Early May, 2022. The political-economic-social-religious divide in America is getting worse, seemingly by the hour. Why? The PRUDES’ revenge.
Since 1980, PRUDES on the political-economic-social-religious “right” have decided they don’t like how America was evolving. They decided to change the rules. Some analysts point to the 1971 “Powell Memo” as the starting gun, others say it just confirmed what was happening.
Powell advocated many things, all in fear America was changing for the worst. Corporations and others needed to act – everywhere – to change rules and opinions. Businesses had few “lobbyists” in Washington in 1970, by 1980 they had hundreds. “Religious right” PRUDES organized around opposition to loss of private schools tax exemptions [because of discrimination]; against women’s civil rights; against non-white civil rights; against gay civil rights.
Business changed rules by fighting [to the death] against labor unions – shipping American jobs to Mexico and Asia. The far right created their own legal organizations. “Religious right” PRUDES mobilized around the “pro-life” agenda [part of which ended when a child was actually born]. Reactionary billionaires funded it all.
THE key, THE shining jewel: control of the U.S. Supreme Court. From 1968 forward, PRUDES made this THE major emphasis. EVERY fact-based Supreme Court analysis points to one conclusion: the U.S. Supreme Court, few a few exceptions, has shifted increasingly radically far right since 1969.
Republican Court nominees are “vetted” by two groups: the right-wing leaning Federalist Society and “social conservatives.” Nobody gets on any federal court “short list” if not approved by these groups,
The most sensational proof of this is the effort by Republican president G.W. Bush to appoint Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. PRUDES objected. A sitting Republican president was FORCED to rescind the nomination. Miers’ “crime’ was that she wasn’t PRUDE enough; didn’t have the required “paper trail” providing proof she vote the “expected way” on key issues for the PRUDES.
It gets even better – guess WHO was substituted for Miers??? None other than one Samuel Alito!!!!!!!!!!
PRUDES that created the current 6-3 “conservative!!!!!” “supreme court” majority demanded what Alito’s leaked anti-abortion draft provided. The consensus wisdom: at least 5 of those Republican “justices” were pit on the “court’ for this exact vote, and to provide other “business-friendly” and far-right “religious liberty” rulings. Put on the “court” to change the rules for America.
Perspective I: Chief Justice Marshall [“Bank of the U.S.”]: “A Constitution, from its nature, deals in generals, not detail. Its framers cannot perceive minute distinctions which arise in the progress of the nation, and therefore confine it to the establishment of broad and general principles.”
Perspective II: Charles Kimball [“When Religion Becomes Evil’}: “Christians who say they take the Bible literally are either ignorant or self-deluded. No one takes the Bible literally…literalist approach is further undermined by the act of translation. The Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek. The presence of nearly two dozen contemporary English translations points to the challenge of communicating the meaning and intent of the original text.”
Perspective III: Samuel Marcosson [“Original Sin Clarence Thomas and the Failure of the Failure of the Constitutional Conservatives’]: “originalist’s positions closer resemble Republican positions than Framers..; Originalism is a jurisprudence of deafness..; Originalism is the extreme case in which “the legal system: ‘ silences certain stories”;.. originalists have failed in their own terms..; almost endemic to the “originalists” – their inability to ignore their personal and political views when the original understanding conflicts with those views.” !!!!! This was written in 2002 – NOTHING HAS. CHANGED!!!!! {“their inability to ignore personal and political views” on cases before them]
Perspective IV: Chief Justice Roger Taney’s “Dred Scott” opinion: The Framers of the Constitution did not intend for Blacks to be citizens, and the Constitution “must be construed now as it was understood at the time of adoption.”
***!!!***!!!*** What is considered THE worst U.S. Supreme Court decision of all time [before 2022] was justified in “originalist” terms.. The same terms Alito relies upon: “abortion isn’t in the Constitution.”
