Inflation has hit the Constitution. What was once the Bill of Rights is now chump change. Devalued. Deliberately.
And as if that's not enough, its rights and protections have been compromised by those exact people we put in charge of safeguarding what is at the very core of our system.
We all know that the preamble to the constitution specifically states that we are all created equal, and that we all have the unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Further, and this is critical, that our government was created with the clear mandate of protecting those rights.
That is no longer what's happening here. Our government is now in the business of targeting segments of our society to deny their right to life (women medically unable to sustain pregnancies), limit their liberties (abortion, gender affirming care), and pursuit of happiness (allowing businesses to discriminate, limiting access to information in schools). Acting in clear opposition to their directive. Overstepped their bounds. By a lot.
Although this desecration of our rights, this dismantling of freedom, started with an orange man, and is now lead by the orange state, it's sweeping through this country like a contagion.
Orange Quick Rolls (no yeast)
To better view the direction in which we've headed, to more clearly see the juxtaposition between freedom and authoritarianism, I've prepared a ban balance sheet. Some instances are federal, others are sweeping through the states:
~ Banned: teachers saying "gay."
Not banned: politicians lying in office.
~ Banned: dressing in drag in public (ie: wearing a dress, wig, jewelry, and makeup).
Not banned: wearing speedos in public.
~ Banned: forgiveness of student loans.
Not banned: companies owned by members of congress took $14 million in Covid relief funds.
~ Banned: women's reproductive rights (abortion),
Not banned: men's reproductive "rights" (Viagra).
~ Banned: crossing state lines for an abortion.
Not banned: shipping immigrants across state lines.
~ Banned: access to books.
Not banned: access to guns (conceal carry).
~ Banned: affirmative action from leveling the playing field for disenfranchised minorities.
Not banned: whitewashing slavery.
~ Banned: offering water to citizens standing in line in the hot sun waiting to vote.
Not banned: armed random people monitoring ballot boxes.
We're the ATM, this is all supported with our taxes. So, profit, loss, or break even, what is the return on our investment?
Supreme Court approval rating: 40%
Americans who support some further level of gun control: about 87%
Americans who support abortion: about 62%
Americans who support LGBTQ+ rights: about 80%
Let's be realistic. The goal is not an untenable nirvana. For a balanced, effective government, when it comes to legislation, we will all sometimes fall into the minority, and other times find ourselves in the majority. Negotiating towards balance is required to make a diverse nation like ours function.
But the clear majority of Americans disapproving of the self-serving choices of politicians over the best interest of our citizens diminishes all that the constitution sets out to ensure.
Our government is no longer paying dividends, and we are not invested in our own future.
Orange Quick Rolls (no yeast)
©www.BakingInATornado.com
3 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp orange zest
1 1/3 cups orange Greek yogurt
1 TBSP orange juice
1 TBSP sesame seeds
Directions:
*Cover the bottom of a baking pan with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
*Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Flour a kneading surface with 1/3 cup of this mixture.
*Whisk the orange zest into the remaining flour, then mix in the yogurt. Turn out onto the floured kneading surface and knead for 5 minutes. It will come together as a dough, but will be sticky.
*Divide the dough into quarters, then each quarter in half. Roll into balls and place in the baking pan.
*Brush the tops of the rolls with the orange juice, and sprinkle with the sesame seeds.
*Bake for 25 minutes. Serve warm.
