choice be for an independent candidate rather than a Democrat.
An independent would be more likely to be elected in many red areas. Until the Democrats find a way to steer clear of the billionaires and develop a platform that doesn't favor big money, the independent name tag may be more effective.
People frequently confuse cunning for intelligence. You don’t have to be intellectually bright to be cunning. Plus these alleged legislators are using the political intellectual output of the likes of ALEC, so all they have to do is cut and paste draconian legislation. No thinking involved.
I like the word cunning—it describes smart without intelligence.
Like Wiley Coyote
True. They are led. Cult leaders tend to be very smart.
Truth.
True, but the anger comes out when one considers their evil plans.
It’s not an accurate description, but an emotional response to make us feel better
If sanity ever regains control of politics in the US - something that looks less likely as the Christian Nationalists tear down democracy - I'd be happy to put in place something that would guarantee a majority of women in elected positions. Clearly, we men are horrible at being in charge of anything this side of flipping burgers o a BBQ. And even that competence is up for debate.
Well, it depends on the woman. There are a lot of MAGA women, drawn by the desire to exercise power indirectly (see Susie Wiles) who I do not want to see in government. Consider the cautionary tale of Elise Stefanik, who began as a moderate Republican, transformed into a MAGA monster, and has now been discarded by Trump when her usefulness was at an end. Republican women could learn from that, but most will not.
So, so true!!
Another used Kleenex who doesn't even have the backbone to complain about being thrown out the window.
Once cast aside her even her red/deep red northern and western NY base wouldn't save her Governor run.
Phyllis Schlafly was from Illinois see "Mrs. America"
https://youtu.be/CMBhxOW5fYo?si=8odVULHqEdVgh5w2
"Misbehavior" about Bob Hope@1970 Miss World Competition with Keira Knightley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jessie Buckley
https://youtu.be/JsVrxKeNBLw?si=2eaIKvod2I_uOPwf
Both are worth a watch. Enjoy, Karen Renee Powell
Question - why does something like that need legislation? Surely, people wanting such arrangements can make them via their marriage vows or prenup agreements, why do you need legislation?
I think it’s all part of the push for Christian nationalism
And then these idiots can not figure out why younger women do not want to marry…
Not sure they have the reasoning capability.
My snide self wonders what would happen, say, if the man made all the money but his wife made his life a living hell while to all appearances she was the dutiful "covenant".
He’d find a way to get out of such a marriage, no doubt about that! People with means always had ways and means ….
I'll bet the level of proof for men is much lower than for women.
Oh, yeah.
I am with you, but i fear it’s one more reason they cling so ferociously to their guns.
I would expect he would find ways to avoid her or make her life hell and if she would agree to such a marriage in the first place, I would question whether she would have the spirit to resist.
When I moved to Missouri in 1976, I asked my dad what it was like where he had purchased a home for us. O’Fallon, population about 3000 then. He said he had never seen so many churches and taverns. By the time he died in 2021, St. Charles County was pushing 400,000, but his dementia was too bad to notice a church every 1/4 mile. This state has always been crazy religious. Not me.
Gives these idiot legislators something to put their name on so the evangelicals will support them I guess. I wonder sometimes if they even care if their bills pass!
Isn't that the old politician trick to appease constituents? They put forth a bill but don't mention if it was ever passed.
If it didn't, blame Libruls.
It needs legislation for the same reason that my Indiana county commissioners just declared our county a "Second Amendment Sanctuary." Nothing changes, but the commissioners claim a "win" while not addressing the problems of high under-employment and high utility costs, not to mention roads in disrepair, in the county. The only difference is that the "covenant marriage" can actually trap people who do not see the long-term consequences of agreeing to one.
So this was started, where I lived in MO, about the 1990s, but it wasn't like, hey everyone has to follow this, is was, hey, those of us in christian churches think this is a good idea and we can integrate it into a regular marriage ceremony - extra therapy, goal setting, more bible study etc could only be a good idea, right? But somehow that fell into 'now everyone has to get on board because we know what's best for everyone.'
I was born and raised and schooled in Missouri. That used to make me sort of proud. The arts scene in KC, its wonderful music scenes, the parks and boulevards, the libraries, the hospitals and businesses, the universities and research facilities, the recreational opportunities all around us, the friendliness and charity of her people, all this and more made me feel pretty darned good.
But now… I am just so unbelievably sad. Outraged. Nauseous.
I kind of stay outraged myself
It's hard not to. I think that we are severely damaging ourselves with the constant cortisol and adrenaline that are being produced in our bodies as we are constantly in a state of hyperarousal. Our physiological responses to this constant state of perceived threat is similar to what law enforcement experiences professionally. What is different is the malevolence in these threats is not in your face immediate threat, it is a longer term threat, more intellectual than physical, but just as dangerous.
