My first Uncommon Sense post in response to what's happening in Washington.

[e henry]

Uncommon Sense

Please, Please Pay Attention!

I want to start by saying that I am aware that what I am writing will not be popular but I feel the need to appeal to you all because to me this is very important.
Pay attention to what is happening because it is very important. We as citizens of this great country must not rest on our laurels, we can’t afford to become complacent, don’t diminish the importance of what’s happening or think that someone else can take care of it; I understand these ways of thinking because I once thought that way too.
We must pay attention because there is a lot currently happening in our Federal Government. They are firing people at an alarming rate with what seems to be random and without any forethought. Federal employees who do important work, like overseeing the nuclear warheads in our stockpile, should not be fired. Another example is the attack on the CFPB (Consumer Federal Protection Bureau). This should be a wakeup call to us. This is an agency that was created after the financial crisis of 2008. It protects all of us from financial fraud. Since its inception the CFPB has returned approximately 20 billion dollars back to the American people.
We must work together and we must learn to sift through the nonsense; the misinformation and disinformation. There is a lot going on in our world and there are many obvious distractions (renaming the Gulf of Mexico, ending the production of paper straws, or the talk of taking over and owning Gaza, just to name a few).
I understand that people are happy with their views; conservative, liberal, progressive or whatever they may be. Or maybe you have decided to check out, that you aren’t political or your life is stressful enough and doesn’t have room for distractions like politics. I just want to say, that if you think this doesn’t affect you or that until it does you’re fine with what is happening, think again. That is a cop-out; we are in this together, the good and the bad. We have to make a commitment and stick with it. If you are a citizen of this country it affects you and everyone you hold dear.
I also want you to be aware that the delegitimization of legitimate news and information because it doesn’t align with your views, beliefs, and opinions will not be beneficial to us. It is not accidental that they are trying to create a false narrative to make us think that what the Press is reporting is not legitimate. They want you to only watch news sources that align with their message and way of thinking. It’s Propaganda!
Focus on fact based news. News that can be verified. Most of us have access to a computer (via a smart phone). It is important to note that Dominion won that case against Fox News because there was overwhelming evidence that proved they repeatedly lied. Fox News is now headed to court for a second lawsuit by Smartmatic. There is precedent and they are suing for over 2 billion dollars. Fox News has a decision to make and it is more than likely they will settle because Smartmatic has a very strong case. Fact based news can be verified. Words have consequences.
When Lesley Stahl asked Donald Trump about why he was always putting down reporters and news agencies he replied, “You know why I do it? I do it to discredit you all and demean you all so when you write negative stories about me, no one will believe you.” Fake news to him is any news agency that gives an unfavorable report about him. Just look at what he said about the WSJ recently when they called his tariff policy dumb; “The dumbest trade war in history.” He posted, “Anybody that’s against Tariffs, including the Fake News Wall Street Journal, and Hedge Funds, is only against them because these people or entities are controlled by China, or other foreign or domestic companies." Donald Trump also just barred the AP (Associated Press) from the White House for refusing to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.
Pay attention because they are going after the Freedom of the Press. Remember that it is protected in the first amendment of the Constitution, along with Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion and Freedom to Assemble in a peaceful way to protest government. Trust me when I tell you that if they go after one part of this amendment they will come after the rest, and possibly other rights (check out the Bill of Rights). The framers realized the importance of information was so integral to this republic that they protected it in our Constitution. The Press is called the Fourth Estate for a reason. It is considered the fourth branch of our government. Someone recently pointed out that it is the only profession protected in the Constitution. They are going after it on purpose. If they can control information they can manipulate us.
I challenge you to try something, check out an alternative news source that you maybe never would have watched or listened to or read before. See if the other news sources parrot what the current administration is saying or if they are different. I do this on a regular basis because it’s always good to get other perspectives and it helps to empathize (when you know where someone is coming from it helps you to understand them better).
FYI: Elon Musk is not pro free speech, he is pro propaganda. Just ask anyone who writes anything disparaging about him on twitter. Don’t believe me? Try it out, criticize him on twitter/X and see what happens. But beware you may get banned.
We have to remember that the United States of America is an experiment in democracy. Our country’s government was created to counter the oppression of an unjust Monarchy. The form of democracy that we created is a Liberal Democracy. It is fragile and will not survive without the cooperation of all of us. If we allow hundreds of years of success to make us complacent in this great experiment we will lose the very things we hold dear; Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
We cannot ignore obvious warning signs. When a President and his administration ignore a court order, they are blatantly disregarding the rule of law. It is illegal. It is unconstitutional! I urge you to read the Constitution. The first three articles talk about our Congress, Executive and Judicial branches. There is a reason we have three branches of Government. They are a checks and balances system to prevent any one of the branches from seizing absolute power. Pay Attention!
I am aware that some view social media as a platform for family, fun and entertainment but I am also aware that most people get their news and information from it as well. So I am using this platform to appeal to you. I also hope to inform and possibly educate.
What you choose to do with this plea is your prerogative. But I want you to be aware that it may be at the expense our great nation.
Please pass this information on to anyone or everyone you know and remember We are in this together. This is America; we are the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.