I'm tired of the Democrats

The scandal ridden establishment democrats have met their sad failure. After an election that was plagued with drama from both sides, drama, untrustworthiness, and the ultimate huge loss of the presidency and congress, it’s time to get it together. Democrats need to stop pretending to be champions for the working class and other marginalized groups. The jig is up.

As Viet Thanh Nguyen writes for the New York Times, all policies have been aimed at imperialism abroad, and not enough work done to keep all groups of people happy domestically.

“That sickness is imperialism. America is an imperial country, and its decay might now be showing. The power that has brought so much benefit to the country — for white people — is now faltering in its ability to provide those benefits to all white people. The empire’s best hope is to be more inclusive, demographically and economically, but that runs counter to the imperial impulse to hoard power and profit.”

Now not every democrat is a bad egg (and there sure are way more on the other side of the aisle) In fact, they are all good people but some of them just have bad habits. One of the biggest blemishes of the 2016 bid for the presidency was the chair of the DNC, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.  Her establishment politics pushed Bernie Sanders out of any chance of winning in the primaries, favoring Hillary in any and all cases. Not only were here emails revealed to prove her dislike of Sanders, but her bid for Hillary lost the dems this election.

We will never know if Bernie Sanders would have won if it were him instead of Hillary. But there is overwhelming evidence pointing to his win if that were to have been the case. Maybe an unfortunate truth is that Americans aren’t ready for female leadership. But more specifically, Hillary’s leadership. She has been tagged by conservative slandering for twenty years, her time in senate and as Secretary of State was rocky to say the least, and I think our eyes may all get stuck rolled back into our heads if we hear the word “emails” one more time. But aside from that, she really is a war hawk and she would continue to perpetuate policy that bolstered our imperialist tendencies.

“If Hillary Clinton had won, she would have run again in 2020, which could have meant four more years of Wall Street liberalism and fire-and-forget perpetual warfare, conducted by drones and Special Operations over the horizon.”

She is untrustworthy, let’s admit it. Even if you can sit down with her over coffee and see that she is a good person...as a politician she is a bit shady. Bernie Sanders has had decades of a clean track record. But more importantly, his message was powerful, while Hillary’s was dull. Sanders played to a similar if not the same populist movement as Trump did. He was looking to reexamine and possibly dismantle the status quo for the good of the people. While Hillary was gradually changing to more progressive (with nudges from Sanders and Warren), it was disingenuous and many people saw right through her.

There are many flaws in the Democratic party, namely their candidate Hillary. Yes, she is a dedicated public servant who has been defamed by the nasty right for decades. But she is also deeply, deeply establishment and so is her entourage. This nation, and this generation wants a change and wants something that stands up to the status quo. And unfortunately, we got the worst case scenario of that.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/opinion/election-night-2016/end-of-the-empire

It's time for Calexit

op-ed

As the fifth largest economy in the world, it’s time for California to secede from the United States, and stop letting them leech off our prosperity. California is in a league of it’s own, and it's exceptionally more progressive than the United States as a whole.

The victory of Donald Trump in the 2016 election, paired with his powerful Republican held congress has prompted fear in a large portion of America. This country is up in arms about the current state of politics and it’s only going to get worse before it gets better. The U.S. is going to struggle to survive, while California is ready to thrive.

This deep blue state is ages ahead of the rest of the country. California is the home to Silicon Valley, the tech capital of the world, bubbling with innovation, competition, opportunity, and brilliant minds. We have some of the most sought after higher education institutions in the world, popular tourism, and a bountiful and self-sustaining agriculture industry.

Of course, California is not all good. Public education is failing students and communities, with some of the most underserved school districts in the nation. Soaring rates of homelessness have overrun urban areas. And a historic drought is threatening residents and ecosystems in the state. But these problems can be addressed through a Calexit.

The overwhelming amounts of federal taxes that California has to pay to subsidize other failing states of the U.S. could be better used to rebuild the infrastructure of California. Already a progressive state, California has been a trailblazer for green initiatives while the rest of the country has lagged behind. A new Trump presidency means a band of climate change deniers will be festering all over capitol hill.

