Seriously, who in their right mind would want to live under a dictatorship, even if for a day?
An article on the right-leaning website called The Hill published a story yesterday citing a survey from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and YouGov that said, "74 percent of Republican voters said it would be a good idea if Trump follows through on his remarks in which he said he would be a dictator only on the first day of his second term." According to the survey, only 26 percent of Republicans polled, it would be a bad thing.
At least independent voters, dangling from a fourth-story balcony, still have at least a palm on the ledge of sanity. Sixty-five percent said it would be a bad idea as opposed to the 36% who were okay with it.
Pardon me.
When did democracy and the pursuit of quiet life, liberty, and justice go out of vogue? Why are so many conservative voters today ready to wipe their arses with that single-ply paper from 1789 that all but guaranteed their freedom from oppression, the right express themselves, and established a clear path to air their grievances?
Tell me why they spit the largest, thickest, puss-filled loogie they can muster on the graves of their ancestors, many of whom fought and died for our great nation to preserve its ideas and greatness.
A large chunk of the American population is losing its mind. Logic and critical thinking seemingly are becoming a rare commodity. One can make a convincing argument, although admittedly anecdotal at this point, that multiple COVID infections have damaged the prefrontal cortex of a large segment of society and possibly reduced their mental capacity to that of a hamster.
Seriously, who in their right mind would want to live under a dictatorship, even if for a day?
No doubt those who approve of Donald Trump (or anyone else for that matter) having absolute power believe they would be immune to any of the decrees from his 'one day' dictatorial rule. Yes, many of their fellow Americans will suffer, and they are cool with that. What they fail to realize is that this type of power is an infection that can easily corrupt.
English Catholic historian and politician John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton wrote, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
This one-hitter of absolute power would be opium to Trump and those who successfully manipulate him. One day would turn into a few, and later into a week, then a month, and eventually into years. Quietly, those who thought they would not be in the crosshairs would find themselves the targets of oppression and discrimination.
If having a dictatorial government is so great, why do over a million people a year immigrate, legally or otherwise, to the United States from countries with authoritarian rule?
Seriously, who in their right mind would want to live under a dictatorship, even if for a day?
Members of the South Elgin cheerleading team celebrate their title victory with fans during the awards ceremony at the IHSA Competitive Cheer State Finals last Saturday. See more photos from the squad's championship routine below.
Photo: PhotoNews Media
BLOOMINGTON - Coming into this season, head coach Savanna Bennett led the South Elgin cheerleading program to one team title and a pair of third-place finishes in the competitive cheer state series. Bennett capped her seventh season at the program's helm with another team title last Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
The Storm pulled no punches with a near-perfect routine during Friday's preliminary round, finishing above Highland, Stevenson, and Conant in hot pursuit of this year's Coed Team title. Earning a 97.20 from judges, South Elgin was a clear favorite heading into Saturday's finals.
Leaving it all out on the mat on Saturday, the 24-member team took home the program's second title in five seasons (2020 was the first), improving their prelim performance with a score of 97.60. Following them in the final standings were runner-up Conant (96.18) and Belvidere North (95.54) finished in third place.
Also finishing in the top ten this season was Highland (94.44) in fourth place, Dundee-Crown (93.60) in fifth, Shepard (92.64) in sixth, Stevenson (91.80) in seventh place, and Homewood-Flossmoor (89.00) in eighth place. Palatine (86.26) and St. Charles North (85.82) finished ninth and tenth, respectively.
This year's championship varsity squad members are Aubriunna Rosa, Nevaeh Poole, Adelyn Logsdon, Isavella Napoles, Sophia Catania, Katie Solis, Kyra Clark, Paige Vargas, Bridget Lucas, Kirsten Cones, Emma Salazar, Adriana Jimenez, Taylor Davis, Kylie Rogowski, Emma Steinhofer, Bella Meloun, Morgan Stokes, Bryan Estrada, Greta Zelaitis, Stewart William Jr., Maya Jovanovic, Stella Shah, Kaelyn Lindsay, and Hunter Lindsay.
The Illinois High School Cheerleading Coaches Organization named seniors Taylor Davis and Bryan Estrada to this season's All-State Coed Team.
Kathryn Ciolli and Savannah Swayze are assistant coaches for the state champs.
Storm fans were ecstatic about the team's title victory.
"So proud of them! Such a great group," Jamie Smiley-Jovanovic wrote on the South Elgin High School Cheer Facebook page.
Diane Martin added, "Well deserved!!! Way to bring that title back! This program is amazing."
Photo Gallery
Here is the video of their award-winning performance:
PONTIAC - People everywhere are conquering their cabin fever and are enjoying the great outdoors after a long, bitter winter. But before you head out for that hike, health care experts remind you to take precautions to avoid tick bites. Read more . . .
I’ve always known my Arab culture is worth celebrating.
I heard it in Syrian tenor Sabah Fakhri’s powerful voice reverberating in my mom’s car on the way to piano lessons and soccer practice during my youth. I smelled it in the za’atar, Aleppo pepper, allspice, and cumin permeating the air in the family kitchen. Read more . . .
CHAMPAIGN - In a show of solidarity against President Donald Trump's trade and immigration policies, which critics say are harming families and retirement savings, more than a thousand protesters gathered Saturday at West Park near downtown Champaign for the Hands-Off! Mobilization rally. Read more . . .
Photo Galleries
A couple of runners found themselves in the wrong race at this year's Illinois Marathon. Over 60 photos from the race that you should see.
Seriously, who in their right mind would want to live under a dictatorship, even if for a day?
An article on the right-leaning website called The Hill published a story yesterday citing a survey from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and YouGov that said, "74 percent of Republican voters said it would be a good idea if Trump follows through on his remarks in which he said he would be a dictator only on the first day of his second term." According to the survey, only 26 percent of Republicans polled, it would be a bad thing.
At least independent voters, dangling from a fourth-story balcony, still have at least a palm on the ledge of sanity. Sixty-five percent said it would be a bad idea as opposed to the 36% who were okay with it.
Pardon me.
When did democracy and the pursuit of quiet life, liberty, and justice go out of vogue? Why are so many conservative voters today ready to wipe their arses with that single-ply paper from 1789 that all but guaranteed their freedom from oppression, the right express themselves, and established a clear path to air their grievances?
Tell me why they spit the largest, thickest, puss-filled loogie they can muster on the graves of their ancestors, many of whom fought and died for our great nation to preserve its ideas and greatness.
A large chunk of the American population is losing its mind. Logic and critical thinking seemingly are becoming a rare commodity. One can make a convincing argument, although admittedly anecdotal at this point, that multiple COVID infections have damaged the prefrontal cortex of a large segment of society and possibly reduced their mental capacity to that of a hamster.
Seriously, who in their right mind would want to live under a dictatorship, even if for a day?
No doubt those who approve of Donald Trump (or anyone else for that matter) having absolute power believe they would be immune to any of the decrees from his 'one day' dictatorial rule. Yes, many of their fellow Americans will suffer, and they are cool with that. What they fail to realize is that this type of power is an infection that can easily corrupt.
English Catholic historian and politician John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton wrote, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
This one-hitter of absolute power would be opium to Trump and those who successfully manipulate him. One day would turn into a few, and later into a week, then a month, and eventually into years. Quietly, those who thought they would not be in the crosshairs would find themselves the targets of oppression and discrimination.
If having a dictatorial government is so great, why do over a million people a year immigrate, legally or otherwise, to the United States from countries with authoritarian rule?
Seriously, who in their right mind would want to live under a dictatorship, even if for a day?
