The Women’s March
Organizers stated the focus of the march was not in opposing Trump but “more about being proactive about women’s rights”, or broadly, “a stand on social justice and human rights issues ranging from race, ethnicity, gender, religion, immigration and healthcare”.[4][26] Still, opposition to and defiance of Trump infused much of the protests,[27] with some directly calling them anti-Trump protests.[28]
What happens next
Follow-up from the March organizers “Ten actions in 100 days”
Another new activity: Sister District
We Pair Red Districts With Blue Districts for a Bluer Tomorrow.
If you live in a safe blue or red district, your economic and volunteer resources can be channeled to a swing district that needs your help. We can change the map together.
Reaction from the Trump administration
Sean spicer, before the fact: “He has a contentious relationship with the media”
Kellianne Conway cites “Alternative Facts”
Prediction
David Brooks says (at the very end of a column) “Trump will resign or be impeached within a year.” Also Breitbart.
Emoluments
Emoluments clause and Trump from ProPublica explanation from The Economist
The Cabinet
Betsy DeVos assessment from here:
The most accurate assessment is that charter schools have simply created a second, privately managed failing system. Yes, there are high-performing outliers — a little more than 10% of the charter schools perform in the top tier. But in Detroit, the best schools are as likely to be traditional public schools.
Marital Economics
Corruption in the USA (we’re not doing great)
Most corrupt countries (source: Transparency International )
| Rank | Country/territory | 2015 Score | 2014 Score | 2013 Score | 2012 Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denmark | 91 | 92 | 91 | 90 |
| 2 | Finland | 90 | 89 | 89 | 90 |
| 3 | Sweden | 89 | 87 | 89 | 88 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 88 | 91 | 91 | 90 |
| 5 | Netherlands | 87 | 83 | 83 | 84 |
| 5 | Norway | 87 | 86 | 86 | 85 |
| 7 | Switzerland | 86 | 86 | 85 | 86 |
| 8 | Singapore | 85 | 84 | 86 | 87 |
| 9 | Canada | 83 | 81 | 81 | 84 |
| 10 | Germany | 81 | 79 | 78 | 79 |
| 10 | Luxembourg | 81 | 82 | 80 | 80 |
| 10 | United Kingdom | 81 | 78 | 76 | 74 |
| 13 | Australia | 79 | 80 | 81 | 85 |
| 13 | Iceland | 79 | 79 | 78 | 82 |
| 15 | Belgium | 77 | 76 | 75 | 75 |
| 16 | Austria | 76 | 72 | 69 | 69 |
| 16 | United States | 76 | 74 | 73 | 73 |
A story from my daughter about the march is here, and quoted below:
This morning I snuck down to the lobby of my hotel at 6AM to do my morning ritual and get caught up on some work. It was quiet.
An hour after I arrived, the pink hats and posters began to appear. The energy is AMAZING. #girlpower and love everywhere.
Eventually, I got in line at the Starbucks in the lobby. The man in front of me was dressed in a button-down shirt and khakis. He looked very out of place in the sea of marchers dressed for the part.
The Starbucks Barista asked if someone needed help and he piped up. The woman in front of him whipped her head around and barked at him. “I haven’t ordered yet. WAIT.”
“Geez.” He replied.
Suddenly it was tense.
I thought back to something Obama said in his last meeting with the press.
“So regardless of the station we occupy; we all have to try harder; we all have to start with the premise that each of our fellow citizens loves this country just as much as we do; that they value hard work and family just like we do; that their children are just as curious and hopeful and worthy of love as our own.”
“Did one of your kids make you that bracelet?” I asked.
He turned around and smiled.
“Yes, my daughter did.”
We talked a bit about various bracelet trends over the years and how kids obsess about a trend for a few years and then move on to the next one.
I asked if he was here for the inauguration. He said yes and asked if I was. I told him no, that I was here for the Women’s March.
He shifted.
I shared with him how wild I thought it was that there were two such large audiences of people here to celebrate totally different things. We agreed that tensions were high.
I mentioned that some of the tense exchanges we saw yesterday yielded conversations with my kids about being respectful while owning our place in the conversation. And how we had talked about looking for commonalities between the two groups rather than feeling tense about the differences.
He agreed, we should be able to find common ground with anyone and smiled pointing at his bracelet.
We shook hands.
“So nice to meet you,” he said.
“Likewise.”