We can only do so much while still attached to the U.S. Being state that’s nearly half on the coast, and 68% of Californians living on the coast, we need our leaders to take climate change seriously. Fragile ecosystems and rising tides are no joke. The livelihood of California relies on progressive and fast-acting legislation on climate change. And that is not going to happen at the federal level.

California is nearing the 5th largest economy in the world, surpassing France and the UK in GDP. With our powerful agriculture industry, our exports would maintain a booming economy and our tech industry will remain strong and competitive in a Calexit.

A Calexit is entirely possible and here’s how. If the amount of federal taxes leaving the state were to remain, and California were to become it’s own country, that excess of tax dollars could allow us to become more like Nordic countries. Socialized healthcare, a surplus of tax dollars to help failing schools and homeless, and competitive trade will help California to flourish independent from the United States.

What’s more, the newly passed Prop 64, legalization of recreational marijuana, will also be a pillar in the California economy. The sale and taxation of recreational marijuana is expected to generate $1 billion in revenues annually. Although the proposition is poorly written, and revenue from marijuana won’t go directly into K-12 educational funding, it can be easily amended once the kinks are ironed out.

The secession from the United States would be historic, but it needs to be well thought out. Brexit was controversial and has led to great economic pitfalls, with the British pound hitting a 30 year low. Additionally, they have been plagued with racial divides, as hate crimes and discrimination are skyrocketing around the UK.

California prides itself on it’s hefty immigrant population. They contribute not only to the robust economy, but to the vibrant culture of California. We are one of the most diverse states in the country and, through a Calexit, have the ability to protect ourselves and our people from the anti-immigrant sentiments that have infected the United States. Moreover, California’s population and economy are the most vulnerable to the radical Trump policy of mass deportation.

There would be a drastic transition indeed, but California is strong enough to become independent. Of course, the inland California border will not detach and allow us to float out to sea on our perfect California island. But we can, and should keep using the U.S. dollar, we will trade with the rest of the remaining United States, and we will be just fine.

An independent California means greater opportunity to catch up with the rest of the world’s progress. The red tape and stagnant congress at the federal level is holding California back. The campaign has begun and every Californian needs to be on board.

Beautiful beaches, brilliant people, progressive policies that will keep California in the lead. It’s time to stop letting the United States suck the life out of us. It’s time for a Calexit.

http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/soapbox/article97425342.html

http://svcip.com/

http://www.4icu.org/us/california/

https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/

http://www.laweekly.com/news/california-is-home-to-some-of-americas-worst-public-schools-7205447

http://www.yescalifornia.org/

http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p25-1139.pdf

http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-proposition-65-and-67-plastic-bag-1478824918-htmlstory.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/brexit-pound-value-uk-economy-california-fifth-place-rankings-a7347696.html

https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_64,_Marijuana_Legalization_(2016)

A is for Anxiety

College is a time when students explore, learn, and grow. But it’s not all good. High pressure universities with the grueling cult of busy coupled with the insane competitiveness on every front, means stress to the max. And this stress is not always easy or manageable. This stress can and is something more for a lot of college students and leads to crippling anxiety that affects not only their academic success but their physical and mental well being.

Starting with the title, Kristen Lee writes “Your Mental Health is More Important Than Your Grades” in her article for the Huffington Post, noting an important truth. The problem is, many universities are ill-equipped to handle a student population with rising mental health issues. With counseling centers severely understaffed, and mental health resources being scarce on campuses nationwide, students are left to fend for themselves.

Lee conducted a study to learn more about what can be done in these instances:

“students demonstrated there are ways around the mental avalanche, and that intense anxiety could be redirected and even harnessed in some situations. This study revealed that prevention is critical, and getting help and engaging in proactive, healthy behaviors made a difference, and was key to avoiding extreme distress”

All well and good, but as mentioned before, mental health resources on campus are scarce, and when utilized they are limited and under funded. At the University of Southern California for example, students with university health insurance are allowed three one on one sessions with a therapist per semester. And for students in a mental health crisis or with deep rooted and untreated mental health issues, three sessions is not enough. Moreover, the waitlist to see a counselor is weeks, even months long. And to see a psychiatrist to get treatment, is a whole semester long.

