I Was Just Thinking…

Why?

For power.

For Control.

The quest for power is a nasty beast which breeds divisiveness, chaos, corruption, and disorder.

In his dystopian social science fiction novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell wrote that “Power is always seized for power sake by ambitious and ruthless people who pretend to seek power for the benefit of others.” drink the Kool Aid, we are subject to the violence of the Woke Mob and their “cancel culture” dictates.

No need to worry, we are told countless times.

Ironically, they think they’re defending Democracy by stifling discourse in the public square.

by Kevin Devlin

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees freedom of speech. It’s probably the most important and prized amendment written in this incredible historical document. But considering what has transpired in our nation during the past several years, it’s apparent that this cherished right, the cornerstone of our democratic ideal, is under attack.

This is being done out of the kindness of their hearts since they know what is best for us.

We should trust them, not question them.

And when people do secure power, they want to hold on to that power and never relinquish it. One way of maintaining power is to control what we are allowed to say. If we don’t say it, we can’t think of it.

“It’s a beautiful thing, the destruction of words,” wrote George Orwell, declaring that by controlling language, what words we use, they can control our behavior, and thus control our thoughts.

Two recent events clearly illustrate this point. Hours before a Turning Point USA event was to be held at the University of California Davis, featuring conservative speaker Charlie Kirk, and prior to the UC Davis chancellor condemning Kirk as a purveyor of “hate” and “misinformation”, Antifa agitators smashed windows attempting to storm the event. Luckily the police were on scene and successfully removed them from the campus. The second event occurred on March 9 when U.S. Circuit Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan’s speech with the Federalist Society at Stanford Law School was interrupted by protestors who booed and heckled members of the Society as well as the judge.

Why do they behave like this?

It’s because whatever is said can’t conflict with what they believe.

They say they want to protect our rights yet they’re for censorship when it is convenient and would gut the First Amendment in a nanosecond.

They embrace inclusivity and diversity but only if it fits in with their world view.

Dissent, a necessity for Democracy to flourish is summarily dismissed as anti-democratic.

Again, the irony is shocking.

Sadly, many Americans with these totalitarian mindsets ostensibly view our inalienable right of free speech with utter disdain and want to transform America.

I love America.

It’s a great country.

I prefer free speech over censorship without interference from those who disagree with another’s viewpoint, because as George Washington said, “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”

And if we don’t fall in line and

What they believe, what they say, is the truth because since it’s constantly and consistently repeated, again and again, it must be. Yet I don’t think that by merely repeating something ad infinitum means that it is necessarily the truth.

Sadly, those who falsely claim to be champions of Democracy may see their devious schemes come to fruition instead of being relegated to historical footnotes where they should reside. families. This comes at a time when emergency relief funds provided by the pandemic are approaching their fiscal cliff.

The effects of limited federal support have an impact not just on families and child care workers but also businesses where workers struggle to find adequate help. Employers are losing approximately $812 million a year in employee turnover and low productivity because working parents cannot tap into child care, according to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce has recently formed a task force whose goal is to shape statewide and local early childhood education and child care policies. “Local economists report that providing access to early education and childcare is one of the fastest ways we can al - leviate the labor shortage felt by Cape Cod businesses,” said one chamber executive.

Child care is often the largest expense for Massachusetts families – the commonwealth being the second most-expensive state in the nation to find adequate resources. Coupled with rising housing prices and high tuition rates, Butler has observed several families leaving their jobs and migrating to other regions to find more affordable childcare options.

It further accelerates the workforce challenge. There are employers that are acting at about 60% to 80% productivity due to workforce challenges. Coming out of the pandemic, that’s the one thing that hasn’t bounced back – workforce statistics that match the demand. The impact is not only significant for the children receiving developmental ser- vices but also for the caretakers who depend on these services to be able to provide for their families throughout the day. Childcare is vital for parents to keep their jobs, especially in single-parent households that depend on reliable childcare that is open all the time. If not, they can’t get jobs or keep jobs.

The proposed state funding increase could combat the lack of appeal new childhood educators experience over the outlook of staying in a field that lacks proper compensation. Child Care facilities are open to private pay, childcare vouchers, and providing some tuition assistance, but they admit that it’s very limited. The state funds will help maintain operations in the healthiest way for the benefit of the children.

Some educators are hoping, too, for the increase in funding to spark more conversations around how vital childcare is for communities.