“Whose side are you on?”
sounds like a schoolyard challenge.
Increasingly, however,
it’s a valid question Americans
have been asking about the nation’s
political, cultural and educational
elites.
The unease is unlike the
usual controversies arising
from differences in opinion
about specific issues. The leadership
in Washington, Hollywood
and university campuses
are overtly eager to repudiate
much of the founding principles
upon which the U.S. was originated,
and to intentionally miscast
the past history and current
character of the country.
Much of the citizenry sees
the nation in a realistic light.
They know that, against all
odds, its founders established
a nation that provided more
freedom, prosperity and opportunity
than anything that ever
existed before. The citizenry
also acknowledges that being
human, the founders had flaws,
which were endemic to the
times in which they lived. Since
the dawn of recorded history,
the horrors of slavery, inequality
in the treatment of women,
and other wrongdoings were
not just prevalent but universal.
America moved to attack these
vices, and for the most part succeeded,
despite the propaganda
of those who see political profit
in race baiting and similar misdeeds.
Diminishing a successful
constitutional form of government
that has endured wars
and depressions, and continues
to champion the rights of the
individual is not easy, so Progressives
have adopted a divide
and conquer strategy. They pit
blacks against whites, women
against men, young against the
old. They cast aspersions on the
institutions of protection, such
as the police and the military.
They weaken the structure of
the Supreme Court and subject
it to political threats. They assault
religion and ensure its absence
from the public square.
Even propagating falsehoods
about the past and emphasizing
every prior flaw while hiding
every accomplishment is not
likely to succeed in an environment
of economic satisfaction.
The prior four years produced
more jobs for minorities
than any other period in recent
memory, and more economic
benefits for the middle class and
poor. Crucially, energy independence
was achieved. Therefore,
the Progressive goal of
conquest by division was truly
threatened, and the 45th President
From Councilman Mark Gjonaj
Earlier this week I held a press conference
at Edgewater Park in the Bronx to discuss two
bills I had previously introduced on the topic
of waterfront and coastal protection.The first
bill I had discussed, introduced last winter and
awaiting its first hearing, would update an old
study investigating the feasibility of relocating
above-ground power lines underground,
requiring the agency conducting the study to
submit a report and recommendation to the
City Council and Mayor’s office. As we unfortunately
know all to well, aboveground power
lines are vulnerable to outages in storms and
severe weather events. This accounts for the
immense disparity we see in power outages,
which are often more than just mere inconveniences,
between the outer boroughs and
Manhattan.Manhattan began moving their
power lines well over a century ago, it’s about
time the outer boroughs do the same. This bill
is a serious step forward in achieving that
goal — seeking to create the most comprehensive
report on the subject in council history
— accounting for cost of implementation, infrastructural
limitations and even will compile
data on how storms tax boroughs with
above-ground power in various ways.The second
bill, which I introduced earlier this year,
seeks to create a first-of-its-kind, stand-alone
city agency to be known as the Department of
Coastal Protection. This prospective department,
complete with its own commissioner,
budget and mandate, will be tasked with protecting
our coastline infrastructure from
storms and all other events, informing the public
about best practices. This agency would fill a
much-needed gap, because as it stands, there is
no such agency at the city level, and at the state
level. The applicable agency’s focus is exclusively
on storm recovery, not storm resiliency
and protection.For any further questions about
this legislation, or concerns to be directed to
my constituent affairs team, please contact me
at either MGjonaj@council.nyc.gov or at (718)
931-1721. Thank you and stay safe.
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 34 ULY 16-22, 2021 BTR
came under relentless attack,
which eventually proved
successful in preventing his reelection.
Since the onset of the current
administration, the historically
successful capitalist
economy has been under attack,
with numerous vast proposals
to institute a government-centered
milieu based on deficit
spending. The reality that these
proposals have clearly led to financial
ruin and political repression
is numerous; and just
about all examples, whenever
enacted anywhere throughout
the globe, are largely ignored
by key influencers.
The brilliance of an independent
judiciary in preventing
a loss of freedom and the
maintenance of integrity in
government does not fit in
well with Progressive plans,
so the concept of stacking the
Supreme Court with partisan
judges has become a leftist battle
cry.
The demonstrable past success
over rights-based, limited
government and capitalist
economics is inconvenient, as
are the facts about powerful,
centralized authority’s threat
to personal rights. Therefore,
discussion must be censored.
At one time, freedom of speech
was cherished by almost all.
Currently, it is suppressed online
and on campus.
Propaganda in education
is not restricted to colleges. It
is prevalent as early as the initial
years of grammar school,
where indoctrination into progressive
ideology increases at
the expense of basic subjects,
even as American students fall
behind their global peers.
For Progressives, the institution
of a new political paradigm
takes precedence over
all else. The White House’s
budget will include trillions
for social welfare programs
designed to buy votes, some
thinly disguised as “human
infrastructure,” but nothing
additional for crucial items
such as defense even as Russia
and China prepare for military
adventures on two continents.
Raising taxes takes precedence
over creating jobs and
increased prosperity.
Constitutionalism or arbitrary
government? Whose side
are they on?
I bet there’s a lot of folks
out there who are bored, wishing
they had something to do,
right! Well come on over to the
Sam Young Post 620 located at
1530 Erickson Place.
A Post where everybody
knows your name, or at lease
get a “how ya doing” from the
gang.
For those who like reading
my column, do you know
that we are not a commercial
bar or club, but a private
members-only organization.
If you’re a veteran — your parents
served in the military —
or you are someone who is a
non-veteran and has friends or
family members who served
our nation, and would like to
assist in helping out in the veteran
community, then take
a membership with us in the
American Legion, the Sons
of American Legion (SAL) or
become a Sam Young Booster.
We are always open to ideas
for community events.
Right now we are looking
for someone to help sponsor
a movie night at the Post for
our local community. The license
fees for a movie rental is
around $250 per showing. We
have all of the necessary audio
video equipment needed to
show a movie under the stars,
but lack the funds. You’ll get
the credit and possibly a tax
write-off as a donation.
We are starting to book
our rental rooms. If your looking
for a room to host 1-50 or
50-100 people come see us. We
also discount weekday rates
for community organizations
or union hall meetings. Leave
a message at (718) 822-8873 and
ask for Jeanette. First-come,
first-serve.
A SAL from another post
stopped by the other day to
look around the Post and liked
what he saw. He even gave us
a hand. Thanks Joe! I see a
transfer coming soon. Sometimes
belonging to the same
American Legion Post for
many years can get stale.
Their post members lose motivation,
and some stop showing
up to meetings. If your one
of those card-carrying legionnaires,
come on and pay us a
visit to 620. Change is good.
DID YOU KNOW: The
reasons why you should join
the American Legion? Your
membership provides vital
support to veterans services,
lobbying efforts and outreach
in local communities. You get
exclusive member discounts,
have access to scholarships
and programs, and receive
12 issues of American Legion
Magazine.
In closing, the president
added that there is no “mission
accomplished” moment
as the U.S. war comes to an
end Aug. 31. We welcome you
home, and a job well done!
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