What Would Nellis Say?
Hope!
Real Americans finally stood together to replace our era of bigotry and hate with intelligence, integrity, and hope for a return to sanity, empathy, and courage!
We have reclaimed the essence of our democracy and rejected the corruption and division of Trump’s cult, but while we celebrate this victory with elation, we should focus on realistic expectations and the unified effort it will take to forge a better future through cooperation and coalition.
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While our economy is cooking along, working Americans are struggling to pay for gas, groceries, healthcare, utilities, and educating our youngsters to become tomorrow’s leaders. The next Congress needs to address the needs of our people by reining in Trump’s nonsensical tariffs, increasing the minimum wage, building new programs to guarantee affordable, quality healthcare for everyone, rescinding the tax breaks for our billionaire and trillionaire oligarchs, and ending the pointless war with Iran that is draining our resources.
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They need to investigate and bring charges to end the rampant corruption of Trump, his family, and everyone in his administration. End stock trading and insider investments by everyone in positions of authority during and after their terms, institute term limits and a code of conduct for Supreme Court justices (and impeach those who blatantly lied during their confirmation hearings), and demand independence and accountability for the Justice Department.
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Defund ICE. Arrest and indict Mullin, Neom, Homan, little Nazi Stevie Miller, and everyone else responsible for the administration of the depravity of America’s Gestapo for crimes against humanity. Round up every ICE agent and incarcerate them in the concentration camps they have constructed, without legal representation until their cases can be thoroughly investigated and criminal charges brought in public hearings.
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Release all the non-criminal refugees who have been arrested and incarcerated, find and repatriate all the innocent victims who have been deported, and create a legal and logical pathway to citizenship for immigrants fleeing violence, poverty, and natural disasters. Many of the people who have been arrested are fine, upstanding members of our communities who fill indispensable jobs, pay taxes, and contribute to making our nation and culture richer and more vibrant.
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Perhaps this is a point of inflection where we can stop pretending that “white” people are in some way superior to everyone else, and begin to value each other as human beings. That inclusion cannot be an expectation of government responsibility, but a long-overdue cultural reckoning that is up to all of us as patriotic citizens who believe that “We The People” includes all of us.
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Our New Day will not come quickly or easily. Our success will evolve from long, arduous compromise and concerted effort. It will not come from looking backward to some fictional past, but from crafting a vision of what we as a nation might become if we are willing to stand together and forge a righteous, inclusive, and humane path into our future.
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We have taken a first monumental step, but now more than ever, we need everyone to
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Stand Up! Speak Out! Make a Difference!
For more of Rick’s essays and novels, visit www.rickstiller.com and enjoy a few moments of calm with his floral portraits from Kelian’s Garden at www.rickstillerart.com.