Junior High Cit Ed Refresher Course

What used to be Jerusalem Avenue Jr. High

Seventh and eighth grade social studies, at least at the now defunct Jerusalem Avenue Junior High, was called Cit Ed...short for citizenship education. In hindsight, these were by far and away the most important classes I ever had in either junior or senior high school. We learned US history, New York State history, and how our federal and state governments are supposed to work. Yeah, there was a certain amount of indoctrination going on, but the lessons about government and the separation of powers has stuck with me forever. So, let's have a review of what kind of governments are out there.

The United States is supposed to be a constitutional federal republic operating as a representative democracy. This means: 

1. power is divided between the federal and state governments
2. The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land
3. The federal government has three working branches:
• the legislative - Congress
• the judicial - The Supreme Court
• the executive - The President, Vice President, cabinet, et al

Communist countries are few and far between since Communism as a form of government is difficult to manage. China, Cuba, Laos, and North Korea are pretty much it. 

Communist governments have:

1. One party rule
2. Collective ownership: State owned major industries, resources, and agriculture on behalf of the public.
3. Social and Media Control: Information, mass media, and civil liberties like free speech or religious expression are heavily regulated

Democratic Socialism is a left-wing political and economic philosophy that advocates for political democracy alongside a socially owned or heavily regulated economy. Their stated goals are:

1. Democratic Control: Emphasizes that both political and economic life should be run democratically, aiming to replace what adherents view as the "dictatorship of capital" with worker and community self-management (TIME Magazine)
2. Abolition of the Profit Motive: Advocates for replacing capitalism with an economy driven by social needs rather than corporate profit, (TIME Magazine)
3. Social or Collective Ownership: Long-term goals often include placing key economic drivers—such as utilities, healthcare, and transportation—under public or cooperative control rather than private ownership. (Democratic Socialists of America)

And just to be clear, countries like Denmark and Sweden are NOT democratic socialist governments. No, and they are very clear about that. They are SOCIALIST democratic countries and therein lies a HUGE difference. 

If you get Social Security or Medicare or MedicAid, you are using the very social democratic kind of safety net. Same with SNAP benefits or health insurance through your state program. In a truly capitalist country, these things would not necessarily exist. 

Social democracy emerged in the late 19th century as a response to the challenges of inequalities of the existing class system. They do not seek to abolish capitalism or private property, favoring instead an economy that leverages the economic engine of a free market. Social inequalities of capitalism can be remediated through high taxation, social safety nets (like universal healthcare and public education), and strong labor laws. (Politics Stack Exchange)

1. The Welfare State: Advocates for government-funded public services to ensure a basic standard of living for all citizens.
2. Progressive Taxation: Promotes a tax system where higher earners pay a larger percentage of their income, redistributing wealth to fund public programs and curb extreme inequality.
3. Market Regulation: Supports private enterprise but emphasizes strong labor rights, minimum wages, and environmental regulations to protect workers and society 
4. Democratic Process: Believes in achieving these goals entirely within the framework of a representative democracy.

These days, however, the Democratic Socialists are sucking up all the air in the room, effectively shutting down any sort of debate about what they actually stand for. It's pretty well established they have an unwritten purity test to determine if you can be a part of their movement. Candidates are expected to adhere without question to the following planks in the platform:

1. Health care for all through a single payer system
2. Support for the New Green Deal 
3. refusal to accept any campaign money from corporate PACs or fossil fuel executives.
4. Opposition to foreign military interventions, significant cuts to the defense budget, and support for ending military aid to Israel.

And #4 is where the buck stops for. In addition to ending military aid to Israel, they have also adopted an "anti-Zionist" plank: 

• Anti-Zionism: The DSA views Israel's character as a Jewish state as inherently exclusionary and officially supports the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
• Right to Return: The organization advocates for the realization of full Palestinian self-determination and the right of return for refugees, actively supporting protests that use the slogan "from the river to the sea".
• Expulsion Rules: At its national convention, the DSA passed resolutions establishing that promoting or supporting the Israeli state constitutes an expellable offense for members. 

This means, in no uncertain terms, our indigeneity, our right to live in our own homeland, is not permitted under their rules. Their support for "the river to the sea" supports Hamas' goal to exterminate Jews wherever they live. This is not about Jews who live in Israel; this is open season on Jews in London, Paris, Brooklyn, and in every city in the world. 

Can you imagine what would happen if you tried to tell the French that they are really Italians because Caesar once conquered Gaul, thereby wiping away their language, their culture, their cheese, their wine, and the pastries????? Good luck with that. 

But somehow, it's okay to do to Jews. Because that's what they're telling us: that 5000 years of recorded history in one language (still spoken today) with front and forward archeological evidence in literature (ie the Bible,) on tombs, walls, coins, and paving stones means nothing. Never mind one of their own BIG guys was born in Judea, spoke the language, read the texts, and died because he was a Jew going against the status quo of Rome. 

Nah. Don't look here! Look over there at the purple elephant! 

Let me put this in a way everyone can understand: IT IS NOT ABOUT THE LAND. IT IS ABOUT WE, THE JEWISH PEOPLE.

Either the moderate voices of this country pull their collective heads outta their asses and start showing up for candidates who don't advocate for the mass murder of Jews, be prepared for what is to come. Right now, we are being given a choice between a blithering idiot in the Gold House, and a congress made up of anti-Jewish hate mongers. Even if Feckless President Felon keels over tomorrow, we get JD Bedbug who wants to make this a totally Christian country. 

And for all those RIVER TO THE SEA people you're supporting with blind devotion? Be forewarned: after they have gotten rid of us, they will come after the next group standing in their way. Iran will make sure of that. 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Graham Platner just will not go away. Between the nazi tats and the allegations of rape, I think the Democrats in Maine have taken leave of whatever sense they had. 

This guy is a democratic socialist. See above. When their purity driven platform backs a guy like this, their support of Hamas and Hezbollah makes a strange amount of sense. 

The timing of the new allegations also leave me with an odd discomfort. Did someone contribute to her decision to go public at this exact moment? Although this does give them a brief window to float another candidate. I know; that's awfully jaded of me, but still....

16 years of writing this blog has taught me never to accept anything at face value and to research, research, research. I am suspicious of everything. And after reading the Politico article, I'm thinking not having him in Congress is the right way to go. If Maine, considering Platner's issues,  doesn't have a backup candidate waiting in the wings, that's a them-problem. A BIG one. They should've. And not having one may cost this nation dearly.

My trip to San Francisco for the premiere of THE DARKEST LIGHT is a little more than a week away. I'm excited, nervous, but ready to go. Pedophelia is tough enough, but in any religious community it chips away at the fabric of belief. If coming forward encourages others to speak out, then we've done good. I've spoken to the other panelists and we agree this is soooo the right thing to do. If you're in the Bay Area, come see the film, stay for the panel discussion, and say hi. 

12:00pm Sunday July 19, 2026 , JCC Kanbar hall.

The Wifely Person's Tip o'the Week

Everybody gets a free Slurpee at 7-Eleven 

on 7/11 even if it isn't YOUR birthday.