A House Divided

PRENOTE: In early December I sent a brief query to a good friend who’s long-time on the e-list for this blog.  I didn’t hear from him, which caused me no concern.  A few days ago, I decided to follow up, and in fairly short order came a reply from him – it appeared.  It was from his son: Rich and his wife, Jeanette, had died in an automobile accident in mid-October.  Obituary here.  It was a shock.

Two items worth your reading time: Heather Cox Richardson Jan. 17, 2025 and Laurence Tribe and Kathleen Sullivan.

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The January 16 Minnesota Star tribune front page photo was of a divided Minnesota House of Representatives.

You’ll note one side of the House chamber is empty; the other filled.  It is a power dispute between the Democrats and Republicans, equally split.  The rest of that story is not relevant here.  The picture displays the insanity of divided government, and ironically it is happening in my own state; and playing out in the United States government as we speak.

Two days from now will be the inauguration of the U.S. President.  It feels, today, much like being in the eye of a hurricane.  All seems calm.  But no one knows for sure exactly when the chaos of the hurricane will resume and who it will damage worst or how.  The prudent persons have prepared for the worst, but if they’re unlucky the preparation will be in vain.  The hurricane is all of us.  We will determine it’s strength or weakness.  We’re all in the path of the storm.

I will not predict what the incoming President will say, though the temptation is strong.

This is a good time to remind myself and all of us that the population which he has chosen to lead is all of us, in all of our infinite varieties.  We are not two tribes in two distinct camps.  We are everywhere, friends, neighbors, relatives….  Here’s my illustration from years ago which I think remains as relevant today as it was in the 1980s when I sketched it.  All of us are each the tiniest of dots on this casual sketch I drew near 40 years ago.  I arbitrarily decided where I was on the illustration.  For your own information, where are you?  And what does that mean, going forward.  You and I and everyone else are the United States of America.

Today is the 25th anniversary of my retirement from 27 years representing public school teachers.  If you wish, here is my reflection on competition and cooperation as I witnessed it in my years in public education: Dick B Reflections

Probable next post on Jan 20 Martin Luther King Jr. day

Previous post here, which will a ‘file cabinet’ post about the upcoming administration.

Starting Monday night on MSNBC Rachel Maddow will host her show  for the next 100 days, emphasizing happenings at the White House and environs.  Her show is at 8 p.m. CST.

I listened to President Biden’s final address to the nation and to the entirety of his full hour interview with Laurence O’Donnell.  Both are well worth your time.