Posted on by Nathan Riley

Stranger Danger

          Joe Biden’s troubles shouldn’t change Freedom Democrats’ minds. We support him even with health problems.

Stranger danger is one reason for staying away from Republicans. It’s a basic Republican principle that strangers should make decisions that in a free country should be the responsibility of one person.

Becoming a mother is a responsibility that lasts decades. It should be the mother who decides to accept this responsibility, but Republicans insist that government—that is, the strangers—law enforcement, and churches should be equal partners. Although the fetus never expresses an opinion, right-to-life sympathizers inject themselves into a decision that realistically is the responsibility of the mother. These strangers believe they know what will protect the child and in fact that they can ignore the mother’s choice.

This is absurd. Consider a good thing; a referendum proposal in Arkansas that would permit  abortions up to sixteen weeks and in cases with special medical needs. This is a good faith effort to find a middle ground between pro-choice advocates and right-to-life diehards by permitting a procedure. If the bill gets on the ballot, it should be supported.

However, four months is a reasonable period for an adult comfortable with her body, but what about a fourteen-year-old girl who has an irregular menstrual cycle? She could easily take more than four months before she recognizes her pregnancy. These types of problems are aggravated by stranger danger. At least to my mind, I don’t want a child to become a mother unless her family is willing to accept the responsibility. This is just one of the dozens of real-life examples that make it difficult, if not impossible to write rules about the complexity of human relationships.

In a free society, the mother should choose. Strangers have no business making rules about complicated problems like this. It’s already a difficult decision, and allowing strangers to make it more difficult is destructive and impinges on freedom.

This is only one of the areas where thoughtless government officials and their public supporters allow private matters to become the business of strangers.

These decisions can be fatal. When it became clear that OxyContin was making some users have a compulsive habit, little help was offered to them, and public wrath was unleashed on pharmaceutical companies for making the drug.

Users were simply told, “Stop!” To nobody’s surprise, while some stopped others entered the illegal market. Politicians thoughtlessly expanded crime. Nobody tells a heavy person, “Stop eating!” But the powers that be, without thinking, huffed and puffed and said, “No more. You can’t get this drug. We’re going to make it illegal.” By doing this, the government forced drug users to enter the illegal market and get close fentanyl. Thousands have died because strangers thought they could tell a person what pills they can use.

What’s worse is that the strangers are accepting magical beliefs in the power of these illegal drugs. People who use drugs have individual reactions to their choice of highs. Some drug users go to work, live responsible lives; others get wrapped up in depression, and the law cruelly magnifies their problems. Very few homosexuals are child-molesters, and the number of drug users whose lives are ruined  by their high is far smaller than lawmakers claim. Once again, strangers who have little experience are making life-and-death decisions that properly belong to the individual and his doctor.

Sex work also runs the gambit of human behavior. Some are graduate students working on their PhD. Others are homeless and distressed. Making their life illegal allows strangers to interfere in private concerns, when the object in a free society would be to help people live their lives even if they rent their bodies, abort their pregnancies, or choose to take drugs.

Obviously, the Democrats are only occasionally helpful on drugs and sex work. They almost universally want to keep strangers away from decisions about pregnancy.

The key difference between the Republicans and the Democrats is a willingness to learn. At one time, many Democrats were against abortion-law reform; today, the party is nearly unanimous. In the areas of drugs and sex work, many Democrats are open-minded. Democrats are far more willing to consider stranger danger than Republicans, who self-righteously insist they know how individuals should live their lives.

Posted on by Nathan Riley

Trump Shows Signs of Running a Professional Campaign, Making Democrats Worry

Clearly Trump will be harder to beat this year than he was in 2020. The election was held in the middle of the Covid epidemic, and glaring errors hurt Trump’s chances for reelection.

When Trump, at a news conference with public health officials, started thinking out loud, he suggested “it would be interesting to check” whether bleach could kill the virus and restore health. This mistake added to confusing messages he had been sending about the virus and wearing face masks.

This mistake was good news for Joseph Biden, who was trying to oust Trump from the White House. Biden’s aides quickly realized that Trump had hurt his chances of being reelected: “this was stratospherically insane and dangerous.” In 2024, the evidence is growing that the Trump campaign is avoiding errors that work to Biden’s advantage.

The Republican campaign is showing signs of professionalism that have to make Biden’s team nervous. The thorny question of who will be Trump’s running mate was presented for public comment when Donald Trump invited Doug Burgum to ride on his campaign airplane. It wasn’t an announcement, but it clearly signaled that anyone objecting had better make their case now, before the announcement. This is standard operating procedure, and it is a sign that this year Trump will be avoiding the mistakes that helped Joe Biden’s campaign win in 2020.