<retired cop who taught emotional survival and stress recognition as part of my department's training curriculum.>
I was with you until the threat is more intellectual than physical. The results of legislation is very physical.
It's not just a philosophical problem. It's a real physical, day to day problem for many people.
I can see your point. My perspective comes from the immediacy of the threat in law enforcement (like, is the attack immanent and going to hurt or kill me physically in this instant) and your point that it is a physical day to day problem is accurate; just not the threat of immediate violence that I was addressing in my LEO training.
You inspire us. And you are loved. Thank you.
My family is from Missouri. I lived there as a child when my dad was assigned in Labrador, then later when I was in college somewhere else, I lived in MO with my parents and worked there during the summers. I always considered myself to be from Missouri. After marriage, we lived in Kansas City, MO, then moved to the Kansas side, then moved back to Missouri, for 11 more years. Our kids attended public schools. I love Missouri, but I don't really recognize it any more. What happened to the Show Me state? I'm so incredibly sad and disappointed.
I feel exactly the same. The hillbillies and whackos weren’t running things. It’s like visiting the Bizarro planet. And infinitely more tragically sad.
The hillbillies and whackos are running things, big money is running things. Many have been convinced that billionaires want to help them.
They are not whackos. They are people who have been left behind by Republicans, for the most part, but also Democrats. They have real issues and believe, for now, that Republicans can help them.
I understand your point. But stupidity and gullibility are not saving graces for these benighted souls in the context of the fraud, theft, meanness, racism and misogyny of the political figures they’ve elected and continue to support.
I agree, but a lot of things lose importance when you are having trouble putting dinner on the table and a roof overhead. Or are one layoff away from losing your house.
Its definitely not a justification for fraud, theft, meanness, racism and misogyny ... but a realization that massive stress will change the way you think.
Billionaires know that and use that. They keep you and I fighting each other while they buy yachts.
"They keep you fighting each other while they buy yachts."
Sounds like a good saying to see on a sampler. . .
I was too and it's one of the reasons I subscribe to Jess. Now, Missouri politics, like Arizona politics is some weird shit. Who let the dogs out??
I definitely agree with you about Arizona. I call us the Deep South of the West.
The Christian Nationalists.
I still live in Missouri and I am heartbroken.
If we didn't have kids and grandkids in MO, we'd already be gone. The state has gotten beyond toxic.
Understand
My family had homes here before statehood.
I have followed Missouri government since I inherited Missouri Official Manuals (Blue Books) at age 11.
We have so much history to celebrate not sweep away to officials who have sold their souls.
Blue books dating back to 1800s
I understand and have read up on some of the history here. I have to concentrate on the here and now though. The danger is clear and present. This state is unfortunately part of it.
That is what saddens me. I am trying to concentrate on making changes and gathering with others at the local level. We do have a lot of concerned like minded individuals expressing themselves.
Now for our representatives to respond to their constituents. Uncontested seats will soon be a thing of the past.
The state is poor, lets make it worse.
They wonder why women are choosing to remain single and then push this kind of ignorance.
What century are these tools living in?
Right?
Our 2nd District "representative" Tim Burchett is proud of having it known that he was instrumental in getting rid of the state income tax for Tennessee! Thanks❓️❓️‼️🤬
Tennessee? Isn’t that one of the poorest states? And they’ve abolished income tax?
Jesus, Mary and the wee donkey - this is dim!
Rage. I can feel nothing but rage when I read such obvious attempts at christofascism. And I'm a man. I cannot even imagine all the emotions a woman must be feeling when reading what a bunch of men and some cult-addled women want to force on them.
Saaaaame
One comment re income tax - the discussion about what kind of mix of taxation should be enacted is not new and not limited to your state. Around here, we have fairly constant discussions whether the current balance of taxes on wealth, income and consumption are the most appropriate.
I’ve been thinking about this, a lot, and have come to the view that income taxes are one of the fairest taxes there are. (I seem to remember that they were invented to pay for the expenses associated with the Napoleonic wars?)
For a state to willingly cripple itself by giving up an important source of funds for public services …. this seems such lunacy, such idiocy! Especially when I remember you writing about the state of textbooks used in your schools and the state of schools in general.
I’ll need to go and get some paracetamol to stave off that headache!
Solidarity
It's really not stupid. The right has used the image of drowning the baby in. the bathtub for decades, since Reagan. Stop the income tax, starve the schools, give cash to the parochial schools, and have publicly supported segregation academies. Those who can't get in can go hang.
Not Catholic schools for long. Only ones they approve of. They're allowing the Catholics because they need their votes for now. I live in SW MO, and hatred for anyone not far-right Protestant is palpable. It's even preached from their pulpits. I've heard it myself.
