Is ‘individual rights’ in the eye of the beholder when it is a senator making the decision? During the December 5 Meet the Press show, the host Chuck Todd asked the question of Indiana Republican Senator Mike Braun who says, “The abortion issue should be decided by the states and not the federal government.”

            When Chuck Todd asked him about Federal mandates on getting a Covid 19 shot, Senator Braun said it is up to the individual to make that decision; not Biden. Chuck Todd then asked, “Since the majority wants abortions to be available, why should the state make that decision for the woman?” Sensing the conflict in his stance, Senator Braun replied, “The two don’t compare.”

            Senator Braun’s conflict is he wants to be the one to decide when people of Indiana can have an individual right on any issue.

            Unfinanced fads pass. My memory goes back to Southern Illinois people building root cellars as a nuclear bomb shelter. I was in college during most of the flower child long hair, long beards and ragged clothes. Hula hoops and pet rocks have come and gone. None of thee and many others lasting a few years were supported and financed by any belligerent group or company. Not so over the past few years.

            Today we still have a few fads that will hopefully disappear like shaved heads and long beards. These are from TV shows, social media, and sports figures. The disrespect for authorities and government is caused by a few anarchist billionaires who have wanted to undo our Federal Government. Interestingly they made Trump’s following to get him elected but they did not support him because of his personality. Trump has further opened a rift in America to make anarchy possible. Not since Viet Nam has America been so deeply divided.

            The rift is feeding on itself by the propaganda promoted by the NRA and gun lobbyists. The more fear they can create; the more guns will be sold. For the NRA it means more money for their leadership’s pockets and to buy politicians and influence gullible constituents.

            The Viet Nam rift closed after the war ended and reopened when the Republican Newt Gingrich reopened it to get his party back in control. It closed some after 9-11 but the anarchists have succeeded into tearing it open again hence the “Big Lie”, millions of guns sold, and disbelief in science. One party continues to try to divide us. Hopefully their efforts are a fad.

            Imagine this scenario and think about what the verdict would be after the Rittenhouse and other verdicts. Imagine a Black man from Tennessee went to Charlottesville, North Carolina with his AR-15 assault rifle which had been bought by his friend. He goes to a white racist parade. The members are carrying clubs and probably guns under their robes. He sees some of the people in the parade hit some of the bystanders. When the leaders of the parade get within yards of him he jumps out into the street. Some of the paraders start to raise their clubs while others start to charge him. Firing from the hip he shoots three. One is hit in the back.

            This is almost an identical situation except the shooter is Black. Would he be found guilty or innocent?

            America seems to be experiencing a breakdown in societal responsibility. Americans are openly breaking laws just because they think or know they can. Americans have lost respect for law enforcement which is the main reason most forces are understaffed.

            Most states have laws against vehicle windows being too dark for police to see inside when approaching a stopped vehicle. I often sit at a stoplight for a couple of seconds because people are going through intersections on red. On long interstate drives I may drive three to five miles over the limit while being passed by those driving more than ten over.

            Some governors are openly defiant of the Federal Government unless they need money after some disaster. A vote is sacred in a democracy but several governors have signed laws allowing them to change the results of an election in their state.

            Federal and state Covid mandates for masks and shots are defied by people who are politically motivated or just stupid from looking at internet conspiracies. Instead of helping to save lives and keep them and others working, they don’t care about the common good.

            Flag waving and religious organizations are supposed to pull people together instead they are causing the rift to widen. We have an ex-president who often wrapped himself in the flag and conned the religious right into supporting him only to intentionally widen the rift to benefit him.

            For America to survive we must close the rift.