Doug Burgum is a native son of North Dakota who has amassed a considerable fortune and is in his second term as governor. He is the epitome of the self-made man and has a career that probably appeals to Trump. While still in college, he became a chimney sweep, a lowly beginning that is played up in his biographies. He started a software company that did business in Midwest states like North Dakota. It was a success, and Microsoft purchased the company. Governor Burgum has a knack for impressing people. Microsoft placed him in charge of Microsoft Business Solutions, selling Microsoft products to other businesses.

After leaving the software giant, Burgum went off on his own and started a technology venture capital company and a real-estate development firm. The Republican establishment backed the State Attorney General in North Dakota for Governor, but Burgum had the money and the personality to easily win the Republican primary.

In other words, Burgum has a career that may appeal to Donald Trump. In another sign that Trump is running a professional campaign this year, Burgum addressed a massive Trump rally on the Jersey Shore. 100,000 people showed up at the Wildwood rally. Beyond this show of enthusiasm, the rally took place in the Philadelphia media market. Trump found a way to mobilize his supporters and make a big impression in Pennsylvania, one of the battleground states for this year’s election.

This adds up to a campaign triumph, and it makes Biden’s job more difficult. Four years ago, Trump’s mistakes helped Biden win the election. That seems less likely this year.

Posted on by Nathan Riley

Freedom Democrats Must Keep Their Eye on Washington

Big changes in Washington can mean trouble for people who party.

The Speaker is the top Republican honcho in the House of Representatives.

Every member has an election every two years, so they think about raising money and winning elections all the time.  The Speaker must help the members of his political party win a majority every two years.

Mike Johnson of Louisiana is the new Speaker; it’s an important job. If there is a catastrophe where President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris both die, then the law makes Mr. Johnson President. In other words, he is a big deal, under the law and in politics.

But Mike Johnson is a devout Christian evangelist. He is against gay marriage, abortion and strip clubs.  In his new job, he may change his positions and stop insisting that everyone obey his religious beliefs. Much as I distrust him, he may prove me wrong and modify his views with his new responsibilities.

But we can’t be certain, so it makes sense for people who party to get organized and protect their rights.

Johnson’s opposition to abortion reflects a simple fact. When he was born his mom was 17.  People who support a women’s right to choose would probably tell his mom to stop the pregnancy and wait a few years.  If the Speaker’s mom had followed this advice, Mr. Johnson would never have been born. His family history makes him a foe of abortion. People who party should allow women to consult their doctors and make up their own mind. If you live in a free country, then you have a right to choose.

Mike Johnson’s history has to make people who party nervous. Louisiana is a party state. Bourbon Street in New Orleans is famous worldwide. Shreveport, where Johnson started his political career, is a casino city. Riverboats have casinos to attract tourists. It should come as no surprise that people who gamble for fun also visit strip joints.

At the start of his career, Mr. Johnson tried to shut a strip tease bar. According to the Washington Post, Johnson claimed, “I have done an exhaustive legal research.” It was the start of his career and “he told municipal lawmakers in April 2002.” The arrival of another “‘sexually oriented business,’ or “SOB” as he called it, would spread sexually transmitted diseases and other social ills,” the Washington Post reported.

As might be expected, Louisiana permitted “gentleman’s clubs” and Mr. Johnson’s campaign failed as the State’s courts rejected his arguments.

Clearly, Mr. Johnson’s history suggests he might attack the pleasures enjoyed by people who don’t share his strict religious beliefs. Even though the law permitted strip clubs with few restrictions, Mr. Johnson tried to shut down the Déjà Vu club in Shreveport, and failed.

The Post concluded that this “enhanced the power of religious conservatives and propelled his political career.”

In other words, Mr. Johnson needs to be closely watched if we are to protect people who party.

Posted on by Nathan Riley

Throw a Party

Work with others who can provide music, refreshments, find a location. Become hosts on behalf of Freedom Democrats.

The goal is to find people who will vote for privacy and free choice—the Freedom Democrats.

Voting is free and for every citizen. The idea is common sense. Get a large number of voters working together so they can meet with politicians and know they have something to offer: votes!

It is not rocket science; it turns fun into a way to be heard. It turns fun into a way to meet people who are smart and for people who didn’t make the honor role at school to become as important as those who went to college. It is a basic part of American history—the push for equality.

