A few weeks ago in my column I envisioned a cruise ship where revelers were partying because the world they were building was wonderful, bringing hope and happiness to people rather than moping around and complaining. Well ...
“Thank you for bringing back the joy.” With that message to Vice President Kamala Harris, thousands of people packing an arena in Pennsylvania, and millions of people watching from afar, Gov. Tim Walz introduced himself to the nation as the Democratic Party nominee for our next Vice President of the United States. And as the saying goes, the crowd went wild.
I felt pure joy watching that rally. For around nine years now I’ve dreaded whatever news was coming next, trying to hold out hope for the future. Watching these two people, with huge smiles on their faces, having the time of their lives, sharing their vision and plan for a brighter future, and having the incredibly diverse and huge audience eating up every word, lit me up like a sparkler.
Yes, Harris and Walz each spent some of their time taking on their opponents, and the stark differences they have on the state of our nation and their vastly different plans for our future. The majority of their time on stage, though, was spent telling their own stories, talking about our country’s strengths, and sharing what they plan to do if elected in November. The vision of where the country is now and the direction each side plans to take us couldn’t be clearer or more dramatically different. The Republican platform says we are a nation in “serious decline.” They say they want to take the country “back” to make it “great again.” The Democratic platform says that we have been experiencing a “great American comeback” and they want to keep moving forward, not backward.
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My vision? I believe we live in a great country, with plenty of warts and wounds, but in many ways better today than it has ever been. In concrete terms, we have the highest employment participation in history with wages steadily increasing and a rising GDP. Our troops are not actively engaged in war. More Americans have reliable health coverage than ever. Our aging infrastructure is being rebuilt, manufacturing jobs are coming back onshore, including the chip industry, and the stock market has sustained record numbers. I see beauty and strength in our diversity, with thriving multicultural urban communities across our nation. At the same time, I see rural communities where people feel left behind. Historically marginalized people have made significant gains but there’s still much more work to do. BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ (especially trans) people, immigrants, people with disabilities, and others continue to feel the sting of discrimination. Women have lost freedom over their bodies in too many states. Too many Americans are incarcerated, especially people of color, and too many people, including fully employed hourly workers, go to bed hungry and lack affordable housing. Inflation has really dented people’s wallets and only recently started slowing down. Violent crime is near its lowest level in 50 years, but property crime is up in many communities, and frequent mass shootings leave us traumatized and afraid.
While our news silos and doom scrolling may make it seem like we are hopelessly polarized on our desires for the country, in Time Magazine’s July 15 article “The Polarization Myth,” Karl Vick posits that we’re NOT as polarized as we’re led to believe. He cites a study where 2,000 people from across the political spectrum ranked their top 55 aspirations for the United States with “Individual Rights” No. 1, “High Quality Health Care” No. 2, and, surprisingly, “Successfully Addressing Climate Change” coming in third. That’s incredible common ground. Other top 10 items were holding political leaders accountable, preserving clean water and air, treating people equally regardless of background in all aspects of society, having safe and clean neighborhoods, having a criminal justice system that operates without bias, having secure national borders and having a middle class that is thriving.
We’ve had a chance to watch the Republican National Convention and, starting today, we can watch the Democratic National Convention. Which of those cruise ships is the most inviting to you? Which direction do you see each taking us? With around two months to go, which crew inspires you the most? Who will help achieve your top aspirations? Whatever you choose, make sure you’re properly registered by going to nass.org/can-I-vote. Hundreds of thousands of people have been purged from voting rolls in the last six months, especially in swing states. Tell your friends and family to check their status. Vote your hopes, not your fears, and remember, you’re voting for candidates but WE are the ones we’ve been waiting for. Let’s be joyful!
Craig Wiesner is the co-owner of Reach And Teach, a book, toy and cultural gift shop on San Carlos Avenue in San Carlos.
CORRECTION: The highest employment participation rate in history (known as the LFPR - Labor Force Participation Rate) was in the year 2000 at 67.3%, In August 2024 the rate was 62.7%. I apologize for my error.
