Thank You For Your Service.

…

Fifty-fifty… split right down the middle.

The extremes are still extreme. California is still BLUE… Texas is still RED.

There was no Political Earthquake. There was no Political Tsunami… this is our political landscape.

This is the pinnacle of our Political System. This is the BEST it can produce, and this is what it will produce once again in 2024.

Is that the way it should continue to BE?

…

AP reporter: “What will you do differently… between now and 2024?”
President Biden: “Nothing.”

…

…

Is that why you voted this fall, for nothing… for more of the same? Did you cast your vote in celebration of what Democrats have accomplished… with control of the House, the White House, and the Senate?

Joe Biden sure thinks so… and so do his DONORS.

…

Joe Biden stood in the breech, long before the HEROES of the Capitol Police did on January 6. He stood up and faced the metaphorical fight, in HOPE that it might not come to that.

Joe Biden marshaled every tool at his disposal, to secure victory for his Political Party…

…

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/09/nyregion/sean-patrick-maloney-lawler.html

…

A Political Party that now stands in the MINORITY.

…

Just look at how hard we have to VOTE to make sure things stay NORMAL. Never mind moving AHEAD… just fighting to ensure we don’t move BACK. Taking rights AWAY. Denying HALF the people of this Nation access to lifesaving HEALTHCARE.

Joe Biden stood in the BREECH to defend this Union, and we will always be grateful. We will always owe a debt of gratitude to Joe Biden and the Leadership of the Democratic Party… and we thank you for your service.

But I didn’t vote FOR nothing. In fact… that’s exactly what I voted against.

If I wanted NOTHING to change, I would have voted for the Republican Party. But now things have changed. The lives of Women have changed, and they will have to bear the consequences of this election for the next TWO YEARS.

If the Democratic Party isn’t given a reason to change, then they will not change. This fight is no longer theirs… it is OURS.

Every election cannot continue to be THE existential election of our lifetime. It cannot continue like this. The rotational speed of our two-party system has exceeded its limits and the balance has been destroyed. One side is seen as “illegitimate” by the other, and the other side AGREES. It’s the ONE THING we all agree on-

The SYSTEM is the problem.

Everyone agrees. Everyone… except the DONORS.

They’re just fine with the way things are going. Their profits are safe and secure. Let’s just MOVE ON to the next election… $17 BILLION well spent.

…

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/midterm-elections-2022/democrats-republicans-2022-midterms-spending-b2220297.html

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The Democratic Party did not win this election, yet they are celebrating. As of right now, the Democratic Party still has a slight chance of securing the House Majority… but that’s all they’ve got. 51 Senators does not a MAJORITY make. Therefore, when the gavel changes hands… the agenda will be decided by the GOP.

Can you imagine… running against the agenda of a 20th century dictator… and only BARELY squeaking by? Just like they did in 2020. Just like they did in 2022…

‘Thank god! We only lost the HOUSE!‘

‘This is what The People want. This is what they voted for…‘

‘Time for us to go and work with the GOP.‘

It’s not like the majority of their party supports INSURRECTION or something. Sure would be nice if there was an ongoing Presidential Commission looking into the events of January 6… but unfortunately, that train has already sailed.

…

Just before the election, Jen Psaki was on Deadline: White House, discussing conversations she had with voters in the Suburbs of Detroit. One voter brought up the issues surrounding the 2000 election, and the fact that Democrats feel the same way about the Presidency of George W. Bush as Republicans feel about the Presidency of Joe Biden.

Jen Psaki said that worried her. She was concerned that the narrative surrounding election integrity was starting to spread… as if it were something NEW within the Democratic Party.

I’m not sure if that’s her opinion or if it’s the opinion of the Democratic Party, but it shows us the mindset of Party Leadership… as reflected in the observations of a former White House Press Secretary.

The Leadership of the Democratic Party has no plan to change a system… that works just FINE for them.

The filibuster? The Electoral College? A Woman’s Right to CHOOSE? Yeah, that’s ALL on the ballot. Every election. Every time. It’s always on the line… and if you want things to stay the way that they are, then you’d better DONATE all you can before the NEXT election.

That’s their plan. That’s the way things are. Legislators legislate based on MONEY and the pursuit thereof. Therefore, legislation favors those with MONEY over those WITHOUT.

Is this still a Democracy or is it not?
I believe more participation equals BETTER GOVERNANCE.

…

If the Democratic Party has a PLAN to secure our Democracy, then let them speak it. Now. Before the 2024 campaign begins. In the SUNLIGHT where everyone can see. We cannot afford to go into the fight with the same tired strategies that were employed this time around… just ask Rep Maloney.