Additionally, students who experience a mental health crisis lack the resources and support they need to deal with that. It begins with faculty. Faculty at many campuses are undereducated when it comes to dealing with students who need accommodations in a mental health crisis. But some student organizations are taking action. The Academic Culture Assembly at University of Southern California is pushing a resolution through student senate to get a mental health resources blurb put in every class syllabus, and is working with Disability Services and Programs to expand faculty education and accommodations for mental health.

Limited resources and time make it difficult for students, who often put their grades before their health. But Lee attempts to provide some shaky solutions:

“Know that education is a privilege: It may be hard to remember when you are battling deadlines, but across the globe, educational opportunity is not a given right-not even close. Only a small percentage of the world population hold undergraduate, let alone advanced degrees. The fact that you have access to learning is a tremendous resource to cherish[….]Keeping this perspective is vital.”

Yes, education is a privilege, but comparing or minimizing someone’s experience based on their place in the world is unfair and counterproductive to the problem. Ignoring your health and not seeking help because you compared your situation to starving, uneducated children in third world countries is not a solution. What you should keep in perspective is your own health.

Ultimately, dealing with these mental health issues can be stressful, especially when in college. But prioritizing your health is what’s truly vital in your success. While resources are limited, don’t let it deter you from the help you deserve. A’s are awesome, but your health is even awesome-er.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristen-lee-costa/your-mental-health-is-mor_b_8357368.html

Trust No Man

Have you heard the great news? There is now a proven drug trial that shows high effectiveness of a birth control for men. After decades of women having to put up with the side effects of various forms of birth control to protect ourselves from unwanted pregnancy, men can finally take the step towards responsible protection too! But unfortunately, the trial has been stopped and requires reexamining.

“just 20 of the men (out of 320, don’t forget) found the side effects of the injection intolerable and it was decided that more research needed to be done to try and counteract them. Those side effects included depression, muscle pain, mood swings, acne and changes to the libido.”

I think changes to mens’ libdo could be a good thing. But I digress. These side effects are very minor and have been tolerated by women since the dawn of oral contraceptives. Not to mention other forms of birth control that are terrifyingly worse. The implant that causes rapid weight gain and heavy irregular periods, the vaginal ring which has one of the highest risks of blood clots, and the IUD, which has an intensely painful insertion, can get imbedded in the uterus, and can cause infertility.

But us women do all this to protect our own bodies. As frustrating as it is that 20 of the men participating in the study found the side effects unbearable, would we really trust a man with the upkeep of birth control when ultimately it won’t be his problem when an unplanned pregnancy happens? Now this is not some feminist hating all men rant, this is a logical argument to preserve the right to protect our own bodies. In the heat of the moment with a new partner, when the question briefly arises and is now applicable to both the man and the woman, “are you on birth control?” That is not the time to take his word for it.

“When it comes to contraception, medicine is clearly biased towards men. Women can have such ailments as depression and acne thrust upon them for the greater good of preventing an unwanted pregnancy, but the same level of discomfort cannot be expected of men.”

It’s quite laughable that some of the men involved in the study were not able to handle these side effects. It just reinforces the point that women have a significantly higher pain tolerance than men. But more importantly, the purpose of the medication outweighs the side effects when it’s for your own body. Maybe these men in the study found it appropriate to claim these intolerable side effects because this medication would not be necessary to men. But for women who want to protect themselves against unwanted pregnancy, it really is. Frustration aside, protect yourself, and don’t leave the responsibility of protection up to the man.

And here is a video of some dudes experiencing labor pain. Enjoy!

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/male-contraceptive-injection-successful-trial-halted-a7384601.html