Thanks for making a correction and acknowledging your error, Mr. Wiesner. Let’s move on and take a closer look at your assertions as to why our country is better today than it has ever been. You say are our troops are not actively engaged in war. That’s true, but you forgot to remind us it’s because Biden gifted Afghanistan to the Taliban with a deadly and incompetent withdrawal. Yet the US is engaged in war, in funding Israel and Ukraine and of course, the Taliban. You say wages are steadily increasing and we have a rising GDP. Yes, increased inflation will do that. Unfortunately wages aren’t rising fast enough to keep up with inflation. You say our aging infrastructure is being rebuilt. I haven’t heard much about this. I do remember reading about a reported seven or eight EV chargers being built thus far with an allocated $7.5 billion from the erroneously-named Inflation Reduction Act. You say manufacturing jobs are coming onshore and that’s true, but it’s more due to Trump’s USMCA policy. You say our violent crime is near its lowest level but that’s debatable. If you’re relying on recent reports, you’ll notice that reports are missing data from thousands of cities, including New York and Los Angeles. And let’s not forget that in CA, and perhaps in other states, violent crime has been redefined to redefine “violent” do they’re no longer violent, even though they are, to the detriment of our citizens. You say our country is better today than it has ever been? Not even close. And let’s not forget one of the biggest boogeymen - inflation.
Also, you talk about joy. Do you think biological women being beaten up in the Olympics by biological men gives women joy? Do you think biological women being beaten by biological men in athletic events such as swimming, running, weightlifting, wrestling, and the list goes on gives them joy? What’s next, women losing the right to vote? Do you think folks experiencing what Dirk van Ulden commented on give them joy? Do you think a continuation of Biden/Harris’s disastrous policies for the past three and a half years will change that? About the only decent policies coming from Hidin’ Harris are the policies she’s copying from Trump. Let’s move forward, not backward. If folks want to experience joy in the future, they need to vote for Trump to Make America Great Once Again because we have been in serious decline under Biden/Harris.
I’m totally with you, Craig! Things are really looking up with Harris & Walz likely to win, hopefully by a landslide. Just think about the dreadful alternative! It looks like the R-minority will never learn, - perhaps Trump has told them not to? Who in his/her/it’s right mind would want Trump back? No one!
Thanks for your column today, Mr. Wiesner, but I’m sorely disappointed, although not surprised, that you’ve fallen “off the wagon” and failed to adhere to your just a month ago “promise” to write columns that would move anyone who isn’t already on one side or the other, to give people hope or motivate them to do better, or to spark mutually helpful discussions. What comes to mind first is a lie you’re passing off in your cheerleading for the disastrous Hidin’ Harris and Stolen Valor A-Walz ticket. “we have the highest employment participation in history”? Seriously? If you’re comparing the rate from a few minutes ago when I first read your column to now, you may be technically correct, but disingenuous. If you’re trying to not claim a “rate” but the number of folks working at jobs, you’re still wrong (not only that, folks may need more than one job to pay for the exploded inflation under Comrade Kamala’s watch so it’s a misleading statistic). I could go on, and Not So Common and Dirk van Ulden have done so but if you’re willing to lie about an easily debunked employment participation statistic what else are you willing to lie about? It doesn’t matter at this point – because you’ve lost credibility.
Big fail on moving folks to another side, unless you’re talking about moving more Dems to the Trump side… Big fail on giving people hope or motivating them to do better, unless you’re talking about motivating folks to do better in easily dismissing your claims… Big fail on sparking mutually helpful discussions, because we can tell your biased one-sided column is based on fake news and lies… I hope you can do better but if this is your attempt at meeting your previous “promise” I’d recommend you claim a Biden-moment and perhaps folks will give you another chance. Otherwise, it’s the same old, same old, Wiesner column, but with less credibility than before.
May I suggest a future column to explain why you can’t keep your “promise”? Or addressing the spending of $billions on the homeless industrial complex, yet the number of homeless is increasing? Or addressing why folks so adamant about housing the homeless don’t do their part by opening up their homes to a homeless person, or family? How about columns deconstructing Kamala’s word salads? Did you catch the doozy on Harris’ answer to a reporters question on how she would pay for her commie economic policies?
Thank you for pointing out my error on the Labor Force Participation Rate. I've posted a comment above and will lead off my next column with that correction. I'm sorry I got that wrong.