Complacency. Insincerity. Political hypocrisy. These are not the values that will secure our Democracy.

Will the Democratic Party RISE to the occasion, or will they continue to cling to the PAST… elevating failed candidates to leadership positions, simply because they raised a BOATLOAD of CASH in the last election…

The People of the United States of America deserve a BETTER WAY.

-JC

At Our Discretion

When the Law comes for me… I have no choice but to comply. There are no negotiations on the terms of my surrender. There is no ‘privilege’ that I could invoke that would deter an Officer of the Law. They simply ASSERT their authority, and I go where they tell me… advising me that I have the right to remain SILENT.

**I have no choice but to comply.**

…

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/10/us/politics/jan-6-trump-criminal-referral.html

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It’s not that I don’t have OPTIONS… I just don’t have the MONEY required to exercise those options. I don’t have the funds necessary to secure legal counsel on retainer. I don’t have the legal connections or established rapport that would lead the Department to exercise prosecutorial discretion on my behalf.

They’d just do it, like they did with Paul Manafort or Roger Stone… just before DAWN.

…

https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/08/politics/donald-trump-jr-meadows-text/index.html

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When laws are broken, someone goes to jail. When laws are broken, and no one goes to jail… that is a degradation of the fundamental ideals of our society.

That is a Constitutional Crisis.

…

https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2022/04/amir-locke-no-knock-warrants-minneapolis-jacob-frey-mark-hanneman-ellison/

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This wrong, if allowed to go un-righted, will lead to the destruction of us ALL. Legal Precedent, paired with the discretion entrusted to individual Officers and a system that believes the Officer’s WORD above all else. Until we decide to do something about it…

**They retain the right to do this to us all.**

A system that favors those with MONEY over those WITHOUT. How much time and effort would be necessary, to transform that system into one that’s EMPOWERED by those with money… to go after those without.

One might say… that time has already arrived.

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“Amazon, here we come.” —President Joe Biden

…

Bluster and bravado haven’t worked when it comes to swaying the opinions of billionaires, hell-bent on total domination… my guess is, it won’t work out well for us in the future.

Amazon isn’t the culprit. They have legal teams that work every day to ensure they are following the LAW. The law… as written, by our Elected Officials.

What good does it do us to attack companies who are following the law, when we can just change the law and ensure stricter enforcement of laws that already exist.

…

https://www.npr.org/2016/03/16/470664561/mcconnell-blocking-supreme-court-nomination-about-a-principle-not-a-person

…

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/18/mcconnell-vows-senate-will-hold-vote-on-ginsburgs-replacement-418021

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https://www.axios.com/mcconnell-ketanji-brown-jackson-confirmation-127977a3-a4ed-44a6-9485-80169ead4c45.html

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Every part of our Legislative Branch is now BROKEN. Every aspect of it needs to be examined, and it’s been that way for YEARS. ‘But that’s just the way it is in DC…’ so why would anyone want it to CHANGE?

Why would anyone even want to TRY? Considering the depth of the problem and the SIZE of the reforms required. Attempting something so massive could endanger the Constitution itself if we were to even try…

…

It seems to me, we’ve already reached that point if we do not ACT.

We must convince the naysayers. ‘We, The People…’ comes FIRST.

Without them, there is no ‘… United’.

…

It is now abundantly clear… the perception of what we have, and what it is we actually do have are two totally different things. We may be divided in PRACTICE, but we are not divided in PRINCIPLE. We do not stand divided.

The People of the United States of America are being divided… and it’s being done intentionally so.

Instead of focusing on the root of our problems, we’re laying blame at the feet of the other POLITICAL PARTY. Pointing fingers instead of finding common ground. We need to stop listening to talking heads and start SPEAKING OUT for ourselves.

Every one of us wants to “Stop Abortion”… but criminalizing a Medical Procedure will not stop abortions from happening.

My father once told me, ‘If you outlaw GUNS, only OUTLAWS will own GUNS.’

If we outlaw abortion, only “outlaws” will have access to abortion services… those with the financial means to do so. Those who can travel. Those who can afford to take time off from work… those who can have the nanny take care of the kids for the weekend.

LIVES are at stake. The lives of children AND the lives of the women who are forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy.

…

This subject demands CLARITY.

We must ask ourselves, what is it we are trying to accomplish? Are we trying to SAVE LIVES… or are we simply trying to deny the fundamental Human Rights of HALF of our society?