The common cause is protecting people who party from those who criticize and try to make life more difficult for those who enjoy porn, drugs and hours of fun.  Remember Democrats and Republicans can be hostile to people who party, claiming it sends a bad message.  The people who party should protect their rights just as much as people who join unions protect their rights, as do others who fight for equal rights for Blacks and Hispanics or to make it crystal clear, those who fight to protect the rich from taxes. The objective is to become players in government and law. Get involved, get equal.

The key organizing tool is fun—a party.

But Freedom  Democrats should also acquire knowledge.  Politics is a game of numbers. Everybody lives in an election district (ED), the smallest political district. EDs are the building blocks. They are combined with other EDs to create a district. For example, the district that elects a member of Congress, or elects a city council member, a state senator, or a member of the state House of Representatives.

Each district has a history of voting.  You will be amazed at how few votes can make a difference between winning and losing. These histories of voting are public records but often require money.  Many offices charge a copying fee.  But the knowledge learned from examining these records is invaluable.

It is an example of how starting with fun it is also possible to become serious—to learn facts that make a difference between winning and losing.

Parties allow people to work together, and through cooperation gives the people who party a powerful voice that will be heard.

Start with the fun but keep an eye out for acquiring serious knowledge, like the history of voting in your town or city.

I have suggested that we start by helping Joe Biden; it is a smart way to get started being friendly. We help you, you help us. After we get involved, we will see if we remain friends, but it makes sense to start with a smile.

That’s it, throw a party, study the elections in your community acquire the skills to protect yourself if someone wants to call sex work human trafficking, or because the illegal market pushed fentanyl then thinks it is okay to call an overdose a murder.  Changing the attitude of law enforcement is a good idea.

So throw a party.

Posted on by Nathan Riley

Why I Am a Democrat, Not a Republican

In my opinion, governments that have money are stronger than governments starved for funds.

Republicans are militant about cutting taxes. It makes it more likely that the U.S. will be weaker. All too often, the Democrats, who know better, join the tax-cutting frenzy.

The Republicans are clearly correct when they raise the possibility that the national debt can leave the U.S. vulnerable to a financial cataclysm. Higher taxes are one step for preventing this. The bigger the debt, the more money must come in. I condemn Republicans for raising the debt but making the U.S. weaking by lowering taxes especially on the rich. A combination that invites disaster.

For years, the U.S. delayed a crisis by keeping interest rates at historic lows, making it easier to pay the debt.  The recent increase in interest rates brings a new reality.  The Federal Reserve has raised rates dramatically and higher interest payments make the debt more expensive.

According to the New York Times the U.S. Treasury Department announced “that net interest on the debt increased to a record $659 billion in 2023,” This is about one-third higher than the cost last year of $475 billion. The Peterson Foundation, a fiscal watchdog, predicted interest costs would reach $10.6 trillion in “the next decade.” Spending on interest would be double “what the U.S. has spent on interest over the last 20 years.”

Still, the Republicans want to cut taxes, in my opinion making the U.S. weaker. This country’s Treasury is vulnerable. The Republicans don’t listen. They pretend they can cut government services but are perfectly happy when they fail. Remember when Republicans were going to end Obamacare?

To hear Republican budget cutters, the problem is mandated costs, a hostile description of money that that goes to other Americans, for example for medical care and disability payments. Proving, in my humble opinion, that as the population gets older, social security payments and medical costs go up, and we can no more stop high and low tides. All too often the budget cutting mania strikes mothers and children. Less often there are large dollar increases for education.

I believe it is prudent to increase the money coming in. For this reason, I believe Freedom Democrats should reject the tax-cutting mania. Republican tax-cutting is bad for America.

I recommend that some Freedom Democrats take a close look at this issue. Millions of thoughtful Americans worry about a future debt-crisis. It is not likely that there will be large spending cuts. Raise taxes, find the money to service this debt, and improve services: more help with college tuition, more doctors, more nurses. It is a way for Freedom Democrats to find allies. Millions of people who don’t care about the right to privacy that we hold dear but who worry about the budget might take the Freedom Democrats seriously.

One way to service the debt is raising taxes. Another way is using government money to increase U.S. economic growth and use the increased revenue to manage the debt. If the U.S. economy was growing by 4% instead of the 2.06% it grew in 2020. Wages can rise and tax revenues increase.

Money is a pain in the neck. These policies will bring inflation, so the Freedom Democrats should support higher wages because prices are rising. Fighting inflation becomes a problem. Finding money always has problems. It is the job of politicians to resolve these difficulties.

The pain of raising taxes can have a positive ending, increased revenue from economic growth. Talking about money causes discomfort, but the critical question is what are we getting for the higher taxes.

We should demand of our politicians that the government use taxes to provide better services. Only a few will support higher taxes if the money just goes to pay off the debt.