"We can watch the Democratic National Convention. Which of those cruise ships is the most inviting to you? Which direction do you see each taking us? "
Which direction do "the people" not the emotional ostriches see Kamala taking us? How about the direction of Socialist Venezuela? Empty grocery shelves all the while the political elites dine on Filet Mignon and caviar as Craig gravels as a dishwasher hoping for some crumbs. That's not for me Craig, but it's good to see your true colors the same way Kamala showed hers.
I think Daniel Miller puts it well "When you think of book bans & government purges, two hallmarks of Communist rule, do you think of Democrats or Republicans? Look at the book bans across the country. Look at Trump's & the #Project2025 plan to purge civil servants. These are REPUBLICAN efforts."
As for caviar, supporting the extremely wealthy (at the expense of society) is what the current Republican party is all about.
Westy good to know you're in favor of exposing young children to pornography and pure filth. Are these the types of books you made available in your household? Penthouse for Christmas, and stockings filled with toys that these "banned" books refer to. I am happy there are some people and one party in America that stand up to the you and the democrat party's platform, abortion on demand, gender transitioning behind the backs of parents and filth in every library. Cutting civil servants (government workers) and wasteful spending a good thing.
Oh yes Craig - the last 3.5 years have been pure joy. My heart has been overflowing with joy every time I go to the supermarket and to the gas pump. Pick up any newspaper and to my joy, I read about the millions of migrants bursting the seams of our schools, hospitals and social services. I am also delighted to read that several of these migrants have committed unspeakable crimes, but our border czar has joyfully laughed that off too. I can't wait for another 4 years of joy with the totally out of touch folks now parading in Chicago who promise us more of the same. I am not sure in which world Craig lives but the priorities that he listed are not consistent with those of most US citizens, particularly those who can no longer afford a cruise.
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(12) comments
Ah Craig, I so enjoy your perspective on things! Thank you.
CORRECTION: The highest employment participation rate in history (known as the LFPR - Labor Force Participation Rate) was in the year 2000 at 67.3%, In August 2024 the rate was 62.7%. I apologize for my error.
Thanks for making a correction and acknowledging your error, Mr. Wiesner. Let’s move on and take a closer look at your assertions as to why our country is better today than it has ever been. You say are our troops are not actively engaged in war. That’s true, but you forgot to remind us it’s because Biden gifted Afghanistan to the Taliban with a deadly and incompetent withdrawal. Yet the US is engaged in war, in funding Israel and Ukraine and of course, the Taliban. You say wages are steadily increasing and we have a rising GDP. Yes, increased inflation will do that. Unfortunately wages aren’t rising fast enough to keep up with inflation. You say our aging infrastructure is being rebuilt. I haven’t heard much about this. I do remember reading about a reported seven or eight EV chargers being built thus far with an allocated $7.5 billion from the erroneously-named Inflation Reduction Act. You say manufacturing jobs are coming onshore and that’s true, but it’s more due to Trump’s USMCA policy. You say our violent crime is near its lowest level but that’s debatable. If you’re relying on recent reports, you’ll notice that reports are missing data from thousands of cities, including New York and Los Angeles. And let’s not forget that in CA, and perhaps in other states, violent crime has been redefined to redefine “violent” do they’re no longer violent, even though they are, to the detriment of our citizens. You say our country is better today than it has ever been? Not even close. And let’s not forget one of the biggest boogeymen - inflation.
Also, you talk about joy. Do you think biological women being beaten up in the Olympics by biological men gives women joy? Do you think biological women being beaten by biological men in athletic events such as swimming, running, weightlifting, wrestling, and the list goes on gives them joy? What’s next, women losing the right to vote? Do you think folks experiencing what Dirk van Ulden commented on give them joy? Do you think a continuation of Biden/Harris’s disastrous policies for the past three and a half years will change that? About the only decent policies coming from Hidin’ Harris are the policies she’s copying from Trump. Let’s move forward, not backward. If folks want to experience joy in the future, they need to vote for Trump to Make America Great Once Again because we have been in serious decline under Biden/Harris.
Cruise ship? More like being on the Titanic.