Because we already know how to save the lives of the unborn.

We ensure women have access to everything necessary to ensure a healthy and successful pregnancy. And until that day comes, when a woman CHOOSES to become a mother… they are a Human Being seeking Medical Care.

There should be no government-sponsored “Death Panels” involved in making our healthcare decisions… period.

If we let them dictate to us when it is we are ALLOWED to have a child,

We give them the legal precedent to tell us when it is we CANNOT.

…

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/one-child-policy.asp

…

There are NO LAWS restricting any aspect of my reproductive rights.
It should be the SAME for every American Citizen.
EQUALLY.

…

“The sacred defense of the Reproductive Liberty of ALL People being Our Common Duty, the Right of a Woman to Choose shall be protected.”

https://jackcharbonneau.com/2018/03/29/a-call-to-amend-the-constitution/

…

We need a CLEAN BREAK. We need a FRESH START. We need to find a way forward without ignoring the harm that has been done. We can go on about punishing everyone who has lived their lives adhering to false premises… being taught falsehoods as TRUTH, when in reality they were really LIES…

Or, we can forge a new understanding… reestablish what it is our Constitution actually means. ‘THIS is what we once believed… as a society, as a PEOPLE. But now those beliefs are NO MORE.’

We choose to CLARIFY what it is we stand FOR…

“… with Liberty and Justice for ALL.”

Is that what we STILL believe?

Then let us ensure that there is NO DOUBT.

-JC

On the Subject of Equality

The following letter sent to the Archivist of the United States from the United States Senate, and signed by Senators Portman, Romney, and Johnson, moved me to add my own voice to the discussion.

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https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2022-02-08%20Letter%20to%20Archivist%20re%20ERA.pdf?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=de6ac831-0170-4b20-be6c-4cd4075a2e1b

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It remains my opinion that EQUALITY has no time limit, and the Will of The People should always reign supreme.

…

Below is a copy of the email I sent to the archivist this evening, outlining why I believe the Equal Rights Amendment should be added to the Constitution.

…

To: The Honorable David Ferriero
Archivist of the United States
National Archives and Records Administration 8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740

Dear sir,

I am writing in regard to the letter sent from the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security, dated February 8, 2022, and singed by Senators Rob Portman, Mitt Romney, and Ron Johnson, addressing their concerns about the 28th Amendment and the “… calls for you to disregard your duty and certify the ERA.”

There are few things in this world that are more important than doing one’s duty.

Upholding the Will of The People and defending the Rule of Law, even in the face of overwhelming pressure, is quite honorable indeed. Even when holding that position stands opposed to the opinions of many others, integrity must always be maintained. In a land based on precedent, our actions today will impact generations to come. There can be no doubt, some future case will be presented in an attempt to challenge the validity of a future amendment, and this situation will be referenced. Whether that amendment has already been ratified or not… so long as there is a Constitution left to amend.

It doesn’t take a Constitutional Scholar to see— there’s not a whole lot of legal precedent on the subject of Constitutional Amendments. Each and every case is important in its own right, and the Equal Rights Amendment is no exception.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on the subject, either reasons why the amendment is dead or why it should now be added to the Constitution, but there seems to be one fact that overrides them all— The People have spoken. The requirements have been met. That’s indisputable. Well… if there is a dispute, precedent shows us how disputed amendments can be resolved. There is no precedent allowing for a judicial override of the amendment process, and I say for good reason. Look no further than the example set by the State Supreme Courts.

Setting that precedent for amendments to the United States Constitution would introduce partisanship into the ratification process and it would allow for judicial review of any amendment before passage, especially if a partisan actor were ever appointed to your office. It would forever change the amendment process.

As I said, I’m no legal expert. Just a guy with an opinion. But, I am a Citizen who still hopes that one day, this Nation will pursue the amendment process with great vigor in order to bring about some much needed changes. As it currently stands, that process is already fraught with many obstacles. Whatever your decision will be, I pray you consider what precedents your actions will create… and always err on the side of The People. May their Will guide us all.

Thank you for your dedication and adherence to the Constitution, and good luck to you in whatever path you choose in your retirement.

Sincerely,

Gut Check

I was always told, if you don’t have anything nice to say… don’t say anything at all.

“Trump Jr’s baseless attack on Biden…” Slate.com (05/17/2020)

Everyone is eventually held accountable for their actions… even an atheist like myself believes that. My actions in life will be judged, weighed on the scales, and found to be either merits or mischievous; all dependent upon my choices and my values.