Think on what would happen if we ran our lives on “originalist” terms: everything frozen forever in 1787-1791 terms – no cars, no TV, no central air/AC, no airplanes, no internet, no refrigerators, no electric lights, no modern sewage and water systems, most of YOU are living on farms using horsepower, most of YOU likely dead before age 50, many of YOU can’t read, or write……..
A literal Constitutional interpretation means all of the above – if we apply “originalism” theories across the board. WHY would we wish to do that???
1765-1789 Americans revolted against three things: a corporation [Boston Tea Party], a king, an established church.
An “established church” is a state church, THE official church – which several European nations had. Political leaders, Baptist preachers, evangelicals ALL DEMANDED an end to official religion>
Think on this: 1776-1800 state constitutions [please look them up] – in 8 states banned an active minister from serving in their government>. WHY did they do that? What does that tell YOU? 11 of the 13 colonies had an “established church.” By 1830 – ALL gone. WHY???
The PRUDES first victory came with the 1873 “Comstock Laws” – designed to control YOUR private behaviors. Reproductive tech and ALL printed matter on contraception were “obscene.” The inspiration behind these laws, Anthony Comstock was “Prudish, sanctimonious and often cruel..who considered any sex outside of marital reproduction to be a sin.” [Rebecca Davis; 5/13/22; L.A. Times]
The second victory for “public morality” came with the prohibition of alcohol, 1920-33. It led to widespread disrespect for law and the rise of organized crime.
Since 1970s, America has conducted a “war on drugs.” Largely a failure, it has led to massive corruptions and drug lords; also importation of fentanyl and other deadly drugs, many deaths. It remains the politicalization of a medical problem – which more sane nations have avoided
Perhaps the PRUDES’ final[??} and greatest victory is coming in 2022 courtesy of a stacked “supreme court” in defiance of overwhelming public support to retain “Roe” – to not trash only 50 years of “settled” law, but also many privacy issues.
Like earlier PRUDE victories, much anti-abortion rhetoric is couched in Biblical terms [“god says]. MAJOR problem: several other religions have said this would violate their religious freedoms. The 5 “supreme court’ PRUDES, relying on THEIR religious faith are adamant and defiant – THEIR HOLY MISSION requires this “sin” be outlawed.
America will now undergo yet another “prohibition.” Again, in the name of “morality imposed on 332 million by PRUDES. PRUDES who want to control YOUR life – on THEIR terms.
Against the expressed, repeatedly said, Founders’ intent, a religious MINORITY of PRUDES wants to dictate how YOU live YOUR life.
And it goes on elsewhere in America. All 9 members of the Texas Supreme Court are Republicans. They recently decreed Texas authorities could continue “abuse” probes against parents who are investigating their children’s desires to explore transgender medical treatment. Nobody takes this lightly. But Texas PRUDEs have decided THEY, not the children’s parents should determine what is best for that child. Cruelty personified.
Ask YOURSELF – why should 5 PRUDES – all raised in one fundamentalist church – get to vote on YOUR private personal life? Could ANYTHING be more un-American, more un-Constitutional???
Amendment I: “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion..” This means – as the 1776-1800 state constitutions said, no on “any pretense whatsoever” would ANY governmental body in America EVER. dictate YOUR private life – on the basis of SOMEBODY ELSE’S RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. PERIOD. END OF DISCUSSION. NEVER.
What’s next? Will puritanical PRUDES of the “religious right” bring back public stoning, the dunking stool, the Scarlet Letter, religious kangaroo courts like 1692 Salem, or perhaps righteous people as vigilantes [ oops – too late, the PRUDES have already done that!!!]. What’s next?
Will PRUDES continue to censor what YOUR public library offers? Will PRUDES try to convince people evolution is “fake news” [in spite of COVID more dangerous because it evolved?] Will PRUDES continue to teach false history in private schools? Will PRUDES continue to sabotage real science and medicine?
You don’t think they’re going to stop with trashing “Roe” do you? YOU aren’t that naive, right ?
Losing YOUR reproductive choices means “the state” owns YOU [Nazis, Soviets, Taliban….}
The PRUDES revenge.i
With Justice For All 