I’m totally with you, Craig! Things are really looking up with Harris & Walz likely to win, hopefully by a landslide. Just think about the dreadful alternative! It looks like the R-minority will never learn, - perhaps Trump has told them not to? Who in his/her/it’s right mind would want Trump back? No one!
Thanks for your column today, Mr. Wiesner, but I’m sorely disappointed, although not surprised, that you’ve fallen “off the wagon” and failed to adhere to your just a month ago “promise” to write columns that would move anyone who isn’t already on one side or the other, to give people hope or motivate them to do better, or to spark mutually helpful discussions. What comes to mind first is a lie you’re passing off in your cheerleading for the disastrous Hidin’ Harris and Stolen Valor A-Walz ticket. “we have the highest employment participation in history”? Seriously? If you’re comparing the rate from a few minutes ago when I first read your column to now, you may be technically correct, but disingenuous. If you’re trying to not claim a “rate” but the number of folks working at jobs, you’re still wrong (not only that, folks may need more than one job to pay for the exploded inflation under Comrade Kamala’s watch so it’s a misleading statistic). I could go on, and Not So Common and Dirk van Ulden have done so but if you’re willing to lie about an easily debunked employment participation statistic what else are you willing to lie about? It doesn’t matter at this point – because you’ve lost credibility.
Big fail on moving folks to another side, unless you’re talking about moving more Dems to the Trump side… Big fail on giving people hope or motivating them to do better, unless you’re talking about motivating folks to do better in easily dismissing your claims… Big fail on sparking mutually helpful discussions, because we can tell your biased one-sided column is based on fake news and lies… I hope you can do better but if this is your attempt at meeting your previous “promise” I’d recommend you claim a Biden-moment and perhaps folks will give you another chance. Otherwise, it’s the same old, same old, Wiesner column, but with less credibility than before.
May I suggest a future column to explain why you can’t keep your “promise”? Or addressing the spending of $billions on the homeless industrial complex, yet the number of homeless is increasing? Or addressing why folks so adamant about housing the homeless don’t do their part by opening up their homes to a homeless person, or family? How about columns deconstructing Kamala’s word salads? Did you catch the doozy on Harris’ answer to a reporters question on how she would pay for her commie economic policies?
Thank you for pointing out my error on the Labor Force Participation Rate. I've posted a comment above and will lead off my next column with that correction. I'm sorry I got that wrong.
"We can watch the Democratic National Convention. Which of those cruise ships is the most inviting to you? Which direction do you see each taking us? "
Which direction do "the people" not the emotional ostriches see Kamala taking us? How about the direction of Socialist Venezuela? Empty grocery shelves all the while the political elites dine on Filet Mignon and caviar as Craig gravels as a dishwasher hoping for some crumbs. That's not for me Craig, but it's good to see your true colors the same way Kamala showed hers.
I think Daniel Miller puts it well "When you think of book bans & government purges, two hallmarks of Communist rule, do you think of Democrats or Republicans? Look at the book bans across the country. Look at Trump's & the #Project2025 plan to purge civil servants. These are REPUBLICAN efforts."
As for caviar, supporting the extremely wealthy (at the expense of society) is what the current Republican party is all about.
Westy good to know you're in favor of exposing young children to pornography and pure filth. Are these the types of books you made available in your household? Penthouse for Christmas, and stockings filled with toys that these "banned" books refer to. I am happy there are some people and one party in America that stand up to the you and the democrat party's platform, abortion on demand, gender transitioning behind the backs of parents and filth in every library. Cutting civil servants (government workers) and wasteful spending a good thing.
Oh yes Craig - the last 3.5 years have been pure joy. My heart has been overflowing with joy every time I go to the supermarket and to the gas pump. Pick up any newspaper and to my joy, I read about the millions of migrants bursting the seams of our schools, hospitals and social services. I am also delighted to read that several of these migrants have committed unspeakable crimes, but our border czar has joyfully laughed that off too. I can't wait for another 4 years of joy with the totally out of touch folks now parading in Chicago who promise us more of the same. I am not sure in which world Craig lives but the priorities that he listed are not consistent with those of most US citizens, particularly those who can no longer afford a cruise.
Need a like button for this comment like they have on twitter/X. I clearly live in a different world than Craig.
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