"Parochial" can be Christian of any persuasion. As long as students are being indoctrinated properly, the brand is not important. None of that multi-culti, hippie-dippie, woke radical left indoctrination, either.
Scream. Not silently nor subtly.
“The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes the rebellion.” - Frederick Douglass
❤️❤️❤️
What a perfect way to encourage people to NOT get married!! Let's just make people as miserable and unhappy as possible---especially women. Who would choose this type of marriage, assuming plain ol' standard marriages were still possible? I had no idea that several states already had covenant marriages in place but as you mention, Jess...a supermajority Christian nationalist GOP could make it mandatory. Insanity moves along at such a steady pace these days.
I didn't realize until Jess mentioned it that we have covenant marriage here in Arizona. It was passed in 1998. And a no regulation school voucher law is about to bankrupt our public schools. Amazing.
Is there a term for the fundamentalist Christian version of a theocracy that rewrites its laws to comport with their sincerely (?) held religious beliefs/dogma? That’s the underlying basis for these types of bills.
At the same time, the same folks rant and cry about the (exaggerated) threats of Sharia (Islamic fundamentalist) law being established here. Sharia law is indeed antithetical to our Constitutional system of laws and government and has no place here. The same is true for any legal system constructed or contorted to mirror the tenets and beliefs of antidemocratic extremist, fundamentalist Christians.
We refer to it as the American Taliban.
I call it Christo-fascism, a theocratic state not unlike Iran. Just substitute 'Christ' for 'Allah.'
None of their beliefs/dogma are sincere. They cherry-pick verses from the Bible that suit them & use preachers/pastors/Bible verses to scream obedience to the theocracy. The whole Christian Nat'l movement is completely entangled with that of MAGA including the demonization of anything that shows dissent (like us, the "rabid, left wing lunatics who are out to destroy yr world "). They disguised themselves as Southern Baptists as they developed their indoctrination methods & political power ("If the Southern Baptists are having a party, there's no dancing in the bldg but there's always a fifth in the parking lot" or something very similar is what we said in the 70's not knowing that it would hold true 50 yrs later. Except now it may not be a fifth of liquor, but a 5th child being sa'ed in the parking lot. Ooooo. That was very harsh. I'm not really sorry for saying it either.
It's even more disgusting when all 3 branches of gov't have been compromised by these same corrupt individuals (& are completely responsible for the millions of people whose lives have been traumatized [deaths due to Covid, deportation of thousands & thousands whose only crime was previously considered a misdemeanor, deaths due to measles, loss of access to food or healthcare, etc.].)
The best response to covenant marriage is to say hell no! Except of course for those brain-washed souls who know little else. Who are these monsters who are pushing this abomination? And little mikie j is in a covenant marriage? How precious.
Yuuuup
Bless his heart.
Has anyone ever seen his wife?
When I read these sorts of posts, Jess, my UK mind boggles that such mediaeval practices exist in a supposedly advanced western society. The sort of restrictions imposed by these “covenant marriages” that you describe would not be out of place in third world sinkholes. Yet the US seems to accept such things as normal and acceptable.
As for the open and blatant efforts to incorporate corrupt practices into state law … sorry, I need to lie down in a darkened room.
I can only imagine it looks like we are living in the dark ages over here
Can confirm. Dear friends in Portugal (one of whom is dual citizenship) will probably only return when her Dad (who lives here in Eugene where I do), and she'll be solo since her wife won't risk the trip.
As another U.K reader of your posts I can only agree with Peter. I find it absolutely terrifying, as a woman, that these sort of practices are found acceptable by parts of the U.S population. I truly thought we had dispensed with these types of attitudes in the 70's, obviously not.....
And as for the situation re taxation, it takes the breath away, why would states cripple themselves by cutting off the greater proportion of their own income.....
Sending positive vibes and wishing you well, keep on exposing the idiocies, I'm convinced you will triumph over the idiots.
It's a holdover from some of the first settlers. They left the UK and Netherlands because they thought they weren't "pious enough." I believe the Netherlands got sick of them and forced them out for among other things, political interference. 🙄
It's all about controlling women. It always is. What a bunch of mentally deficient *(^^%$^!!! Sorry, got a bit angry there. And basically defunding the state??? WHAT??? Guess only the rich folks in the private schools will allow education of their kids. The masses can go to hell. Right? As always, keep up the fight. Don't let down. Keep telling everyone. There's GOT to be some sanity in that state somewhere.
The thing that frustrates me is WHY do people keep voting for these legislators who only want to destroy what we have? The same is true nationally……it makes absolutely no sense to me. Are people this uninformed? Apparently so. All the best to you and your family for 2026. Keep up the good work.