To tell you the TRUTH… I never really cared what most people think of me.😉

I’ve always attempted to treat others with respect, whether or not they show it in return. Even after realizing respect or common courtesy will not be reciprocated… I know, at the end of the day we are ALL still human. We all still have the ability to change, and someday that seed of hope might take root… you never know!

“Ousted State Dept. IG was investigating if Pompeo made staffer walk his dog and run other personal errands” CNN.com (05/17/2020)

“Pruitt used security detail to run errands…” TheHill.com (06/07/2018)

None of us can truly judge what is in another man’s heart. Individually, our sight will always be limited. Our Rule of Law accepts that fact and works to ensure Equal Justice by embracing the strength found in a Jury of our Peers. The Constitution affords us Due Process, making sure everyone has their day to be heard.

What we do and what we say MATTERS. We can effect those around us, as well as people we may never meet. Our actions can touch the lives of an entire CITY, changing the perspectives of people of like-mind in cities across the STATE, eventually bringing about changes in the make up of our Legislatures… thereby impacting lives in EVERY state.

… and there-in lies the problem.

Our SILENCE allows it to continue. To be SILENT and ignore injustice or criminal acts makes you COMPLICIT. Part of the problem is the SILENCE surrounding these subjects.

**… and the silence effects us all.**

www.rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-violence

I would not stand SILENT if someone were to shoot another person in the middle of 5th Avenue, and allow them to get away with it; nor could I lend my support to or elevate someone, who would dismiss the value inherent in another human being… simply because they could not see eye to eye.

“A sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden has ignited a firestorm of controversy.” vox.com (04/29/2020)

Shame on her if she is LYING… but SHAME on us if we continue to ignore the root of this problem. Because these behaviors will continue, especially if they are affirmed and given our consent at the ballot box this fall. TWENTY-FIVE is too many, but ONCE is not enough…?!

How much lower must we drag the bar?

We’re only talking about the HIGHEST OFFICE in the land here.

Then again, who am I to say… I’m just some guy from Kansas.

A Scout is Kind

“Boy Scouts of America files for Bankruptcy”– Washington Post (02-18-2020)

I am heartbroken after hearing about the bankruptcy filing of the Boy Scouts of America. As an Eagle Scout, I know my life would not be the same without the lessons and experiences I had as a Scout. While I am hopeful that the storied tradition and mission of Scouting will be around for another 100 years, how this situation is handled will determine if that is possible.

HEALING the damage that has occurred and preventing future harm, should be the FIRST PRIORITY.

If that means this organization must come to an end, sadly… that is the way it must be. If they choose to operate in a way that protects or promotes criminal sexual abuse of any form, I would PROUDLY hand my Eagle Scout Badge BACK to the BSA before I would support them, and I believe EVERY Eagle Scout would do the SAME.

We must remember… the ABUSED are not the criminals here, the ABUSERS are. There should be NO TIME LIMIT against coming forward. Their stories help us PREVENT future abuse and we should welcome their stories. We must be focused on making sure it cannot happen again.

My Boy Scout Troop dealt with an experience of sexual abuse while I was an active Scout. During one of our monthly camping trips, our newly elected Scout Leader subjected a group of first year Scouts to an “underwear check”. I didn’t attend that camp out… I can’t remember why. I know at the time it was an important reason, but the events of that weekend seem to have overshadowed everything else around it.

As a youth organization, I believe the BSA must address two issues in order to prevent future abuse:

1.) Why did those boys not know that that situation was unacceptable and should have SPOKEN OUT about it immediately?

2.) Why did that boy believe it was possible for him to subject those Scouts to a situation like that without accountability?

Preventing sexual abuse requires SPEAKING about sexual abuse, which naturally means educating kids about what IS and IS NOT acceptable. At such a pivotal point in their development, the BSA should take a more active role in educating Scouts about these things, and clearly define expectations to actively promote a safe environment for all members… parents, volunteers, and Scouts.

Everyone must feel SAFE, and the BSA must create an atmosphere where Scouts feel comfortable SPEAKING OUT when they are not. The experiences of the Boy Scouts are not an isolated incident. Many organizations are beginning to open their eyes to abuse within their ranks, and we are learning that many lives have been affected. Many people live their entire lives without speaking of it… and some are affected by it everyday.

SILENCE will not fix the problem in the future, and it will not help victims heal.

If the goal truly is to protect CHILDREN, then we must give them the TOOLS necessary to someday do so for themselves… they need KNOWLEDGE.

What better group is there to provide that knowledge than the BSA?