Countries that pay much higher taxes, like the Scandinavian countries, get tuition-free college, free medical care, schools that have swimming pools and psychologists helping teachers and students deal with the problems that come from growing up. Go on YouTube and the voters in Northern Europe pay more than a third of their income in taxes and don’t want to change. They know what they’re getting for their money.

I believe Ronald Reagan was wrong. Government isn’t the problem. The government freed the slaves. Government spending brought prosperity after World War II. If the United States created a national health insurance program, more people will visit doctors and take pills. Since there is no longer a copayment, these costs will rise. The good news is that the number of well-paying jobs in the medical field will grow as more nurses and more doctors are needed. Government isn’t the problem, government is the opportunity.

In my opinion Democrats are more likely to do this than Republicans.

Posted on by Nathan Riley

Freedom Democrats/

Those of us who party face threats; we should organize to stop intimidation and arrests.

Next year a President will be elected and it’s a perfect time to start a coalition including sex workers, drug users, porn watchers and the friends and family of people who party to fight militant puritanism.

Biden faces a tough election; if we help him, his supporters might help us. Even if they do not, we will learn who is our friend and who keeps their distance. Consider it as important as losing your virginity.  As the new kids on the block, we will face hostility, but if you live in a Republican area than the Democrats might want allies.There is only way to find out, mix it up and get involved.

Attacking the transgender, treating children who express their sexual inclinations with hostility, calling prostitution human trafficking, accusing drug users of murder after an accidental overdose, shutting down craigslist personals are danger signs that Democrats and Republican can be stampeded into taking hostile steps against people who party.

The Republicans with their ties to religious fundamentalists are often hostile, but they also have support from strait-laced Democrats. Neutralizing this support is a sensible idea.

Call the new group “Freedom Democrats.” It should organize and oppose these aggressive acts by following this principle: privacy must be respected. In a free society, especially in a capitalist society, people who rent their bodies are not committing a crime, getting high is not a crime, and teaching controversial ideas is a positive good—a strength of a free society.

Political power does not require a majority. The LGBTQI community is not a majority, but the Democrats met the members of this community, developed relationships, and learned it is a human right to allow people to choose who they love.  Familiarity turned contempt into respect. By becoming political, gays and lesbians threw off the label “sick” and found pride.

People who party should enjoy the same rights, and they don’t have to be a majority to bring about change, they must be united and develop a program so they can tell politicians if you want our votes then add freedom to government policies.

Consider this simple truth. If it is ok to drink coffee as a pick me up, then it is not a crime to get high. Fentanyl is used every day in hospitals and nobody dies. So why does it kill drug users?  By making it illegal, policymakers make it dangerous; drug users are denied medical care.  Before abortion became legal, illegal operators gave poor medical care. Woman got sick and even died.  The same principle applies to drug users.

There are strong arguments in favor of freedom, and they will be presented in future articles, but today we’re focusing on becoming political.

Getting organized requires cooperation. Getting started is simple. Just throw a party. Weekly parties give friends and family a place to meet. It creates new friends and adds excitement to life.

Parties are for dating, dancing and fun. A

Freedom party will add a special attraction. Lawyers, college professors, activists and doctors should be invited to give talks while others party. The talks will be voluntary; only those who are interested will show up. For the rest, the party goes on. The primary purpose of the weekly event is for people to meet and become friends.

The group should be on the lookout for people with a talent for supporting the cause of liberty. For example, a guest speaker must be introduced to the group. Finding out who does this well is useful.

Don’t start with leaders-become friends first. In the beginning stay low key. It is a party after all. Finding who knows how to listen and be genuinely friendly is important.

America’s greatest President, Abraham Lincoln. had a reputation as a wrestler and storyteller. It wasn’t his politics that made him popular-he was good company. He also devoured newspaper stories; he was a political guy and his friends knew it. In a word, Lincoln’s friendly disposition made him good company. The weekly parties give everyone a chance to find who has these talents. Can he/she/they bring people together? The weekly party is a place to practice these skills.

Pressing for change gives members of the group a chance to meet community leaders as equals. Despised groups enter a new environment. They meet the public, develop issues, and have face to face meetings. When a person meets a community leader, they not only have a specific purpose in mind, the interaction fosters pride. Some of the party goers will display skills at working with people on a common cause—for example, electing a president.  It gives despised people a chance to show off.

The success of the effort depends on staying power that means throwing the weekly parties after the election.

The parties are more than fun, they are opportunities to meet people. They offer learning and a chance for serious conversations.  Party goers have an opportunity to learn; the events are free, and homework is optional.

