Given the two SCOTUS rulings by today, The Supreme Court of the United States is, as of today, officially owned by and ruled by corporations and the wealthy.
The same plutocrats in other countries and which America claims are undemocratic in so many other countries of the world are now your destiny fulfilled. Democracy in America died today.
Your "Land of the Free" no longer exists and to just live there, it certainly has become the "Home of the Brave" and not in a military sense.
Plutocracy or oligarchy ... it doesn't matter because the U.S.A. is a morally bankrupt country run by corporations and the wealthy 1%ers.
As Justice Ruth B Ginsburg wrote on her Twitter feed today: "The court (SCOTUS), I feel, has ventured into a minefield."
Good luck America you will very much need it in the future.
William A. Hoch
P.S. I know you can do better and my hope is you will make the changes needed at the ballot box in 2014 and in 2016.
Today someone on social media caused my brain to rewind to the June 1997 graduation advice from Chicago Sun columnist Mary Schmich and put to a spoken word video by Baz Luhrmann in 1998. Here are the words (and lyrics?) and why everyone should consider following this important advice everyday. If you want to skip the required reading you can fast forward to the end of this post and see the advice in a video encapsulation. The truth is the free advice is a s good today as it was in 1997.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '97.
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience... I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked... You're not as fat as you Imagine.
Don't worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind. The kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy; Sometimes you're ahead, Sometimes You're behind. The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; If you Succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your Life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't, maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't, maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't Congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else's. Enjoy your body, Use it every way you can... Don't be afraid of it, or what other people Think of it, It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own...
Dance... even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Brother and sister together we'll make it through Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there I know you've been hurting, but I've been waiting to be there For you. And I'll be there, just tell me now, whenever I can. Everybody's free.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they'll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; They are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will Philander, you too will get old, and when you do you'll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, Maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
Don't mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.