Bringing speakers and performers is a perfect way for strangers to become acquainted. It allows curious people to meet sex workers and drug users without passing judgment.

It gives Freedom Democrats a chance to find allies. There will be hostile criticism. There may be arrests and lawsuits. For this reason, it is critical that lawyers, business owners, and people of all incomes become allies. With this support, Freedom Democrats can demonstrate they are permanently in the political process. When you press an issue, nobody can guarantee that the Freedom Democrats will win. Victory is walking away with pride.

Freedom Democrats should stay united by agreeing everyone is entitled to their own ideas. Caution dictates that there be no party lines insisting that everyone follow the leader. Drug users may be divided. Some oppose making heroin legal; people who have seen friends die often firmly oppose allowing the drug to become available. They should work with people who’ve reached a different conclusion. Freedom means thinking and making up your own mind.

Nothing is simple in life and each party must decide how to stay legal. Do you want high school students? Then the law may stop the party from serving alcohol. If Freedom Democrats want to drink, the law might force the party to impose 21 drinking. Drinking may bring liability for drunk-driving accidents. In other words, creating the party allows Freedom Democrats to meet lawyers on a friendly basis. Throwing the party becomes a learning experience.

The objective is to create a community that will speak up for freedom and oppose government interference with people’s private choices.

Posted on by Nathan Riley

Democrats Should Adopt Bernie’s Menu

Senator Bernie Sanders set the table, and it is up to the Democrats to taste the feast.

Bernie dreams of a generous future festooned with goodies: pre-paid medical care financed by taxes; tuition-free public colleges and with it lower college tuitions from competing private universities. Dramatic increases in the minimum wage to $15 as opposed to the small bumps Democrats currently back.

The difference is political: a bump to $15 demonstrates the benefit of voting Democratic, small bumps are anonymous, make minor differences in people’s lives and get attributed to “government” not the party. The big bump invites voters to join the Democrats and that is Bernie’s style.

Dining with Bernie includes workers’ benefits required by law.  Sick pay is mandatory and staying home to care for a sick child comes with a pay. It could be part of a Democratic legislative program giving all workers the benefits that strong unions provide workers. This is a norm in Europe.

Bernie’s elderly guests would get higher social security payments. This benefit could start a national program of income security that means workers don’t have to accept harsh working conditions. They can tell their boss treat us right or we will walk. Current neo-liberal policies are designed to accomplish the opposite forcing people to work to avoid starvation and homelessness.

Creating a grim future discourages political participation but fosters anger. This anger often feeds Republican hostility to immigrants and other groups. Bernie loves anger if it unites “working families.”

The big meal in Bernie’s feast is a rosy future. Climate change makes a sustainable economy highly desirable. It’s a sharp contrast with Republicans funding an army to fight space wars. Democrats would hire workers to build green housing, and work on public works protecting communities from flooding. The Senator’s path to full employment has government-funded jobs building resilient communities. It’s an exciting positive future. It would be foolish for Democrats to ignore the political power of campaigning for an environmentally friendly path to economic growth.

Bernie pulled out of the Presidential sweep stakes after doing a last favor for the Democratic Party. The Wisconsin election was also a general election. For example, a conservative State Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly was being challenged by Democrat Jill Karofsky. A constitutional amendment seeking to increase the influence of crime victims is supported by Republicans and vigorously opposed by the Civil Liberties Union.

By staying in the race, Bernie insured that Democrats would show up even if only by absentee ballots.

The Democrats must avoid a trap. They are mindlessly rejecting Bernie’s idea in phobic reaction. They should be incorporating them into their presentations and transforming them. They represent a plausible and generous future.

The most dangerous trap is mindlessly rejecting Medicare for all. The news that ten to twenty million workers are unemployed because of covid-19 shattered the case for the Affordable Care Act. Private insurance terminates when a worker loses a job. Even if the insurance continues the co-payments can wreak havoc with a family income. It is no way to win friends or votes.

The notion that hospitals should stay within a budget goes out the window when the world-wide demand drives up the prices of everything. A Georgia hospital network found a supplier in Mexico charging $7 each for N95 facemasks, which usually cost 58 cents a piece.

The present system has each hospital and the Feds competing for supplies. A competition that drives up prices. A national health system minimizes such problems.

Democrats again have an opportunity to offer voters health insurance with no out of pocket expenses. They should relish this prospect, but most of them ran away fearing they will be punished for tax increases rather than praised for making healthcare a right.

There is no reason to damn Bernie’s proposals as unrealistic. The health care system needs to take control of its costs and mustn’t be at the mercy of its suppliers. Democrats can prosper if they eat at Bernie’s table.